Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

 

Book Description:

Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, 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 of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Book Information:

Pages: 479

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Series: The Infernal Devices #1

Book Review:

I realize that I'm writing this review extremely late, especially considering the fact that this book was released in 2010, and that the sequel was published already. Nevertheless, I'm trying to get the reviews of all the books I've read so far this summer out first before I start reviewing more recently released books.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I actually enjoyed the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare as well, despite the fact that there are many similarities between the series and her Drace Trilogy. The reason I enjoyed this book is that the plot is more original than that of the Mortal Instruments series, but the characters are pretty much the same. If you liked the characters of the Mortal Instruments series but disliked the plot, you'll enjoy this new series by Cassandra Clare. Will is very much like Jace, but darker and more serious. James is almost like Simon (a bit). Tessa is the typical heroine, but she's definitely not as annoying as Clary. The series is set long before the Mortal Instruments time, and it's interesting to see people we recognize (ie. Magnus Bane). The plot is more interesting because Tessa is a Downworlder. We get to see more on how Downworlders live and act, and see a different side to the universe presented in the Mortal Instruments universe.

Overall, if you enjoyed the Mortal Instruments series, you will definitely enjoy this new series because of the likeness of the characters.

Rating: 4.5/5

Review: Die for Me by Amy Plum

 

Book Description:

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

Book Information:

Pages: 341

Publisher: HarperTeen

Series: Revenants #1 

Book Review:

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book when I read the description on Goodreads, so my expectations were extremely low. With that in mind, it exceeded my expectations. The setting is in Paris, France, and Kate Mercier is slowly recovering from the loss of her parents. She lives with her sister and her grandparents. Kate is easy enough to like because she's quite amusing. At times in the book, she gets a bit overly dramatic, but most times, she's pretty likeable. I loved reading the descriptions of the cafes and delis that Kate went to because it sounded so Paris-y. What I didn't really like was the perfection of all the characters. Kate–of course–thinks she's plain-looking but is apparently pretty enough to snag Vincent, who is so "devastatingly handsome" that she can't help but fall for him. Their relationship is pretty cheesy but undoubtedly sweet, and I liked them together.

I really enjoyed the supernatural part of this book because it was a fresh take. Vincent is a revenant, or basically a combination of a zombie and a guardian angel. He sacrificed himself in his first life to save another person's life, and was therefore granted with eternal life to continue saving human beings. He's a "good" revenant because he's trying to save humans, and he and his family are in a war with the "bad" revenants, who have gained immortal life by killing others. The idea of revenants is definitely unique.

If I think hard about this book, I can't find too many problems with it because it's fun and exciting and romantic. But my big issue (and the reason I'm not giving it as many stars as I otherwise would) is that it's too similar to Twilight. I mean, come on. There's a mysterious, good-looking, immortal guy who falls for the "plain" human being because he's apparently been waiting for someone like her all these centuries. Also, he lives with a group of people just like him, and they are trying to help humans! As I was reading the book, I was hit with a feeling of deja vu because of how similar it is to Twilight. But compared to some other YA paranormal books, it's definitely worth reading!

Rating: 3.5/5