Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare (The Infernal Devices #2) ★★★★★ 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. Clockwork Prince is, if possible, even better than its predecessor. While the Shadowhunters scramble to protect the Institute from Benedict Lightwood’s shady plans for it and catch Mortmain before he can build a terrifying clockwork army, Tessa is also struggling to come to terms with her own issues. The Jem-Will-Tessa love triangle comes to a head in Clockwork Prince; and as if that weren’t enough, Tessa is a key part of a madman’s plan to take over the world (or at least England), in which her traitorous brother also has a part. Clockwork Prince is a book that will rip your heart out and stomp on it, but the pain’s worth it.
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Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (The Infernal Devices #1) ★★★★★ When Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother in Victorian England, something terrifying is waiting for her in London’s Downworld. Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, who are members of a secret organization called the Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she has the power to transform into another person. 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, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons. She soon finds herself fascinated by - and torn between - two best friends: James and Will. As Tessa is drawn deep into a plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, she realizes she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world…and that love might be the most dangerous magic of all. Clockwork Angel is, in a word, incredible. Chock-full of dramatic irony, plot twists, and suspense, you won’t be able to put it down. Details like Jem’s illness, Henry’s eccentricity, and Tessa and Will’s shared love of books only add to the book and draw you in further. I have to say, before starting this book, I had a few reservations. A love triangle? A girl who doesn’t know her power? We’ve all been down those roads before, and I was worried that Clockwork Angelwould be a rehashing of them. But I had no reason to worry - Clockwork Angel completely blew me away; the ending was brilliant. Throughout the whole story I felt for the characters and couldn’t wait to see what came next. Definitely worth the read. Every Day by David Levithan ★★★★★ I wake up. Immediately, I have to figure out who I am. It’s not just the body - opening my eyes and discovering whether the skin on my arm is light or dark, whether my hair is long or short, whether I’m fat or thin, boy or girl, scarred or smooth. The body is the easiest thing to adjust to, if you’re used to waking up in a new one ech morning. It’s the life, the context of the body that can be hard to grasp. Every day I am someone else. I am myself - I know I am myself - but I am also someone else. It has always been this way. Some books pass the time. Some books make you wish you were a part of them. And some books just blow you away and leave you near speechless with how wonderful they were. Every Day is that sort of book. In order to read it, you have to let go. You can’t question why A’s body changes daily, or how it got to be that way. You have to just accept that it is. I wish that had been explained a little more, but since A didn't seem to know, either, it just added an air of mystery to the story. A is not a boy or a girl. A is not defined by sexuality or race. A simply takes on the gender of whatever body they're inhabiting. I really enjoyed that, not many books have a character who doesn't fit the gender binary/doesn't have a gender at all. A takes on the bodies and lives of many people. Each one is different, and that’s something to love, too. It almost made me wonder, what if there were people like A, and we just didn't know it? Even though it's completely impossible, Levithan makes you believe that it's real, which is the mark of a good writer. |
Once Upon a Time...As a longtime lover of stories and a believer in the power and magic of books, I've spent my life seeking out the best reads. This blog is dedicated to reviewing the books I read - good, bad, or magnificent - to help other readers find their next favorite books. Currently ReadingKing Zeno
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