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A review by whitneyleanne
Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I really enjoyed this book, so don’t take the lower rating to mean I disliked this book.
It gets that rating because this book was HEAVY. I don’t mean physically, I mean the story was like if you were desperately thirsty and someone handed you heavy whipping cream, intending for that to sate your thirst.
The story itself is deeply interesting, with two incredibly different protagonists with different motivations, loyalties, and understandings. I like where the story is heading, and I really, really enjoy the Ragpicker King and his crew. They’re honestly my favorite part of this book - they reminded me a lot of the Six of Crows crew. They will undoubtedly be a big part of the next book, so I’ll be there ready and waiting when the next book drops 🫡
The writing was almost poetic, and even when I was deeply confused about what was happening in the beginning, I still enjoyed trying to figure it out. There is no doubt that Cassandra Clare is a talented author. I was also able to imagine everything happening in great detail, which I really loved. However, her world-building in the first 200 pages is…clunky? There is a lot that is introduced that is technically necessary, but it was difficult to follow. It was only once I was past the 200 pages that I was able to understand what was happening, where the story was going, etc. I’m not normally a fan of books that require me to get past the first part of a book to enjoy the rest of it… but for this one I will forgive it.
Knowing how the book ends (and with that cliffhanger), I wholeheartedly believe this book is better on a reread. I don’t plan to reread it soon, but nearing the second book’s release date, I am planning to do exactly that. The world-building seems like it would be more appreciated once the story is known.
Also, maybe a minor gripe, but I don’t like that this book is marketed as having romance. It has a pinch of it, barely even a hint. If anything, it’s setup for a setup of a romance? Which is okay, I don’t need romance to be in fantasy, but if you talk about forbidden romance in the blurb and then have no such thing, it tends to be upsetting.
ultimately, this book was good. I am looking forward to seeing how it continues.
It gets that rating because this book was HEAVY. I don’t mean physically, I mean the story was like if you were desperately thirsty and someone handed you heavy whipping cream, intending for that to sate your thirst.
The story itself is deeply interesting, with two incredibly different protagonists with different motivations, loyalties, and understandings. I like where the story is heading, and I really, really enjoy the Ragpicker King and his crew. They’re honestly my favorite part of this book - they reminded me a lot of the Six of Crows crew. They will undoubtedly be a big part of the next book, so I’ll be there ready and waiting when the next book drops 🫡
The writing was almost poetic, and even when I was deeply confused about what was happening in the beginning, I still enjoyed trying to figure it out. There is no doubt that Cassandra Clare is a talented author. I was also able to imagine everything happening in great detail, which I really loved. However, her world-building in the first 200 pages is…clunky? There is a lot that is introduced that is technically necessary, but it was difficult to follow. It was only once I was past the 200 pages that I was able to understand what was happening, where the story was going, etc. I’m not normally a fan of books that require me to get past the first part of a book to enjoy the rest of it… but for this one I will forgive it.
Knowing how the book ends (and with that cliffhanger), I wholeheartedly believe this book is better on a reread. I don’t plan to reread it soon, but nearing the second book’s release date, I am planning to do exactly that. The world-building seems like it would be more appreciated once the story is known.
Also, maybe a minor gripe, but I don’t like that this book is marketed as having romance. It has a pinch of it, barely even a hint. If anything, it’s setup for a setup of a romance? Which is okay, I don’t need romance to be in fantasy, but if you talk about forbidden romance in the blurb and then have no such thing, it tends to be upsetting.
ultimately, this book was good. I am looking forward to seeing how it continues.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content