Awards:
- Winner of 2011 YALSA Teens Top Ten Award
- Winner of 2011 Silver Inky Award
Clockwork Angel is the first book in the Infernal Devices series which is set about 150 years before Cassandra Clare's other popular series, The Mortal Instruments. The story is set in Victorian Era England and the aesthetic is reminiscent of the steam punk movement - all cogs, gears, and dark colors. The story begins with Tessa, the main character, traveling to England to meet up with her brother but things quickly go wrong and she is introduced to a magical world filled with vampires, warlocks, demons, and those who fight to protect the ordinary humans from those creatures. The story is an entertaining mix of fantasy, historical fiction, romance, mystery, and teen drama, with a groan-inducing cliff hanger for an ending.
Although it took me about a quarter of the book to get excited about the story, by the end I was way too into it and I can't wait to read the next installment. I'll admit that I'm a little over the whole vampire thing but they were not a huge part of the story and the new fantastical 'creature' she created - the Shadowhunters - are pretty cool. Despite the obvious Harry Potter rip-offs (a magical castle that Muggles - I mean Mundanes - can't see because they're too preoccupied with themselves?) I think Clare was able to bring some originality to the genre and the story can hold its own among historical fiction and fantasy alike. I would definitely label this book YA due to the age of the characters and the themes of growing up and self-realization. This and Clare's other series have gained immense popularity and I think they have earned a place in any public library or school's YA collection.
Here's an absurdly cheesy book trailer put out by the publisher!
If you're interested in the author, Cassandra Clare, you can follow her on Twitter @cassieclare!
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