| Title | : | Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1406321346 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781406321340 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 567 |
| Publication | : | First published March 19, 2013 |
| Awards | : | Goodreads Choice Award Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2013) |
THE INFERNAL DEVICES WILL NEVER STOP COMING
A net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. Mortmain plans to use his Infernal Devices, an army of pitiless automatons, to destroy the Shadowhunters. He needs only one last item to complete his plan: he needs Tessa Gray.
Charlotte Branwell, head of the London Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain before he strikes. But when Mortmain abducts Tessa, the boys who lay equal claim to her heart, Jem and Will, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and Jem are now engaged, Will is as much in love with her as ever.
As those who love Tessa rally to rescue her from Mortmain’s clutches, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself. But can a single girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army?
Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3) Reviews
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Cassandra Clare's extra Jem & Tessa story!!!!!!!!!!!!
After the Bridge: The Full Story (Jem/Tessa)
http://cassandraclare.tumblr.com/post...
Okay so I'm pretty sure anything I say will be a spoiler since everyone knows how hardcore I ship Jem & Tessa so my reading thoughts will be in the spoiler tag.
DO NOT READ IT IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also warning that the comments of this post now have spoilers.
I'm also going to start posting spoiler fan art there so keep away from the comments of this review until you finish reading.
You can DM me to discuss the spoiler stuff.
But keep calm Jessa fans and wait for the epilogue :-D
Favorite Quotes - Spoilers
Clockwork Princess snippets!
Tessa reached to brush the damp hair from his forehead. He leaned into her touch, his eyes closing. “Jem—have you ever—” She hesitated. “Have you ever thought of ways to prolong your life that are not a cure for the drug?”
At that his eyelids flew open. “What do you mean?”
She thought of Will, on the floor of the attic, choking on holy water. “Becoming a vampire. You would live forever—”
He scrambled upright against the pillows of the bed. “Tessa, no. Don’t—you can’t think that way.”
“Is the thought of becoming a Downworlder truly so horrible to you?”
“Tessa …” He exhaled slowly. “I am a Shadowhunter. Nephilim. Like my parents before me. It is the heritage I claim, just as I claim my mother’s heritage as part of myself. It does not mean I hate my father. But I honor the gift they gave me, the blood of the Angel, the trust placed in me, the vows I have taken. Nor, I think, would I make a very good vampire. [redacted for spoilers] I would no longer be Will’s parabatai, no longer be welcome in the Institute. No, Tessa. I would rather die and be reborn and see the sun again, than live to the end of the world without daylight.”
“A Silent Brother, then,” she said.
His eyes softened slightly. “The path of Silent Brotherhood is not open to me.”
-----
Will’s eyes met Tessa’s as she came closer, almost tripping again over the torn hem of her gown. For a moment, they were in perfect understanding. Jem was what they could still look each other straight in the eye about. On the topic of Jem, they were both fierce and unyielding. Tessa saw Will’s hand tighten on Jem’s sleeve. “She’s here,” he said.
Jem’s eyes opened slowly. Tessa fought to keep the look of shock from her face. His pupils were blown out, his irises a thin ring of silver around the black. “Ni shou shang le ma, qin ai de?” he whispered. "Are you hurt, my love?"
OMG What happened to Jem?!?!?! CRIES!
-----
“Wo wei ni xie de,” he said, as he raised the violin to his left shoulder, tucking it under his chin. He had told her many violinists used a shoulder rest, but he did not: there was a slight mark on the side of his throat, like a permanent bruise, where the violin rested.
“You — made something for me?” Tessa asked.
“I wrote something for you,” he corrected, with a smile, and began to play.
-----
“Though Will was saying earlier,” Tessa added, “that heroes all come to bad ends, and he could not imagine why anyone would want to be one, anyway.”
“Ah.” Jem’s hand squeezed hers briefly, and then let it go. “Well, Will is looking at it from the hero’s viewpoint, isn’t he? But as for the rest of us, it’s an easy answer.”
“Is it?”
“Of course.” His voice was almost a whisper now. “Heroes endure because we need them. Not for their own sakes. If Will …”
-----
“You do not want to help us,” Will said to Magnus. “You do not want to position yourself as an enemy of Mortmain’s.”
“Well, can you blame him?” Woolsey rose in a whirl of yellow silk. “What could you possibly have to offer that would make the risk worth it to him?”
“I will give you anything,” said Tessa in a low voice that Will felt in his bones. “Anything at all, if you can help us help Jem.”
Magnus gripped a handful of his black hair. “God, the two of you. I can make inquiries. Track down some of the more unusual shipping routes. Old Molly —”
“I’ve been to her,” Will said. “Something’s frightened her so badly she won’t even crawl out of her grave.”
Woolsey snorted. “And that doesn’t tell you anything, little Shadowhunter? Is it really worth all this, just to stretch your friend’s life out another few months, another year? He will die anyway. And the sooner he dies, the sooner you can have his fiancée, the one you’re in love with.” He cut his amused gaze toward Tessa. “Really you ought to be counting down the days till he expires with great eagerness.”
Who is this Woolsey douchebag and where is he so I can shove my foot up his ass?!
Swoon for Jem
http://www.cassandraclare.com/my-writ...
The greatest scene ever from Clockwork Prince in Jem's POV!
OR I WILL FREAK OUT...
I am freaking out over the one little teaser from this book
And the gold of her ruined wedding dress.
WHO RUINED HER WEDDING DRESS!!! NO! They better get married!
-
Team Will? Team Jem? Who cares.
EVERYBODY WINS!
This book was undeniably flawed, but you will definitely get what you came for:
Love.
There's so much love that sometimes you're like:
or
What I liked:
- circular ending. It ends the same way it began.
- the description of Tessa and life together, and his eventual death.
-"Those of you who are mortal, you burn so fiercely."
-“Well, then, since you say there will be another life for me, let us both pray I do not make as colossal a mess of it as I have this one.”
-Will
-Jem
-Gigantic worms
-Did I mention that I loved the ending?
What I didn't like:
-Too much love (not everyone needs to find a soul mate)
-Trying-too-hard syndrome in terms of old-fashioned English (if you have read some books from the time, you will notice that Clare is definitely milking the properness)
In the end, it was strong finish to a good series and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
By the way, here's my pre-review: -
My poor heart has never felt this way after finishing a series; I had no idea it was possible to feel such tempered happiness as well as such overwhelming grief for everyone involved. Many of the things I thought might happen, did--and yet it doesn't change my fierce love and admiration for the way everything unfolded.
THIS is how a love triangle should be written, in a way that preserves the honor of everyone involved. There isn't another series out there that has ever managed to handle one with such love and kindness and respect.
Ugh, that epilogue. Still sobbing uncontrollably. I don't know how to stop! My puny human heart wasn't meant to process such epic love stories.
