Reviews with content warning for Fire/Fire injury - Clockwork Princess

Well, this is going to take a while to that recover from this book as I have been emotional abused and traumatised by this book. Somehow this was one of the most heartbreaking yet heartwarming book I have ever read. Like I am going to have to read something really happy, fun, unserious and fluffy to be okay after this assault on my emotions that I have just been victim to. Miss Cassandra Clare you will be hearing from my therapist because girl what the fuck have you done to me. Also just to warn you this is going to a really and I mean a really long one...

I seriously don't think I have ever cried so much reading a book I should have know it was going to be bad when I was already crying on page eight but at the same time I have never cared, loved or felt they same way I do for the characters in this book. These characters really do become a part of you, you feel, love and care for all these characters. The relationships and friendships in this book really set it a part from anything I have ever read before. They are just so deep, meaningful and special. You feel their love for each other and you feel the want and need to protect and keep the others characters they love and care for. I truly love all the relationships and characters in this book. I think the cruelest thing about this book is that all the characters are so loving, funny and charming, it is just so heartwarming that they have all found this family and each other and that they have all found that kind of love but it is just so gut wrenching and fucking heartbreaking because of how much you care about these characters.

One of these friendship that absolutely fucking destroyed me, like miss Cassandra Clare really said I am going to make you love these and then I am going to rip your heart out, stamped on it and then set it on fire. Ladies and Gentlemen give it up for my sweethearts and the best parabatai of the whole entire Shadowhunters Chronicles that is Jen and Will these bitches have me crying on page eight girl that was prologue. Them meeting each other for the first time really did something to me. It just really got to me because Jem just get Will from the first time he ever meet him, it like he see how they both need each other, it like Jem sees that Will has a mask and he see through that. I also just thought it was funny that when Cecily was just thinking about what would happen if her and Jem for any reason ever got to together, she knew without even really thinking about it that Jem would win, Will would be protective over Jem not her 'He was ferociously protective of Jem, and he would have watched her constantly in case she ever distressed or hurt him in any way'. I also just love all the banter they have with each other like they are not always breaking my heart, I mean most of the times they are but not all the time: 'Gabriel Lightwood is downstairs, and I have two words for you. Two of your favorite words, at least when you put them together.” “‘Utter simpleton’?” inquired Will. “‘Worthless upstart’?” Jem grinned. “‘Demon pox,’” he said.' I am not going to lie I do at times I think Will and Jem have more chemistry than Jem and Tessa such as in this moment...
"Jem’s gaze held Will’s, steadily, and not for the first time Tessa had the sense of unspoken words passing between them."

I don't think I can state how much I fucking love all these characters but 🧎🏻‍♀️the women of this book holy fuck 🧎🏻‍♀️I love all these icons, girl boss and queen shit. They are just so strong, caring, love and funny. I just loved them all. I love how there is never any doubt from the main characters in this story of these women ability to fight and stand up for themselves. I love all of them and I would go to war for my queens. I also just love how all the men fucking love these women like they are all just so so whipped, they really would do anything but like same. I would do anything for this queens. Taylor Swift really did write the song, the Man for these women and these women only and nothing can convince me otherwise

Charlotte, Oh my queen. I feel like she is really overlooked for what she does for people. Like not only does is never let the word or the judgement of the man get in the way of doing what she believes is right. She's take that fight on and really say fuck you and proves that she was right in the first place. She is never tries to make herself seem less feminine or more boyish, she never hides away from what makes her a women, she actually embraces it. I also think just so amazing not just as a leader but as a person. Like the way even though she doesn't think they love her she loves Jem, Tessa and Will because she knows that they need her. Like she is really so selfless like she loves Jem even though is knows it is going to ruin her when he dies but loves and cares for him, Or how she loves, defends and cares for Will even though he as always been so cruel due to the fact that he thinks he cursed and the way she loves and defends and again cares for Tessa even though she was made to kill and destroy all Shadowhunters. She will never turn away anyone who need her help or love. Okay she just such a fucking icon and I fucking love her. Okay we should protect her at all costs. Here are some of my favourite moments from her queen Charlotte- Her being just so fucking cute when Tessa was trying her wedding dress on.

Let's also give it up to other one of my queen... Cecily Herondale like she just such a bad bitch like she just such a badass bitch. Like she just amazing. She's so funny and I love her. I kinda wish we got more of her just kinda hyping and living her best life but I also love her relationship with Will and Gabriel. I love seeing her be this really strong girl and finding herself.

Like, I have already said I fucking love the women in this book but god the Men at the same time, listen I am confident with my sexuality but the man in the book, fuck me. There is just something about the men in this book that mean everything he does make me love there even more. They are all the love of my life and I have nothing bad to say about my cuties and babies okay!

