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lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
I received a copy of this book as part of my FairyLoot subscription.
"Sword Catcher" is Cassandra Clare's debut into adult fantasy. Kel was an orphan and a child with a bleak future ahead of him, when he was taken to become a Sword Catcher, a body double for the prince, Conor. Kel and Conor grew up next to each other, and despite the difference in power, Kel thinks of Conor as a brother and would do anything for him. Lin is a member of the Ashkar, a small community that still have magical abilities. Lin has aspired to become a physician, so that she can hopefully find a suitable cure for her best friend's mysterious illness. After an unfortunate attack, Lin and Kel are brought together, and the pair each have their own run in with the Ragpicker King. Now Lin and Kel have to decide what knowledge is worth dying for, and who they can actually trust.
I was blown away with how much I was invested in this story, and I think it is my new favorite from Cassandra Clare. As much as I enjoyed the Shadowhunter world, I really appreciated seeing Cassandra expand her talents into a new world. This book is beautifully written, and it is very evident that the author is an experienced fantasy writer.
I really enjoyed the switching between Kel's and Lin's perspectives. Both characters were equally interesting to me, and I really appreciated getting both of their stories. I appreciated even more when their stories began to converge, and we got to see them come together.
Kel's story is devastating: an orphan who was taken in by royalty to act as the prince so that if there was an assassination attempt on the prince, the real prince would not die. Despite his humble beginnings, I loved seeing his loyalty towards Conor. He could have very easily grown resentful of Conor, but he really believed him to be a brother, and that relationship is so important to Kel. I also think he is a great influence on Conor, and I believe Conor really does care for Kel. Even when they were children, Conor asked if Kel wanted to be the Sword Catcher, because Conor wanted someone who wanted to be there.
Lin's story was incredible. She fought through so much adversity to become a physician, something women could only dream of. Not only did she get to practice medicine, but she was also really amazing at it. Lin's determination to become knowledgeable in the field of medicine was driven by such noble reasons, and it made her all the more relatable and likeable.
This book is rife with action. Just when you think the characters have a moment to breath, there is conflict, and someone's life is on the line. This really made the story progress quickly and helped to keep my attention throughout the entire novel.
The magic is really interesting in this world. I am very curious to learn more about it as the series progresses, because I do not think we got a full picture yet with just this first installment.
I am heavily invested in this story, and I cannot wait to pick up the next book!
"Sword Catcher" is Cassandra Clare's debut into adult fantasy. Kel was an orphan and a child with a bleak future ahead of him, when he was taken to become a Sword Catcher, a body double for the prince, Conor. Kel and Conor grew up next to each other, and despite the difference in power, Kel thinks of Conor as a brother and would do anything for him. Lin is a member of the Ashkar, a small community that still have magical abilities. Lin has aspired to become a physician, so that she can hopefully find a suitable cure for her best friend's mysterious illness. After an unfortunate attack, Lin and Kel are brought together, and the pair each have their own run in with the Ragpicker King. Now Lin and Kel have to decide what knowledge is worth dying for, and who they can actually trust.
I was blown away with how much I was invested in this story, and I think it is my new favorite from Cassandra Clare. As much as I enjoyed the Shadowhunter world, I really appreciated seeing Cassandra expand her talents into a new world. This book is beautifully written, and it is very evident that the author is an experienced fantasy writer.
I really enjoyed the switching between Kel's and Lin's perspectives. Both characters were equally interesting to me, and I really appreciated getting both of their stories. I appreciated even more when their stories began to converge, and we got to see them come together.
Kel's story is devastating: an orphan who was taken in by royalty to act as the prince so that if there was an assassination attempt on the prince, the real prince would not die. Despite his humble beginnings, I loved seeing his loyalty towards Conor. He could have very easily grown resentful of Conor, but he really believed him to be a brother, and that relationship is so important to Kel. I also think he is a great influence on Conor, and I believe Conor really does care for Kel. Even when they were children, Conor asked if Kel wanted to be the Sword Catcher, because Conor wanted someone who wanted to be there.
