Cozy fantasy, witty banter as I said for her previous works there's a dash of DnD campaigns in every T. Kingfisher book and I absolutely love it, I think they might be one of my favourite authors. I wish more people would talk about their books, don't get enough attention

‘Swordheart’ got me from the beginning!
I love T. Kingfisher’s writing style and the way she creates characters with unique personalities - they’re fresh and a welcome change to the almost stereotypical badass fighters in fantasy nowadays. Both Halla and Sarkis are grown adults with life experience and their own baggage to carry which makes it even more enticing to witness how they fall for each other. Their flaws make them even more loveable. Personally, I couldn’t relate to Halla as much because our personalities are so different but I’m sure that a lot of people can find themselves in her (and don’t get me wrong, that didn’t make me like her any less).
In addition to that, I also really love the world of the White Rat; it’s so lively with its customs and characters that I would love to visit it some day. (That makes me a bit sad that there is no map to navigate the world easier.) I was familiar with the world already through ‘Paladin's Grace’ and it was nice to meet familiar characters and get to know more about them and their story.
The beginning of the story made me laugh because of its awkwardness and I enjoyed it all the way through. Although, the pacing was dragging a bit in the middle during their first journey. Also there were a few chapters that confused me at first as to whose perspective they’re from.
All in all, I would rate this with four out of five stars and would recommend it to everyone who enjoys a (somewhat) cozy romantasy with fresh characters.
Thank you Little, Brown Book Group for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Kingfisher never disappoints! I really loved return in the world of the White Rat! Halla was the perfect character for this book! She’s relatable and human and I was so happy that she found a love perfect for her !

Swordheart is a wonderfully fun fantasy. The story is full of wit, charm and adventure. I absolutely loved the main character, Halla, she is in her 30s and having a time of it with her in laws! I loved her finding a romance worthy of her, the chemistry was perfect. Halla is just such an amazing character and totally believable. Possibly my favourite FMC by this author so far. The rest of the cast are quirky and likeable, the found family trope is strong. Overall it’s lighthearted and romance centred, I absolutely ate it up!
I also love the way the books T Kingfisher writes link and the more you read from this author the more Easter eggs there are. This one was like a classic Disney story but with a bit more murder and a lawyer as a central character.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

A whimsey, quirky fantasy that is comforting and engaging all at once.

It was a bit of a slow start for me, the first few chapters were great, loved them but then from leaving the house, to about 30%, I really struggled with it. I put the book down a couple of times, unsure of what I was feeling. But then! We meet Zale and Brindle and I devoured the rest of the story. It really started to come together from that point, and I went back to enjoying it so much.

It was lovely to just have a low stakes fantasy for once. This isn't end of the world, deep conspiracy stuff. This is a woman whose nasty family is trying to cheat her out of her money - oh and an immortal magic sword man, determined to protect her. The stakes were very local, with the odd little glimpse of what was going on in the wider world and sometimes that is exactly what you need.

The religious setting was another delight. The Gods in this world are all so different and while the Hanged Mother's priests behaved in a slightly stereotypical, bigoted fashion, the lore behind their God was so different. All the gods were different and the fact there was a Rat God whose priests were lawyers? Wonderful.

And then the end! I am so lucky I read this when I did, knowing that the sequel is due out next year because if I'd had to wait the years earlier readers did, I think I might have rioted. I am hungry to return to this world, to get to learn more about Sarkis and hopefully find one of his captains.

My first T. Kingfisher read, but in no way is it going to be my last!

It took just one book for me to fall in love with T. Kingfisher’s storytelling—Nettle & Bone, if you were wondering—and I’ve been a devoted fan of everything she writes ever since. Kingfisher is a breath of fresh air in today’s publishing landscape, and honestly, I believe she can do no wrong.

Swordheart is a fantastic example of everything that makes Kingfisher’s work so compelling. It’s built from pure joy and sharp humor, packed with her signature wit, delightfully unhinged dialogue, and a playful subversion of classic fantasy tropes, for a wildly entertaining story.

