Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare | Book Review

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

The Infernal Devices #1
First Published: 2009
Paperback
Young Adult, Fantasy
Rating:

Magic is dangerous — but love is more dangerous still.
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Friendless and hunted, Tessa seeks refuge with the Shadowhunters, a band of warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons. Drawn ever deeper into their world, she finds herself fascinated by — and torn between — two best friends and quickly realizes that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

If you've been following this blog for the short while it has existed, you probably already know I gave up on The Mortal Instruments after the third book. So you might be a bit surprised to see this review.

But after hearing so many good things about The Infernal Devices and it's superiority to TMI, I decided to give it a shot, hoping it might be a different reading experience than the former. I desperately wanted it to be. I wanted to be swept into Clare's world like so many others do. But alas, it was not in the stars. Again.

As I've mentioned before, the main issue I have with Clare's books is that they just fail to properly grab me. I always end up reading them really slowly. It tires me. In this particular story, I kept flipping to the end, in the hope of peaking my interest. It mostly didn't help, aside for spoiling the Big Bad for me, which only served to make me upset about the lack of hinting in his direction (that I could note).

Then there was the romance. In TMI (first trilogy), I was kind of on-board. I liked Jace, and I liked that there was never really a love triangle. I was looking forward to the romance in TID, seeing as everyone freakin' loves Will and Jem.

Did I get what I was hoping for? Nope. Aside for the fact I did not swoon for Will (he was kind of too inconsistent for me, hot than cold and over again, and while I'm sure we're going to explore his past and get his redemption, that's not done in this book), I did not understand why Tessa was falling for him.

The few decent interaction they had ended poorly. It was insta love, from start to finish. Jem, at the very least, was very sweet to our MC. Falling for him, especially at this point, would've made much more sense.

To be completely honest, I was way more interested in the side characters, such as Charlotte & Henry, and Sophie. I kept looking forward to their scenes, wanted to see how their stories would play out. If I read on (which will probably happen as I already own the third book), it will be mostly for these guys. Sorry!

Book Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
The Mortal Instruments #1
First Published: 2007
Paperback
Young Adult, Fantasy
Rating:

When Clary heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder. Much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered in odd markings. This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons--and keeping the odd werewolves and vampires in line. It's also her first meeting with gorgeous, golden haired Jace. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in an ordinary mundane like Clary? And how did she suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

Okay, believe or not City of Bones was the first ever review I've published on a blog, so you've got to admit, it's long over-do for a makeover!

My initial reaction to City of Bones was "it's alright". Yes, not the most enthusiastic response, but not the worst one, either. As far as books go, I didn't have too much to complain about, but at the same time... It was nothing unheard of, and that says something considering that at the time, I have read a very limited amount of books. So I didn't have too much to compare to, and still it felt oh-so-familiar.

And it wasn't memorable, either. I had to force myself through a second reading of the book because, despite owning all the books in the first trilogy at that point, I just didn't read them. And when I finally decided enough was enough, I couldn't remember almost a single thing of all that had happened. It just didn't stick to me in any way, shape or form.

Our main character is Clary, and as far as main characters go - she's okay. I wasn't in love with her or anything, and she pissed me off many times (I mean, she would say mean things to people just so they'd be as miserable as she is..) but I didn't hate her. And yes, that seems like a pretty low standard to reach, but it's the best way I can put it.

Then there's Jace, the love interest. I was surprised to like this character, because I expected a huge douche, and he... wasn't. I mean, yes, he's a bad-boy ladies man, but he wasn't the kind that made me think Clary was an inconceivable idiot to like him (and I think that more often than you'd imagine in YA).

The supporting cast surrounding these characters was colorful, relatively interesting, and likable... most of the time. You may recognize the names Izzy, Alec, Simon and Luke among those. In fact, I liked Alec and his story arc so much that it was the only reason I considered giving the second trilogy a go (but I decided against that, at the end).

Now comes the romance. Clare did wisely by spreading the plot in such a way that makes it appear as if more time has passed than actually does, because otherwise, we might notice that this is pretty insta love. But we don't, so go Clare.

And, I'll be honest, I thought Clary and Jace were good together. 

