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A review by keysmashhh
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Plot: 3/5
Character: 4.75/5
Relationships: 4.5/5
World-Building: 4/5
Genre: 4.5/5
Plot: I always find Cassandra Clare's books to be a bit lacking in the plot but honestly she always makes up for it with her characters and relationships. This plot I found to be a bit slow (kind of like exposition for the other books to follow but I really didn't mind. The pace could be considered slow but I love that she took the time to flesh out the characters and the subtleties of their relationships and didn't lose the plot completely. The betrayal! now that was a good plotline - which honestly I didn't see coming the first OR THE SECOND time I read this book which is amazing! I was genuinely moved by the deaths as well - Will saying goodbye to Thomas made a few tears in my eyes
Character: CASSANDRA CLARE YOU ARE AMAZING AT WRITING CHARACTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JEM CARSTAIRS IS THE BEST FICTIONAL MAN - THERE I SAID IT! WILL IS SO COMPLICATED AND ANGSTY BUT IS STILL SO AMAZING AND TESSA - SHE IS THE PERFECT BALANCE OF QUIRKY WITHOUT GETTING ON MY NERVES. All of the side characters work as well - I don't really feel that emotionally attached but considering she has somehow created 3 main characters I love - I will let that go. I also loved that we got to see more of Camille and MAGNUS in this book - it was nice to flesh out their characters in other centuries
Relationships: ugh this book makes me so torn when it comes to romance - on the one hand, Will and Jem are perfect for each other - they are such a power couple and so caring and perfect and I love them. On the other hand, the intellectual, flirty snarkiness of Will and Tessa fuels my main character syndrome but finally Jem and Tessa are perfect, they are the epitome of balance in a couple - so I give up and think they should all just kiss each other and be done with it - I'm not choosing
World-Building: The world of shadowhunters is so intricate and amazing whilst also seemingly having no useless exposition - it manages the balance of amazing descriptions of Victorian London (which are so sensory) and forwarding the plot - it really is amazing. The tiny details CC added in this such as the colours of mourning and the differences in vocab between England and America make this book so authentic
Genre: The teen fantasy romance adventure chaotic genre is so dense but these always rise to the top - not just for their characters but they rise even higher than the original Mortal Instruments series - there is something so amazing and so heart-breakingly well written in these books are that will always make me love them
1st Read: March 2021
Finally, I'm back reading Cassandra Clare books again! I read this in a day and loved it. It is so much better than the 1st books in my opinion. Maybe that's to do with me being British and loving books set in London, maybe I am just a sucker for Victorian London?Jem is my favourite by far, I would protect him with all my heart. Im interested in how Jems addiction is going to effect the rest of the plot and hopefully I will get some good content out of that in the future I loved that we got to see more Magnus content because boy oh boy does my little heart sing when he talks. I loved the bit where he mentioned his type and then basically described Alec. Also the bit right at the end with Will and him is intriguing. Tessa is so much more likeable than Clary, she is 10x more intresting and I don't roll my eyes every time she opens her mouth. Romance: Jem x Will is the supreme couple. However, I don't totally hate Will and Tessa, they are the predictable couple but they don't make me want to throw up like Clary and Jace.
Character: 4.75/5
Relationships: 4.5/5
World-Building: 4/5
Genre: 4.5/5
Plot: I always find Cassandra Clare's books to be a bit lacking in the plot but honestly she always makes up for it with her characters and relationships. This plot I found to be a bit slow (kind of like exposition for the other books to follow but I really didn't mind. The pace could be considered slow but I love that she took the time to flesh out the characters and the subtleties of their relationships and didn't lose the plot completely. The betrayal! now that was a good plotline - which honestly I didn't see coming the first OR THE SECOND time I read this book which is amazing! I was genuinely moved by the deaths as well - Will saying goodbye to Thomas made a few tears in my eyes
Character: CASSANDRA CLARE YOU ARE AMAZING AT WRITING CHARACTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JEM CARSTAIRS IS THE BEST FICTIONAL MAN - THERE I SAID IT! WILL IS SO COMPLICATED AND ANGSTY BUT IS STILL SO AMAZING AND TESSA - SHE IS THE PERFECT BALANCE OF QUIRKY WITHOUT GETTING ON MY NERVES. All of the side characters work as well - I don't really feel that emotionally attached but considering she has somehow created 3 main characters I love - I will let that go. I also loved that we got to see more of Camille and MAGNUS in this book - it was nice to flesh out their characters in other centuries
Relationships: ugh this book makes me so torn when it comes to romance - on the one hand, Will and Jem are perfect for each other - they are such a power couple and so caring and perfect and I love them. On the other hand, the intellectual, flirty snarkiness of Will and Tessa fuels my main character syndrome but finally Jem and Tessa are perfect, they are the epitome of balance in a couple - so I give up and think they should all just kiss each other and be done with it - I'm not choosing
World-Building: The world of shadowhunters is so intricate and amazing whilst also seemingly having no useless exposition - it manages the balance of amazing descriptions of Victorian London (which are so sensory) and forwarding the plot - it really is amazing. The tiny details CC added in this such as the colours of mourning and the differences in vocab between England and America make this book so authentic
Genre: The teen fantasy romance adventure chaotic genre is so dense but these always rise to the top - not just for their characters but they rise even higher than the original Mortal Instruments series - there is something so amazing and so heart-breakingly well written in these books are that will always make me love them
1st Read: March 2021
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Drug use, Infertility, and Death of parent