Title: Sword Catcher

Series: Sword Catcher #1

Author: Cassandra Clare

In the vibrant city-state of Castellane, the richest of nobles and the most debauched of criminals have one thing in common: the constant search for wealth, power, and the next hedonistic thrill.

Kel is an orphan, stolen from the life he knew to become the Sword-Catcher—the body-double of a royal heir, Prince Conor Aurelian. He has been raised alongside the prince, trained in every aspect of combat and statecraft. He and Conor are close as brothers, but Kel knows he has one destiny: to die for Conor. No other future is possible.

Lin Caster is one of the Ashkar, a small community who still possess magical abilities. By law, they must live behind walls in the city, but Lin, a physician, ventures out to tend to the sick and dying of Castellane. Despite her skills, she cannot heal her best friend Mariam without access to forbidden knowledge.

After a failed assassination attempt brings Lin and Kel together, they are drawn into the web of the mysterious Ragpicker King, the criminal ruler of Castellane’s underworld. He offers them each what they want most; but as they descend into his world of intrigue and shadow, they discover a conspiracy of corruption that reaches from the darkest gutters of Castellane to the highest tower of its palaces. As long-kept secrets begin to unravel, they must ask themselves: Is knowledge worth the price of betrayal? Can forbidden love bring down a kingdom? And will Lin and Kel’s discoveries plunge their nation into war—and the world into chaos?

Well I can, with absolute certainty, say that I loved this book!

This is the authors first adult book and she has nailed it but she also brings with her the same addictive storyline as the Shadowhunters did. 

Kellian Saren is bought from the orphanage to the Palace when he is 10 to see if he is suitable to be Prince Conors, Kiralar, aka bodyguard, aka Sword Catcher.

Now grown, Kel and Conor find themselves involved in all sorts of trouble!

We also meet Lin Caster who is an Ashkar (magic user) and the only woman physician of her people. Something that she thinks many think of her as ‘peculiar’!

Their paths meet and it basically all kicks off! Secrets are revealed, drama ensues, court politics are everywhere and it’s a case of trust no one, I suspected everyone!!!! I have so many questions that I need answering!

One thing I will say is that I absolutely adored the romance! Shocker I know but not for the reasons you think, because this was cleverly written! You make assumptions in your head thinking it’s going one way but it’s not! Well I didn’t think it was but it remains to be seen!!!

So, in short, this is a fabulous book and I urge you to read it to get pulled into the rich, lavish world of Castellane. Although there is 1 person who reeks of deception to me but I now have a long wait for book 2 to find out!

‘Come inside, we have a great deal of work to do.’