Stunning photo by @iam_addicted_to_books
Hey fairies!
Welcome back to day 3 of our readalong for our October Adult featured book: Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare!
Yesterday we left off with Kel not in the best position lets see if he sorts it out!
Today we’re reading from chapter 8 to the end of chapter 11. Let’s go!
Please be warned, the following section will include spoilers for Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare from chapters 8 to 11. Please only read on if you’ve finished this section!
-!SPOILERS!-
From that passage at the begning of the chapter, the stone Lin has is definitely a source stone!
Ohhh Lin has a scathed kind of ex who is on my bad list, but she is going to help Kel at the palace!
Her grandfather even thinks she is the best physician, I love him can they make up now.
Love that Lin just told Conor to move, she is a boss lady. She is completely owning him and the back and froth why do I love it.
She kicked Conor out of his own room! Then decided to insult him even more once she is done with Kel, I love her temper. She refused his ring though and she is now banned from the Palace.
Lin sussed out that Kel is the Sword Catcher, I do love a smart character.
But the is magic as it burnt her and told her to ‘use me’.
From the past quotes we can see that a Sorcerer King who wanted a Queen, who did not want him. Don’t tell me that this all started just because a man was told no.
Mariam seems like the best friend and just so sweet, also the fact she can make clothes is such a skill.
Lin has been invited to talk to the King about Kel but I don’t think it is the correct King, to the Ragpicker King she goes!
Kel having these dreams about Conor killing him or dying for him are not boding well, I hope it is not foreshadowing.
Wait so Conor just ran up a debt without even being able to pay for it, somehow he expects Kel to trust him to pay it back
The Ragpicker King’s home seems very cool besides from the crocodiles!
He really is the like bag guy as he is selling explosives to someone for them to blow up some ships! Who is Ciprian I wonder.’
Andreyen The Ragpicker King knows about her stone and that she healed Kel with it, she even offers it to him. At least she knows her life is more valuable.
I love learning more about the stone and how that there is set Word that has magic but it is gone from the world.
He is offering her a job to learn the magic and use it for him, I love this and I can tell Lin is interested but morally knows it is wrong. She has just agreed to look for the magic books as the magic inside of them could help heal her friend. I hope she knows what she is doing.
I love that Jin-An says that the Ragpicker King is a good man as he is honest and truthful.
Conor has made some arrangements I assume with someone in Sarthe as he spoke in Sarthian, is this him fixing the money issue?
Is Lin dreaming about the past as Adassa I assume the stone was her own source stone.
Mariam is going to help sneak Lin into the Palace, time to be sneaky!
Queen Lilibet knows more than she lets on I think, as why would Conor not survive without Kel?
I love that Antonetta helped sneak Lin into the Palace, just girls helping girls.
Kel and Antonetta is the romance I need there is so much pinning from him but he think she is lying to him about caring.
Both Kel and Lin knowing they are involved with the Ragpicker King makes this much more exciting!
I love that there is so much tension between Lin and Conor, like just kiss and make up or am I reading into it wrong?
The way she offered herself to be thrown into the prison, I love it like yes challenge Conor!
OMG the tension in last chapter between Lin and Conor! I love it!
Now it is not all about the romance but who are you shipping currently?
Do you like Ragpicker King?
How do we like that Antonetta plays naive?
I can’t wait to keep reading! See you tomorrow for day 4. 👋
Love,
Emily
I was honestly hoping Kel and Lin would have a romance but it’s starting to seem like that will not be the case.. I’d be good with Lin and Conor instead though, because the tension is 🔥
I guess I like the Ragpicker King fine.. I feel like we don’t know enough about him to make a firm decision though.
No I do not, I find her frustrating and evasive lmao.
I am here for a Conor and Lin romance! 💜
I was definitely hoping for a Kel/Lin romance, but that is probably not the case having read chapter 11. Le sigh.
I really like the Ragpicker King, I can’t stop thinking/comparing him to Kaz. I guess they’re both characters that are true to their word but can be ruthless when needed.