But then came the twist at the end. To put it mildly, I hated it. It was just so unnecessary in my opinion (though well done)

SPOILER FOR THE FIRST THREE BOOKS Not to mention, it was painfully obvious this twist was a lie. I didn't need to read books two and three to know it was bogus, even though Clare did her best to build a misdirection with little "clues" designed to make us think they really were related. END SPOILER

The final thing that has made my reading experience kind of meh, and continued on with all the Cassandra Clare books I've read is the writing style. I don't like it. #ThereISaidIt.  

TV Review: Shadowhunters Episode 1 | Could Have Been A Lot Better

I'm posting this impulsively minutes after watching the 1st episode of Shadowhunters because I just need to talk about this. Even though I didn't have too many expectations, this was disappointing. It could've been so so so much better. I had prayed it would be so so much better.

5 OUT OF 10 STARS 

Read my live twitter reactions here~

First of all, the effects. This type of show, it needs to have good CGI, otherwise it all looks kind of ridiculous. And, guess what? Bad CGI all around. It makes everything look laughable when they jump up and becomes smears of black on the screen (for too long, as well), or when the bad guys explode like that. And it lessens the impact.

I feel like they just killed video game characters, so I'm hardly going to care/feel scared for them, am I? the substitute for blood is colorful energy looking stuff, for crying out loud!! I assume the rating made them go with this, but couldn't they at least make it look slightly more gritty?

I was kind of prepared for it because of the sneak-peeks but I had hoped that was an unfinished product. No luck there!

Then, the narrative is really choppy, and is hardly helped by editing that lingers a second too long before moving to the next shot. A second may sound insignificant, but it's the difference between the shots flowing to the shots feeling choppy. I saw every wrong cut. I noticed how the actors weren't standing quite where they had in the previous shots. These nuisances usually go unseen when the editing is meticulous. Not to mention there is no subtlety in this type of editing.

Note: this will probably not bother people who are not film majors lol 

But back the the narrative. I felt like the show needed to stop jumping around between characters. Yes, it's cool that OH MY GOD MAGNUS but it didn't help to suddenly cut to him in the bar twice for short interactions that helped the plot not at all. Stick with Clary.

In fact, I think they should have stuck with Clary the whole episode for the most part. Don't show me Jocelyn's past! Don't show me Clary as a shadowhunter child! Don't show me Magnus erasing her memory! No no no no! You take all the mystery out of it!!!

Imagine how delicious it would've been to be confused together with Clary. To see her bump into Magnus and you see recognition in his eyes and dazed confusion in hers and you know there is something there but theoretically (if you haven't read the novels) you don't know what. And if you do know what then you can anxiously await for Clary to find out, which is where the flashbacks could come in. As her memory returning. And it could be choppy and broken because her memory isn't clear.

That could've been so awesome. I would've loved that. 

And hide Magnus's identity from us. Let new viewers see him, but not know who he is so they're curious, and let old fans flail as he comes on screen and eagerly await the moment everyone come together and they learn that the cool warlock they hear about fucking glitters.

Speaking of which, the script was sometimes so blunt it hurt. It was like "pssst, look here" or "this is what you should think!"

Like Luke and Jocelyn. Dude, I don't need a character to "jokingly" tell Luke to marry Jocelyn already to establish their relationship. This does nothing for me. Show me this in their interactions. Show me him coming into the room and giving her a small touch, for example. Show him linger on her a second too long before moving to someone else. Show him hesitate on the answer button (not outright decline it) to make me see his inner struggle.

The scene when he tells Jocelyn "We'll tell her together" does more for their relationship than that cop telling him to marry Jocelyn or that he's already acting like a husband.

Show us that, don't tell! 

These type of jests could come later on, after you established their relationship (in the past and in the present), and then it could mirror the viewers own feelings. Instead, you are telling them what to feel. 

Now, the acting. Hands down the best actors were Jocelyn and the guy that melts to death. I believed in his pain. 

I kid, I kid. All the actors had really weak parts which were just highlighted by their good parts. Thankfully, they were good more than they were bad but when they were bad they went all out! Hopefully, this will even out and become solid the whole time. 

So, yes. I didn't agree with the direction they chose to tell the story, taking all the mystery out of things by showing us everything too early. But I'll probably tune in to see how this continues. 

**I'd like to point out that I had no trouble with the changes they made to the plot. I actually liked them! :D