Clockwork Princess Buddy Read

[Meaghan]

I've noticed a couple times now where Gideon's name is used where Gabriel's name should be, lol. Has anyone else noticed this at all?? I edit a lot in my job...

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Lol I think I noticed it once and thought I was just confused lol! That's what happens when you use too similar names for brothers, I've done that before too but my wife usually catches it before I publish :)

[Meaghan]

I'm about 55% in now. I have to keep taking small breaks so I don't start crying! I'm like Jen, I never cry during books! I feel really bad for the characters, and cry internally for them but never physically cry!

(view spoiler)[ Poor Will!! However, I'm still not convinced Jem is dead. We have not heard of seeing his body yet. The most proof we have is that Will's parabati rune is gone. However, isn't that just a Shadowhunter thing? If Jem is no longer a Shadowhunter, Will would not have the rune anymore, correct? (hide spoiler)]

[Karen’s Library]

Oh oh... crying. I'm back to being scared.

[Meaghan]

59% in! (view spoiler)[ I can't believe Gabriel is doing that!!! I figured he'd fall in love with Ceclily and go against the Consul. Ugh! (hide spoiler)]

[Meaghan]

I'm about 62% in now! (view spoiler)[ I had a bad feeling there was an alterior motive to Mortmain wanting Tessa to change into his father! I hope Will finds her soon! (hide spoiler)]

[Karen’s Library]

Ok, can't stand it! I'm taking the next hour off work to read. ;-)

[Meaghan]

64% in...PREDICTION! (view spoiler)[ By the end, the Clave will make Charlotte the Consul. (hide spoiler)]

[Meaghan]

65% in...(view spoiler)[ YAY SOPHIE AND GIDEON!!! :D (hide spoiler)]

[Karen’s Library]

Meaghan wrote: "I'm about 55% in now. I have to keep taking small breaks so I don't start crying! I'm like Jen, I never cry during books! I feel really bad for the characters, and cry internally for them but never..."

I'm at 59%. That's what I keep thinking too. (view spoiler)[Did Jem go with the silent brothers? Maybe he went through the portal and is just to far away for the rune to work? Anything but that he died!? (hide spoiler)]

[Karen’s Library]

So that's who Adele is..! (view spoiler)[Nice way to explain how Tessa is 1/2 shadowhunter and 1/2 demon! And I knew that dang clockwork angel pendant had to be more than just a pendant! It's like a guardian angel for Tessa! (hide spoiler)]

[Jen]

Meaghan wrote: "65% in...[spoilers removed]"

I know right? I love the way she decided to "murder the cook" lol!

[Meaghan]

I'm now 76% in (view spoiler)[ Poor Henry!! :( I never saw that coming. I thought he'd be fine! But YAY TESSA AND WILL!!!! I just can't be upset about that one! Magnus made me laugh when he found them. I wish Tessa would confess to Will that she loves him too. Will has said it like 50 times to Tessa, Tessa: 0. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen’s Library]

Meaghan wrote: "I'm now 76% in [spoilers removed]"

78% in... (view spoiler)[Henry!!!! Noooooo...

And Jem!!! I knew it! (hide spoiler)]

[Meaghan]

I'm about 87% now. (view spoiler)[ Jem's goodbye just killed me a little bit inside! D: (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

You guys are way ahead of me, lol! Made it to 54%, and I had to put the book down for awhile, because I was crying already! (view spoiler)[ I'm also glad Jem found out, and I'm also happy that he reacted exactly like I wanted him to! (hide spoiler)]

[Karen’s Library]

Oooooohhhhhhh.... Best ending EVER!! I'm stunned and overwhelmed! I need to breathe and sit on this for a bit. Wow...!

[Meaghan]

Here is my final review:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Meaghan]

I don't think my emotions were set up to handle this book...

I don't know if I'm overly happy or just plain depressed right now...

[Karen’s Library]

Meaghan wrote: "Here is my final review:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/..."

Great review, Meaghan! :-)

[Karen’s Library]

I think I need to own these books in hardcover! ;-)

[Meaghan]

I was thinking that too Karen! I love the covers!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Eep 70%! Love all your little spoiler comments so far :) I was so glad that (view spoiler)[ Gabriel didn't send the letter! And I'm pretty sure Jem isn't dead as no one at the institute seems sad enough and Clare would have made his whole death thing more emotional. It was almost like a cold non-event so I'm guessing he's alive in some capacity. At least I hope! (hide spoiler)] Glad you all loved it! I hope to finish today if I can get my ARCs of Water & Storm Country finished!

[Trina]

Infernal Devices is one of my favourite books i finished clockwork princess (it really is beautiful book but omg did i cry both happy and sad tears) a few months ago but listening to you all has made me want to reread it - I won't put any spoilers in but everyone will enjoy it especially the ending its perfect, i'll keep reading yr updates can't wait to find out what others think about this book!

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Aww thanks Kat!! We are all enjoying it so much it seems, just like you!

