"One must always be careful of books," said Tessa, "and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us." p.87 ARCI haven't read the Mortal Instruments series so when I started Clockwork Angel I had no clue about the world that Clare has built. I liked the steampunk aspect and the Victorian England setting and the whole Shadowhunters thing. It was fine. I never really connected with the story or the characters but that might have been more me than anything. I did a 2 star reading of what should be a 4 star book. Normally I think I would have liked this more, but it followed up truly great book and sometimes a truly great book will ruin the next book by overshadowing it. So it's partly my fault that I can't muster up some real enthusiasm for Clockwork Angel. That being said, there wasn't anything so wonderful in this book to make me forget about the last one and that, in a way, is the mark of a mediocre book. If it had been great, then it would have lived up to the last book I read.
While it isn't a showstopper, it does have many solid elements. Like I said the steampunk and time setting are really good and Clare is definitely ensconced in the world that she created for the Mortal Instruments series. She knows it well and that flows out of the book. The main characters were all very distinct, mostly likeable, though a bit too mysterious for my liking. A little too much mystery doesn't make me what to read further, it makes me want to not read anymore. A few more answers would have been okay at the end. I'm sure that fans of Mortal Instruments series will enjoy this and the rest of the Infernal Devices series though.
Provided by Traveling ARC Tours
Publish Date: August 31, 2010
Hogwarts: Transfiguration
"Remember that time you tried to convince to feed a poultry pie to the mallards in the park to see if you could breed a race of cannibal ducks?"
"They ate it too, " Will reminisced. "Blood thirsty little beasts. Never trust a duck."
p.199 ARC
I really need to check this out :) Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteI have not read the other books this writer has written, so this will be my introduction to her writing. I'm sorry to hear that it didn't quite deliver. I really like the sound of it, but now I'm a little worried.
ReplyDelete@Juju - Hope you have better luck then me.
ReplyDelete@Nina - I think that really part of it was me and not the book. It was pretty good.
Great review! I'm looking forward to reading to one once my copy arrive. Her universe is entertaining, but I noticed too, in her previous books, that she tends to put a lot of mystery in her writing!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read other stuff by this author, but am looking forward to this one..i know her other series is much loved.
ReplyDeleteThat was seriously the BEST convo of the book. I really enjoyed Clockwork Angel, but then again, I expected it to read much like TMI series (which it did). Looking forward to the next in both series. Sorry it wasn't as enjoyable for you. Hope you found another wonderful book instead. :-)
ReplyDelete@kay - I hope you like it!
ReplyDelete@Buckeye Girl - I've heard great things about her other series. Maybe one day I will try it.
@Hannah - I love that conversation and the dynamic between the two boys.