It's easy to compare this to City of Bones, as it has pretty much the same premise. A non-Shadowhunter is thrown into their world, hanging out at the Institute with two best guy friends and one bitchy girl. Except now we're set in old time London, and Tessa actually isn't a shadowhunter at all. 
 But you know what? I like City of Bones, so I'm not complaining. We're in London, during an era of proper ladies and gentlemen, and it's great fun watching Tessa freak out over (gasp!) people addressing one another by their first names, and servants talking back to their masters. 
 We also have an army of mechanical monsters and lots of clock-type do-dads and a slight steampunky feel. I say "slight," because it's not steampunk at all, but has some of the elements (If they actually created Tessa's clockwork angel necklace, I would so buy one). And we have Jem. I'm a little in love with him. 
 From the moment we meet Will, we know something's going to happen between he and Tessa. And I really, really didn't want it. Their quasi-love story didn't have any basis, and if they end up together at the end of this series I'll hate Tessa the rest of my life. Have I mentioned that I love Jem? He's the obnoxiously polite one, a bit sickly, and uses his walking cane in battle. Come on. Best character ever. 
 Because I adore Clare's writing style, I immediately get sucked into her imaginary worlds. I envision the characters, and immediately form options about them (if that wasn't clear enough). There were moments I laughed (like, every time Tessa called Will a jackass [in so many words]), and times I almost cried (I won't tell you when). 
 So I really have to wait around for book two to be released? Really?