My review of Clockwork Princess

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare
Release Date: March 19, 2013
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Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy? Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.

*Don't worry, fellow readers! No spoilers!!*

My emotions are all over the place after reading this book. I told myself I would take it slowly, but I couldn't put it down! So here I am: an emotional mess. I think most of it is the realisation that this it the end of the trilogy, but also because of the extreme roller-coaster that Cassandra Clare has taken me on over the last few years, and the fact that I have formed strong attachments to her characters.

I've always preferred this series to the Mortal Instruments, and I know that some others do too. May this be because of the setting and era or because of the gripping writing style, I'm not entirely sure. There's simply something that makes this series more memorable, more gripping, and way more emotional. And every time I think about it, the only conclusion I can draw up is the characters. Yep, the characters. It's the characters that make this book unforgettable. Each of them have their own unique personality, and they each have a different kind of connection towards each other. A different kind of relationship that not only fascinates me, but also urges me to read more.

Will and Jem. That's the first relationship I would like to talk about. The two are parabatai's, which is a Shadowhunter bond stronger than anything in the world. Each would do anything for the other because that's how strong Will and Jem's love is. Nothing romantic, just a bond stronger than any bromance you will ever experience in any other book. But of course if you've read the series, you will know that they are both in love with Tessa Grey, our main character. You will also know that Jem knows nothing about Will's love for her when he asks her to marry him. Does Will get in the way? Try to steal Tessa? Of course not. Because Jem and Tessa are the two that he loves the most and he wants them to be happy.

I must confess: I am team Will. I'm sorry, I know some of you guys hate "teams", but all it means for me is that I love Will a bit more than Jem. In Clockwork Angel, Will was the brooding guy with sarcastic comment for everything that someone could say. I found him entertaining, and even though he wasn't the nicest of guys, I fell for his character because I knew there was a reason behind all the hate inside him. Jem was the sweet guy with soothing words but he never really stole my heart like Will did. In Clockwork Prince, we found out out more of Will's past and how it's haunted him. I think we all fell a bit more for Will then, didn't we? Will Herondale; the boy with the dark hair and blue eyes. Come on, you gotta love him. 

But my point is, from the start I've always wanted Will and Tessa to end up together, but I've also wanted Jem to get a happy ending, too. Well, I think you guys will happy to know that Clare delivers an ending that not only will leave you breathless, but also satisfy all readers. Yes, ALL readers.

I think I could go on about Will for a very long time so let's switch topics to Tessa. 

Tessa is a determined and lovable character. She has been through so much since we met her in Clockwork Angel and she finally gets an ending! But before she can reach that point, she has to face Mortmain one last time. He wants her for himself; a weapon against the Clave, but Tessa and the Shadowhunters are not going down without a fight to the death!  Resulting in a load of action along the side the love-triangle we've been waiting for.

Tessa, Will and Jem are our three main characters, but in this conclusion we get to read about more than just their little romance problems. Gabriel and Gideon Lightwood are in dah house! (Well, institution) And boy, have they got their sights set or the girls of their dreams. Cecily Herondale, Will's younger sister, has decided to join the Shadowhunters and Gabriel has taken quite a fancy to the feisty young woman. In Clockwork Prince, we see the attraction between Sophie and Gideon Lightworm - oops - I mean Lightwood! 

I loved all the little romances going on around the institution! Especially with the crisis at hand, it felt like a nice break to read about two people who were happy and building a new connection. Very sweet. Cassandra is a very talented writer with an addictive and unique writing style, she manages to pack in so much emotion into this book that you will be sobbing buckets by the end. Actually, I started sobbing from the eleventh chapter. 

I can't help but wish that THIS was the series that was being extended instead of The Mortal Instruments (TMI was only meant to have 3 books but was extended to 6). I'm simply not ready to accept the ending or to let go of this set of characters. 


On the other hand, I have heard that Cassandra Clare has a lot of books coming up that are based in the Shadowhunter world! There's ten-book series coming out for Magnus Bane, another three-book series set in 1903 about the next generation of Shadowhunters after The Infernal Devices, and yet ANOTHER three book series set in 2012, Los Angeles about the new generation of Shadowhunters with another forbidden love called The Dark Artifices. There's a lot planned out for the upcoming years. I believe the publishers have planned all the books to be released from 2013/2014 until 2019, possibly even longer than that.

Clockwork Princess is one of the best book I've ever read. Ever. I know I've probably said this about other books but there's simply too many reasons to crown this book the best. The Infernal Devices is definitely one of my favourite series and I shall be buying all the different editions of the books... when I have money. I just want them all! I'm looking forward to Cassandra's new creations and to see if any of our characters from this series appear. 

Thank you, Cassandra Clare, for taking me on this amazing and unforgettable journey.

Rating

Oh, before you all go. I recommend you read the epilogue (and chapter 11) with the song "Broken Strings" by James Morrison playing. I don't think I have ever cried so much in my life. Am I the only one who occasionally puts music on in the background when they read... okaybye.