Review: Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2)

 

Title- Clockwork Prince

Author- Cassandra Clare 

Series- The Infernal Devices (Shadowhunter Chronicles)

Preceded by- Clockwork Angel

Pages- 498

Publisher- Walker Books

Genre- Young Adult, Historical Fantasy

Rating- 4/5

ISBN 13- 9781416975885

Review No.- 50

Synopsis-

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 has 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.

Review-

I was so obsessed with Shadowhunter Chronicles just on finishing the SECOND BOOK!!! Thank god this series was completed long before I stumbled upon it, otherwise I would have died from the anticipation! On completing this book, I was soooo not able to stop myself from grabbing 'The Clockwork Princess' from my bookshelf, even though it was 10pm already :)

Tessa Gray has finally found her home among the shadowhunters. But when the clave plot to replace Benedict Lightwood as the Head of the London Institute and Tessa's safety is threatened, the shadownhunters of the London Institute have no other option than to find The Magister within two weeks or leave the institute to jeopardy for once and for all. As tensions rise in the institute, they discover that Tessa's parentage is darker than anyone ever imagined and that the Magister seeks vengeance for a long-ago tragedy.

The atmosphere and writing were just as wonderful as the first book. Character development was great too. Tessa learns to fight instead of just being protected by everybody, Sophie has a bigger, badass role in this book and Henry and Charlotte's quarrel was really sweet too. I also loved the fact that the author didn't just make Will to be a protagonist overflowing with bad-boy vibes and sarcasm, but also gave him a heart-wrenching reason to be so. And, speaking of Will, I honestly did not expect this much humor. His dialogues made me laugh really hard and I am so proud of the fact that I by hearted the demon-pox song.

To be honest, I did feel a bit disappointed with the first half of the book. I expected more action and progress in the story but it was so filled with melodrama. The love triangle was a bit tedious and annoying. I became a herongraystairs shipper in the next book, but not in this one. I felt that Jem deserved more than someone who actually loves his best friend more (or maybe I am just overprotective of Jem...)  But the emotional turmoil towards the end was worth it.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. Even though I gave this book 4/5, this series as a whole was a 5 star read and is still one of my most favorite series ever.

Review of Book #1 Clockwork Angel

Review of Book #3 Clockwork Princess

Review: Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1)

 

Title- Clockwork Angel

Author- Cassandra Clare

Series- The Infernal Devices (Shadowhunter Chronicles)

Pages- 479

Followed by- Clockwork Prince

Publisher- Walker Books

Genre- Young Adult, Historical Fantasy, Steampunk

Rating- 4.5/5

ISBN 13- 9781416975861

Review No.-49

Synopsis- 

In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

The year is 1878. Tessa Gary descends into London's dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters-including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them... 

Review-

I was initially reluctant to start this series because, I have heard so much about this series and Cassandra Clare is so hyped (now I know why). I finally decided to give it a try after my friend recommended for what I believe was the millionth time (she would have thrown the book on my face if it wasn't for the lockdown). Now I don't know how to thank her enough because this series seriously blew my mind and is one of my all-time favorites.

The story is set in 1878, London. Tessa Gray arrives at London from New York to live with her brother Nathaniel. As soon as she sets her foot on the docks of Southampton, she gets abducted by the Dark Sisters. The Dark Sisters keep her locked up in the Dark House and torture her to unravel her ability to shape-shift (which Tessa never knew she had in the first place), all to please someone they refer to as the 'Magister'. And when Will Herondale, a young, arrogant shadowhunter, stumbles upon the Dark House and recues Tessa, she is drawn into the supernatural underworld of London.

The writing is easy to understand but at the same time immersive. The world-building is great, giving just the right vibes for Victorian London. I started the Shadowhunter Chronicles directly with this book instead of reading TMI first but I still had no trouble understanding the shadowhunter universe. The plot twist was good. The characters were good too: Tessa is a sensible but lost girl with some hidden fire, Will is painstakingly arrogant (we get to know the reason in the later books) to everyone except Jem  and Jem..... Ohmigod! I LOVE Jem sooo much! He is an ANGEL in disguise!!! (not literally, just metaphorically). And his story is soooo depressing....(break for shedding tears)....

Overall, this book is just the right blend of angsty drama, adventure and humor. I highly recommend this book. The last time I felt this good about a series was when I read Harry Potter (and that is the series which made me love reading more than my other hobbies). So that's definitely something. 

Review of Book #2 Clockwork Prince

Review of Book #3 Clockwork Princess

Review: Crave (Crave #1)

 

Name -Crave

Author -Tracy Wolff

Series -Crave

Pages -592

Publisher -Entangled Teen

Genre -YA Fantasy

Rating -4/5

ISBN -9781529355550

Review No.- 48

Synopsis -

There is nothing normal about Katmere Academy, or the students in it. Her uncle's exclusive and secretive boarding school is the last place Grace wants to be, but after the tragic deaths of both her parents, she is left with no choice.

Soon she realises she's entered a world like nothing she has ever known. Shapeshifters, witches and vampires roam the halls, existing in uneasy cooperation. As the lone mortal, the only thing Grace is sure of is that she doesn't belong.

Then she meets Jaxon Vega, a vampire with deadly secrets who hasn't felt anything for a hundred years. Something in him calls to Grace - something that could spell her death.

Because Jaxon walled himself off for a reason. And as Grace is drawn further under his spell, she begins to wonder: did she come to Katmere by accident, or was she brought here . . . as bait?

Review -

To be honest, 'Crave' is yet another book that I requested on NetGalley only because of that awesome cover (apparently, don't judge a book by its cover is too hard for me to follow). I expected it to be like Twilight, but I certainly did not expect to enjoy reading it this much.

We follow the story of Grace Foster, who recently lost both her parents in a car accident. She moves to an elite boarding school in Alaska- Katmere Academy which is run by her uncle Finn. As she struggles to set into her new life and new school, she finds out that nothing at Katmere Academy is normal. To start with, her schoolmates are all paranormal creatures. 

The characters are realistic and relatable (except for the fact that they are all supernaturals)- Grace is a not-so-perfect teenager trying to cope up with loss, Macy is the best cousin one could ever have, Flint is the guy who makes people swoon using his all-too-charming smiles and Jaxon is the mysterious, big, bad, broody popular guy. The writing is simple and easy to follow. I loved the dad jokes that Jaxon and Grace texted each other and the way how 'Legacies' and 'Twilight' are incorporated into the story. And the title of each chapter was hilarious (reminds me of Percy Jackson). The plot twist was wonderful, breathtaking and I totally did not see that coming. And the cliffhanger really makes you feel like you are hanging from a cliff!

The thing I did not like about 'Crave' is that it has lots of cliches. The bad boy cliche of Jaxon, the instalove cliche between Grace and Jaxon, the-damsel-in-distress-who-needs-to-be-protected cliche to name a few. Also I was annoyed by Jaxon sometimes. I was also annoyed by the fact that everyone kept hinting towards a big danger. And I certainly did not like the three chapters of Jaxon's perspective.

Overall, the book is good, nothing extraordinary, but it is thoroughly enjoyable (It is my guilty pleasure now) and that is exactly why I rated this novel 4 out of 5. I recommend it to fans of Twilight, Vampire diaries, Legacies, Vampire Academy and all the vampire books and shows in existence. 

I thank NetGalley and Entangled Teen (Hodder & Stoughton)  for providing an e-arc of this book. All opinions are my own.