Happy release day to ‘The Ragpicker King’ 🥳

Good morning, afternoon or evening! I’m thrilled to be writing these words again because it’s certainly been a while:
Happy release day to Cassandra Clare and The Ragpicker King! ❤ The second novel in her The Chronicles of Castellane series is finally out today!

Here’s a synopsis for the book:

His life is an illusion. Her lie is a gamble. Can two outliers save a kingdom?

The royal court is in turmoil following a massacre. Kel, Prince Conor’s body-double, is hunting for traitors. And the notorious Ragpicker King, ruler of the dazzling city of Castellane’s criminal underworld, holds the only clues. But they lead to a dark conspiracy to destroy the royal family – headed by the man due to marry the woman Kel loves.

Lin will be judged after claiming to be the legendary Goddess Reborn and wielder of powerful magic – now her people’s charismatic leader is ready to test her powers. Failure will mean exile, and only further dangerous deception can save her now. As the simmering tension in Castellane reaches fever pitch, Prince Conor demands that Lin heal his father’s madness. But the King is tormented by an ancient magic, and Lin cannot deny its allure – any more than she can deny her growing passion for the prince. Lin and Kel must decide who they can trust. Yet any false move will mean death – or worse . . .

So many things happened in Sword Catcher and now we’ll find out how the story is going to go on! Readers will also meet new characters: Princess Anjelica of Kutani, Ciprian Cabrol (yes, we’ve already briefly met him in Sword Catcher, but he’s more present now), Artal Gremont, Aron Benjudah aka the Exilarch, and Princess Elsabet of Malgasi.

If you want something fancy for your bookshelf, there’s the US first edition with Conor & Lin art by Charlie Bowater, Forbidden Planet‘s (UK) edition with sprayed edges, or Illumicrate‘s UK edition with a completely different cover and sprayed edges.

The choice is yours, either way, happy reading to you!

Have you received or picked up your copy yet? Sound off in the comments below!