Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Release Date: December 6, 2011
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Pages: 528
Buy: Fountain Bookstore / Amazon
Description: Goodreads
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.

I cannot stop thinking about Clockwork Prince. Quite literally. I keep thinking about what an amazing series The Infernal Devices is turning out to be, how much I adore these characters, and what new twists and turns Cassandra Clare has up her sleeve for Clockwork Princess. It will be quite difficult to post a spoiler-free review, but I’ll do my utmost.

This is the first time I have ever cheered for all sides of a love triangle before. I am totally Team Everybody. Will is so freakin’ tormented all by his own volition, Jem is physically falling apart but mentally and emotionally strong and brilliant, and Tessa… well, I am so fond of Tessa. She’s strong-willed and opinionated and romantic and literary and about 400 other awesome things. This love triangle works for me because I feel Tessa is worthy of Jem& Will’s affection, and they are equally worthy of hers. It’s not simply about physical attraction (though that obviously plays a part) or something supernatural that affects them. It’s sincere and beautiful.

What truly makes this love story work for me is that as a reader of The Mortal Instruments series, I have the curse of knowledge so I know certain things to be true for the future of these characters. However, even if you haven’t read TMI, you can still guess what’s coming up ahead. No combination of this triangle can end in blissful skipping into the sunset, so it’s utterly heart-breaking either way. This kind of story is what I personally call sad/happy, and it’s my very favorite. I love anything that makes me smile and breaks me down at the same time. Call me crazy, but it’s true. Both of Clare’s series have aspects of sad/happy in droves, but I think it’s perfectly displayed in the Jem/Will/Tessa relationship.

The Mortmain plot is also veryfascinating. The Shadowhunters of the London Institute delve into his background in a way that’s very Voldemortian (is so a word). They receive answers but from those answers only spout more questions. Some of those questions deal with Tessa’s background as well and what she is exactly. Clare has this innate and incredible talent of giving the reader just enough to keep them sated while still withholding important details. It’s a mix that not every author can successfully accomplish, but Clare can, and how. She answers the right amount of questions but creates more in the process without being exasperating. I hope she’s writing fast, because this rabid fanbase will be quite ready for Clockwork Princess just as soon as they read the last page. And OH, what a last page it is!

I basically knew I would love this before I even received it, but I am so pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it. Even though TMI was my gateway into the Shadow World, I really wish Clare would write more of this series. I really don’t want it to end. I have already recommended this series to many of my friends, and I will continue to do so. Clockwork Prince is an excellent second book in an equally excellent series. Team Everybody.