REVIEW : Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
Author : Cassandra Clare
Publisher : Margaret K. McElderry Books
Source : Bought
Pages : 528 (Hardback, Collector's Edition)
Summary 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, though 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.
Trailers :
Very first, I have to say that those trailers completely fooled me. In a positive way of course =D. While I was in state of painfully waiting and just could watch the gorgeous trailers over and over again, they intrigued me and I kept shallowly predicting what would happen on this book and one seemed to be highlighted (and I kinda immaturely excited about) was the masquerade ball scene. Then one day finally I got this beautiful book in my hand, devoured it and tada~ everything I've predictdd practically scattered after I read this book. It's totally different from what I've thought and so glad because they are very unexpected!
It's been a while since I finished Clockwork Angel when I read this book, and honestly I had a vague memory about the story because CA left a lot of mysteries and secrets, even the main characters like Tessa and Will bear some secrets that they hasn't known themselves. So I was really excited to see what Clare would give on this book, and carefully not to read any snippets or spoilery reviews although I got this book quite late (and literally jumped up and down while finally I got this on my hands =D). I think Cassandra Clare would never disappoint me and yes, Clockwork Prince is FREAKIN' AWESOME. This book has that kind of slow pace but strangely it's really gripping and I couldn't be separated with this book, even I brought this book while I went to work, stole a bit time to continue reading this book. Lol yeah I'm such a bad employer =p.
I already awared this book would be more focused on the famous love-triangle between Will, Tessa and Jem and honestly it made me a bit afraid that it would be too monotone. But thankfully it's not. The story has very engaging balance between adventure, love, friendship, horror and action, and everything seems developing in this book. A lot of twisted and surprising things happen on people we've known from Clockwork Angel like Magnus, Charlotte, Henry, Sophie, Jessie, Nathan and others, and we also know more about some people that didn't have many appearance before. I was so thrilled and giddy to know about how Magnus got his little Indonesian blood (and this makes me a bit happy, having the same blood as him xD), about Gabriel and especially Gideon Lightwood who were not as bad as I thought (since I have a good impression over 'Lightwood' name already, you know why) and especially to know the answers of some secrets, especially the reason why Will acts so self-destructive and bitter. I was completely speechless after reading the truth because it's really sad, really ironic and broke my heart into pieces! Oh Clare how could you do that to him???!!! *weeping*. I can't stand it so now I'm officially in love with this broken-pure heart boy and my heart is really aching for him until now T^T
I'm not fully opposing triangle love because somehow it could make the whole story interesting. It happens on this series. Clare makes the most beautiful yet painful triangle love ever and this book emphasizes it. Although personally I already love Will, I can't deny Jem's kindness, fragile and comfortable charm. I definitely understand how confuse Tessa is to choose between two boys with each quality and charm, and out of my personal opinion, she does decide quite rationally in the end. Despite the triangle problem between this trio, I really glad to see that Tessa and Will (I'm not including Jem because he's clueless =p) still maintain a good relationship as a friend and can interact quite normally.
What I also really love about the whole Shadowhunter world is the brotherly love behind the word 'parabatai', even the love problem can't change it (from Will's side actually while, again, Jem is definitely clueless about Will's feeling). Clare is really talented in applying bromance on her male characters, with each personal reason, and I really appreciate it. Although this thing add an equal quality for both Will and Jem, I think Will gets more and it makes my heart aching more! Oh Claaaaaaaaaare how could you be sooooo mean????! ;A;
Again like always, Clare dropped a bomb in the end and I was like 'UH.OH.THIS.GONNA.BE.BAD' 0_0. Although I completely had no idea what will happen next, I can't stop predicting and well, I think I know who The Clockwork Princess is, and after all circumstances that happened and just one book left, I can't help but think this series might have a sad end =(. But well, this is Cassandra Clare and you can't just predict her extraordinary thoughts though =)
Overall, no doubt Cassandra Clare is one promising name of awesomeness, and Clockwork Prince is one of the best book I read this year. I felt such a complex feeling over this book. It makes ma happy and heart-broken in the same time. Now I'm dying for Clockwork Princess, since it's the last book and OMG it has the most beautiful cover I've ever seen!
For ones who is really new from this series, and want to read a unique paranormal-steampunk series, this series is a great choice. I think you won't regret trying =)
Happy reading!
