Clockwork Prince

Title:  Clockwork Prince

Author:  Cassandra Clare

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster

Publish Date:  06 December 2011

Pages: 502

ISBN:  978-1-4169-7588-5

Source:  Bought

Genre:  YA, angels, demons

Series:  The Infernal Devices

Other books in series:  Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Princess (March 2013)

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.

There are so many questions that this book posed.  What will happen if Charlotte loses her position at the institute?  In this book, the Clave is set between a rock and hard place.  They don’t want to replace Charlotte, but with her previous actions, they may not have a choice.  The Lightwoods are the ones who want Charlotte out of the institute, but why?  This is how the story starts out.  Charlotte is given a certain amount of time to find the magister and if she does, she’ll remain as the head of the institute, for we all know that Henry doesn’t run it.

There is also the question of the Magister.  Did the Shadowhunters really find out who he is?  What does he really want?  Why does he want Tessa?  As the search for the Magister contintues, you learn about who is faithful to the Shadowhunters and who is to the Magister in this book. 

Then there is Jem and Will.  Will acts like he doesn’t want to be emotionally close to anyone and pushes everyone away.  Jem knows he doesn’t have much time to live and is really nice toward Tessa.  Why is Tessa drawn towards Will?  Who will she chose?

After reading Clockwork Angel, I immediately began reading this book.  I was so enraptured by the Shadowhunter world, that after this, I started on the Immortal Devices series.  I loved this book and cannot wait until Clockwork Princess comes out in 2013 to see what happens next. Clare’s writing is one that will draw you and make you feel like you are part of the story and not just reading it.  That is what any reader/author wants.

This book was different for me to review because there were so many different questions happening in the context of the book.  I didn’t want to ignore any of the major ones, but I also didn’t want to have a 20 page review.  I love the story of Will, Jem and Tessa.  I must say that it is difficult to distinguish which person I would choose – Will or Jem.  That will be a discussion for another day.  

It looks to me as this is Jem on the cover.  I say that because of the walking stick that he carries.  Correct me if I’m wrong.  You cannot tell it from the picture, but the book cover has raised lettering.  I think this adds to the cover.

•Tessa.  She is not a Shadowhunter, not a warlock because she doesn’t bear the warlock’s mark.  The Silent Brothers do not know what she is.  Even still, she is set on helping the Shadowhunters as they have helped her in the past.  She is strong willed and obviously cares about people.

•Jem.  Due to unfortunate circumstances, Jem is dying.  He knows this.   He is always nice to Tessa. 

•Will.  Will’s attitude changes a lot.  Sometimes you think he really likes Tessa and other times you think that he doesn’t.  One thing is for sure is that he is true to his word and faithful to the Shadowhunters.

•Charlotte and Henry.  She is the head of the institute where Will, Jem, Tessa and others live.  She cares for all of them.  Henry is Charlotte’s husband. He is content to work in his lab creating “toys” for the Shadowhunters.

 

•Jessamine Lovelace aka Jessie.  She is one of the people who live at the institute.  She doesn’t like people to know that she is a shadowhunter and tries to marry her way into normal society.

•Nate Gray.  Tessa’s brother. He is why Tessa is here in London in the first place.  We learned in Clockwork Angel that Tessa came here on her brother’s bidding after her aunt had died.

•The Magister.  He does some evil things.  You don’t really know who he is until the end of the book, but you see his touch throughout.

•Benedict Lightwood.  He is the one who is trying to get Charlotte removed as head of the Institute.  It is a position that he has coveted for years and wants really badly.