I’ll admit, I was really hesitant to read this spin off series by Cassandra Clare. I love the Immortal Instruments series, but I didn’t know if I cared about any other people in that universe, particularly in the past.

I’m so glad I checked these out of the library on a whim. I love them. The adventures of Will and Tess and Jem are every bit as fascinating as the adventures of Jace and Clary. I felt like Clockwork Angel started kind of slow but once it got going I was hooked. I literally just sat on my couch until I was done reading these books. I really like Tess, and I’m also really appreciative of the way Cassandra Clare handled the whole back in time thing with womens rights and what not. I’m all for historical accuracy, but it was really nice to read a modern acting protagonist and still have the old setting, but at the same time I felt sometimes it was a little jarring. Will isn’t all that rude by modern day standards so sometimes I kind of forgot when it was set and wondered why everyone seemed so shocked by his behavior.

Clockwork Prince I felt had faster pacing than Clockwork Angel, but I’m really not feeling the whole love triangle thing between Will, Jem, and Tess. I don’t actually feel like Tess is all that conflicted, she obviously has stronger feelings for Will, but she just feels sorry for Jem. It’s heart wrenching and all, but more condescending and predatory than dramatic. And again this is a place where I feel like the fact that it’s set in the past is jarring because the characters act so modern but then skip right on to marriage.

But my dislike of love triangles aside, I didn’t stop reading this book until I was finished. I didn’t put it down whatsoever. It was an action packed fun read and I can’t wait until the third book comes out.v