4.5 stars. This book was a fun read, a bit darker than the MI books, but still easy to enjoy. I know that many of the diehard MI fans say this one isn't quite as good, but I disagree. Clockwork Angel was a better first installment to a series than City of Bones was. Did I like it better than my favorite MI book, which was City of Glass? No. City of Glass is still my favorite. But if I'm only comparing first book vs. first book, this one blows CoB out of the water. 
 Of course, there are connections between this series and MI. There are some name dropping references and even a fun appearance by the loveable Magnus Bane. I'm excited to find out the histories of the characters we love in the MI series through this prequel. 
 I was a bit bothered that Will was so much like Jace. Considering that Jace is one of my all time favorite heroes, it would seem like having another one of him would be a good thing, and in some ways it is. Will is handsome, cocky, witty, and a kick butt fighter, the same as Jace, only with dark hair and a British accent. I'm under the impression that the author intended to marry some of the characteristics of the past and present by doing this, so I'll follow along to see what she's trying to accomplish. It won't be too painful, since I'm already swooning over Will (did I really say swooning?). Jem is no slouch either. He trumps Simon in so many ways. I see him as a real contender for Tessa's heart. 
 All in all, this book made me happy. It was like revisiting an old set of friends, but in a different and unusual way. The Victorian/Steampunk era was fun and made the book feel like it had more substance to it.