Cassandra Clare is back and better than ever. This brilliant follow up to Sword Catcher is just as enthralling as its' predecessor and I have no doubt will be just as big as it's successor.

Cassandra Clare I am extremely familiar with your work (and have been for the past 14 years) and know you love to serve your readers a life-altering climax in your second installments (see: Lord of Shadows) but even so - the last 100 pages of The Ragpicker King go absolutely crazy!!! I had no choice but to finish it in one sitting because there was just no place where you felt like you could put it down and go about your day - so many reveals and answers that just lead to more questions.

Something I always really enjoy in books is when an author purposefully diverts your attention away by giving you something else to chew on. Some of the reveals were much more clear - the breadcrumbs had been left for the reader to pick up from since very early in book one, so whilst you’re feeling smug you’d figured out one thing, she hits you with another you don’t see coming. It’s so much fun!!

Loved the political intrigue and machinations in book one, and that is definitely continued here. The worldbuilding is beautifully crafted and further explored, and I personally enjoyed the slower pace - it allowed time to explore the dynamics between the different countries and their social structures, as well as the characters themselves.

The characters! Cassandra Clare is phenomenal at writing an ensemble cast of characters and making them so vividly come to life even though they are only seen through the two main points of view. I really enjoyed the addition of the mini-chapters between the longer segments and that it allowed the opportunity to follow other perspectives. (Willing to sell my soul for a Conor POV in later installments.) Kel and Lin both have my heart, and I am so excited to see where book three takes them both.

This series has some of my favourite fantasy covers ever, and the royal blue of this one is just divine.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan, Tor, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC. All opinions are my own.

This was a brilliant sequel to Swordcatcher !
I didn’t think Cassandra Clare would be able to beat Swordcatcher however this was definitely a treat.
I loved how we got to see more of Conor and Kel’s relationship and how the ragpicker king is treated in castellane. Can’t wait to see what happens next

This is a strong follow up to Swordcatcher with a nail biting cliffhanger. Great world building and character development throughout, very engaging writing with a lot of setup to come in the next book.

4.6⭐️

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed Swordcatcher a lot, but I enjoyed this even more! The world building and character development is fantastic.

I did manage to guess some of the twists and turns, but the final one did catch me by surprise!

I really liked getting to know each of the characters. Lin in particular was one of my faves and I loved seeing her in different settings and the way she handled herself (and someone else, iykyk 😏)

That ending had me sat, and I can’t wait for the next book!

Wow! I can honestly say I loved this book so much more than book one, Swordcatcher, and the character plot twist ending I never saw coming!
I thought the book definitely picked up pace after the first few chapters, as it took that to get reaccustumed to the characters and what they were up to again (but would have helped if I had been able to re-read Swordcatcher first so more about myself than the book).

I enjoyed seeing the development of Lin's powers and confidence within herself and I am glad the King was able to help her in the end (the King development was also really good and explained a lot too and why Elsabet was doing what she was doing).

The ending reveal of the real Prosper Beck I never saw coming. When Kel said right at the end that he had worked out who SHE is I thought it might have been Alyss as Connor had given him the amulet so I didn't expect it to be Antonetta and will now need to do a re-read of book one with my knowledge of the ending.

I enjoyed the growing feelings between Lin and Connor, both limited for their own reasons, and am hopeful for what might be in the next book. I did wonder at one point if Lin would be better suited to Aron as he seemed to have a soft spot for her, and feel he would be better for her long term, especially with the royal limitations surrounding Connor.

I thought the way Kel and Connor fell out and then Connor saved Kel was written well and not too long and drawn out, as it shows how deep their bond is and that although both have secrets they know each other well enough to get past the initial hurt to the understanding of situations.

I feel the book ended in a really good way and a lot of plot lines throughout were answered well, with the semi cliffhanger reveal at the end of who Prosper Beck is and Connor and the King forming an understanding, Lin's unfair exile and talks with Connor, which gives a good basis for the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a copy of The Ragpicker King.

I absolutely loved reading the first book in this series and this book was no different. It seamlessly picks up from where the story left off whilst taking the plot and characters in new and amazing directions.

I think this book tops the first significantly and I can’t wait for the next instalment in this series! We got so much more from the characters and the plot in this one and I was so much more interested in reading this than the first. I love the exploration of the politics and the multiple perspectives from different characters that really took this to the next level.

The ending of the book beautifully wraps up this section of the story, whilst providing several jaw dropping moments which perfectly set up the next in the series.

