Reviews with content warning for Gore - Clockwork Prince

Well I'll admit I was expecting to be obsessed with this book, knowing we'd really be digging into the love triangle and more of the mystery of the story, and while I wouldn't say it was as thrilling as I expected it was still a very entertaining read. I'm probably underwhelmed because this is such familiar territory for me, and I wonder how I'd be reacting if I didn't have any connection to these characters.

This bad boy holds up to the first book and delivered a well balanced plot and character driven story. The relationships and love triangle were far juicier than I expected, and adding a deeper look into Henry/Charlotte and Sophie's relationships was a really nice touch to round out the cast of characters.

While I was hoping for some more answers regarding the overarching plot of Mortain and Tessa, I think the intricacy of Will's emotional turmoil over Tessa and trying to break his curse being tied throughout the external plot was pretty well handled, and it kept the story moving along smoothly without being distracting.

I think this is one of those series that the fans think is better than it actually is simply because they love the character dynamics, and their attachment to the characters builds up the story to these great heights in their heads (I'd compare it to The Cruel Prince in that regard). It's a good time, it's entertaining, it has potential to be so much more than it actually is.

I can't remotely remember how this series ends so let's freakin GO.

Content Warnings

andrikkk's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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amberkaylynn's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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ioana_26_tid's review against another edition

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adventurous funny relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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cait's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“You and I, Tess, we’re alike. We live and breathe words. It was books that kept me from taking my own life after I thought I could never love anyone, never be loved by anyone again. It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone. They could be honest with me, and I with them. Reading your words, what you wrote, how you were lonely sometimes and afraid, but always brave; the way you saw the world, its colors and textures and sounds, I felt – I felt the way you thought, hoped, felt, dreamed. I felt I was dreaming and thinking and feeling with you. I dreamed what you dreamed, wanted what you wanted – and then I realized that truly I just wanted you. The girl behind the scrawled letters. I loved you from the moment I read them. I love you still.”

I. Am. In. Agony.

Love triangles are not supposed to work. There is supposed to be one guy who is obviously right and the other who is obviously wrong and the main protagonist’s inability to decide is supposed to be infuriating since only one of the dudes is worth her time.

But that’s not the case here. I love Tessa and I love Jem and I love Will. No matter who she ends up with, my heart is going to break and I really can’t bear to even think about it.

In the aftermath of Mortmain’s failed attack on the Institute and subsequent escape, Charlotte’s leadership is in question with the Clave and she has only two weeks to track down Mortmain to guarantee that her position is not usurped by Benedict Lightwood. But, with no new leads and an even more preoccupied Will, time is not on their side.

This book was phenomenal. Truly phenomenal. I’m so emotional and all over the place after reading it that I’m not sure how to share how I felt about it. It’s definitely taken position on my list of favorite books and I can’t imagine how Clockwork Princess could possibly top what this novel had to offer.

There was so much development throughout this story as Sophie and Tessa begin combat training with Gideon and Gabriel Lightwood by order of the Clave, Will pursues Magnus Bane’s help in hunting down a demon for a reason he refuses to explain, Tessa and Jem become closer and closer, and Jessamine’s behavior becomes more and more bizarre. Every new revelation was more shocking than the last, every moment was fraught with tension, and every new character aroused in me a deep suspicion and paranoia – Surely this one was the one who would turn on them?

And this book was steamy. That scene. In Jem’s room. When he speaks to her in Chinese. *swoons* How am I supposed to live if this poor, beautiful, kind boy gets his heart broken?

And that scene on the balcony with Will? And then when he finally faces off against the demon who cursed him? How am I supposed to live if this poor, kind, misunderstood boy gets his heart broken?

My heart is the one that’s breaking right now.

Overall, I find myself deeply satisfied with this story and both eagerly anticipating and absolutely dreading the conclusion. Easy 5/5. I’m in love with this world and these characters.

"It's too late," she said.

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