I debated for a while about picking up this book, mainly because I've been steering clear of a lot of Young Adult books recently due to the sudden onslaught of 'Twilight Syndrome'. I thought this one could be different, but having not heard much about it I still wasn't sure. I had two friends recommend it though when I asked them if they'd read it, and finally picked up it. I can say I was pleasantly surprised, and have the next book, Clockwork Prince, sitting to read after I finish my current book reading endeavor.
A quick summary:
Clockwork Angel is the first in the Infernal Devices series, a prequel to the Mortal Instruments series that I now plan on reading as well. It takes place in 1878 in London, where Tessa (our main protaganist) has just arrived with the expectation of meeting with her brother, Nate, who sent her the tickets to make the voyage after their aunt's dies leaving Tessa alone in the US. Tessa finds herself sudden immersed in a world she didn't know existed when, instead of her brother, she is met by two old women who in effect kidnap her and through force teach her how to use a power she didn't know she had before. They are doing this for a man they call the Magister who plans on marrying Tessa once her power is developed, but before this can happen she is rescued by a group called the Shadowhunters. With her new friends Tessa works to find out who the Magister is and what has happened to her brother who she's been told is being held captive. She also finds herself developing feelings for two best friends, Will Herondale and Jem Carstairs.
That's the basic information you're given when you go into this book, and that is all I'll give in respect to not spoiling things for you.
Characters:
I found the characters in Clockwork Angel grew on me as I got further into the story. I wasn't sure about Tessa as the heroine at first, but as she adapts to this new world she's thrown into she grows into her own. There's one scene where she makes a comment about a cross-dressing midget misunderstanding someone's intentions that seemed to seal it for me and I decided I enjoyed her. The story is told through her eyes for the most part other than a few detours to Will or Jem throughout the story. They are the three main characters that you deal with. Tessa becomes stronger through the book, though she seems to remain confused and conflicted about her feelings through it all though in a fairly understandable way. In the end she was someone I enjoyed reading about, and felt real in how she handled the strange things she faced. She proved that she could be strong, quick on her feet and humorous.
Will is the bad boy hero sort in the story, though Cassandra Clare lays the brickwork for what seems like a detailed past for this character that will (I'd assume) blossom more through the other books in the series. You get the feeling that he's trying to keep people at a distance at all times through his actions, and often comes off rude or downright mean. His friendship with Jem is his main saving grace through most of the book, though despite his nature I found I love this character. His unpolished sort of touch adds something that I think the book would have felt a little flat without. Those scenes he has with Tessa where he's not being purposefully rude can be touching. You slowly realize this is someone who cares dearly for all the people around him even if he treats them as though it'd barely faze him if something were to happen to them. He's reckless, abrupt and blunt; and I loved him.
Jem is our final main hero of the story, and he has a different touch than Will. He's kinder and gentler than his counterpart, and patient beyond belief even when Will is pushing everyone's buttons. We find out quickly that he's sick in the story, though it isn't revealed what his illness is until pretty far into it. He handles Tessa in a more sensitive fashion, and still has some wit about him. I liked Jem though I felt his character didn't come through quite as strong in this first book. You got the feeling, as with Will, that he starts to have feelings for Tessa but he has a more subtle way of handling it. He's a more supportive presence for Tessa as well. Though he lacked some of the spunk that Will had, he still came through as a strong personality on his own. We learn more about his back story in the first book than we do Will's, and you get a sense of bitterness that he otherwise lacks when you finally do learn what happened. He's more sensible, kind and a bit damaged.
There are a few important side characters in the first book that I have little doubt will carry over into the next. They are the other Shadowhunters of the institute and their few human helpers that work there. Charolette runs the institute for the Shadowhunters of London with her husband Henry, and they were a bittersweet sort of couple. You get the feeling that Charolette loves Henry, and that in a way he loves her too though his work is more important. He's a bit spacey at times and the things he makes don't always seem to work quite right, but you feel that he really is a very intelligent man. Charolette is a strong and motherly presence even though I got the feel she wasn't much older than the others at the institute, and fought to run things the best she could under the scrutiny of the other Shadowhunters. They were both likable in their own right, and those moments when the affection happens to slip through between the two of them are sweet and sad at the same time. Jessamine is the other Shadowhunter who lives at the institute, and she wasn't as likable as the other characters. This is, mainly, because I don't think she's supposed to be. You feel bad for her and understand her desire for other things in life, but she goes about them with little care for who she may be stepping on. She sees herself as a lady first above anything else, and has the attitude of a slightly snobbish friend who not-so-secretly feels she's better than you. She's a strong character that stands out, but usually in a way that rubs you wrong. There are three others that live at the insitute that are humans who have a 'touch of the sight'. The one we learn the most about is Sophie who acts like a lady's maid to Tessa and Jessamine, as well as helping out in other areas of the house. She has a rough background and is kind towards Tessa, abrupt and short with Will, annoyed by Jessamine, and fond of Charolette, Henry and Will. She becomes a sort of friend to Tessa throughout the story. The other two human characters are Thomas, who is in charge of the weapons and driving the carriage, and the cook, Agatha. We don't learn much at all about Agatha in the book, and we only learn a few things about Thomas that endears you to him. There are other side characters through the book, but they don't have as large of parts.
Story:
The story in Clockwork Angel fits together and runs smoothly. It felt like a well thought out story line that kept just enough back throughout that it left you guessing. It was driven strongly by the characters different interactions so that the world you are dealing with slowly opens up to you like it does for Tessa. Much of the story seems to build around the relationships, and Tessa's experiences with her new surroundings. It has a good amount of twists and turns that keep you wondering what's going to happen, and though there were a few things that came off a little cliche at turns it never felt like something you've read before. Cassandra Clare does an excellent job making sure there are no loose ends left hanging other than those that can be dealt with in the next book (character back stories and the like). Though there are a few things that seem to be thrown in here and there for little reason they are few. The only main complaint I could have is that Tessa comes off at times as the plain girl that everyone wants to be with. I did enjoy the relationship parts of the book and felt like they did grow closer throughout the story; it just seemed like the two main heroes quickly had feelings for her. There are also a few points where it's revealed one character has feelings for another in the story, and often times they seem to be revealed simply to add a touch of drama or make you feel sympathy before that character experienced some hardship. There is one such instance where it's revealed someone has feelings for another even though you see little interaction between the two, if any, until that dramatic pivotal moment.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading more. Cassandra Clare may become one of my new Young Adult authors if her other works are like this one. Good for those rainy days or mornings on the train, it's a read that goes by quickly because its enjoyable. It never felt like something I'd have to force myself to read to get through those parts that are too slow or due to exposition that isn't integrated smoothly.
Overall, if you enjoy a good story with a touch of romance and paranormal themes, I'd suggest this. It's a fun jaunt through a world that feels fully realized with characters that are enduring and full. I'd give it a 4/5 star rating. It had good characters and an interesting plot even though it had moments the building of relationships felt rushed.
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