Clockwork Princess - April BOTM Discussion

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Discuss the book here!

The question to think about is:

In Clockwork Angel Charlotte says to Tessa: "You look back on the life you had, Tessa, and it seems safe to you in comparison to this one...If you had not come to London, where would you have gone...What would you have done?...You have a power of incalculable value...You are free and that freedom is a gift."

Do you think that Tessa's life would have been better had Nate not betrayed her? Had she never come to London? Do you think the life she lived was better than the one she could have?

Or was she always destined to discover what she was eventually? Would the wheel have turned full circle?

Please feel free to extend the discussion beyond the questions (which are there as a topic-starter!) and simply talk about the book as well :D

[talltyrion]

Well, wouldn't she still be immortal? Wouldn't Will still believe he was cursed? Wouldn't Jem be dead? Simple as that.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

The first one is a good question to consider. Just as how Tessa's mother technically wasn't a Shadowhunter because she didn't have runes, would Tessa be what she was without the Dark Sisters teaching her to find it within herself? Tessa never had any abilities before she learned to hone them and was taught. If she'd left them dormant would she still be the immortal shape-shifter?

[talltyrion]

Hmm... Even so, Will would be cursed and Jem dead.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Maybe.

I doubt Will would have found the initiative to go to someone - e.g. Magnus - and discover the truth of the curse. But Jem...Jem would have lived a little longer on the ying fen, but he still could have become a Silent Brother - without feeling bad about breaking any engagements (though, of course, breaking his parabati bond would have been hard).

The story turned out for the best because Tessa did come to London, though.

[talltyrion]

Exactly. But Will would have had more misery, and we don't know what Jem would have done provided it was no longer for Tessa or at least with her in mind.

[Mark]

Like all the rest of the author's books I found Clockwork Princess quite enjoyable, and in answer to the question on the top of the page, no.

[Anna]

"Would the wheel have turned full circle?" *sobbing*

[Anna]

I think her coming to London was for the better. Not just for herself, but for many of the other characters of the books. I agree with you booknut that if the Dark Sisters hadn't unlocked that part of her, she may never have become the immortal shape shifter. And if that's the case, Magnus would have lost his immortal buddy. Will and Jem would have lost there one true love. I doubt Will would have the need to go looking for the answer to the cure, so he would go on being alone in life. Jem would have eventually died (although a little later), and he would then leave Will truly alone. Also, when Jem discovers away to un-silent brother himself, who would he return too? Or would he even look for a way to make himself mortal again? Speaking of which I'm super curious to how he does this! I assume we'll find out in CoHF :) Oh! Another thing that would not be without Tessa going to London is her and Will's lil babies :)

[Zohal, Co-Moderator]

If Tessa never came to London then the Herondale line would never have happened, therefore Jace would not exist. It would shift all future events and may even result in the events of Mortal Instruments to never occur.

[talltyrion]

Or maybe Jace would still exist, but not the Jace we know and love. God knows how confusing everyone's parentage would be then. It's hard enough now.

[Anna]

Isabelle wrote: "If Tessa never came to London then the Herondale line would never have happened, therefore Jace would not exist. It would shift all future events and may even result in the events of Mortal Instrum..."

That is a truly terrifying thought.