-A.M. Aguilar

Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Victorian London, Demon Hunters and Dazzling Romance

Welcome to The Infernal Devices. “Clockwork Angel” is book one in this series, and it is the prequel to the best-selling Shadowhunters saga, The Mortal Instruments. If you know me well, (or if you follow me on bookstagram 😉 ) then you know that Shadowhunters are one of my favorite books and I am captivated by Cassandra Clare’s writing style and theme.

Set in 1878, this book follows the story of Tessa Gray. A young lady who makes her way to London in search of her missing brother. After a turn of events, Tessa is drawn to the supernatural world of London and only with the help of the Shadowhunters she will be able to stop the darkness surging from the wicked side of London.

“One must always be careful of books, and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.”

Clare’s books follow the adventures of our courageous Shadowhunters, humans blessed by the angel, who are trained to kill demons and other supernatural monsters; with the help of some Downworlders every once in a while. Downworlders are all warlocks, werewolves, vampires and fairies that live as renegades from The Clave.

When Tessa arrives in London, her goal is to find her brother, Nate, who can look after her now that their aunt is dead. Nate wrote her a letter promising to meet her at the docks, but when she arrives he isn’t there. Instead, Mrs. Dark and Mrs. Black, await her saying that Nate sent them. Against her better judgment, Tessa follows them and is inmersed in this supernatural world.

The Dark Sisters start training Tessa in using her powers; powers she didn’t even know she had, for them to bring her before The Magister. After a series of events, we also meet the young Shadowhunters Will and Jem, whose investigations into missing teenagers finally lead them to the Pandemonium Club, where they encounter Tessa.

Will and Jem rescue Tessa, taking her back to their own home at the London Institute, which is a haven for Shadowhunters from all over the world. The Shadowhunters ally with Tessa to fight this secret evil club, ruled by The Magister, who plan on using clockwork creatures with demons inside, to rule the British Empire.

“It’s all right to love someone who doesn’t love you back, as long as they’re worth you loving them. As long as they deserve it.”

Cassandra Clare conveyed the plot and its twists amazingly while keeping you hooked every single chapter. The writing style she used to connect the unique characters and their developments, the beautiful Victorian London setting and the supernatural world in this novel, is impressive.

What I loved the most is the era this book is set in. Victorian London, 1878. Cassandra Clare portrayed this setting perfectly; from The Institute, the buildings and bridges of London to the clothes and dresses the characters wear, it was insanely attractive 🙂 .

All of the characters played such an important role, and the mysterious villain, The Magister, was a huge piece of the story. You can see how no character is left aside and all take a place in the investigations and the final battle.

Our main character, Tessa. has a huge development and learns the real meaning of love and bravery when she decides to take part in this supernatural world.

The formidable shadowhunters, Will, Jem, and Jessamine; the head of the London Institute, Charlotte and her husband Henry; and even the servants Sophie and Thomas, are all key to the plot. And of course, we get to meet the best warlock in London, Magnus Bane, who connects wonderfully to the rest of the characters.

“There’s plenty of sense in nonsense sometimes, if you wish to look for it.”

This book was extraordinary. I definitely recommend “The Infernal Devices” series if you’re in for incredible fiction novels with empowered characters, unique storylines and a little bit of romance 😀 . You will not regret reading Shadowhunters and will be totally inmersed in the rest of the sequels.

Have you read Clockwork Angel or is this book on your TBR? Tell me your thoughts down below!

“In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. 
The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to.
Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them.”

 

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