Thursday 28 March 2013

Spoiler Review/ Discussion on Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare 
Publisher: Walker
Release: 19th March 2013
Genre: Steampunk, Paranormal Romance, Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Rating: 5/5 stars
Source: Bought



Goodreads Summary: 

"Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy? Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her."

WARNING 
This is the third and final book in The Infernal Devices trilogy and WILL contain spoilers not only from the first two books but Clockwork Princess itself. I usually don’t write spoiler reviews but could not review this book any other way and I found it therapeutic to get my feelings on what happened out there. In short Clockwork Princess was INCREDIBLE go read it and then come back and discuss, okay?

Review/Discussion 

"“You know that feeling,” she said, “when you are reading a book, and you know that it is going to be a tragedy; you can feel the cold and darkness coming, see the net drawing tight around the characters who live and breathe on the pages. But you are tied to the story as if being dragged behind a carriage and you cannot let go or turn the course aside.”" ― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Princess 

A lot of people rave about The Mortal Instruments series and whilst I do enjoy those books The Infernal Devices is one of my favourite series of all time and so I was anxious and excited for Clockwork Princess and was literally counting down the days on my calendar for this final instalment. I raced through this 568 page monster in less than 48 hours and by the end my eyes actually hurt from all of the tears I had shed. Happy tears, sad tears and tears of pure grief over this series ending.

On Plot, Mortmain, and Links to The Mortal Instruments:-
Clockwork Princess is one of Cassie’s more slower paced novels plot wise. Instead of lots of action and fight scenes the book is very emotionally driven and the focus is mostly on saying a final farewell to these beloved characters. I kind of wished the take down of Mortmain was longer, all of these books were building up to this twisted villain who in the end got snuffed out like a bug. However I was really happy that Tessa was the one to kill Mortmain it was so ironic and felt so right. When Tessa changed into her Angel I literally gasped, I didn’t see that one coming at all and although I was expecting a bigger final battle it was a fitting end to Mortmain.

One of the things I love about this series is the foreshadowing Cassandra Clare does for The Mortal Instruments. In this book we find out that Henry and Magnus actually created the portals which I loved. We also find out how Church ends up in New York and Magnus’s comment on all Lightwood’s looking the same had me in stitches! One thing I did pick up on that I haven’t seen anybody else comment on was how Clary’s middle name is Adele. Clary and Adele (Tessa’s mother) were both Shadowhunters who were brought up as Mundanes and I wonder if Cassandra Clare intended to give us a clue to the Adele story-line by the use of that name. Its little details like this that I absolutely love about the books set in this world. Cassandra Clare’s world building is so rich and detailed.

On Characters, Relationships and Teams:-
It was so hard saying goodbye to the characters in this book; I love all of them so dearly! Charlotte was such a bad ass and I absolutely loved her strength. Henry was adorable and I loved his friendship with Magnus in this book – finally somebody who gets his genius! Sophie and Bridget were courageous and loyal and Cecily was a wonderful new character who reminded me so much of Isabelle! I loved Will and Cecily’s relationship and how protective Will was of his little sister. I also grew to really love the Lightwood brothers in this book as they struggle between family loyalty and doing the right thing. I was so pleased with who everyone ended up with and that everybody got a happy ending – hurray to not killing anybody off! I’m really going to miss this family of the London Institute.

Of course this series wouldn’t be what it is without our beloved trio Will, Jem and Tessa. I’ve never been purely Team Will or Team Jem. I wanted both of them to be happy and loved both boys so much. I always wished that there was a way for Tessa to be with both of them but couldn’t see how that would work so I was mighty impressed that Cassie found a way to make that happen. No matter what team you’re on I feel like both sides have their share of heartbreak and happiness in this book.

“Most people are lucky enough to have even one great love in their life. You have found two.” ― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Princess 

What blew me away about Clockwork Princess and what made this book so phenomenal in my opinion was the complexity of our trio’s relationship. Will and Jem are like two halves of a whole – literal soul mates. Their relationship was really well explored and described to us in this book and I consider their friendship up there with the greats like Harry, Ron and Hermione and Frodo and Sam. Cassandra Clare made me feel and understand their relationship and what it means to be Parabatai. To my surprise Jem and Will’s relationship became the most important relationship to me in this series. Their heart to hearts was the source of most of my tears over Clockwork Princess.

On THAT Epilogue:-

“They say you cannot love two people equally at once,” she said. “And perhaps for others that is so. But you and Will—you are not like two ordinary people, two people who might have been jealous of each other, or who would have imagined my love for one of them diminished by my love of the other. You merged your souls when you were both children. I could not have loved Will so much if I had not loved you as well. And I could not love you as I do if I had not loved Will as I did.” ― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Princess

I know that the epilogue is causing a lot of conflict between the fandom especially for Will fans but you know what guys? No one would be happier with that epilogue than Will. It’s that simple. I personally LOVED the epilogue. I LOVED that both boys got to be happy with Tessa in their lifetimes. There is NO WAY that Will would want Tessa to live out eternity a lonely, grieving, widow and he would be so happy that Jem and Tessa had each other. And I’m sorry but if you think otherwise do you really know Will Herondale at all!? Have we even been reading about the same character!? I can seriously imagine him doing a little jig and singing a song about it up in Shadowhunter heaven. I, unlike a lot of readers, didn’t feel like either love belittled the other but instead created something special, something greater. I think that Tessa, Will and Jem’s circumstance is a unique one that required a unique ending I don’t think a lot of authors could have pulled that epilogue off but for this story it worked beautifully.

Overall Clockwork Princess was a phenomenal if bittersweet ending. I usually hate love triangles but Cassandra Clare has created the ultimate triangle in The Infernal Devices one of respect, love and loyalty that runs from angle to angle between all three characters. I’m now going through a mourning period over the end of what has become one all my all-time favourite series. Clockwork Princess was a masterpiece of a conclusion and The Infernal Devices will always hold a special place in my heart.

“Every meeting led to a parting, and so it would, as long as life was mortal. In every meeting there was some of the sorrow of parting, but in everything parting there was some of the joy of meeting as well.” ― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Princess


19 comments :

  1. Brandie Mcnemar28 March 2013 at 17:22

    I saw this in the store yesterday and was looking for some reviews to decide if I wanted to get it for my kids or not. They are really into YA fantasy at the moment, and we have found some awesome books in that area, our favorite being Finding Tir Na Nog, it's part of Shari Whyte's Stelladaur series. That whole series is phenomenal. But my kids are really asking to read this series, so maybe I'll get it for them!

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  2. Yes. Yes, Yes, YES to everything you said. I was actually pretty happy with how the Mortmain battle ended. He deserved an ending like that. And Tess turning into an angel is one of the most amazing things I have ever read. I totally agree with you about Will & Jem being the relationship I cared about the most. Their bond is stronger than any other characters in this book and that's what makes them so special. They wouldn't be the same people if they didn't have each other. They bring out the best in each other and I cried a lot during their scenes too.
    The epilogue destroyed me. I was a complete mess after that. Having to read about Will's final day was so hard. I could barely even read it I was crying so much. But I really loved how his last day went. It was heartbreaking and beautiful.
    I was actually a die hard Team Will fan until I started reading this book. I'd always loved Jem but I'd always though Will and Tessa wee perfect for each other. But then Jem and Will's relationship was explored more in this book and I realised I wanted Tess to be with them both. Of course, I thought this wasn't possible and I was perfectly happy to see Tess marry Jem and be with him for as long as he had and make him happy, because they really were a perfect couple. But then, Cassie did the impossible and gave Tess both of them and I love her for that. The ending was definitely the best possible ending and the most heartbreaking.
    Will, Tessa & Jem are probably my favourite characters now. Their friendship is like no other. I'm so distraught that the series is over.

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    1. I LOVED Tessa turning into an angel I didn't see it coming and it was so awesome! I still can't get over the relationship Cassie Clare created between Jem and Will it's so different to anything else out there and runs so much deeper than a bromance. Me too! You should have seen the amount of tissues I used up! I find it really interesting that you switched opinions in this book I've actually heard that a lot and I think it's because Clare did such a good job of getting us to understand these characters and their relationships at the moment when it mattered the most. I'm distraught that the series is over too but really hope we get some Tessa or Jem or both in City of Heavenly Fire!

