Clockwork Angel: Volume 1 (Infernal Devices, #1)

by Cassandra Clare

Jennifer Ehle (Narrator)

Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still. Discover the "compulsively readable" (Booklist) first book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy, prequel to the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series--now with a gorgeous new cover, a map, a foreword, and excusive bonus content! Clockwork Angel is a Shadowhunters novel.

When 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 a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform 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 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.

• ISBN10: 1442334614
• ISBN13: 9781442334618
• Publish Date: 31 August 2010
• Publish Status: Active
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Format: Audiobook
• Duration: 13 hours
• Language: English

Reviews

[Amanda]

Actual rating: 4.5

Original review: http://onabookbender.com/2011/08/29/review-clockwork-angel-by-cassandra-clare/

Clockwork Angel was the type of book that drew me in without my realizing what was happening, and captured my attention and heart so that when it ended, I immediately wanted more. Not only did I add the rest of this series to my TBR list (and grumbled about the books not being released yet; wait? I hate waiting) but I also added the Mortal Instruments series. If Clockwork Angel is representative of the type of story Cassandra Clare can write, then I want to read them all. Or, perhaps as Missie would say, I’d like to lick Cassandra Clare’s brain.

Clockwork Angel is probably only the third steampunk book that I have read (I am counting Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate as a single entity, since it is the same world), but I am thinking that, if the world is built right, it is a genre I can get behind. I already enjoy historical fiction, so a little fantasy and/or paranormal makes it that much more fun. Although there is a lot of world building, because Clockwork Angel is the first book of three, there is still plenty left to learn and there are still questions that remain unanswered.

I am not quite sure if I want to classify the ending — “epilogue” — as a cliffhanger. To an extent it is, but I also feels that it leaves the door open. There is a clear resolution at the end, and it is that reason I hesitate to cry, “FOUL!” as I did in my review of Faefever. I have been left wondering, yes, but it is not an all-consuming and angry wondering. I would have continued reading this series without the epilogue hanging over my head.

As I mentioned earlier, I got pulled into Clockwork Angel without really realizing it. I found myself asking what about this book that had people so excited over it. Then I finished it and nearly smacked myself upside the head in my own foolishness. Clockwork Angel is seductive; it weaves an intricate story around you until you are caught within its trap. Its characters jump off the page with how real they are, and yet how much we still need to know of them. Will has every marking of the kind of hero I love (right down to his blue eyes), Tessa is a strong young woman who no doubt still has a lot to discover about herself, and Jem…Jem is heart-breaking, I think. Even the side characters have wormed their way into my heart.

I must have more of them.

[celinenyx]

Clockwork Angel is my first venture into the unknown steampunk-territory. In this alternate world, you have the whole supernatural bunch (vampires, werewolves, warlocks, some nephelim thrown in for good measure) living together with the normals in a Victorian-like age. In a time where skirts that show the ankles are considered extremely inappropriate, Tessa travels from New-York to London to go live with her brother. But instead of finding her brother at the pier she is abducted by two lady-warlocks.

After this the book follows Tessa trying to find and rescue her brother that has gotten himself in a whole lot of trouble. In order to do so, she has the help of the Shadowhunters, the warriors that protect the humans and keep the Downworlders from braking the Law.

I really enjoyed this, mostly because of the setting. I love the ambiance of Victorian London and I think Ms. Clare did extremely well portraying this. You can see she has taken the time to research her book and she implements characteristic parts of society effortless. The saying of one's Christian name is a big deal and I especially loved the shock of our properly bred Tessa when she hears a servant talking freely to one of the Shadowhunters.

As for Tessa as a heroine, I'm not so sure what to say of her. She's not really a weak damsel-in-distress kind of girl but you can't call her kick-ass with a straight face either. She's loyal to her brother and slightly protective, but not so much of a sensitive girl that looks after everyone. As main character she's (I'm almost afraid to use this word) a bit dull. I didn't feel that compassionate towards her. The only parts I enjoyed her character where those wherein she interacts with the young Shadowhunter Will. Enter the mysterious love-interest of the book.

Will is the typical mysterious guy almost every young-adult novel has. The sarcastic bad boy shell with a troubled sweet soul somewhere hidden deep inside him, that only the heroine can reach. We've seen it before countless times, in one form or the other. Yet I still like this one. It seems that a lot of people found Will's behaviour offensive or rude but I don't really see why anyone would take offence in his conduct. He cares for his friend-like-a-brother Jem and he does nothing that shocked me with rudeness. Maybe just because I thought his remarks were rather funny. Don't tell anyone though.

The plot was engaging, yet not that surprising. The major oh-my-gosh moment was hinted at so many times that when it finally came it was a bit disappointing. It was fast-paced though and I read the book in about two sittings. There were enough sidelines that keep you interested throughout the story, even though a lot of questions are left unanswered at the end of the book.

I liked this book. I will definitely check out Clockwork Prince, the second part of this series, due summer this year.

[jeannamichel]

Have you ever read the Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clare? Well, this is the prequel to that series. It was, at first, intriguing to find out that Clare was making a prequel, because I had no clue what it would be about. Let me just say- the year is 1878- a fact that was stated on the first page or so. Having the prequel set in historical England, where the other series is set in modern New York City is so different that I was merely taken away by that idea. Cassandra Clare brings her world alive, breathing life into her characters- all the while her readers are holding their breath.


I am in love with this book. However, I have read some other reviews that are not as optimistic as mine- they find Clare's style a bit of a drag. Cassandra Clare's style was, from the first page of the the book, what brought me into that world of hers. There is nonstop action and, at times, it is hard to catch your breath. It is like a blockbuster movie in print.

Clare has a way that makes the characters seem so real that when they speak- I heard them. She has quite a knack for making gorgeous characters, like the way she did with Jace in her previous series of the Mortal Instruments (like Stephenie Meyer had done with Edward Cullen).


Who doesn't love this cover? While this cover fits with the theme of her other novels, it stand alone too. I love the model's pose and simply love the small clockwork angel in the middle. If they do make merchandise on this certain series- I think the clockwork angel necklace would be a hit. It is absolutly gorgeous!

However, this ending is certainly agonizing! When I was young, too old for picture books, but not old enough for young adult novels, I would skip the epilogue until the next book in the series came out. I always thought how stupid that was, but now after reading so many epilogues with cliff-hangers, I have to say that I was one smart kid. Yes, Clockwork Angel does have one major cliff-hanger that made me smile and impatient for the next one to come.

For information on the next book in the series- titled the Clockwork Prince- go to Cassandra Clare's blog where she is currently giving away teasers for her upcoming novels. Yeah, go check it out.

[Hixxup]

OMG! at first I was kinda like ho hum on this story, maybe it was because I was sick. But I got more into and wow it was intense. Great book so cannot wait until the next one comes out.

[Melanie]

This book is so similar to City of Bones, it was very hard to get into the story. I know it takes place in the same world, but I have read other series that have spin-offs in the same world and they do not rewrite the same stories with different characters. This story is very predictable. It was very hard to even finish the book. I kept wanting to do something besides read this book. I will not be getting the next book in the series.

[Linda]

I love this universe, I love the Shadowhunters, the runes, the mystery and the fights! And it was great to see what has happened in the past, before we got to know Jace and Clary.