'Clockwork Princess' prologue snippet revealed at reading

According to William Henderson of Huffington Post, Cassandra Clare gave about 200 fans a first listen to the prologue from Clockwork Princess, the widely anticipated third and final book in her The Infernal Devices trilogy during an event at Oblong Books and Music, in Rhinebeck, N.Y., on Sunday, July 15.

"Many many people have asked me about Will and Jem meeting," Cassie said before delving into the prologue. "They're very close. They're best, best friends... and so I decided to write out their first meeting."

London 1873.


"Will?" Charlotte Fairchild eased the door of the Institute's training room open. "Will, are you in there?"
A muffled grunt was the only response.
The door swung all the way open, revealing a wide, high-ceilinged room on the other side.

Cassie's publisher, Margaret K. McElderry Books, asked that her reading not be recorded. Cassie just finished Clockwork Princess, which will have a one-million first printing, she said during the reading.

This intimate reading also featured authors Holly Black (The Spiderwick Chronicles, The Curse Workers Trilogy) and Sarah Rees Brennan (The Demon's Lexicon, Team Human), who also read from forthcoming novels.

Clockwork Princess will be released March 19, 2013.