Start Date: 30/03/21 End Date: 29/06/21

Genre/Tropes: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, YA, Steampunk, Romance, Vampires, Angels

Summary: in 1878, Tessa Gray has arrived to London from her home in New York. Trusting the first person she meets she gets kidnapped and held against her will by the supernatural. Then one day Will Herondale happens across her trapped whilst on a mission. What follows next is a tale of adventure in Victorian London.

Thoughts: I don't wanna say that this book put me into a slump but this book put me into a slump. This took me like 3 months to finish because a lot happens but also nothing happens at the same time. Like one moment they're fighting against these machine spiders but then the next your literally sitting there for 30 pages of just dialogue. I'm all for character development cuz that's what I fuck with but jesus christ at least make it interesting, I remember there were many times I fell asleep reading this, which explains why it took 3 months for me to finish it.

On that note I really did like the writing and the character dynamics of the characters. Each one had their own personality, like you couldnt replace one characters dialogue with the other. I really enjoyed the moments with Tessa, Will and Jem. Camille was okay too. I also absolutely loved the steampunk set in victorian london aspect of it, steampunk and victorian london is one of my faves and I think this did it wonderfully.

Memorable Moments?: I cant remember the chapter but its pretty much when Will and Tessa meet for the first time. He's exploring the house and comes across the room where Tessa is being held. Tessa manages to get free and thinks that Will is one of the witches who's like experimenting on her so she takes like a pot and yeeets it at Will as he opens the door to her room. Its pretty funny as I'm writing this now.

Another moment I remember was when Tessa and Camille are taking a walk through the park and come across a goblin in the park. The goblin I think as about to attack Camille and Tessa but the umbrella that Camille was holding doubles as like weapon cuz it has razors or something at like the edges. So camille starts swiping at the goblin and he like kinda tries to escape but camille is not holding back and just keeps attacking the goblin. Tessa is just like 'camille relax the goblins not a threat' but camille just keeps going at the goblin until its dead. It made me feel really bad for the goblin and it also tells of the resentment camille has with the lifestyle that she had to grow up in seeing as though she is trying to find ways of leaving and just settling down with a husband in the middle of nowhere.

Would I read this again?: Yeah the pros outweigh the cons, but i would reread probably in the future.

Would I recommend this book?: Yep I think this is a good start to the world of Cassandra Clare's novels