The Ragpicker King picks up where the Sword Catcher left off and OMG the reveals, the twists and the character development from the first book are phenomenal.

In the Ragpicker king we follow Lin, Kel and Conner as they navigate life after the Shining Gallery. Kel is tasked with investigating who the perpetrators were of the Massacre and continues to work with the ragpicker king's gang to find answers.

There is so much political intrigue and court politics both inside Marivent and the Sault as we follow Lin after she declared herself the goddess reborn in book 1.

This book is more of everything I loved about Sword Catcher and I am now sad I have to wait for the third book because I cannot wait to find out the conclusion to the story.

4.5 rounded to 5

"The Ragpicker King" by Cassandra Clare is the second book in The Chronicles of Castellane. It follows Kellian's adventure as the sword catcher of the Prince of Castellane and Lin's life as an outsider among her own people, the Ashkar. Full of plot twists, forbidden love, and heartbreaking scenes, Sword Catcher introduced the world-building and the numerous characters, while The Ragpicker King gave us an intriguing plot and unforgettable relationships.

Please be aware that there may be spoilers for the first book in the following review!

Kel is forced to juggle between two different worlds kings, torn between his need to protect Conor and the urge to hide everything from him. As in the first novel, Kel is pictured as the prince's body double, never himself, always ready to give up everything to respond to Conor's orders. This inner battle is deepened and it's impossible not to feel his torment: always someone else, never himself. And yet, Kel isn't as careful as he thought himself to be, the consequences of his lies will turn against him in the worst possible way. Even though such an ending was to be expected, I appreciated how the author scattered subtle clues throughout the book that only at the end revealed Kel's missteps.
His relationship with Antonetta still acts as a backdrop to Kel's storyline. The author focuses on his role at the Black Mansion and the conspiracy against the Aurelians rather than the consuming love he feels for her.

However, the tension pulling them closer and closer can't be compared to Conor and Lin's love story. How I loved reading about their quarrels and shouted confessions, a forbidden romance that lives to its premises. Two lovesick people who will yearn for one another until the bitter end. I can admit that I wanted to read more about Conor's development, for it's not shown to the reader, but merely mentioned. His inner turmoil would have given him a greater depth, I really missed his point of view.
On the other hand, I despised Conor's behavior at the end. He helped Kel, but I hated how he treated Lin even if he only meant to save her from the scheme threatening to destroy House Aurelian.
Lin remains such a great character. A strong woman who will do anything to save her childhood best friend, even claiming to be the Goddess. In the sequel she has to face the Exilarch's doubtful glances and the imminent trials that will test her powers and ensure that she's truly the Goddess returned. She keeps working with the Ragpicker King and his employees, investigating the Shining Gallery slaughter, though the focus remains on her relationship with Conor.

The world-building and the atmosphere described by the author remain one of my favorite things in the entire novel. It reminds me of a mixture of Rome and Venice and I love fantasy books with settings inspired by Italian cities!
However, the magic system remains fuzzy and requires more investigation. I hope to learn more about it, especially about Lin's power, in the third book, which is needed! Cassandra Clare can't leave us with such an unexpected revelation!

All in all, The Chronicles of Castellane-- and this second book in particular-- is a fantasy romance with epic elements that will keep you glued to the pages until the very end. I highly recommend it to fans of Shadowhunters and Throne of Glass!

This is the rare second installment in a (presumably) trilogy, where a lot is happening. I enjoyed this more than the first book, because the characters were more fleshed out and especially Conor and Lin, who were both a bit one-dimensional in Swordcatcher, felt more like actual people to me in this one. I've always liked Cassandra Clare's writingstyle and I spent my teenage years devouring every shadowhunter story I could get my hands on. That's why I'm used to her books having many different POVs. I'm glad, that she brought this back in this book, because I feel like even the glimpses of someone else's perspective add a lot to the narrative.
I was a bit thrown off by the spicy scenes (eventhough there weren't many and they were quite tame), since this otherwise still read very YA-fantasy.

A lot is happening in the last few chapters and some of it I didn't see coming at all. Granted, I wasn't paying as much attention as I usually would, while reading, so some clues slipped right past me.

One small thing that bothered me in book one already is Conors title (is it a title? I'm not sure, english is my second language), because "Monsignore" is a title for a religious priest in this actual reality we're living in, so a prince in this fantasy world having a title that sounds the absolute same was throwing me off a lot.

I thought this was a duology so imagine my surprise come the ending. However, I love a Cassandra Clare book so so much and this series is no different. It keeps me on the edge of my seat, I love these characters ajd the politics of this world so much. Honestly she could write a grocery list ajd I'd still read it happily.

