Review: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

The Infernal Devices #3

Release Date: March 19^th, 2013

Number of Pages: 568

Publisher: Margareth K. McElderry Books

Source: Bought

GR - Amazon - BD - Chapters

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy 

Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy? 

Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. 

A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.

I was terrified to read Clockwork Princess, as I knew I was bound to cry (I did.) I didn’t really want to leave these characters behind, leave this story behind, especially since I knew many characters would get their heart broken. Cassandra Clare can sure take her characters (and readers) on an emotional rollercoaster, and she is not afraid to break her readers heart. Be warned, you should probably keep a box of tissue at our side, especially as you approach the end. And you should probably finish it at home. I was happy I was, since I was crying like a baby by the epilogue.

One of the reasons I couldn’t help getting emotional while reading Clockwork Princess were the characters. Tessa, Jem and Will are three characters you can’t help but love, each to a different level. Will’s sense of humor charmed me form bok one, and his strong love for Jem made me love him even more. Jem was the synonym of kindness and strength, and you can’t help but feel for him as he is slowly dying because of the drug. And then there is Tessa. I think Clockwork Princess really shows the extremes she would be ready to go to for those she cares about, both Jem and Will. The love those three characters share is the reason why you can’t help but be heartbroken over what they have to face.

Clockwork Princess does have a few predictable moments, but there were many surprises to keep you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see what would happen next. As the final book in the series, I found it more than satisfying. Cassandra Clare ties the loose ends left from the main story, but leaves us an opening large enough to wonder if we will see Tessa again in Cassandra Clare’s other series. Overall, I was more than pleased with this ending. Clockwork Princess will leave you with your emotions all over the place, but it will give enough to leave both the Team Will and Team Jem satisfied to a certain extend. Now I simply need to find someone who has read it to talk about all the spoilery stuff I can’t really share here. I may be sad over seeing this series come to an end, but I’m happy with the way things ended for Tessa.

About the Author

From GoodReads

Cassandra Clare was born overseas and spent her early years traveling around the world with her family and several trunks of fantasy books. Cassandra worked for several years as an entertainment journalist for the Hollywood Reporter before turning her attention to fiction. She is the author of City of Bones, the first book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy and a New York Times bestseller. Cassandra lives with her fiance and their two cats in Massachusetts.

Her Website

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Review: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

The Mortal Instruments #5

Release Date: May 8^th, 2012

Number of Pages: 536

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

 No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

This review will be extremely short. The thing is, I love this series. This book didn’t really disappoint me.  After all, this is the story that we have loved for already four books. It has the same character we love, the same character we love to hate.

The thing is, I find it hard to review when I love a book this much. Why? Well, I simply love the series, and to me, it can do no wrong. Well, unless she made her characters do something that is so not them (like Jace falling in love with Simon…)

The story caught me form page one, and I couldn’t stop reading until I was done. There was only one thing that I didn’t like about the book, and it was the abundance of Maya and Jordan. There were many scenes with only those two. The thing is, I don’t really care for them. I want to read about Jace, Clary, Simon, Alec, Magnus and Isabelle. I don’t really care for the other characters so much. I don’t care if it’s a scene that we absolutely need, but when it is only a glance at their relationship, I don’t really want to read about it so much.

If you love this series, you will enjoy this book. It is a nice continuation of City of Fallen Angels.

Review: Clockwork Prince

Title: Clockwork Prince

Author: Cassandra Clare

Series: The Infernal Devices #2

Release Date: December 6^th, 2011

Number of Pages: 497

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Bought

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

Wow. Wow. Wow. I have to issue a warning for this review. It will contain some fangirl excitement, as I’m still unbelievably shaken by this book.

Seriously, Cassandra Clare, I don’t know if I should praise you or completely hate you. HOW CAN YOU TAKE ME ON THAT KIND OF EMOTIONAL ROLLER-COASTER RIDE!!! This book left me speechless at first, freaking out, begging for more… I felt everything a book could make me feel. I’m completely satisfy with what we were offered by Cassandra Clare, which means a lot considering how long I had been waiting for it.

I think this book gave us so much more from the characters. I love Tessa, as she is strong and she tries to take control of her life more than some girl in her position would. She doesn’t simply stay there, waiting for Will to show his affection. He doesn’t seem to feel anything for her. Let’s move on. I liked that. Now, Jem and Will made my heart break. I can’t decide which one I prefer. Jem is so kind, so sweet. He is so much better with Tessa than Will is. Still, we learn so much about Will, and the reasons behind why he acts the way he does. He made my heart break for all he went though. I simply adore him more now than before. Yet, I can’t decide between those two!

Of course, I can’t forget about Magnus Bane. How can one not ADORE him? He is funny and simply amazing. I want more Magnus. MORE! Now, there were also a few really cute moment with Charlotte and Henry, which made my like those characters even more. Finally, I preferred Jessamine in this book than in the first. She may have made some questionable choices in this book, but at least she did something to change her faith. I really liked that about her.

