Clockwork Angel - The Infernal Devices #1

CLOCKWORK ANGEL

THE INFERNAL DEVICES #1

By:  Cassandra Clare

FIRST SENTENCE

“The sisters would like to see you in their chambers, Miss Gray.”

SUMMARY
from goodreads

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:  Jem, 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 gift of all.

REVIEW

Prequels are a tricky thing.  Sometimes they seem almost forced – like the author was told to write a prequel and they came up with some lame explanation for why things are as they are.  In this case though, Cassandra Clare delivers a story that can stand on its own.  Yes, she has done it again!

The setting of Clockwork Angel is Victorian London.  The setting alone makes this book special.  I love the feel of that era and it was a nice change from the New York setting of The Mortal Instruments.

Let’s see if I can capture the characters in a word….

Tessa = brave

Will = dangerous

Jem = kind

Jessamine = sad

As Tessa is tossed into the battle between Shadowhunters and Downworlders, she struggles to understand her new identity and her new reality.  As a prequel, I couldn’t ask for much more.  Bring on the next book in the series. 

RATING

5        Plot

5        Characters

5        Attention Grabbing

4        Girlie Meter

5        Ending

24      TOTAL

5        STARS