The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare (Trilogy Review)

Step back in time with the Shadowhunters with this eBook collection of the New York Times bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy.

When 16-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.”


Trilogy Rating: 5/5
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal (Angels), Young Adult, Romance





1. Clockwork Angel (Book #1)

In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series. 

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them....

My Rating: 5/5
Literary Awards:RITA® Award by Romance Writers of America Nominee for Best Young Adult Romance (2011), Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award (RT Award) Nominee for Best Young Adult Paranormal/Fantasy Novel (2010), Voya Perfect Ten (2010), The Inky Awards for Silver Inky longlist (2011), Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee (2013) Goodreads Choice Nominee for Favorite Book, Favorite Heroine, Young Adult Fantasy, Goodreads Author (2010)
479 Pages




2. Clockwork Prince (Book #2) 

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, but 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.

My Rating: 5/5

Literary Awards: Teen Buckeye Book Award Nominee (2012), Children's Choice Book Award Nominee for Teen Choice Book of the Year (2012)
502 Pages






3. Clockwork Princess (Book #3)

Tessa Gray should be happy—aren't all brides happy? Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.

My Rating: 5/5
576 Pages






MY REVIEW:

“  Did I somehow forget to mention that this book features the eternally-fabulous   

Magnus Bane at a Victorian party (wearing breeches and an elaborate brocade jacket)? Have I mentioned that two of the main characters are avid readers, so there are lots of excellent (and occasionally worrisome) literary references to books like A Tale of Two Cities, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and Pride and Prejudice? Perhaps I also failed to mention the sexy Shadowhunter whose wet white shirt clings tantalizingly to the runic tattoos inked across his chest? Or the Shadowhunter whose hair brushes silkily across Tessa’s wrist as he leans down to kiss the back of her hand? Surely I mentioned the glove removal that will have your heart racing?  ” 

– The Eager Readers

As you may already know, The Infernal Devices are a prequel to The Mortal Instruments. If you have read the Mortal Instruments and liked the world building, want more and need kick ass characters with more depth, then the TID are written for you. Even more, if you haven't read the TMI and want a victorian novel laced with steampunk details, a clever heroine, a male character that will blow your mind and heart, dark magics and some kick-ass action, then the TID trilogy is for you. 

The story is set in a victorian era London, both the dirty alleys of East London and the ultra-famous Hide Park. The characters' residence is the London Institute where they coexist with their mundane (human) servants. This is a first as through the TMI we get the impression that there is no living human who knows about the shadowhunters. An even more interesting aspect of the story, is that the female shadowhunters grow up in a society where being a woman means that you can be no more than a pretty decoration for the living room - women in the victorian era have no vote, wear corsets and skirts and should not speak for themselves. The shadowhunter community follows almost none of those rules, so I assure you that you are not going to read a paranormal version of Downton Abbey. 

The TID series is one of those books where the characters have depth and they all are cunning, and there are no stupid decisions that lead to a deus ex machina solutions that save the day. Simply put, if hell breaks loose, you can't point the finger to anyone and say "I told you", because you couldn't have done better either. That alone, makes the TID my favorie YA paranormal trilogy. 

Theresa (Tessa) Gray


Background: Tessa is an orphan who, together with her brother Nate, was raised by her aunt Harriet . She isn't aware of the magical potential she has, until she arrives in London and is met by the Dark Sisters instead of her brother Nate. After being thoroughly tortured by the Sisters, her magic resurfaces and is used by the Sisters for unknown, but undoubtedly evil purpose.
When she believes that she won't ever be free again, the Shadow-hunter William Herondale brakes into her cell, and after a hilarious dialogue he rescues her. She finds refuge in the London Institute, and sets to find her brother Nate, hoping he is still alive and not captured by the Sisters.

Description: Tessa has a frail built but is considered a tall woman for her time. Sophie, a maid in the institute, describes her as someone with a warm appeal, rich, dark waving hair and sea gray eyes that grow on you the longer you know her. She has intelligence in her face and humor.

Tessa loves reading books, a hobbie that has shaped her way of thinking and when she confronts a difficult situation (usually an emotional one) she tries to find a similar fictional story and do what the hero/heroine would do. She is clever and kind and usually makes decisions based in logical thought process instead of impulse.

What makes Tessa much better than any other YA heroine, is that when the realization comes that life isn't as easy as it seems, her naivety gives way to maturity without making her bitter or whiny.




William (Will) Herondale


Background: Will was born in a manor in whales, son to Edmund Herondale (a former shadowhunter) and mundane (human) mother Linette Owens. Will and his sisters, Ella and Cecily have had the right to become shadowhunters too, but the two girls dismissed the possibility whereas Will took the chance after an unfortunate and tragical event. 

When he arrived in the institute he was alone, a fact which didn't bother him at all as loneliness was his choice. All that, until he met James Carstairs, with whom they instantly became friends and later, parabatai.