:(
P.S. If you're considering reading the Infernal Devices series, I wrote a real review for Clockwork Prince
here, which is book #2. It contains no spoilers, even if you haven't read the first book. -
MY MIND IS BLOWN. I could've never possibly predicted that ending. Even when I thought I knew what might happen, I had no idea. I'm so overly impressed by this trilogy. Full review/discussion video to come soon! AHH. SO MANY THINGS TO TALK ABOUT.
UPDATE
video review/discussion here:
https://youtu.be/IiGK1He_AAg -
...To be continued when I can read in one sitting.
____________________________________
From the synopsis:...can Tessa choose between the two boys she loves — even if it means never seeing the other one again?
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Here's to the book that defines the words 'love', 'friendship' and 'family' better than any dictionary in the world.
A million, gazillion stars for this masterpiece -
You can find the full review and more about this book on my blog!
____________________________________________“Life is a book and there are a thousand pages I have not yet read.”
____________________________________________
☆☆☆☆☆5 BEST I HAVE EVEN GIVEN STARS!☆☆☆☆☆
Clockwork Angel Review!
Clockwork Prince Review!I have finished this book for about 3 hours ago and I still can't believe the series is over.This pure perfection,this amazing thrilling story,this everything.I have been so caught up with this series these past two weeks and I don't want this to end.I consider myself a fool for not reading this before,for listening to people who told me to not even bother to try this.I can't imagine how can people dislike this,with it's perfectly plot and characters and the awesome writing.At least show respect for this great,beyond good novel.
____________________________________________“You endure what is unbearable, and you bear it. That is all.”
____________________________________________
This is my favorite series of 2014,maybe my all time favorite.I know I will read other awesome books,books I will love and cheer but this one,the whole series actually,will always have a space in my colossal vitality of imagination.
____________________________________________“Tessa craned her head back to look at Will. “You know that feeling,” she said, “when you are reading a book, and you know that it is going to be a tragedy; you can feel the cold and darkness coming, see the net drawing tight around the characters who live and breathe on the pages. But you are tied to the story as if being dragged behind a carriage and you cannot let go or turn the course aside.” His blue eyes were dark with understanding — of course Will would understand — and she hurried on. “I feel now as if the same is happening, only not to characters on a page but to my own beloved friends and companions. I do not want to sit by while tragedy comes for us. I would turn it aside, only I struggle to discover how that might be done.”
“You fear for Jem,” Will said.
“Yes,” she said. “And I fear for you, too.”
“No,” Will said, hoarsely. “Don’t waste that on me, Tess.”
____________________________________________
The writing style is perfect.This series is written in third person,but yet I couldn't help but admire the writing.The greatness lies in the way author has collided the quotes of classics with the chapters,the time the book is written with the way they speak,the manners and habits with the characters' personality.Everything clings perfectly.
____________________________________________“Sometimes one must choose whether to be kind or honorable," he said. "Sometimes one cannot be both.”
____________________________________________
This series has made me not just respect,but admire poetry.Also I dig the series so much because the characters talk books,in their unique ways,talk books as they were part of their lives,talk books as they are a treasure worth having.
____________________________________________“I am catastrophically in love with you.”
____________________________________________
Clockwork Princess is a beautiful,yet thrilling sequel with everything in it.The characters are fully developed and it reflects the plot and the lives,intentions,desires and dreams of characters.Also you can feel and see them being free and finally choosing what they truly want,what they truly are.
____________________________________________“It has been the privilege and the honor of my life to know you.”
____________________________________________
And as the other books,this one contains the sense of humor I likely want to read in novels.It comes so natural and freely,especially with Will,he is the master of jokes.
____________________________________________“And now I need you to do for me what I cannot do for myself. For you to be my eyes when I do not have them. For you to be my hands when I cannot use my own. For you to be my heart when mine is done beating.”
____________________________________________
I can't part this book.I enjoyed every word and chapter.The beginning was thrilling because the second book ended with a cliff,the middle also exciting because something happens and you can't help but read more and more,and the ending because it's perfection.The best ending ever written.And I am talking about the epilogue.
____________________________________________“Do not seek revenge and call it justice.”
____________________________________________
So the epilogue.I don't want to spoil anything but this is the best epilogue ever written.I read it in one breath.It's the most emotional part of the whole series and it's the reality of the characters,the ones we grew up to love and respect.
____________________________________________“Most people are lucky to have even one great love in their life. You have found two.”
____________________________________________
The story continues with the institute and the Cecily arrival.With the Magister gone who knows where with his intentions, the shadowhunters are faced with a lot of problems they don't have the knowledge to fix.Tessa,now as Jem's fiancee is still trying to know herself,and her heart.Will she,being the last piece in the Magister's evil plan,save the Institute and her family there or be their destruction?
____________________________________________“There are so many worse things than death. Not to be loved or not to be able to love: that is worse.”
____________________________________________
I want to mention some of my favorite moments in this book(This contains spoilers so if you haven't read the book,skip this part)
I really liked when Will rides the horse up to the hills.I could visualize it with all the background,the horse running,the air pumping.It reminded me of some of my childhood animation movies and I dig those times so much.
____________________________________________“There is more to living than not dying.”
____________________________________________
I also liked all the scene with Cecily,especially the one with her in the back of the worm.It was a badass move,and the whole scene was full of action and excitement.
____________________________________________“Atque in pepetuum, frater, ave atque vale,” he whispered. The words of the poem had never seemed so fitting: Forever and ever, my brother, hail and farewell.”
____________________________________________
And of course the scene with Tessa turning into the angel and crushing the Magister. Beside chills ,it gave me lots of joy because the madman was finally dead.
____________________________________________“For this I would be damned forever. For this I would have given up everything.”
____________________________________________
The characters
Tessa
Tessa is one of my favorite main characters.She is strong,determined and caring and sometimes I could see her sense of humor.She has developed so much and she has proved herself to be a faithful person.Also at her age she handles greatly the affections with pride and loyalty.
Will
Will has also all the great qualities a man should have,but what I liked about him was that he doesn't play the perfect innocent person.I must say the way he handled the situation with the curse was to be admired.Also the humor,even though I can't understand why he hates ducks!
James
Jem,as Will contains the best qualities a person could contain,and also because of that and the fact that he is dying and he perfectly handles that makes you idol this character.
Cecily
I was introduced to this character in the third book,but I truly like her.She is carefree and she talks without hesitations.Also she is one hell of a badass chick and the way she talks is so fun to read.
____________________________________________“At last, the wheel comes full circle”
____________________________________________I highly recommend this series to every reader out there.It's everything you wish to find in a book and gives you a new way to see the world.I personally hesitated to read this one but now I regret only one thing,that I haven't picked this one before.I learned so much from this and for that I am truly grateful.
____________________________________________“One does no question miracles, or complain that they are no constructed perfectly to one's liking.”
____________________________________________
Thank you Cassandra Clare,thank you!
*Pictures from the review are not mine, I took them mostly from Google images or Tumblr* -
"Most people never find one great love in their life. You are lucky enough to have found two."
