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annamay1021's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Blood, Death, Terminal illness, and Misogyny
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Medical content
wordsofclover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I really did not know what to expect going into a Cassandra Clare book that had absolutely nothing to do with Shadowhunters, and I'm so glad to report that I truly loved this and I am so impressed with the writing, the character building and the worlds building that has gone into this novel. For someone who has been reading CC books for years, I love being able to see the improvement and the strength in the writing in this book - CC still loves a multifaceted, torn orphan boy and a red-haired heroine but I'm also okay with that!
The pacing of this book is quite slow and this is also something I liked as this world is very vast and how the city is run by its royal family but also the charter houses aka noble families takes time to understand and we see how trade agreements between the charter houses and other kingdoms is a very important one for the running of well, everything. We also really get to know Lin and Kel as our main characters and through them both, we see different sides of Conor as well. They are both characters stuck in between things, people and places and hiding parts of themselves from others at almost every moment in their lives. I actually liked that the 'romance' in this book, if we can call it that as there's very little if it, was not between Kel and Lin which is what I would have guessed but moreso between Lin and Conor, and then Kel and Antonetta. I would also like to mention that I love that this is a fantasy world where being queer is not a big deal - Kel and Conor both seem to be bisexual and its mentioned that having two Kings, or two Queens instead of a hetero relationship is also a normal thing to do. So love that inclusion, and how easy it is to do!
I would have loved more storyline to do with the Ragpicker King and Prosper Beck, and the shadier sides of Castellane but I have a feeling that will all come in book 2, and I'm ready for schemes within schemes and heists. The criminal side of this book definitely gives a mature 'Six of Crows' feel which I think a lot of people will like but we really only get a teaser of it in this book.
I really enjoyed reading this, and really look forward to the next book though the only hard part now is waiting for it!
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Sexual content
blakeandbooks's review against another edition
- 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
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
kassidyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, Child death, Medical content, Child abuse, Terminal illness, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Alcoholism, and Sexism
Minor: Rape, Death of parent, Vomit, Drug use, Genocide, and Fire/Fire injury
bookcaptivated's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Sexual content, Child death, Gore, and Misogyny
Moderate: Classism, Medical content, and Mental illness
Minor: War, Confinement, Alcohol, Colonisation, Vomit, and Genocide
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Death, Child death, and Blood
Moderate: Terminal illness, Drug use, Racism, Alcohol, Mental illness, and Genocide
Minor: Death of parent, Rape, Vomit, and Sexism
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
The first adult fantasy from Cassandra Clare, Sword Catcher is the story of Kel, a body double for the Crown Prince, and Lin, a physician and member of a diasporic race called the Ashkar—the last remaining practitioners of magic.
It’s no secret that Cassie Clare is my favorite author, so to say I was excited for this would be an understatement. Fortunately, it delivered in almost every way! My favorite thing about Cassie has always been her characters, and the characters here are INCREDIBLE—in particular, I’m obsessed with Conor, Lin, and Antonetta (honorable mentions for Mariam and Merren) and I cannot WAIT to see all of their stories develop as this series continues.
The world building here is also fantastic—everything from the politics to the lore to the setting feels so intricate and fascinating, and I’m so excited to learn even more (including more about the magic system itself!) Because this book is the first in a series there is a *lot* of world building and foundation laying here, so just be aware of that when you pick it up—but I have a feeling it is building to something absolutely incredible, so I’m already dying to see what will come next!
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: high fantasy; multi-layered characters; early-Throne of Glass meets Six of Crows vibes
CW: Lots of violence/blood/injury/death, including death of parents; mentions of terminal illness; sexism/misogyny
Graphic: Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Mental illness and Terminal illness
Minor: Rape