Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices, #2)

by Cassandra Clare

As the Council attempts to strip Charlotte of her power, sixteen-year-old orphaned shapechanger Tessa Gray works with the London Shadowhunters to find the Magister and destroy his clockwork army, learning the secret of her own identity while investigating his past.

• ISBN10: 1416975888
• ISBN13: 9781416975885
• Publish Date: 6 December 2011
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Simon & Schuster
• Edition: Collector's ed.
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 528
• Language: English

Reviews

[Amanda]

Original review: http://onabookbender.com/2012/02/01/review-clockwork-prince-by-cassandra-clare/

It is extremely difficult to talk about what happened in Clockwork Prince without giving a lot away, so instead I will share a conversation that I had with Tara upon finishing the book.

Me: I just finished reading Clockwork Prince. I’m not sure I want to cry or be sick. OMG.
Tara: Is that the second on the spinoff series or the first?
Me: The second. Angel is the first. IT HURTS.
Tara: That does and does not make me want to read it.
Me: It’s like an OMG, I am so emotionally invested in this book and holy SHIT that decision tears me apart, and OH GOD, WILL.
Tara: Oh no. Oh I don’t think I can read it. At least not until the next one comes out.
Me: OH GOD. The next one doesn’t come out until the end of the year. *curls up in a ball*
Tara: Yeah I’m definitely waiting.
Me: BUT WHO WILL I TALK TO!? I will have to keep the pain locked inside me where it will fester and grow.
Tara: Sounds like PABD.
Me: *cries* Nooooooo, anything but that!
Tara: Step 1: acknowledge you have PABD.
Me: No. I am still in denial. Leave me in my misery!
Tara: Step 2: pick another book or reread a favorite passage of an old book.
Me: I CANNOT TOUCH ANOTHER BOOK.

Do you really need a real review after that conversation? What? Yes? Okay, here goes. Even with the non-spoilery reviews, I knew Clockwork Prince was going to affect me on some level. I was not quite expecting to feel nearly physically ill upon finishing with the way this book tore me up. And yes, the love triangle plays a large part in my upset (have I mentioned before how much I dislike love triangles?). How could it not? But enough of that.

In addition to Will, Jem, and Tessa, we really get to see and learn more about the other characters like Sophie, Charlotte, and Henry. (side note: I love Magnus Bane, I really do…but I love Will more. WILL!) All this time spent on characters allows the story to develop and for us to become more attached not just to Tessa’s story, but to everyone else’s story as well.

While there is an ending to the book, there is still a lot more left hanging, certain mysteries that still require solving. I can only hope that there are the answers I need in Clockwork Princess and that my heart can be repaired. Er… I mean, I hope that there is a satisfactory conclusion, love triangle wise.

Damn love triangles.

[bookishzelda]

Well this might have **spoilers*** because I just feel like I can write it any other way.

Well I have to say I closed the book feeling throughly pissed off. Not because it was awful, it was of course so well written that got me emotionally involved. Cassandra Clare never disappoints even when she makes me so angry.

I loved the twist and turns in this book. The betrayls, the things I couldn't even guess and of course the love. I felt like I was looking around every corner of my house waiting for a Clockwork monster to pop out. I also enjoyed the addition of Gideon and his affections for a little lady.

Now Tessa, well I just wanted to climb right into the book and slap that girl. I swear if she said Jem was so good and and kind one more time....Tessa I felt was very judgemental in this book. She was so willing to see Will's flaws even though he supposedly broke her heart. If her heart was really invested in him she wouldn't have given up on him so easily. Jem on the hand she judged in a different way, holding him on pedistal. I feel like she is a little on the needy side, just wanting someone to love her with the least amount of effort. Jem is safe, easy and uncomplicated. Her witty side does not come out when she interacts with him though. She's not the Tessa I liked so much from the first book with him. If she can't decide between the two then maybe she should choose neither. Of course she would be alone then. The whole thing just had me fuming.

People said this was truly Jem's book. I didnt really get that from it. I still don't really feel like we know Jem in depth. Just scraping the surface of him.

Well see though. I'm beyond anxious for the next book of course.

[Linda]

OMG, this was even better than the first book! Poor tortured Will, poor confused Tessa, and poor, sick Jem!!

There were quite a few curveballs that were thrown here, some things really surprised me. I will try my best to not spoil anything here, though.

I loved seeing more of the history between Magnus and the Shadowhunters, and it is easier to understand how he could become attached to the present-day Shadowhunters because of this.

Tessa will hopefully be able to figure out what she is, I have a little theory about this... I think she is actually part fairy and part Shadowhunter

Will Jem survive his illness? It would seem really cruel if he doesn't, but at the same time, it would be kind of strange if he does. It's a Catch22 if I ever saw one!

Charlotte and Henry finally got the chance to talk, and to understand each other better - it's amazing they knew so little of each other having been married for a while already!

Will got to show a completely different side of himself - he has been fighting his demons for so long, he had no idea how to act once he could let his guard down a little.

and it was completely heart-breaking the way he finally got his courage to tell Tessa he's in love with her, only to be told it's too late because Jem had already proposed to her *sigh*