By the Angel! I'm an emotional wreck, I'll add to the bottom of the review when I you know STOP CRYING! I will never ever stop loving this series. My poor heart. That epilogue, just everything.
Oh. My. I remember this book being good. BUT the second time it was just wonderful. I can honestly say a book has never ever made me feel like this has. Another 5 Stars!
Completely spoiler free!
For the final book in The Infernal Devices series, I have never been so happy. Everything about this was perfect. I laughed, I cried, I cried some more, I had goosebumps, it just overall made me feel something!
Will, Jem and Tessa I just love these three so much, I feel like we've been on such a journey, so many ups and downs but we finally made it! How could three people who cared for one anther so much cause one another so much pain? I KNOW RIGHT?! Okay firstly, I love the friendship between all three of them. The fact that Jem is always there for Will whether he is wrong or right. That Will is always there for his Parabatai if he is ill. There is so much love between them both that just makes something so special. I enjoyed that there was no jealousy between the three and that they all loved each other equally. "My Conscience" Will Whispered. "You are my conscience. You have ever been James Carstairs" Moving on, the relationship between Jem and Tessa and Will and Tessa. On my first read I was always Will, I still am. However I can now say I do have a soft spot in the shape of Jem. I realised how much he cares for Tessa and Will. I loved how he treated Tessa and always tried to do something special for her. Whereas Will he loves her fiercely and I wish we'd had the chance to see it a lot more! I need more of all three of them please.
Charlotte and Henry once again, such lovable characters, I'm still laughing about the middle name! Charlotte is the mother type, and I think a role needed to be set in this! I love how she is head strong and does what she believes is right. Henry is so supportive and I love his little quirks. I think the relationship between these two in this book is so much more than what it was. They both know how they truly feel and it is honestly so heartwarming reading about them both together. I can't stop picturing Henry as this man with ginger hair with explosions all around him! At times I felt so sorry for Charlotte, simply for the fact that it is very much a "mans world" however she is who she is and she stood her ground!
Gideon, Gabriel, Sophie and Cecy ahhhhhh. How do I keep this so I don't go into full on babble mode? Okay firstly I loved the pairings of these. The moment that Sophie realised about them Scones. I couldn't cope from laughing! I love how Gideon is the calm to the storm and is so reasoning and so gentle. Especially with Sophie. Sophie makes me slightly weak with how much I like her as a character! Gabriels relationship with Cecy was actually adorable, I couldn't remember whether or not I liked him. But yeah... I guess he's not so bad! There were so many funny moments with this group and I can't even begin to name them all. I don't think I've ever liked so many characters!
What I liked?
- I loved the relationship building between the Lightwormwoods, and how Will introduced Gabriel. It was always something that amused me throughout even when I was on the verge of tears.
- "Fathers a worm" I was howling with laughter for a good 10 minutes!
- The fact that Cecy knows exactly how to wind Will up, it just makes me laugh how he does it for everyone else, but when it's on him he just can't handle it!
- I adored that Magnus was in this way more than he previously was, the fact that Will treated him as an equal and thanked him. Magnus's response to that was just so adorable!
- Just the whole basis of the storytelling, it's just so beautiful!
- Charlotte and Henry's love for one another, I just love how they are so supportive of one another when in reality it doesn't seem like they are supported my others.
- When he finds her and confessed all!
- How evil Mortmain was! I always love to hate someone!
- SO MANY QUOTES, ALL OF THE SWOONING
- I'm sorry but that epilogue is one of my favourite things ever I cry and I cry each time. I don't know why I do it to myself. You get a peak into what has happened over the years, I couldn't even explain why. Well I could but you know... Spoilers! It honestly broke my heart (but in a lovely way)
What I didn't like?
- WHY IS IT ONLY 3 BOOKS, I NEED MORE WILL!
The Infernal Devices are without pity.
The Infernal Devices are without regret.
The Infernal Devices are without number.
The Infernal Devices will never stop coming
I'm sad that it's over until my next re-read, but I have loved every moment! I'm also sorry for my numerous updates, I just can't help myself when it comes to The Infernal Devices!
"Life is a book, and there are a thousand pages I have not yet read."
———-
08.07.18 After thoughts of things I liked/picked up
- Seeing the back story of when Jem and Will first met
- I loved seeing a lot more of Gabriel and understanding why he is like he is, not only that but how he and Cecy interact
- Gideons protectiveness towards the people he cares for
- Gabriel and Gideons letters are HILARIOUS. Speaking of letters, I loved all of the letters throughout, we got to see a look in to how the corresponded and different perspectives from other characters.
- The yin fen fire moment ruined me!
-JEM WRITING FOR TESSA... my heart!
- The distractions from Jem for Will
- Will's interactions with Magnus, he calls him when he needs to talk, one helps the other, they treat each other as equals
- So many think I picked up, The necklace, the star birthmark and Cortana!
- Back stories, I say no more.
- Gabriel and Gideon can literally not hold their tongues and blurt everything out
- My Will... My Tessa
- So many people getting their just desserts :) :) :)
- The last fight, you know
- Charlotte is one of my favourite female characters, because of the time frame this was set in, she wasn't seen as an equal. To see her character grow from strength to strength and do what is right even though others thought she couldn't I just loved it
- Will reading to Tessa in a time of need
- Any mention of worms
- I've said it earlier, and I'll say it again. That epilogue. Destroyed for ever.
————
29.07.2020
It never gets easier reading this series, I think it just seems to get harder, after multiple rereads I’ve become so attached to these characters and I love them all as though they are very close friends.
It brings me so much happiness, I laugh, I cry, I scream, I cry a lot more, but there is no doubt as to why this is my favourite series.
Each re-read I notice something new and my love for everyone just intensifies even more, I think particularly after finishing Chain of Gold earlier this year you notice some super subtle things and the love they all have for each other.
I’ve read all of the Shadowhunter books, and I don’t think there is a love as fierce and passionate as Will, Jem and Tessa. I genuinely don’t say this with bias but when they describe their feelings love just emanates from the pages. I know in other books there’s a lot of love between other characters but I just think this is so so special.
I cannot stress this enough, I will forever thank this series in particular, it brought me back into reading, this is the whole reason I joined Goodreads and wanted to read more because this book means so much. As cheesy as this sounds every time I read it, it’s like returning home, I love it so so much.
Now I want to read Chain of Gold and TMI and TDA but my heart needs a break because I legit cried for 40 minutes straight over the epilogue, calmed myself down and burst into tears all over again.
Why do I put myself through that epilogue EVERY TIME.
Fun fact before I finish... the first time I read (and finished) this series I was on a bus, and I was just sat there sobbing my heart out with people looking at me in absolute distress over it!
Can’t wait to re-read this next year (or the year after) and cry all over again!
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17.08.2022
Still perfection. I love them all so much. The End.