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Karen wrote: "I think I need to own these books in hardcover! ;-)"

I do have all three in hardcover, they are just beautiful books and I'm keeping them!

[Jen]

Jenny wrote: "Karen wrote: "I think I need to own these books in hardcover! ;-)"

I do have all three in hardcover, they are just beautiful books and I'm keeping them!"

I ordered them from Amazon in hardcover just to have them - and I already have Angel from a great little store called Ollie's (sort of another version of Big Lots). I'm headed there today and might find even more stuff!

[Jen]

Meaghan wrote: "Here is my final review:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/..."

LOVED this review!

[Meaghan]

Thanks Karen and Jen! :D

Now I'm having the issue of not being able to get into my next book because I know it just won't measure up to this book. *sigh* The bad part about ending an exceptional book!

[Karen’s Library]

Meaghan wrote: "Thanks Karen and Jen! :D

Now I'm having the issue of not being able to get into my next book because I know it just won't measure up to this book. *sigh* The bad part about ending an exceptional b..."

OHMYGAWD.. I'm doing the same thing. I read a few pages of a book I was reading BEFORE we started this one and I already didn't really like it, so I ended up throwing my Nook (only to the other side of my bed). I may not read anything for a day or two until I can come down from this book.

[Meaghan]

I'm trying to read a book and have made it to page 38 and have basically ripped the book apart already. I should just stop. lol

[Karen’s Library]

Final thoughts.

Charlotte - (view spoiler)[So happy she's the Consul now (good prediction, Meaghan) and about to have her first child. In the first book, I really wasn't sure how I felt about Charlotte, but she ended up being a beloved character. (hide spoiler)]

Henry - (view spoiler)[Oh my... I was so heartbroken when I thought he had died. When Magnus found his pulse, I was beside myself with relief. Love that he was off inventing even more stuff and that he and Charlotte are so in love and happy! Great ending for them even if Henry is in a wheelchair. It didn't seem to affect his spirit whatsoever! Loved that! (hide spoiler)]

Cecily and Gabriel - (view spoiler)[Perfect, perfect, perfect... Love how she took charge of their sort of "engagement" at her parents. (hide spoiler)]

Sophie and Gideon - (view spoiler)[Sophie's a shadowhunter!! Love her! And she got her man who loves her beauty!! What a perfect ending to her story. Gideon, loved his character as well. (hide spoiler)]

Will, Tessa and Jem - (view spoiler)[I really really disliked Will in book 1. What an ass. But wow, the transformation through the books were incredible and his love for both Jem and Tessa were to die for. I loved all the flowery language between the three of them, although I did get a bit bored at ONE point. I thought it went on just a teeny bit too long. But Wow... Just wow, on how Clare ended this so that the love triangle actually worked. And all three were fulfilled and happy with each other. Amazing. Tessa absolutely deserved to be with Jem 70 years after Will's death. That was brilliant!! (hide spoiler)]

Tessa's skill(view spoiler)[Amazing to finally have her shape shifter ability be so useful that she became the angel! I'm so glad that it was MORE than just turning her into Mortmain's father to get the final secrets from him. I KNEW that the clockwork angel pendant had to play a big part. I just never imagined anything to that extent. Wow, just WOW!! (hide spoiler)]

Questions: (view spoiler)[If Tessa is half demon does that mean that her descendents are part demon then, (Jace)? Or does her shadowhunter side of her prevail and the demon side is irradicated. Or maybe because she became the angel, it erased the demon part of her?

And will she and Jem meet Jace in book 6 of TMI? ;-D Lots of wishful thinking on my part. (hide spoiler)]

Soooooo... All in all, the writing, the characters, the story... Brilliant and like, Jen, my favorite book at this time! I think I need to reread TMI now. :-P

[Meaghan]

Haha Karen! I bought City of Bones last night after I finised this! I foresee many buddy reads in the future...

[Meaghan]

I was wondering that (view spoiler)[ about her children too!!! I heard, though, in the new series, Dark Artifices, we will see Jem and Tessa!!! MUST READ! (hide spoiler)]

[Karen’s Library]

I had no clue there was going to be another series. Swoon!! Lady Midnight Prince of Shadows The Queen of Air and Darkness

[Karen’s Library]

Meaghan wrote: "Haha Karen! I bought City of Bones last night after I finised this! I foresee many buddy reads in the future..."

YESSSS!!

[Jen]

Meaghan wrote: "Thanks Karen and Jen! :D

Now I'm having the issue of not being able to get into my next book because I know it just won't measure up to this book. *sigh* The bad part about ending an exceptional b..."

I'll have to quote Karen on this one - OMG! I had to give it about a day. I've still gone back at night as I'm falling asleep and listened to random bits. On the audio, I just adore Jem's voice. And Magnus'.
I jumped into Until I Die but knew it wouldn't measure up. Fortunately, it's decent and has a cliffhanger, so I'm on to the 3rd installment.

I know you've probably all read TMI, but if you want to do a buddy read on any of them, definitely let me know! I'm in!

[Jen]

Favourite quote:

"One does not question miracles, or complain that they are not perfectly constructed to one's liking."

