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.

The Ragpicker King picks up where the previous book in the series, The Sword Catcher, left off. We follow our ensemble of characters as they deal with more plotting and corruption in Castellane.

With forbidden romance, betrayal and magic, there is plenty to keep the reader occupied and I found myself struggling to put the book down! Although the ending resolves some of the questions from the previous book (with some shocking revelations!), it leaves many more questions pending. I can't wait to read the next book!

A recommended read for fans of Cassandra Clare, Six of Crows, and political fantasy with an ensemble cast.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and thank you to Tandem Collective for letting me join the Readalong.

4⭐️

An excellent follow up from Sword Catcher that delves even deeper into the complicated relationship between characters and Castellane.

This book had alot going on most of the time, and nothing going on some of the time. Overall, it felt like a really nice balance for the majority of the book but occasionally too much detail about mundane things drowned out all the important detail. The world building, as expected, was fantastic. The character interactions are wonderful and well done. We find out new (and honestly quite shocking) things about characters we already knew and meet some new characters that added so much - for me, the addition of Aron was fantastic. He let us see another side of Lin and I loved where his storyline went.

I love most of the relationships in these books, but I am honestly still not sold on Lin and Conor. Maybe we will see something else from them in future books to sell me ig. Conor and Kels interactions were again my favourite part of the whole book, the author clearly thinks about how they would genuinely be with one another. The lore we got into the King and the other regions of the world was beautiful and I want more.

Overall, this was a good second book and I liked reading about the characters- a little more action on page would have made it even better though.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the eArc!

I loved Swordcatcher but this book is just so much better. I think because in this book you already understand the magic, the world and know the characters, I just found myself becoming so much more invested than I had been in the first book.

The level of corruption and secret plotting that goes on in this book is on a whole other level and I was here for all of it.

There were so many pairings I was rooting for throughout this book. I think Kel and Lin might be my favourite characters - both a bit morally questionable but their hearts are in the right place.

I would have loved to see more of Connor and I felt like he was a bit overlooked in this book - but I think we are going to see him take centre stage in the third book which I can’t wait for.

The final 3 chapters of this book threw me through a loop but in such a good way - so much happened that completely threw me and I cannot wait for the third instalment - I need to know what happens next.

This series has me 100% addicted.

After finishing this book, I’m even more convinced that Cassandra Clare doesn’t miss with her writing. When I first read Sword Catcher, I gave it a 3.75–4-star rating, mainly because the first 30% felt slow and hard to get into. However, the second book in this series completely grabbed me from the start. I both read and listened to the audiobook, and I’m so glad I did—the narrators absolutely nailed it!

We pick up right where book one left off. Connor is still reeling from the guilt of the Massacre at his engagement party, while Kel continues to struggle with his role as a Sword Catcher and the secrets he’s keeping from Connor. Meanwhile, Lin, who has claimed to be the returned goddess, must prove herself through the trials of her people.

Every aspect of this book had me hooked, but Lin’s journey stood out the most. Her struggle to reconcile her claim as a goddess was so compelling. What really gave me chills was how down-to-earth and humble she remained, even with her immense Healing magic and power—and how she did everything to save her best friend. I also absolutely loved every interaction between Lin and Connor. The growing tension between them kept me on the edge of my seat, desperate for them to admit their feelings. Their chemistry was palpable, and I couldn’t get enough of their dynamic. The new twist with Lin healing the infamous King was a fascinating development that kept me on the edge of my seat.

The political intrigue, world-building, and expansion of the magic system were also incredible. There were moments when I found myself sitting in my car, unable to stop listening to the audiobook, even though I knew I’d be late for work. Now I’m eager to revisit the first book, as I’m sure I would rate it higher after seeing how these elements play out. I also loved seeing so many background characters take on larger roles in this book!

Kel’s struggle with keeping secrets—especially from Connor and others like Antionetta—was another page-turning element. His internal conflict and the intense conclusion in the final fifty pages had me nearly in tears. I’ve never experienced such whiplash (in the best way) from a book’s ending. I had to go back and reread parts just to make sure I didn’t miss anything. The plot twists left me craving book three, even though this one has just been released!

oh this was SOOOOO fire. SO much better than the first book! initially i was afraid that cassandra clare was never going to do manage to drag me into a different world that is not the shadowhunter chronicles, but i fear she did with this one. so excited for the next book, especially after that ending!

No spoilers for this book but as it directly follows on from book 1, there will be spoilers for that

The court is in turmoil after the massacre, and Kel is trying to do what he does best, protect Conor. Even if this means working more with the Ragpicker King

Lin, after declaring herself the Goddess, is set to take an unknown trial to prove this declaration when all she wants to do is save her friend

Lin finds herself embroiled even more with the Royal goings on when Conor asks her to help with his ailing father, but between this, a new princess and a whole lot of plotting by various parties our little crew have a lot on their plates

Can they figure out who can, and cannot be trusted.. and also what they mean to each other... before its too late....

Thank you to, NetGalley, Black Crow and PanMacmillian for the review copy of the book

Out now so you can binge this and book 1 as well, and wait for the next book with me....

