Review: Clockwork Angel – The Infernal Devices, Book 1

Introduction

Clockwork Angel is the first book in The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare, a prequel to her popular The Mortal Instruments series. Published in 2010, the novel transports readers to Victorian-era London, where Shadowhunters—a secret society of warriors dedicated to protecting humanity from demons—operate in a world filled with supernatural creatures, magic, and dark conspiracies.

At the heart of the story is Tessa Gray, a young American who arrives in England in search of her missing brother, only to discover that she possesses a rare and dangerous ability. She is drawn into the Shadowhunter world and finds herself entangled in a war against the mysterious Pandemonium Club, a secret organization that seeks to control Downworlders and wield mechanical monsters for their own sinister purposes.

With a compelling blend of historical fiction, supernatural adventure, and an engaging love triangle, Clockwork Angel sets the stage for an epic trilogy that expands the Shadowhunter Chronicles in exciting and meaningful ways.

書評：《天使機械》—《暗影元素》三部曲之一

引言

《天使機械》（Clockwork Angel）是卡珊卓拉·克蕾爾（Cassandra Clare）*《暗影元素》（The Infernal Devices）三部曲的首部作品，亦是她廣受歡迎的《闇影獵人》（The Mortal Instruments）*系列的前傳。本書於2010年出版，將讀者帶入維多利亞時代的倫敦，一個充滿魔法與黑暗陰謀的世界，並揭示闇影獵人——這個致力於保護人類免受惡魔侵害的神秘戰士組織——如何在此時代運作。

故事的核心人物是泰莎·格雷（Tessa Gray），一位年輕的美國少女。她遠渡重洋來到英國，試圖尋找失蹤的哥哥，卻意外發現自己擁有一種罕見且危險的能力。在命運的牽引下，她被捲入闇影獵人的世界，並發現一個名為**「混沌俱樂部」（Pandemonium Club）的神秘組織正試圖利用機械生物來控制闇影世界（Downworlders）**，進行一場邪惡的陰謀。

*《天使機械》巧妙融合了歷史奇幻、超自然冒險以及一段充滿張力的三角戀情，不僅為《暗影元素》三部曲奠定了堅實的基礎，也為《闇影獵人》*系列擴展了更加豐富且具有深度的世界觀，讓讀者得以探索這個奇幻宇宙更廣闊的歷史背景。

Plot Summary

The novel begins with Tessa Gray, a 16-year-old girl from New York, arriving in London after receiving a letter from her brother Nathaniel (Nate) Gray, urging her to join him in England. However, upon her arrival, she is kidnapped by two sinister women known as The Dark Sisters, members of the mysterious Pandemonium Club. Under their captivity, Tessa is forced to uncover her latent ability: the power to shape-shift into anyone, living or dead, by holding an object that belonged to them.

Tessa is eventually rescued by William "Will" Herondale, a young and reckless Shadowhunter, and taken to the London Institute, where she meets other members of the Shadowhunter society, including Jem Carstairs, a kind and gentle warrior battling a deadly illness. As Tessa learns about this hidden world of demons, warlocks, and supernatural politics, she discovers that her brother may be involved in something far more dangerous than she could have imagined.

As the Shadowhunters investigate the Pandemonium Club, they uncover a sinister plot involving automatons—mechanical creatures powered by dark magic—created by a mysterious figure known as The Magister. The book builds toward a climactic confrontation that reveals shocking betrayals, hidden identities, and the growing conflict between Shadowhunters and Downworlders.

劇情概要

故事始於泰莎·格雷（Tessa Gray），一名16歲的紐約少女，在收到哥哥納森尼爾·格雷（Nathaniel "Nate" Gray）寄來的一封信後，獨自前往倫敦與他會合。然而，剛抵達英國的泰莎便遭到綁架，她落入兩名詭異女子——**黑暗姊妹（The Dark Sisters）之手，這兩人是「混沌俱樂部」（Pandemonium Club）**的成員。

在她們的逼迫下，泰莎不得不發掘自己潛藏的能力：只要觸碰某人的物品，她便能變身為那個人，無論是生者還是死者。這種能力異常罕見，使她成為黑暗勢力眼中的珍貴目標。

幸運的是，泰莎最終被威廉·「威爾」·赫蘭戴爾（William "Will" Herondale）所救，這名年輕而衝動的闇影獵人將她帶到倫敦學院（London Institute），讓她與其他闇影獵人相識。她在這裡遇見了詹姆斯·「傑姆」·卡斯塔斯（Jem Carstairs），一位溫柔善良的戰士，但卻因一種致命的疾病而飽受折磨。

