48 pages 1 hour read

Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2010

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Chapters 5-8Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 5 Summary: “The Shadowhunter’s Codex”

Back in her room, Tessa reads The Shadowhunter’s Codex. The Shadowhunters use a stylus tool called a stele to draw runes on their bodies and objects to do magic. This power is one of several gifts given to them by the angel Raziel, along with magical objects called the Mortal Instruments, and a small piece of land called Idris. Tessa falls asleep reading and is awoken by the sound of a violin. She follows the sound to another room, where she meets Jem Carstairs. Jem has silver eyes and hair and Marks across his body like Will, Henry, Charlotte, and Jessamine. Jem is from Shanghai and came to live at the London Institute after his parents’ deaths. Jem asks Tessa about her brother and her family. They are interrupted by a seemingly drunk Will who has returned from the Devil’s Tavern. 

Will begins a story about his escapades, but Jem starts coughing up blood. Will asks Jem, “Where is it?” (109). Jem claims he doesn’t need “it,” but continues coughing. Will suddenly remembers that Tessa is in the room and pushes her out, commanding her to tell no one what happened. 

The next day at breakfast, Jessamine offers to take Tessa shopping for new clothes.