The Ragpicker King

I have to restrain every fiber of my being to stop gushing about this second installment of the Chronicles of Castellane. If Sword Catcher is exposition and worldbuilding, this installment is the rising action that is building up to the climax.

Character development and storyline take center stage now that we are acquainted with Castellane's world. There are a series of shocking revelations about several characters. Some revelations are good, some are great, and some are eerily chilling. Cassandra Clare has a flair for creating complex characters with conflicting motivations, and it's a joy and a thrill when you see the end results. The love/hate relationship with some of these characters becomes ambiguous, as you may find yourself agreeing with their reasoning at times or reeling from their double standards at others.

The plot is equally compelling. Sword Catcher left us in shock, and this book continues the investigation into what transpired in the Shining Gallery. We finally glimpse who was behind the slaughter and their motives. Minor and key players provided details about the events, and at the same time, a new plot is in the works. The ending is another cliffhanger, and I dread waiting to find out what happens next. I am so invested in this series; I can't stop thinking it over and over again, and I might just reread it from Book 1 for pure enjoyment—and maybe pick up some more clues along the way.