Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Princess


Author: Cassandra Clare

Read by: Daniel Sharman

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Length: Approximately 15.5 hours (13 CDs)

Source: Simon & Schuster Review Copy – Thank-you!

I have been told by many people that I must read one of Cassandra Clare’s young adult novels, particularly The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. I have seen the previews for the new movie based on that novel that will be coming out later this summer and it looks excellent. I jumped at the chance to review Clockwork Princess on audiobook.

Clockwork Princess is the third book and conclusion of The Infernal Devices series, which is related to The Mortal Instruments series. I will admit it took me awhile to get into this book as it is the third in the series. I wasn’t feeling the characters at the beginning as they were all new to me. As I continued to listen to the story though, I found myself caught up in the adventure and caring for the characters and their final outcome. I loved the ending, and realized that overall; I really need to read/listen to the first two books in this series, especially to learn more of the history of the Shadowhunters, Silent Brothers, and other groups of characters in this novel. I also definitely need to move City of Bones further up my “to read” list.

Clockwork Princess has at its heart a teenage love triangle set in Victorian England. Tessa Gray is a beautiful immortal shape shifter with a mysterious past. She is engaged to be married to Shadowhunter Jem, a sickly, but handsome and wonderful young man. She also is in love with Jem’s best friend and fellow Shadowhunter, Will. Will and Tessa both love Jem too much to do anything to hurt him, but work together to try to help him fight his illness. When the evil Mortmain takes the entire drug that Jem needs to survive, Will and Tessa work to destroy him and save their friend. They all live together in the institute of Shadowhunters run by Charlotte Branwell. The institute is where Shadowhunters train to use their skills to protect humanity against the evil lurking everywhere. Will the Shadowhunters be able to protect humanity against Mortmain and his evil devices? Will Will and Tessa be able to save Jem?

I thought the battle scenes were excellent and I also loved the background politics that were working against Charlotte. There was one scene that I don’t want to spoil here that took place in a parliament like setting that had me gasp, “what just happened?” with surprise and much interest. Finding out the back story on Tessa was also intriguing. I love a good love triangle and I’ll admit that this one brought a tear to my eye by the end of the story.

I enjoyed also the literature that brought into this novel. The characters all discuss one of my favorite novels, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. They mention other classics, but I also liked the shout-outs to literature in the names of the characters as well. Charlotte Branwell reminded me of Charlotte Bronte. She was an independent smart woman that shares Bronte’s first name, and her last name, Branwell, is actually the first name of Charlotte Bronte’s tragic brother.

Daniel Sharman was the narrator of this novel and did a fine job. At times I did feel his voice was a bit too soothing and I wanted a more dramatic reading. But at other times, his voice for the characters and soothing reading was spot on. It was an interesting book to listen to on the road.

Overall, Clockwork Princess was a moving and thrilling novel. It definitely has made me want to read the rest of the series as well as the Mortal Instrument series!