My Clockwork Angel Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare lets me step right into Victorian London, where supernatural danger lurks beneath gaslit streets. The story follows Tessa Gray, who crosses the ocean from New York after her aunt’s death, hoping for a new start with her brother Nate. Instead, she’s kidnapped by the sinister Dark Sisters and discovers she can shape-shift into anyone—dead or alive. The Dark Sisters plan to marry her off to a mysterious figure known only as the Magister, but the Shadowhunters—Will Herondale and Jem Carstairs—rescue her and pull her into their world.
Inside the London Institute, Tessa learns about Shadowhunters: part-angel warriors who fight demons and supernatural threats. She gets tangled in their search for her missing brother and an arcane plot involving the Pandemonium Club, mechanical monsters, and secrets from her own past. The heart of the story is Tessa, torn between two compelling boys (Will and Jem), her brother, and the truth of her own identity. Every step in this world brings a new twist, testing her courage and changing who she thought she was.
Why I Love This Book
I love how Clockwork Angel gives me flawed, intriguing characters. Tessa wrestles with fear and longing but finds inner strength, and I enjoy how she slowly learns to trust herself. Will and Jem are contrasts—one dark and sharp, the other gentle and open—but both are easy to care about, and their friendship is as gripping as the love triangle. The setting is vivid. I can almost smell the damp London air and see the eerie automatons stalking alleyways.
What keeps me hooked is the balance between action, mystery, and emotion. Big moments—battles, betrayals, magical discoveries—all matter because the story never loses sight of its heart. The book deals with what it means to find family, face betrayal, and choose who you want to become. Sometimes the period details aren’t perfect, and I notice echoes of Clare’s other books, but I still get swept up by the story’s pace and energy.
Who Will Like This Book
If you like young adult fantasy with strong heroines, tortured heroes, and plenty of steampunk flavor, you’ll probably like this. Fans of love triangles, world-building, and stories where the stakes are both personal and epic will feel at home. If you enjoyed The Mortal Instruments, this series gives the same rich world but goes deeper emotionally. Anyone who loves stories about discovering hidden power, fighting for friendship, or making impossible choices will want to keep reading.
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