Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare

 

In the vibrant city-state of Castellane, the richest of nobles and the most debauched of criminals have one thing in common: the constant search for wealth, power, and the next hedonistic thrill. 

Kel is an orphan, stolen from the life he knew to become the Sword Catcher—the body double of a royal heir, Prince Conor Aurelian. He has been raised alongside the prince, trained in every aspect of combat and statecraft. He and Conor are as close as brothers, but Kel knows that his destiny is to die for Conor. No other future is possible. 

Lin Caster is one of the Ashkar, a small community whose members still possess magical abilities. By law, they must live behind walls within the city, but Lin, a physician, ventures out to tend to the sick and dying of Castellane. Despite her skills, she cannot heal her best friend without access to forbidden knowledge. 

After a failed assassination attempt brings Lin and Kel together, they are drawn into the web of the mysterious Ragpicker King, the criminal ruler of Castellane’s underworld. He offers them each what they want most; but as they descend into his world of intrigue and shadow, they discover a conspiracy of corruption that reaches from the darkest gutters of Castellane to the highest tower of its palaces. 

As long-kept secrets begin to unravel, they must ask themselves: Is knowledge worth the price of betrayal? Can forbidden love bring down a kingdom? And will their discoveries plunge their nation into war—and the world into chaos?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36679274-sword-catcher

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

It’s so strange to read a Cassandra Clare book and it not be in the Shadowhunters world. That said, I will admit it took me a hot minute to get into this book. It’s a brand new fantasy world filled with so many different types of people, myths, and elements. But like any fantasy book, you gotta give that world building a chance. Once I hit a point I was pretty hooked to the story. The book follows two main point of view characters. Lin, a healer, who is looking to cure her best friend but is struggling to acquire the materials that may help her reach there. Being a woman and an Ashkar puts her at a serious disadvantage. Then there is Kel. Taken at a young age, he becomes the Sword Catcher. Which is basically the body double of the prince. Prince Conor and Kel were thrown together when they were young and have become as close as brothers. But it is Kel’s duty to shield the Prince from all harm. His guard and protector. The world they are in his full of politics and threats. And while Conor is the Prince their city, there is a king in the criminal underworld of Castellane. The Ragpicker King. Lin and Kel soon find themselves drawn into his world and it comes with quite the revelations. There is a lot going on in this book. Many threads and many different and interesting characters. I think it is definitely worth giving a shot if you are into fantasy and love Cassandra Clare’s writing. The ending alone has me wishing book two was already here!