Clockwork Angel

Clockwork Angel – The Infernal Devices Book 1

Cassandra Clare

 

Synopsis

    Magic is dangerous – but love is more dangerous still.

    When sixteen-year-old Tessa Grey 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 the mysterious Dark Sisters, who are members of a secret organization called the Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa’s Powers 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 blue eyed 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 realises 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.

    My advice is quite simple READ THIS BOOK! It is not your ordinary, boring boy-meets-girl book and is certainly not another vampire novel. The love that the synopsis speaks of is more than that of the protagonist, Tessa, and Will Herondale. It speaks of the love that holds these characters together.

    Tessa Grey is a very unlikely heroine with a unique gift and the novel is told from her point of view, seeing things, as she does, for the first time. The Dark Sisters, Tessa’s kidnappers, are as sinister as their name suggests and give you someone to really hate. They talk of a mysterious character called ’The Magister’, the main antagonist in the novel. The naming of this character is brilliant work on Cassandra Clare’s part are she has created a nameless, foreboding character like that of Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter or The Master in Doctor Who. ‘The Magister’ created intrigue in his interest in Tessa. Why does he want her? What dark deeds has he got planned for her? His is a good old-fashioned villain. This is one thing that holds your interest throughout the novel.

    Will Herondale, the first inhabitant of the Institute, and friendly face, that Tessa meets is a genius of a character. Light-hearted and witty but with a dark streak that he doesn’t reveal easily. It is not often that you find a character that will make you laugh, feel sorry for him and love him all at the same time. And then there is James Carstairs, or Jem, whom Tessa first meets in the middle of the night whilst he is playing his violin. He is Will’s parabatai, his fighting partner who is like his brother. He is a kind, brotherly figure, whom Tessa takes to immediately. He seems to have as many secrets as Will, with his mysterious illness which does not seem to get him down. He wears his heart on his sleeve and you cannot help but love him.

     Other residents of the institute include Jessamine. She is a bit of a pampered princess, ridiculously pretty and loathes being a Shadowhunter. She is a very easy character to dislike which is what she is there for. You need an opposite to Tessa, someone for people to react to. Then there is Charlotte Branwell, the leader of the institute, and her husband Henry. She is the mother-figure as she takes in Shadowhunters who have no home. You cannot help but love Charlotte. She doesn’t have a bad bone in her body and has nothing but love for the other residents of the institute. The first we see of Henry in the novel he is on fire, unbeknown to him! He is a brilliantly funny character who seems to care more for his work and inventions than his wife, but Charlotte loves him for it. And if anyone has anything to say against his wife or any of the other residents of the institute, he protects them fiercely.

    The plot is as well written as the character. You really do feel the characters fear for the danger they are in. You can feel Tessa’s terror at finally meeting ‘The Magister’. Jessamine’s disgust at the new girl that everyone seems to be taking such an interest in. There are very personal chapters like that of ‘Blackfriars Bridge’, between Jem and Tessa, where he takes her to his favourite place in London. It is nice to see some real places featured and not just fictional ones like that of the Institute. Clare describes London perfectly. The narrow streets, the steel-grey sky, and the dampness that houses hold after heavy rain. Also the stark quietness of the streets in the evening compared to the daytime. Places that were mentioned earlier in the novel are also mentioned in this chapter, which is very cleverly linked.

    The supernatural fiction world must be a very difficult one to write in, trying to tread where no-one has before. But Clockwork Angel is a wonder of a book, it is flawless writing and restores my faith in supernatural fiction. Cassandra Clare has completely re-invented the genre and I congratulate her for that. I had never heard of her before and had never read one of her books, but reading Clockwork Angel has put her firmly in my top 5 authors.

     I look forward to reading more of her work and I urge everyone to do the same.

 

You can buy the book at Waterstones here: Clockwork Angel: Waterstones

And also at Amazon here: Clockwork Angel: Amazon