A Bowl For the Soul

THE INFERNAL DEVICES

   “Let me give you a piece of advice. The handsome young fellow who's trying to rescue you from a hideous fate is never wrong. Not even if he says the sky is purple and made of hedgehogs.” - Will Herondale;  The Clockwork Angel.

Anyone who recognised the term Shadowhunters, are no doubt familiar with Cassandra Clare's world of The Mortal Instruments. It is by far one of her best-selling book series after all. With sensational, wonderfully written characters that seem to come alive with every pages from City of Bones to the recent City of Lost Souls, Clare has created a paradox of astounding universe with the likes of fantasy creatures such as vampires, werewolves, warlocks, and faeries (mind you- Clare's faeries are perhaps one of the most devious, and cunning kind among the other mentioned species). But, alas, today is not the day The Mortal Instruments receive the spotlight. In fact, it is the prequel installment of the Mortal Instruments: The Infernal Devices.

Set in grey subdued London, during the Victorian era, the series focuses mainly on the pivotal London Institute (a safe house for Shadowhunters), centering around the Tessa Gray, Will Herondale and Jem Carstairs. This is the time where the peace treaty between the Shadowhunters (a secretive race of human with angelic blood- sometimes referred as Nephilims) and Downworlders (hybrid creatures of part human, part demon such as vampires, werewolves, warlocks, and faeries) had not existed yet in oppose to the modern day setting of The Mortal Instruments. Therefore, Shadowhunters have no qualms in killing Downworlders as they consider themselves higher in regard and superior of the latter species. 

To sum up the trilogy, I will do my best to cover the basic outline of the story (Warning: spoilers ahead). Theresa "Tessa" Gray arrived in London from America, when she received a letter from her brother to come and find him. Unfortunately, she was captured by the Dark Sisters - a pair of female warlocks- only to be exploited for her shapeshifting power which was unbeknown to her until then. She was rescued by a Shadowhunter, Will Herondale and brought to the London Institute led by a woman (controversial subject that takes place in the story as many had disagree with a woman as the head of well, practically anything - remember this is the victorian era where it is unconventional for a woman to be placed as a leader), Charlotte Bramwell. From there, Tessa met the many residence of the Institute including Jem Carstairs that will held a special role in the future. The main complication faced by the protagonists was going against the deadly clockwork army of Axel Mortmain, who wishes to rid of all Shadowhunters due to an old vengeance. Thus Mortmain's desire to snare Tessa in order to obtain her power, was to raise a legion of demonic clockwork that has its own mind and body, and also hard to be destroyed unlike the previous normal clockwork. The emotional apex was the love triangle between the three main characters as Will had spurned Tessa's love as he believe he was cursed by a demon that involves anyone he cares to die, Tessa torn between her two love, and Jem succumbing to his illness due to Yin Fen addiction caused by a greater demon feeding him demon poison when he was a child. It also involves Tessa finding her identity and well, to be exact what category of species she fits into since the readers will learn early in the series that she is definitely not a human.

For those who had not read all trilogy yet might find the summary above to be a bunch of gibberish draft but well, the main idea was written up there. That is one of the magical thing about Clare's works. It's complicated, in a good way, that it is almost impossible to sum up the whole series in a paragraph. It is not just a mere love story but it discusses the meaning of true friendship, equality, and willing to make sacrifices to protect those you love. One thing I learn from the series is that sometimes the right thing to do might not be the best thing for the people around us. Reigning in the truth to prevent the people we care from being hurt. Sometimes it is better to leave things as it is rather than confronting it.

One of my favourite subject regarding the series is actually a much feminist matter in hand. Clare had shown throughout the whole series that a woman are capable as being a grounded, sensible leader that follows her brain rather than heart. The character, Charlotte Bramwell became the centre of this subject as she faced pressure and undermined by her fellow male peers. It reflects the unfair discrimination towards the female society. Women were underestimated, under-valued, and hindered by those who thought things were better to be handled in hands of a much capable ton: men. Clare's work with Infernal Devices digressed this very idea and that is one of the reason any independent, strong willed woman would love this series. The ladies introduced in the books had shown wilfulness, wise, and stubbornness that could rival with the rest of the male characters. In fact, it was an arguable point that most of the female protagonist were composed in dreary situations and lacks the brash attitude of men. Clare has written a subtly hidden feminist approach within the fantasy world of angels and mythological creatures; and that, dear bookworms, is perhaps the most enlightening subject that was drawn from the depth of the story. 

Up next: To all bookworms, in the following review to be posted are still related to the Infernal Devices. Well, more specifically the boys of the Infernal Devices. Anyone who is a fan of the Shadowhunter Series will definitely fall for the boys of the Shadow World at some point, whether he is a Nephilim or Downworlder alike. Characters of Mortal Instruments be featured as well. so brace yourselves bookworms for the swoon-approved appearances of Will Herondale's dazzling blue eyes, or Jace's tawny chiseled features, or the devilish smile of Raphael Santiago. 

Signing off, bookwormsoul.