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.

An interesting journey of an heiress and a swordsman trapped in a sword. The first part seemed a bit slow to me. From the middle onwards, it was a pleasant adventure, where I became suspicious of all the characters😂. Zale, the priest lawyer, is a great character. The author brings a sense of humor that elevates the story.

Delightfully weird, funny, and slightly awkward in the most relatable way.

I had so much fun with this book - T. Kingfisher has such a gift for taking the absurd and making it feel utterly natural. The pacing is easy and engaging, and the humour is woven through every page.

The romance between Halla and Sarkis fits seamlessly into the story rather than feeling like an add-on.

I would definitely recommend to this anyone looking for a quirky, cosy fantasy.

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher was an absolute delight to read!

It follows Halla, a widow who recently inherited her late husband's great uncle's estate. In her desperation to escape his family, who are trying to steal her inheritance, she draws a sword that has been on display in the house for years. However, it turns out that the sword is actually a magical artifact that houses the spirit of a man named Sarkis, who is bound to serve whoever wields the sword.

This book is a textbook example of what a cosy, low-stakes romantasy should be. The worldbuilding is interesting without being too overwhelming, the prose is engaging and humorous, and the balance of plot to relationship development is perfect. I especially loved the entire cast of characters--their personalities were all unique and the dynamics between Halla, Sarkis, and the side characters were all very entertaining (regardless of if they were friend or foe!).

I think that anyone who enjoys cosy romantasy books would absolutely love Swordheart. I can confidently say that it is now among my all time favourite books and I cannot wait to read more from T. Kingfisher!

Swordheart tells the story of Hella and her journey with Sarkis and Zale. The book is fun, and I really enjoyed reading it.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.0 stars.

If you want a weird, wonderful and unique read then you always look to T Kingfisher to provide.

This story had banter throughout, the characters are interesting and witty. Our FMC especially made me laugh with her endless inquisitive pestering which obviously irked our MMC quite thoroughly. The MMC is probably the most unique I’ve read about in a while. I enjoy their dynamic quite a bit, they go on a quest like journey while trying to rectify the FMC’s dire situation.

We get some awful family members, fun side characters and some captivating moments while the FMC and MMC drive each other mad, what a great time!

I've read a couple of books by T Kingfisher now and this is definitely my favourite.

Swordheart is a cosy fantasy that follows Halla, a respectable widow and her sworn guardian, who just so happens to have appeared out of a magical sword. They must go on a quest to seek help dealing with inheritance issues and controlling family members.

T Kingfisher's writing is super easy to follow, filled with delightful wit and humour. I liked how she managed to not have me wincing at any gory scenes. Her world building had me picturing every scene perfectly.

I loved reading about a 35+ year old woman, she was logical and funny, and it was nice to read about someone similar to my age. The love interest was a grumpy 500 year old swordsman who found Halla tedious and adorable all at the same time. I really enjoyed the banter between and seeing there relationship grow.

It also had me excited to pick up Paladin's Grace with the mention of Paladins.

Thank you netgalley for this arc!

Within the first page I was like oh yeah this is the funniest book ever written, just a clown car full of personality! I had so much fun hoo-hooing and hee-heeing! However I really should have read clockwork boys first and that’s on me I just skipped through the specifics where possible! OOPS! MY BAD!

Imagine: You’re a respectable, recently widowed woman, minding your own business, inheriting some weird family stuff, when BAM—you open a sword and out pops a warrior with Opinions™, Attitude™, and a severe allergy to shirts.

That’s Swordheart in a nutshell. And oh, what a delightfully unhinged nutshell it is. This book is like if The Princess Bride, Howl’s Moving Castle, and a late-night Tumblr post had a baby and then sent that baby to therapy and gave it a sword.

Let’s talk characters, Halla is the practical, awkward, cinnamon roll you never knew you needed. She’s brave in the “I guess I’ll do this even though I’m scared out of my mind” kind of way, which honestly? Big relatable energy. Sarkis, the cursed sword-dude, is basically a grumpy golden retriever warrior who takes emotional damage every time someone shows him affection. He’s baffled by kindness, loyalty, and shirts. I loved him instantly. Together, they are the definition of witty banter, which we all know I love. Their chemistry is built on mutual respect, healing, and figuring out how to adult in very confusing circumstances.

Oh, and the fantasy world? Low-key insane in the best way. Bureaucratic paladins, cursed relics, and the occasional necromantic shenanigans, it basically feels like it could be your dream destination for your next chaotic D&D campaign. The real magic, though, is how Swordheart balances laugh-out-loud absurdity with genuine emotional growth. There’s commentary on autonomy, boundaries, and what it means to choose your own fate, even if that choice involves falling for the sword you accidentally unleashed in your living room.

