Review: Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) By: Cassandra Clare

Title:  Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1)

Author:  Cassandra Clare

Published:  August 31st, 2010

My Ratings: 5 out of 5 stars!

Goodreads Summary:

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.

My Thoughts:

I know, I know I am probably the last person to read this and I am so mad at myself for not reading it sooner.  I am a huge Cassandra Clare fan and I love the Mortal Instruments series, with that said the only reason that I didn't pick this one up sooner is I am not a huge fan of historical fiction, I didn't think I would like it so I put off picking it up but, when I saw the cover for Clockwork Princess I knew I needed to try this series out. I absolutely loved it!

Tessa Gray arrives in England from America to live with her brother Nate after the death of their aunt. But, she was in for a big surprise when a couple of strange women calling themselves the Dark sisters come to pick her up with a letter from her brother saying that they were there to pick her up. but, she is never taken to her brother she is imprisoned by the sisters and forced to use her ability that she never knew she had until they took her, as long as she as something of a person's in her hand, she can transform into them. Thrown into the world of magic and shadowhunters when she is rescued by William Herondale and James "Jem" Carstairs. After taking refuge in the London Institute Tessa is in for an amazing adventure full of love and magic.

I absolutely loved Tessa, throughout the whole story you could really feel how much she loved her brother. Even after she is kidnapped and imprisoned because of him she was willing to do anything to keep him safe. She really handled everything that came at her so well. Having to learn so much about the world especially in that time period for a woman must have been so overwhelming but, she didn't cry or pity herself she stayed  strong and handled the shadowhunter world with poise and class. 

I absolutely loved Jem and Will. I can't decide which team I am on. They are both so different and have so many great qualities that are completely different from each other  which makes it so much harder for me to choose which one I like better because they are each great in so many different ways.  Will's personality totally reminded me of Jace from the Mortal Instruments and it makes so much since he is his ancestor. You could really tell that there was a lot more going on with Will then meets the eye, he had a mysterious past that I was really intrigued with and I think it would really explain a lot about who he was and why he was the way he was. Jem in my opinion was sweet and silent. He seemed so sincere and I loved reading his interactions with Tessa because they felt so real and vivid in my mind. Hopefully when I read Clockwork Prince I might be able to choose between the two of them .

Overall, Cassandra Clare has created another amazing world based on shadowhunters that I absolutely loved, it was just as good as the Mortal Instruments and even though they revolve around the same world I didn't feel like it was too played out or overdone. I also loved that we got to see Magnus in bits of it and it was really interesting because I know understand even more about his past since some of it comes up in City of Lost Souls it gave me more of a connection and I really liked that. If you love the Mortal Instruments then you NEED to read this one, Cassandra Clare is an amazing author and I will read anything that she writes!

Happy Reading!

Kristin