Audiobook Review – Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices, Book 1) by Cassandra Clare (3/5 stars)

Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Steampunk
Length: 14 hours and 35 minutes (496 pages)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Release Date: August 31, 2010
ASIN: B0041JPBF0
Stand Alone or Series: 1st book in the Infernal Devies series
Source: Audiobook from Audible.com
Rating: 3/5 stars

I have had this book a long time to read but I keep putting it off. I read the first book in Clare’s Mortal Instruments series and absolutely hated it. However this series is incredibly popular and I love steampunk, so I decided to go ahead and check this book out despite my dislike of the Mortal Instruments.

I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was well done. My only complaint is that some of the men’s voices sounded very similar. Aside from that it was very well done.

Tessa Gray is going to join her brother in London after the death of her aunt. However, when she arrives her brother is not there but instead The Dark Sisters pick her up with a note from her brother ensuring her that he trusts them. Well, the Dark Sisters are not at all trustworthy and they imprison Tessa forcing her to use a strange shapeshifting power that she seems to possess. Tessa is desperate to escape and then Will breaks in to rescue her.

Will is part of the London Institute of Shadowhunters, an organization of nephilim dedicated to policing everything evil and dark. He rescues Tessa but her relief is short-lived. The head of the Pandemonium Club wants Tessa for his own nefarious purposes and will stop at nothing to obtain her. Thus Tessa is drawn into the world of Shadowhunters, demons, and vampires.

This book started out fairly slow. In fact I almost stopped listening to this after the first couple chapters. The story did get better though. Once you get Will, Jem, and Charlotte involved in the story things start to move a lot faster and the witty banter between all the characters is very entertaining.

I loved the idea of the Shadowhunters and the London setting. The book isn’t all that creative but it is entertaining. The story is fairly engaging as you get into it and the characters are well done and entertaining.

My main complaint with this book is Clare’s writing itself…I guess I am just not a fan. I felt like she over-explained a lot of things (I hate that, it makes me feel like the author is talking down to me). I also thought some of the dialogue was awkward sounding. It was weird because sometimes the dialogue was very witty and flowed well and sometimes it was sooo awkward I was a bit embarrassed for Clare.

The story stops at a good point. There is some steampunk stuff in here but it’s all pretty basic: a clockwork army and Tess’s clockwork angel. This isn’t however a fully evolved steampunk type of world…in fact there isn’t much world-building at all.

Overall this ended up being a good YA paranormal book. I enjoyed the characters and the idea of the Shadowhunters. I thought some of the writing was a bit awkward and didn’t enjoy all the over explaining that went on. I am on the fence about whether or not I will read the next book in the series; I enjoyed Tess’s character and kind of want to know what happens to her…but I also am not a fan of Clare’s writing style. I would recommend to those who have enjoyed Clare’s other books. I personally seem to have some issues with the way she writes on a very basic level…so I am not a huge fan.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge
– Mount TBR Reading Challenge
– Pick Your Genre (Steampunk) Reading Challenge
– Audiobook Reading Challenge