---------
All Cassandra Clare Reviews:
The Infernal Devices
Clockwork Angel - 5 Stars
Clockwork Prince - 5 Stars
Clockwork Princess - 5 Stars
The Infernal Devices (Manga) Reviews:
Clockwork Angel - 5 Stars
Clockwork Prince - 5 Stars
Clockwork Princess - 5 Stars
The Last Hours
Chain of Gold - 4 Stars
Chain of Iron - 5 Stars
Chain of Thorns - 4 Stars
The Mortal Instruments
City of Bones - 5 Stars
City of Ashes - 4 Stars
City of Glass - 4 Stars
City of Fallen Angels - 2 Stars
City of Lost Souls - 3 Stars
City of Heavenly Fire - 4 Stars
The Eldest Curses
The Red Scrolls of Magic - 3 Stars
The Dark Artifices
Lady Midnight - 5 Stars
Lord of Shadows - 5 Stars
Queen of Air and Darkness - 5 Stars -
1.)
City of Bones ★★★
2.)
City of Ashes ★★
3.)
City of Glass ★★★
1.)
Clockwork Angel ★★★
4.)
City of Fallen Angels ★
2.)
Clockwork Prince ★★★★
5.)
City of Lost Souls ★★★★“I can tell you that the end of a life is the sum of the love that was lived in it…”
Friends, you were all right; not only was the ending of this trilogy not predictable, but it was also perfection. I actually think the epilogue in this book is now my favorite of all time. All time. Out of any book I’ve ever read. Like, that is some praise, friends. This book made me so happy, and so sad, all at the same time. But I think the ending was perfect, absolutely perfect. This is also the first Cassandra Clare book that I’ve given five stars.
Love is really the focal point of this entire book. Love can be messy, and complicated, and even cause you hurt and pain, but it is always worth it, and it is never wrong. Seeing Will, Tessa, and Jem love each other, so unconditionally, is something that moves to me to tears just writing this paragraph. And even though I think they totally should have been in a polyamorous relationship, I think that the depiction of their messy, complicated, and even hurtful and painful love was so expertly done.“Most people are lucky to have even one great love in their life. You have found two.”
I also think that Cassie Clare really excels at writing not just romance, but more specifically romantic one-liners. Some of the quotes in this book are some of the most romantic and beautiful things I’ve ever read. I might have been weeping, but I was also swooning, my friends.
The only family tree in literature I’m really invested in is for ASOIAF, but Cassie Clare has made me completely addicted to figuring out how this lineage goes and plays out. I am so scared to see spoilers, so I haven’t looked up anything, but the reading experience is so unique and so much greater seeing these people's familial lines become more and more.
The only three minor complaints about this book! One being, that the letters, between Charlotte and the Consul (AKA: Josiah Wayland, the dick) were just boring to read. I know they were very important, I just never really got enjoyment from reading them. And then, I honestly wish we could have seen Tessa’s power in action more. I feel like we honestly only really got to see it a lot in
Clockwork Angel, and it’s such an amazing ability, I just wish it was showcased a bit more. Lastly, people always complain about this with other YA authors, but Cassie Clare also literally pairs everyone off together in her books. And I know a lot of times friends do fall in love with each other, but friendship is not a “lesser” relationship, and I would have really enjoyed just seeing some of these people be happy being friends with one another. Especially since this series really focuses so much on themes of the importance of found families.
But, I loved this book so much if you couldn’t guess by the perfect rating. But the rest of my review is going to touch on a couple key things that happened in this book and things that have happened in previous books, so please use caution reading the rest of this review if you have not read this book and its predecessors! And as always, I’m going to do a little mini character breakdown on my thoughts and feelings on all the main characters in this book. Spoilers ahead!
(Beautiful fanart by
DREI SJ!) 💕
➽ Tessa Gray - I actually think I’m most heartbroken for Tessa. Her and Magnus both just tug at every heartstring I have. But I love her character, I loved her growth, and I even loved her struggle to be enough, to be loved, and to be happy. And I just don’t want her to be alone.“I will make you a promise. Every year, Tessa, on one day, I will meet you on that bridge. I will come from the Silent City and I will meet you, and we will be together, if only for an hour. But you must tell no one.”
➽ Jem Carstairs - Oh, my sweet boy. One of the most beautiful things I’ve ever read is when Tessa heard Jem though his music. Music means so much to me, and the power, healing, and love that it creates really does transcend everything. It broke me, but I loved what happened to Jem in this novel, and I’m begging Cassie to give me more glimpses of his life. My sweet, kind, unconditionally loving, boy.“And in the shadows they’d whispered, reminding each other of the stories only they knew. Of the girl who had hit over the head with a water jug the boy who had come to rescue her, and how he had fallen in love with her in that instant.”
➽ Will Herondale - I will be real with you all, I was very much Team Will during this book. Again, I know, I will say that the three of them should have just been in a relationship together if it were possible, without Jem’s condition, but even in Clockwork Angel I believed that Will and Tessa were true soulmates. And not to make light of the situation, and I do think it is important to see some beloved characters move on, but I would have so gotten bit by a vampire. Like, these shadowhunters are wild.
➽ Charlotte Branwell - Charlotte is always a delight to read, and she really ties in wonderful feminist storylines and messages throughout this entire trilogy. Her heart is so big, and she always finds even more room to love others. Such a great character.
➽ Henry Branwell - Why did the Fairchild surprise me so much? Did it surprise you all? I mean… I knew Henry had red hair. I mean, I should have guessed. But how perfect is that lineage marker?
➽ Sophie Collins - I loved this character since the very first page that she was mentioned on in Clockwork Angel and I loved her throughout the epilogue of this book. Easily one of my favorites of this trilogy.
➽ Gideon Lightwood - And I can’t wait to follow Sophie and Gideon’s family tree...
➽ Gabriel Lightwood - …Even though I bet Izzy and Alec came from Gabriel, because…
➽ Cecily Herondale - …Cecily is Will’s sister, and everyone says how much Izzy and Alec resemble Will. Ahhh, my heart. I’m still not okay. But I really did love the addition of Cecily, even though I see many of my friends did not.“You endure what is unbearable, and you bear it. That is all.”
➽ Magnus Bane - 40% into this book was when I first started tearing up, and it was because of Magnus. Magnus really is my favorite from this entire world, and he proves over and over how selfless he is time and time again. When he told Tessa it didn’t get easier, I legit couldn’t even blink away the tears. And it truly makes the perfect connection to everything him and Alec are going through in The Mortal Instruments.
➽ Jessamine Lovelace - I legit was like “WHY is she coming back to the institute, end her!” and then she died and I was like “Oh my gosh, I was just joking, this poor girl!” So, I don’t even know how I feel. But I’m here for ghostly activities, always.
➽ Axel Mortmain - I legit didn’t always believe his motivations. Like, it is the same of Valentine, with the grudges being REAL. But I think he did a good job at showing us how abusive people will do anything to get their way; even lulling you into a false sense of security. But yeah, dude was evil, and I’m glad he’s gone. Nothing really else to say.
