Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Release Date: August 31, 2010

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Pages: 476

Received: Purchased

Rating: 5 out of 5 Books

GOODREADS BLURB:

Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Cassandra Clare may be one of the most visual writers I have ever experienced. Her ability to completely infuse Victorian London and make me see what Tessa could see was a wonderful, vivid ride, and I can't wait to move onto Clockwork Prince!!

THE GOOD:

Clare's writing is pure visuals. She leaves no stone unturned or its color, texture, and the shadows that it may cast to question. You're thrown into a movie in your head, and it's amazing. It's truly breathtaking. Few authors I've read can truly make me feel like I'm "there"...honestly I think of J.K. Rowling and Dan Brown, but even Dam Brown isn't as vivid. Clare is incredible. Will is amazing. Jem is perfectly imperfect. Both have flaws, but that's what leaves you wanting more. There's no wonderful, amazing, perfect character, and I enjoy that. Embracing the imperfections makes me appreciate the characterizations even more, and Clare excels at it. The twists she sets you on are completely out in left field, but yet they make perfect sense. She sets you up, and you almost want to smack your head because you think, "Holy cow!" and that's a completely, completely good thing. There's nothing that she could have done to make this book more impressive.

THE BAD:

There is none. Truly. It took me a moment to get into the story, but only because I'm usually not a reader of world building stories. Clare has given me a new take on what it means to truly "show" and not "tell" as a writer, and I enjoyed every minute of the lesson. And this shouldn't even be in the "bad" section, so I digress. :)

CONCLUSION:

If you haven't read this book, go get it now! Clare has woven a world and tale so rich that I doubt she could run out of things to tell if she wanted to. I don't think I will ever get tired of her writing style, and I'm diving into Clockwork Prince right NOW! :)

RATING: 5 of 5 Books

My Book Boyfriend (#2): Will Herondale (Clockwork Angel)

Hey all, and welcome to this week's installment of My Book Boyfriend, a weekly meme hosted by Missie over at The Unread Reader. If you'd like to play along, it's simple! Just share one of your latest literary crushes; you know, give his stats, a picture of what you think he might look like, and some of his quotes that make you melt into a heap on your couch, chair, or wherever you read. :) For more details, check out the rules, then get your boyfriend posted! :)

My book boyfriend rests in the pages of Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel. He's snarky, overconfident, and just might be hiding a side that would make us all swoon! He's Will Herondale!

Will Herondale Description:

• He's a Shadowhunter
• He's stubborn, opinionated, and overly confident in himself
• He's got dark blue eyes and shaggy hair
• Marks cover his body so he can perform his duties as a Shadowhunter
• He's hiding something from Tessa
• His goal in life seems to be to infuriate everyone he comes in contact with.

QUOTES:

"Will leaped down from the ladder and landed lightly in front of her. 'You do believe everything I say, though, don't you? Do I seem unusually trustworthy to you, or are you just a naive sort?'"

~*~*~

"Will sighed and leaned against one of the posts of the bed. 'I had such plans for this evening. The pursuit of blind drunkenness and wayward women was my goal. But alas, it was not to be. No sooner had I consumed my third drink in the Devil than I was accosted by a delightful small flower-selling child who asked me for twopence for a daisy. The price seemed steep, so I refused. When I told the girl as much, she proceeded to rob me.' 'A little girl robbed you?' Tessa said. 'Actually, she wasn't a little girl at all, as it turns out, but a midget in a dress with a penchant for violence, who goes by the name of Six-Fingered Nigel.' 'Easy mistake to make,' Jem said."

~*~*~

"Do you normally turn up in gentlemen's bedrooms in the middle of the night? If I'd known that, I would have campaigned harder to make sure Charlotte let you stay."

~*~*~

"'Well, she's not responding to my advances,' he observed more brightly than he felt, 'so she must be dead.'"

~*~*~

"'You're right,' Will said, 'I shouldn't underestimate my own skills. Should Tessa make a mess of things, I'm sure I'll be able to fight our way through the slavering vampire masses to freedom.'"

~*~*~

"Gabriel's face darkened. 'Is there anything that isn't a joke to you?' 'Nothing comes to mind.' 'You know,' Gabriel said, 'there was a time I thought we could be friends, Will.' 'There was a time I thought I was a ferret,' Will said, 'but that turned out to be the opium haze. Did you know it had that effect? Because I didn't.'"

Oh, how I love a sarcastic, snarky, sexy guy! Will is so yummy sounding, while at the same time I just want to smack him! You know he's got a soft side just hiding all the snark...and I can't wait to find it! My Will is played by Adam Gregory.

What do you think? Who's your book boyfriend this weekend? Leave your link and share those cuties! :)

Teaser Tuesday (#2): Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just click the following link to see the rules. Without further ado, here are my teasers for the week: 

•  "Sophie's words came out in a rush. 'He isn't someone you should care for, Miss Tessa. Not like that. He isn't to be trusted, or relied on. He--he isn't what you think he is.'"
• "'It's alright to love someone who doesn't love you back, as long as they're worth you loving them. As long as they deserve it.'"

--Clockwork Angel, by Cassandra Clare

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!