#READshadowhunter Discussion post: Clockwork Prince (Week 4)

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#READshadowhunter Discussion post: Clockwork Prince (Week 4)

Welcome, everyone!! If you are here, I hope you’ve been enjoying book two of the Infernal Devices for the #READshadowhunter readathon as much as I have! I love the shadowhunter world and I was even more excited to share my joy with Stephanie and other fans. Be sure to visit Stephanie at Books in the Skye. For those of you who don’t know what this readathon is, that’s alright because I am going to talk a little bit about #READshadowhunter before getting into the discussion. You can always check out my intro post here.

 

The world is full of people who love the Shadowhunter series written by Cassandra Clare. I even ran into two of her fans at Barnes and Noble yesterday while I was taking a break from writing! We chatted a while about her books among others and it honestly made my day. 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. Many of you are thinking “There are so many books and I’m crazy busy. How the heck am I going to manage this?!” I’ll tell you… 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. Yep there you go. Even people as busy as myself can manage to keep up with this one. I know the #OWLsreadathon2019 is going on as well so we are all busy this month. As far as OWLs go…I’d rather not talk about it. I gave my writing a front seat for a while.

 

Although these book series’ were published in a specific order, many of us agree they read better in a different order. Therefore we are starting with the Infernal Devices. The first book is Clockwork Angel and although you don’t need to follow along, there is a reading schedule for the entire readathon as well as each book to make it a little easier. We are not through week one of Clockwork Prince.


 

 

Clockwork Prince Reading Schedule

 


Isn’t that super easy to follow along with?!?! I was supposed to be doing weekly discussions this month as we did last month but life kind of got in the way. This means I am lumping three weeks into one post! Yay!! This means more questions in one post. Be sure to comment below what you think or what your answers to these would have been, I’d love to know.

So, let’s get to our #READshadowhunter Discussion Post!

 

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

 

 

1. After Will insulted Tessa at the end of Clockwork Angel, she’s kept her distance. On their way to the Starkweather’s to investigate more about the Shade’s, Will, Jem, and Tessa must create an excuse for bringing Tessa. Jem and Tessa pretend to be engaged. Would you pretend to be engaged to Jem or Will?
I would have done the same as Tessa, I would’ve pretended to be engaged to Jem. If I was mad at him and keeping my distance because he’d hurt me, it would be easier for me to fake feelings for Jem than him. Jem is kind, I don’t think I’d have a hard time pretending to be engaged to him. I think that it would be too easy for my emotions to rise every time Will touched me. I would want to either hit him or cry and that does not make for a happily engaged couple now, does it?
2. We learn more about the parabatai bond and now know that when you have one, you are bonded together by an unbreakable bond until one dies or is changed into a downworlder. The benefits of having a parabatai are unmistakable – stronger runes, more power, and always having someone look out for you. However, you must choose by the time you are 18 and are bonded for life, you can never have another and are together forever. This is a huge commitment – would you choose to have a parabatai?
I think that I would really enjoy that. Being Parabatai, you are joined for life. That comes with positives and negatives, some already listed above. Negatives, well you might fight and want to leave. Your bond doesn’t allow that but it doesn’t mean it’s all bad either. That bond forces you to reconcile your differences, you might grow closer because of it. If you were not forced to look at the problems you might not even be friends any longer. Sometimes we let our emotions run our lives…with this bond, we would be forced to keep moving forward, forgiving. I do think that it would be hard to choose by 18 though. At 18 are we truly adults or do we even know ourselves? I suppose if it was a friend yes, I am more confident choosing a friend for life at that age than a romantic partner.

3. We finally learn about Will’s curse. When he was little, a demon placed a curse on him…anyone person he loves and loves him in return will die. In response to this, and to save those he loves, Will sacrifices everything. He pushes people away and refuses to let anyone care for him. Would you make this same sacrifice?

 

Honestly, yes. I am the type of person who cares too much for people, seeing them lost and knowing it was my fault would ruin me. I would seclude myself as Will has done. I would make everyone hate me because having them hate me is easier than watching them die and knowing it was my fault. So, yes Will acts like a big jerk but his heart is in the right place and I completely understand why he does what he does.

