Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: December 6, 2011
Pages: 518
Source: bought
Buy It: The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble | Amazon

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. --Goodreads

 Tessa still doesn’t know what she is or why she is wanted so bad by Mortmain, a villain who took center stage in Clockwork Angel, the first in this series.  The Council only gave them a fortnight to locate Mortmain and uncover his evil plan.  However, that is easier said than done.  Clare gives us a few side stories to entertain her readers, while Mortmain is slowly being discovered.  Will continues to push people away to such an extent that asks the question, can they ever truly love him again?  Jem grows closer with Tessa and that seems to lessen the effects of his pending death.  Magnus, a character from both Clare’s series, helps Will with a problem that will change his future forever.  The snobby Lightwoods are not only revealed to be snobby but something else entirely.  In this fantastic sequel, Cassandra Clare brings her Shadowhunter world to life once again in historical Europe.


It is always so hard to write reviews for sequels because most sequels are so disappointing than the first, or it doesn’t live up to your expectations.  Clockwork Prince is not one of those sequels.  Tessa, Jem, and Will are back to give you the another wild adventure that you may or may not expect.


Tessa had always been my favorite.  She is a believable character and I look forward to her narration because even though I was not born in her time, she is improper enough to be relatable (what I mean to say is: she is not afraid to “kiss in carriages”).  I am Team Will all the way, and if you are curious, you can read why HERE.  As much as I may be that team, I especially enjoyed Jem in this novel.  He seemed stronger and more likeable in Clockwork Prince than he was in the first.  As much as there is a love triangle (which is a bit annoying now-a-days), Cassandra Clare always takes care of them.  She knows how to undo a triangle, as much as she can cleverly write them up.  In The Mortal Instruments series, she started with a love triangle which swiftly became just a couple because the third wheel found someone else.  I have no doubt that this is what Clare is setting up so if you are weary about starting any of her books because of the love triangle promoted, don’t be.  Clare takes care of them quickly, that as soon as you pick your team, there will already be a winning side.  Clockwork Prince made that very clear and as much as I might not like the choice made, I can’t wait to start the next installment (Clockwork Princess).


Some people grew up with J.K. Rowling, I grew up with Cassandra Clare.  Clare is one of the few authors who can actually make the book come to life, not just in the mind but that her readers feel connected to her work in a way that physically makes the reader feel for those characters, the plot, and all the other elements of her books.  Clare makes works of art, each may be better than the last. 


Clockwork Prince led me on a path of curiosity and wonder.  I am still in the Institute, waiting for Bridget to shut up, singing those morbid songs.  Or I am still at Scott’s house, wondering how Magnus sees the world.  Still, I am most definitely rereading Clockwork Prince’s pages to get another glimpse of the world that I hope I never leave.


First Sentence:

“The fog was thick, muffling sound and sight.”

-Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare, p. 1

Rated PG-13 for steamy scenes and violence.