Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So, Lucy, what’s you’re opinion on this book?... ‘Ngh nghg nghg’ I groan. I do admit, I either sound like a five year old or an aged cat or a monster. But this is how I feel about ‘Clockwork Angel,’ – it’s just so ‘meh’ (or ‘ngh ngh’).

The ‘Clockwork Angel,’ was pleasingly a lot better than TMI (which, by book 3, I struggled to finish). Its plot was pleasingly fast-paced, the characters slightly more likeable and the Victorian London world an interesting concept.

BUT OTHERWISE. No. I didn’t hate this book; I just have a strong disregard for it.

Reason 1 (of many reasons)

The world. It’s a brilliant concept. A fantastic concept. THE BEST CONCEPT. But alas, it didn’t work very well, despite the brilliant idea of a Steampunk Victorian England, it didn’t work. Most of the language felt very modern, and there was little description that made you really fall into the world. I think perhaps Ms Clare could follow Linda Newberry’s style, (Set in Stone), whose work reads and feels very Victorian–like. I really hoped ‘Clockwork Angel’ would read different from TMI series, so that Ms Clare could have a chance to show us that she knew how to write books in different styles.

This brings us on to reason 1’s sub-point. Accents.

Accents well written excite me like a child waiting for Christmas. Britain has a lot of accents. You’ve got Welsh, Cockney, Cornish, Scottish, Brummie, Yorkshire and many more. Especially in a place like London you’ll get so many accents everywhere. So why didn’t Clare use this to her advantage? She described accents, but she didn’t incorporate much of this into their speech. Another opportunity lost! IIf Will is Welsh (he is Welsh, right?), yet he speaks in Proper English. WHYYYY.

Reason Number Two - Characters

Will. Is that guy meant to be attractive?



He’s a git. Seriously, one minute he’s fawning over Tessa – next minute he ‘offers’ that they can ‘use her room’. Steady on mate! I just found the ‘I’m such a cad, but underneath I’m loveable’ character a bit used.

Tessa. She cried. She screamed. She looked blankly. Etcetera. I just found her a bit dull, a bit annoying.


Jessamine = a Shame. She could've been a really good character, if she wasn't a jealous bitch.

However, I really did like the character of Jem. HE WAS A REAL GENTLEMAN! I liked his backstory, his personality. He was ‘the boy next door’, but however he’s probably going to get completely disregarded in the love triangle for this very reason.

Reason Number Three (the final reason).

Love Triangles are boring. I really don’t need to go into this one, do I?

I did like reading this book, I found the plot to be generally quite good, and it was something I needed at the time, light with a lot of adventure.


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