 

 

 

4. Jem tells Tessa about how Will asked (or told) him to become his Parabatai. Jem didn’t want to at first because he knew he was dying. He told Will that he deserved someone who had a better chance of living but Will refused. If you were Jem, would you feel the same? Would you not want to be a Parabatai because of your illness?

 

This is similar to the question above…I would hate knowing that I would be hurting him in the long run. I would feel that I am putting a burden on that person, having them pair with someone who is prone to weakness as Jem is. I think I agree with Jem as well. What if I died? Do you know how much pain that would cause them, both physical and emotional? Well, I do, a lot! As I said above, I care too much for people. I hate seeing others in pain, regardless of the source of pain. Knowing that my Parabatai was capable of so much more but held back because of me…that would be just as hard as watching them slowly fade away. I would agonize every day, knowing I am about to die and cause them extreme anguish.

5. Jessamine’s betrayal to the London Institute it hard for everyone. She was seduced by the human world Nate said he would provide for her. Do you think Jessamine was right in betraying the Institute for the life she wanted to live? Do you sympathize with Jessamine at all?

I understand that she was seduced by the dream life she wanted but no, I do not think it was right for her to betray the institute. As I’ve said before, being a shadowhunter is more than a job. It comes with an entire family so to speak. She was betraying not only the institute but those who have loved and cared for her for years. The same people who would risk their own lives for her. She was selfish, thinking of nobody but her self and her own desires.
Now on to the second part of this question…I do sympathize with her. I do not agree with her choice but I do understand why she made the decision. Jessamine is not happy at the institute, she feels no loyalty to it. Her entire life, she has dreamed of a normal…mundane life. The promise of such a life within reach would obviously make her do anything. She never had the chance before and now that she has it, she is willing to risk anything to take it. That is how desperate and alone she must feel. I feel sorry for her, sorry that she does not want this life and now she has been taken advantage of. This is much like someone staying in a marriage because of the vow they took despite how unhappy they truly are at heart.
Let me pose this question…What would you have done on Jessamine’s position?

Further Thoughts

 

Oh man, every time I start these books I cherish how much I like them all over again. It is not the first time I’ve read through them all so some parts of this did remind me of City of Bones but I still love the series and its characters.

 

Tessa for example reminds me so much of myself. I think I relate to her more than Clary from the Immortal Instruments series.

 

When I think of you, and you are not there, I see you in my mind’s eye always with a book in your hand.

 

The way Will describes her is exactly how many people in my life have described me.

 

One thing that jumped out at me was the imagery Cassandra uses in her writing. I love how she can give descriptors that show me the story rather than telling me what happens. I feel like I am watching events unfold as I sit beside Jem, Will, and Tessa. Speaking of Jem, my heart just melted when he told Tessa that she was prettier. He is so sweet, a real gentleman. I think Jem and Tessa would make a cute match but somehow I don’t believe that Will would like that very much.

 

Will, he is a much-needed character in this book. He provides such great comic relief, bringing the tension down when things get crazy. His witty humor and comments never fail to at least make me smile. I really think this is the book where most readers fall in love with the characters. You might have liked them in the first book but here, you can’t help but want to know them more, be in the story with them, etc.

 

Who is your favorite character so far?

 

What has been one of your favorite scenes?

 

I love any scene where Jem and Tessa talk, they are so kind and honest with one another. I am really loving that we get to see more of Magnus in this book. He is such a fantastic character, through the entire Shadowhunter collection. I think the diversity of these characters and their backstories are what makes me love them so much. But I will also add…again…Jem and Tessa are my OTP (one true pair). They are so sweet together and I love both of them so much. Honestly, how can anyone not love Jem? I see a budding romance and wish it would bloom. Maybe I will fall more for Will if he drops his tough-guy act and opens up to Tessa! But I still think Jem and Tessa are meant to be. Speaking of…I have a Will plushie but really need a Jem or Tessa one, that would be great!

 

Since we can all see the confusion Tessa is facing between Will and Jem…

 

Who would you choose? Would you love the kind and caring Jem or the brave and rebellious Will? Why?

 

I know…very difficult choice. Let me know what you would choose! I’d love to know.

 

There we have it!! I hope you enjoyed today’s lengthy post. There will be another discussion post up next week and then we begin Clockwork Princess! I’m not ready for it to end! I love this trilogy so much.