Review: Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare

Synopsis: Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.
 
Review
Plot: After much research, I was finally to obtain this book at the library. I was excited to finally another series with Shadowhunters. Clockwork Angel is the first installment in the Infernal Devices series and it follows Tessa who just arrived to England. Right when she gets there, she's kidnapped by the Dark Sisters and told that she has the power to shift into other people. She only complies because she hears that they have her brother and they'll let her see him if she goes along with their plan. Before long, she is rescued by Shadowhunters and taken to the Institute where she meets Will and Jem. They have a bond between one another, Jem tries to keep Will out of trouble and Will tries to care for Jem when he's sick. The book follows their search for Tessa's brother, a plan that one Downworlder is developing, and a budding romance. This gives a whole knew take on Shadowhunters and how they lived in a different location and time period, but still let's the characters have the same snark and spunkiness we expect from Clare's books.
 
Characters: Tessa - Tessa is a character I easily related to. She was used to her life before that the discoveries she makes about herself and her family are hard for her to accept. She isn't used to how the Shadowhunters live and the attitudes of some of them...*cough* Will. I definitely started to love reading about her and her emotions throughout each experience.
Will and Jem - Will is definitely irritating but lovable. I did get tired of him pushing away Tessa and his actions towards her, however, there was his sense of charm that seemed to keep me hooked. Jem is too cute and compassionate in this book. I loved when he would stick up for himself as well as stick up for Will and Tessa. Even though he is not fully healthy, he still can stand on his own and help those he cares for.
 
Cover: I always love Cassandra's covers for her books. This one reminds me somewhat of Clockwork Orange with London in the background and the boy wearing a top hat. To me, I see that the boy is Will and his tipping of the top hat shows his charm even though he is a Shadowhunter.
 
Overall Rating: I'm giving this book a four out of four. I absolutely loved the book and couldn't think of a better plot line to start off a new series. It does have Clare's signatures like a possible love triangle and elaborate characters we will fall in love with. If you're thinking of reading this series and have read MI, I would happily say to hurry and get this series. If you haven't read MI, this series isn't twisted into the plot line of MI, you can read either one first and not be lost in the other.

Peace and Fangs,
Alisha