Halla is curious, kind, and resilient in the most relatable way, while Sarkis—“he pinched the bridge of his nose” —is awkwardly endearing beneath his warrior exterior. Their relationship unfolds with warmth, humour, and emotional maturity, delivering exactly what we hope for from two grown adults figuring things out together.

Perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher’s, or anyone who enjoys their fantasy with heart, humour, and a bit of romantic tension.

Having wanting to read the books of The World of the White Rat series for a long time, I’ve been jumping to the opportunity to read the eARCs of the UK publications - bless you Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit and NetGalley for this opportunity – hence the slightly unconventional reading order I’m following. This has in no way hinder my enjoyment so far. Being a standalone, Swordheart might be a great start for someone wanting to try Kingfisher.

Halla, a 30-something widow, is trying to kill herself. Why? Her husbands relatives have locked her in her bedroom and will either kill her or force her to marry her clammy-handed cousin because she's just inherited everything from her great-uncle and they want it. Fortunately for Halla, her choice of weapon turns out to be enchanted and contains Sarkis, a warrior sworn to protect his/its wielder. Together they escape and travel to a nearby town for legal advice, dodging bandits, thieves and dangerous priests on the way.

I had a fun time reading this. T Kingfisher's books always remind me of a more adult version of Diana Wynne Jones' fantasy adventures - they feel light-hearted but have a darker edge, they're funny and have a great mix of characters. It was a bit too long and repetitive in places, particularly in the thoughts that Halla and Sarkis have about each other. I also wasn't fond of final act "break up" as Halla's actions didn't feel in character. Other than that, this was a fun, quick romp set in a really interesting world.

Thank you to Orbit UK for providing a netgalley review copy

“Swordheart” by T. Kingfisher is one of those rare romantasy standalones that make you think, “We really need more books like this.” It’s funny, clever, tender, well-paced, and the romance works beautifully because it’s built slowly, with lots of sharp, witty banter. Kingfisher is always solid in this genre, but this one truly won me over.

The plot starts off simple: Halla, a no-nonsense widow, inherits everything from her late husband—only to find herself locked in the house by greedy relatives trying to steal it all. Out of desperation (or maybe curiosity), she opens a sword hanging on the wall... and out comes Sarkis, a warrior magically bound to the weapon by a curse. From there, they set off on a journey to protect her inheritance—and eventually themselves.

What I loved most was how much Halla and Sarkis grow over the course of the book. Halla isn’t your typical fantasy heroine: she deals with anxiety, gets lost in her own head, pretends to be foolish when it suits her, but she’s sharp, practical, and asks all the right questions. Sarkis initially seems like your classic sword-and-honor type, but he turns out to be much more layered. He’s a man forced to confront the fact that he no longer has control over his own life and is now dependent on someone else. Watching the two of them slowly learn to trust and respect each other is one of the most satisfying parts of the story.

The side characters are great, too—especially Zale, the priest of the god of law, who has his own quirky take on justice and completely won me over. They’re not just background noise—they actually matter to the plot and to the emotional journey of the main characters.

The world-building feels pretty classic at first glance, but there’s that trademark Kingfisher weirdness woven in: temples, bizarre religions, suffocating bureaucracy—all of it somehow working together seamlessly. The magic system isn’t front and center, but when it shows up (like with the sword), it has clear rules and serious consequences. It’s not flashy, but it’s effective.

Kingfisher’s writing is direct, smooth, and full of spark. The dialogue is sharp, the humor always hits the right note. And without ever getting preachy, the story manages to touch on heavy themes like power structures, consent, control, faith, and trauma in a really natural, unforced way.

The plot takes its time. It’s not packed with nonstop action or dramatic twists, but it never drags either. You keep turning the pages because you care about these characters. You want to see how they’ll handle things, if they’ll manage to trust one another. And that’s the true heart of this book: two very different people, each with their own scars and doubts, learning to walk alongside each other—not saving one another, but finding real balance.

