Skip to main content

A stolen boy. A spoiled prince. A shunned girl.
And a city as bright and dangerous as a blade.

Sword Catcher

Cassandra Clare

Two outcasts find themselves at the center of world-altering change in the start of a riveting epic fantasy series from the #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?

Example of Lin Caster page overlay

Preorder Offer:
Lin Caster
Page Overlay

Preorder your copy of Sword Catcher from a participating independent bookseller to receive a page overlay featuring Lin Caster!

A page overlay is a semi-transparent art print that is trimmed to fit inside your finished hardcover. Place the artwork wherever you like inside the book (such as before the title page, or a favorite chapter) by simply placing the overlay into the hardcover's pages. The semi-transparency will allow the text to peek through the art for a fun interplay between illustration and printed word.

This overlay is only available through this offer and is perfect for collectors looking to add a special touch to their copy!

Offer valid while supplies last. Click the link below to see the full list of participating stores.

Join Cassandra Clare on the Sword Catcher North American Tour

In addition to the events below, Cassandra Clare will also be attending New York City Comic-Con on October 13 and 14. Stay tuned for more information.

Oct 10 2023 (Tue)
Virtual
Virtual Launch Event in conversation with Holly Black
A Random House Special Event in partnership with The Strand
7:00 PM EDT
Oct 11 2023 (Wed)
Nashville, TN
Nashville Public Library, hosted by Parnassus Books in partnership with Nashville Public Library Foundation
Main Library 615 Church St, Nashville, TN 37219
6:30 PM EDT
Oct 12 2023 (Thu)
Naperville, IL
Meiley-Swallow Hall, hosted by Anderson's Bookshop
North Central College 31 S Ellsworth St, Naperville, IL 60540
7:00 PM CDT
Oct 13 2023 (Fri)
Javits Center, New York Comic Con
Spotlight on Cassandra Clare
*NOTE: in addition to a ticket, a NYCC badge is required to attend this event. Details for October 14 NYCC event to come.
7:30 PM EDT
Oct 16 2023 (Mon)
Pasadena, CA
All Saints Episcopal Church, hosted by Vroman’s Bookstore
132 North Euclid Ave. Pasadena, CA 91101
7:00 PM PDT
Oct 17 2023 (Tue)
Santa Fe, NM
In conversation with George R.R. Martin at Jean Cocteau Cinema & Beastly Books
418 Montezuma Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501 *Limited tickets available **Limited signing-only tickets & virtual option also available
6:30 PM MDT
Oct 19 2023 (Thu)
Grapevine, TX
Books-A-Million
3000 Grapevine Mills Pkwy #408, Grapevine, TX 76051
6:00 PM CDT
Oct 21 2023 (Sat)
Toronto, CAN
Indigo Yorkdale
3401 Dufferin St, North York, ON M6A 2T9, Canada
11:00 AM EDT

Preorder Offer:
Digital Wallpapers

Terms & Conditions

Upload a screenshot or copy of your receipt for SWORD CATCHER by Cassandra Clare to participate in this bonus offering, while supplies last. Must be 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. No groups, clubs, or organizations may participate. Limited to one request per IP address. Incomplete forms will not be eligible. Multiple entries from the same email address will be automatically disqualified. US residents only. Please allow 1-2 days for the set of digital wallpapers to arrive via email. By entering, you agree to Penguin Random House's terms of use and privacy policy. Offer valid between June 15, 2023 and October 10, 2023.

Praise for Sword Catcher

Sword Catcher gave me everything I look for in fantasy: mystery and magic (not too much, not too little), expert worldbuilding, swordplay and politics, a colorful cast of interesting characters, and a story that kept me reading from the first page to the last, with enough twists and turns to keep me turning the pages. It’s a big thick book, but it left me wanting more. When’s the next one coming out?” — George R. R. Martin, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“A gorgeously built world of decadence, betrayal, and grand adventure. From the decadent and drunken parties of the nobles, to the dens of crime lords in the Warren and Maze, to the Sault, where the devotees of a lost goddess are penned, the city of Castellane makes the perfect backdrop for a delightful cast of characters to befriend, betray, and romance one another. This is Cassandra Clare at her cleverest, twistiest and most heart-stopping—a triumph of a book.”
— Holly Black, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Night

“Clare plunges us into a thrilling world built with precision and brimming with enchantment. Her spellbinding cast of outlaws, healers, royals, and rogues will have you questioning your allegiances with every delicious turn of the plot. This is fantasy at its finest.” — Leigh Bardugo #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hell Bent

“A sumptuous feast of a book, vivid and delicious and heady. Cassandra Clare’s trademark skills are on full display here: epic worlds, wrenching romances, heart-slamming plot twists, Dickensian characters. I can’t wait to visit Castellane again.” — Kelly Link, bestselling author of White Cat, Black Dog 

“Sweeping yet intimate, rich with romance and intrigue, Sword Catcher is Cassandra Clare at her magical best. In pages packed with sumptuous descriptions, Clare gives us a kingdom’s worth of characters -- including Kel the “sword catcher,” trained to protect his prince at all costs, and Lin, a young physician of an outcast people -- forced to navigate a web of tangled loyalties between the loved ones they cherish and the powers they serve. This book will break your heart and leave you wanting more!” — Helene Wecker, New York Times bestselling author of The Golem and the Jinni

“A charming return to the big fat fantasy novels of happy memory, with a modern character-driven narrative. Vivid and clever.” — Scott Lynch, bestselling author of the Gentleman Bastard sequence

“Clare makes her adult debut with a whirlwind epic fantasy featuring secret plots, ancient magic, and hidden identities [in] a series full of twists and turns. Clare expertly balances the needs of a satisfying plot with dropping tantalizing hints of what’s to come in future installments. Her worldbuilding is instantly immersive, and the many characters are all detailed and memorable…A wonderfully enjoyable series opener.” Kirkus Reviews

“Clare drops readers into this ornate and unique world and plants seeds for forbidden romance, dangerous magic, and brewing war to be harvested in later installments . . . This multilayered epic is sure to be a hit.”Publishers Weekly

Cassandra Clare © Sharona Jacobs

Photo: © Sharona Jacobs

Cassandra Clare

Cassandra Clare is the author of the #1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Shadowhunter Chronicles. She is also the coauthor of the bestselling fantasy series Magisterium with Holly Black. The Shadowhunter Chronicles have been adapted as both a major motion picture and a television series. Her books have more than fifty million copies in print worldwide and have been translated into more than thirty-five languages. Cassandra lives in western Massachusetts with her husband and three fearsome cats.

Stay in Touch

Sign me up for news about Cassandra Clare as well as updates about books and more from Penguin Random House.
And also:

By clicking Sign Up, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and understand that Penguin Random House collects certain categories of personal information for the purposes listed in that policy, discloses, sells, or shares certain personal information and retains personal information in accordance with the policy. You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime.

Back to top