Tag Archives: Tessa Gray

The Clockwork Princess

Well, folks, that’s it! Show’s over, time to go home, read something dull, completely lacking in gothic romance, victorian ideals, and absolutely all mention of cogs, springs and bits of machinery. The zeppelin has landed! Tess, Will and Jem took all their pent up frustration out in a riveting game of whist. clockwork princess book cover

Just joking, that’s not exactly how it happened.

To be honest, I had kind of forgotten about this book until I looked on tumblr and realized that it was out. Then I promptly bought it and got totally sucked in.

I think this was my favorite one in the Infernal Devices series. There was a lot less pathetic mooning, very little random mentions of cogs and springs and lots of tension between Tess, Will and Jem. That’s what we’re all here for anyway, right?

I’m not going to spoil the book for anyone, so I hope you’re not here for a summary. There was a lot going on and I don’t think I can talk about it without blowing some major plot points.

Here’s my one complaint though, and this is a possible spoiler, I felt like everything ended too neatly. I was team Will, so maybe I’m just biased and annoyed, but the way everything went down really bothered me. A happy ending for everyone! Yay! Confetti! (ouch, turns out it was made from rusted up bits of metal)

In any event, I’m going to try The Mortal Instruments now. I couldn’t get into them before, but maybe the back story will make them more readable for me.

Oh, yeah- stay uncomfortable, keep reading.

Clockwork Prince

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Oooohweeeee, I love these books. I have previously tried to read The Immortal Instruments series, but could barely make it through the first chapter. The Infernal Devices on the other hand, I find completely engrossing and delightful.

Clockwork Prince is the second in the series (see my review of Clockwork Angel here, in the assignment portion of this blog). Tessa Gray has taken up residence at the London Institute, a training facility and school for Shadowhunters (elite fighters who face down evil and protect humans or–mundanes, from things that go bump in the night). The London Institute is in trouble though, its director Charlotte Branwell, and her bumbling but genius husband Henry, are under intense scrutiny as their methods and results are being challenged by the stuffy and bullheaded Benedict Lightwood. In order to prove the Clave (the Institute’s governing body) that the Branwell’s are fit to run the Institute they are tasked with finding the mysterious and illusive Magister, who wants Tessa for his bride, and has previously frustrated all attempts at capture. Oh yeah, and they’ve got two weeks to recover him, nbd right?

Meanwhile Will is meeting in secret with the warlock Mangus Bane and visiting opium dens in-between bouts of maddening flirtation with Tessa. Jem has focused his affections upon Tessa and, in effort to fool the head of the Yorkshire Institute into thinking she is his fiance, has given her his family ring which he doesn’t want back after the ruse is up. Tessa is caught in a trap between Jem’s sweetness and light and Will’s brooding intensity, and feels her affections pull at her in unimaginable and sometimes unseemly ways.

This book is a fun read and is ideal for anyone who enjoyed the first book and will appeal to readers who are intrigued by the steampunk genre, historical or victorian fiction, and urban fantasy. Go on then, get to it! Read!