A Clockwork Angel

By Cassandra Clare

Book 1 of The Infernal Devices

Victorian London, but not the version you or I would have lived in. The one vibrating beneath the surface with demons, secrets, and clockwork creatures.

I loved following Tessa as she’s forced into this hidden London, where monsters don’t always look monstrous and allies aren’t always who you thought they were. What struck me most was how quickly trust becomes a currency she can’t afford to spend lightly. When everything familiar is taken away, who do you rely on? And when you have a power you barely understand, how do you decide who deserves to know about it?

The Downworld is richly atmospheric. Fog. Danger. That constant feeling that something is watching from just beyond the lamplight. It’s dramatic in the best way, unapologetically gothic.

And then there are the characters.

Will is sharp-tongued and frustrating, the kind of person who hides behind wit like it’s armour. Jem is gentler and steadier, a quiet contrast. Charlotte and Henry bring warmth and determination to the Institute. Even Jessamine, who I found spoilt and occasionally grating, adds tension that makes the group dynamic more interesting.

For me, Clockwork Angel is less about the mechanical villain and more about identity and belonging. Tessa’s power is fascinating, but what truly anchors the story is her search for where she fits, what she is, and how she came to possess such a dangerous ability.

I’m definitely continuing on to book two.

“Pulvis et umbra sumus.”
“We are dust and shadows.”

A line that lingers long after the final page.