My only (tiny) gripe? The plot meanders just a smidge in the middle, like it took a scenic route through side-quest territory. But honestly, I was having such a good time with the characters that I barely noticed.

Final verdict? This book is a love letter to weirdness, consent, and healing in the least expected places. It made me laugh, made me feel things, and made me slightly concerned that I now want to befriend cursed weapons. 10/10 would unsheath again. Huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher & the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for this arc.

this book settles it for me. t. kingfisher is the queen of cozy fantasy.
this is the third book i've read by her, recently also having finished paladin's grace, and she is very good at what she does.
how she keeps coming up with all these amazingly original concepts is beyond me, but i'm glad she does.
this book is wise, cunning, a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day, and funny all at once.
i commend this author, and will keep reading her work!

You can always trust T.Kingfisher to weave a magical tale. This one errs more on the side of comedy fantasy romance.

Set within the Clocktaur universe, the story follows Halla, a widow who has recently been caring for her father-in-law. The rest of the family is less than happy to discover he has left his entire inheritance to her. The adventure begins with her locked in her bedroom, waiting to be married off to one of the in-laws. To her aid comes Sarkis, a warrior who is bound within a magical sword.

What follows is a classic adventure, featuring wonderful side characters, villains, side quests, and lots of travelling up and down the same road. The romance is cute and slow-burn; the FMC is a typical Kingfisher – a little socially awkward, quirky, talks too much, and self-deprecating 30-something who has probably lived a sheltered life and has a tragic backstory.

I’ve not read the Clocktaur War, but didn’t feel like I missed out on any world-building, so you can jump straight into this one.

I would say that the story gets a little repetitive towards the end, the pacing drops off, and it feels like we’re back at stage one of the quest again, but that doesn’t detract from the whole experience.

If you love witty banter, slow-burn romance and quest squad, then you’ll probably enjoy this.

Let me just start by saying that I love T. Kingfisher's writing style. It's very easy to follow, her humor is just the best and even when she adds grim scenes here and there, they don't really take you out of the story.

This started out quite well. The scene is set and the characters are presented early on.
The flow was good and it was hilarious at times. Middle aged people acting all shy and flirting awkwardly made me laugh out loud.
Everything was from a dual POV; we were either in the head of the FMC or the MMC and it was entertaining to see how they perceived people and situations.

By the 50% mark it started to get a bit too long. It dragged on and on when it really didn't need to. The conflict could've been wrapped up much sooner. But new challenges were being added and then quickly resolved when the main conflict took more than half of the book to conclude.

Nonetheless, the story was enjoyable and the characters were fun and diverse.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for an early copy of this book in an exchange for an honest review.

DNF: 43%

There is nothing really bad that I can say about Swordheart. I don't hate this book, I have no strong feelings. In fact, I have very little to say about it, because I just did not care at all. I liked the beginning, the first few chapters, because something was actually happening. But then, it took an unexpected turn for me and suddenly I was just bored. The pacing is very slow, and the writing does not really help to make the story flow nicely. Reading even 10% of this book felt like years of my life passed in between.

I finally managed to break out of my reading slump with the last book I finished, and Swordheart brought it back very quickly. I am DNFing this book simply because I am bored, do not care and just do not want to continue. It may be the slump, but I am reading other books alongside Swordheart and I am enjoying those much more and reading them far quicker than this book. So, I think the likely case is, that Swordheart and me just do not really mash. I've heard that Swordheart is supposed to be more of a cozy fantasy/cozy fantasy romance and I definitely agree. The romance is a central part of the story.

I like Halla and Sarkis, our main characters, and I am kind of sad that I won't see the end of their story. But I just could not do the slow pace. I defintely enjoyed following Halla as an older female protagonist. She's in her late thirties, which we do not see that often in fantasy books. What slightly irritated me was, that she constantly reffered to herself as "middleaged" or "old". Like, thirty-something is not old or even middleaged in my opinion. And it was brought up constantly. Almost every other chapter.

Another praise I have is the inclusion of a non-binary monk named Zale. They are only a side character, but I loved their personality. And I love that everyone just accepts that they are non-binary and does not question it. We definitely need more queernormative fantasy worlds.

I also enjoyed the world-building and the different cultures we encounter. We also have different pantheons of gods, some people worship only one god, some have multiple. This world definitely feels thought out and very unique. I know that T. Kingfisher wrote more books in the same world and I 100% want to try them all.

I can still definitely reccomend Swordheart if you do not mind a slower paced cozy fantasy with a big focus on the romance.