Clockwork Angel Book Review (Non-spoiler)

Title: Clockwork Angel (Book One)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Steampunk
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Took me forever to finish this book but I really enjoyed it more than the first book of The Mortal Instruments.

Synopsis of Goodreads:

In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them…

My Initial Thoughts Right After I Finished:

I NEED THE SECOND BOOK. WHY WOULD THE EPILOGUE FINISH LIKE THAT? HOW DID PEOPLE WAIT A YEAR FOR THE NEXT ONE?!?!?

My Thoughts Now That It’s Been A Few Hours Since I Finished:

• If you don’t want to read The Mortal Instruments, you don’t have to. I feel like this series is great enough to read without TMI. The author describes things in the Shadowhunter world that would make sense for a person who hasn’t read TMI.
• I loved the female dynamic in this book. I feel like we have way more female characters in this first book vs. City of Bones and I loved the interactions. Except for Jessamine, there’s always a Jessamine somewhere.
• The author’s writing is a lot better in this book. I feel like she matured in her writing with Clockwork Angel. I also feel like you can tell that she did her research for this setting in 1800s London. The descriptions and the way I saw everything in my head was amazing.
• Team Jem. Listen I don’t have a ship yet because I feel like everyone is discovering themselves in this book but I don’t like Will and he better pull heaven on earth in Clockwork Prince to get me on his team.
• I loved seeing how Cassandra Clare didn’t ignore the way women were treated back in the 1800s but also how she made it very clear that within Shadowhunters, women were equal (sorta but don’t want to spoil).
• I loved how the plot was a total surprise for me, I didn’t expect anything!
• Clare makes you feel for these characters. Charlotte, Tessa, Henry, Jem, Will, Jessamine, Sophie, Thomas, just all of them!!! I want to hear all their individual stories. While reading you get some of their stories but I know there’s more to that. Hope

I’ve already started Clockwork Prince. Have you read this book? What did you think?

Thursday Quotables

Welcome to Thursday Quotables! A meme hosted by Book Shelf Fantasies. This weekly feature is the place to highlight a great quote, line, or passage discovered during your reading each week. Whether it’s something funny, startling, gut-wrenching, or just really beautifully written, Thursday Quotables is where my favorite lines of the week will be, and you’re invited to join in!

This weeks quote is from my current read, Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare.

“One must always be careful of books,” said Tessa, “and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.”

Currently Reading

Before I get into this can we just admire this beauty:

Annnnnd I’m back!

Okay so I’m currently reading Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare and I’m about 31% into it according to Goodreads. I am really enjoying this book a lot more than I did City of Bones. I’m comparing them because they’re the first book in a series that are set in the same world.

A lot of people who personally know me have told me that I would love this trilogy way more than The Mortal Instruments. Let’s see if that’s true.

So far I’m loving the female characters and how Cassandra makes a point that although this is set in the 1800s, women in the Shadowhunter universe are equal as men. And the Shadowhunter men treat the women as such.

I’m loving the writing in this book and the setting so much! I feel like I’m there in London in the 1800s wearing these beautiful dresses.

So no complaints as of yet.

Have you read this trilogy? What did you think? And if you also read The Mortal Instruments, did you read it by publication date?