Description: Will has a statuesque kind of beauty - he is tall, with lean, muscular body and  well shaped face with high cheekbones, full lips and an elegant throat. He has black shaggy hair that turns wavy towards the back of his neck, and the darkest possible blue eyes. He is well aware of his exceptionally good looks and uses them to get things his way.

Will is famous for his histrionics and sarcasm, which he either uses to draw attention or hurt people in order to drive them away. The hidden positive traits of his character's complexion are his tendency for self-sacrifice and the fact that he is caring for the people he loves.

Like Tessa, he is a book reader who, using his faultless memory, quotes books most of the time. 

Personally, I'm mentally dating Will Herondale sine I first read Clockwork Prince. He is a smarter, crueler, more handsome and definitely more theatrical version of Jace (TMI), which instantly won me over.  


James (Jem) Carstairs


Background: Jem was raised in the Shangai Institute, where his parents where in charge. He is half Brittish and half Chinese. When Jem was twelve years old, a demon attacked the institute and burnt it down, killing all it's inhabitants and, inevitably, his parents. The demon tortured the boy by feeding him a drug called "Ying-fen". By the time a shadowhunter squad was there to investigate, Jem was already an addict to the drug. Jem's life is connected to the consummation of Ying-fen, because if he stops taking it he will die painfully, whereas if he continues taking it in regular doses he will die slowly.  

Jem was transferred to the London Institute where he grew up, under the maternal care of Charlotte Branwell. Jem appears to be the only person whom Will Herondale loves, although even that isn't clear. 

Description: Jem is tall and frail, as the drug has destroyed his lungs and doesn't allow him extensive physical exercise. He has a fine boned angular face with slightly curved eyes, which hint his inheritage. The drug has washed away his coloring, leaving him with almost translucent skin and silvery white hair and eyes. He loves playing the violin, something he usually does by himself.   

The Bond between Jem, Tessa and Will



Throughout the progress of the books, we get to see that Jem, Tessa and Will create a terrible mess of friendship and love affairs, that still does not affect them when they fight as a team. 

It all began because of Will, who thought he carried a curse of love. When he was young, he opened a box which in fact was a Pyxis. A demon came out of it and was going to attack Will, when his older sister, Ella, protected him. Furious, the demon marked Will with a curse which indicated that the ones who love him will die. The next morning, Ella was found dead. In a desperate attempt to save his sister, Cecily and his parents, Will ran away and hid in the Institute. Charlotte Branwell, the head of the Institute, tried several times to get close to him but Will shut her off. What made and impression, was the fact that Will's parents came several times to ask her to go back to them, but he wouldn't see them - he would only ask if they where still alive and well. 

When Will met Jem, it was the first time that he was close to a person who was expected to die. Will himself says "Jem is my great sin", as he used Jem's inevitable death as a salve for his conscience. Jem didn't know about the curse, but selflessly accepted Will the way he was, with all his bitterness and mockery. 

Things obviously got complicated when Tessa arrived in the institute. There was a mutual attraction between Tessa and Will, which resulted in a desperate kiss. Will dismissed the fact with the excuse of being drunk, which hurt Tessa's feeling and made her cold against him. In the mean time, Jem is falling in love with Tessa and she with him. 

In Clockwork Prince, Will's wall of emotions starts to crumble and he seeks the help of Magnus Bane, in a desperate try to get rid of the curse. After a series of difficulties they summon the demon who cursed Will, and in a mocking manner the demon reveals that there was no curse, but it was all a lie. Will runs back to the institute, feeling relieved that he can finally be with Tessa. He talks to her in private about his feelings, but Tessa tells him that she is engaged to Jem and they are going to be married. 

Will asks her if her love for him are enough to make him happy, and after her positive reply, he implies that Jem should know nothing about her conversation.

In Clockwork Princess, when Jem is dying, he tells Will that he knows how he feels for Tessa. He makes Will go after her (who is a captive of the enemy), save her, and make her happy. 


In the end, after several happenings, Jem is immortal in the form of a silent brother named Zacharia, and months later, Will and Tessa get married. Still, they see Jem from time to time, and they name their firstborne son James, in memory of their beloved friend.

When Will dies of age, the last man to visit him in the deathbed is brother Zacharia, who plays the violin for him.  

Years later, sometime in 2013 perhaps, Tessa and Jem find each other on the bridge that once a year served as a meeting point for all the years that had gone past.  To her surprise Jem is not a silent brother any more. They kiss, and walk away together.In my opinion, this is the best love triangle ever created. The most dominant reason is that those three love each other and are connected in more than one ways - even the sexual attraction of the boys towards Tessa isn't enough to macerate their friendship. When they are all together, they are a team and everyone has the other's back. Tessa cares for both men, in the way someone would care for a brother in combine with the way you would care for a husband. Put all those together, and you get the Jem, Tessa and Will relationship.