Overall, I loved this book with my entire heart and soul. I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being my favorite thing that Cassie Clare has created. Yet, I will say that I think she gets better and better as a writer, and everyone promises me more fae in The Dark Artifices so we will see! But I can’t wait to start
City of Heavenly Fire. I actually think I’m going to start it tonight, because I have no chill and I’m so enthralled with his world. And I’m so thankful you all convinced me to read all of Cassandra’s backlist. Okay, I’m off to read
After the Bridge: The Full Story forever! Happy reading!“Life is a book, and there are a thousand pages I have not yet read. I would read them together with you…”
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Content and trigger warnings for LOSS OF A LOVED ONE (lord, help me!), drug addiction, substance abuse, blood depiction, gore, murder, death, misogynistic and sexist comments (always in a negative light), abduction, captivity, self-harm, torture, threats of sexual assault and forced breeding, and war themes.
Buddy read with
Chelsea at
The Suspense is Thrilling Me,
Amy at
A Court of Crowns and Quills, &
Solly at
The Bookish King! ❤ -
This review is also on
Living for the Books
I can't believe it's over. This series has been one of my favorites for the past couple years and it's always been in the back of my mind. So now that it's over I'm not sure what to do with myself. Guess I'll just have to read some more books.
I'm going to try to make this as spoiler free as possible.
"You know that feeling," she said, "when you are reading a book, and you know that it is going to be a tragedy; you can feel the cold and darkness coming, see the net drawing close around the characters who live and breathe on the pages. But you are tied to the story as if bring dragged behind a carriage, and you cannot let go or turn the course aside."
That quote from the book basically sums up my feelings while I was reading. There was no way this book could have ended without some sort of heartbreak. And believe me the ending was so heartbreaking but also so sweet.
The characters were absolutely amazing and so realistic. I cared about all of them (which is very rare since I'm kind of picky about the characters I like). But all of them were unique and had their own story that made them who they were. After risking so much, I was so glad that most of them got their happy endings.
The love triangle in this book is how a love triangle should be written. Many books have love triangles but most of them are nothing like the Will-Tessa-Jem love triangle. I actually liked both guys in the love triangle (I ship Will and Tessa but I still love Jem). Loving both guys is just a recipe for heartbreak.
The relationships between all the characters was also another part of the book that I love. Will and Jem's friendship made them like brothers and it was so heartbreaking when Will or Jem would think of when they were children or the adventures they had. I sobbed whenever Will thought of the first time he met Jem.
Even though Tessa can't fight like the Shadowhunters she's still powerful in her own way. I loved how she was so determined and willing to give anything to protect the people that she loves. I'm definitely going to miss her as a main character.
Clockwork Princess was a much darker read than the other two books in the series. Despite that, the book had me laughing. Not as often as in the other books but the little bits of humor were perfectly timed. The sarcasm in all of Cassandra Clare's books never fails to make me laugh.
The ending was actually very satisfying even though I was crying so much I couldn't even read the page. I totally called who Brother Zachariah was but I never would have guessed the twist at the very end of the book. When you read this book I highly recommend keeping a box of tissues close by just so you're prepared.
Now I must say goodbye to one of my favorite series and the characters I have come to love.
Before reading
Dear Tessa
Choose Will! You obviously love him even if you won't admit it! I do think that you love Jem but not the same way you love Will. Just remember that Will loves you and you are tearing him apart! I would be happy as long as you don't end up with Jem! -
here’s a song called I’m ready to die *strums guitar*
In my reviews of
Clockwork Angel and
Clockwork Prince, I talked a lot about of the things I loved so much within this series. But you know what? I cannot wait to do it all again. This series took an annoyingly large emotional tole on me and my fragile emotions, and it was kind of trashy, but also it made me cry, like, a lot, and I qualify that as a quality piece of media.
I’m registering my honest opinion that fun trash is fantastic if you can just get me invested in the characters and feeling the aesthetic. I am really, really, really invested in the ridiculously-compelling-even-when-they’re-annoying characters. I am really feeling the creepy aesthetic and I am really enjoying the creep factor.“I have come to understand something about novels. They’re not true.”
Oh my god, I’m so sorry if this is like… an unpopular opinion or something, but I love Tessa so much. She’s such a quintessential female character that got ignored because Hot Guys and she deserves better, and if I see any Tessa Gray hate on my timeline I will throw several hands. I fucking love Tessa and she has never done a single thing wrong in her life. She is simultaneously a gentle soul and one of the most savage people in the world and I absolutely adore her.
I still love and would die for Jem; he’s a very pure and good soul. He made a lot of really dumb decisions in this book, and I am mostly not annoyed by them because they’re in character for his stubborn personality.
Also, Will is an annoying person, but he’s my annoying person. Actually, guys, I really love Will, which “me after book one” would not have classed as something in my future. His development in this book especially is so good, and I trust him, and I love him.
LET’S TALK SIDE CHARACTERS.
✔Honestly, don’t kill me for this, but Cecily is… I have mixed feelings?
✔Like, she’s cool, just vaguely thrown in the fucking final book of a series, and reads kind of like the girl version of Will, but we’ve still only known her for one book, and I love that finding-my-place conflict but she’s just taken over by a romance plot that is cute but also out of nowhere, and I don’t find her compelling enough to want 20% of the book to be her chapters. I... still like her and it’s fine
✔I… actually really like Gabriel. I love that am-I-my-family conflict, I’d die for it, so jot that down. although I’ll admit me liking him was hashtag shocking
✔I really like Gideon too. less shocking
✔I’m going to start a Sophie stan club and none of you can stop me, I love my wife who can’t figure out her worth but is really really trying!!
✔I’m actually still kind of sad Jessamine didn’t get More
✔Who else would willingly die for Charlotte Branwell, the mom friend who is a total disaster at it because she’s like, ten years older than all of the people she’s caring for
✔Henry is a good man and a disaster and I love him but how is he still alive
✔everyone got fucking paired off in this book and I want to be mad about it but god damn all of it was cute, all these straight people are so cute tf
✔although I do wish to register my honest opinion that this series has a deeply bi vibe and as such, no character within is truly straight
So, all joking aside, here’s my general thought: all of the side characters in this series are really endearing and intriguing and I find them all so shockingly likable, which never happens.
Sooooooooo let’s finally talk about the subtextual polyamory. Aka I had to use that line somewhere, aka the reason I like this series so damn much, aka the ot3 of my damn dreams. But I really think all of the characters just… complement each other really well. Jem is more of a sunshine being, and he pulls that out in Tessa, and Will is more forty pounds of sarcasm in a trenchcoat, and Tessa is so much more savage around him, and I find that so endearing and adorable, and god I just want them all to be together.
I am not joking when I say I don’t ship any of the three arms of this triangle individually like, nearly enough to love this series all on its own. [I actually like both of the Jem ships more than Will & Tessa, which is ironic because that’s the ship that’s being pushed?] Nope. They’re just… all in love, and it’s beautiful.