Gideon- I just love his loyal to Sophie and to Charlotte and how he is always thinking about how to make Sophie happy and how to keep all the person he loves and cares safe and he is just so funny like he is just so chaotic and has absolutely no game like he just so chaotic.

Garbiel- Well, let's all be real we all love the hate him. Lets be real Taylor Swift wrote Anti-Hero for and about this man because Jesus he is just so stressful and annoying at times but then again I think there is something about him that makes me love him. You don't know if you should trust him or what he going to do. But god he just so unbothered and so done with everybody else shit and it just so funny and I just really love him.

Now I am going to talk about the relationship/romances which I believe was one of the standouts in this book. I can't lie I fucking lived for all the relationship in this series, they caused me so much stress, pain and I can't lie they did make me cry a number of time but they really melted my heart and I can't lie I just fucking loved that.

Like, I have said before I did actually love all the couples in this book but there are only one Sophie and Gideon and girl they really did have my whole heart, they are just so and I mean just so so fucking cute. They are just so wholesome and I just love how they would do anything for each other and I love that how whipped Gideon is from the minute he meet her I just love them okay. They are just so chaotic. I just love the tension and the longing between them and the fact that Gideon has absolutely no game. Like every time he tied to flirt with her he just fucks it, for example the Scones I just loved that whole plot line and how Sophie went to gossip about him with Tessa, it was just so cute. I think it's because I love them both as characters especially when Gideon look after his brother or stick up for Charlotte because Sophie loves her and he loves Sophie and I just love how much of a bad ass Sophie is and how is so protective and caring she is of the people who she loves.

Jem & Tessa- listen I don't have any really strong feelings against them even though to me at least they have absolutely fucking nothing on Will and Tessa . I do think they are quite cute. I mean they don't have the passion or let's be real the feelings that Will and Tessa have I do really think they are some wholesome and cute moments and I don't have nothing against reading about them. I do think that they love and care for each other. I am happy that don't end up together because I just don't think they are what each other needs now. I feel like Will and Tessa need and love each other at that time and I just don't think Tessa and Jem really have that, If I am being honest I think Jem and Will have more chemistry at times than Will and Tessa. However here are just so of my favourite moments... "Jem, beside Tessa, hooked his smallest finger through hers. It was a habitual affectionate gesture, one that Tessa had grown used to over the past months, enough that she sometimes put out her hand without thinking when he was standing by her."

Will & Tessa- These two, these fucking two in the words of Lady Gaga "Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before." These two made me believe in straight prior again. These two bitches really change my life, they really have done something to me and girl I am in love and I mean in love... There were a number of times that they just made me fucking scream, no one or nothing has anything on these two. I mean Will Herondale has actually changed my brain chemistry, like that fucking man. I have not recovered from when he took all Tessa hair pins out in the second one so I don't know how I am going to move on with my life now.

Let's get onto the the siblings in this book. I really loved the siblings in this series, as someone with a sister I related to that sense of this is the most annoying person to ever walk the planet but at the same time if someone ever said or did anything to hurt her it would be full out war. I think they were one of the most happy part of this book however there was also a deep love and need to protect each other and I really loved that...

I think it only fair to talk about my favourite one first which is Will and Cecily. There were just so chaotic but in the best way, like they really do love just to piss each other off and it was just so fun to watch. It was also just really nice to see Will heal and get his family back that he had already wanted and now that also helped Cecily. I really liked seeing how the relationship how developed as Will let her in more and got to love who they were now, not who they were when Will left. I just loved their whole Will protective brother and Cecily doing anything to stress them out. It was just really nice to see how they cared for each other. They were just really wholesome and I always have a soft spot for siblings duos in book. Here our some of my favourite moment from Will and Cecily: “I was just thinking of bundling up Cecily and feeding her to the ducks in Hyde Park,” said Will, pushing his wet hair back and favoring Jem with a rare smile. “I could use your assistance.” I just really loved the bit when Cecily and Will were arguing over Cecily fighting or how he was always worried about her when they were fighting and how he won't let her go with him to save Tessa because he can't deal with the idea of being in danger and Tessa being in danger and he just can't do it. I just love how they were always fighting or they were they are just always pissing each other off and just annoying each other " The Herondale siblings were still arguing with each other as Gideon climbed down, Will illustrating his points with bold sweeps of his arms. Cecily was scowling at him, the furious expression on her face making her look so much like her brother that it would, under other circumstances, have been amusing." but no matter how pissed off or annoyed at each other they will do anything for each other and they will always protect and save each other and they will never let anyone else chat shit about each other, they will always put another people in place. Also it was just so funny watching Will's reaction to Cecily and Gabriel that man was really ready to throw hands and just love that.