Now, the story really got me addicted. I simply couldn’t put it down. I had to know what would happen next. I did end up reading it until 3am. Cassandra Clare simply has a gift when it comes to making the reader go through every kind of emotions possible. It was amazing. I loved it. I’m already dying for the sequel. If you haven’t read this series yet, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!!! Cassandra Clare never ceases to amaze me. She is an incredible author.

Review: Clockwork Angel

Title: Clockwork Angel

Author: Cassandra Clare

Release Date: August 21^st, 2010

Series:The Infernal Devices

Number of Pages: 478

Publisher: McElderry Books

Source: Bought

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Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old 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 the mysterious Dark Sisters, 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 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 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 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.

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I was excited to read this book, even though I heard mixed reviews about it. Why? It is set in the same kind of world that the Mortal Instruments, a series I’ve loved. Many complain that it was too similar, but I even if it is similar, I still really enjoyed it.

The story is set in London, which gives it a little something for me. It started a little slow, and at first I wasn’t sure if I could really get into it. It didn’t take long that I was completely addicted once again by Clare’s work. There is always something going, action, love, drama or whatever can get you so captivated that you won’t be able to put it down until you’ve finished it. The ending makes me curious, but it isn’t killing me like the ending of CoFA has been doing for the last week. I’m curious to know what will happen next, but I’ll survive until the Clockwork Prince comes out.

The characters were really great. We have, ladies, two intriguing young men, who both seem really interestingly sexy. Will is a more classical Jace. Yet, I preferred Jem. There is something about him that makes me weak in the knees. He just has this gentleman vibe about him, and this sweetness that makes him really more interesting to me. Jessamine annoyed me, but I guess that’s the kind of character that is there to do that. I won’t talk too much about the other characters, because I’m scared I’ll give too much away, but as always, Clare can make every characters seem extremely important, even if we don’t see them much in this book.

Cassandra Clare is an amazing writer. She gets me addicted to everything she writes in only a few minutes. I can’t wait to read her next books, which I will have a while to wait for.

I would give this one a 4.5/5, because I think it is missing a little something to make it perfect.

Review: City of Fallen Angels

Title: City of Fallen Angels

Author: Cassandra Clare

Release Date: April 5^th, 2011

Series: The Mortal Instruments #4

Number of Pages:: 424

Publisher:McElderry Books (an imprint of Simon & Schuster)

Source: Bought

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City of Fallen Angels is the fourth book in the bestselling series The Mortal Instruments. 

“City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever. Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.”

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I don’t really have much to say. It was such a big disappointment… OF COURSE NOT!

Honestly, if someone had asked me what I thought of this book seconds after I was done, I think the only thing I could have said is: “OMG! OMFG! OMG !@#$#@#%! #$@#%$#!” That’s how flabbergasted it left me. (I love that word!) I can’t believe Cassandra Clare wrote that. Does she want to kill her devoted readers? I was about to die from too much excitement. Cassandra Clare, you’re the queen!

I don’t want to say too much about it, because I would hate to spoil it for anyone. All I want to say to those who haven’t read it yet is BE PREPARED! It’s a hell of an emotional rollercoaster! And what an ending! How are we supposed to wait until book 5! That’s cruel! I’ll only think about that during the next month. Honestly, if I fail my classes this semester, the blame is on you, Cassandra Clare!

About the characters, I have one main thing to say…. (fangirl on)OMG I ADORE MAGNUS! ALEC+MAGNUS4EVER! (Fangirl off) I can’t believe how amazing they were in this book. I just fell completely head over heel for them. Of course, the Jace and Clary storyline is always good, but Magnus and Alec are really the one that marked me this time. Still, (fangirl on) I completely adore Jace. Still, you need to stop playing the martyr sometime. You’re too hot for that! (fangirl off.)

Cassandra Clare, you’re now my queen, my goddess… Tell me what I need to do, and I’ll do it. All I want in exchange is your marvelous books. Honestly, I wish I had half her talent. She’s really the queen of the cliffhanger. The last thing I have to say is…. YOU’RE MEAN CASSANDRA CLARE! HOW CAN YOU LEAVE YOUR FANS BEGGING FOR MORE LIKE THAT! Grrr…

Okay, do I really need to give it a rating? I think it’s pretty clear; it deserves 6/5! (Which means: WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR! YOU SHOULD BE READING IT NOW! FORGET ABOUT SCHOOL AND WORK! READ IT NOW!)

As you can see, this book fried my last neurons. I should be back to normal soon!

Review: City of Glass

Title: City of Glass

Author: Cassandra Clare

Release Date: March 29^th, 200

Series: The Mortal Instruments #3

Number of Pages: 541

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Source: Bought

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To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her new found powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments.

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I ended having a lot of time yesterday to finish this book. I finally finished my first class, an intensive class, which means only 6 to go! I ended devouring this book, to prepare myself for City of Fallen Angels, which I’m supposed to get today (go Amazon go!) I just love this series.

