Book Review: Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publisher: K. McElderry Books

Publishing Date: December 6^th 2011

Length: 528 pages

Genre: YA fantasy, romance, steampunk

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.

Summary by Goodreads 

CLOCKWORK ANGEL was amazing, but CLOCKWORK PRINCE simply blew my mind. Hasn’t everybody been wanting to uncover Will’s secret in the first book? I definitely couldn’t wait for it and in CLOCKWORK PRINCE we finally do get an explanation for his self-destructive behaviour.... and oh my god, what a relief, what a torture!

I admit it, I'm in love with Will and his reckless, impulsive, cheeky and ironic character. He quotes literature, reads and is the sweetest shadowhunter in the 19^th century. Jem has a lot of fans, too. I appreciate that he always tries to be there for Tessa and that he is so reliable and composed, but I always saw him as a good friend and not Tessa’s love interest.

There will be some more Magnus in CLOCKWORK PRINCE since he was the one Will visited in the end of CLOCKWORK ANGEL to get help. It’s fun to meet a different Magnus than the one we know from THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS series.

Also to expect: more great scenes with Jessamine, Nate, Sophie, Charlotte, Henry and the Lightwood brothers.

The love triangle continues to get worse and only torture the three of them and of course us readers even more. There will be scenes for Jem and Will fans and I loved them all! Tessa finds herself in the center of action again. In the middle of two men fighting for her love and in the middle of a greater war.

Though we learn some more about the evil behind all the clockwork automatons, the Magister and his background the focus of this second INFERNAL DEVICES book lies more on the personal conflicts and relationship complications of its characters than the fight against the shadowhunters' enemies.  

Another strength of the book lies in the well-pictured customs of inhabitants of a Victorian London. I’m fascinated by the shadowhunter world itself, the Victorian London setting is another bonus. I also pretty much enjoyed the bonus letter Will wrote to his parents and the one written to Tessa (thanks Loni for sharing it with me!!!)

Each chapter begins with a small piece of wonderful literature, that in some ways has connections and hints to events in the story. Like CLOCKWORK ANGEL this part of Tessa’s story is supported by references of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. And there are even more literary references thanks to book lovers Tessa and Will.

Again, Cassandra Clare had exactly the right sense for an exciting and insanely good story. Her writing is brilliant as always!  I have no idea how she writes books that get better and better each year. Some day her talent is going to force me to expand the number of available rating points! 

1) of a miraculous masquerade magic

2) the best moments are made of dreams

3) of a shadowhunter that is willing to give his everything

4) of the relief to at least leave a painful part of the past behind

5) the best surprises have to wait till the last page to be revealed 

5/5 ***** CLOCKWORK PRINCE- Historical London has it all: blazing romances, dangerous intrigues, exciting fight scenes and the right mix of magic and runes. Who wouldn’t want to be part of it?!

CLOCKWORK PRINCE had everything I was looking for in a book! I’m entranced and completely devoted to this book and the entire series. I loved, loved, loved CLOCKWORK PRINCE!  

  

* Don't miss Cassandra Clare's THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS series! 

* CLOCKWORK PRINCESS is the final instalment in the INFERNAL DEVICES series, coming out winter 2012/spring 2013.

* Click here to read an excerpt of CLOCKWORK PRINCE. 

* Watch the CLOCKWORK PRINCE book trailer here. 

* Want to meet Cassandra? Check out her event schedule. 

* For further information about Cassandra Clare and her books visit www.cassie-claire.com