Review: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Claire

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Claire
The Infernal Devices #3
Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pages: 570
Genre: Steam punk (YA)
Rating: Good
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'The Infernal Devices Will Never Stop Coming.'

Those words, written in blood, provide an unsettling prediction to what Tessa and the rest of the London Institute must face in the third an final entry in The Infernal Devices series. Mortmain's plans are nearly complete. He just needs one thing to bring about the fall of the Shadowhunters. He needs Tessa.

Quote
'It was a near incomprehensible tangle, the three of them, but there was one certainty, and that was that there was no lack of love between them.'
(Prettily sums up the love triangle.)

Honestly, I'm still not sure what to say about this book.

I did enjoy it, even more than I did the previous two. I'm not sure if that's because Ms. Claire's writing is improving or I'm just getting used to it. It did seem like there were fewer instances of eye color repeating.

To a degree, I liked the love triangle resolution as it really seemed like the only realistic way those three people would be happy - however, it did also feel like a major cop-out. I did occasionally wanted to rap Jem or Will over the head, because of the painfully honorable way they insisted on behaving. You definitely get the feeling that either of them would step back, letting the other be with Tessa, for the sake of friendship and the love of a Parabatai. Of course, their honor towards each other tends to ignore what Tessa herself wants, which was a little frustrating too.

I liked the addition of other characters to the story also. Of course, after awhile it did seem like every character was introduced just to be a love interest for another character. Thankfully enough, they didn't read that way.

One thing I didn't like was the epilogue. I've never been a fan of stories that feel the necessity to lay out a person's whole life in front of you. It often serves to distance me from the character.

On the plus side, my absolute favorite moments of these books are when the whole group is together, (whoever comprises the group for that book, anyway) usually eating, and trading witty barbs, snarking, and generally being absolutely hilarious.

If you've read and enjoyed the other two in this series, I'd recommend you read this one. ('Course, if you enjoyed the other two, you're probably already planning to read this book so my recommendation is moot point.)

My review for the first in the series (Clockwork Angel) can be found here.

Now, I will leave you with two parting words that I shall now find disproportionately funny for the rest of my life: Enormous worm.

This book was read as part of my reading challenges. It helped to complete: Goodreads Challenge & Bingo Challenge & Key Word Challenge & Series Challenge & Lucky No.14 Challenge

Sunday Post (Jan-19-14)

Hosted here.

Okay, this was actually supposed to be up on Sunday (obviously) but that didn't work. Then I was going to post it yesterday (Monday) but something came up and I couldn't. So, now, a very belated Sunday Post. This ends my first full week of posting things here and I'm really enjoying it. Right now I'm still working on building a decent base for the blog, deciding what I want on the blog and getting a readership. To help that last one, I've been doing quite a few memes.

Reviews

Lady of Devices by Shelley Adina

Challenges

Bingo Reading Challenge

Fairy Tales Retold Challenge

Lucky No.14 Reading Challenge

2014 Series Challenge

Random Bookish Thoughts

Musing Mondays: On the subject of Best vs. Favorite

Booking Through Thursday: Equality

What's Next: Glass, Steel, Tomb or Seduction

Friday Finds: Spy & Challenge Reads

Snazzy Covers of 2014

Reviews

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Claire

The Emperor's Edge by Lindsay Buroker

A Breakdown of My Reading Stats in 2013
Book Haul - What I Ordered

What I read this week:

          The Emerald Storm (Riyria Revelations #4) by Michael J. Sullivan

          The Emperor's Edge (The Emperor's Edge #1) by Lindsay Buroker

          Curtsies & Conspiracies (Finishing School #2) by Gail Carriger)

Currently Reading:

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Book Covers that Made Me Go 'Ooh, what's that about?' (2014 only)

AKA: My 8 Favorite Book Covers from 2014

There are just too many gorgeous covers out there for books getting released this year for me to ignore them. While I don't often buy books as soon as they're released, that doesn't have to stop me for clicking on the books thanks to the snazzy covers.


