Clockwork Angel

Infernal Devices - book one
by Cassandra Clare
PRMS paperback 478 pages
genre: paranormal romance, steampunk

This was for eighth grade book club. I had to force myself to read it. Yuk. I really do not like this author's work. Other than the romantic tension between Tessa and Will, there wasn't much for me to like about it. Only one of my eighth graders read the whole thing! She truly enjoyed the story. A few of the girls who usually like this genre said they just couldn't get in to it . . . and some didn't expect to like it and didn't get past chapter one.

Tessa has come to England after the death of her aunt in New York. All she has left is her brother Nate. But there are two sisters who greet her at the docks, saying they were sent by her brother. Soon Tessa is locked up and being "taught" / forced to use her special powers to change into other people.
The Nephilim are angel warriors from Heaven (but with all the attributes of human attitude - these angels have nothing to do with glorifying God) and of them all, Will is stunningly gorgeous and a powerful fighter with a reckless attitude. Jem (James) is his best friend and the only one to whom Will shows gentleness.

One thing I liked were all the references to literature and reading. On page 94, Will says, "I've never seen anyone get so excited over books before. You'd think they were diamonds." It's a nice scene (though their reading tastes are somewhat different from one another's).

One thing that makes me crazy - why point out that vampires have no hearts, no lungs, no need to breathe, and then have the battle scene be full of vampires being cut and bleeding all over! Or they explode or spurt or burst with blood . . . what? That's just a strange mixing of ideas.