在學院中，泰莎逐漸了解這個隱藏於人類世界之外的惡魔、巫師與超自然勢力交織的社會，並發現她的哥哥可能捲入了比她想像中更加危險的陰謀。

隨著闇影獵人們調查混沌俱樂部，他們揭開了一個令人震驚的秘密：一場涉及自動機械生物（Automatons）的邪惡計畫。這些由黑暗魔法驅動的機械生物是由一位神秘的敵人——**「至尊魔君」（The Magister）**精心打造的。

隨著故事的推進，陰謀逐漸浮出水面，泰莎和她的新盟友們不僅要面對殘酷的戰鬥，還要揭開隱藏的身世秘密、背叛與謊言。最終，當闇影獵人與黑暗勢力迎來一場決定性的對決時，泰莎也不得不接受自己超凡能力的真相，並在愛與忠誠之間做出抉擇。

Themes and Analysis

Identity and Self-Discovery

Tessa’s journey is one of self-discovery. At the beginning of the novel, she believes herself to be an ordinary girl, but as the story unfolds, she grapples with the reality of her powers and her place in the Shadowhunter world. The mystery of her origins becomes one of the central elements of the trilogy.

The Nature of Good and Evil

Cassandra Clare challenges the black-and-white notion of morality in Clockwork Angel. The Shadowhunters are seen as protectors, but they are not without their own flaws and prejudices, especially toward Downworlders. The novel explores themes of power, corruption, and whether being born a certain way dictates one’s destiny.

Love and Sacrifice

The novel introduces an emotional love triangle between Tessa, Will, and Jem. Will, with his outward arrogance and inner pain, is contrasted by Jem’s quiet strength and kindness. This dynamic plays a crucial role in the emotional weight of the story, and their relationships evolve in complex ways throughout the trilogy.

Steampunk and Victorian Society

The novel beautifully blends fantasy with steampunk elements, featuring automatons, alchemy, and Victorian-era manners. The setting is richly detailed, immersing readers in 19th-century London while exploring themes of social class, gender roles, and progress versus tradition.

主題與分析

身份與自我探索

泰莎的旅程是一場自我發現的歷程。在小說的開端，她一直以為自己只是個普通的女孩，然而隨著故事的發展，她不得不面對自己擁有強大力量的事實，並試圖理解自己在闇影獵人世界中的位置。她的身世之謎成為整部三部曲的核心議題之一。泰莎不僅要學會接受自己與眾不同的能力，也要找到自己真正的歸屬與價值。

善與惡的本質

在《鐘樓天使》中，卡珊卓拉·克蕾爾打破了善惡絕對對立的概念。闇影獵人雖然被視為人類的守護者，但他們本身也並非無懈可擊，在對待下層世界生物（Downworlders）時，他們往往帶有偏見與歧視。小說深入探討了權力、腐化，以及一個人的出身是否決定了其命運。在這個充滿道德灰色地帶的世界中，善與惡並非絕對，而是取決於每個角色的選擇與行動。

愛與犧牲

本書中引入了一段充滿情感張力的三角戀，主角泰莎在威爾（Will）與傑姆（Jem）之間掙扎。威爾表面上狂傲不羈、刻意疏遠他人，但內心深藏痛苦，而傑姆則是溫柔善良，擁有堅定的內心力量。這兩位角色之間的對比為故事增添了深度，而他們與泰莎的關係也在整個三部曲中逐漸發展成為複雜而動人的情感糾葛。小說探討了愛的不同形式，以及愛是否需要犧牲，這使故事的情感張力更加強烈。

蒸汽龐克與維多利亞時代社會

小說成功地融合了奇幻與蒸汽龐克元素，為讀者帶來了一個充滿魔法與機械的維多利亞時代倫敦。書中充滿了自動機械人、鍊金術與神秘科技，讓故事呈現出獨特的19世紀科幻風格。此外，小說還細膩地描繪了當時的社會結構，包括階級制度、性別角色、科技進步與傳統價值的衝突。在這樣一個嚴格規範的社會環境中，角色們不僅要面對來自外界的威脅，也要挑戰社會對於女性、異類與變革的固有觀念。

Character Development

Tessa Gray

Tessa is a compelling protagonist who undergoes significant growth throughout the novel. Initially, she is a frightened young woman searching for her brother, but as she learns more about her powers and the world of Shadowhunters, she becomes more confident and determined. Her love for literature, particularly the works of Dickens and Brontë, adds depth to her character and provides insight into her thoughts and emotions.

Will Herondale

Will is the classic brooding, self-destructive hero with a hidden heart of gold. While he pushes others away with his sharp tongue and reckless behavior, it is clear that he harbors deep pain and secrets. His relationship with Tessa is both frustrating and intriguing, as he alternates between pushing her away and drawing her in.