For me, it was one of the best books I’ve read in 2025. If you love romantasy but want something that isn’t just another chosen-one-with-a-love-triangle story, Swordheart might be exactly what you’re looking for.

What a delight.

I laughed out loud at the first sentence and after that I laughed out loud many more times. No one else does witty and snarky quite like T Kingfisher.

The stakes in this book are surprisingly high for a book that feels so cosy. Halla, a widow and housekeeper, unexpectedly inherits a large sum and the family try to pressure her into marrying one of the cousins so the money stays within the family and Halla effectively won't have a right to it - in a panic she unleashes the man within the magic sword and things unfold from there. The rest of the book deals with Halla's problems, but if things go wrong there's also repercussions for the world at large. This is a self-contained story that can be read as a standalone, but the clockwork boys duology and the saint of steel books also fall within this world, so there is a bigger narrative through all these books and I like how that's ingrained within this book as well, without ever taking away from Halla's story.

Throughout the story we find themes of found family (Zale and Brindle are huge assets to this story), the effects of a traumatic past for both main characters, and there's even a conversation around religion that I loved. If I lived in this world, I would've followed the White Rat as well. That's some god!

I would highly recommend this for fans of cosy fantasy, but people who normally read more epic fantasy (like myself) will find things to love here too. This is one of those books that I truly think is for everyone.

Thanks to Little Brown UK and Netgalley for the ARC! This is my honest opinion.

Swordheart ist ein wunderbar schräger, herzerwärmender Fantasy-Roman mit genau der richtigen Mischung aus Abenteuer, Humor und Romantik. T. Kingfisher schafft eigenwillige, liebenswerte Figuren – allen voran die pragmatische, verwitwete Halla und den mürrischen, schwertgebundenen Krieger Sarkis. Ihre Dialoge sind witzig, scharf und voller Charme. Trotz des leichten Tons verhandelt das Buch auch Themen wie Selbstbestimmung und Freiheit mit erstaunlicher Tiefe. Eine erfrischende, feministische Fantasy-Perle, die mich bestens unterhalten hat.

''Swordheart'' by T. Kingfisher is the perfect blend between humour, heat and a dash of sword-swinging chaos. This romantasy is equal parts quirky adventure and tender character study, with just enough teeth to keep things sharp.

The story follows Halla, a respectable widow who finds herself suddenly in possession of an enchanted sword, one that comes with a very grumpy and very shirtless sword-wielding man named Sarkis. He is magically bound to the blade, which is awkward, especially when all Halla wanted was to escape her late husband's greedy relatives. Their dynamic is hilarious and heartwarming, driven by witty dialogue and genuine emotional growth.

Halla is refreshingly practical and kind, while Sarkis is all honorable stoicism with a secret cinnamon-roll core.

The banter is sharp, the pacing brisk and the world, while not the focus, is rich enough to ground the story without overwhelming it. The romance builds organically, rooted in mutual respect and vulnerability and never feels forced.

Perfect for fans of found-family, low-stakes but high-emotion fantasy and romance that grows from friendship and trust.

The story is charming, weird and deeply satisfying. Whether you are here for the sword, the snark or the slow-burn romance, you will walk away smiling.

Many thanks to Little Brown UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC! It was a pleasure to read an review this early copy.

This was a first time read for this author and I will definitely be picking up more from this author!! This cozy fantasy was great, I loved the found family aspect in the book.

Swordheart is a cozy, weird, and wonderful fantasy full of snark, swords, and surprising sweetness. It features Halla, a talkative housekeeper who inherits an estate—and accidentally unleashes an immortal swordsman named Sarkis. Chaos (and romance) ensues.
While it didn’t hit quite as hard for me as the Saint of Steel books, it’s still a thoroughly enjoyable ride through the world of the White Rat. The real magic here isn’t just in enchanted weapons, but in how unapologetically human the characters are. I especially loved seeing a chatterbox woman not just tolerated but loved for her chatter. As someone who talks too much myself, that felt like a warm hug.

