Cassandra Clare - The Clockwork Prince
Dec. 27th, 2011 08:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dangermousieDisclaimer (which seems to always be necessary when talking about CC): Yes, I know all about the CC fandom kerfuffle. No, I don't care.
It is probably no secret that I like Cassandra Clare's published works. I mean, if you enjoy delicious fantasy angstpie, kdrama-style, the way I do, what's not to love?
So, when I finally got around to her latest, The Clockwork Prince, second in the Infernal Devises series, I was pretty sure I was going to enjoy it, but I didn't realize how much. This just might be my favorite of all of hers. I enjoyed the first book but not as much as I did her Mortal Instruments trilogy, but I think with the second book, this might become my favorite of the two series.
This time Tessa-possibly-a-Warlock and the Victorian Shadowhunters are still on the trail of steampunk-inducing bad guy who wants to rule England with the help of automatons, but as always, the true fun is all the angst and trauma inflicted on our protagonists (by the end of the book, I pretty much decided Will might be better off killing himself).
Mainly, I am impressed that this is the only book I've ever come across that made me fine with a love triangle and actually get it, as opposed to wanting to consign every participant and the writer into a fiery pit. Here is why:
1. Tessa likes Will in Book 1, until he's an utter bastard to her (for excellent reasons as we learn but she doesn't know). Being, for once, a reasonable type of heroine, she doesn't decide that conceals a tortured soul but moves on. She might still be attracted to the hot, but has common sense not to pursue it further. She spends lots of time with Jem in Book 2 and they slowly grow close.
2. For once, the heroine is actually smart to realize that if she's attracted to two people, she's not ready to be committed to either. Granted, that doesn't go anywhere and she continues with her engagement to Jem for plotty reasons, but at least she realizes it's fucked up, she just doesn't really have a choice.
3. Teenagers. Hormonal insanity ahoy.
Anyway, best outcome, imo, would be for Tessa to marry Jem then, when he keels over from his illness, she can hook up with Will after a mourning period. That way, everyone is happy. Sort of. Too bad I don't think she can ever hook up with Will now because I don't think he'd be able to deal with the fact that his best/only friend's death is what enabled him to end up with Tessa and he's happy as a result of his friend's untimely demise. Ummm...threesomes?
Anywho, if you like overwrought delicious emo, check this one out. Nothing beats the "OMG, I am in love with my brother/sister!" kdrama angst of Mortal Instruments, but we can't have everything.
It is probably no secret that I like Cassandra Clare's published works. I mean, if you enjoy delicious fantasy angstpie, kdrama-style, the way I do, what's not to love?
So, when I finally got around to her latest, The Clockwork Prince, second in the Infernal Devises series, I was pretty sure I was going to enjoy it, but I didn't realize how much. This just might be my favorite of all of hers. I enjoyed the first book but not as much as I did her Mortal Instruments trilogy, but I think with the second book, this might become my favorite of the two series.
This time Tessa-possibly-a-Warlock and the Victorian Shadowhunters are still on the trail of steampunk-inducing bad guy who wants to rule England with the help of automatons, but as always, the true fun is all the angst and trauma inflicted on our protagonists (by the end of the book, I pretty much decided Will might be better off killing himself).
Mainly, I am impressed that this is the only book I've ever come across that made me fine with a love triangle and actually get it, as opposed to wanting to consign every participant and the writer into a fiery pit. Here is why:
1. Tessa likes Will in Book 1, until he's an utter bastard to her (for excellent reasons as we learn but she doesn't know). Being, for once, a reasonable type of heroine, she doesn't decide that conceals a tortured soul but moves on. She might still be attracted to the hot, but has common sense not to pursue it further. She spends lots of time with Jem in Book 2 and they slowly grow close.
2. For once, the heroine is actually smart to realize that if she's attracted to two people, she's not ready to be committed to either. Granted, that doesn't go anywhere and she continues with her engagement to Jem for plotty reasons, but at least she realizes it's fucked up, she just doesn't really have a choice.
3. Teenagers. Hormonal insanity ahoy.
Anyway, best outcome, imo, would be for Tessa to marry Jem then, when he keels over from his illness, she can hook up with Will after a mourning period. That way, everyone is happy. Sort of. Too bad I don't think she can ever hook up with Will now because I don't think he'd be able to deal with the fact that his best/only friend's death is what enabled him to end up with Tessa and he's happy as a result of his friend's untimely demise. Ummm...threesomes?
Anywho, if you like overwrought delicious emo, check this one out. Nothing beats the "OMG, I am in love with my brother/sister!" kdrama angst of Mortal Instruments, but we can't have everything.