What a beautiful and strong second installment of the Castellane series! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even more than book one. The pacing is perfect and the storylines of each character so interesting, it makes you excited to get back to them. Again, great world building and in depth characters. Can’t wait for the next book (which I need.. like .. right now!)

Cassandra Clare never lets me down

There’s something about the way that Cassandra Clare writes characters that hooks me every single time.
This was such a strong sequel and thankfully didn’t suffer from the second book slump that a lot of sequels tend to fall into.
This book was a fun ride all the way through and I’m so so excited to see where the story will take us.
The main friendship in this series has my whole heart and I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series to see where some of those characters will end up.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

It’s SO good to be back in Castellane with Kel, Conor, and Lin! I remember absolutely loving Sword Catcher when I first read it but I reread it in preparation for The Ragpicker King and !?!? It’s SO good! Even better than I remember and MY GOD what a way to follow it up! The Ragpicker King is somehow even better!

I was nervous going into The Ragpicker King because I so desperately wanted to love it as much as I did Sword Catcher and I am overjoyed to say that everything that I loved in Sword Catcher - the characters, the political intrigue, loyalty and betrayal, tension, yearning, and of course the elusive Ragpicker King himself - has only become more refined and perfected in The Ragpicker King. I am hanging onto every line in this book and I can’t get enough.

There is no question that this is my favourite book of the year so far.

The stakes in this book have increased tenfold and I am SAT.

I cannot recommend this series enough! If you’re a fan of fantasy filled to the brim with political intrigue and complex characters that stay with you long after you finish reading, I think you’ll love Sword Catcher and The Ragpicker King.

This book was awesome and everything I wanted it to be. It is the second book in The Chronicles of Castellane series and what a wild ride it was. I am not a fan of chunky books but I just flew through the 500+ pages.

The intricate world-building, political intrigue, jaw-dropping twists, spine-tingling forbidden love, the yearning, complex characters you will love and love to hate you - everything felt more fleshed out and refined. It had me in a chokehold, made me gasp, made me cry and left me craving for more. The last 150 pages were absolutely insane. A true nail-biter until the very end.

Thank you @cassieclare1 for creating a world that provides such perfect escapism and characters that have my heart. I am eager to see what you have in store for these characters in the next book.

Thank you @panmacmillan and @netgalley for the digital ARC to read and review.

I am still reeling from the cliffhanger of this book!!!! Cassandra Clare you are so evil....but in a good way.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and the book is better. Book 3 now please.

The book did start off a little slow but soon the story had me hooked and loving the character development.

Connor is my favourite side character (when he isn't with Lin).

I really enjoyed Swordcatcher and was so happy to be returning back to the world and characters I grew to love.
When reading a fantasy sequel, it can sometimes be difficult to remember what had happened in the previous book but we are reminded of the main parts in subtle ways through the opening chapters. There are a few instances of names being so similar that I became confused a couple of times but that may have just been me!
The four main characters really evolve in this book - moreso than I anticipated. I did guess a few things that were going to happen plot-wise but I was so stunned by other revelations! Some of the smaller characters really came into their own too.
I love this world and this was a great sequel. I can't wait for book 3.

⤷ 4.5✩

Thanks to Pan Macmillan for providing me with this E-ARC via NetGalley.

This book starts off a bit slow, but that slow build-up is definitely worth it. Everything comes together perfectly by the end, setting up something really exciting for the next book in the series. The last 100 pages, in particular, were incredibly satisfying to read.

The character development is done very well, and the world-building becomes even grander than it was in the first book. The only negatives I noticed were the romance, which takes up a large portion of the story, and the pacing. Overall, I’m really looking forward to the final book in the series!

Swordcatcher was one of my favourite reads of last year. It’s mostly setting the scene for the rest of the series, but I loved it nonetheless. The last 200 pages it was impossible to put the book down. And with that ending… I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of the Ragpicker king.

The Ragpicker king starts slow as well. The first 55% of the story contains mostly the same elements as the first half of Swordcatcher: continuing setting the scene, putting traps into place, hiding little tidbits of useful information, getting to know the characters better (special shout-out to Merren, he is one of my favourites in this series), introducing new characters, … From there on, the pacing finally increases, stuff starts to happen, and oh boy there were a lot of plot twists! I didn’t see any of the twists coming (especially the last one, I knew something was off but I couldn’t put my finger on it), yet they fit perfectly with the rest of the story.

So even though this story starts very slow as well, I still liked it a lot. The writing style, the worldbuilding, the characters, the way the web is woven, the betrayal, the friendships, the slow burn, the feelings, the political intrigues, … these were all great (it’s not a light romantasy, it’s an epic, slow, complex story, which makes it even better in my opinion), just as we’ve come to expect from Cassandra Clare. I have been a fan since City of Bones, and I’ll keep buying and reading all other books she writes.

I can’t wait to find out where all this is going in The Bone Conjurers (because yes we have a title 👀 ). I need them all to be okay, alright? Everything has to work out in the end…

4.5/5 stars

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC!