#linnet caster

[clockworkbee]

when he thinks about her too much:

it's disgusting (the cruel prince, holly black)

it's like a fever (sword catcher, cassandra clare)

[drowning-in-deadlines]

Just finished Sword Catcher and I am LIVING for the Jem and Will dynamic that Kel and Conor have like asdfghjkll I see what you did there CC

Kel, like Jem is precious and deserves all the world and I will protect him with my life i-

Lin is an absolute queen and I am cheering her on like nothing else

I like Conor and Kel's dynamic but oh god he's a fucking ass to everyone else. Will was trying to be cruel on purpose because of his curse, but Conor is just a fucking jerk. I love how Lin deals with him but he has a looong way to go. Hopefully he pulls a Darcy and gets his head out of his ass.

I also like Falconet? I guess? For now, at least. Antonetta is pretty cool too ngl but all the other Charter folks are... worthy of being stabbed, let's say. Especially Charlon.

So many unanswered questions and we're going to have to wait a whole year to get any answers

I'm going to die of curiosity

[newnamesamecharlotte]

"No morphea. I want to feel all of it." Gently, she continued to dab away the blood, revealing the wounds beneath. "If you are doing this to show that you are brave, I should tell you honestly, this is the easiest part of what I must do. These wounds are bad. You will be screaming like a dying seagull soon enough." He made a muffled sound that could have been a laugh. "I am not trying to impress you, Mayesh's granddaughter. I wish to feel the pain so that I remember it. So that I remain angry." It was a more interesting answer than she had expected.

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare

[jessread-s]

Thank you to Sammie for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

✩⚔️🪨Review:

Clare’s departure from the Shadowhunter world is sure to make its mark in the adult fantasy genre. 

“Sword Catcher” follows Kel, an orphan turned Sword Catcher (the body double of the Prince of Castellane) and Lin Caster, a physician and one of the Ashkar possessing magical abilities. After a failed assassination attempt brings the two outcasts together—they are drawn into the web of the mysterious Ragpicker King, the criminal ruler of Castellane’s underworld—and find themselves at the center of world-altering change.

The element of romance takes a backseat to Clare’s immersive world-building. She provides the reader with detailed descriptions surrounding the region of Castellane—the walled city of the Ashkar, the Ragpicker King’s Black Mansion, Marivent from which the royal family rules, and the mountains and ocean bordering the kingdom—as well as neighboring regions she makes distinctive from one another. Additionally, she goes into depth about the role of the charter families of Castellane in relation to the monarchy, the beliefs of the Ashkar, the kingdom’s rich history and politics, and the diverse cultures making up the diverse populace. I especially like how she used excerpts from ancient texts at the beginning of each chapter as a means of foreshadowing and filling in any gaps in understanding. While I must admit that I was overwhelmed at times, I am more so impressed by how elaborate and intricate Clare’s world is. 

Of the two points-of-view the story alternates between, I really enjoyed Lin’s perspective the most. Because she is one of the Ashkar, she gives the reader great insight on Clare’s magic system, which is fascinating in and of itself. I found myself rooting for her in her aims because of her selfless nature, fierce determination, and inner strength. Kel, on the other hand, was less compelling to me as a character. While his role as a Sword Catcher is certainly intriguing, I was more interested in the narratives of side characters like the Ragpicker King and brooding Prince Conor.

The ending, however, more than makes up for my criticisms. In true Cassandra Clare fashion, my jaw was on the floor and I have been left to suffer until book two comes out. 

Cross-posted to: Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | StoryGraph

[clockworkbee]

Cardan Greenbriar 🤝🏻 Conor Aurelian

stupid princes who find planning “someone's humiliation” too much work for their lazy asses charming selves

[clockworkbee]

❗️Sword Catcher, spoilers❗️

that dynamic where he's the Prince people love/fear and she's the girl who goes 'you're not my prince'

[clockworkbee]

remember the 'forbidden love' mentioned in Sword Catcher's synopsis? while reading (even though Antonetta is there too and living rent-free in Kel's mind) I really expected the forbidden love to be between Kel and the Ragpicker King (right) like Lin and Conor are such an enemies-to-lovers ship, I forgot for a sec that their love is also forbidden

[clockworkbee]