I really enjoyed this book, but I couldn’t help feeling that some elements deserved more attention. Lin’s prophetic dream of Conor torturing someone? Never addressed. And Joss’s betrayal… I still have so many questions. Why did he do it? How did he grow up alongside them while secretly harboring resentment? Hopefully, with two more books on the horizon (and maybe more), these mysteries will unravel as the story continues.

That said, I’m beyond excited for what comes next. Lin setting off on an adventure with the Exilarch? The possibility of political maneuvering? Romantic tension brewing? The potential for angst is sky-high, especially if Conor finds out. I was certain we’d get some jealousy-fueled moments in this book, but nope. When Conor casually dismissed the Exilarchs as old, I thought, “Oh, just wait…” — and then they never even met. Talk about missed opportunities!

And Lin and Conor?? I did not see that coming. Publicly, against a wall, in the rain? I was speechless. The fact that they both separately imagined a child with gray eyes was so bittersweet. Conor’s reaction when Lin revealed she took Plan B (Ashkar Edition™) really hit me. It felt like he secretly wanted her to get pregnant, as if that would’ve bound them together, even if marriage wasn’t an option. His offer to make her his mistress? I’m still processing that. Lin’s initial refusal made perfect sense, but her eventual change of heart, followed by Conor’s coldness afterward, was hard to watch. The whole time I kept thinking, “Conor, what are you doing? Don’t go down this path.” And when Kel got captured, I was convinced the Crawlers would swoop in to save him — only for Conor himself to show up.

Antonetta being Prosper Beck? That twist knocked me sideways. I know some readers saw it coming, but I was completely blindsided. I never cared much for Antonetta in the first book — she came across as shallow. Even when Kel hinted there was more to her, I wasn’t convinced. Learning she became a criminal not out of survival but because she was bored and privileged? Yeah… that didn’t make me like her any more. Kel confronting her about it and her nonchalant response?

And Lin’s exile? So unfair. She aced the test, yet they still cast her out. It feels like Conor and Lin are echoing Adassa and Suleman’s story, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Conor ends up claiming a Source-Stone of his own, making them equals in the truest sense. Who knows — maybe they’ll even get their gray-eyed family after all. Lilibet’s reaction when she finds out who her future daughter-in-law might be? Priceless.

Another incredible book by Miss Cassandra Clare, it was so good I couldn't put it down I devour it in 5 hours, it was that good.

4⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

A very solid second book here! Enjoyed where the story went from the first book. The yearning was god tier! Cassandra Clare knows what’s what and can deliver in that department! Great world building, great political structure and the ending… give me the next book!! Sometimes the story lost me and felt ever so slightly disconnected but tbh it may have been more of a me problem than an issue with the book. Defo recommend this series!

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I hate to say that it didn't quite live up to my expectations in comparison to the previous book.
Whilst there were elements I loved - it was really interesting to learn more about the politics in the world, see various relationships developed and see the aftermath of the Shining Gallery, I can't help feeling that the book was longer than necessary, and all of the excitement was saved for the very end of the book.
I will absolutely still be continuing with the series.
3.75 stars

I've been a Cassandra Clare fan forever, and every time I read something new of hers I am reminded why! As always, sprawling, intense, and filled with exceptionally well rendered characters. A compelling read, if very long!

So excited to see what else this series has in store.

An incredible sequel that builds on everything I loved in the first book. The world expands, the stakes are higher, and the character growth is so well done. I’m already counting down the days until the next one!

As always, Cassandra Clare can do no wrong in my eyes. This book was lush, decadent, a great continuation to the series. The world continues to expand as the characters continue to grow... can't wait to read more!

SCREAMING!!! OMG

The plot twists. The deceit. The romance. The shock this book gave me throughout, I had no idea what would happen or where it would go. Incredible.

I need more and I need it now!

I adore Lin and Conor and I need to know how their story ends. My sweet baby Kel, ugh I don’t even know where to begin his character is just flawless. I loved how this book really delved into all the other characters, each person has their own little story and background and it was done exceptionally well.

Please please please release the next book asap!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book.

Another hit for me from Clare. I am LOVING her adult series and I cannot wait for the next one. This one was full of twisty turns and I did not know what would happen next. I was so scared for Lin and her trials and I was frightened for Kel. I struggled to put this one down as I needed to know people were ok. Conor surprised me so much in this book and it just shows that even when you think you know what might happen, anything can. I am still struggling to put into words how this book made me feel, just all the emotions constantly and never ending.