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

Title: Clockwork Angel

Series: The Infernal Devices #1

Author: Cassandra Clare

Genre: YA, urban fantasy, historical

Publication date: August 2010

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry

Source: Own Hardcover

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Synopsis:

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 rating: ★★★★★
So I put off this book for a loooong time. I love Cassandra Clare's work (The Mortal Instruments) so I bought Clockwork Angel the very day it was released. However, I've had this book for a few months now. I think the reason why I put it off is because I know Cassandra's books always leave me wanting for more, and Clockwork Prince (Book 2) comes out until the Fall of 2011! So I knew the wait after I read Clockwork Angel would be agonizing.

But I could only put it off for so long. I mean, it was there in my room, tempting me to read it. So I did! :) Clockwork Angel is part of a prequel series to TMI called the Infernal Devices. It takes place about 200 years before TMI and, of course, its all about the Shadowhunters and all that awesome stuff from TMI.

So there is a 17 year old girl, Tessa Gray, who finds out she has the power to shape shift. Meaning she is some sort of Downworlder. But no one is sure what type. So for now they're going with warlock. But not only is Tessa dealing with figuring out who she really is, but something has happened to her brother, Nate, too. And some guy known as the Magister wants her. Creepy, right?
So this Magister guy, who no one knows who he is, tricked Tessa into coming to London. Then he locked her up in a house with the Dark Sisters who would teach her how to use her power. However, the Dark Sisters are not very nice.

After a few weeks of horrible practices with her power and negligence, Tessa couldn't take it anymore and she attempted to escape from the house. But, unfortunately, she failed. That same day, though, William Herondale, a Shadowhunter, rescues her from the house.

With the help of the Shadowhunters, Tessa learns terrifying secrets about her family, including Nate and where he's been this whole time. And also, they try to stop the Magister from achieving a plan that could potentially be fatal to Shadowhunters, as well as help prevent him from taking possession of Tessa once again.

Overall, I thought this book was amazing! That's a big duh! Having that I love Cassandra Clare's TMI. It had so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming, especially at the end. Plus there are a few characters from TMI in this book as well. Yep, that's right!

And just as I thought before I started the book, I want Clockwork Prince to be out NOW!
Clockwork Angel left me with about a million questions!!

[What will happen with Will and Tessa? What happenedin Will's past to make him leave his parents and come join the Shadowhunters? Is Church the cat the same Church the cat from TMI? Will they find a cure for Jem (And I really really hope they do)? And what favor did Will need from Magnus Bane?]

But these questions will be nagging me until Clockwork Prince comes out *sighs impatiently*

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a comment! :)