Sword Catcher: The Chronicles of Castellane Book 1
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4.4 • 90 Ratings
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
As the Sword Catcher, Kel lives to be Prince Conor's shadow. Plucked from his home as a child, Kel was taught to fight, talk and act like the prince - and die in his place, if necessary. In return, he lives a life of opulent luxury in the palace, with all he desires. Even if it will never truly belong to him.
But although Kel and the prince share a face, Kel is troubled by Prince Conor's petty cruelties. Rivalries and jealousy are rife in the palace. There are some who resent Kel for his position and would do anything to see him disappear. And when war erupts between Dannemore and a neighbouring kingdom, Kel's life is suddenly on the line.
Sword Catcher is the incredible first adult fantasy novel by internationally bestselling and acclaimed author Cassandra Clare.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
After conquering the world of YA fantasy with her long-running Shadowhunter Chronicles, Cassandra Clare makes her debut for adult readers with this epic opener for a new series. Sword Catcher follows an orphan named Kel, who becomes a strategic double—or “sword catcher”—for haughty Prince Conor at the age of 10. He is trained in swordplay and enjoys new-found opulence in Castellane’s royal palace, yet Kel remains painfully aware of his second-class status. When war looms and Kel’s life is suddenly in danger, he meets kindly young physician Lin and the two plunge deep into a vast criminal underworld ruled over by the infamous Ragpicker King. This is exactly the level of character-driven high fantasy we expect from Clare, and it’s an exciting start to The Chronicles of Castellane.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Bestselling YA author Clare (the Shadowhunter Chronicles series) makes her adult debut with this enchanting if somewhat bloated fantasy, the first in a series. Kel is the Sword Catcher, bodyguard to Conor Aurelian, Prince of Castellane. Having sworn his undying loyalty to Conor ("I die that he might live forever"), Kel's sole job is to keep the prince safe. When the prince's reckless choices land him in hot water with slumlord Prosper Beck, Kel turns to the enigmatic Ragpicker King, criminal ruler of the underworld, for assistance. In alternating sections, readers are also introduced to Lin Caster. Lin is an Ashkar, those born with the only remaining magic left in Castellane and exiled behind the city-state's walls. As a healer, however, Lin is able to enter the city, and the two narratives intertwine when Lin is called to heal one of the royals and she and Kel meet. Clare drops readers into this ornate and unique world and plants seeds for forbidden romance, dangerous magic, and brewing war to be harvested in later installments. The book at hand, however, lacks a sense of urgency, and Kel's sections outshine Lin's, making the pacing a bit uneven. Still, this multilayered epic is sure to be a hit with Clare's many fans.
