March 10, 2014

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare


by Cassandra Clare
published first on 2010 by Walker Books, Ltd
YA / Romance / Fantasy / Paranormal / Steampunk
SPOILERS, SPOILERS EVERYWHERE. DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YE.

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"Most people are lucky to have even one great love in their life. You have found two."

So. Let me get this all out first. I have (finally) read and finished this series since last month, but I just couldn't find a way to formulate a review that could prefectly describe what I feel and think about these three amazing books. Now I'm going to try anyway. The emotions are still fresh and though I can't recite all of what happened in the books anymore, I can still remember how purely shocked I am to find that this series was actually good, SO GOOD it hooked deeply into my heart and left me feeling raw after I read the last sentence. I couldn't even finish the first book of The Mortal Instrument, so I never thought Cassandra could write another series this excellent. The Infernal Devices, to me, is totally on a different level altogether than The Mortal Instruments, although not wihout some flaws.

The Good
First of all, I have to salute Cassandra Clare's skill on the worldbuilding of this series. The setting is England circa 1800-ish, which she describes beautifully to make a clear picture for the readers. Not to mention that she has to merge it with all the details of the Shadowhunters' world. It was just exquisite. All the way until book three, the atmosphere of the story is filled with these mysterious, quiet, but gorgeous aura that truly helps building the emotions and to see everything: The way the characters talk, the parties they attend, The Institute's dining room.... Even the air feels different somehow. Everytime I return to continue reading the series, I truly experience what it feels like to enter a totally different world.

Cassandra presents many characters through the series, but she can make every one of them shines in their own way. From our three main characters: William Herondale, James Castairs and Theresa Gray (love their names!). Then there's Charlotte, Sophie, Jessamine... Even I can't help but to sympathize with the passive Henry, and of course the Lightwood brothers. I quite like how each one of them end up with someone in the story, though some are easily predictable. Cassandra creates multidimensional characters that aren't completely black or white, they're all gray. Even Mortmain. These people have their own story, which shaped their personality as shown in the books. This aspect make the story such a page-turning one. I'm glad that Cassandra doesn't only focuses the whole story on our trinity, for it also follows other side characters whereabout. They're all entertaining. PS: Magnus Bane is awesomazing! I remember him from The Mortal Instrument, and here in Infernal Devices he's also an important part of the story. I can't help but to want to have a bestfriend like him. Oh, Magnus.

But what is so excellent about The Infernal Devices is of course, THE FEELS. Geez, ALL the emotional levels I experience (Read: ALL THE TEARS I SHED FOR THEM)! I seriously can't hold it all back in. In every book there is one certain part that make me bawl like a baby. That moment when Will finally confesses his feeling for Tessa only to find out that Tessa is engaged to Jem? Gosh I cried until my head hurts. That part where Will realizes the parabatai sign on his skin is fading? There are just NO words. It's just so strange that all the love between Will, Tessa, and Jem feels too real, too powerful—you can't help but to understand how tight the bond between Will and Jem is. They're not merely bestfriends nor soulmate, they're blood brothers, each of them is willing to sacrifice their feeling, their life even! For the other—Tessa sees Will as someone who attracts her from the beginning of all of this, their love goes beyond reasons (and I personally think it's the most beautiful thing) but she also can't help to feel for Jem whom she loves as a true bestfriend, one who's always been with her whenever she needs it. How Tessa and Will are willing to hide their feelings for the sake of Jem is amazeballs.



The Bad
Every good books (hell, every book) are not good without the bad. At first, when I start reading The Infernal Devices, it feels... so Cassandra Clare, so Mortal Instrument. You know what I mean? The paragraphs are packed with details, too much details, too much informations thrown, too many characters, and too many things going on. Moreover because the pace is slow (except in the last book), it may sometimes make you feel confused and bored. You need to be extra patient to finally get a hold of it, then you'll enjoy the books better.  

Every once in a while I also ask about the point of some things that were included in the plot—Cecily Herondale, for instance. What's the point of her appearance if she doesn't succeed on persuasing Will to go home? Is it just to pair her with Gabriel? I feel like even if she wasn't added up to the story, the whole thing won't get much difference, after all (If you have other opinion, please tell me!). And the whole thing about Jem being a silent brother? Eh. I should have known where it's headed (for a hundred and thirty years later....) I mean, moments before the death of Jem were built so intensely, Will saying goodbye to his parabatai and all that (another most heartbreaking moment) only for us to find out that Jem actually doesn't die. He changes into a silent brother. Errrr... Okaaaay *brows raised* Then at the end when it's said that the cure to make a silent brother become normal (as in, a mortal) again has been found. Eyyy. It seems like Cassandra just wants to make everybody happy.