Lin's story was incredible. She fought through so much adversity to become a physician, something women could only dream of. Not only did she get to practice medicine, but she was also really amazing at it. Lin's determination to become knowledgeable in the field of medicine was driven by such noble reasons, and it made her all the more relatable and likeable.
This book is rife with action. Just when you think the characters have a moment to breath, there is conflict, and someone's life is on the line. This really made the story progress quickly and helped to keep my attention throughout the entire novel.
The magic is really interesting in this world. I am very curious to learn more about it as the series progresses, because I do not think we got a full picture yet with just this first installment.
I am heavily invested in this story, and I cannot wait to pick up the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Classism, Death of parent, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Grief, Sexism, Chronic illness, Blood, Violence, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual content and War
calathean's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
This book made me realise how much I enjoy reading about characters who are deeply loyal to a person, even at their own expense. Both Kel and Lin are very loyal main characters - Lin in wanting to save her best friend's life and Kel in living to protect Conor at all cost even dying for him if necessary. Likeable characters, strong friendships, strong worldbuilding within Castellane. The toxicity of the friendship between Conor and Kel due to the power imbalance and Kel literally being Conor's shield despite the friendship itself being genuine and Conor not wanting Kel to die or treating him like a servant at all is delicious. The worldbuilidng was a bit difficult to follow when it comes to the world outside Castellane, I'm still not sure which country is which and what their deal is. And it was also difficult to remember all the nobles and not get Conor's friends mixed up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Child death, Medical content, and Violence
Moderate: Classism, Sexism, Blood, Murder, Xenophobia, Chronic illness, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Vomit, Sexual content, Drug use, and Rape
celery's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Violence, Animal cruelty, Deportation, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Torture, Toxic friendship, Blood, Sexism, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Colonisation, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Xenophobia, Animal death, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug use, Murder, Sexual content, Abandonment, Bullying, Child death, Dementia, Genocide, Gaslighting, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Vomit, War, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Classism, Death, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Addiction
danirose's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death, Child death, and Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent
sleu's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I went into reading this not knowing or having read anything by Cassandra Clare and also not knowing anything about this book beyond its title- I didn’t even read the dust jacket/back of the book. I liked it and will keep reading the series. But I would have loved a map of all of Dannemore and not just Castellane! Many reviews I read after reading the book and before writing this were negative because there was too much world building. I have never thought of myself as loving heavy world building but maybe I do because this didn’t seem like too much. I loved reading all the details of this world and why things are the way they are.
However, this book did feel slow until the second half/last third. And it left many things unanswered, but that doesn’t seem unusual to a first book in a series of at least four books. This book definitely felt largely like set up for whatever else is to come while also sowing the seeds of questions/mysteries still to be answered. The characters are also complex. I don’t fully love any of the characters- but that’s ok there are still parts of most characters that I do love. Everyone has flaws and no one is all good or all bad in real life anyway.
Although this is an adult fantasy book and has some mature themes, it felt YA sometimes. The story is a lot of fantasy (political intrigue and maneuvering) with a small amount of romance in the background, and the romance that exists is still in slow burn phase aka not a lot of pay off yet. I liked how (to me at least) I couldn’t tell where the romance was going. When I first started reading it I thought character A and B would be romantically linked but then that changed, and then changed again and honestly even though it is clear by the end what characters currently have feelings for each other- I would not be surprised if it changes again in future books. And I like that. It’s not set in stone yet who is supposed to be with whom- though I have no doubt that many readers have strong and varying opinions about this. The characters seem to have multiple potential romantic interests and I’m excited to see who ends up with whom. But again, the main part of the story is not the romance- it’s about what is going on in Castellane and issues that the characters are dealing with.
