The Ragpicker King

by Cassandra Clare · 2025

When a brutal massacre shatters the royal court of Castellane, two unlikely heroes must navigate a web of deception, love, and ancient magic. Kel Saren, the prince’s body‑double, races against time to uncover the culprits, only to discover that the only clues lie with the Ragpicker King, the feared ruler of the city’s criminal underworld. His hunt leads him into the glittering yet treacherous world of the Hill, where a dark conspiracy—led by the monstrous Artal Gremont, betrothed to the woman Kel loves—threatens to annihilate the royal family. Meanwhile, Lin Caster bears the weight of a dangerous lie. To save a dying friend, she has claimed to be the legendary Goddess Reborn, a mantle that draws the attention of her people’s charismatic leader and forces her to wield powers she barely understands. As she is summoned to heal the king’s madness, Lin must confront both the allure of ancient magic and her growing passion for Prince Conor. Bound by duty and desire, Kel and Lin must decide whom to trust and whether their love can survive the lies that surround them, or if the kingdom will fall to the shadows that already creep through its streets.