The Infernal Devices Trilogy consists of three books - The
Clockwork Angel, The Clockwork Prince, and The Clockwork Princess. It is the
second series by Cassandra Clare, set in the Shadowhunters universe. The first
one - The Mortal Instruments - which introduced us to the world of Nephilim
(Shadowhunters to you mundanes out there), was set in the modern world, thaumaturgy
amongst texting and technology. It was about a girl who discovered herself to
be a Shadowhunter through a series of unfortunate events, and unraveled the
mysteries of her past and her abilities, using them to fight a psychopathic and
murderous villain.
In the Clockwork Angel, Tessa (Theresa Gray) discovers her
ability to shape shift, after a period of imprisonment, harassment, pain and
anguish caused by the Dark Sisters, all for the sake of her brother who is
supposedly held hostage by “The Magister”. She is rescued by Will Herondale - the
blue-eyed sarcastic hero, and introduced to the world of Shadowhunters, where she
meets Jem (James) Carstairs - the fragile and gentle lover. The rest of the
book follows up with the rescue of Tessa’s brother, deceit and death, and
unveiling the identity of “The Magister”. The Clockwork Prince is focused on Will
and his curse, Tessa’s brother and his loyalties, the Clave (which is something
like a Shadowhunter Law Council), and the automatons made by the Magister. Jem
and Tessa fall in love, with Will at the apex of the triangle, in love with
Tessa who suppresses her emotions for him, in lieu of her promise to Jem. The
intense brotherly love between Jem and Will also plays a further role in this
complicated love triangle, where each one loves the other two. The third book,
i.e. The Clockwork Princess concludes the series, with the defeat of the
Magister in an action filled, stupendous climax scene, and resolution of the
love triangle in the most unexpected, intensely emotional way.
The series is set in Victorian London, giving way to some amusing
incidences, such as when Tessa is astonished by the fact that ladies can wear
trousers, in a time when corsets and hoop skirts were all the rage in women
fashion. Being a good girl in the Victorian Age, she has been taught to be docile
and gentle, and is thus alarmed at the mere thought of women fighting, let
alone the idea of her learning to use weapons, as is the Nephilim norm.
Blending in fancy vocabulary and formal acknowledgments - a characteristic of
older English - along with informal tones and the affectionate language of Nephilim,
as well as Will’s quotations of various poems, the dialogues in the Infernal
Devices seem enriching and sophisticated to read.
The contrast between the Mortal
Instruments Series and the Infernal Devices Trilogy is not just the plot, which
is marvelously designed in both cases, but also the characters. While the
former focused on the futures of the characters and prophesies associated, the
latter is more about the unravelling of pasts and how each character’s history
ties in with the present storyline. With Jem and Will’s secrets being revealed,
their love triangle with Tessa, amongst deceit by multiple characters due to
misplaced amour, and with angels and demons tied in together, the story has an
incredible pace, fast yet not speedy, unveiling the true nature of Tessa at the
very end.
Creating an entire alternate
fantasy - with fictional languages, concepts, traditions and rituals – could
not possibly be an easy task. Heaven knows how possibly impossible it was to
write a mere 500 words story back in school. Yet, Cassandra Clare has managed
to invent this phenomenal concept of Shadowhunters and built upon it
wonderfully. With her first series being adapted into a movie, followed by a
Netflix Show, she has amassed a massive fan following akin to that of Rick
Riordan and Veronica Roth. So, for lovers of warlocks, vampires and werewolves
(especially if you’ve been disappointed by Twilight); magic, love and deceit, Cassandra
Clare is here to enchant you.
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