Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1) in Q&A with Cassandra Clare

Mar 02, 2011 Wendy Darling rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, historical-fiction, favorites-all-time, read-2011, crush-worthy-boys, retellings-and-inspirations, 1800s, steampunk, historical-fantasy, lgbtqia

A fan of Will Herondale, are you? Prepare to swoon.

The Dirty Sexy Attic Scene, from Will's point of view: http://www.cassandraclare.com/cms/loss1

Yeah, yeah, it's a little over the top in parts, but who cares? :D Yum

Merged review:

I don't give many 5 star reviews, but this one is definitely a 5 star book for me. While I liked Mortal Instruments, I wasn't as rabid a fan as I know many people are, so I read Clockwork Angel out of curiosity more than anything else...and I'm so glad I did!

This book is ...more

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Sep 14, 2010 Dorothy rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. First off, confession time. I love The Mortal Instruments (TMI) series. I love it with a ridiculous amount of passion, and so when I found out a prequel would be released before the fourth installment (City of Fallen Angels), I thought I would rather have CoFA released first. It's not that I wasn't excited for this- I bought it on its release date after all- I was just looking forward to CoFA more. That hardly matters now because Cassandra Clare has managed to turn me into a believer once again. First off, confession time. I love The Mortal Instruments (TMI) series. I love it with a ridiculous amount of passion, and so when I found out a prequel would be released before the fourth installment (City of Fallen Angels), I thought I would rather have CoFA released first. It's not that I wasn't excited for this- I bought it on its release date after all- I was just looking forward to CoFA more. That hardly matters now because Cassandra Clare has managed to turn me into a believer once again. I wasn't in any way surprised that I ended up loving Clockwork Angel; I was surprised that I ended up loving it enough to think that the Infernal Devices series might turn out better than TMI. It's too early to tell for sure, but this much I can say: I loved Clockwork Angel more than City of Bones. It's much darker, which in this case actually works to be a good thing. The plot is more complex and intricate and I think Cassandra Clare (CC) is setting us up for big things. I'm saying all these even if I know that comparisons between the two series are inevitable. True, there are glaring similarities. Even the formula for the romance is almost the same. When I first started reading, I couldn't help but think of Tessa as Clary, Will as Jace, Jem as Simon and Jessamine as Isabelle. It wasn't until somewhere past page 200, when Tessa and Will came to the vampire de Quincey's house, that I felt the story really began to come into its own. Things only got better from there.

Having said all that, the coherent part of the review is now over. I'm on raving fangirl mode now (spoilers abound). The following is actually part of a series of text messages I sent a friend who is a fellow CC fangirl. When I start sending book reviews via text, I know I have it bad.

Tessa- She's awesome! She loves to read and that makes her ten times cooler to me. I like that CC's female characters are feisty and not the typical damsels in distress. And the Boadicea part! Genius!
Jem- He's super nice and super sweet and has a heartbreaking backstory. CC kills off characters (Thomas! Max!) but so far she hasn't killed a major character. Please don't let Jem be the first! Find a cure! I like him with Tessa and I love how he brings out jealous Will.
Will- Katy Perry's Hot n Cold should be on his playlist. He can make you swoon but he can also make you want to strangle him. That last scene with Tessa was harsh. It serves him right when Tessa realizes that Jem is good for her. But there is a big but. Will is an enigma. Clockwork Angel ends with more questions than answers, and one of the biggest is this: What in the world is wrong with Will?

I always have a clear favorite when it comes to love triangles, so I was very happy about how both the Jem and Will characters were developed to be equally worthy of Tessa. They both have their own strengths and weaknesses and I look forward to where CC will take their relationship with each other now that Tessa is in the picture. At this point I can say that I'm okay with whoever she ends up with. This is quite a significant first for me.