#8

Reason: Okay, might not be on many lists like this, but it's got such a cute dog on the cover that I cannot resist it. Really, it reminds me a little of one of my dogs, Axel.

Synopsis: Victoria Secord, a 14-year-old Alaskan dogsled racer, loses her way on a routine outing with her dogs. With food gone and temperatures dropping, her survival, and that of her dogs and the mysterious boy she meets in the woods, is entirely up to her.

Find it on Goodreads







#7

Reason: Honestly, I think it's because of the font used and the building. I like the contrast and I like how it's pretty much white, brown and red.

Synopsis: Not every fairytale has a happy ending.
This is the story of a princess who became a villain.

A Father’s Betrayal. A Kingdom with a Black Secret. A Princess Slowly Unraveling. 

As Princess of Wonderland Palace and the future Queen of Hearts, Dinah’s days are an endless monotony of tea, tarts, and a stream of vicious humiliations at the hands of her father, the King of Hearts. The only highlight of her days is visiting Wardley, her childhood best friend, the future Knave of Hearts — and the love of her life.
Find it on Goodreads



#6

Reason: When I first saw this cover, having no idea what the book was about, I had to click on it. I love the colors used and the stylistic effects used on the character.

Synopsis: Alyssa Gardner has been down the rabbit hole and faced the bandersnatch. She saved the life of Jeb, the guy she loves, and escaped the machinations of the disturbingly seductive Morpheus and the vindictive Queen Red. Now all she has to do is graduate high school and make it through prom so she can attend the prestigious art school in London she's always dreamed of.

That would be easier without her mother, freshly released from an asylum, acting overly protective and suspicious. And it would be much simpler if the mysterious Morpheus didn't show up for school one day to tempt her with another dangerous quest in the dark, challenging Wonderland—where she (partly) belongs.
Find it on Goodreads


#5

Reason: Besides the ominous look of - well, pretty much everything, I love the concept.

Synopsis: When Ileni lost her magic, she lost everything: her place in society, her purpose in life, and the man she had expected to spend her life with. So when the Elders sent her to be magic tutor to a secret sect of assassins, she went willingly, even though the last two tutors had died under mysterious circumstances.

Find it on Goodreads







#4

Reason: Oh, how it looks like the movies I watch. It just looks really awesome - especially the dragon and the...castle(?).

Synopsis: Cantor D'Ahma waited his whole life for this day. Born with a gift to jump between worlds, the young realm walker is finally ready to leave his elderly mentor and accept his role as protector and defender of the realms. But mere hours after he steps through his first portal, Cantor discovers that his job will be more dangerous and difficult than he ever imagined. The realms are plagued with crime and cruelty, and even members of the once-noble Realm Walkers Guild can no longer be trusted. To make matters worse, his first assignment---finding a dragon to assist him on his quest---has led him to Bridger, who is clearly inept and won't leave him alone.

Find it on Goodreads
(Seriously, I think I want this book.)


#3

Reason: Before I blew the picture up, I thought it was sheer fabric that the girl left behind. Realizing that it was a rose made it even cooler. An I love spiral staircases.

Synopsis: Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.
Find it on Goodreads
(Okay, this book too, please.)





#2

Reason: It's just so incredibly atmospheric. I love the bridge and the skyline. I love the dress. I love the girls hair. Honestly, I also love the fact you can't see her face.

Synopsis: Months have passed since Juliet Moreau returned to civilization after escaping her father's island—and the secrets she left behind. Now, back in London once more, she is rebuilding the life she once knew and trying to forget Dr. Moreau’s horrific legacy—though someone, or something, hasn’t forgotten her.

Find it on Goodreads

And now, my favorite book cover (at least so far) of 2014 (bet you didn't see this one coming).

Reason: The lightning. The castle. The arches. The other fortress in the background - that looks like it's on fire. The bird eggs/round white stones, that I first thought were skulls... I love fantasy books, and I love the art that comes with them.

Synopsis: Their journey to Merakh should have made Errol and his companions heroes of the realm. Instead, much is changed on their return. In the wake of the king’s death, Duke Weir is ruling the country–and his intentions are to marry Adora to bring an heir.