And how can I talk about the siblings in this book without talking about Gideon and Gabriel Lightwood if I am being honest they are not a huge stand out to me but I did really like them and I thought they were quite cute and it was really nice to see them look after and care for each and care about how and what they can to or help them do to make the other person happy. It was also nice to see them forgive and move and I guess heal from what the farther as put them through. I did think it was really cute how Gideon tries to protect Gabriel and he how is always put Gabriel first. I just love how uncomfortable they are at times and how they are just both so tired of everybody else shit. I will say one of my favourite moment was when Gabriel felt asleep on Gideon bed and he wouldn't move him.

I think another thing I need to talk about that doesn't really fit into any off the sub-sections I have set out is the relationship between Will, Jem and Tessa. God why couldn't they just all lived as a couple and live a long and happy life with each other because I don't think their is anyone who reads this book that doesn't just fall in love with these three because they are just so fucking perfect, caring, wholesome, loving, protective and how they are just willing to do anything for each other how they are just so willing to die for each other and even though these three did cause me the most pain they also are just so funny. There are just so many moments were they made me smile (they also did make me cry a number of time) Here are some of my favioutire moment from these three.... “You don’t think I can fight,” Tessa said, drawing back and matching his silvery gaze with her own. “Because I’m a girl.” “I don’t think you can fight because you’re wearing a wedding dress,” said Jem. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think Will could fight in that dress either.” “Perhaps not,” said Will, who had ears like a bat’s. “But I would make a radiant bride.” and I think Will would make a radiant bride.

Content Warnings

the_othersidewv's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

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

5.0

HERONGRAYSTAIRS BEST TRIÁNGULO AMOROSO
sin la conexión de Will y Jem no hubiese sido lo mismo btw los amo a los dos 🙏🏼🙏🏼
El desarrollo dado a los personajes secundarios en este libro me sorprendió mucho, me tenía casi gritando a las 3 am.
El epílogo es algo que no voy a superar, en unos años lo volveré a leer y me seguirá doliendo justo como la primera vez...

Content Warnings

tiana_king's review against another edition

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adventurous dark medium-paced

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

5.0

The last half of this book is what shifts it from 4 stars to 5. Bring tissues. That’s all I can say. A great book and series that I will miss.

Content Warnings

andrikkk's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Content Warnings

tallyp's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

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

5.0

Content Warnings

cait's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Ho. Lee. Fuck. I did NOT see that ending coming.

“All my life, since I came to the Institute, you were the mirror of my soul. I saw the good in me in you. In your eyes alone I found grace. When you are gone from me, who will see me like that?”

This book was not what I expected in any way, shape, or form. It was weaker than I anticipated and more powerful than I ever could have imagined. My theories were proven correct while others were smashed so absolutely to bits that I can’t even recall why I held them in suspicion to begin with. The relationships didn’t play out how I expected and those I expected to disappoint me never did.

It was, in a word, beautiful.

Following the disastrous attempts to procure information on Mortmain’s plans and location, the Institute is a shambles. Charlotte’s failure has lent to disrespect and mistrust from the Consul, Will must continue to deny his own heart for the sake of his best friend, the Lightwood family finds itself in even further turmoil as the demon pox overwhelms Benedict Lightwood, Gabriel and Gideon find themselves forced to choose between losing their abilities and betraying the woman who gives them shelter, and Cecily’s arrival has turned the world on its head as she tries to convince Will to return home with her. In the midst of this, new relationships form, older ones suffer, and a war the Shadowhunters may not survive is brewing ever closer.

Yet, despite all of this, I found myself a bit bored through a lot of it. I’m not sure what it is about these books that makes me love them less than everyone else seems to, but, while I find them excellent, I don’t understand how anyone could prefer them to the Mortal Instruments. The amount of time these characters spend apart when you want them to be physically near each other is truly frustrating and the amount of near misses is horrible.

There were also several inconsistencies – Jem’s hair and eyes were originally said to have been mostly normal when he arrived at the Institute and to have changed over time, then later said to have been silver upon his arrival and the friendship between Will and Thomas before Jem’s arrival apparently never existed as of this book in the series.

What I did like, though, was where the two stories begin to come together: The relationships that form to create this future generation of Shadowhunters, the interactions that result in certain possessions, and the fact that I can match Alec’s appearance to Cecily Herondale’s marriage to Gabriel Lightwood amongst them. I love Magnus’ connection to the Lightwood family stemming from his gift to Will – the ruby necklace Isabelle wears – and the fact that, somehow, Clary’s middle name was the same as Tessa’s mother’s real name should have been. There were also tracings throughout the previous two books in the trilogy that finally came to fruition – Aloysius Starkweather’s inexplicable shock upon seeing Tessa for the first time and the fairy girl’s strange comment that Tessa was “not a changeling” chief among them.

