Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

8:00 AM

Title: Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Release Date: December 6, 2011 (hardcover)
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Pages: 528
Source: ARC provided by publisher 

Overall: 5 Stars

Summary:
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.  

My Thoughts: 
Clockwork Prince was easily one of my most anticipated novels of the year, and usually that may have me nervous to see if it will meet my high expectations, but knowing Cassandra Clare had written it, there were no worries that I wouldn’t fall in love with the novel. Cassandra Clare never fails to amaze me with gorgeous, addictive writing which instantly sweeps you away into another world… and Clockwork Prince was no exception! Rich in beautiful descriptions of Victorian England, readers were once again transported back to a time so unlike our own. 

Tensions are running high in this second installment of the Infernal Devices trilogy, with our much-loved characters facing new and old foes that would do anything to ensure power lies solely in their hands. Following shortly after the events in Clockwork Angel, Charlotte's leadership at the London Institute is called into question while Tessa and her Shadowhunter friends continue to search for the whereabouts of the sinister Magister. Once again, Tessa proved to be strong individual, pushing forth for answers regarding her heritage and even taking steps to learn self defence in order to protect herself. 

My heart is still completely torn between Will and Jem, and I don't envy the difficult situation Tessa has found herself in – not when some form of heartbreak is imminent. She can’t help being drawn to both of the handsome boys, especially when both claim a spot in her heart in different ways. Cassandra Clare wreaked havoc on my heart, allowing us to see more facets of Will and Jem’s personalities... and completely bringing me to a loss in finding a way to possibly side with only one of them in this memorable love triangle. Jem’s friendship and kindness mean the world to Tessa, but while Will may have tried to push her away before, there’s no denying their attraction for another. There’s more to Will’s enigmatic behaviour though, and in Clockwork Prince, we finally learn some of the secrets which Will has been hiding from everyone for so long. I found myself constantly wavering between both of the boys… and I loved how Cassandra Clare really developed the characters in this novel. 

When I finished reading Clockwork Prince, I was left shocked and numb, attempting to grasp some sort of reassurance to myself that everything would eventually work itself out in the end. Cassandra Clare relentlessly plays with your emotions in her novels, bringing both her readers and characters to their breaking points. Filled with love, action, excitement and betrayal, Clockwork Prince will undoubtedly leave readers shaken in emotional turmoil as they finish the final pages. The release of the final novel in the trilogy, Clockwork Princess, cannot come soon enough. I'm almost frightened to learn what will happen! 

Thanks so much to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing this review copy!

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5 comments

  1. Excellent review, Liz!

    I'm Team Magnus! Jem and Will...no competition! Bwahah!

    -★Wendy★
    A Cupcake and a Latte: Young Adult Reviews!

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  2. Great review! I'm still waiting for my copy of Clockwork Prince to come in the mail and as soon as it does I'm dropping everything to read it :)

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  3. I'm so glad you liked the book, :) Your review was awesome!

    I haven't read this series yet but I got a friend who's a huge fan :) and she's always telling me it's awesome.

    Sounds like this was quite the ride!

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  4. I love your review. I was so anxious about this one, and I STILL haven't read it- I'm like the 90th person at the library who ordered it, so I have a while to wait. Until then, reviews like these should tide me over!

    Also, I'm totally torn between Will and Jem, too. I don't know which one to like more!

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  5. I read the first book and i think it was asmazing! Noow that the second book is coming soon i am even more happy! not only are the characters interesting but fun! read it!

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