Also, Jem leans against chairs when Will is sitting in them and it’s so adorable and also, Will threw his hands into the fire for like, one thing for Jem, and wow but people keep burning their hands for people they love.
and now for some SPOILERY THOUGHTS: um, so everyone has been telling me I was going to cry reading this, and, uh, I did. Here are the moments I cried at! Also, I think I might have gotten myself into tears of laughter over several funny moments. I was howling.“I believe that might be qualified as resistance,” Will said, “you know, eating one’s son in law.”
Oh, and just before we go, let me mention that this is… a strangely hilarious book considering how fucking sad it made me. That scene where Gideon and Gabriel write a letter about Charlotte in chapter six? That was literally the funniest thing I have ever read in my entire life. It was the source of all my non-awful tears in this godforsaken book.
Anyway. I yelled a lot in this review, but bottom line: yes, this was really good, yes, I loved it, yes, I cried, no, I'm not going to give you my answer on the team Jem vs. team Will thing. highly recommended. obviously.
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I officially died and went to heaven when I finally got this book in my hands.
And it was freaking amazing. Everything about this book was perfect, and it ended absolutely perfectly.
And it was SO. SAD.
OH DEAR JESUS. I couldn't handle the level of sadness.
Even so, still perfection. -
So I have read the book.
Now, I'd feel really bad if I had to deleted the whole what-the-fuck-is-gonna-happen conjectures I'd written in this 'review' before reading it, so I'll just put everything into spoiler. (So if you haven't read the book yet, you can open the spoiler as it's not actually a spoiler but only a list of my thoughts BEFORE reading the book.)
Into the actual review ~
I don't know what to fucking say.
Seriously.
I'm speechless.
Once again Cassandra Clare has left me speechless.
And this time I'm not sure in a good way.
THAT EPILOGUE. Are you for real, Cassandra? ARE YOU SERIOUS?
I don't even know how to rate it. Honestly. Throughout the whole book I thought this was going to be perfect but then that epilogue fucking killed me.
I just.. It's like I always saw the characters and the story under a certain light but with the events of the epilogue everything has changed.
I would even rate it one star just because of that ending, because it fucking changed EVERYTHING.
EVERYTHING.
So what do I do?
Five stars, one star? I know, I'm on opposite poles, but I just can't give it three stars. It would minimize everything.
So.. I don't know. I really don't. I think I won't rate this.
And I'm anxiously waiting for the last TMI book and then for The Dark Artifices books because I want more TID and I hope, expect, and WANT Cassandra to talk about it and make us see what happened next.
(by the way, so that's why Jace has that star tattoo! Awwh, I'm gonna die of cuteness here)
P.S.: I liked how The Infernal Devices both started and ended on the Bridge. Nice touch, Cassie.
P.P.S.: Of course I can't say anything about CC's writing because she's like my writing goddess.
Also, I really hold this trilogy close to heart because it's the first one I've been following since the beginning. I had never had to wait for all books in a series to come out, I'd always started when at least two or three were already out. So I feel like I grew up with this trilogy, and it was so heart-breaking to see it end. (and WHAT AN ENDING -.-)
So.. no matter the ending, and whether I liked it or not, this is my favorite paranormal series. (I'm sorry Vampire Academy, you've been displaced)
[Btw, disconnected thought: I love Magnus so freaking bad.]
kbye. See you at The Dark Artifices.
-
Edit: It's been noted that actually Tessa's behavior at the end of the book was pretty self-less. I honestly hadn't see it under that light, concentrating on how she hadn't been fair in coming to terms with her feelings. So I have to give her that. I'm still confused, though.. I still don't know how to rate this book. But.. now I'm more inclined towards a positive rate.
Edit2: Reading Cassandra Clare's post on tumblr about the ending, I'm a bit less angry now. I think.. I think she really meant to build a balanced love triangle, where nobody was loved more or less than another. I also think that maybe it wasn't her intention to make us think she loved more than . Thirdly, I think, at least that's what it sounded to me, that she didn't wholly succeed in doing that as I always thought she loved more than .
And lastly, I think Cassandra Clare and I may have slightly different ideas on love, so I'm taking that into consideration.
But.. now that I get her initial intention, I understand the ending better.
Still not giving a rate though, sorry.
[Jeez, this review is a mess ahahah] -
beautiful, stunning, heartbreaking and purely a life changing book. READ READ READ <3 ave atque vale The Infernal Devices. Will, Jem, and Tessa... it was an honor..:)
-
MY HEART HURTS. I'VE NEVER FELT THIS BROKEN OVER A BOOK BEFORE.
Words truly cannot express the greatness of this art and perfection. The Infernal Devices certainly became one of my favorite series of ALL TIME. I can't believe it's actually over. And that epilogue. Cassandra Clare can seriously write one heck of an epilogue no matter how painful they could be!
The Infernal Devices has been one wild ride right from the very first page of Clockwork Angel. I binge read all three books and I have absolutely no regrets other than the fact that I loathe myself for not reading these books any sooner. Now that I finally completed this prequel series, I can say with utmost confidence that The Infernal Devices is far more superior compared to The Mortal Instruments.
The feelings I had while reading first three books of The Mortal Instruments doesn't even come close to the feelings I had while reading this whole series. The Infernal Devices was, hands down, just all around better. The characters were better. The plot was better. Even Cassandra's writing was better. I had no major complaints whatsoever while reading The Infernal Devices.
The greatest thing about this series was not the action, not the romance, but the bond between Jem and Will. Although I am a Wessa shipper to the max, I am a Jem and Will shipper first. Their parabatai bond and friendship was just so touching with every page turned. I bawled over Jem and Will's love for each other more than I ever bawled over the romance between Jem and Tessa or Tessa and Will. Though it is true when people say that the love triangle in this series is like no other, I fiercely believe that Jem and Will's bond overpowers that of the romance in The Infernal Devices. I have not read a friendship as fierce and loyal as Jem and Will's. They made this series the masterpiece that it was.
I'm glad everybody was able to have the happy ending that they all deserved, just as I had hoped for.
My heart aches just knowing that this series is over! I'm afraid to continue on with the rest of The Mortal Instruments because I just don't think it will fill the void that The Infernal Devices has left. This series has truly became near and dear to my heart. -
“Life is a book and there are a thousand pages I have not yet read.”
Yeah, but I'd give a lot to unread this. It started off alright, but then it only went down down down:
-This series made me hate every love triangle with passion
-Jem was a weak and annoying softie
-Will was just another name for Jace
-The finale was a joke. I expect more from the ending of an extraordinary trilogy like this
-It was entirely and utterly unrealistic.
I wanted to rip those last 100 pages out. Honestly, this novel would have been perfectly fine without them but no, Cassandra Clare wanted to ruin it.
I really, really do not understand the incredibly high Goodreads rating for this ridiculous book.