The characters, to me, seem quite similar to their same-named counterparts in 2008, with the exception of Jem who is entirely original. That being said, I do absolutely love these characters: Charlotte with her will of steel; good-natured Henry, whose genius and creativity is so misunderstood; Will who loves just as hard as he pushes people away; Gideon who always tries his best to be honorable; Gabriel who must learn what honor truly is; Cecily who sees the world through a lens of humor that always kept me amused; Sophie whose loyalty shines more fiercely than anything; Jem with his quiet kindness and wholehearted love; and Tessa , whose old-fashioned sense of morality and sacrifice were shockingly refreshing amidst the violence and turmoil. And, of course, Magnus, whose good-natured enthusiasm, friendship, and humor were the brightness to lighten the darkness of this novel.

Because, holy shit, I fucking loved Magnus in this. He is probably my favorite character in this world. I just love how open, honest, and kind he is. The friendship he built up with Henry, being the first person to respect and appreciate the other man’s inventiveness and offer his assistance rather than criticism; the compassion and generosity he offers Will, no matter how badly the boy behaves or how hurt he is or how much Magnus has done for him already; his distaste towards the Lightwoods, especially knowing about his later relationship with Alec, who I believe is his one great love; and all those little moments and pieces of witty sarcasm and strength were just so overwhelming to me. Magnus is a bright star of humanity in these books. His character is so real and multifaceted and absolutely individual. I never knew how necessary he was to this series as a whole until I read this trilogy, but it’s clear that the world would suffer without him. And Magnus Bane is sincerely the best person I know. (I feel like I know him, spending so much time with him in this world, at least.)

Let me just get the most important part out of the way at this point: This was a love triangle that actually worked. There was no guy who was clearly better or better for her. There was no guy who you absolutely loved better than the other. There was no animosity between anyone involved. It was the story of three people who loved each other so much and did their best to be honorable. It wasn’t a case of being unable to decide who was hotter, but trying to choose which side of the same soul was a perfect match. Impossible. Heartbreaking.

But it was handled perfectly.

At this point, I’m honestly still freaking out over that ending, so here come the spoilers and the totally incomprehensible blabbering…

I couldn’t figure out who she’d end up with, though I had a feeling it would be Will because the name Herondale obviously still exists and Christine of PolandbananasBOOKS kinda spoiled that for me on a vlog about Star Wars. (The rage is still present on that one.) What I didn’t understand was how it would happen, why Jem would become a Silent Brother (I suspected Brother Zachariah was Jem in City of Lost Souls, though I had no proof at that point), or how Tessa would be able to bear to break one boy’s heart to go after the other.

I never suspected that she’d end up with both of them and that’s where my whole life is falling apart, because I love Jem so much and I am so glad that he gets his happy ending, too. That Tessa gets her two great loves. That I didn’t have to suffer this agony of knowing that, under his Silent Brother cloak of mystery and emotionlessness, Jem was suffering a broken heart.

And reading about how they met up on Blackfriar’s Bridge every year and Tessa named her first son after Jem and the way they dragged him back into their life over the years, refusing to forget him even as he remained cloaked and hooded? I was bawling just as hard at that as I was when I though Jem was dead, then when Jem said goodbye, and then when Will finally died after all of their years together.

Because some part of me truly believe he would live forever with Tessa. And I’m really not sure how to function in a world where these book characters I love start off as teenagers and die of old age in the course of my reading. Like, I’m currently fighting back tears thinking about it.

I mean, there were some parts that didn’t exactly work for me in it all: I really didn’t like those long, drawn out bits after Jem breaks his ties with them and there’s a lot of awkward chitchat between Tessa and Will, repeated tours that Cecily and Gabriel had already taken, and overly long professions of undying love by Will. It just seemed too long, boring, and cheesy. I didn’t care what Tessa was wearing at the Christmas party and I still don’t understand why Jessamine’s ghost came back to give him relationship advice – though, admittedly, neither did he. It was clear to me that, after Jem was gone, Will would end up with Tessa and I didn’t need that excess verbage to tell me that he took it slowly, out of respect for both Jem and Tessa.

I really, really hope that I get more Tessa and Jem in the rest of the Shadowhunters Chronicles. And, obviously, more Magnus.

“Stay with me. Be with me. See everything with me. I have traveled the world and seen so much, but there is so much more, and no one I would rather see it with than you. I would go everywhere and anywhere with you, Jem Carstairs.”

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