Deliciously witty and full of banter.

Our fmc is a 36 year old widow who has inherited all of a great uncles worth and the family are not happy about it. She tries to kill herself and instead a man magically comes out of the sword to protect her. And so begins the will they won’t they, witty banter of a cosy fantasy bodyguard romance. The inner monologue of our fmc is definitely adhd coded that was both relatable and sometimes annoying.
My only ‘down’ side was she didn’t feel very 36 and especially for the era. It was very ya romance style. Which is fine but more when you expect it because the character is 19. She didn’t feel very realistic as a widow of 36 but apart from that great fun.

4.5

T. Kingfisher does it again with Swordheart a brilliantly quirky, heartfelt, and refreshingly down-to-earth romantic fantasy that stole my heart from the first page. As someone who doesn't usually gravitate toward romances, I was completely surprised( again, this was a reread and yes. I was surprised 🤣)by how real and grounded the relationship between Halla and Sarkis felt. Their chemistry grows organically, built on mutual respect, wit, and vulnerability, all wrapped in Kingfisher’s trademark humor and charm.

The world is as strange and vivid as ever ,a unique blend of whimsy, danger, and practicality that feels lived-in rather than overly polished. Kingfisher's writing is effortlessly funny without ever undercutting the emotional beats, and the banter between characters had me smiling (and occasionally laughing out loud🫡) more than once. I love how she plays with fantasy tropes and turns them into something both fresh and deeply human.

This book is cozy, clever, and full of love, the kind of story that makes you want to curl up with a blanket and stay in that world just a little longer. T. Kingfisher continues to be one of my favorite authors, and Swordheart is a perfect example of why.

Kingfisher never fails to blow my expectations out of the water.
A wonderful book and I can't wait to see what else she can do!

This book was absolutely DARLING. A cosy romantic fantasy packed with charm, banter, wit and adventure.

“𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙤 𝙛𝙚𝙬 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙠𝙚𝙥𝙩 𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙞𝙩.”

The main characters were the shining star of this book for me. Halla is a widow and former housekeeper who inherits her great uncle’s estate, including an enchanted sword harbouring a huge secret. Sarkis is an immortal warrior who for reasons I won’t spoil, has found himself trapped inside a sword. They were just so much fun together and I loved the way their energy matched.

If you told me a week ago I would be kicking my feet and blushing over the tale of a widowed heiress and an immortal man trapped inside of a sword, I would’ve never believed you but here I am!!!!

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy of this book.

T. Kingfisher’s stories really resonate with me—she has a wonderful ability to blend humour, cosy fantasy, romance, and adventure in a way that feels engaging. There’s warmth and charm to her writing that makes Swordheart feel like the literary equivalent of a comforting blanket.
The characters are well-developed and highly engaging. The FMC occasionally verges on being too quirky, which might not work for everyone, but her interactions with the rest can be very entertaining.

Overall, Swordheart is a fun, light read perfect for fans of whimsical fantasy with a touch of romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown UK for the ARC—also, the cover is absolutely stunning!