Book Review: Clockwork Prince

So a few weeks ago I did a review on Clockwork Angel, which I loved! I just finished the next book and I was equally impressed.

Clockwork Prince picks up where Angel left off. The first round of the enemy has been fought off, but the main threat remains and the Shadowhunters are racing to find Mortmain, leader of the Infernal Devices.

Tessa now knows exactly what her abilities are worth to both sides and what her friendship means to those inside the Institute.

Book summary from the Shadowhunters website (all rights to author Cassandra Clare):

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, but 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.

Where I had a little difficulty getting into the first book, this time I was captivated right from the start. Mainly because there was so much going on in this one: I found out why Will is a grumpy-wumpus, Jem and Tessa’s friendship really takes off, Charlotte’s leadership is threatened, Will’s past walks right into the Institute, and I discover there is a lot more to Gabriel Lightwood than I thought.

I can honestly say that my favorite part of these books has been that Cassandra has pulled off a love triangle that works. And if it isn’t evident to you in the first book, it will be in this one. Most love triangles consist of a guy or girl simply not being able to choose between two people — Tessa’s story is much more complex than that though, and it works! There are legit reasons for the dilemma and I love that.

I would never let anyone touch a hair on your head. You know that, don’t you, Tess?”

Aside from that, I really enjoyed seeing a different side to Will in this book. He’s my favorite character and in the first book he was distant and cold and downright mean sometimes; now I see the reason for it all and I see the transition into the person he is and the person he really wants to be. He acts braver — not just reckless — kinder, and even more fun when the occasion merits it. His closeness with Jem is still a highlight for me, but also seeing him support Charlotte and the others for the first time since he met them was fantastic!

I had come to think I would never love anyone.”

On the note of Charlotte, I saw a new side of Henry and Charlotte. They do not have what I would call a typical marriage and honestly up to this point, I saw Henry as an extra character, I didn’t really see any great value in having him there. But to my great relief, Henry showed his true colors in Prince. Up to this point, Henry reminded me of Belle’s father in the original animated Beauty and the Beast: intelligent, great potential with inventions (though it wasn’t until Prince that an invention actually worked), but lacking in the feelings and social departments. That all changed in this book — I saw Henry as fiercely protective of Charlotte, letting her know on no uncertain terms that he loved her and would not have chosen any other (something that concerned both myself and Charlotte).

I didn’t really have a clear imagining of Charlotte in Clockwork Angel. She was described as small and protective of those in her care in a rather motherly manner, but highly skilled in fighting. This time around, I got it, she reminds me everything of Hetty Lang from NCIS: L.A.

And it sticks for me. Just put her in period clothing or Shadowhunter fighting gear.

I also got a vastly improved image of Jem and Jessamine. They came to life much more for me. Jess is far more resourceful and manipulative than I previously gave her credit for. And Jem’s faithfulness to the Shadowhunters, but especially to Will and Tessa is outstanding. His own world is uncertain, but he gives friendship and support as easily as his companions draw breath.

“She’s annexed my plan!”
“Will,” Tessa said firmly, “Do you are more about the plan being enacted or about getting credit for it?”
“That,” he said. “That second one.”

As expected, the stakes were raised in this book, not just as far as the main plot goes, but also for each character — even Gabriel Lightwood, who as is intended, I don’t care for very much. This is one thing I love about Cassandra’s writing: she writes a fantastic plot for sure, but also each character gets their moment, each character gets time to develop and I can see their motives, their changes, their interactions with each other as well as their internal dialogue. This makes for characters with true depth and devices that seamlessly drive the plot along.

I am currently reading the last book in this trilogy, Clockwork Princess and I will post a review as soon as I have it done!

“You struck her over the head with a mirror and tied her to her bed?”

“I think I may be in love with you, Sophie. Marriage may be on the cards. Many’s the time I wanted to hit Jessamine over the head myself. No one could blame you.”

In the meantime, I give Clockwork Prince five stars and highly recommend you check it out — I doubt any fantasy fan could be disappointed in these books!

The wall is coming down.”