Parents' Guide to

Clockwork Angel: Infernal Devices, Book 1

By Karen Wirsing, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Victorian-era fantasy series starts with plenty of violence.

Book Cassandra Clare Fantasy 2010
Clockwork Angel: Infernal Devices, Book 1 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 14+

Based on 12 parent reviews

cecilia.p
cecilia.p Adult
November 19, 2014
age 13+

Amazing, rivoting, and wonderful... but not for kids!

I am 16 and I adore this book. It's got sword fights, daring adventures and a damsel that isn't always in distress! I would definitely not recommend this book for anyone under 14 because there are drugs, alcohol and pre-marital sex.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
2 people found this helpful.
dlorenz
dlorenz Parent of 10 and 12-year-old
May 17, 2013
age 12+

One of my daughter's favourite books

My daughter (age 12) loved this book and has literally flown through the series, completely going bananas over the last book! I love to see a book engage her this much! I read the first and second book and thought they were quite addicting and I could see how she was hooked. Haven't read the last book.... there is a HUGE waiting list for it at our library! :)
2 people found this helpful.
See all 12 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Set in the Victorian era, this story begins with Tessa moving from New York to London to live with her brother, Nate. Upon arrival, Tessa is disappointed to discover that Nate has sent two women to meet her in his place. Although Tessa is hesitant to go with the strange woman, she is persuaded and accompanies them to meet her brother. But her suspicions were correct: Tessa finds herself held hostage by the Dark Sisters, two warlocks who force Tessa to utilize a secret power that she never even knew she had: Shape shifting. She soon realizes that there is an amazing supernatural world beyond the mundane life that she is used to, a world made of vampires, shadowhunters, warlocks, and demons (not to mention the two supernaturally handsome men protecting her at all times). But will she be able to help the shadowhunters stop the evil Magister before he and his automatons take over the world?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (12 ):
Kids say (54 ):

Clockwork Angel is a captivating novel that Twilight fans will enjoy sinking their teeth into. At the end of each chapter, the author dangles just enough information and action to keep the reader hooked. However, they may feel dissatisfied by the book's conclusion, which leaves most of the mysteries unsolved, and anxious to read the next installment.

The author succeeds in offering enchanting and diverse characters placed in a well-constructed Victorian London setting. Readers will find the characters' background -- each was orphaned as a young child, has a secret past, and struggles with identity and longing for home -- not only add to the mystery here, but also serve as a catalyst for thinking about themes of "otherness" and what it means to be exiled from a community.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about violence. This book has lots of gory battles -- but all the violence is set in a fantasy context. Does this make it easier to handle?

  • This is an example of steampunk, with elements of either science fiction and fantasy. Leviathan and its sequel are other examples. Why do you think this genre is popular?

Book Details

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