Now comes the hardest part- the waiting. I tried to read Clockwork Angel as slowly as I could, even limiting myself to 50 pages a night, just so I wouldn't have to end it so soon. But now it's over and I have a year-long wait ahead of me. I will just have to console myself with the thought that CoFA is due out in roughly seven months. ...more

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Sep 27, 2009 Jaime West rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own, fantasy, young-adult, faeries

The Infernal Devices..Book 1 -Set in the Shadowhunter world in 1878 in London. Awesome!
A whole new set of Characters; Tessa, Will, Jem/James, Sophie, Jessamine, Charlotte and Henry..
Cassandra Clare did a great job with her research (not that I would be able to correct her) of London and it's architectural history.
I found this book to gather momentum much faster than City of Bones, there was more grit to this story and a great new plot. Cassandra has a wonderful imagination for her stories.

If an The Infernal Devices..Book 1 -Set in the Shadowhunter world in 1878 in London. Awesome!
A whole new set of Characters; Tessa, Will, Jem/James, Sophie, Jessamine, Charlotte and Henry..
Cassandra Clare did a great job with her research (not that I would be able to correct her) of London and it's architectural history.
I found this book to gather momentum much faster than City of Bones, there was more grit to this story and a great new plot. Cassandra has a wonderful imagination for her stories.

If anyone is dumb enough to complain or criticise that one character seems very much like someone from the Mortal Instruments series, well I have this to say to you 'dah' and that I am tempted to smack you up side the head with my hardback copy.. Cassandra is very open about this and announces it, don't make a fool of yourself, just re-read Mortal Instruments.

Tessa made me quite sad, in fact this first book has allot of sadness in it, more than I really expected. Tessa comes from New York to live with her brother. But when she arrives, her brother is missing. This is where she ends up entangled in the world of the Shadow. Meeting Charlotte, Will, Jem, and Jess..
Will with black hair and dark blue eyes, Jem with silver blonde hair and grey eyes, I wouldn't know where to oogle..

It seems more like an Orphanage than an Institute in this book, and the drama is dripping off the pages. I love the drama, especially when it’s woven into the couples dynamic, that’s why I am a romance whore. Drama is the chewy stuff in a book, the glue that keeps it all together, makes you come back for more. Makes you squeeze your book and say 'I just want to know what happens!' or 'Geez, would you just kiss, already!' If Cassandra excels in anything, it's this; drama and twisted love.. She makes you grit your teeth, trying to feel for both sides of the spectrum, as hard as that is! Trying to make excuses for peoples behaviour because they are dying inside, but you don't know it, you have to notice the subtle nuances that person displays. There are times that I didn’t understand some peoples behaviour but I think that will become clearer as the story progresses.

I am amazed at how much work goes into all her characters, in her books. When I read her books I know that Cassandra knows everything about every characters, major or minor. She never has someone purely for cannon fodder or someone that just looks pretty, or has funny one liners. They all have a purpose and are intertwined into the story. No wastage!
This however means you must be paying attention at all times, or you will miss something!

I had very high expectations going into this book, as I wait with baited breath for City of Fallen Angels, and I was not disappointed. It proves that Cassandra has created herself a world that is limitless, well, as limitless as her imagination is.. Ms Clare you’re a God and I wish to worship your keyboard, and all things it creates!! Bring on the Graphic Novel!
...more

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Aug 14, 2010 Aaliyah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2010-book-challenge

To begin with I wasn't going to buy or read this series because I had heard to continue reading Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments series it wasn't necessary that I read this. However I was at Waterstones one day in September and as if by magic this book made it into my hands, and I DO NOT regret buying it. Although the first few chapters didn't hook me in right away once I gave Clockwork Angel a chance I found myself immersed in the streets of Victorian England and caught up in Tessa's em ...more

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Sep 24, 2009 Elyzia rated it it was amazing

