My First Fantastic Novel Review!

Yesterday I finished Clockwork Angel, the first book in The Infernal Devices trilogy, by Cassandra Clare. I chose to read this book because of a recommendation made by a classmate. She said I absolutely had to read Cassandra Clare, so I grabbed Clare's newest book, a novel creating a steampunk world filled with weird machines and fantastical creatures.

The novel follows Tessa, a young girl who travels to London after receiving a letter from her brother, asking her to join him after the death of their Aunt. Not soon after taking her first step in London does she discover a world she never knew existed.

Fantasy, Science Fiction, and History all mix together in this fun, easy read, keeping readers pushing through the pages. I wouldn't say it's the best novel I've read; I didn't get absorbed in it like I initially did with Harry Potter and Twilight, but it's definitely interesting. Overall, if you're looking for a novel that's easy with a somewhat interesting plot line and that can be read within a day or two, this is your novel. Now, I don't want to make this novel out to be bad ... it's not; there simply isn't anything mentally stimulating about it. One could argue that Clare addresses gender spheres of the time, which I agree, but it doesn't go anywhere. If she didn't include these spheres, the novel wouldn't have any credibility. With that said, however, I'm more on board with Tessa as a protagonist than Bella from Twilight. I'm not a big fan of the pathetic female characters--they're a bit cliche and, to be honest, annoying as hell.

My favorite aspect of Clockwork Angel is the incorporation of steampunk. I'm a big fan of unique and weird concepts in art, especially in novels. I mean, how cool is this???

The random photo above is photo of a robot. I love the artwork and the idea of incorporating steam machines into human bodies. Steampunk stuff is up there with Burton's work for me. I can't get enough! Which is why I enjoy the world Clare creates with her machines. She creates doubt in her world, questioning the morality of robots and where they stand in the world of good and evil. Does the creation of robots depend on the hands they fall into? Or ... something else? I guess I will just have to read the other two novels to find out.

• Book Cover: http://www.cassandraclare.com/cms/works
• Robot Photo: http://www.madbrewlabs.com/steampunk-klokwerks/