What happened in Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare - Recaptains

The basics

Title: Clockwork Prince

Author: Cassandra Clare

Series: The Infernal Devices #2

- Clockwork Angel (August 2010)
- Clockwork Prince (December 2011)
- Clockwork Princess (March 2013)

Add it: Goodreads

Goodreads Summary:

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street—and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

Read a full summary of Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare below. If you can’t remember what happened in Clockwork Prince and you need a refresher, then you’re in the right place.

This recap has been written and submitted by our loyal sidekick,  the ever amazing Amy of Tripping Over Books,  who has helped us out big time with this series! *standing ovation*

In short

Tessa, Will, Jem and the other Shadowhunters in the London Institute know that Axel Mortmain is the Magister. Charlotte faces being removed as head of the Institute if she can’t find him in two weeks. Traitors revealed: Benedict Lightwood, who is working with Mortmain, and Jessamine, who is MARRIED to Nate. People who die: Tessa’s brother Nate. Marriage proposals: One (Jem and Tessa). Hearts UTTERLY SMASHED: One (Will). Sisters who turn up after years of estrangement to be trained at the Institute: One (Cecily Herondale). Villains still on the lam: One (Mortmain)

what happened in Clockwork Prince?

• Prologue action: Will is gathering some shady Downworlder drugs from a ghost in a cemetery so he can bring it to Magnus Bane, the warlock who is trying to summon a very specific demon at Will’s behest.
• Charlotte and Henry are on trial for the way things went down at the end Clockwork Angel—going after de Quincey, letting Nate get away with the pyxis, ETC. ETC. Benedict Lightwood doesn’t think women can run institutes, and challenges her role all official-like. Consul Wayland gives Charlotte two weeks to find Mortmain as a final test to save her position, and charges Benedict’s sons, Gabriel and Gideon, to train the staff and Tessa at the Institute to fight and defend themselves and the institute.
• The Shadowhunters find a lead to Mortmain that sends Will, Tessa, and Jem to Yorkshire. They learn that Mortmain’s parents were warlocks, and in the days before the Accords, Shadowhunters killed Downworlders with very little provocation. When they found out that Mortmain’s adoptive parents (Warlocks can’t have bebes) were working on making clockwork creatures, they moved in and killed them. Mortmain has borne a grudge against the Nephilim ever since.
• While in Yorkshire, Will, Tessa, and Jem wind up investigating a country home they believe belongs to Mortmain. But WTAF!!!! THEY FIND WILL’S FAMILY LIVING THERE INSTEAD. Will never talks about his family, but Tessa and Jem know that he left them to join the Shadowhunters after his father had been thrown out for marrying a mundane. He’s SUPER estranged from them.
• Will sees his sister outside, Cecily, and runs after her, only to be chased by an automaton who tells the three of them he has a message from the Magister: to back off OR ELSE. Apparently Will’s family has some connection to Mortmain. Will and Tessa’s relationship is strained. She’s growing MUCH closer to Jem. In fact, Tessa and Jem have a pretty hot make-out on Jem’s bed, even though Tessa remains confused about her feelings for both of the boys.
• So that demon Magnus is trying to summon for Will? Turns out that when Will was young, he released a demon from his father’s pyxis, and the demon cursed him, saying that any person who ever loved him would be doomed to die. His older sister saved him from the demon, who escaped, but she died the same night. Will believes his curse will kill people who love him, so he keeps everyone at arm’s length. But because he LOOOVES Tessa, he wants Magnus to summon the demon so that he can break the curse.
• The Shadowhunters learn that Jessamine has been sneaking out of the house at all hours dressed as a boy. Sophie finds her one night with an invitation to a party at the Lightwoods. She was invited by…NATE, who we later find out is HER HUSBAND.
• Will and Tessa go to the party with Tessa as Jessamine. She finds out lots of stuff from Nate about the Magister’s plan. She also makes out with Will. Like, a lot, and she REALLY enjoys it. Later, Will sees the demon he’s been trying to summon at the party and chases after it.
• Charlotte has Jessamine thrown in Shadowhunter jail for working with Nate. The Silent Brothers take her. She eventually helps them lure out Nate by setting up a meeting with him at Tessa and Jem’s request to turn over Mortmain.
• Nate responds to Jessamine’s summons to a meeting. Charlotte, Henry, Will, Jem are there; Tessa has shifted into Jessamine. Nate brought an automaton with him who he sicks on Tessa-as-Jessamine. FIGHTING ENSUES. Will blows the automaton up and uses his body to cover Tessa’s. Nate dies in the explosion, and Will is gravely wounded.
• Benedict Lightwood is in league with Mortmain. Mortmain wants Charlotte out at the institute so he can install benedict lightwood as his puppet. Charlotte and Co. find out that Benedict Lightwood has demon pox and that he gave it to his now deceased wife bc he likes the demon ladies and Mortmain has been giving him drugs to slow the progress of the disease. One of his sons, Gideon, defects to the Institute (he’s got a thing with Sophie) and Benedict agrees to withdraw his challenge for the head of the institute when Charlotte threatens to rat him out to the Clave.
• Magnus finally summons the demon, who tells Will that, “BAHAHA THERE IS NO CURSE, FOOL!” He was lying to Will, and the poor kid believed him. Will’s ecstatic, though, and runs off to find Tessa. Will professes his love to Tessa and tells her all about the demon, the curse, and his family, and apologizes for being a tool. They kiss, but Tessa pushes him away (even though she TOTES has feelings for him still) and tells him that they can’t be together because…
• …Jem PROPOSED to Tessa. 0_0. He professed his love and asked her to marry him and Tessa accepted. They agree to keep it a secret for a little while, although they both tell Will, who is CRUSHED.

How did it end?

The Shadowhunters are enjoying a spot of good times. Charlotte has been cleared of any wrongdoing by the Clave and is pregnant with her and Henry’s first child, Jem tells everyone that he and Tessa are engaged, and Gideon is living at the Institute and making eyes at Sophie over his dinner plate. The only bad times? The meeting of the clave is attacked by Mortmain’s automaton creatures and one of them seems to recognize Tessa. Will’s younger sister, Cecily, shows up at the Institute for Shadowhunter training. Also, of course, Mortmain is still on the loose.

any weird terminology?

Demon pox: basically a demon STD.

This is a full plot summary of what happened in Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare. Check out our recap list for more recaps. If you can’t find what you need, you can request a recap from us!

Other recaps for this series:

• Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1)