Clockwork Angel, by Cassandra Clare, 2010.
Clockwork Angel is the beginning of a new series called The Infernal Devices, by Cassandra Clare. It takes place 150 years before Clare's Mortal Instruments series: City of Bones, City of Ashes, & City of Glass. The fourth book in the Mortal Instrument series: City of Fallen Angels is scheduled for publication in April 2011. If you liked Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series you may also enjoy reading Cassandra Clare's books. Personally I like The Mortal Instruments series more than the Twilight
series. Compared to the Twilight series the Mortal Instruments are
similarly dark and romantic (with a love triangle), however, there are
more twists, mystery, and magic in the Mortal Instruments, with a large cast of characters including vampires, warlocks, werewolves, shadowhunters, and demons.
Clockwork Angel is a supernatural urban fantasy, and since it is set in the Victorian era with futuristic technology, in this case automatons (robots), it also falls into the steampunk genre. The story begins with 16 year old Tessa Gray, who has traveled from New York to London in search of her older brother. As soon as she steps off the ship in London she is kidnapped by the Dark Sisters. The Sisters force her to begin training to use a rare ability to shape shift; an ability of which she was previously unaware. Tessa is soon rescued from the Dark Sisters by the Shadowhunters. Shadowhunters are warriors, half angel and half human, dedicated to ridding the world of demons. Tessa is sheltered by the Shadowhunters in their hidden London Institute, where she continues the search for her brother, her own identity, and battles further abduction attempts. Clockwork Angel is like an excellent box of dark chocolates, with just the right amount of crunchy and smooth filling. My rating 4 stars.
Cassandra Clare books and audiobooks available through the Library Consortium.
Cassandra Clare's website
Holly Black interviews Cassandra Clare. July 28, 2009:
Cassandra Clare answers questions from her fans. October 9, 2009: