Komal Mikaelson

Initial Reaction After Completion


This was mainly due to the WTF epilogue that irritated me no end

So, this was my second attempt to read and complete Clockwork Princess. The first time around when I'd picked it, I was so annoyed at the slow pace and the corny lines, that I dropped it.
But this time, a completely different story.
Since, this book had already been reviewed thoroughly, each and every dialogue dissected, I won't be doing a proper review. Just the stuff I loved and hated.

The absolutely gorgeous and heart-breaking part of the novel:
James Carstairs and William Herondale
Love love love love, double love, love entirely
I cannot even begin to describe how much I luurrvveed their bromance. They made me smile, made my heart ache, tugged at my heart strings and ultimately ripped them all out. And I don't hold it against them. They deserve it and I owe it to them. They were perfectly imperfect in their action, which endeared them even more to me.

Clockwork Princess is based mainly on a love triangle, which I passionately hate. But it's alright in the book. Because, really, who would be able to choose between such guys? Not fucking possible. Kudos to Clare for writing such strong, realistic characters. I especially loved the fact that a girl doesn't comes in between a true and beautiful friendship.

Jem was supposed to die. We all knew this fact off the bat. But sensitive, vulnerable people that we are(at least me), we were hoping for some miraculous cure or some convenient plot device to elude the inevitable heartbreak.
Jem was supposed to marry Tessa before his time runs out.
And Will. *sigh*
Will was supposed to bear this stoically.

But it didn't happen that way. Never does with Clare.

Okay, so I already know what happens to Jem at the end, courtesy, my sadistic, insensitive lovely friends. And inspite of this fact, I was crying so damn hard I had to put my Kindle down for fear of getting water on the screen.

James Carstairs

There is more to living than not dying.

You know, how there are some people so selflessly giving and inhumanely compassionate, that they seem unreal. Looking at them we feel ashamed and guilty and mortified and so damn annoyed at them for making us feel these things.
James is the quintessence of such a person.
The sheer will and the innate goodness of the guy is unbelievable. He gives and gives and gives some more, when he is clear;y not in a position to do so. His faith, forgiveness, certitude and love, unflinching, all-encompassing love, towards Will was heart warming at one end and utterly shattering on the other end.
Hats off to the guy

William Herondale

You hear that, James Carstairs? We are bound, you and I, over the divide of death, down through whatever generations may come. Forever.

Will is passionate, loyal and a lovely person. Stripped of his hard, bitter veneer, he is vulnerable and desperate for love. And so damn endearing.
I loved his impromptu songs. I loved his hostility towards Gabriel. I loved his fierce love for Cecily.
But his propensity for espousing such cheesy, romantic lines had me literally cringing. I don't know of it's just me but every time he got close to Tessa and in his 'desperate loving' mood, I'd have this sinking feeling in anticipation of the dreaded corny lines. I know the guy is good with words, but still. GOD! Enough with the cheese. There's only so much I can take.


The Writing
The writing was phenomenal.. at places. Clare uses such powerful and heart rending expression, you can't help but fall in love. The way Jem and Will express their fears, their loves, it is amazing. You are right there with them, experiencing their pain and joy. Not only Jem and Will, but Charlotte, Magnus, Cecily, Sophie, the Lightwoods, every major and all the secondary characters utter such perfect statements. MY GOD!
If it had been up to me, I'd included all the dialogues here. Because most of them were highlight worthy.
Bus as I'm flying high on the vivid, beautiful descriptions when BAM! a twisted metaphor or weird simile would burst my bubble. The writing was riddled with such awful phrases, lines whatever that it was cringing to read it RIGHT AFTER reading the beautiful ones.
Now, the descriptions. Lengthy and superfluous. At some point, I started skipping paragraphs just to get to the damn point of the chapter. Another reason I dropped the book at the beginning. It was too long and winding.

Now the stuff that irritated me no end

SPOILERS SPOILERS HUGE SPOILERS
- Cadair Idris. Will and Tessa have sex just after Jem died. LIKE REALLY? WHAT THE FUCK? I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO I CANNOT EVEN

-The epilogue. Really was that even necessary? I admit, I've been a Jem+Tessa shipper from the very beginning but this is too much. It was pleasing to know about Will and Tessa'a kids(JAMES. BRB CRYING) and grandchildren and 30th ANNIVERSARY but JEM AND TESSA? I didn't want to know that. How much more perfect could you shape the ending into? Every choice has its consequence. Jem's choice did too. YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE IT UTTERLY PERFECT. And even if you did, I DON'T WANNA KNOW.

-Gabriel+ Cecily and Sophie+ Gideon
The coincidence that EVERYONE finds their true love rankled with me. I know I'm being mean here, but really? Too perfect syndrome.

Conclusion
A perfect, poignant ending to a beautiful series. It will not spare any of your emotions and twist and fray your feelings to such a mush, you won't be able to recognize yourself at the end of the ordeal. Still, utterly beautiful and life-shattering and a must read.

I'm leaving you with a line/phrase that ripped my heart when I first read it, but now brings a tentative smile to my face.

Atque in pepetuum, frater, ave atque vale,” he whispered. The words of the poem had never seemed so fitting: Forever and ever, my brother, hail and farewell