Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library Reader Advisory Blog: Books like 'Clockwork Prince'

Adults and teens alike enjoy the work of Cassandra Clare, whose second book in the "Infernal Device"s series, Clockwork Prince, has just recently been published. The Community Library owns three copies; unsurprisingly, all three of them are checked out. Whether you've read it already or are still waiting for your copy, try these similar reads, recommended by the readers' advisory database NoveList.

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa - These sometimes (some might say "deliciously") melodramatic fantasy romances both have steampunk elements in the mix, and characters in each one are involved in a tense love triangle. This is book 3 in the 'Iron Fey' series, so start with The Iron King.
The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton - Both of these romantic historical fantasy novels present a version of Victorian London in danger of being overrun by the supernatural, with heroines ill-prepared but determined to save the day.
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer - Teens looking for fantasy novels with intricate plotting, steadily increasing tension, steamy love triangles, and plenty of twists and turns will be satisfied by either of these compelling reads.

And of course, if you're new to the series, start with Infernal Devices, book 1: Clockwork Angel, or the first book from another series in the same universe: Mortal Instruments, book 1: City of Bones.

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

Genre: Adult Non-Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5

"Being Mortal is about the limitations of what modern medicine can provide for people as their lives draw to a close. Gawande argues that the objective of medicine should not merely be treatment and survival; medical care should also ensure dignity in death and having control over one's final moments. He argues that instead of aggressively fighting the inescapable realities of aging, we should ask the hard questions of ourselves and our loved ones -- What makes life worth living? When should we try to extend our lives, and when should we choose a better quality of our remaining days over extending their quantity?

This book is difficult to read. Not because of the way Gawande writes -- his style is highly engaging, and he never lapses into excessively scientific jargon or overly simplistic explanations -- but because of the tough subject matter. Gawande draws on his own experiences as a doctor and peppers his book with honest and humane stories of his patients, friends, and family; the stories he tells make the book more accessible, and also more heartbreaking. (And that's not a bad thing.)

No one likes to think about their loved ones', or their own, impending mortality. But it's important to have these hard conversations, because as Gawande says, "endings matter." - Amanda

Books like 'Clockwork Prince'

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