With Errol and the others imprisoned and the identity of the rightful heir to the throne still hidden in secrecy, Illustra is on the verge of civil war–and at growing risk from the armies of Merakh and Morgol.

Find it on Goodreads
(Ooh, I read about the first book in this trilogy. Ooh, ooh, ooh.)

So, there you go - my pick for book covers of the year. Of course, that's all subject to change once more books to be released this year get their covers. But, I think all these covers are great and, while not all of them seem to be about things that appeal to me, at least half the battle was won when I clicked on the books to see what they're about.

What do you think? Any of these book covers catch your interest? If you've got a post like this on your blog, feel free to send me the link in the comments.

2014 Series Challenge

Hosted here.

Finish those series'! I aim to finish 4-6 series this year. Below I will keep a list of all the books I need to read to finish the series and, once I've reviewed them, will post the link in the name. The books that have the line through them are ones I finished before the start of the year. I might add more series to this list, but these are just ones that I would probably be reading this year anyway and actually have a chance of finishing. Also, other series I might add are ones I haven't even started yet.

Finished Series: 3

The Infernal Devices

The Passing of the Techno-Mages
Amelia Peabody

Infernal Devices, The by Cassandra Claire

Clockwork Angel

Clockwork Prince

Clockwork Princess

Babylon 5: The Passing of the Techno-Mages by Jeanne Cavelos

Casting Shadows

Summoning Light

Invoking Darkness

Amelia Peabody by Elizabeth Peters (Chronological Order)

Crocodile on the Sandbank

Curse of the Pharaohs, The

Mummy Case, The

Lion in the Valley

Deeds of the Disturber, The

Last Camel Died at Noon, The

Snake, the Crocodile and the Dog, The

Hippopotamus Pool, The

Seeing a Large Cat

Ape Who Guards the Balance, The

Guardian of the Horizon

River in the Sky, A

Falcon at the Portal, The

He Shall Thunder in the Sky

Lord of the Silent

Golden One, The

Children of the Storm

Serpent on the Crown

Tomb of the Golden Bird

Ryiria Revelations by Michael J. Sullivan

Crown Conspiracy, The

Avempartha

Nyphron Rising

Emerald Storm, The

Wintertide

Percipliquis

Finishing School by Gail Carriger

Etiquette & Espionage

Curtsies & Conspiracies

Waistcoats & Weaponry

Manners & Mutiny

(W&W is slated for release in November, so I'm not sure I'll make this...)

Magnificent Devices by Shelley Adina

Lady of Devices

Her Own Devices

Magnificent Devices

Brilliant Devices

Lady of Resources, A

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass

Crown of Midnight

Heir of Fire

(HoF doesn't release 'til September and I know I won't be racing out to buy it, so...)

Friday Finds (1-11-14 thru 1-17-14)

Welcome to another edition of 'Friday Finds'. This week I found a few more books on the internet that I'm interested in. The first one is thanks to Molli over at Books and Whimsy.

Also Known As

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century

A Spy in the House

Silver Phoenix

Downbelow Station

Lucky No.14 Reading Challenge

Hosted here.

This challenge will require you to read 14 books (or more) from 14 categories below. You can combine the books you read with other challenges, but can not use the same book for different categories in this challenge.

Here are the 14 categories:

1. Visit The Country: Read a book that has setting in a country that you really want to visit in real life. Make sure the setting has a big role in the book and it can make you know a little bit more about your dream destination.

To Read:


2. Cover Lust: Pick a book from your shelf that you bought because you fell in love with the cover. Is the content as good as the cover?

To Read:
Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear


3. Blame it on Bloggers: Read a book because you've read the sparkling reviews from other bloggers. Don’t forget to mention the blogger’s names too!

To Read:
Also Known As by Robin Benway (Thanks to Molli over at Books and Whimsy)


4. Bargain All The Way: Ever buying a book because it's so cheap you don't really care about the content? Now it's time to open the book and find out whether it's really worth your cents.

To Read:


5. (Not So) Fresh From the Oven: Do you remember you bought/got a new released book last year but never had a chance to read it? Dig it from your pile and bring back the 2013.