Unlike some readers who consider it a cop out to use elements of cultures that exist in our world (e.g. Italy, France, India, China, Korea) in fantasy world building, I liked it as it made the world building easier to grasp. I also really liked that the Ashkar have many similarities to Jewish traditions and history. You don’t often get that in fantasy books.
I could say more about this book but don’t want to make this much longer than it already is, so if you like more romance with a backdrop of fantasy this probably isn’t for you. At least not at this point in the series. If you like a lot of set up/world building and having lots of unsolved mysteries at the end, you will like it - and if you don’t then maybe wait until the second book comes out before deciding whether or not to read it.
Ancient texts, magic, political intrigue among noble families and between the various countries, class structure, criminal underworld, characters that struggle with prejudice and identity/belonging, secrets, and more are found in this story. This is not a fast paced story centered around a love story but it is a good first book in a traditional fantasy series that I think is a good set up for faster paced books to come.
However, this book did feel slow until the second half/last third. And it left many things unanswered, but that doesn’t seem unusual to a first book in a series of at least four books. This book definitely felt largely like set up for whatever else is to come while also sowing the seeds of questions/mysteries still to be answered. The characters are also complex. I don’t fully love any of the characters- but that’s ok there are still parts of most characters that I do love. Everyone has flaws and no one is all good or all bad in real life anyway.
Although this is an adult fantasy book and has some mature themes, it felt YA sometimes. The story is a lot of fantasy (political intrigue and maneuvering) with a small amount of romance in the background, and the romance that exists is still in slow burn phase aka not a lot of pay off yet. I liked how (to me at least) I couldn’t tell where the romance was going. When I first started reading it I thought character A and B would be romantically linked but then that changed, and then changed again and honestly even though it is clear by the end what characters currently have feelings for each other- I would not be surprised if it changes again in future books. And I like that. It’s not set in stone yet who is supposed to be with whom- though I have no doubt that many readers have strong and varying opinions about this. The characters seem to have multiple potential romantic interests and I’m excited to see who ends up with whom. But again, the main part of the story is not the romance- it’s about what is going on in Castellane and issues that the characters are dealing with.
Unlike some readers who consider it a cop out to use elements of cultures that exist in our world (e.g. Italy, France, India, China, Korea) in fantasy world building, I liked it as it made the world building easier to grasp. I also really liked that the Ashkar have many similarities to Jewish traditions and history. You don’t often get that in fantasy books.
I could say more about this book but don’t want to make this much longer than it already is, so if you like more romance with a backdrop of fantasy this probably isn’t for you. At least not at this point in the series. If you like a lot of set up/world building and having lots of unsolved mysteries at the end, you will like it - and if you don’t then maybe wait until the second book comes out before deciding whether or not to read it.
Ancient texts, magic, political intrigue among noble families and between the various countries, class structure, criminal underworld, characters that struggle with prejudice and identity/belonging, secrets, and more are found in this story. This is not a fast paced story centered around a love story but it is a good first book in a traditional fantasy series that I think is a good set up for faster paced books to come.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, and Rape
gothcoraline's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
a fantastic series debut that left me wanting more. i was skeptical bc i had fallen off CC books for a while, but this series seems more mature (in terms of writing) than her Shadowhunter series. the world building was captivating and compelling. if you love political fantasy, please read this, it’s amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Gore
Moderate: Sexism and Xenophobia
Minor: Dementia, Blood, Death of parent, and Death
annakh16's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
This was great fun. I loved getting to know the world of Castellan - yes, it was slightly heavy on the description sometimes, but overall I think the attention to detail is a strength of the book. Clare builds an intricate and rich world that emerges vividly from the pages.
The characters were also a big plus for this book for me. I loved spending time with Lin and Kel - they’re lovable and interesting to equal measures - and the web of side characters and their many intricacies and connections kept the story going. I definitely hope to see more of their backstories in the next book. (Also Merren fan club, anyone?)
