Review: Clockwork Princess

Clockwork Princess
by Cassandra Claire

When a book is the 3rd book in a trilogy, it is bound to have high expectations, especially if the first two were excellent. This book fulfills on the promise of the first two novels and leaves you satisfied.

Also because it's the 3rd book in a trilogy, it's hard to give a good synopsis without giving spoilers, but, essentially, it revolves around Tessa Gray, a girl living in the Victorian Era who has found herself among a group known as the Shadowhunters who fight demons and strive to protect the peace of the world. Bit by bit over the course of the books she has become wrapped up in helping them defend against metal creatures called "The Infernal Devices" and, at the same time she has become wrapped up in love.

A mix of action, romance, and character study, this series has many of the things I most love. The use of Victorian times adds a very interesting element to the whole series that, in my mind, makes it much better than the more modern series also by Cassandra Claire (though I have only read the first book "City of Bones") That being said, this book is excellent enough that it makes me want to read the more modern series if only so that I can continue discovering what happens in this world that the author has created.

This book, and the series in general, also promotes reading old literature as well as each book starts with a quote from either a book or a poem. These were lovely to read and think about while reading the stories and they added a lot to them. It makes me want to read things such as "A Tale of Two Cities" and "In Memorium A.H.H".

In the end, I recommend this whole series - Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince, and Clockwork Princess, especially if you love a mix of action, romance, and young adult fiction.