To Be Released on: December 6th, 2011
Source: ARC from publisher to review
5 stars: Absolutely BRILLIANT!
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, 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. -quoted from Goodreads
What a fabulous, sigh worthy, at times hysterical and other times rip my heart out brilliant sequel! Cassie has a talent for toying with not only her character's emotions, but her readers's ones as well and boy does she know how to make me laugh, sigh, cry, break my heart & make me fall in love with her characters. With Cassie's writing I'm not just connected with her story, but I find myself completely immersed with her storyline, her world building, her characters and the setting. Cassie has a way of making everything she writes about feel real and lively. While I'm reading her book I feel like I've been transported to Victorian London for an unforgettable adventure with Will, Jem and Tessa. Clockwork Prince is definitely one of those unforgettable stories fans won't be able to forget. With it's twists, heart break, betrayal, love and so much more.
Big sigh. I am in love with Cassie's characters. They're so well developed that I feel like I'm reading a story about people I know. I love how invested she allows me to become with Will, Jem, Tessa, Magnus and each of the characters from Clockwork Prince. Each of their stories come to life and intertwine so beautifully. Their emotions, their thoughts and the motives for their actions are incredibly realistic and engaging. I loved seeing how this series ties in with The Mortal Instrument Series, with the Lightwoods and Wayland families, as well as Magnus and a couple other names that will be familiar to fans who have read City of Glass. Oh Magnus, I didn't think I could love him any more than I already did.
There's so much I want to say about Will, Jem and Tessa. Can their stories get any more heartbreakingly beautiful? Their are the type of characters you can't help but love despite knowing that something is going to happen to one of them that will rip your heart out and leave you wondering how you could have so helplessly fallen in love with them. At the same time you wouldn't trade feeling that way even if you had known the outcome. These are characters that you laugh with, cry with, sigh in frustration over, get mad at and in the end love them for who they are, despite some of their not so stellar moments.
Tessa is a true heroine is every aspect of the word. She continues to be my favorite female character. She's strong, independent, and one of the most trusting, and forgiving characters who has a way of seeing the good in people who don't see it in themselves. She is loving, and courageous. She's intelligent and witty, and she's my all time favorite heroine. Her character growth in Clockwork Prince is so beautifully written. Jem and Will match her growth perfectly. The are so well written, and after finishing this story they've now claimed the number one spot for my all time favorite love triangle, moving Jace and Clary to second place. That's saying a lot.
Clockwork Prince is my FAVORITE of all of Cassie's books. This surpassed all of my expectations and in true Cassie form, completely surprised me with her twists. She gave me answers to questions I had from Clockwork Angel, and left me with more questions for Clockwork Princess. She gave me romance, plenty of sarcasm, wit, plenty of laugh out loud moments, one liners that have become some of my favorite quotes, moments that made me cry that were either joyous ones or ones of utter heartbreak. She again gave me a believable world where Shadowhunters and Downworlders really do exist, and her Victorian London is a place I could really go visit.
I can not possibly list all the things I love about this book. Cassie is a phenomenal writer. Her awe inspiring, beautifully crafted, and engrossing talent for writing a series that's complex, and simple. It's a perfect blend of historical, steampunk and paranormal, that leaves me more than satisfied and wanting so much more. It's bloody brilliant! This book is dare I say it, a perfect steampunk, paranormal, YA read! This is beyond a 5 star book for me. I HIGHLY recommend picking this book up when it's out in December. I'll be posting a more detailed review once the book is out.