Book Review | The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

July 25, 2021

Author: Cassandra Clare

Published on: July 25, 2021

Publisher: Luna Van den Borre

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance

Book Blurb

"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, but 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." - Goodreads

My thoughts

“They say time heals all wounds, but that presumes the source of the grief is finite”

Have you ever pictured yourself wandering through the dark, but magnificent streets of London on a misty night where monsters and demons lure in the dark? To be immersed in a world full of mystic and sweet violence, where nothing is as it seems? Sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray must endure it all. Previously, Tessa was thrown into a world she didn't even know of, but as time was consumed and bonds were created, she learned everything she needed to know to protect not only herself, but also the people she holds dear. But although in the middle of all the shapeshifting and drama, Tessa finds herself intertwined with not only one, but two boys. And that's not all.

The sequel to Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince, is one of the best sequels I've ever read. Most of the time the second book is way less good than the first one, in my opinion. This time, however, it was the best sequel we could possibly ask for. Of course I still think book 1 is better, but I can't deny that Clockwork Prince is almost as good as the previous book. Clare did a really good job on this one! We also got more time getting to know all the characters, which was a pleasant addition to the story.

We already know that the story takes place in Victorian London, a time of prosperity and revolution. It's fun to see little detailed references about this time popping up in the story. Of course we have the clothes, the carriages and things like that, but it's mostly the way of thinking that really comes forward. We get to see how Tessa Gray grows as not only a person, but also a woman. She's brave, intelligent and has the most caring soul, but besides, she has the mind of a 19th century girl. Things that seem normal to our way of thinking, she sometimes sees as appropriate and if she's going to break the traditional way of thinking, she makes sure she thought about it before going through with it. Another example is the way she describes her experience with her training; how the clothes felt 'off' for a girl. But although women are in a way 'suppressed', no one can bring Tessa Gray down. Besides, the Institute has a way looser way of acting like Will and Jem said.

Next we have the bond between Tessa, Will and Jem. As Tessa and Jem grow closer by the minute, Will is trying to find a way to lift his curse so he can show his true feelings for Tessa. Her relationship with both boys deepens on a life-changing level, but her heart seeks desire in different places; or should I say persons. Jem declares his love for Tessa through a rather romantic and impulsive way of proposing. Although I love the relationship Jem and Tessa share, nothing can go against the sensual and pure balcony scene. Even though Tessa made her decision, I still think she needed to give Will a chance. Of course Will has shown arrogance and distanced himself from her, we can all see him swooning over Tessa.

As Tessa grows more confused by the minute about her feelings towards the two boys, she can't forget the long-life friendship between Jem and his parabatai. With Will's courage, Jem's tenderness and Tessa's good heart, this love-triangle is one of the best I've ever seen. And that comes from a person who hates love-triangles. Whilst it's the best triangle, it's also a difficult one; one she must find out where she stands before she's going to hurt someone.

Another love story that set sail is the one between Sophie and Gideon. I love these two! I enjoyed Sophie getting more of a plot and developing a real love. She really deserved it. To be honest, I can see a slight resemblance between the love story of Tessa and Will and the one of Sophie and Gideon. Both Sophie and Tessa are sweet girls that try to think of others feelings first. They both fall in love with a badass shadowhunter that everyone thinks of as bad. You can't deny that Will and Gideon aren't that loved with the rest of the shadowhunters. Maybe Gideon a bit more, seen as the fact that Benedict Lightwood is his father, but there are also a lot of people who dislike him.

Overall, this is a solid story with so much romance, adventure and fantasy that it's one to never forget. It's one of the most gripping, heart-clutching tales I've read so far and I hope others will find this too.

My rating: ★★★★☆

Waterstones / Amazon

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