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!

This review is for The Ragpicker King by Cassandra Clare which released in the UK on the 4th March! Thanks so much to Netgalley and Tor for giving me an eArc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve read and loved a lot of Cassie’s work, especially her Infernal Devices and Dark Artifices series (Will Herondale is the man of my teenage dreams) so as soon as I saw she was writing an adult novel??? Sign me up. I read the first in the series just before this one and was obsessed so was glad it was available to request.

I will say I loved the pacing of this one so much more than the first. The first had a lot of ‘first book syndrome’ where it was a lot of plot to set up for the rest of the story, but in this one we get to see so much more of the characters. And how much I love the characters!!! Antonetta is a personal fav, but I do also love Conor and Lin. I love a good yearning plotline. The romance in this is also *chefs kiss* and I loved how much more of it we got to see.

I also appreciated how every character seems to have their role in the story, and how the twists just kept coming!! I was kept on my toes so much throughout this book and I looooved it. The setting of this book was incredible as well, Castellane is such a vividly written world that you cannot help but fall into the story.

I’m trying my hardest to write this without any spoilers, you need to read this series as soon as you can!! You’ll fall in love with the characters and the world just as I have. You have slow burn, forbidden romance, court politics, criminal underworld, magic and more. What else could you need?? 5 stars from me and absolutely no notes.

I’ve been a huge Cassandra Clare fan for years, and The Ragpicker King is exactly the kind of book that reminds me why I love her writing so much. When I read Sword Catcher last year, I enjoyed it, but I also felt like it lacked some of the originality and depth I was hoping for. It was a solid introduction to Castellane, but it didn’t wow me the way I wanted it to. The Ragpicker King feels more like the Cassandra Clare that we know and love.

The biggest improvement for me was how much more fleshed out the characters, politics, and world building felt. Clare has always been at her best when writing character dynamics, and she really delivered here. I really enjoyed both Lin and Kel's POV. I really wish we had gotten POV chapters from Conor and the Ragpicker King. Both of them are such fascinating characters, and while we see them through the eyes of others, I kept wanting more—more insight into their motivations, more depth to their personal struggles. Maybe in book three? Fingers crossed.

Overall, The Ragpicker King was a massive step up from Sword Catcher for me. The characters felt more alive, the stakes were higher, and the world was more immersive. It’s an easy five-star read, and now I’m left desperately waiting for book three. Cassandra Clare, please put me out of my misery and release it soon!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I sacrificed sleep for this book, and I regret nothing!

Needs to be read in sequence but fans of the first will not be disappointed! Great character development, twisting plot machinations, and wider expansion of the created world. Can’t go wrong really - roll on the next one!

Actual Rating: 4.5⭐

After giving this series another chance, I can confidently say I’m glad I did—because the sequel DID.NOT.DISAPPOINT!

Picking up right where Sword Catcher left off, The Ragpicker King dives straight into the heart of Castellane’s mysteries and conflicts.
With the groundwork of world-building and character introductions firmly established in the first book, the sequel wastes no time getting straight into the thick of the action.

Personally, I find the Ragpicker King far more enjoyable.
The characters felt more fleshed out, and the story pulled me in deeper as betrayals unraveled, schemes unfolded, and long-hidden secrets came to light.

Conor’s character development stood out the most!
Witnessing his evolving actions, attitudes, and relationship with Lin was both captivating and heart-wrenching. Every moment involving Conor and Lin tugged at my emotions—my heart broke alongside theirs.
I’m eager (and a little nervous!) to see what the future holds for them in the next book.

The ending, with its unexpected twists and turns, especially revelations about the Ragpicker King, was truly mind-blowing!

Overall, The Ragpicker King is a fantastic sequel—an emotionally charged, well-written continuation of the series. The author has delivered another spectacular story that left me eagerly anticipating what comes next after that gut-wrenching cliffhanger!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Violence, death, murder, sexual content, moderate mention of xenophobia and brief mention of torture, confinement, sexual assault.

The Ragpicker King by Cassandra Clare is the thrilling sequel to Sword Catcher, plunging readers back into the dazzling yet treacherous world of Castellane. With conspiracies brewing, forbidden love tangled in duty, and the fate of an entire kingdom at stake, Lin and Kel must navigate a world where trust is a deadly gamble.

Kel Saren, still bound by his duty as the body double to Prince Conor, is tasked with uncovering the masterminds behind a brutal massacre at the royal palace. His only lead takes him into the domain of the Ragpicker King, the ruler of Castellane’s criminal underworld. But the deeper Kel digs, the more dangerous the truth becomes, leading him back to the aristocratic Hill, where a sinister plot threatens to topple the royal family. To complicate matters, the ruthless Artal Gremont, the man engaged to Kel’s love, plays a key role in this dark conspiracy.

