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.
PERSONAL REVIEW:
So I personally thought I was going to hate this book. I tend to hate reading in time era’s that are before the 1950’s at the latest. This book was set in 1878, so although I was excited about reading the book, it was more out of respect for the author. I am very pleased to announce that not only did Clockwork Angel meet my expectations but passed them so fast that all I saw was a blur. The book was enticing and I could not predict what would happen next… well, maybe I did a little bit when it came to the love interests…. Anyways, if you have not read the book and do not want it spoiled I suggest you stop reading here with my STRONG urge to read the book as well as the Mortal Instruments Series if you haven’t already. The following review is more details and will give away spoilers.
WARNING!!!!! FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!!!!!
Okay, so we first meet Tessa and she comes to London from New York, USA after her aunt has died so she can come live with her brother. She comes to the fast realization that she is not normal when she is kidnapped by a pair of Warlocks named the Dark Sisters, and they teach her how to use her unknown power… shape-shifting. They are training her so that she can marry the Magister, our antagonist.They use her brother as leverage, saying they will kill him if she does not comply, and at first she does just that, but soon comes Will, a handsome Shadowhunter with an attitude, to save her. (for those who have read the Mortal Instruments Series, he reminds me greatly of Jace in the attitude department) He brings her to the Institute of London where the Enclave has granted her permission to stay, given she is a Downworlder (someone with magic in their blood) and they are not allowed in the Institute without permission. The head of the Institute, Charlotte, says she will help Tessa get her brother if she will help the Shadowhunters with a case. Tessa agrees. I am glad that Mangus Bane, a warlock from the first series, makes an appearance, as they live a long time, this is very possible. Also, we are comforted with familiar names, Lightwood, Wayland, etc… Henry, Charlotte’s husband, is an inventor and he is making different tools that they end up using in City of Bones. Oh, and Jem! Jem, whose name is actually James, is a beautiful mystery. He has silver hair and eyes with a pale complextion and a mysterious illness… sorry girls, he’s not a vampire. Later we find out that Jem, who is Will’s best friend and maybe the only person in the world he truly cares for, is actually addicted to Demon’s blood. It wasn’t his fault though. His parents were tortured by watching Jem be tortured. The demon injected him with demon’s blood and laughed as he hallucinated. Eventually, his parents died and he because addicted to the substance that he was tortured with. Without the blood injections he gets very sick and will die a swift and painful death. With it, he dies a slower, much less painful death. Back on track, Tessa finds Nathan… only to be betrayed by him, and she finds out that her father was definitely a demon.. but her mom might not have been all human either… but this remains a mystery until the next book. As for Tessa and her savior Will… well she falls for him of course… and he seems to fall for her, especially when he thinks she is dead, but Tessa learns he may be a bigger jerk than she thought when he implies that he only wants to have her for the…fun… they can have. After all warlocks cant have children. And a Warlock is the offspring from a human and a demon, which is exactly what Tessa is.. or what we know she is so far. At the end of the book we learn two things. One, Tessa is allowed to stay at the Institute as long as she likes, and Jem gives her a pep talk calling her family… blah blah, so she decides to stay. We also meet Church, the infamous cat we tend to ignore in the Mortal Instruments Series. Then there is two, we get a cliff hanger. Will goes to Mangus Bane, the warlock, and says that he has a problem that only he can help him with. Mangus is obviously intrigued… that’s where it ends. Of course I missed some major things, like the battles, but I do need to leave some things for you to read about! I am not going to give you all the info!!!
So that’s what I have to say. I have to give this book two thumbs up. Along with all my other fingers so that I can applaud Cassandra Clare for yet again writing a FANTASTIC book. I cant wait for the next book of the series!!!!! And again... Read the Mortal Instruments Series... the books look like this :
