Hi guys, it's Filippa. Last week I ordered Clockwork Prince and Clockwork Princess, but they haven't come home yet, which really pisses me off. Clockwork Angel ended with a cliffhanger - it wasn't really the worst cliffhanger, but it made me want to read more. But I don't have the rest of the books so instead I've decided to continue the Throne of Glass series and read the third book now (Heir of Fire). In this review I won't be describing everything that happens, because I think that you should only read this entry if you have read the book yourself. So if I mention something in the entry and start talking about it you will know what I'm talking about and I won't have to describe it in detail.
However, Clockwork Angel started off with a prologue that first was about Will and Jem, and how they found a dead girl in an alley, and then about Tessa when she came to the harbor and was expecting Nathaniel, but instead was greeted by the Dark sisters. I think the prologue was really exciting, and I got this very mysterious and feeling when I read it. I knew there was something up with the Dark sisters, and I instantly fell in love with Jem (even though he only said a few words). I know that there are lots of girls who are very into Will, but I just found him a rip-off of Jace from The Mortal Instruments. I don't have any problems with him, I really like him (he's funny and stuff). It's just that he ain't my type.
Although, Jem is almost exactly my type. I really LOVE him. I don't think that he is very much alike anyone in The Mortal Instruments, he's just himself. The whole idea about his illness/addiction is very exciting, even though it breaks my heart that he is dying.
Tessa is a character that also felt like a rip-off, but of Clary from TMI. I didn't particularly like Clary in The Mortal Instruments, and I didn't really like Tessa either. For example when Jem and Will were going to the Dark sisters to see if Mrs Black was alive again Tessa kept nagging about how she felt obligated to come with them. You don't have to play hero all the time like every other main character in every other book in the world; it's annoying. She had some moments where I thought of her as a reasonable girl, but as soon as something happened she just had to be a part of it, even though she's not skilled or trained or anything. She should have understood that she would only be a burden if she joined them when they were going to fight.
In those cases I liked Jessamine more. Because she didn't want to fight, and if they really would have needed her they would have asked for her help. Like when those clockwork things attacked the institute she helped them, since she was the only shadowhunter there and she knew that they needed her. She was a bit annoying with everything about not liking the Nephilim, but I have a feeling that her character will develop and she will become as awesome as Isabelle from TMI. I just think that she will feel obligated to help the Nephilim at some point, and when she fights she will realize that she belongs with them.
As I've said before (in my City of Heavenly Fire book review) I love Cassandra Clare's writing, her ideas, and just her books in general. But however there are a couple of things that annoys me; just little details. As for an example, the kissing seen in the attic with Will and Tessa. They are just sitting there on the floor, having a moment. I would have enjoyed the book more if Cassandra had made me wait even longer for their kiss, if she would have prolonged it I would have been even more excited and jumpy when I read it. And since the book is supposed to be in the 1800's I think it felt a bit too rushed that they kissed as early as in that scene. The fact that it apparently went a bit fierce when they kissed also made me question Cassandra Clare once more.
Since I'm already on the subject of things I didn't like about the book I have another thing to say. In the entire book, it felt like Cassandra Clare couldn't really find a way to write it as if it took place in the 1800's. It felt as if she had made a great idea for a book series and then thought that it would be fun to write it in the 1800's. So every now and then in the book there were things that explained that it obviously was in 1878. Sometimes there were thoughts from Tessa that went a little like this: "Ladies shouldn't do that, they are only supposed to be home and take care of the house and the children, what an unladylike thing to do" or "He shouldn't do that, it's not supposed to be like that" etcetera. It's as if Cassandra Clare was trying to much to make it seem like 1878. If someone pics up a book that takes place in 1878 it's expected that the character's may act differently, so you don't have to be like "oops, don't forget this is 1878" because I already know it!
Now that I've finished hating on the things I didn't like, here comes the things I really liked:
JEM! But you already know that, so moving on. Just in general I really liked the whole plot line. The idea of these clockwork things and the Magister, and how Tessa's a shape-changer, Jem's background story of the demon who killed his parents and made him addicted to that poison, just everything.
I love love love plot twists, so I almost screamed when I read and realized that it was Mortmain who was the Magister, and not de Quincey. And Nathaniel... Oh my God Nathaniel, I did not see that coming. I seriously thought that he was a good guy and just was a fool who happened to get tangled into a big mess along with the Magister. I would never have guessed that he was a traitor and worked for Mortmain. It was one of the best plot twists ever, in history. Cassandra Clare, your books are my life!
I also loved all the little details in the story that didn't have to be there for the story to go on, but that made it easier to understand some thing and still made sense. Like when Tessa and Jessamine were in the park and Jessamine defended them with her parasol.That was when her parasol was introduced for the first time and it also made it clear that Jessamine still could fight if she had to. Just all those little details made me like the book even more.
I would give this book a 7/10. If it wasn't for how she tried to make everything seem as if it was the 1800's with all her little explanations that annoyed me, I'd probably have given it 8/10 instead, but it is as it is. And of course I recommend the book to all TMI lovers out there, or just if your into urban fantasy.
~ Filippa ~
No comments:
Post a Comment