Meanwhile, Lin Caster must face the consequences of her greatest deception. To save a dying friend, she falsely claimed to be the Goddess Reborn, a mythical saviour of her people. Now, a formidable leader has come to test her powers, and failure means exile. To maintain her magic, Lin turns to the Ragpicker King for help, even as her path collides once more with Prince Conor. When he begs her to heal the King’s growing madness, Lin finds herself drawn to a dark and ancient power—one she may not be able to resist.

As tensions in Castellane reach a boiling point, both Lin and Kel must make impossible choices about love, power, and survival. Who can they trust when betrayal lurks in every shadow?

This book is a richly woven tale of intrigue, magic, and forbidden love. It cannot be read as a standalone, as it continues the intricate story set in Sword Catcher. Fans of political fantasy, morally complex characters, and slow-burning romance will find themselves utterly captivated.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

It’s a fantasy masterpiece. Every page was perfect, the pacing, the character dynamics, and THE REVELATIONS??? Incredible, all of them.

I screamed at the book and gasped so many times. Cassie is incredibly daring, pushing the court intrigue, with all of its blackmailing, deception, and manipulation to lengths I would’ve never expected from her. No wonder G.R.R. Martin ended up being linked to its marketing, showcasing the same type of cunningness.

Antonetta was my favourite character from SC, and I adore the developments seen here. Merren and Jerrod surprised me, I admit. Lin and Conor, my darlings, I am so weak for you both. And wow, they surely delivered in the spice department. Kel is still an exceptional lead, and I am so looking forward to more of him - especially with Antonetta.

This is was a brillaint sequel to Swordcatcher.
As per usual Cassandra Clare delivers with her outstanding character work and how she interweaves character relationships.
The relationship between the charcters in this sequel grows more complicated and intricate to match the plot.

This world is very atmospheric and I loved the concept of the King on the hill and the King in the city.
I also loved how more information was given in the reader in regards to the Ashkar, and in particular what this information meant for Lin.

I can't wait to carry on with this series as this was just a joy to read.

What a whirlwind.

I wasn't sure if Ragpicker King could beat it's predecessor, and at times I thought the story was starting to drag a little, but ultimately I loved it.

The last half of the book had me hooked, so much was happening and I was terrified for the characters. There are some I wouldn't mind tossing into the sea though. Death by crocodiles doesn't sound pleasant but I'd watch it and smile.

Can't wait for the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Ragpicker King. I absolutely loved this book. It was a really amazing sequel to The sword catcher.
This book sucked me in from the first chapter, the twist and turns had me gasping. The world building was phenomenal. The politics were just wow.
So this book is months after where the sword catcher leaves off and your back in to that political intrigue that is just so good.

Like a lot of books there were some parts that were predictable but that did not take away from the book. I still thoroughly enjoyed it.
I loved the romance, the stakes, the plot and the world building. It was all done so well. I can’t not wait to see what happens next

I really enjoyed the first in this series; swordcatcher. My review at the time centred around the book being aimed at adults but much of the novel still seemed to be YA. Ragpicker King is much the same; it is slow, methodical, and gives the feel that it is leading to something epic. The Ragpicker King is not a bad book, I just wish that the pacing was increased and that more happens. I can see what Clare is doing, she is weaving an intricate world of magic, royalty, criminality, love and greed. Trying to bring all this together into a seamless storyline is no easy thing to do. I love the characters and the potential of this series I am hooked in now and will see it through to the end.

Absolutely fantastic, everything I wanted and didn’t know I needed. Cassandra Clare never fails to entertain and I will always return for everything she writes. Can’t wait to see where she heads next

The Ragpicker King is the second book in Cassandra Clare’s The Chronicles of Castellane series. This new fantasy trilogy takes place in a dangerous world full of royalty, crime and magic. Whilst I was nervous to see how Cassandra Clare wrote adult fantasy outside of her Shadowhunter world, but I’m pleased to say that her writing in this book and Swordcatcher is as addictive as ever!

This sequel follows directly on from the dramatic ending of Swordcatcher. We are once again reunited with Lin, Kel and Conor as they face new challenges and threats. I won’t go into any spoilers, but I will say that I think the pacing and plot greatly improved in this sequel. I found it quite hard to get into the first Swordcatcher book because there was lots of slow world-building, flashbacks and changes in POV. That isn’t to say that I didn’t appreciate these elements as well, they are essential for creating a good world and strong characters, but I like that you can get more immersed in the current story in this book. The plot is rich and complicated, but the characters are still at the heart of the story.

I was lucky enough to attend a talk with Cassandra Clare when Swordcatcher first came out and I have to say that she seems to be completely in love with this story and the world. Hearing her talk about the magic system, the criminal underworld and the relationships in the book (both romantic and platonic) made me love it even more. I can tell that she’s only grown to love this series more with time. I just hope that this means she won’t be too cruel to our main characters. I know she is a master at writing angst and tragedy, so I am both excited and scared to read the final book in the trilogy!

I would recommend this book if you’re a fan of political intrigue, intricate magic systems with clear rules and strong characters. If you liked her other books, definitely give this a go but be prepared for a more mature writing style and a little less romance.