Find more of my books on Instagram -
4.5 stars
IT IS FINISHED
well that was a rollercoaster of emotions.
of course, a review and discussion will be on my channel :) -
wow. i wouldnt have originally considered myself whole-heartedly invested in this series, but then the epilogue happened and quite nearly destroyed me. my goodness, my emotional reaction to that was completely unexpected and now im tempted to bump this up to 5 stars because of it.
looking back across my reading experience of this series, its easy to say that there are things that i really quite enjoyed and other things not so much. but i cant deny that my attention was consistently held throughout each book.
this is leagues better than the first three TMI books, but i will admit that it was such a neat feeling every time i read something that connected this series to those books. and even though i found myself not really caring about what happened with the magister and his robots, or thinking that these books could be shorter, i really did enjoy the world of the shadowhunters in london and the characters. the characters (mainly will and jem - their bond and friendship is one of the more pure things i have ever read) are really what lured me into this story.
that being said, i have some major thoughts on the will/jem/tessa situation, as im sure everyone does. im not a fan of love triangles and i appreciate CC trying to make this a special circumstance, but there are some things that really disappointed me. im not satisfied with how jems story played out. i feel like he was rather cheated in the end and, therefore, will and tessa were unfairly cheated as well. i dunno. i think i would have preferred it to play out another way, but then the epilogue happened and now i dont know what to think. i guess i have to pick up TMI #4-6 to figure out how everything happened. but still. i still wish tessa went off and did her own thing, as im not her biggest fan, and then will and jem could have lived happily ever after. so thats how im rewriting the ending and im sticking with it. lol.
↠ 4.5 stars -
Just finished the book. I do not know what to think.
I'M A WRECK. IT WAS SO PAINFUL.
And.
Will.
Herondale.
Forever.
. . . . . . . . .
EDIT 23/08/13: I don't understand myself, but this month I realized that this is my favorite book by Cassandra Clare. Or maybe my favorite book ever. It is a masterpiece.
And. Yes. I. Love. The. Epilogue. -
I'm going to curl into a corner and cry now, that was beautiful 😭😭😭
Which is exactly what i did for the first two days after reading this book, then i got off the ground and began trying to draw what I imagined Tessa would look like. Needless to say it was not a very satisfying coping mechanism, but it worked to a certain extent.
This book was everything a person could want in a book, interesting, fast paced, action filled, and most of all emotionally wrecking.
Lets talk characters, Will, Will, Will, im in love with Will!!!! I think i become so emotionally invested in fictional characters, i'm starting to lose my ability to connect with real life human beings. Not complaining though, TBH. James was a sweetheart, but im always the bad boy lover. All the side characters were purely lovable, i think i shipped Cecy and Gabriel so much, while giggling over Gideon and Sophie. oh and charlotte and henry!!!!!!!!! basically lets just name everyone in the book one by one and then ill be satisfied!!!!!!
I just wish to complain a little about Tessa's absolute lack of self competence. I mean if the intention was for to be an absolute damsel in distress, she nailed it. Which frankly was a little irritating given that I'm very strongly attached to strong female characters. But given how much i loved this book im willing to forgive it.
I was a little again irritated with the fact that the last few chapters of this book dragged on a bit, but when the prologue finally arrived i was bent over literally suffering from tachycardia from how emotionally distraught the book made me. I cried and laughed, and felt my heart squeeze in and over itself so many times i was physically breathless once it was over!
THERE IS A SPINOFF SERIES FOR THEIR CHILDREN COMING IN 2019!!!!!!!!!! HOW IN THE NAME OF THE GOOD LORD AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT THAT LONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
I finished the book in one breathe and Jem Jem Jem..you are my greatest Sin..mhan you have no right to steal my heart like that. A review must come
Clockwork Princess Snippet: Jem and Tessa …
Update : 11th july'2012 The cover is revealed and I'm not happy. It not some vintage like Clockwork Angel and Clockwork prince. I heard that Tessa will be in her golden rune wedding dress,and Is that a wedding dress? Also the cover is pretty much similar to the fake ones, I was expecting some originality.
Breaking News* Emma from
Lady Midnight is a Carstaires, descendant of Jem, does that mean Jem has a slightest chance to live???This is so WOW. Read more
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
This cover is pretty good huh?
Look What I got
I got the last Image from
http://ardawling.deviantart.com/art/C..., -
Spectacular end to a fantastic series! My full booktalk/discussion is up on youtube:
http://youtu.be/p7oNhZX_7oo -
re-read. 24.01.2020
i'm a mess. that epilogue broke me. i just love these characters and this story so much and i'm glad i had the chance to re-read these books before the release of "Chain of Gold" which I'm so excited about. -
It's been years since I read this book and if I really think about it no other book has ever made me cry as much as this one did that first time I read it. And I'm not talking about tears silently pouring down my face. I mean ugly cry. Red faced and making-sounds-of-a-wounded-animal-type cry.
“And now I need you to do for me what I cannot do for myself. For you to be my eyes when I do not have them. For you to be my hands when I cannot use my own. For you to be my heart when mine is done beating.”
It has been a couple of months since the Shadowhunters of the London Institute have had to deal with the Magister. But they know that he will return for Tessa, who for some unknown reason, is central to his plans.
There is no escaping him, the Magister has plans within plans and Jem and Will would do anything for Tessa.
Even after everything Charlotte has had to do to keep her position she finds herself once again challenged by the Clave and on the precipice of losing the Institute.“You know that feeling,” she said, “when you are reading a book, and you know that it is going to be a tragedy; you can feel the cold and darkness coming, see the net drawing tight around the characters who live and breathe on the pages. But you are tied to the story as if being dragged behind a carriage and you cannot let go or turn the course aside.”
I have my own hang ups about some of Cassie's books but one thing she sure knows how to do well is grief and loss. She makes you feel it in her writing as if it happened to you. You can feel the emotion and devastation in the words.
“Will, who loved not wisely but entirely and with everything he had.”
I can't say that I am dissatisfied at all with how things came together for Tessa, Jem and Will. Cassie did a great job in making everything work out even though we had to endure all the pain with these beloved characters.
So while Tessa/Jem/Will scenes were fraught with sadness, the scenes at the institute with the Lightwood brothers, Sophie and Cecily were a wonderful contrast! Those parts were sweet and funny and just everything.
I'm not going to go in depth about every character but there are two I wanted to talk about...
Gabriel's character development was so great. His feelings of confusion, grief, guilt and loneliness were palpable. There were times I wanted to shake him for making the wrong decision but at the end of the day he's just a lonely kid. And it made me so happy when he finally started to see the people at the institute as his new family.
Charlotte is honestly such an icon. I love her to bits. She stands for what she believes in despite what anyone else thinks. I love how strong she is and she's also such a mom to everyone else despite not even being that much older than them.
These characters all mean so much to me. But the great part is that i don't really have to say good bye because Cassie can't help but write more about our favourite characters!!
It's time for me to finally read
Chain of Gold!!
