The Chronicles of Castellane2-The Ragpicker King

The Ragpicker King is the spellbinding second book in Cassandra Clare's epic fantasy adventure of magic, power and politics – and the sequel to the Sunday Times bestselling Sword Catcher.



‘This is fantasy at its finest’ – Leigh Bardugo, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Hell Bent The Ragpicker King is the epic, gripping sequel to the Sunday Times bestselling Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare.

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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 . . .

Lose yourself in a vibrant world of power, intrigue and magic in this spellbinding fantasy from the author of the Shadowhunter Chronicles, the international bestselling sensation.

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Praise for the Sunday Times bestseller Sword Catcher:

‘Everything I look for in fantasy’ – George R. R. Martin, New York Times bestselling author of Game of Thrones

‘A triumph of a book’ – Holly Black, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Night

‘Vivid and clever’ – Scott Lynch, bestselling author of the Gentleman Bastard sequence

The Ragpicker King was a top ten Sunday Times bestseller w/c 10th March 2025.