A review by darakuhn
Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

This is my first Cassandra Claire read. I understand that this is her first adult full-fantasy novel, and for the most part, this was good. I listened to the audio version of this novel and it was quite good. I enjoyed the voice actors, though the woman’s reading of ‘Route Magna’ was odd. The way she emphasized it was over the top a bit. Not sure why that phrase stuck out so heavily each time she read it. 

POTENTIAL SPOILERS!

I really struggled with the relationship building between Prince Connor and Lin. I could see his attraction to her, but found it very difficult to believe in her attraction to him. Throughout most of the book, I assumed the Romance building would be between Kel and Lin, as those were the only two perspectives  we’re given in this first book. 

Also, here is my prediction: Antonetta is at the center of what is going on with Proper Beck. I think that her drive to retain and maintain control over the Silk trade runs far deeper than what she expresses on the surface and I think that she will do anything to keep that in her hand. The scenes with the necklace were what tipped me off the most. The only person who would understand what was hidden in the necklace is Kel and I think she was testing his trust in setting up Prosper Beck to ask him to steal that for him. I think Antonetta knows that Kel saw what was in the necklace and she will use that against him in future. 

I also foresee with the foretelling that Kel will ‘betray Connor’ according to Faustin’s prophesy, that Antonetta is the only person who might actually sway Kel into doing that, whether he is aware that is the goal or not. At first I assumed there would be a love triangle between Connor, Kel and Lin, and that possibly would be what causes Kel’s future betrayal, but now I think it will be Antonetta’s schemes. 

I’m totally open to being wrong here, but it was too coincidental that Proper Beck suddenly up and left just after Kel discovered what was in the necklace and that the ‘facade’ of Prosper’s gambling den was just a front to show and distract as a display of power, away from what is really going on. He’s just a ruse. 

It will be interesting to see if we get Connor’s perspective in the next, follow-up novel. I wasn’t sure if I liked this, as I really struggled to get through the middle of this one. Lin made some dumb choices that didn’t seem to fit her character in the ways I thought she would be, but once I slogged through that, it did pick up. I think I’ll continue and see where this goes.