I suspect Antonetta has her reasons for acting the way she does, I am interested to see if/when we are given more insight to things from her perspective.
The story is really starting to suck me in now, can’t wait to read more!
I feel like the pace has really picked up! 💜
Oooh I’m absolutely loving this book, it keeps getting better and better! I felt that in the beginning it was a bit difficult to get into because of the (necessary) info dump but now I am immensely enjoying it!
Hmm the ships.. from the beginning I thought it would be Lin and Kel, obviously because they are the main characters but after reading so far I feel like they could become great friends instead. Conor and Lin together though, that would be very interesting. If they would get together and it would become official in the future this could help Ashkari in general and lessen the rules, especially for women. In regards to Kel, I actually would like to see him with Merren maybe? Not as in endgame, but for a while. I haven’t seen a character yet who would be 100% for Kel at least for now. I feel like he has way more things to figure out first before actually setting his main focus on a girl (or a boy for that matter). Maybe endgame could be Antonetta for Kel… he is obviously pining for her so hard so maybe one day.
I actually like the Ragpicker King, he is very intriguing. Someone commented I think in yesterday’s section that he gives off the vibe of an older Kaz Bekker and I have to agree! He is sneaky, he knows exactly how to get what he wants. But he doesn’t seem to be just an evil criminal out for money, he actually has an agenda and greater plans, it’s just not legal.
I think that Antonetta playing naive works in her favour right now. Nobody is really impressed by her, especially her mother, so she’s just playing a role. It can be annoying at times but I understand why she does it too. She’ll probably play a bigger role in the future and I can’t wait to read more. But it’s past midnight already so that will have to wait until tomorrow!
I can see that the Ragpicker King gives off Kaz Bekker vibes which I love!
Such good chapters again!
I knew Lin would save Kel, finally they all met.
I loved the tension between Conor and Lin. So I’m guessing they’re the enemy to lovers story that might also help changing society (especially in relation to their views of Ashkars).
I love how Lin seems to already be worried about Kel and the fact that he’s pretty much an object (as the queen said he’s Palace’s property. Ugh).
I wonder if the story about Conor’s debts is the whole truth or if he made some bigger mistakes.
And I feel like there’s a bigger reason as to why the Ragpicker king wants Kel.
Very excited to read more.
Now it is not all about the romance but who are you shipping currently? Kel and Marren. And Lin and Conor.
Do you like Ragpicker King? Yes, I’m very intrigued. I still think he might be less bad than we think.
How do we like that Antonetta plays naive? She’s also a very interesting character. I think she’s very much into Kel and not into Conor.
*Merren
Definitely shipping Kel and Antonetta as friends to lovers and Conor and Lin as enemies to lovers.
Don’t think the Ragpicker King is the big bad. I don’t think we have met them yet.
Ok so I was thinking this would be a Lin and Kel romance. I don’t know why, buuuuut, I’m rooting for Lin and Conor!
The ragpicker king is fine, if he isn’t on page I’m not thinking about him. I’m warming up to Antonetta she was suspect for me at first but I think she’s just navigating her life the best way she knows how as nobility. I tentatively like her.
I was just going to lurk through this one, but can’t stand it anymore! I have a theory!! I think the Ragpicker King is Cas, the other orphan, the one who wasn’t “chosen”!! Am I wrong????
Really loving this so far. I think the pace is picking up a lot and we’re seeing a lot more action.
I like the tension between Lin and Conor. It looks like there will be some kinda romance between Kel and Antoinette and I’m not happy about this atm as she really annoys me!
The Ragpicker King is very intriguing and I’d love to visit The Black Mansion!