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  3. I'll have to come back to this, Jess as I want to read this soon. I'm sure I'll have a lot to rant about, lol! I'm glad to see the 5 stars though. :)

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    1. I loved it Rachel and I hope you will too when you read it! :)

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  4. I loved Henry's adorable friendship with Magnus in this book, too. I'm glad you mentioned that! There was so much I wanted to say in my own review that I didn't get to. And I completely agree about the links to The Mortal Instruments books. I love those 'Ooh!', the penny drops moments. It's obvious that Clare put a lot of thought into the bridges between both series and I love piecing different parts of the puzzle together like that. It's definitely one of my favourite things about her books.

    Fantastic review, Jess! This is one of my all-time favourite series, too, and I'm thrilled that you loved it as much as I did.

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    1. I kind of wish their bromance happened earlier on in the books as I just loved Magnus and Henry and would love to have seen more from them! It's true it's like playing join the dots with books set in this world and I love that. I'm glad you're another lover of this book Sam!

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  5. The epilogue was a cop out it was not a choice it was cassandra clares way of pleasing all fans. Tessa was engaged to James,married Will then went back to Jem. It belittles any relationship she had with Will as she went back to Jem, and it belittles Jem, as she only went back to him because Will was gone.She should not have gone back to Jem. Also, it annoyed me that Jem outlived everyone when he was the one who was dying, maybe it was to be ironic, to me it was stupid. Jem was a DRUG ADDICT, no matter how she said it, that was the truth, and her interpretation of it was to become an immortal and then 150 odd years later be cured and live a happy life.Not the best message to send out.

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    1. Wow, I couldn't disagree with your comment more. I think we'll have to agree to disagree. But one thing that actually mad me pretty mad was how you referred to Jem as a "drug addict" and how him getting to live wasn't fair. Jem doesn't get a high from the drug, he has to take it to live. It's the fictional equivalent to taking medication for asthma or diabetes - without it he would die. I feel pretty sad because it seems like you didn't understand this series at all.

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  6. I completely agree with literally everything you said! It was so beautiful, I can't believe this series, Cassandra Clare's best series, in my opinion, is over:( I was crying so much throughout the whole second half of the book, I was a mess:)
    I love your review! I know what you mean about the whole Mortmain-killing bit, it was so soon in the book aswell! But I guess the thing that CC wanted to end most was the love triangle.
    I love your blog! I wish it was wordpress so I could follow you, haha:L I'll just have to bookmark instead-I'm not blog stalking, honest!
    ~Loll x

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    1. I agree about it being Cassandra Clare's best series! I was such a mess too! I felt the same way - Mortmain was interesting but I was more interested in what would happen to the characters I love! Thank you so much :D that made my day! I don't mind blog stalkers :P

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  7. Awesome review sweetie :D Glad you enjoyed this book ;) I loved Clockwork Princess too. <3 Sigh. It was just perfect. Oh. Will. <3 He is just the best character :D In my opinion ;p

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed this one too :)

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  8. This review is genius! I love Clockwork Princess so very much and I agree with you that Jem and Will's relationship was the most important one in the series. Their heart to hearts and farewells tore my heart to pieces:(x

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  9. *Blushes* thank you so much! I'm glad you think so too. It was such a perfect book!

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  10. Please please please please please check this out! I absolutely loooved your analysis of the book and I completely agree 100%, I'd love to know what you think of this!

    Basically, Cassandra Clair is righting a sequel to The Infernal Devices! Please let me know what you think of this link and the characters.

    http://www.cassandraclare.com/my-writing/novels/the-last-hours/

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  11. I absolutely love your analysis of the book, and I completely 100% agree!
    Please please please read what's in the link below and tell me what you think, this is basically Cassandra Clair discussing her sequel to The Infernal Devices. I'd really love if I found someone to discuss this with me!

    http://www.cassandraclare.com/my-writing/novels/the-last-hours/

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  12. Thanks Rawan! I've heard about this and I absolutely can not wait! I love the family history and how she extends on this world with each new series.

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