A dramatic epic of power, intrigue and magic. Here, a boy is born to rule a divided city. A girl is destined to return lost magic to the world. And a prince will betray his people to win a crown. Sword Catcher is the Sunday Times bestselling first adult fantasy novel by international sensation Cassandra Clare.

Two outcasts find themselves at the centre of world-altering change in the start of a riveting epic fantasy series from the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of The Shadowhunter Chronicles. In the vibrant city-state of Castellane, the richest of nobles and the most debauched of criminals have one thing in common: the constant search for wealth, power and the next hedonistic thrill. Kel is an orphan, stolen from the life he knew to become the Sword-Catcher - the body-double of a royal heir, Prince Conor Aurelian. He has been raised alongside the prince, trained in every aspect of combat and statecraft. He and Conor are close as brothers, but Kel knows he has one destiny: to die for Conor. No other future is possible. Lin Caster is one of the Ashkar, a small community who still possess magical abilities. By law, they must live behind walls in the city, but Lin, a physician, ventures out to tend to the sick and dying of Castellane. Despite her skills, she cannot heal her best friend Mariam without access to forbidden knowledge. After a failed assassination attempt brings Lin and Kel together, they are drawn into the web of the mysterious Ragpicker King, the criminal ruler of Castellane''s underworld. He offers them each what they want most; but as they descend into his world of intrigue and shadow, they discover a conspiracy of corruption that reaches from the darkest gutters of Castellane to the highest tower of its palaces. As long-kept secrets begin to unravel, they must ask themselves: is knowledge worth the price of betrayal? Can forbidden love bring down a kingdom? And will Lin and Kel''s discoveries plunge their nation into war - and the world into chaos?

Autorentext

Cassandra Clare

Klappentext

'Everything I look for in fantasy' - George R. R. Martin

Two outcasts find themselves caught in a web of dangerous magic and dark secrets that could change the world forever . . . From the author of the Shadowhunter Chronicles, Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare is start of a riveting epic fantasy series with expert worldbuilding, political intrigue and swordplay.

One was raised to rule. One was trained to die . . .

In the vibrant city-state of Castellane, Kel is an orphan, stolen from his old impoverished life to become Prince Conor Aurelian's body-double. As his 'Sword Catcher', he and Conor will become as close as brothers. Yet Kel lives for one purpose: to die for Conor.

Lin Caster is an Ashkar physician, part of a community ostracized for its rare magical abilities. After a failed assassination attempt pulls her and Kel together, they are drawn into the web of the mysterious Ragpicker King, who rules Castellane's criminal underworld. But as long-kept secrets are uncovered and forbidden attractions blossom, will their discoveries plunge their land into war - and nations into chaos?

'Spellbinding' - Leigh Bardugo, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ninth House

'A triumph of a book' - Holly Black, No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Book of Night

'Vivid and clever' - Scott Lynch, bestselling author of the Gentleman Bastard sequence

Sword Catcher was a top ten Sunday Times bestseller w/c 5th October 2024.