______
My reviews for:
The Infernal Devices Series
Book 1:
Clockwork Angel
Book 2:
Clockwork Prince
[Sorry no reviews for TMI, I read it too long ago and don't plan to re-read]
The Dark Artifices Series
Book 1:
Lady Midnight
Book 2:
Lord of Shadows
Book 3:
Queen of Air and Darkness
The Last Hours Series
Book 1:
Chain of Gold -
Honestly, I can't decide how should I rate this. It's definitely the best book in this series. There was pretty good action, however, I didn't like the way they finished the storyline with Mortmain.
I liked Woolsey and wished there would be more of him. It was also pretty interesting to see how certain things linked to the things in TMI (e.g. Church, Jace's birthmark...)
So, I think it's I would probably rate this somewhere around 3,5*. -
"I'm not a certified idiot."
This is going to come off as the same rant I've made after first three books of MI, but I don't know what else to say. It felt like the same thing for the most part in a different time line, with a different set of names. Another annoying love triangle, and another set of uninterestingly obvious characters. Take away the romance, the repetitive facial descriptions of the same people over and over again, and you end up with a very simple and short story without even a strong main plot.
At least Mortal Instruments had a bit of mystery and suspense going for it, with the concept of shadowhunters being new and everything, but I couldn't see Infernal Devices any other way than the same thing wrapped up differently. When it comes to fantasy, there should be a certain amount logic behind things, especially when used tech-aspects to have at least some adherence to timelines. Clare had thrown both out of window. Sure, such 'unbelievable' imagination could work in favor at times, but it certainly didn't work here. There was simply no harmony between different aspects of the plot, and the author had gone for sheer entertainment over quality.
I've come to the world of Shadowhunters from Jack Vance's Lyonesse, which had been the best surprise of the year for me, only to find the best disappointment in Cassandra Clare's MI and ID. Still, I've kept going through this trilogy as well, albeit with a lot of skimming over the romance parts, and still haven't completely convinced myself to given up on the author. Hopefully the Red Scrolls of Magic will be a turning point, but at the moment, it feels like wishful thinking.
"Messy, all that romantic love business." -
***UPDATE! 03/30/13***
Please scroll down to read my review! :D
OH MY FREAKIN GOD! It's released! AND I HAVE THE COPY! OH MY GOD!!!!!!!! I can't wait to read it!
[image error] -
“For this I would be damned forever. For this I would have given up everything.”
“The world is a wheel...when we rise or fall, we do it together.”
"My heart is my own. It is beyond you to control it. It has been beyond me to control it."
"Faith has brought us this far; it will bring us a little farther. The Angel watches over us, and we shall win out."
THE INFERNAL DEVICES ARE WITHOUT PITY.
THE INFERNAL DEVICES ARE WITHOUT REGRET.
THE INFERNAL DEVICES ARE WITHOUT NUMBER.
THE INFERNAL DEVICES WILL NEVER STOP COMING.
The final battle begins...
Like a clock without cogs, Mortmain's master plan is missing its key component: Tessa. Without her, he cannot use his army of automatons, to destroy the Shadowhunters. He cannot exact his revenge.
Secrets will unravel...
As Tessa's nuptials quickly approach, she clings to the moments of happiness she finds with Jem - refusing to dwell on his inevitable death, Will's broken heart and her own. But their are bigger things at stake than hearts. The secrets behind Tessa's creation may hold all their lives in the balance. What is she and how did she come to be?
Only Mortmain holds the answers.
The Infernal Devices will rise...
...But who will stop them?
***************
Immediate reaction:
By the Angel!
I. Just. Died.
I have been overwhelmed with a sea of emotions. I have nothing left - I have laughed, gasped, screeched, cried, sobbed, sobbed some more and then 'aww'd a little more after that.
This is all too much.
Cassie is a genius.
When I retain my emotions - and am mentally stable once more - I will sit down and type up a scintillating review. :)
Check out my reviews
here
****************
My 'before reading' review:
Ok - I can see how the plot will roll out:
- Will and Tessa 'i love you but I don't and let's have paragraphs describing our heart-tearing eye contact' tension
- Jem and Tessa cute 'omg we're engaged but you're dying' stuff
- Cecily 'i think i love Jem but shit he's engaged' thoughts
- Sophie and Gideon 'we're in love and who cares about the others' moments
- Gabriel 'God I'm such a loner' mini-chapters
- Jessamine's 'wallowing in a cell without makeup' moments
- Henry and Charlotte's 'we're having a baby!' times
- Magnus' 'what the hell am I doing hanging around with the likes of all of you and ...ooh! Will's eyes are pretty' banter
- The Magister's 'mwahahahahahahahahaha...ha...ha...I'm gonna kill you all' monologues
It'll be good. And then, at the end, Will and Tess will feed the ducks in silence. :D
(First pre-read review:)
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(Contiene spoilers)
Un final increíble para una saga increíble. Cómo ha resuelto Cassandra Clare el conflicto amoroso de Tessa me parece realmente original (y lo de Jem DEBE explicarlo en City of Heavenly Fire sí o sí) y cómo ha conectado la creación de los Portales o la historia de Magnus con la saga original demuestra que todo está increíblemente organizado en su cabeza.
Cassandra Clare TIENE recursos. Puede escribir todas las sagas que quiera, que pese a que algunos esquemas se repitan, consigue llevar al lector donde ella quiere. Princesa mecánica ha conseguido, como su predecesor, emocionarme. Esta vez, ha habido dos ocasiones:
1.- Cuando Charlotte recibe la carta en la que el Consejo le pide que sea la nueva Cónsul. Simplemente, no podía creerme que después de tanto sufrimiento y tanto dolor, tanta lucha, consiguiese algo tan merecido. (Ah, y que la novela se narre en parte mediante cartas me ha encantado.)
2.- Con el epílogo, cuando Jem le toca a Will en su lecho de muerte con el violín toda su vida, y especialmente (me destrozó el corazón, vaya) cuando Jem descubre en la ceremonia de protección del primer hijo de Will y Tessa que se llama igual que él y se tiene que girar y taparse la cara. De verdad, incluso escribiendo estas líneas me sigo emocionando.
De verdad, no puedo asumir el final de saga que Cassandra ha escrito. El problema es que deja un par de líneas argumentales abiertas de cara al último libro de The Mortal Instruments y no puedo esperar -como si antes hubiese sido paciente- a leerlo. Bravo. BRAVO. -
Oh god. Oh god.
This was the most achingly beautiful and exquisitely painful thing I have ever read. But it had the perfect ending.
Review to come if I can figure out what is up with my heart.
--
Oh how I love Jem… Tessa had better choose Jem!! Or I may not read another Cassandra Clare book again. (Okay, that is a lie. And I admit it. I will always read Ms. Clare's books, no matter what.) Has anyone noticed how Tessa and Will would be too similar to Clary and Jace? If Tessa's with Will, I might have to assume Clare can't write about different romances. (I won't. Because it is clear that she can write about versatile romances.)
Besides, I love Jem <33
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