Welcome, everyone!! I am happy you’ve all stayed caught up until now! I am loving this book and it has been difficult finding the time to read but I am driven and I will do this!! You can too, we will do this together. I am very happy you are all here, your first time or not.

If you are new, let me introduce myself. I am Cassandra, the head of the London Institute, meaning I will be leading discussions for The Infernal Devices trilogy. Welcome to the #READShadowhunter readathon! Be sure to visit the organizer of all of this, Stephanie, at Books in the Skye. First, let’s learn a little about what #READShadowhunter is.

The world is full of people who love the Shadowhunter series written by Cassandra Clare, myself included. Last year, Stephanie decided that she wanted to reread the series, and better yet, she wanted all Shadowhunter fans to join in. Thus, #READshadowhunter was created. This is no ordinary readathon though. We are only reading one book a month so that everyone can keep up even if their lives are busy with blogging or reading other books. I know that life can get crazy and things get in the way. Spreading out the reading like this helps us a little bit by creating smaller sections to read at once.

See more about this amazing even in my introduction post here.

Clockwork Angel Reading Schedule

Isn’t that super easy to follow along with?!?! That is roughly 5 chapters a week…less than a chapter a day! Each Monday there will be a discussion post with So, let’s get to our #READShadowhunter Discussion Post!

There may be spoilers so do not read if you do not want to see them!

1. Jem’s illness is finally revealed. After being tortured by the demon who killed his parents for weeks, he has become dependent on the demon venom. In order to survive, Jem needs to take this daily, and more if he is fighting. Tessa asks why he doesn’t stop fighting. To that, Jem responds “But there is more to life than dying. I am a Shadowhunter. It is what I am, not just what I do. I can’t live without it.” If you were Jem, would you have this same view? Would you continue fighting or would you stop?

I would like to think that I would continue fighting. Yes, it might be bringing a quicker death but what kind of life would I have if I gave up a big part of who I am? This goes along with what I said last week about living. Sure, Jem might be alive in the physical sense of the word but what kind of life would he have? I would rather die soon fighting for what I believe in than die slowly staying home and watching others do it for me. I am an independent person and very stubborn. That word ‘relax’ doesn’t belong in my vocabulary. Telling Jem to stop fighting would be like telling me to never read another book…impossible.

Let’s say that every time you read a book you fell ill and had to take some special medicine but in turn, it brought you closer to death each time. Would you still read? I know that I would. To me, reading is a part of who I am. Without books…am I really my whole self? That might sound silly to some but books are so powerful and have always been with me. Reading is a hobby but has become an actual part of my being.

2. After years of searching for a cure, none has been found for Jem. He asked everyone to stop looking. When Tessa talks to Will about this she insists that they keep looking but Will has said that they tried everything and now they are accepting Jem’s wishes for them to stop looking. Do you think Tessa is right and they should keep looking no matter what? Or that they should respect Jem’s wishes to not waste the time looking for something that isn’t there?

This is always a tough situation. Part of me wants to align my views with Tessa and say “Yes look! I need to help in any way I can.” While on the other hand, this would be like a cancer patient saying they no longer want treatment, a person who is meant to die a painful death saying they don’t want to fight anymore. Despite how much you care, it is not your choice for them to keep living. This is their personal choice and they deserve at least that. I would have to agree with Will, no matter how much it hurt me to see it happen. I would want to continue looking, it’s who I am but I respect those I care about and if they ask me to stop I would have to.

Or…I would keep looking in secret and not tell anyone because deep down I cared too much. If I did find one I would have to explain that I betrayed their wishes but they have a chance to live a long, full life. But then I have to face the possibility of them still refusing to take it. What if that happened? How far do you go? Do you force them to take it, force the medicine into their IV? In their food or drink? What if they don’t want it and decide to find another way to end it and then you risk them taking their own life. I would rather avoid all of that and abide by their wishes in the first place. Even though it would eat me up inside knowing that I might’ve been able to do something to help.

3. Jem says “It is only ever about whether something is good for the Nephilim or bad for the Nephilim. Sometimes I think we forget to ask whether it is good or bad for the world.” Is this ideal something still popular today?

I think this ideal is very popular today…but it is called selfishness. They think so much about what would be best for them, especially during these times of COVID-19. People want stores to open, parties or con events to be rescheduled, etc. Yes those would be great…are you kidding me? I was going to Book Expo for the first time and Book Con for the second! I was beyond excited. However, that is not the best choice for the world. We need time to heal, let things run their course.

Many times I want to do things that would benefit me. I want to buy more books and at cheap pricing but buying them from independent bookstores instead, helps the world more. Those stores can then remain open, the people around them maintain their idea of normal, that business owner still has a way to put food on the table for their family. Even the smallest action can benefit more than just yourself. Keep that in mind, especially during these times. Try buying local or from small businesses!

Further Thoughts

I’m going to share another quote I love.

Whatever you are physically, male or female, strong or weak, ill or healthy-all those things matter less than what your heart contains. If you have the the sould of a warrior, you are a warrior. Whatever the color, the shape, the design of the shade that conceals it, the flame inside the lamp remains the same. You are that flame.

I really love this quote. I feel it is so important, especially these days, to be who you really are. Don’t let physical appearances or anything else darken your flame. Don’t let others who are on social media force you to think you need to be something you’re not. This is also a message to others who would judge those they meet by appearances…we don’t know what these people are like on the inside or what they are going through. Many see Jem as an addict and don’t know his story. They would rather judge him and treat him as if he were any other person who chooses to continue using the drugs. Being a Shadowhunter is his flame…it is who he is.

The moment Jem told Tessa his story, I wanted to sit on the bed with him and just hold him in my arms. I wanted to tell him that I was there and I would always be there…until the end. Jem is an amazing character and I truly feel for him. I want to pull him from the pages and just hug him, sit with him as he plays the piano…just be there for him.

Jem talks about Will and how he lies all the time. Tessa doesn’t understand how Jem trusts someone who always lies. What do you think about Will? Do you trust him?

I think that I trust him…he seems to make himself look bad all the time but I think he is really good. He is trying to seem big and bad, typical tough guy act, covering the softie he really is. I’ve seen many guys do this, they act badly because it makes people keep their distance. In doing so, he also does not get close to them, letting emotions get in the way. Emotions are powerful and I think Will is trying to keep people at bay, avoiding getting close to them. Do you know or have you ever known someone like this? I know that I have known many people like this.

Well…there you have it! Week three’s discussion post is officially done. What did you think? I’d love to see your responses below. Are you following along with the books? How are you liking Clockwork Angel so far? Do you have a favorite character?