Review: Clockwork Prince | Cassandra Clare

This review is spoiler free.

“I could not tell if I loved you the first moment I saw you, or if it was the second or third or fourth. But I remember the first moment I looked at you walking toward me and realised that somehow the rest of the world seemed to vanish when I was with you.”

Series: The Infernal Devices 
Published: 2015, by Walker.
Pages: 500
Format: Paperback
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction, Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Vampires, Angels, Steampunk, Urban Fantasy
Contains: Death, Murder, Violence, Blood/Gore, Anger

‘Clockwork Prince’ is the second instalment of The Infernal Devices trilogy. Tessa Gray has found safety with the Shadowhunters, but that proves fleeting when forces in the Clave plot to see her protector replaced. With the help of Will and Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is personal, and Tessa’s heart finds itself belonging to one in particular. 

After completing the first novel of the trilogy, I knew immediately that I’d become addicted as I delved into the second, loving every moment within the world. This instalment was no exception to that.

Tessa makes for a wonderful protagonist, developing beautifully within this instalment. She’s strong willed, courageous and bursting with kindness as she progresses through the events of the novel. Although, she’s not without her mistakes, her flaws simply make her more real to me. Her development in terms of her relationships are also gripping, keeping you on your toes as she grows closer to those around her.
In this instalment, we see more sides to Will than I initially expected, and I loved every moment with him. He’s a deeply flawed character, but that works in his favour as we begin to see more and more of him as he peeks out of his shell. He’s as humorous as ever, but he’s also vulnerable and charming and heartbroken. I adored that, understanding more of his character than I had done whilst reading the first book of the series.
Jem, however, was as interesting as he’s always been. His history comes out a little more in this instalment, and he peeks out from the shadows of his parabatai as he finds his feet more. It was beautiful to read, loving every side to him the more that was revealed to us and really showed Clare’s talent for character building.

The plot itself moves at a steady pace. Although, some sections are slower than the others, it doesn’t hinder your enjoyment of the story in the slightest, feeling at one with the characters and their fascinating world. The writing style is classic Clare with lengthy descriptions and simplistic language, yet the dialogue is what keeps you entertained and gripped into the story from start to finish.

Overall, this book was a pure delight to read. I adore this series, along with Cassandra Clare’s other books, and I can’t wait to dip into the trilogy’s epic conclusion.

5/5