1. Now it is not all about the romance but who are you shipping currently?
I’m actually shipping Conor and Kel hahaha. If I had to include Lin, than her together with Conor
2. Do you like Ragpicker King?
He’s an interesting character who I’d like to know more off. I saw some comments that he reminded others of Kaz and I can’t unsee that, so by default I like him
3. How do we like that Antonetta plays naive?
She’s cunning and smarter than others give her credit for. I just hope she’ll use it in favour of Conor and Kel and not only for selfish reasons
This book is getting better with each section. I like the idea of Conor and Lin. They really have chemistry and their relationship reminds me of this whole “spoiled prince and down-to-earth girl” dynamic from Violet Made of Thorns. I also want to see more of Kel and Merren and wayy less of Antonetta. I understand where her character comes from, but she still feels very flatly written and frustratingly annoying to me.
The Ragpicker King is still my favourite character and I can’t wait to see what his plans are, now that he’s aquainted with both Kel and Lin. It’s obvious he has an interest in both the court politics of Castellane and the older magic of the Sorcerer Kings. (Ji-An also reminds me of a more chaotic version of Inej and I love it)
Kel and Antonetta! I adore the childhood friends to lovers trope. Although, I do hate how much Antonetta’s mother influenced her feelings. It’s quite obvious the two care for each other more than just friends. I want them to figure it out already and kiss!!
I love me a good anti-hero. Ragpicker King seems more decent than the actual royal family. He abides by his own criminal laws and integrity. He may do bad things, but he is not a bad guy.
It’s annoying. The girl acting the “dumb role” is played out. Be who you want to be girly! It’s not her at all. Antonetta is more clever than that.
I really enjoyed this section. I really love how fast-paced it is for a thick book. I really thought it was going to be Kel and Lin but now I think I’m rooting for Connor and Lin – forbidden romance and enemies to lovers?! I really hope Kel gets Antonetta though.
I really love the Ragpicker King! I love how someone else here related his character to Kaz Brekker and I’m really feeling that too. I feel like there will be some relation somehow maybe the past? – to how everyone links together because it feels like everyone links together somehow what with Merren being a link between Alys and the Ragpicker king too…
I think Antonetta has ulterior motives somehow. I like her character and I hope she ends up with Kel but part of me thinks shes playing some shady games.
The story is really picking up now.
I liked the fact that Lin was called by her grandfather to heal Kel, and the fact that he claim se is the best physician. It makes me think they may yet reconnect. It’s a long shot but also a small baby step.
It was quite obvious that is was the Ragpicker King that saved Kel, but the fact that he knows about Lin and her stone really shows his range of knowledge. We got to see inside his mansion which was really cool… really, crocodiles?!🐊 and we also got to see Merren again. I’m guessing there’ll be a lot of learning for him and Lin while sharing the laboratory.
Lin knows she shouldn’t side up with the king, and I think that by being Ashkar it is even more dangerous for her, but just the possibility of it helping find a cure for Mariam, is supposed to make it worth it. I just don’t know why and for what use he wants her to learn magic…
Really shipping Kel with Antonetta. The nobody with the nobel. I believe her attitude is due to the way she was treated as a child just for being female, even by her own mother, with no expectations except for obeying and dressing well. She is playing her part, until her time comes. She might surprise us all.
Connor is definitely hiding something, and so the secrets begin to appear. I’m guessing Lin’s personality is perfect for him, to balance his attitude. He is not used to being said no, and she challenges him at every turn. Love , love, love that she doesn’t bow to him.
The dream both Kel and Lin are having are a little creepy, and makes me scared of what will come next.
Now it is not all about the romance but who are you shipping currently?
I love a good romance in stories. I’m shipping Lin and Conor and Antonetta and Kel. I feel like the tension in the last couple of pages between Lin and the Prince was fantastic. And Kel and Antonetta would cause tension too because the mom probably wants Conor to marry Antonetta.
Do you like Ragpicker King?
I appreciate the thing that Ji-An said about him; how he does what he says. Sometimes with people in power, they make promises that they can’t keep. He doesn’t seem like a bad guy just yet. But, he seems like the kind of guy that would hurt people if they were in the way of his goal.
How do we like that Antonetta plays naive?
I’m not a fan of it. Only because I believe women shouldn’t have to play naive. However, that’s not real life and sometimes I even use that tactic. However, this does show her “street smarts” and how she’s able to do certain things that others cannot.