THE RAGPICKER KING

Kel Saren adds more threads to his tangled web of secrets in this follow-up to Sword Catcher (2023).

Kel takes the protection of Prince Conor very seriously. As Sword Catcher, he’s more than just a bodyguard; he’s part spy, part body double, and part confidante for the man with whom he grew up. But as he investigates the possibility of a traitor in Conor’s inner circle, Kel is forced to keep secrets for Conor’s own good until he can be sure whom they can trust. Meanwhile, after the disastrous events of Conor’s first engagement in Sword Catcher, the prince has a newfound dedication to his role and tries to navigate an advantageous new match for himself, this time with the beautiful Princess Anjelika, who is more than she seems. Conor is keeping his own secrets, namely that he has enlisted Lin Caster to tend to his ailing father, King Markus, who’s suffering from a strange ailment that means he must be kept hidden from his subjects lest they know their king has possibly gone mad. As Lin investigates the truth behind the king’s malady, she and Conor struggle to deny their growing—and forbidden—romantic feelings for each other. The second novel in an epic fantasy series is notoriously hard to pull off, and the colorful world established in Sword Catcher does dip into soap-opera territory here. But a little swooning in a fantasy adventure story never hurt anyone, and even at a hefty 500-plus pages, the story never drags for a moment. Lin’s chapters remain a high point, with Clare drawing from her own Jewish heritage as the inspiration for many aspects of Lin’s Ashkar community and faith. And luckily for readers, Clare turns every table she can find in the final pages.

This series provides the perfect escape from reality.