Mundie Moms

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Clockwork Prince Read Along Day #16: Chapter 15


Only 12 more days till Clockwork Princess is out!

If you haven't already, please go sign up for the giveaway. Sign ups close on Friday. 


Welcome to Day 16 of the Clockwork Prince Read Along. You can follow the entire read-a-long and find each of the day's posts here. Remember there's no right or wrong way to participate. Your comments can be as long or a short as you'd like them to be. You can answer 1 or each of the questions asked, it's totally up to you, BUT, in order to be entered into the CP giveaway (which you also had to sign up to win), you do need to be actively participating in the read-a-long. 

Today's discussion is about: Chapter 15
  • *sigh* There's something about this re-reading that really has me rooting for Tessa and Jem. On all my other read throughs I always hoped it would be Will, but this time I found myself smitten with Jem. I loved how Sophie tells Tessa about the way Jem watches her. I admire Sophie for her honesty with Tessa, and these two seem to become much closer in Clockwork Prince. Are you surprised to find that Tessa and Sophie have come friends who can confide in each other? If you're read CP before, are you finding your feelings towards Jem or Will have changed in any way with this read through?
  • We know that Cassie doesn't just randomly insert quotes and poetry into her books without having a reason for them being there. Do you feel there's more to Bridget's ballads than just her horrid signing? I'm starting to suspect there's a reason for them being in Clockwork Prince, but maybe that's just me.
  • Ooh Sophie & Gideon. I don't know about you, but I wanted to find out if he kissed her! Don't laugh, you know you wanted to know do. Are you surprised to find these two hidden together?
  • I love how protective Will is of Jem, and how he tells him he will not let him die like that. I understand Jem's wanting to close the eyes of the werewolf who dies, because I think a small part of him sees himself as the werewolf, an addict. Do you think Mortmain's controlling the supply is another way of him to get to the Shadowhunters, knowing Jem needs this?
Please DO NOT POST SPOILERS. There's some fans who are joining the read-a-long who are reading Clockwork Prince for the first time. 

12 comments:

  1. * I don't know if my feelings have changed, I am still Team Jem at this point, but I have noticed more with their interactions and thoughts than I did before. I do think that I have much more sympathy for Will this time around, and I see Tessa's struggle with her feelings more too. I hadn't noticed how much Will had dominated her thoughts the first time I read it. Perhaps because I was so thoroughly rooting for Jem that I ignored it.

    * Bridget is one odd character. I don't think that I really knew what to think of her the first time I read it. I don't think I really trusted her since she was sent in from the Lightwoods.

    * I totally wanted to know if he kissed her. I am glad that Tessa didn't interrupt what was going on between them though.

    * I think that Mortmain has both his own automaton army and the Shadowhunters in mind while controlling the supply. He knows that Jem needs it, and he also sees the benefit to him having the werewolves work all hours for him too.

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  2. I love that Sophie and Tessa are becoming closer. I feel that they both feel like outsiders in the institute at time and that I'm glad they can connect with one another. This if my first time reading it and I'm still rooting for Will, but Jem is super sweet.

    I laugh every time I hear one of Bridget's ballads. I never really thought of them as anything before, but now I'll definitely start paying better attention to them.

    I was so mad that we didn't get to know if they kissed or if anything is transpiring between them. Ugg...I feel like we get teased at times with each of these relationships. Just a taste and then we are yanked away.

    I think that Jem would be compassionate with most people. Even if he didn't seen himself in the werewolf, he is the type of person who would show that respect anyway. I definitely think that Mortmain controlling the supply is to mess with the Shadowhunters. I don't know if it is directly tied to Jem needing it or if there is an alternate route he's looking for, but it's another thing to control others with.

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  3. This is my first time reading, as I'm just finished with that chapter- great timing! Knowing what we know about Will, I can't help but love him to bits but since Tess knows nothing, I feel great about her being with Jem. Its lovely to see the friendship grow between Tess and Sophie, too. I was kinda hoping she'd tell Tess about Gideon, but I'm sure she has her reasons not to.
    Now the ballads- I definitely think there is something more going on with them. I always wondered what the devil was going on with that Bridget!
    Jem obviously empathizes with that werewolf. Regardless of their differences, they're both addicts and that is certainly part of them both. Sad :(
    I am loving this story so much and can't wait to read more!