Jem Carstairs

Jem serves as the perfect foil to Will—kind, patient, and deeply compassionate. Unlike Will, Jem does not push people away, despite his own struggles with an incurable illness caused by exposure to demonic drugs. His bond with Will is one of the most touching aspects of the novel, showing a rare and beautiful friendship built on trust and loyalty.

The Villains

The Pandemonium Club and The Magister create an eerie sense of danger throughout the novel. The combination of supernatural forces and mechanical beings adds a unique twist to the traditional Shadowhunter vs. demon conflict.

角色發展

泰莎·格蕾（Tessa Gray）

泰莎是一位極具吸引力的女主角，在小說中經歷了顯著的成長。最初，她只是一名驚恐萬分的年輕女子，來到倫敦只是為了尋找失蹤的哥哥。然而，隨著她逐漸了解自己的變身能力以及闇影獵人的世界，她變得更加自信、堅定，不再只是依靠他人的幫助，而是開始主動尋找真相。

泰莎對於文學的熱愛，尤其是狄更斯（Dickens）和勃朗特（Brontë）姐妹的作品，為她的角色增添了豐富的內涵。她時常引用經典文學來表達自己的思想與情感，這不僅展現了她的聰穎與敏感，也使她成為一位充滿書卷氣息的角色，與典型的奇幻小說女主角有所不同。

威爾·赫蘭戴爾（Will Herondale）

威爾是一個經典的冷酷孤傲男主角，擁有自毀傾向，但內心深藏溫柔與善良。他總是用尖酸刻薄的言辭與魯莽衝動的行為來疏遠他人，彷彿在刻意製造距離。然而，隨著故事的發展，讀者能夠逐漸察覺，他的這些行為其實是刻意偽裝的屏障，用來掩飾自己內心深處的痛苦與秘密。

他與泰莎的關係充滿矛盾與張力，一方面，他對泰莎懷有強烈的吸引力，但另一方面，他卻不斷推開她、拒絕她的關心。這種若即若離的情感使兩人的關係變得令人既揪心又著迷，也讓讀者更加渴望了解威爾背後的真相。

傑姆·卡史戴爾（Jem Carstairs）

傑姆與威爾形成了鮮明的對比。與威爾的桀驁不馴不同，傑姆溫柔、耐心，且極富同情心，是小說中最溫暖的存在。他雖然患有無法治癒的疾病——這是由於他幼年時期被迫接觸惡魔毒藥所導致的，但他並未因此變得憤世嫉俗，反而比任何人都更懂得珍惜時間與生命。

傑姆與威爾之間的深厚友誼是整部小說最感人的部分之一。他們不僅是彼此的戰友，更是彼此的支柱與羈絆，展現出罕見而深刻的兄弟情誼。這段友誼的真摯，使小說在動作與奇幻元素之外，增添了強烈的情感層次。

反派角色

小說中的反派勢力——萬魔會（Pandemonium Club）以及大魔導（The Magister），為故事營造出一種陰森詭譎的氛圍。與傳統奇幻作品中的邪惡勢力不同，這群敵人不僅利用黑暗魔法，還結合了機械科技，創造出一種介於魔法與科學之間的恐怖力量。這種超自然與蒸汽龐克科技的結合，為整個故事帶來了耳目一新的反派設定，使《鐘樓天使》的衝突不再只是闇影獵人對抗惡魔的傳統戰鬥，而是多了一層機械怪物與黑暗陰謀交織的危機。

Writing Style and Pacing

Cassandra Clare’s writing is lyrical, immersive, and emotionally rich. She excels at crafting deep character relationships, witty dialogue, and atmospheric descriptions of Victorian London. The pacing of the novel is well-balanced, with moments of action, mystery, and romance woven seamlessly together.

Some readers may find the slow buildup in the first half of the book a bit dense, as the world-building and character introductions take time. However, once the main plot is in motion, the story becomes fast-paced and gripping, leading to an explosive and satisfying climax.

寫作風格與節奏

卡珊卓·克蕾兒（Cassandra Clare）的寫作風格優美動人、沉浸感十足，並充滿情感張力。她擅長塑造深刻的角色關係，透過精心設計的機智對話與細膩的心理描寫，讓人物鮮活立體。此外，她對維多利亞時代倫敦的氛圍營造亦相當出色，讀者能夠透過她細緻的筆觸，感受到那個時代的神秘與華美，以及隱藏在蒸汽與霧氣之下的陰謀與危機。

小說的節奏掌握得當，動作場面、懸疑情節與浪漫元素相互交織，形成一個既刺激又充滿情感深度的故事。然而，由於世界觀龐大，前半部小說投入了大量篇幅在角色介紹與世界觀鋪陳，因此部分讀者可能會覺得節奏稍顯緩慢。但隨著主線劇情逐步展開，故事的步調明顯加快，並迅速引領讀者進入緊張刺激的高潮對決，最終帶來酣暢淋漓且令人滿意的結局。

Strengths

Compelling Characters – Tessa, Will, and Jem are complex, well-developed, and emotionally engaging. Their relationships drive the story.

