Review: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Prince
(The Infernal Devices #2)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publication Date: December 6th, 2011

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Genre: Fantasy / Steampunk

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Synopsis:

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. The special Collector’s First Edition will include a never-before-seen letter from Will to his family! 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: I loved this book so much, I was up until 1am finishing it last night, not the best idea for a mom with a baby that won't sleep through the night and decided 5:30 was a great time to get up this morning. I think what I liked the most about this book was how quickly things were happening, well they seemed quickly, even though the book is based over a two week period. There is a lot more action than in Clockwork Angel, and the beginning isn't as slow.

The story actually progressed a lot in this book. Charlotte is challenged for the running of the Institute by Benedict Lightwood, which causes a lot of stress on those living in the institute. All Charlotte has to do to prove her herself to stay in charge is find Mortmain, without the help of the Clave. So everyone starts looking for clues as to  his whereabouts. There are surprises for Will, as he tries to find away to fix his life. Tessa has a confrontation with Nate. There is a spy in the Institute. Sophie finds love. Charlotte and Henry have a heated discussion about their relationship. And it looks like we are going to get to know Cecily in the next book. So a lot happens and it's a book that is extremely hard to put down. When I wasn't reading, I was thinking about it, or when sleeping, I was dreaming about it. Needless to say, I'm definitely looking forward to reading Clockwork Princess, now it's just the wait that will kill me..

Team Will or Team Jem? Poor naive Tessa, just can't see that they both love her until they both tell her, and then she has a huge predicament. I'm still Team Will. I know how things have ended up at the end of the book, but I still can't help but feel Tessa and Will are made for each other. I feel really bad for Will after learning why he's pushed everyone away. I do feel bad for Jem, since he is dying, but I don't feel Tessa loves him like she loves Will, I feel like there is a lot of pity on her part for him. Yes, she does have some feelings for him, she does love him, but she loves Will so much more. There is lots of making out in this book, every other chapter Tessa is kissing one of the boys. I guess I'll just have to see how Clockwork Princess fills out. I can't help but feel bad for everyone involved right now.