[Meaghan]

I don't think Karen or I have even started TMI series yet Jen! :D I just bought City of Bones last night after I finished Clockwork Princess.

[Karen’s Library]

I'm ready when you are!! I think we had planned to do Hunger this weekend, but I'd rather jump back into the world of Ms. Clare!!

David, what say you? Jenny? I know you have both read TMI already, but not sure if Jenny was doing Hunger with us.

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

I was planning on Hunger tomorrow. I have recently reread the entire TMI series, so I probably won't read it with you, but I would jump in with comments :)

I need to reread Crossed by Ally Condie so I can finally read Reached!

[Meaghan]

Yep, hunger tomorrow! I'm excited! :)

[Meaghan]

I have a few on my to read for this month. I may need about a week to get thru a couple before starting city of bones.

[Jenny, Always smiling! :-D]

Okay, awesome! Hopefully David is still joining us! I'll start a thread for us!

[Karen’s Library]

Hunger it is!! Loaded and ready.

I did have to go buy Clockwork Princess in hardback tonight though! I HAD to see the family trees in the book jacket! And once I start the reread of TMI, I knew I'd have to have it so I could see everyone's history.

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Finished!!! Eep! So do good, loved the ending and the closure and a gentle tear dribbled down my cheek, one of happiness :) And Meaghan was right! Lol good prediction although Ms Clare's blatant misdirection did annoy me a little, in the end it was the perfect result and thank god it wasn't forever! Happy happy happy and satisfied :)

[Jen]

Some final thoughts for me, too -

The ending: I adored this ending because it was closure. I hold it up for comparison to two particular good series: Boundless, where the right guy got the girl but . . . the really good guy got left out. Bittersweet. And then Delirium, a series I loved but was incredibly disappointed by the ending. I think Cassandra Clare has proven here that it's possible for things to end well for everyone and not be neatly tied up like a fairytale.

The writing: there are so many lines in this book that I think are just profoundly quotable. Maybe it's the 19th century language, but several are just so simple. There is one about the brevity of life making it precious, that one I loved about miracles, and several others. It is not often that you have a book like this be so insightful into the truths of life.

The depth: I have yet to come across a fictional book for young adults that contains so many of the principles this book offers. Books by Ted Dekker come close, but they never have quite the appeal that this story offers. Altruistic love, brotherly love, romantic love, propriety, honor, and basically preferring others over oneself - these aren't just good ideas, but they are some of the tenets of my faith. That they are offered to this target group in such packaging makes me amazed. That alone makes the book worth reading.

Odds and ends: I love the way we got to know Will even better in flashbacks after his death, seeing him as he aged. I got a shallow sense of Tessa's grief after he died, but that was enough when put in context. I loved the way the romance budded between Cecily and Gabriel. And that whole proposal between Sophie and Gideon was priceless. Throwing Brigit in for a bit of comic relief was wonderful. Magnus Bane was as interesting as Woolsy was intriguing (good guy or bad guy?). Morefield was a crazy bad guy, but I've read crazier, and he was crazy enough for the plot. Which, by the way, took so many turns that I was continually surprised.

And Jem. Well, he was the best part. He admirably fought his circumstances, gave up at the right time, then gave up again to serve, and then after such a long time was rewarded with his heart's desire. Right there is a picture of most people's life of faith. So beautiful.

All those things combined make this the best book I've ever read.

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Awesome summary! It is very interesting how she did the love triangle, as I usually hate them, but not this one because the love between the two guys in question was so strong and awesome and moving. However, I personally think she cheated a little (view spoiler)[ by allowing Jem to get out of the whole Silent Brother gig and get the girl in the end. A nice heartwarming touch for sure but definitely a bit convenient. Personally, for me, I thought he should have died honorably (as good men like him do) and give his blessing to Will and Tessa. But that's just me. I didn't necessarily mind the whole Silent Brothers thing (other than the fact that Jem said he'd NEVER do it and that it was IMPOSSIBLE anyways), but if that's the route Clare wanted to go down, she should have stuck with it to the bitter end. Other than those little gripes, I have no real complaints. As you said, the writing was BEAUTIFUL and there are TONS of awesome quotes, including the one you mentioned as your favorite--I really loved that one too ;) (hide spoiler)]

[David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)]

Karen wrote: "I'm ready when you are!! I think we had planned to do Hunger this weekend, but I'd rather jump back into the world of Ms. Clare!!

David, what say you? Jenny? I know you have both read TMI alrea..."

LOL I don't mind either way, I'm starting Hunger, but it's OK if you all stick with TMI. I've read the first 4 books and am 30% into the fifth so I'll watch from afar as you gobble them up!

[Meaghan]

David wrote: "Awesome summary! It is very interesting how she did the love triangle, as I usually hate them, but not this one because the love between the two guys in question was so strong and awesome and movin..."

I think maybe the reason she did this is because (view spoiler)[ I heard Jem and Tessa are back for parts of the Dark Artifices books. (hide spoiler)]