Beautiful photo by @mysecretbooklife
Hello fairy friends!
Happy Saturday and welcome to day 1 of the November Adult Book readalong of Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare. I am super excited to read this with you all!
Before we start, how are you all doing? I hope you had a wonderful week and are ready to devour this 600+ page book!
Since today is day 1, we’ll be reading from the beginning to the end of chapter 3. Get comfy and let’s get started!
When you’ve finished today’s section, catch up with me in the comments down below so we can discuss the beginning of the book. Happy reading!
Please be warned, the following section will include spoilers for Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare from the beginning to chapter 3. Please only read on if you have finished this section!
–!SPOILERS!-
Starting off with the prologue – I am already loving Kel!
I can’t believe he just gets whisked out of the orphanage and thrown straight into pretending to be Conor in front of all the Charter families, the King and Queen as well as visiting ambassadors.
I am stressed for him!
At least he has found Antonetta she is my kind of character, smart and outspoken. However why is Artal Gremont being so sexist. People in fact do like ‘clever girls’.
My heart hurts for Kel why is he hurting himself just so he can stay awake! But a criminal who refers to himself as the Ragpicker King, I am intrigued.
Now that Conor and Kel have met you can tell that they will be best friends especially because Conor seems so lonely and that he really needs someone.
That was a long prologue, now onto the present time period!
Conor is being your typical spoilt Prince who doesn’t want to get married, please don’t be a clichè. I am howling at how Conor and Kel banter back and forth about the Prince’s future prospects. Interesting to see how well Kel knows his Prince.
We are seeing Kel in action as the sword catcher and he aced it! It is like being an actor at all times!
Poor Kel he just wants to rest but he is being dragged to a party in a pleasure house. His entire job just seems to be keeping Conor safe and happy.
Personally I love when books have quotes from other books at the beginning of chapters, as I am always trying to decipher what will happen in the upcoming chapter.
We have finally met our 3rd main character Lin!!!
She is trying to get a book that is forbidden to her but why is it forbidden and why does she need it??
I can’t believe she has to dress in a certain type of way that marks her as one of the Ashkar? Very reminiscent on past historical events in the real world.
Her best friend is ill that is why she is wanting a magic book, she seems so loyal and sweet!
The kings Ashkar is our very own Lins grandfather? What a connection.
They have just entered the square where Kel and Conor are, please let them all meet!
Wait Lin doesn’t like Conor, will this be an enemies to lovers type book? Please say yes
Nooooo Mariam has fainted and no one but Lin is helping her, wait no Mayesh sent his carriage maybe he is an okay grandfather to Lin.
While Kel and Conor are having a great time in the Caraval pleasure house even with Antonetta being there. Lin is trying to make sure her friend is well and safe.
Kel is being suspicious meeting with Merren someone who is supposed to be a very good chemist, but he is trying to get a poison??
Kel has been kidnapped by someone, wait what?
We are learning so much about Lin, eg the fact that she is an orphan and her grandfather chose not to raise her and her brother. I am super interested in the Ashkar as they have their own leader, also how Lin was not really allowed to study medicine by her community.
I feel like the Maharam’s exiled son will play an important part in this series.
I love that the magic system had perviously ruined the world with the Sorcerer-kings battles scarring the earth.
I want Lin to find the magic to help save her friend and the world.
Ok, fairies – hit me with all of your thoughts! What are you thinking so far?
As it is a whole new fantasy book by Cassie there is a lot of worldbuilding and a good introduction to the characters, who I am already loving!
Who is your favourite character so far?
Do you like this new fantasy world?
Would you ever become a Sword Catcher for someone else?
So excited to keep reading this one with you, fairies!
Love,
Emily
I’m already in love. So much detail, Cassie is a master with words.
My favourite character is definitely Kel. I’m really into the new world she is creating, I really love the concept of magic previously destroying the world and what might happen with the magic next. I would absolutely not be a sword catcher though, seems to anxiety inducing haha
Agree I think I wouldn’t be very good acting as someone else either!💜
Loving Kel and Conor
Okay, I am intrigued, will be interesting to continue from Kel’s POV tomorrow. What is up with the abduction?! Kel is definitely my favorite character so far, and I can’t wait to learn more about the Ashkar. I too like the snippets from Tales of the Sorcerer-Kings at the beginning of chapters.