I am such a HUGE fan of the Mortal Instruments, one of the best series I have read, in YA. I love the way Clare writes. When this book was being released I was a bit hesitant to read it. I was a little uneasy about the time setting of the book, I thought that it was going to be a prequel that could never compare to the Mortal Instruments. I hold Mortal Instruments very high, and there have been maybe one or two YA series that have compared to that series. So when I started Clockwork Angel, I exp I am such a HUGE fan of the Mortal Instruments, one of the best series I have read, in YA. I love the way Clare writes. When this book was being released I was a bit hesitant to read it. I was a little uneasy about the time setting of the book, I thought that it was going to be a prequel that could never compare to the Mortal Instruments. I hold Mortal Instruments very high, and there have been maybe one or two YA series that have compared to that series. So when I started Clockwork Angel, I expected to be disappointed. Boy did Ms. Clare prove me WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!
I absolutely loved this book, I am very anxious to read the rest of the series, and it is going to be a long wait until the next one comes out.
It was great to see some familiar names of characters that I truly enjoyed in MI.
Also, there are some very strong similarities between Jace ( Mortal Instruments) and Will. Will is a very strong character, with many levels to his personality. He is carefree, reckless, loyal, secretive and at times cruel. But he has a way of crawling into your heart and staking a claim to it. He is hiding a major secret, that I am sure will take a book or two to unveil. his emotions are kept in check, and he wants to let go, but he always holds back. I am anxious to learn more of the very interesting, very beautiful Will.
Then we meet Jem. What an awesome character. He is strong, but has a condition that makes him even more loving to the reader. He is a fierce fighter, but a true gentleman. Smart beyond his years, offers sound advice, and you can tell that he wants happiness.
Tessa...she is strong, determined, a bit naive at the beginning, but develops into a powerful female. She lets her heart lead her and she desperately wants things to be normal. Great leading character. She too has some similarities to the MI character, Clary.
The rest of the characters in this book are all remember-able. None of them fall off to the side, they all play an important part, and keep you wondering to the end who is who. I think there are some more surprises in store for this series.
The action was remarkable. Like I said I was a little tentative about the setting and era of the book, but I found myself falling right into it, and not thinking about it being so long ago, in another country and time. The language was easy to go with, you know it's great writing when you start reading in a British accent!!!
I really feel that this one is going to be a great series. If you have not read Mortal Instruments yet, you can still read this series. I think either way you read them, starting with this one, or reading Mortal Instruments first, you will love it.
Cassandra Clare can tell a story like no other. She is intelligent, witty, and demands your attention in her novels. She kept my interest all the way to the end, and I am dying to read the next one. I don't know if I will be able to stand not knowing what is going to happen next. A lot of loose ends in this one, but a lot of questions were answered too. Relationships seem like they may start, but not entirely sure with who. It is not your expected love triangle that so many authors are using.
I absolutely recommend this book!!!!!!!!!!!
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Mar 06, 2010 Just Me rated it really liked it

**Slight spoilers**

Overall, this book was just as well-composed and thought out as Miss Clare's previous series (which I simply love! I can't wait for the rumored next installment). However, I felt that the
"romance" that almost spontaneously occurs between both Will AND Jem wasn't real enough. She only just meets both of them, and suddenly she has to make a choice between mysterious and safe or wild and dangerous. In my opinion her relationship with the two boys should have been better develop ...more

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Jan 27, 2010 Daydreemer5696 rated it it was amazing

I adore this book! The Mortal Instruments left me very excited for another of Clare's books and I've been waiting now for over a year. The plot is completely captivating, allowing you to think of nothing else. My biggest dilemas now are one: I have to wait until March to read City of Fallen Angels, and two: deciding witch Heronalde boy I prefer more, Jace or Will! I'm very excited for another book. Clare's writting is enthralling! ...more

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Sep 28, 2009 Sarah rated it really liked it

Shelves: fave-authors, angels, magic, faerie, daemons

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book, can't wait for the next one :)

Second review

I love this book. It's even better the second time reading it. ...more

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