Book Review: The Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Cassandra Clare's The Clockwork Angel is stunning. I've read Clare's work before and enjoyed it, but this book, this series, these characters are so engrossing. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!

Here's a bit about the plot. No spoilers.

Tessa is living in the United States and missing her brother, Nate, who left on a steamer to Victorian London months ago. Her aunt, a woman who raised Tessa and her brother after both of their parents died, passed away and Tessa was left alone. And then comes a letter from her brother, offering a free trip to London.

As soon as she arrives, she is kidnapped by a pair of Dark Sisters, who force Tessa to develop a latent power that she did not know she possessed. If Tessa does not cooperate, they swear that her brother will be killed.

Tessa's power is unusual and rare. She is able to transform herself into any person, living or dead, as long as she holds an object belonging to them. It is clear that the Dark Sisters want to train Tessa to harness this power, but why? When they tell Tessa that the all-powerful Magister plans to make Tessa his wife, she knows that she needs to find a way out--and soon.

Tessa's world, once simple and very human becomes completely unpredictable and grows more bizarre by the minute. She is plunged into a world filled with vampires, demons, warlocks, and Shadowhunters.

This is a page turner, and one that I could not put down. I loved the Victorian London setting and the lines of poetry that Clare used to start every chapter. I did not love all of the characters, but I don't think that I was supposed to. It is clear to me that Clare will answer questions and delve more deeply into some of the less clear plot points in the next books in this series. I don't know that I can wait to read them, but know that I must. Grr.

This book came to me from a Book It Forward ARC Tour. Much obliged!