I absolutely loved Cassandra Clare’s shadow hunters series so was super excited to try this sampler! I need the rest of this book now please :) what a great start.

Cassandra Clare’s writing is fenomenal, she truly has a gift with words! This first eleven chapters are filled with world build up and character development to let the reader be immersed into this new high fantasy where we don’t know anything about! The chapters felt a little bit long, but there were moments where the narrative would grab all your attention and you would start plotting and imagining what ifs and create theories that you must see through!

I must confess, Prince Conor is possibly the most curious character for me; I feel that there’s so much potential coming out of him and I do want to read more of him! Kel is very loyal to the royals (in specific to Conor) so I think there’s also room for a very interesting development if the reality is not exactly what it seems! Lin has only one goal and althrought a little quiet to the story so far, I think she does have the opportunity to shake things up!

I am starting to get a handle of the world, the background history of it and the city dynamic itself and I do want to keep reading after finishing the sample! My rating is for the sample only and does not qualify to the rest of the book as I’ve not read it all!

Keep an eye out on my bookstagram (@maria_bookshelf) to check my full review after the release!

Having read the sampler eagerly I cannot wait to read the full version when it is published! A fabulous start to this new series by the brilliant Cassandra Clare. Shadowhunters fans will not be disappointed with this new magical tale set in a world inspired by the cultures of our own. There's a flavour of the Prince and the Pauper in the central relationship of Connor the Prince and Kel his double and bodyguard and a slight hint of Cinderella in the odd relationship with Lin, the outcast healer who becomes drawn into palace secrets. There's so much to love and explore in this new series and rich cast of new characters. I can't wait to read the rest of the story and more!

AHHH! I cant wait to read the whole this book, this sample was such a tease. October can’t come quick enough!

I didn't realise this was a sampler until I finished it and thought "that's it? what a terrible ending."

But then I came and read reviews and saw people mention sampler (I should read the descriptions more carefully!) and okay, I understand - my bad!

It's quite difficult to review a sampler because I felt like the story wasn't really getting going on. It always felt like it was on the edge of breaking out into something amazing but never quite got there. I now understand why!

If I read this as a whole, though, and it continued with the same level of quality, then this would be a 4 or 5 star read. Really enjoyed what I've read so far but hope the story picks up the pace a little - though the time dedicated to world building is well-balanced, to be fair!

Takes 300 pages to really get going (it’s 600 pages long) but those final 300 pages are epic and really great and I read them all in 4 hours today. The first half of the book is slow as hell, she does a lot of world building and name dropping and sets things up really slowly but I think as it’s going to be a series it’s not the worst thing.

The main character Kel is cool, the other main character Lin is meh and sadly I only really cared about her when she started getting ✨feelings✨ for the guy she hates. But Kel is great and made me laugh quite a few times. It’s a nice easy read with lots of Big Tropes if that’s your thing (enemies to lovers, found family, chosen one etc) but yeah I enjoyed it and will read the rest of the series which I didn’t think I would do at the start of the book. So yay!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this sampler in exchange for an honest review.

Even though it was only a sampler I could read I was drawn into this new world created by Cassandra Clare. A small part of me still expected Magnus Bane to turn up and produce some kind of multiverse plot as I am not willing to let go of my love of the Shadowhunter series. However it is refreshing to get something new and to see what other magic and fantasy Cassie can bring us in the future!

I'm looking forward to getting the whole book as I have it pre-ordered for what feels like a lifetime, especially now I have had this little sampler I'm excited about how the rest of the story unfolds.

This was such a good read however, it reminded me a lot of other fantasy novels out there. However, the characters were captivating and really interesting to read!

I am so excited for this book to come out!

Whilst it was tricky getting used to the new fantasy terms, I was able to pick it up quickly and get completely immersed in the new world Clare has created.

This is going to be massive.

From what I have read I have devoured. This is the first book I have read by this author and it will definitely not be the last. This is her first foray into adult fantasy and I need more Now!!!! Beautifully written, fantastic characters and wonderful storytelling. I can't believe I have to wait until October to find out what happens next. Loved It!!!!!
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Firstly I would like to say thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with this advanced read.

This was a really good step into adult fantasy for Cassandra Clare. She did a beautiful job of building the world of Castllane in detail, allowing the reader to envision the world in vibrant manner.

The story follows Kel, who at the age of 10 is taken from an orphanage and given the chance to be the Sword Catcher for the heir to the throne, Prince Conor. Whilst they become as close as brothers Kel is always aware that his role is to give his life for the Prince.

We also follow Lin, a physician, who is Ashkar, an ostracised race, the only ones left with magic.

The story brings Kel and Lin together. With vigilante and their groups, political drama and forbidden love I feel this was a good introduction to the world and I look forward to seeing what comes next.

I didn't expect to receive such a lengthy sampler, thank you! It's so weird to read something not Shadowhunters from Cassandra and I very much look forward to reading the rest when the time comes!

*Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an Earc in exchange for an honest review.*

OK so Cassandra Clare is one of my absolute favourite authors of all time so I was mega excited when I saw I could acces the EARC and let me tell you Cassie DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

✧ Plot ✧
We start off slightly typical fantasy. It's your usual fantasy world, although Clare's is a diverse melting city state where all nationalities meet- think New York, but with a tad more antisemitism (although actually... nevermind).
There's the classic fantasy oppressed minority- except Clare has based hers of the historical oppression of Jews. She's clearly done her research (I know Cassandra Clare is Jewish however she has described herself as not practising before hence this comment don't come at me). The Ashkar faith is clearly based off Judaism, although changed slightly for instance having a female God and different worship rituals. To me, though, there was clear representation down from mentioning our sages, historical figures, and names (shout out to Judah Macabi and Ibn Sena). I absolutely adored this- many of you will know how much I love seeing my culture and traditions in fantasy literature as Jewish people are so often unrepresented. It made me really happy.
On the other hand, I can't say the rest of the world was all too fresh and the world building really really confused me for a while, it was a lot of info to take in in one go.
Other than that I found it extremely fast paced and addictive to read, I completely flew through the excerpt!


✧ Characters ✧
Perfect. Nothing more to be said.

✧ Thoughts ✧
I read a roughly 200 page extract. I believe the finished work will be 500+ pages and it better be because I'm absolutely furious that the publisher cut it off there because everything started happening and the characters all met and I was fully in love with them all and then BAM. End of book. I feel angry, annoyed but actually impressed at the marketing team because there's no way I'm not going to buy this when it's released.

It wouldn't be a Cassandra Clare book without queer rep and honestly the casual nature of it made me really happy. In Castellane sexuality is no issue for anyone and Clare actively built that into her worldbuilding which, I think, was brilliant and well written.

It's not my favourite Cassie Clare book yet- but by the end of the series it will certainly rank highly. It's very different from the Shadowhunters novels, not in a bad way but not in a great way either. Clare is getting to grips with a new audience (this was more adult) and a new writing style and it does show in places. The two series are very different and I think comparing them is useless.

I really, really enjoyed reading Sword Catcher and I can't wait to read the full book!

Even though this was just a sampler, i'm super excited to get into the full book! Cassandra Clare knows how to write!!!

I would read anything this woman put out. Just inject it into my veins. Beautifully written, I need the next part of the story immediately. My special edition has been preordered.

I've been a fan of CC since my teen years so I'm so thrilled about this new release
The Sampler just proved to me how much of a great writer she is, I've just preordered the whole book ready for release date!
Thankyou for the Sampler ARC

Thank you to Tor for providing the arc in exchange for a review!

Kel is taken from the orphanage to be brought up alongside Prince Conner, there to stand in, in case there is danger or risk - a Sword Catcher.

He had not known what it meant to be needed by someone else: that it made you want to protect them. To his own surprise, he wanted to protect this boy, the Prince of Castellane.
Wanted to stand between him and a forest of bristling fléchettes. Wanted to stare down and demolish any enemy that wished Conor Aurelian harm.

Lin is shunned for being an Ashkar and is looked down upon in her society for wanting to become a physician as a girl.

”Truly, that is magic."
"It is medicine." She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Once, they were the same. No longer.

These two storylines intersect much later in the story than I might have expected, but there’s an instant connection between the characters - hostility, animosity, and intrigue. You’ll have to read to find out who feels what, and why.

I loved learning about Kel and seeing the world through his eyes. An orphan raised in the shadow of a prince. He’s constantly being told where his loyalties should or shouldn’t lie by different factions, pulled in directions by both his past, present, and future.

Lin felt quite similar to other female protagonists shunned for doing what they believe in. This does not make her boring, but just typical. However, I do like how she is challenged by those around her to consider a world larger than her own aspirations.

As a side note, Antonetta was an interesting side character and it is clear she is being set up to take on a role of a potential love interest. She felt like a familiar archetype - a daughter of a noble whose mother seeks more for her. She changes herself from who she was as an adventurous young girl into her mother’s desired docile, manipulative, and court formal young woman. I hope we get more of her character and development as the story/series progresses.

One of my gripes.
Keeping track of the twelve different families, their houses and their charters was confusing at times. I think this would work well with an index which may be added in a later draft, but I think this would really help readers to flip back to. Whilst this didn’t detract from understanding what was going on, it did feel slightly jarring reading a bunch of names and not knowing who was who or their significance.

An important note.
This felt quite different to Cassandra Clare’s other work. Even her writing style seems changed. If you’re going in expecting her usual romantic writing and beautiful pining, you won’t get that here.
I have seen many people worried about the similarities of this book to A Darker Shade of Magic. Whilst the names sometimes felt similar, and certain personality traits cropped up, I didn’t feel there was any copy. When coming to write any piece of work, creating something totally and completely new and unique is impossible. People are going to compare these two series and I think that’s unfair to both authors involved.

Overall, I am intrigued to see where Cassandra Clare will take us on this new journey. I think it was time we left the Shadowhunter world (I write as my heart breaks), as Clare needs to expand herself as an author and explore other stories and worlds.

Whilst this doesn’t rank as high as Clare’s other books for me, this feels like an exciting debut into her new era of writing and her future!

If you enjoyed The Final Strife, I would recommend this book!

I was lucky enough to be accepted for a sample part of Sword catcher and after reading I have straight away pre ordered the special edition from Waterstones !

I cannot wait to see what is in the rest of the book once it comes out but I will say that this has the potential to be an amazing series.

Thank you Netgalley for this sample. I didn't need more to get super excited. For what I have read it is great and I am sure I will love this book.

This is one of those samplers that left you craving for more as this promises to be a very exciting fantasy series.
Can't wait to read it
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine