Series Review: The Infernal Devices

Often called the "Queen of Fantasy", Cassandra Clare lives up to her title. She is mostly known for her Shadowhunter universe, which allows the reader to see the world through the eyes of unseen heroes. Although the Shadowhunter universe spans multiple series, I will be reviewing The Infernal Devices series, as I have recently finished the trilogy.

Here is a picture of my box set of The Infernal Devices:

In order, the caricatures on the spines of the books are the three main characters in this series: Will, Jem, and Tessa. This series is a prequel to Clare's The Mortal Instruments series, although it was published after the main Shadowhunter series.

This fantasy universe is set in our world—but of course, there is a twist. Magical beings and happenings are hidden behind glamours, and ordinary humans—or as the Shadowhunters and Downworlders call them, mundanes—cannot see through them unless they are gifted with the Sight.

First off, the characters. Shadowhunters are mortals who have half-human half-angel blood. Downworlders are those that have demon blood mixed in with their human blood, and consist of supernatural beings such as warlocks, vampires, faeries, and werewolves.

The Shadowhunters are sworn enemies of demons, but they have a wary newly-formed alliance with the Downworlders in this series. However, the peace is short-lived, because a new enemy that hates Shadowhunters with a passion has come into play—the Magister.

Tessa Gray is pulled into London's Downworld and has her own world turned upside-down by the Magister, who is known only by his title. Tessa learns that she has unique powers and has been forced to master them.

She thinks that she will never escape the clutch of the Magister (who wants to use her for her powers) and his organization, but she is rescued by the singular Will Herondale, who brings her to the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, which is a safe-haven for the Shadowhunters.

Suddenly, the Shadowhunters of the Institute are fast on the trail of the Magister, with Tessa at their side. She came to London to find her brother—and she has good reason to believe that the Magister has him under his spell.

Tessa is caught between Will and James (Jem) Carstairs, two total opposites that are the best of friends. As she struggles to find where here true feelings lie, a sinister plot threatens to destroy all of the Shadowhunters of the Institute—and all of the Shadowhunters in the world.

The choice may come down to saving Tessa's brother or saving her new friends save the Shadowhunters. What choice will she make when faced with the end of the world? And will love be the most dangerous choice of them all?

***

This is a favorite series, and it may possible tie for my favorite series with a YA (young adult) historical mystery series that I will review later on. The fantasy elements combined with the romance triangle and the constant foreboding feeling left me wanting more—so I read all three books within a week.

I loved the relationships between Will, Jem, and Tessa. Their dynamic as a trio is tense, although not all three of them are aware of that fact. Yet, somehow, they are simultaneously very protective of one another, and despite their differences, they are all willing to unite to save the Institute and the Shadowhunters from the Magister.

At first, I thought that the love triangle would be similar to the ones I've seen before, where the author has a clear idea from the start that one of the two possible SOs (significant others) is going to end up with the main character. However, Clare surprised me with the way she resolved the romance—and I, for one, am not complaining about it.

The mystery of who the Magister is and what he wants with Tessa is a constant shadow over the characters throughout the series, and the ominous feeling that dampens the inhabitants of the Institute is almost tangible through the pages of the books.

I read The Mortal Instruments before I read The Internal Devices. I think that although there are spoilers regardless of what order you read them in, I am glad that I read this series after the main series because I knew some of what to expect and was thus not as upset about the events in the final book of the trilogy.

Unexpected betrayals, startling developments in character, and suddenly revealed secrets changes everything for the characters in this series. Cassandra Clare pulled out all of the stops for this series, and it is a magnificent introduction to the Shadowhunter world.

My rating: 5/5. A must-read for any fantasy-lover that likes books in which "All the stories are true."