Book Read: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Claire

6. First Letter's Rule: Read a book which title begins with the same letter as your name (for me, Astrid means A, and I can read anything that started with the letter A). Remember: Articles like "a", "an" or "the" doesn't count :)

To Read:
All the Paths of Shadow by Frank Tuttle


7. Once Upon a Time: Choose a book that's been published for the first time before you were born (not necessarily has to be a classic book, just something a little bit older than you is okay. You can read the most recent edition if you want to)

To Read:


8. Chunky Brick: Take a deep breath, and read a book that has more than 500 pages. Yep, the one that you've always been afraid of!

Book Read: The High King's Tomb by Kristen Britain

9.  Favorite Author: You like their books, but there are too many titles. This is your chance, choose a book that's been written by your fave author but you haven't got time to read it before.

Book Read: A River in the Sky by Elizabeth Peters

10. It's Been There Forever: Pick up a book that has been there on your shelf for more than a year, clean up the dust and start to read it now :)

Book Read: The Shard Axe by Marsheila Rockwell

11. Movies vs Books: You've seen the movie adaptation (or planned to see it soon) but never had time to read the book. It’s time to read it now, so you can compare the book vs the movie.

To Read:


12. Freebies Time: What's the LAST free book you've got? Whether it's from giveaway, a birthday gift or a surprise from someone special, don't hold back any longer. Open the book and start reading it now :D

To Read:


13. Not My Cup of Tea: Reach out to a genre that you've never tried (or probably just disliked) before. Whether it's a romance, horror or non fiction, maybe you will find a hidden gem!

To Read:


14. Walking Down The Memory Lane: Ever had a book that you loved so much as a kid? Or a book that you wish you could read when you were just a child? Grab it now and prepare for a wonderful journey to the past :) Comic books or graphic novels are allowed!

To Read:

What's Next #1

Hosted here.

I really like this idea and, as I'm a little at sea as to what I should read next, I thought I could get some opinions from all of you. I'd love to know which book you think I should read. If you've not read any of them, just tell me which one you think sounds the best.

(Yes, that's the cover on the version I bought. Isn't it lovely?)

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien. 

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass--and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one…except the "thing" inside her. When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help and finally be a part of something, finally fit in. But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on even if it seems no one believes her.

The High King's Tomb by Kristen Britain

For Karigan G'ladheon, the call of magic in her blood is too strong to resist. Karigan returns to the Green Riders, the magical messengers of the king, to find she's badly needed. Rider magic has become unstable, many Riders have been lost, and the Rider corps is seriously threatened. The timing couldn't be worse. An ancient evil, long dormant, has reawakened, and the world is in peril. Karigan must face deadly danger and complex magic to save the kingdom from certain doom.

The Seduction of Phaeton Black by Jillian Stone

In the gaslit streets of Victorian London, phantoms rule the night, demons dance till dawn, and one supernatural detective dares to be seduced by the greatest power of all. . .

He's The Man With The Magic Touch

A master of deduction, seduction and other midnight maneuvers, Phaeton Black is Scotland Yard's secret weapon against things that go bump in the night. His prodigious gifts as a paranormal investigator are as legendary as his skills as a lover, his weakness for wicked women as notorious as his affection for absinthe. But when he's asked to hunt down a fanged femme fatale who drains her victims of blood, he walks right into the arms of the most dangerous woman he's ever known. . .

She's The Devilish Miss Jones

Pressing a knife to his throat--and demanding he make love to her--Miss America Jones uses Phaeton as a willing shield against the gang of pirates chasing her. As deadly as she is, with a derringer tucked in her garter, Miss Jones is not the vampiric killer he's been staking out--but she may be just what Phaeton needs to crack the case. As the daughter of a Cajun witch, she possesses uncanny powers. As a fearless fighter, she can handle anything from Egyptian mummies to Jack the Ripper. But when an ancient evil is unleashed on the world, she could be his only salvation. . .or ultimate sacrifice.

All synopsis take from Goodreads.