Wooo, love it so far! The whole prologue was really immersive and it was nice to see a “how it all started” instead of being thrust directly into action. Kel’s my favourite so far (both child and grown-up), as he reminds me of a character from one of the first fanatsy books I’ve read. I also can’t wait to find out more about the Ragpicker King, that last bit with Kel in the carriage really left us all wondering.
The worldbuilding is complicated (just how I like it) and you can clearly see a lot of effort was put into it. It’s pretty straightforward that they’re inspired by real-life places and I love that the names/titles reflect that.
I have no idea if I’d want to be a Sword Catcher. It clearly involves quite a lot of danger, but just like Kel noticed, there’s also reward. Since it’s not a position for life, I think it would be fun (as fun as a dangerous job can get).
I need to start the next section immediately, I just stopped so I can comment here without getting spoiled 😆. For a 600-page book, the pacing’s really fast.
Who is your favourite character so far? I liking Lin there a lot we don’t know about her but I think she really will connect well with kel since he an orphan as well.
Do you like this new fantasy world? I am loving this intro the prologue was the best I read in a while it really gave us a good scope of kel and what he left behind to take up this job of sorts as a sword catcher for the prince.
Would you ever become a Sword Catcher for someone else? In a way I believe I am one as I am mother and I for sure do everything to protect my kid from things like bullets, sword etc. I not a body double for sure I would find that awkward to stand in for someone and pretend to be them and hope the world does’t figure it out what a nerve racking experience.
I’m liking Kel so far, he is doing more for Conor behind the scenes because he genuinely cares for him as a brother it seems.
This is my first Cassandra Clare book and I’m not mad at her writing style or the world building. It’s a bit slow but I tend to like that in a book. I’m interested to see more about how the kingdoms separated and all of the magic involved.
I’ve got my eye on Antonetta she seems a lil sus right now. Mariam is a darling, Conor is being a typical prince, and I don’t like grandpa Mayesh but we shall see.
Hi! This is my first read along & CC novel. Totally felt like this took a while to get through but not bad!
This fantasy world is definitely heavy on front-loading lots of important information. But, for the most part, it’s been interesting getting to meet our 3 MCs. I love all of the political intrigue that we’re seeing.. I can’t wait until they all finally meet!
I think character-wise, Kel is the most interesting. The banter with connor in the carriage was funny & he has this mother hen thing going on that’s sweet. Also looking forward to finding out what sort of secrets kel’s keeping for the royal family (like what’s going on with the king ?).
Kel is definitely giving slight mother hen vibes and I love it! 💜
I need to stay by saying I need to read this first thing tomorrow morning not partly asleep like tonight. I was hooked even with dropping eyes.
Who is your favourite character so far?
I love Kel. I think he is going to be my favorite.
Do you like this new fantasy world?
I do but to me Cassie is always shadow hunter so it’s fun to see her explore another world.
Would you ever become a Sword Catcher for someone else?
I think so. Especially if it’s someone I care about or am able to build a connection with.
This introduction was LONG af and it felt a bit overwhelming to get through to me. I’m hoping I’ll understand it better later on since the different charters, places and everything are a bit confusing to me atm.
1. Who is your favourite character so far?
I’m liking Kel most at the moment because he intrigues me the most. Can’t wait to find out more about him!
2. Do you like this new fantasy world?
I’m not sure yet because it feels rather confusing to me at the moment. I have to constantly go back to the map to get a sense of where they are and feel like many things/places are mentioned in the book that aren’t shown on the map currently.
I’m also not yet sure about the magic; since I feel like we have hardly seen anything about it. Lin has magic, but we haven’t seen it in use
3. Would you ever become a Sword Catcher for someone else?
I wouldn’t become one now, as I have to much to live for and wouldn’t give that up to “die” for someone else. I do think I would’ve become one if I was in Kel’s situation as a young child
This is a looot of information to process but so far seems interesting enough. I already love Kel so he is my favourite character for now. I love his friendship with Conor and he is just being so cool and funny. It seems like he made the right decision to become a Sword Catcher.
