REVIEW: Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices #3)

Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices #3), by Cassandra Clare
Published March 19, 2013
Publisher:  Margaret K. Elderry Books
Format: e-book - own
Genre:  YA Paranormal Romance

 Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) THE INFERNAL DEVICES WILL NEVER STOP COMING

A net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. Mortmain plans to use his Infernal Devices, an army of pitiless automatons, to destroy the Shadowhunters. He needs only one last item to complete his plan: he needs Tessa Gray.
Charlotte Branwell, head of the London Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain before he strikes. But when Mortmain abducts Tessa, the boys who lay equal claim to her heart, Jem and Will, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and Jem are now engaged, Will is as much in love with her as ever.
As those who love Tessa rally to rescue her from Mortmain’s clutches, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself. But can a single girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army?

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment, and the tangled threads of love and loss intertwine as the Shadowhunters are pushed to the very brink of destruction in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.

It has been two days since I have finished Clockwork Princess, and I am still nursing a wicked book hangover. You know that feeling. The one where you just can't get the characters and events out of your head no matter what you do. You have a hard time picking up another book because your mind is still there. You want to talk to everyone or anyone about what you read in an effort to work out your feelings and unscramble your thoughts. Luckily, I have this blog and you all to help me with that last one.

Tessa is engaged to Jem. Will is crushed, but resigned to his fate of living a life without the woman he loves. And Mortmain is closing in on them and the rest of their friends. Happy times in London. Half the Shadowhunters are trying to find Mortmain and the other half are trying to cure Jem before he runs out of time.

Honestly, I'm not sure when I've read a book that affected me so much. There were several points in this book that I was crying so much that I had to take a break because I couldn't see the words on my Kindle through my tears. I went through no less than a half dozen tissues. And, my husband rolled his eyes at me more than once. Yes, I cry at movies, and I've been known to cry over books before too. But, this? This was different.

I've grown rather attached to these characters - Tessa, Will and Jem. I read the Infernal Devices series before I read any of the Mortal Instruments series. These three introduced me to the world of the Shadowhunters. Will was one of my original book boyfriends. I think part of my sadness was because it's all over now. Their story has now been told.

Those of us in the book blogosphere know that the events surrounding the end of Clockwork Prince and then subsequent cross-over events in the Mortal Instruments series have created tons of fodder for message board and blog discussion. Team Will or Team Jem? Is Jem the Silent Brother Zachariah or is it Will? Does Tessa really love Jem that way? It's been debated ad nauseum for the past 15 months. I will tell you that, of course, all these questions are answered. No matter whether you are Team Will or Team Jem or Team Tessa, you should be satisfied with the ending. I didn't think it was possible, but Clare found a way to make everyone happy. Brilliant.

One of the most fun things about Clockwork Princess is seeing all the Moral Instruments references. We see Isabelle's whip in action. We find out how Church came to be in New York instead of London. We see The Mortal Cup used properly. And, we do indeed meet Brother Zachariah for the first time. It was so clever, the weaving of these two tales.

The ending - that ending... I just can't find the right words. I have a feeling I'll be thinking about Clockwork Princess for a very long time.