I agree with the people saying the book can feel a bit like merely a prologue to the next instalment. I didn’t mind that too much - exploring the world and relationships in it was enough for me for now, and I think there’s still enough plot to keep it interesting. It all depends on what Clare does with all the plots she teased in the next book.
Some more spoiler critiques: Lin and Connor, why? She‘s much too smart and dedicated for him. Not a fan of whatever exactly their relationship is.
I also think Vienne‘s death came too abruptly (fighting like „Demoselle Death“ in one second and being killed like a fly in the next?) and was a bit of a missed opportunity. Would’ve loved to see more of her.
Overall really enjoyed this and looking forward to the next book.
The characters were also a big plus for this book for me. I loved spending time with Lin and Kel - they’re lovable and interesting to equal measures - and the web of side characters and their many intricacies and connections kept the story going. I definitely hope to see more of their backstories in the next book. (Also Merren fan club, anyone?)
I agree with the people saying the book can feel a bit like merely a prologue to the next instalment. I didn’t mind that too much - exploring the world and relationships in it was enough for me for now, and I think there’s still enough plot to keep it interesting. It all depends on what Clare does with all the plots she teased in the next book.
Some more spoiler critiques:
I also think Vienne‘s death came too abruptly (fighting like „Demoselle Death“ in one second and being killed like a fly in the next?) and was a bit of a missed opportunity. Would’ve loved to see more of her.
Overall really enjoyed this and looking forward to the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Blood, Alcohol, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Medical content, Xenophobia, and Vomit
Minor: Death of parent and Rape
s0litarybe3's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Alcohol, Murder, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, and Misogyny
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Rape, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Blood, and Suicidal thoughts
lilifane's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
That was surprisingly fun.
It is a little too long and info dumpy at the beginning, but I enjoyed it a lot and couldn't put it down in the end. I'm still confused by the very obvious inspirations for the nations in this world. They feel rather cliché and like lazy world building, although the other parts of the world (the history/myths/magic) are really cool and interesting. I'm definitely curious how the mystery regarding the magic and the prophecies will unfold.
I really like the main characters, I'm intrigued (but also a little frustrated) by their dynamics. Even though a few scenes felt weirdly out of character. Curious about some of the side characters, who have a lot of potential, too.
As for the plot... there was a lot of getting to know the characters and the political atmosphere first, and it felt like the plot wasn't going anywhere. But it definitely picked up towards the end and held some surprises. It's funny how I expected certain things to happen, but then they happened in a way I wasn't expecting. So that was fun.
What was not fun, was one cruel development at the end. I get why it is there and what it means to the plot. But it involves a child, and I really think it didn't need to be one. Feels like a cheap method to create shock value, tbh.
It is a little too long and info dumpy at the beginning, but I enjoyed it a lot and couldn't put it down in the end. I'm still confused by the very obvious inspirations for the nations in this world. They feel rather cliché and like lazy world building, although the other parts of the world (the history/myths/magic) are really cool and interesting. I'm definitely curious how the mystery regarding the magic and the prophecies will unfold.
I really like the main characters, I'm intrigued (but also a little frustrated) by their dynamics. Even though a few scenes felt weirdly out of character. Curious about some of the side characters, who have a lot of potential, too.
As for the plot... there was a lot of getting to know the characters and the political atmosphere first, and it felt like the plot wasn't going anywhere. But it definitely picked up towards the end and held some surprises. It's funny how I expected certain things to happen, but then they happened in a way I wasn't expecting. So that was fun.
What was not fun, was one cruel development at the end. I get why it is there and what it means to the plot. But it involves a child, and I really think it didn't need to be one. Feels like a cheap method to create shock value, tbh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Racial slurs, Chronic illness, Toxic friendship, Classism, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Drug use, Medical content, Murder, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Suicide and Death of parent
blakeandbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Chronic illness, Child death, Violence, Classism, Medical content, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness and Religious bigotry
Minor: War and Death of parent