GNA Review: The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel by HyeKyung Baek and Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Angel
Series: The Infernal Devices Manga #1 
Author: Cassandra Clare
Manga-ka: HyeKyung Baek
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Graphic Novels, Teen Ages 13+
Publisher: Yen Press, Hachette Book Group
Format: Paperback, 243 Pages
ISBN-13: 978-0-316-20098-1
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 5/5

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: Tessa Gray thought her journey to London would be the beginning of a new life, but she never could have envisioned the dark turn that life would take...

Abducted upon her arrival, Tessa is introduced to London's Downworld, the sordid supernatural underbelly of the city, and informed that her future will be recast to service a man known as "The Magister." Only the intervention of the London Institute's Shadowhunters delivers the girl from this fate, but sinister forces are still gathering around Tessa. Even so, Tessa's attraction to two of the young Shadowhunters who have taken her under their wings may prove more dangerous by far...

Review:

This adaptation of Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel has been highly anticipated by fans worldwide, and I was no different. But I'm always wary of graphic novel adaptations of my favorite novel series, because a lot of the time the story becomes too watered down to be truly enjoyable. I've found that many adaptations published by Yen Press are very well done and the story retains its original depth. I didn't feel like I was missing anything while reading this graphic novel.

HyeKyung Baek's artwork is absolutely gorgeous. The emotions of the characters and the atmosphere of the setting are brought to visual life with the stunning artwork. The characters turned out to be pretty close to how I pictured them while reading the novel, well except for Henry (LOL). I was a little disappointed about the lack of visible runes--that's one of the things that set Shadowhunters apart from Mundanes. The stele looks more like a magical wand--I pictured the stele more like a magical tattoo gun. And the seraph blades look like regular swords, instead of a weapon of angelic power.

I know I'm being a little nit picky about the details, but I figure it's a lot more easier to draw the story as it's described in the novel accurately than it is to make a movie version. That's why I give more leeway to movie adaptations than graphic novel adaptations. It's harder to make the supernatural elements in a movie than in a graphic novel.

Aside from these finer details, I thought the character designs and architectural designs were perfect. Very appropriate to the time period.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this Clockwork Angel graphic novel. And let me tell you, those moments we all swooned at while reading the novel are a thousand times better when you can see them right in front of you.

Jem Carstairs

Will Herondale

Tess Gray

About this Author:

Cassandra Clare was born overseas and spent her early years traveling around the world with her family and several trunks of fantasy books. Cassandra worked for several years as an entertainment journalist for the Hollywood Reporter before turning her attention to fiction. She is the author of City of Bones, the first book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy and a New York Times bestseller. Cassandra lives with her fiance and their two cats in Massachusetts.

About this Manga-ka:

HyeKyung Baek is a bestselling manga creator in South Korea well known for her stylish flair and sense of drama. Her skills are ideally suited to bring the lives of the original Gossip Girl cast to life.

Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Title: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Poppy Books, Hachette Book Group
Format: Hardcover, 236 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-316-12238-2
Release Date: January 2, 2012
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 5/5

Tagline(s): Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Summary: Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row.

A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?

Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

Review:

I fell in love with The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight...at first sight. When I heard about this book I was curious. I don't usually read a lot of contemporary romance novels and it takes a lot for me to really like them. But when I saw the cover of Statistical Probability, when I read the synopsis, I just knew I was going to love this book. And Jennifer E. Smith did not disappoint me.

Aside from the romance, what I really liked was all the small things; all the tiny coincidental things that had to happen to bring Hadley and Oliver together. Some are obvious and some you could totally miss of you're not paying attention. What would have happened if it weren't for those first four minutes? If there wasn't a nice old lady in their row that gave her seat to Oliver? And let's not forget their little buzzing friend from the plane. All of these small events are what bring, not only Hadley and Olive together, but the story as well.

The romance is so sweet. I found Hadley and Oliver so completely adorable and I really wished the book has been longer so I could read more about them. Their love isn't, BAM! I love you, forever. It's slow and steady. They talk for hours on the plane and get to know each other and, in the end, even help each other cope with family issues. I love when the characters don't fall in love instantaneously. It's more believable when it happens at a believable pace.

I want more! I loved the characters and story so much and I want to know what happens after the first meeting; after the first 24 hours. What happens when they return to Connecticut? Do Hadley and Oliver last or was it just for that moment? I sincerely hope that the author at least considers continuing Hadley and Oliver's story--even a short story or novella would do. I just want more.

Quote: "When you're on the other side of it, fifty-two years can seem like fifty-two minutes. Just like when you're young and in love, a seven-hour plane ride can seem like a lifetime."
- Chapter 4, Page 48

Book Trailers:

Meet Hadley

 

 Meet Oliver

 
About this Author:

Jennifer E. Smith is the author of the three young adult novels: The Comeback Season, You Are Here, and The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. She earned her master's degree in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and currently works as an editor in New York City.