Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices book #2) by Cassandra Clare

Author:   Cassandra Clare

Published: December, 2011 by  Margaret K. McElderry books

Pages: 516

Series:  Series #2 of the Infernal  Devices  trilogy

Ratings: 5/5

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.

I know I’m reviewing this late buttttt fans of Infernal Devices WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED by the second instalment book in the Infernal Devices trilogy; Clockwork Prince (you can find the review for Clockwork Angel here). Clare pulls the reader into the inner workings of Shadowhunter politics as Tessa, Will, Jem and friends try to hunt the location of the Magister. I absolutely LOVED THIS BOOK (I had goosebumps in every passage I read and I made the ‘eeik’ sound any time I came across a romantic part....which I’ll tell you, is at least in every two chapters or so)!!!!

This book broke my heart....literally. It’s currently being held with some sellotape!  All of these characters are fighting or yearning for something. I got to know each and every one of these characters on a more personal level. Clockwork Prince conjured up a lot of emotions in me as Tessa tried to understand her feelings for Will and Jem. The two blood brothers who cannot be separated! Whoo, I’m getting all hot again!

So we’re back in Victorian London with Tess, Jem, and Will (which I love, considering I’m from London... not the Victorian era of course lol).  They’re still on the lookout for the Magister, and brother Nate. On the other hand, we see a lot of emotions being poured and opening up from both Will and Jem to Tess, creating the true meaning of a love triangle. Nevertheless, it’s never an easy ride where love is concerned, as there is a traitor amongst their midst, who happens to be acting on...well what else could there by, but none other than passion itself.

In terms of the character, I really, really, really love Will. I think he is the perfect description of a guy which every girl secretly dreams of (sigh....going too far?). At the end of Clockwork Angel, I found him to be very arrogant and I slightly disliked him for the way he treated poor Tessa. However, that was before we learnt that he has a cursed upon him, which prevails him from loving anyone or, more importantly, anyone loving him. Hence why he acts like a jerk. Nevertheless, my heart went out to him, as we learn about him more in this book and the sacrifice and struggle he has gone through for someone so young. What made me fall in love with him even more, aside from the extremely well description of his appearance, yes IN LOVE was that he desperately tries to find a way to stop this dreaded curse when he realises his in love with Tessa! Fangirling here, but I literally clutched the book and HAD to carry on reading.  I love the way Cassandra toyed with our opinions about Will. In the first book some readers might have disliked Will, due to his horrible attitude that has no explanation whatsoever. Nonetheless, this book, we are plunged into the other side and feel extreme tragedy for him, especially when his family gets involved, which only makes things worse.

But, just like Tessa, I too, am confused as to which guy she should pick. Of course, instincts say Will, not only because his so GORGEOUS, but he makes her blood sing on fire. There is real passion between the two and Tessa’s constantly seen trying to get Will out of her head, even when she’s with Will. However, Jem is also very, very likeable. His so gentle and fragile, no one wants to hurt him, especially when he as possible so little time left! He makes Tessa smile and be happy with herself But that’s all and Tessa wants more than that. But Jem NEEDS Tessa, he actually feels alive and stronger whenever she’s around and returns his affection. Oh gosh, the girl has got herself in a pickle here! Talk about stumbling into a magical institute and having two gorgeous, yet different boys fall in love with you! Every girl’s dream!

Tessa, herself is loveable. I normally do not like girls who toy with boys’ heart or is really fickle and change their mind about two boys but I see Tessa as the exception. She’s funny, witty and confused. The way Cassandra place her in this story, it’s hard not to like her. Poor Tessa is so confused and hurt about everything, which also includes about the two boys she’s living with, especially Will’s hot and cold passion for her. It doesn’t help that both Will and Jem are both so likable too! Oh Cassandra, how you have placed at such a difficult position. The girl can’t seem to get a break.

The love triangle between Tessa, Will and Jem is what makes the Inferno Devices such a good book. Although I have touched upon this before, I think it’s best to elaborate it a bit more here! HOT HOT HOT Will and sweet, quintessential nice Jem. They both love Tessa and both engage in some very scandalous actions with Tessa. I mean woo hoo, there are a lot of bedroom scenes (or things that should have happened in the bedroom!). But what astonished me the most was how she engaged with some skin to skin action with Jem! JEM!! Not Will, who is the most likely subject, but quite gently JEM! However, Jem still acted like a gentlemen in that particular scene. Awww! However, Tessa never once returns Jem’s affection with the three simple words, despite Jem saying it numerous times. She just smiles and nods her head, or whispers words of encouragement to Jem, who, poor soul, lights up like a firefly. Tessa is only there for Jem because she feels is she doesn’t he will be heartbroken (you right there) and that will lead him to a miserable death. She’s trying to make him happy for as long as he lives......which isn’t that long, despite what she really wants is a black haired, sapphire eyed boy who looks at her with such intensity that it makes any girl want to be with him!

BUTTTT because Will is so loyal, he allows his blood brother and the one he cares a lot so dearly have his happiness, even though it is killing Will inside out. All that trouble and he allows Jem have his love.  AWWW WILL!!! Shedding a tear here.

Of course, we are still kept on suspense and excluded from Tessa’s actually origin. Although we are given some insight what her parents may be in several chapters, it just left the readers hungry to know that full truth.

Learning about Will’s apparent ‘secret’ felt like an inflatable balloon. There was so much built into it, that I felt it should have been bigger and actually true however, that minor disappointment was made up for the awesome story itself and the epic love triangle.

My adulation for this book is two-fold. First are the characters and the relationships amongst them, which I have gone into a great deal. But second is the how Cassandra describes the enticing Victorian era with a very mythical and magical twist. Not only are there mechanical creatures, but there are demons and angels. I know most YA books have some sort of supernatural element in them, which is what mostly makes them YA to begin with. However, I have to give props to Cassandra for the way she describes them. She has an imaginative mind that allows her to create characters that seem so real and only adds to the settings and the story.

I do have some theories though for what the next book might contain. Firstly, I think either Jem will die (NOOOO) or he starts to like someone else, someone who appeared at the end of the book (but that seems unlikely to happen). Secondly, Gabriel Lightwood might, out of revenge, toy with the person who appeared at the end of this book. Thirdly, Tessa might be related to Mr Starkweather (the head of the York’s institute), due to him always looking at her as if she knows her, his concern about her well being, and the repeated mentions about his granddaughter.

On a side not, I enjoyed the recurrent use of poetry at the start of each chapter as it added a little extra interest.

I love that both books ended on cliff hangers and I cannot wait for the last book; Clockwork Princess, which comes out on March 2013. 

Notable quotes/passages: 

“Will has always been the brighter burning star, the one to catch attention — but Jem is a steady flame, unwavering and honest. He could make you happy.”

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