Can’t I just say I love the story? There is always something going, some awfully well written twists. I was captivated from the first pages. I just adore that there’s always something going, something to keep you addicted. It made me laugh, cry, scream, cheer, and smile. I just love how Clare can make me feel so many different things while reading it. The ending is so great, but even if it was supposed to conclude the series, it still made me wish for a sequel (which is coming out today!!)

I absolutely adore the characters. Of course, I still like Clary, and I still adore Jace. The biggest change in this book for me was Alec. I adore him now! I think we get to see a different side of him in this one, which makes him more likable. Also, can I say that I really like Magnus? Warlock all the way! He is funny and totally awesome.

I love Cassandra Clare. She is an amazing writer! Can’t wait for CoFA!

This is worth a really big 10/10!

I realized that my copy of City of Glass had a preview of City of Fallen Angels. I forgot about that, so when I saw it, it made me scream like a fan girl. I’m dying for the fourth installment of The Mortal Instruments

Review: City of Ashes

To celebrate the fact that City of Fallen Angels is coming out tomorrow (YEAH!) and to congratulate myself on finishing my three essays due today, I decided to re-read City of Ashes and City of Glass. I already had re-read City of Bones, so I only had those two to re-read to be ready for the fourth book. I can’t wait, I chould get it Wednesday, if Amazon is as fast as it usually is.

Title: City of Ashes

Author: Cassandra Clare

Release Date: January 1^st, 2008

Series: The Mortal Instruments #2

Number of Pages: 453

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Source: Bought

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A murderer is loose in New York City ...

... and the victims are Downworlder children. Clary Fray and her fellow Shadowhunters have a strong suspicion that Valentine, Clary's father, may be behind the killings. But if he is the murderer, then what's his true motive? To make matters worse, the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, has been stolen, and the mysterious Inquisitor has arrived to investigate, with his eyes vigilantly targeted on Clary's brother, Jace.

Clary will need to face some terrifying demons and even more terrifying family decisions. No one said that the life of a Shadowhunter would be easy

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First thing I have to say is: I simply LOVE this series. I could write the simplest review, just telling you to get it as soon I you can, but I won’t. I still have to tell you why!

The story is just too captivating. I just had to know what would happen next, even if I had already read it (you never know, it might have changed!) There is always something going on, something to keep you addicted. I was re-reading it, and I don’t think anyone could have taken the book from me, without a big tantrum (and I haven’t done tantrum for a really long while. I’m really turning into a fangirl, because of this series.) I laugh, I cry, I cheer, and I try to tell the characters what to do (which is pretty useless, as they don’t hear me. Still, don’t judge. This series really makes me crazy. At least, I read it at home this time. I would have got to many strange looks in the metro or at school. Not that I care. The ending of course makes me mad, simply because I didn’t want it to end. Now I’m reading City of Glass to get my fix, but I don’t know what I’ll do when I will finish City of Fallen Angels. I’ll have to painfully wait. *Sigh*

If I had to write a thousand words essay about the characters, I think it would only be about Jace. He is so wonderfully badass. I love his witty comments, his snarky remarks and all the sarcasm he gives us. He is just too awesome. Wish he was real *dreamy look*. Clary is great. I like her. The only thing I don’t like about her is the way she ends up playing with Simon’s feeling, even if she doesn’t mean to. Even if I prefer Jace (Team Jace!!) I like Simon. He is so loyal to Clary, even if she doesn’t sometime deserve it. He always comes back to her. I wish I had a guy friend like him!

Cassandra Clare is simply amazing. She got me addicted and begging for more. I’m dying to read her books, which can be bad for my budget. I can’t wait for City of Fallen Angels, or anything else she writes.

Love this book. Worth a good 10/10 in my book!

By the way, has anyone listen to the first chapter of City of Fallen Angels? I’m really tempted to buy the audio book, just so I can hear the amazing Ed Westwick reading. He has such a wonderful voice!

Review: City of Bones

Title: City of Bones

Author: Cassandra Clare

Number of Pages: 485

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

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When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

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Based on the cover, I wouldn’t really have picked up this book. The cover is okay, and you understand a little more the reasons behind the cover as you read the book. But it feels like a cover a little more masculine. Still, it doesn’t make the book any less excellent that it is.

When I got this series for Christmas, I was so happy. I had heard so many good comments about The Mortal Instruments that I couldn’t wait to read those books. Was I disappointed? Hell no. As soon as I read the first page, I could put this book down. The story is just too good for you to be able to put it down. There’s always something going on, it is never boring. The rhythm is fast, but in a good way.

I adore the characters. Clary is such a strong character, and what can I say about Jace? He is the perfect mix of badass ness and sexiness. I love that the characters don’t end up being too stereotypical like it sometimes happens.

I like Cassandra Clare’s writing style. It is easy to read and captivating. The rhythm is fast, but it works well with the story. There isn’t one moment in the book that made me say “okay, that’s boring.”

I don’t really have any bad comments to say about this book. If there was a negative aspect in this one, I probably didn’t see it because the story is just too good to care.

Worth a good 10/10! If you haven’t picked it up, you have to!