Book Review: Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices: Manga, #3) by Cassandra Clare

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

A prequel to Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series, The Infernal Devices is the story of Tessa Gray, a sixteen-year-old American girl traveling alone to Victorian London who runs afoul of the city’s sordid supernatural underworld. Rescued by the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, Tessa quickly finds herself caught up in an intrigue that may very well destroy her new friends – including the two enigmatic young men, Jem and Will, who have taken her under their wing.

My mini-review:

“It has been the privilege and the honor of my life to know you.”

Even in manga form, the ending made me shatter into a million little FEELS. Will, Jem and Tessa are probably my all-time favourite love triangle.

Once again, I highly recommend this to any fan of the Shadowhunter world.

★★★★ (4.5 stars) because it’s close, but it doesn’t have all the magic that the original book does.

Book Review: Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices: Manga, #2) by Cassandra Clare

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

A prequel to Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series, The Infernal Devices is the story of Tessa Gray, a sixteen-year-old American girl traveling alone to Victorian London who runs afoul of the city’s sordid supernatural underworld. Rescued by the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, Tessa quickly finds herself caught up in an intrigue that may very well destroy her new friends – including the two enigmatic young men, Jem and Will, who have taken her under their wing.

My mini-review:

“Wo ai ni, Tessa,” he whispered. “Wo bu xiang shi qu ni.” She knew, without knowing how she knew, what the words meant. I love you. And I don’t want to lose you.”

This was a lot better than the Clockwork Angel manga, which is not surprising seeing as the trilogy improved with each book. I’m reminded all over again why this story has such a hold on me. Despite the lack of character development, it’s still a breeze to read. I just “fill in the blanks” when I know something has been left out of a scene.

★★★★ (4 stars) because how is it possible to root for more than one love interest?!

Book Review: Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices: Manga, #1) by Cassandra Clare

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

A manga-adaption to the prequel of Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series, The Infernal Devices is the story of Tessa Gray, a sixteen-year-old American girl traveling alone to Victorian London who runs afoul of the city’s sordid supernatural underworld. Rescued by the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, Tessa quickly finds herself caught up in an intrigue that may very well destroy her new friends – including the two enigmatic young men, Jem and Will, who have taken her under their wing.

My mini-review:

“It’s all right to love someone who doesn’t love you back, as long as they’re worth you loving them. As long as they deserve it.”

This was fun to read! I absolutely loved The Infernal Devices trilogy, so it’s no surprise that the manga version would be just as enthralling! The only reason I wouldn’t give this 5 stars is because of the sheer amount of plot/character development that was left out (even though this is completely reasonable for a manga).

I highly recommend this for any fan of the Shadowhunter world and all that it entails.

★★★★ (4 stars) because the cannibal ducks still made it into this one!

Book Review: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. Mortmain plans to use his Infernal Devices, an army of pitiless automatons, to destroy the Shadowhunters. He needs only one last item to complete his plan: he needs Tessa Gray.

Charlotte Branwell, head of the London Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain before he strikes. But when Mortmain abducts Tessa, the boys who lay equal claim to her heart, Jem and Will, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and Jem are now engaged, Will is as much in love with her as ever.

As those who love Tessa rally to rescue her from Mortmain’s clutches, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself. But can a single girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army?

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment, and the tangled threads of love and loss intertwine as the Shadowhunters are pushed to the very brink of destruction in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.

My mini-review:

“Sometimes one must choose whether to be kind or honorable,” he said. “Sometimes one cannot be both.”

I have nothing else to say other than it has been an absolute pleasure reading this trilogy. I almost wish I would have read slower so as to prolong my experience in the world of Shadowhunters.

★★★★ (4.5 stars) for truly placing me in another world.

Book Review: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Synopsis from Goodreads:

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, but 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.

My mini-review:

“If no one cares for you at all, do you even really exist?”

I care, William Herondale. I care.

I want to give all the stars to the entirety of The Infernal Devices, but I don’t want people to think that I am too easily enamoured.

★★★★ (4.5 stars) for turning around my dreadful weekend/life.

Update (February 15, 2016): I am giving this series all the stars.

Book Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Timesbestselling Mortal Instruments series.

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them.

My mini-review:

“One must always be careful of books,” said Tessa, “and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.”

This is very close to 5 stars for me. I’m giving it ★★★★ (4.5 stars) for now. All it took was a few pages for me to become immersed in the Shadowhunter world. And now I can’t get enough. I am really looking forward to reading “Clockwork Prince” next. I am obsessed.