I think I do like this new fantasy world but I can’t really be sure because I feel there will be a lot more information coming about it. I do have a lot of questions, especially about Ashkar and what is it really that they can do.
If I was younger like Kel was and could catch up quickly with everything necessary, I guess I would but it really depends on the circumstances too. As Kel said he chose to become one because Cas or anyone at the orphanage did not really need him and he had no prospects in life after turning 16 so he had no better options. If I was in a similar situation, I would most likely become one as well.
Kel is such a fun character to read about!💜
Very excited about joining my first readalong, especially since I’m a big fan of Cassandra Clare.
I read nothing about this books because I didn’t want to be spoiled.
The prologue was, indeed, long. It took me a while to get used to this new world, especially after having read almost all her books from the Shadowhunters world. But after reading the prologue and the first 3 chapters I’m fully invested.
I’m very curious about what the romance will be. Is it going to be Kel and Lin (and hopefully enemies to lovers since it’s the best kind of romance) or will it be Lin and Conor (to change the way Ashkars will be seen in this world)?
Conor and Kel friendship reminds me of the parabatai bond, I can’t wait to read more of them. (I don’t think I’ll ever want to be a sword catcher because I believe in always being myself, and it also sounds dangerous).
Lin is such an intriguing characters and I hope she will learn more about magic. I feel like she will become a very badass magic user. And I need her to save Mariam because she seems like a lovely person.
What happened to Kel? What was that cliffhanger? Luckily I’m doing day one and two in one day so I’ll find out soon.
Fav character so far: Kel and Lin
Agree that Kel and Conor give off a parabatai bond type relationship! 💜
Ok, I am for sure thinking the Maharam’s exiled son is somehow behind Kel’s abduction. That has to be the link between the Ashkar storyline and the Royals, right? But despite the message Kel received, taking him out of the pleasure house were they after him or Connor??? Maybe they just wanted Kel out of the way or, or, or, they have some type of proposition for him???
I agree the prologue was very long, but also interesting. Fell in love with Kel immediately, just for his love of books xD the way he managed himself in that dinner was amazing, and I am happy he chose to stay, Connor really needs him, and he was so thoughtful it made wish for both they’re happiness. Loving their relationship so far.
I have no idea as to why someone would kidnap Kel. And where is Connor? Who sent the message to Kel?
As for Lin, the whole Askar situation reminds me of some segregations we have had through history, and the fact that her grandfather abandoned her and her brother and caused them to separate was really sad. Did he have a motive that we don’t know yet? Even so I understand that she doesn’t think well of him.
By the way this section ended, is seems she is going to try to find the lost magic to save her friend, we will just have to see what troubles will come from that.
Who is your favourite character so far?
So far I like Kel and Conor! I’m hoping we see more of their relationship.
Do you like this new fantasy world?
There has been a lot of world building so far. And the world seems to be nice. I’m excited to learn more about it.
I am really enjoying the world! 💜
Loving this so far. My fav character is definitely Kel, I love his humour.
My box finally arrived so I’m only a few days behind… 600 pages what a beast! But I’m finding it to be super fast-paced even though there’s a lot of world-building which I am loving so far. Usually I’m not super into that but Cassie does it so well..
Fave Characters so far: Kel and Lin. I really hope there’s some kind of trope here… Enemies to lovers? forbidden love? I’m excited.
Not sure whether I’d be a Sword Catcher for someone. Id like someone to be one for me though so I could just stay home and read all day.
Being able to read all day is the dream!
Cassie is a mastermind at world building, so much detail! My favorite character so far is Lin. Her character is loyal to her loved ones and she has so much integrity.
I’m loving this new fantasy world and its magic system. I will say, as a visual reader, I had a difficult time imagining all the parts of the city, but the map really helps.
Haha, no. I would totally mess up and ruin the whole shindig.
It took me a while to read the prologe and to get used to this new world, but I after the first chapter I got super invested. The world building is a little bit complicated and you can clearly see a lot of effort was put into it. So far I like Kel, I enjoy reading in his POV. I love his friendship with Conor and his humor. I wouldn’t become a sword catcher now, I like my space and to have my own decision on my life.