Rich World-Building – The blend of Victorian London, Shadowhunter lore, and steampunk aesthetics creates a unique and immersive setting.

Intriguing Mystery – The novel keeps readers engaged with its plot twists, betrayals, and secrets surrounding Tessa’s origins.

Emotional Depth – The novel explores love, loss, trauma, and friendship in a meaningful way, making it more than just an action-packed fantasy.

Strong Prose and Dialogue – Clare’s writing is sharp, evocative, and filled with literary references that enhance the storytelling.

優點

引人入勝的角色塑造 – 泰莎、威爾與傑姆都是極具深度的角色，他們的個性複雜、立體且充滿情感張力。他們之間的關係是推動故事發展的重要核心，讓讀者能夠產生強烈的共鳴。

豐富細緻的世界觀建構 – 維多利亞時代的倫敦、暗影獵人的傳說與蒸汽龐克美學巧妙融合，構築出一個獨特且極具沉浸感的幻想世界。

懸疑且扣人心弦的謎團 – 小說充滿出人意料的劇情轉折、背叛與陰謀，尤其是關於泰莎身世的謎題，持續吸引讀者探索真相。

豐富的情感深度 – 本書不僅僅是一部充滿動作場面的奇幻小說，它還深入探討愛情、失去、創傷與友情，讓故事更具情感層次，帶給讀者深刻的共鳴。

優美的文筆與精彩對話 – 克蕾兒的寫作風格細膩動人，情感表達深刻，並且充滿智慧與幽默感的對話，再加上豐富的文學典故，進一步提升了故事的質感與魅力。

Weaknesses

Slow Start – The first few chapters focus heavily on world-building and setup, which may feel slow for some readers.

Will’s Behavior Can Be Frustrating – While Will is an intriguing character, his self-sabotaging behavior and refusal to communicate can be frustrating at times.

Some Predictable Tropes – The love triangle and secret identity tropes, while well-executed, follow familiar patterns found in many YA fantasy novels.

缺點

開頭節奏較慢 – 前幾章花費大量篇幅在世界觀的建構與故事背景的鋪陳上，這可能會讓部分讀者感到節奏較為緩慢，特別是喜歡快速進入主線劇情的讀者。

威爾的行為可能讓人感到挫折 – 儘管威爾是一個迷人且充滿神秘感的角色，但他自我毀滅式的行為與拒絕溝通的態度有時會讓人感到沮喪，使得他與其他角色之間的關係更為複雜。

部分劇情套路較為可預測 – 雖然愛情三角關係與隱藏身世之謎這些元素在本書中處理得相當精彩，但它們仍屬於YA奇幻小說中常見的情節套路，對於熟悉此類型作品的讀者來說，某些發展可能顯得較為可預測。

Final Verdict

Rating: 4.5/5

Clockwork Angel is a fantastic start to The Infernal Devices trilogy, offering a rich and immersive world, memorable characters, and an engaging mix of romance, mystery, and action. Cassandra Clare expertly combines Victorian-era intrigue with supernatural adventure, creating a novel that will captivate both new readers and longtime fans of the Shadowhunter Chronicles.

With its compelling love triangle, steampunk elements, and hauntingly beautiful character dynamics, Clockwork Angel is a must-read for fans of historical fantasy and urban fantasy alike. While the pacing starts off slow, the novel rewards patient readers with an emotionally powerful and thrilling journey.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely, especially for fans of YA fantasy, strong heroines, and immersive world-building.

最終評價

評分：4.5/5

《時鐘天使》是《地獄裝置》三部曲的精彩開端，提供了一個豐富且引人入勝的世界觀，令人難忘的角色，並且巧妙地結合了浪漫、神秘和動作元素。Cassandra Clare將維多利亞時代的陰謀與超自然冒險完美結合，創造出一本吸引新讀者和《影子獵人編年史》長期粉絲的小說。

這本書有著引人入勝的愛情三角關係、蒸汽朋克元素，以及動人心弦的角色互動，對於歷史奇幻和都市奇幻的粉絲來說，無疑是必讀之作。儘管開頭的節奏較慢，但本書會以充滿情感張力和激動人心的旅程回饋耐心的讀者。

我會推薦這本書嗎？ 當然，特別是對於喜歡青少年奇幻小說、強大女主角和豐富世界觀建構的讀者來說，這本書絕對值得一讀。