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  4. ~I always figured that Tessa and Sophie would become friends; They're the only two people in the Institute who are different from the other occupants, so that sets them away from those not like them. it seemed logical that they're get closer. My feelings towards Jem and Will have stayed the same--I'm not fond of Will because of how he treats Tessa, and I love Jem because he's always so kind to her.
    ~I'm pretty sure Bridget's singing and what she sings is going to be something significant in Clockwork Princess. Though I'm not quite sure what that would be.
    ~I was surprised that Sophie and Gideon were together, hiding, but I was pleasantly surprised. I'm rooting for them in the end just as much as I'm rooting for Tessa and Jem.
    ~I was sad to read how the werewolf reacted to Jem, thinking that he was just like him, but I do understand why Jem was going to do what he did. I never remember reading that Mortmain knew of Jem's illness, but I guess that's just another thing he knows that baffles me. Mortmain can have his hold over Will, but it's just wrong to have that hold over Jem. And I'm pretty sure he's going to do something about Jem's illness in CP2.

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  5. ~I was smitten with Jem the first time. *but* I truly love Will....really I do!!! I think that Jem is a better match for Tessa....Team Jem all the way! I want Will to find true love, too :D
    I'm happy that Sophie and Tessa are friends. They both need a girlfriend to confide in.

    ~I'm wondering if Bridget (being Irish and all) has the sight and her morose ballads are meant as warnings....mayhap she's really a Banshee in disguise, LOL!

    ~Well....I wonder what the heck they're (Sophie and Gideon) doing while everyone's away!!! ;P

    ~I think Mortmain wants to get to Will through Jem, and he's manipulating the supply/demand of the drug for sure. I just wonder what Mortmain's interest in Will *is*, though.....so weird.....

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  6. Well, I’m glad Sophie and Tessa are not fighting over Jem. That makes me like Sophie so much more. She’s a great character and I’m glad she’s not the vengeful jealous type. Seeing her relationship with Tessa grow and become more solid is really nice to see. Tessa needs a reliable gal pal in her life and I’m happy Sophie is there for her and vice versa. To be honest, I’m quite neutral on Will and Jem. But I personally think Tessa is in love with Will more than Jem. Her feelings for Will just seem stronger. Whoever Tessa ends up with, I really don’t mind either way. I just hope Tessa doesn’t end up with Jem only to break his heart and leave him for Will. That would make me sad. The way Jem looked at her when he saw her in boy’s clothes…so heartbreakingly adorable. And the way Will looked at Tessa…so deliciously devious, and as always, hilarious with a snarky remark. They both have their endearing qualities.

    Of course there is more to Bridget’s ballads! It’s a great source of foreshadowing, or echo of a character’s situation. Like the song about loving a man who’ll break your heart, it echoes Tessa’s feelings for Will. I feel like the song in this chapter foreshadows some sort of rift between Jem and Will or the death of a brother, which could be Nate, Will, Jem, or one of the Lightwoods. That’s the hard thing about cryptic hints like this…it could mean a number of things, and never makes sense until after the foreshadowed event happens.

    I’m not surprised that they were sneaking off together. I still just don’t completely trust him. I feel like leaving the Institute in his care was a bad idea. Again, he seems like he’s a good person and al,l but I’m a paranoid person by nature. With any luck, he’ll turn out helping the Institute rather than harming it. Then I can stop looking at him through narrowed eyes, waiting for him to turn evil. I’m just so worried Sophie is going to get her heart broken. I don’t want that to happen.

    I think Mortmain might have picked the yin fen because of its useful side effects on the werewolves he controlled, and the affect it has on Jem is like a cherry on top for him. He gets to simultaneously abuse Downworlders to his advantage and hurt the Shadowhunters. It’s like having his evil cake and eating it too! It wouldn’t surprise me though if there were other drugs he could have used instead that would have had the same affect on the werewolves, but in the end chose yin fen simply to make life more troublesome for the Shadowhunters. Mortmain would find such an opportunity hard to turn down.

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  7. I was kind of surprised that Tessa and Sophie have become close friends. Sophie only trusted charlotte and no other person because she didn't like to interact with other shadowhunter. u also admire her honesty and not being mad at Tessa for Jem noticing her.

    I love the quotes Cassie puts, but i dont rieally like the idea of something being connected to the cooks song. they are sad and scary.

    I want to find out if they kissed so badly! I hope something is going on, but for the better Sophie deserves to be happy

    I love will! but im sure Mortmain is buying al l the optimum because he knows that it's what he needs to control the shadowhunter. Especially will because he will do anything to save Jem.

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  8. *I can see how Sophie and Tessa could be come close but at first it is a little surprising. They have somethings in common and I think it makes it easy for them to come around to confiding in each other. I am glad that they have each other. Girls need their girlfriends. I can see how people could love Jem and hope that Tessa ends up with him but for me it can only be Will. There is something about him that makes me smitten with him everytime I read this series.

    *Cassie is an amazing writer and I love her use of quotes. I totally feel there is something to her adding Bridget's awful songs. I don't think that they would be added in if they didn't have a purpose. Maybe some forshadowing. There are quite a few lines that involve the name "William".

    *Oh yes I do wish to know if they were kissing. I am not surprised they were hidden together but it seems like their relaionship is moving fast and I hope that he doesn't hurt her. She doesn't deserve that.

    *I totally agree that Jem sees himself as the werewolf. I love that Will is protective and tells him that it is not the same. Of course Mortmain is using the supply to control the Shadowhunters. He has done is homework on each of the Institute members. He knows how to get to them and it is working. Luckily for the Shadowhunters they are able to deafeat and find ways around what Mortmain has planned but I feel the worse is yet to come.

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  9. I think it's natural for Tessa and Sophie to become closer. As others have said, they are the outsiders at the Institute. It's wonderful to see them confide in each other.

    I've felt from the beginning that Bridget's ballads had a deeper meaning. I love the banshee idea. She most likely does have the sight or something like.

    Gideon is moving a bit quickly me thinks. ;)
    I also think when Sophie replies to Tessa that there is no one else she is guarding herself. She's not sure of Gideon herself. I don't want to see Sophie hurt but I'm interested to see how it all plays out- if Gideon has a hidden agenda.

    Regardless what else may be going on, Will always protects Jem. Especially concerning his addiction and how others see Jem. Jem is still human where these poor werewolves are beyond help. At this point I feel like Mortmain is manipulating and attempting to control them all.

    As sweet as Jem and Tessa are together- and much I want Jem to know some real happiness, I'm still Team Will. I can't help it. ;)

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  10. I'm happy because Tessa and Sophie are friends. And I like that how they care for each other more and more. They can talk each other like the true (girl) friends do it. I fell in love with Jem in this book. I love Will too but that's an other way.
    Agreed with you! I think we will know the reason why she sing those ballads. It's very creepy but it's funny too.
    I want to know if he kiss her!!!!!! I want to read it step by step!!! They would be a lovely couple.
    Mortmain is clever so yes, I think he does it. He buy all of it. My heart broke again and again. Will is the best friend in the world.

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  11. I may re-read CP a lot of times, but I'll always be rooting for Will to end up with Tessa. He's a stubborn person and that's really frustrating but you can't really blame him for acting the way he does. He does those things 'cause he believes that by doing so, it would save all those people that he has come to care for (even if he wouldn't say so).
    I'm glad to see some girl-talk from Sophie and Tessa. They're not exactly bffs and I believe not entirely honest with each other (or at least not yet) but it's nice to see them growing closer and even talking about the other's feelings. I'm excited to see where this would lead..

    I feel the same way! I really think Bridget's ballads mean something and there are even some instances where the lyrics certainly fit the situation.

    Gideon and Sophie. It's nice to see how their relationship is slowly blooming into something more. I think Gideon is awesome and he'd be a very nice match for Sophie. I want to see more 'moments' between these two.

    Will reserves his sweet, gentle side for Jem. I hope he does this more and show others though.
    Mortmain controlling the supply of the drug just to get to the Shadowhunters would mean he has everything all planned out. I don't think Mortmain thought that far ahead but Mortmain being all smart and cunning, one couldn't just put it past him.

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  12. My feelings have definitely not changed over the 4 times I've read this book.
    I love Will and I think Will and Tessa belong together... Jem is a great guy and I really would love to see him happy but to be totally honest I think Jem will die.. and while I think Tessa does have love for him I dont think she loves him like she loves Will.
    I still hold hope for Will and Tessa...

    I love Gideon, but my view is biased... so can't say much about this on this chapter...

    The part of Will and Jem with the werewolf and Will telling Jem that he would not let him die like that was just so emotional, I was able to feel Will's pain at the realization of the type of death that awaits his friend/parabatai and brother... in Jem's voice I think I found resignation and acceptance :(

    I'm 200% sure that Mortmain will use the supply of yin fen as leverage in CP2, I have no doubt in my mind, and things will get real tricky for Will and Tessa when that happens..

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