Book Review(s): Infernal Devices

This is spoiler free, by the way. Any spoilers will be hidden.

I have already read the four books in The Mortal Instruments series before beginning this blog. I was going to write reviews for them before this, but it’s quite difficult to write a review being that a lot of the character and plot problems have been flushed out (there are two books left).  The two books in the Infernal Devices devices series, though, I had not yet.  (All of these books are by Cassandra Clare, by the way).  While TMI takes place in modern day New York, TID takes place in victorian London, though all the books are based on “Shadow hunters” known in the Bible as Nephilim; the crossbred of a human and an angel.

So, Clockwork Angel (CA) and Clockwork Prince (CP) are the first and second book.  Because of the nature they’re written, it is possible to review them together since you aren’t privy to a lot of secrets by the end of CA still.

I enjoyed them, though I have heard other opinions.  I mean, I read them both within two days (Had I not had to do that thing called “work” it would have been sooner, I’m sure.) which would not have happened had they not hooked me.  I enjoy the character of Tessa.  She is naive and asks questions, but does not do so in an annoying manner.  She is distrustful, as she should be, but not bitchy about it.  She loves her family unconditionally, even after what was done to her.  She is in a terrible situation when it comes to love, but she never comes off as a self-loathing, whiny teenage girl.

The relationship between Jem and Will is wonderful. I love Jem.  Even though I know now what Will’s secret is, I still love Jem more.  Maybe it is because he is sick (not a spoiler) and I’m a sucker? Or maybe because you can see he is truly a good, kind, person.  That he loves Will even though Will is….well, Will.  I pity Will, even after finding out his past, but I have yet to become attached to him.  My first actual feeling for him came when I realized he has had so little happiness in his life, yet would sacrifice what he could get, just to keep Jem happy.

I feel like I’m talking about the characters a lot because to me it is SUCH a character driven story. Their relationships –not only romantic like you find in some novels — with each other are what make this story. And don’t get me wrong, it’s a good plot and it has me very very intrigued.  Some events I could see coming in both books, and it took that GASP moment out of it, it was still written well to refrain from having that bumming “yeah, I knew that I was going to happen” feeling.

Read no more, lest you want to be spoiled.

I knew Nate was still working for Mortmain when they brought him back to the Institute and I figured de Quincy was being set up.  I also knew that they were walking into a trap in CP when Tessa met with Nate as Jessamine for the second time.  I knew Gideon Lightwood was one of the “good guys” and that Benedict was working for Mortmain.  I wonder if Clare got his name from Benedict Arnold.  I knew Will would have some sort of revelation, but it would be too late.

The high point of CP for me WAS a surprise. Charlotte and Henry’s sudden declaration of love for each other. It was amazing.  They had misunderstood each other for years and now it was out in the open and amazing. I know, I used that word already, but it was.

I didn’t like that Will was never cursed.  Maybe, that is the point though — to be so utterly devastated for the character.  For me it felt like it was an easy way out, but I guess writing it down it makes more sense.  I’m still Team Jem and I hate teams, but I can’t help it.  Will has not won me over yet.

Now I must wait until spring for the fifth TMI, City of Lost Souls, and September 2013 for Clockwork Princess.  Bah.

-AB