Review--Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel was nothing like I expected. And I'm still not sure if that is a good thing or not. I had read good reviews about this book and decided to give it a try, but try as I might, I just couldn't seem to get fully into it. I continued reading, not wanting to totally give up on it, but it just didn't have the pizazz I was looking for.

The plot seemed interesting enough, Tessa going to London to find her brother but is instead kidnapped and learns quite a few things about the darker parts of London. That creep factor was interesting enough to get me intrigued and the secret society of Shadowhunters was even interesting, but still I just couldn't help but feel disconnected from the story. I don't believe it has anything to do with the time, 1878, for I've read a few other books set in the past and enjoyed them.

There was quite a bit of descriptive language, moreso than I am used to, so maybe that plays a part in my not liking it so much. The descriptions tended to take a little too long and detracted from what was going on.

There were definitely some good mystery parts. I mean I so didn't see any of them coming for I wasn't really looking for them. And the ending has quite a nasty cliffhanger and more than one problem left unresolved.

Despite my confliction on this book, I give it a 3/5 stars. Good, decent, but not totally great. I'm on the fence with this one. And depending on reviews for Clockwork Prince, I don't know if I will be continuing with this series.