Review: Clockwork Prince - Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Prince

Author: Cassandra Clare

Release Date: December 6th 2011

Publisher: Walker Books (UK)

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.

I only just recently started the Infernal Devices, having read and reviewed Clockwork Angel earlier this month and loved it, and before reading CP, I hope that Clockwork Prince will live up to its hype and its title as NYT Bestseller. CP lived up to it, and more. Fans of the Infernal Devices and the Mortal Instruments would most surely not be disappointed. I personally love this series million times better than the Mortal Instruments and I honestly believe that Clockwork Prince is Cassie Clare's best book yet*.
* Obviously I'm still waiting until City of Lost Souls is released in May so. Anyway. 

The love triangle intensified in this one. Oh.. Jem and Will, Will and Jem. How can you expect me to choose between them? I was one of those that preferred the man she was with at that time (like if Tessa was with Will, then I preferred Will, then if it's Jem and Tessa scenes, then I ship Jem). But if I HAD to pick one, then I would have to say Will. Will is a douche bag. But a loveable one, and unlike other dickheads out there, he actually has a valid reason why he acts like that. I just think their love and friendship just ring true and real, with hardships and arguments but nevertheless worth it. And before you ask, YES. I did cry at the end. (If you've read the book, don't tell me you didn't shed any!)

What is up with heroines becoming worse? I don't know if it's just me but main female characters are gradually becoming really annoying and unrelatable in the second book of a series/trilogy. First it was Calla (Nightshade series), then it was Clara (Unearthly series) NOW it's Tessa. What the hell? All these girls I had respected and adored in the first books. BUT. Now they're all the same. In the middle/second book. Stubborn. Can't make their bloody minds up. Going back and forth between guys. COME ON. You know you just can't kiss someone, then the next day you're kissing someone else/his best friend/worst enemy/whatever. Ugh. Makes me mad.

I was ecstatic when all my favourite characters appear on the page. Charlotte, Henry, Sophie,Cyril, Jem, Tessa, Will(!), even Jessamine - I felt like they're my family now. I enjoyed reading the sweet and blooming love story between Sophie and Gideon. So cute. And I was devestated about Jessamine, just proves that love can make you blind and ignorant to the truth :(. That's how well Cassie Clare writes. She makes you feel so much about this characters, whether good or evil. And you know how much I prefer good character developments than superb plot. Not that this didn't include action, because believe me, there are plenty.

Thank God Clockwork Prince didn't fall under the 'curse' of the second book, we got answers and more questions, and the dreaded CLIFFHANER. Please hand me Clockwork Princess now.( And it will have Tessa on the cover. But the best part will be the dress that she'll wear).

ALL RIGHT. STOP. SPOILERS OF THIS SERIES SO FAR. DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE INFERNAL DEVICES SERIES.  

Ok. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT ENDING? WTF. Jem proposed. I was so delighted yet heartbroken. Well. To be honest, my heart just broke with Will. You can see how happy he was to know that the curse was false, that there never was in the first place. And just before and after he confessed his love to Tessa, that bitch(I know I'm being mean but whattevs) blurted out that she said yes to Jem's proposal. Now. Don't get me wrong, I do love Jem and Tessa, but NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING can beat Will and Tessa pairing. I just don't think Tessa really loves Jem (at least, not as much as she loves Will) and the majority of her YES only comes from her pity - that Jem is dying, and he will die soon. 

The possible endings with Tessa - and links to Jem and Will.

* Tessa ends up on her own - Jem dies from his illness eventually, Will marry someone else or dies in a battle or something..

 OR  

* Tessa ends up with Will - only if Jem dies, or if something big will happen that Cassie Clare creates. But other than that, I don't *sob* *sob* think they have a chance, or I think it's just my brain. I DO think they will end up together, just because Will is more present frequently in the books, whereas Jem is just there in Tessa's POV.

OR

 * Tessa does marry Jem, then he dies - Will dies or just goes and marry someone else. 

  

IT GOES LIKE THIS: 

Everyone that wants Will, think she will end up with Jem.

Everyone that wants Jem, think she will end up with Will.

That's life.