Funny, heartfelt, and just the right amount of weird—Swordheart is the kind of fantasy that leaves you smiling.

Halla, widowed and 30s, doesn't want to be married off to a cousin in order to keep the wealth in the family. Luckily she comes across a magical sword that happens to also be a man, and hijinks ensue.

I loved this book - it's cosy romantic fantasy with a lot of humour. The world needs more of this kind of book.
The characters give great banter, and there is solid representation of diverse groups here.

Although the plot includes darker elements like violence, murder, threats of forced marriage and all that comes with it, the tone is still light, if that's imaginable. Some may find this as offputting as Halla's calculatedly weaponised inanities, but the incongruity does mostly work.

Highly recommended for those looking for a fresh look at romantasy.

Such a great first introduction to T. Kingfisher's work that leaves me wanting to read more of her books. A new favourite author for sure! A humorous fantasy adventure with some (literal) guts and glory. The plot is intriguing from the get-go and hooked me until the end and beyond. The characters were dynamic and unpredictable, and there were some really heart-warming relationships between the protagonists and side characters. Zale and Brindle stole the show for me, hands down. I would've liked to see more worldbuilding, but that's more of a personal preference rather than a critique. Overall, an amazing book that got me out of a reading slump and excited for fantasy again.

I’m not normally one for cosy reads, I prefer high stakes and to be traumatised by the author. But I enjoyed Swordheart immensely.

T. Kingfisher’s writing is sharp and wonderfully detailed. Each character is distinct, the dialogue believable, and the world building incredible. But the humour is what truly made me love this book. It reminded me a lot of my Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. Halla and Serkis were reminiscent of Sam Vimes and Lady Sibyl. Swordheart will not be the last T. Kingfisher book I pick up, it’ll be difficult not to dive into the rest of their catalogue immediately.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me access in exchange for an honest review.

I've read and loved other works by the author and Swordheart does not disappoint, so if you love fantasy, cozy fantasy and a good laugh you will not be disappointed either.

Swordheart is a brilliant example of cozy fantasy done right. The characters are refreshingly unique and genuinely funny, and the world strikes a satisfying balance between the familiar and the fantastical.

The only drawback was the pacing. The plot meanders with a fair amount of travel, which at times made the narrative feel repetitive or slow. Still, the charm of the characters and the wit of the dialogue more than made up for it.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK in exchange for an honest review.

This had no reason to be over 400 pages and at times felt like it was being dragged out for the sake of it, but was still very solidly enjoyable for me. Interesting though that it's one of Kingfisher's highest rated books but probably one of my least favourite that I have read so far.

The dynamic between the two main characters felt very similar to that between the main characters of Paladin's Grace. It's a great dynamic but considering I read Paladin's Grace barely a month ago, it was potentially too soon to read something so similar, especially as they are set in the same universe. The mmc has the same fixation with the fmc's breasts, and there is a near-identical first kiss scene where the fmc then becomes convinced the mmc isn't actually interested.

Despite that, I found their relationship to be quite believable, and the romance plot was very entertaining. As usual, Kingfisher develops her side characters very well, and Zale and Brindle were absolutely delightful. The worldbuilding is great, I felt like I could picture it all really well, and it's a world I'm excited to spend more time in.

This book also confirmed for me that the Clocktaur War duology is also in the same universe and is set before Swordheart. There were some references to the events, which I tried to skim quickly even though I don't think there were any important spoilers. I do want to read the second book of that duology, The Wonder Engine, asap though. From what I can tell, Swordheart is then set before the Saints of Steel series but not too far before - there is a character in common (Zale), but the dead god that kicks off Paladin's Grace is alive during Swordheart.

This was super enjoyable. It was almost giving monty python vibes for a bit. I love LOVED how nerdy our FMC and the priest / lawyer got with making our MMC do random things to test out the magic of the sword, i was giggling the whole time.