The Ugly
THE EPILOGUE. UGH. I really can do without the epilogue! Just end it after the part where Will brings Tessa to his parents, please? I mean, it's totally okay to know Tessa and Will live a peaceful, lovely, happy married life with their big family for about thirty years until Will, who's clearly still a mortal, has to di—NO, really, can we just stop at that?! I even wished that somewhere along the way a vampire will bite him just to make him live forever like Tessa. *ugly creying*
Yes, if I have to be totally honest, eventhough the love triangle is great and powerful and beautiful and all, whatever, I'm TEAM WILL ALL THE WAY. I can't help but to truly love him, a boy with such a tortured soul who's been so wonderful from the start. Will meanly ignores and avoids his family, Tessa, well basically everyone at arm's length because of the 'curse', he respected Jem enough to hold all of his feelings because he loves his blood brother too much... He's snarky but also humorous, and he loves literature, not to mention his dashing looks and the 'bad boy' aura, what more could a fictional character ask for?! *ahem*
Someone who's just generous, kind and noblehearted like Jem doesn't make him that much interesting. I mean, he and Tessa will be a great couple too, but I think after a while the relationship will get boring. While Tessa is so much 'alive' with Will, it feels like through all three books Tessa only reciprocates Jem's love because she doesn't want to hurt him even more (DON'T KICK ME OKAY I'M JUST BEING HONEST LOL)
Oh well, whatever. End of rant. The epilogue was beautiful, by the way, if only Cassandra stop at the first two or three pages of it.



Now it's time for YOU! Have you read this series? What do you think of it? Are you Team Will, or Team Will? (Okay that's so highschool I know) If you haven't sterted this series because you're traumatized  by The Mortal Instrument (beep beep personal experience beep beep), eh, don't let it get to you. Read the book!

Also, have fun and read some more, okay? ;)


8 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry you weren't found of the epilogue. I loved it but I guess I always loved both boys so I am happy to see them both happy. I wasn't sure about Cecily either. Also I have read this series before I have started TMI, so the whole start and world building here were amazing to me, I see why Clare did that. But yeah we both agree this series is amazing. Great review, Tirta :)

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  2. Here's the confession: I haven't read any of the book from Infernal Devices series. *cringes* I'm sorry that I can't join the fangirl wave of Team Will, Tirta! x( But I'm sure that Will is amazing from what I read in other people's reviews. ;) Sad to hear that the epilogue feels lacking! It's very sad when we realize the inevitable between mortal and immortal characters. :'' Love your review, hun! :)

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  3. I was disappointed with its epilogue too, it was clearly showing Tessa who never chose. [SPOILER] Will kissed her, she accepted. Jem proposed her, she accepted. Jem died and 10 pages later she had sex with Will when I was in my bed still praying that Jem would be alive no matter what. She was happy a little time until Jem was back as Zac. Jem went, and she married Will. Will dead, she found Jem and wanted him. [END OF SPOILER]. She just went with the available one.
    Anyway I shipped Wessa, but I'm team Jem for myself. I love Jem like he loves duck lol

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  4. I was completely disappointed by the epilogue as well, Tirta! It ruined and tainted the whole experience for me. I wish I could scrub it from memory. I'm so done with love triangles! Wonderful review! :)

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  5. I had to skim your review because of spoilers, but just let me say I love that "sea of feels" GIF. Haha. I can't stop looking at it! It's simultaneously completely accurate and awesomely funny, ahaha.

    For the parts that I DID read - wonderful review! <33

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  6. I had to do the same as Celine, I haven't read this trilogy yet, I'm dying to do so, so I just had to skim! I think it's the size of the hardback books that intimidate me! I've heard really good things about them, and about Cassandra Clare's writing, but I'm sorry you didn't enjoy the ending! Thank you for your honest review!

    ...and for the funny gifs!

    Lisa
    www.turningpages94.blogspot.com

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  7. Oh my...
    Now I'm remembering the feels (the brokenhearted one for the epilogue especially) all over again. I also cried my heart out until my head hurts for parts in these books. But the epilogue really torn me apart like nobody's business! Although I really love these ones, I just can't bring myself to read Immortal Instruments... because there will be no Will (right? I'm guessing here) and I just can't stand another messy love triangle from Cassandra Clare. By the way, great review! I was so disappointed with that 'happy' epilogue, I just couldn't gather my thoughts calmly to write any decent review for these series, so I just skipped.

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    1. Thank youuu:)
      Don't know about TMI because I've only read until book 2 and have no interest in continuing anymore hehehe. Cassandra balanced the love triangle really well here but in my personal opinion it has always been Will since the beginning, it was only the epilogue that wrecked my overall 'rating' for the series

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