#192 Book Review: Clockwork Princess

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3)
Release Date: 19 March 2013
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
Source: Publisher for Review
Format: Paperback
Where to Buy:  Fishpond | Booktopia
More Info: Goodreads

Summary:

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy

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.

Cover:
Do I even need to comment on this? It's PERFECT. When the cover was revealed, I jumped, squealed and danced around. Tessa looks extremely gorgeous in that dress, with her hair pinned up and her hands holding the codex. A perfect cover for an epic conclusion to the series!

Story:

The final battle to stop the Infernal Devices...

I don't think I can even properly review this book. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Clockwork Prince but Clockwork Princess? To me, it's better and I dare say it's perfect. Some might not agree but what's perfect about it is the way Cassie ties everything together and ends it.

So here's a little story of my experience when reading the book:

At 6 PM Sunday:
THIS IS IT. I HAVE THE BOOK. SQUEEEEEEEEEE

At 9 PM Sunday:
OH NO I JUST REALISED I STILL HAVE AN ASSIGNMENT TO WORK ON. *stops reading*

At 6 AM Monday:
Eating breakfast while reading Clockwork Princess has got to be the most brilliant idea I've ever had.

At 6 PM Monday:
Oh yeah, oh yeah, I finished my assignment. *continues to read*

At 8 PM Monday:
WHAT? WHAT JUST HAPPENED? *punches book but strokes the book afterwards*

At 11 PM Monday:
*sobs* *grabs tissue* I can't do this anymore. *sobs* SOMEONE HELP ME. GIVE ME STRENGTH TO FINISH THIS BOOK. WILL TESSA JEM *clutches heart*

At 1:30 AM Tuesday:
.............................................................*collects pieces of broken hearts* *glues the pieces together* Dear goodness, if a book can kill you, it's Clockwork Princess.

As you can see in that little diary above, Clockwork Princess is an emotional journey of love, heart-break, bonds and fighting for the ones you love. I'm sure you've read a gazillion reviews on this book and mine would probably end up saying the same thing; but Clockwork Princess is brilliant. It's beautiful, it's heart-wrenching and what's amazing about it is the book leaves you with beautiful lessons and notions such as how a strong bond does not have to be someone bonded to someone by blood, or that one can only love one person romantically in their whole life. Having one love is a great thing but to have two loves? It's magnificent. Even though the story is also dealing with Mortmain and his Infernal Devices, this story is not just about that. It's a whole lot more and this story of love, survival and bond is what shines from this book. Of course, as expected from Cassandra Clare, she gives you many surprises along the journey, breaks your heart and mends it by the ending. The epilogue is bittersweet and yes, I could not have asked for a more better epilogue than that.

Characters:
Uh-oh, this is a dangerous section. Why? BECAUSE...while I loved the story so much, the main reason why is because of the characters. I LOVE ALL OF THEM! (the protagonists ones only actually) Well certainly most of my love goes to Tessa, Jem and Will but Charlotte, Henry, Cecily, Gabriel, Gideon, Sophie and Magnus are such incredible characters I could not help but love their stories and moments. This book is not just Tessa, Jem and Will's. It's also theirs and together, all these characters create perhaps the best book from Cassandra Clare I've ever read.

*SPOILER WARNING*

However, I do have to dedicate a small piece of section to Tessa, Jem and Will. Thank goodness I've calmed down or else I would only be able to say ASJKFGHFGJHFGH which none of us can read certainly. So...*takes a deep breath* I'm sorry to say this but I'm still Team Will. I love love love Jem and even if I love Will more, I would selfishly defend Jem so that no harm can fall upon him. His frail beauty, his love for music, his pure heart and his ability to speak Chinese, is it even possible for anyone to hate him? Jem's will to live and fight for those he loves is like a bright star which refuses to die. His parabatai bond with Will is just...beautiful. Will and Jem's bond is unbreakable and they are two different people fused together with the same good heart and kindness.

"You are the first dream, the only dream I ever was unable to stop myself from dreaming. You are the first dream of my soul, and from that dream I hope will come all other dreams, a lifetime's worth."

Will, Will, William, the sound of your name itself warms my heart so much. Your blue eyes, how you used to be so broken, your curse, your love for words, your fierce love for Tessa, I have always loved you since Clockwork Angel. You are perfect for Tessa, never doubt that. I love how that ice façade of yours has slowly cracked and disappeared. Underneath it lies your beautiful, kind and selfless heart which is not a surprise for those who truly know you.

Tessa, I don't really know what to say besides how I adore you so much. Tessa is the epitome of a great female heroine who deals with everything in her life so well. Her ability to endure the hardships and her strong undying love for the people around her, she is amazing.

Overall:
Oh wow, that has got to be lengthiest review I've ever written! Anyway...Clockwork Princess is an epic conclusion to the Infernal Devices series. Cassandra Clare takes you on an emotional journey of love, heart-break, friendship and not to forget breaking your heart to pieces along the way and mending it towards the end. This probably sounds cliché but this is not a goodbye, Clockwork Princess. I can ensure you that this is the series I would be re-reading in the future so I can go through that emotional journey all over again. Thank you Cassandra Clare for writing this beautiful brilliant epic series.

5 Forget-Me-Not flowers for Clockwork Princess! (But honestly, I'd give all the stars in the constellations if I could to show how much I love this book)

Thank you Walker Books Australia for the review copy!

Check out the book trailer below!