Book Review: Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare

Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Book 1 of Sword Catcher

Publisher: Del Rey (October 10, 2023)

Length: 597 pages

Author Information: Website

Years ago, in the bustling city-state of Castellane, a boy named Kel was plucked from an orphanage and brought to the palace to take on the important role of Sword Catcher, the title given to the body-double of the royal heir, due to his resemblance to the young Prince Conor Aurelian. But even as time passed, the two boys remained inseparable, not just out of necessity, but also because of true friendship. After all, they were raised together, for in order to be a convincing stand-in for Conor, Kel must know the prince as well as he knows himself—his thoughts, his mannerisms, his habits. One day, he may even be expected to die for Conor, a sacrifice Kel would make gladly, not only because it is his duty as his bodyguard, but because the two are as close as brothers. However, problems begin to arise as Conor approaches marriageable age, and Kel realizes his protection can only go so far, especially as the prince has grown into a reckless and impulsive young man. When Conor gets mixed up in some trouble, as always, it falls to Kel to clean up his messes.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, Lin Caster is a member of the Ashkar, a community of magic users who are shunned for their abilities. A healer by trade, all Lin wants to do is to further her studies in medicine but is told that certain books and resources are barred to her people. However, to save a dear friend who is very ill, Lin simply cannot stand idly by. If the city won’t help her, then perhaps the Ragpicker King will. As the reigning crime lord of Castellane, he has the power to grant many favors—but for a price. Left with few options, both Lin and Kel find themselves turning to him for answers but end up being caught up in a dangerous web of political intrigue and shady schemes instead.

This is my first book by Cassandra Clare, well known for her immensely popular work in YA. Sword Catcher being her first crack at an adult fantasy series, I really had no idea what to expect, though as always, I was curious to see how an author deals with a switch in genres. Still, one thing I had heard is that Clare can be very descriptive and overly detailed with her writing style, and thus regarded as long-winded by some readers. Admittedly, when I looked at my copy of Sword Catcher, a veritable tome at nearly 600 pages, I did wonder if that might be true.

Ultimately, here’s what I thought: The good news is that, indeed, the author excels at bringing an immersive and intricate world to life. The setting of Castellane was simply phenomenal, a living and breathing backdrop that allows readers to envision it easily in their minds. The city is bursting with life, from its decadent palace halls to the dark alleyways of the criminal quarter. It is also steeped with corruption from top to bottom, which the narrative masterfully and successfully portrays. That said, yes, the writing can be a little verbose at times, though to be fair, I was never bored even when it led to slow pacing. Of course, one can also argue that a more efficient writer could achieve just as much in fewer pages, and, not going to lie, there were times where I found myself reading several chapters only to look back and realize not much has actually happened.

Another thought that I had: Habits die hard. Sword Catcher may be an adult novel in that it features older protagonists and deals with more mature themes, but stylistically, it still shares a lot of YA elements, especially in the way characters interact with each other in dialogue and how the romantic subplots are handled. Nevertheless, character development shines through, and despite their growth falling on the more simplistic and predictable side, all the POVs were sympathetic and relatable, even if I would have preferred to see more of Lin.

At the end of the day, even with a few minor hiccups, Sword Catcher was a captivating read and the start of a series I am definitely motivated to continue. While is officially described as Cassandra Clare’s adult debut, I would say it has enough crossover appeal to satisfy readers of YA as well. As for the novel’s length, could the story have benefitted from a bit of tightening? Perhaps. But in the end, it comes down to personal preference. I’m all for a more streamlined narrative, but in this case, I can also appreciate and see value in the author’s lush prose, making this book a good choice for readers who enjoy complex fantasy worlds featuring rich lore and magical systems.