Spoiler-Free Review and Pop-Up Giveaway: Clockwork Princess

Clockwork Princess
by Cassandra Clare
Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books
on March 19, 2013

Source: bought

Summary (adapted from Goodreads:) A net 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?

NONE of those spoilers here. 

My take: I have enjoyed this trilogy so much. I love the London setting, love the literary references to Dickens and Tennyson and Scott, love all the intrigue and mystery. Most of all, I LOVE these characters. Cassie Clare has a wonderful way of writing characters that practically leap off the page and make you fall in love with them, root for them, worry for them. And Clockwork Princess was no exception. There was a LOT of worry involved.

Many of us had thought so much and worried so much that we'd thought up every possible outcome to the story: Will dies, Jem dies, Will and Jem die, Tessa makes some sacrifice to save Will and Jem. Tessa ends up with Will or Jem. Or neither. To me, it felt like anything might happen.

So I started reading feeling like I was ready for anything. While that was true in a way, I was not ready for the way that reading the ending to this trilogy would actually make me feel.

There are some great moments here. Incredibly poignant moments. Incredibly sad moments. Suspenseful moments. And even funny moments. I think that all my questions were answered: who or what is Tessa, what is Tessa's clockwork necklace, what is Mortmain up to, who is Brother Zachariah, and even, yes… what happens between Tessa, Jem and Will.

Was I happy with the outcome?

The funny thing about love triangles is that the ones that seem believable and realistic are the ones that can't end well. I honestly couldn't think of any outcome to this triangle that I could be 100% happy about. There was one thing that happened that was a huge shock to me, another thing that surprised and charmed me, and a couple of other things that were incredibly moving and bittersweet. Sorry to be so mysterious, but I promised no spoilers!

And … because the winner of my prior giveaway was international, I have an extra copy of Clockwork Princess that I'd love to share it with one of my US readers. This is going to be a fast giveaway -- I'm leaving on a trip and I'm sure you don't want to wait a day longer than necessary to get reading. I'll draw the winner tomorrow morning and mail the book out tomorrow, provided that I get the winner's mailing info before the post office closes.

US only this time, because my other winner was international!

If you are entering, please check the email you use for Rafflecopter tomorrow. If I don't hear from the winner by 3pm EST, the book will be mailed on April 1.




a Rafflecopter giveaway