This is my fourth book of the author
and was very excited to read the ARC.

Swordheart is an adventurous tale that has tons of interesting things happening to our main characters on unplanned road trips. It was hilarious, a bit repetitive, but had T. Kingfisher’s signature charm sprinkled throughout the story. If you are looking for a bodyguard romantasy full of adventure, I’d recommend this book.

Halla was naive and underestimated herself a lot for the most part of the book but she was bold and confident in voicing her ideas by the end of the book. She had a subtle yet noticeable character development in the story. The same couldn’t be said for other characters or the plot.

While I did enjoy reading this book, most incidents became predictable and repetitive after a point. It didn’t help that the characters travelled the same route for four times. Even our protagonists were tired of passing through the same roads.

However, if you are a fan of Paladin’s Grace or new to the author’s works, I’d suggest reading this book. It’s a good intro to the magic system and the Kingfisher’s world.

Favorite book alert!!
I love, love, love this story with all my heart!
Cozy fantasy and sweet romance at its finest!
If you enjoy quests, grumpy x sunshine dynamics, adorable characters, and lovable sidekicks, what are you waiting for? Read this book!!!!
It’s so worth it!
Infinite stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many thanks to NetGalley, Little Brown Book Group and T. Kingfisher for providing a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!!

Swordheart is a standalone cozy romantasy by T. Kingfisher that shares the same world with some of her other works. When housekeeper Halla inherits the estate of her great-uncle, his relatives scheme to get her married to the family to take back the wealth. She takes an antique sword to take her own life which released the spirit of the sword, Sarkis, an immortal swordsman bound to it by magic.

I started off not liking Halla, and I was annoyed by all her blithering (like I was meant to). But as the story went on, she just really grew on me. We learn much about her history and why she is the way she is, and we understand her and love her for it. Serkis meanwhile is a man bound to a sword, unknowingly seeking humanity in his circumstance and repentance for mistakes he made in the past, and he was just easy to like despite his grumpiness. Their romance totally worked for me with their forced proximity/sunshine+grump dynamic.

My favorite character though was Zale, the nonbinary priest/lawyer, a combination you wouldn’t expect to like. Brindle and his ox Prettyfoot round out the cast and make for a pretty great found family. I enjoyed the low stakes and the slow meandering pacing, serving well in furthering the cozy vibe. There’s silliness and fluff throughout, but it fit in well with the entire tone of the book. This is just a cozy romantasy all the way through and isn’t afraid to just stay in its lane.

Swordheart is a cutesy and fluffy cozy romantasy that is very different from T. Kingfisher’s darker stories.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me an early copy of this book.

We follow the story of Halla who just inherited her great uncle’s estate and fortune, but is imprisoned to marry her cousin by force. Fortunately, she finds a magic sword which holds an immortal fighter- Sarkis.

I really wanted to like it. The concept was fun and quite entertaining at the beginning, but the book was too long. The same events (like being attacked because people want to rob them) kept happening and a lot of the story could have happened in a novella rather than a novel.

I enjoyed learning more about the conditions of the sword and Sarkis’s story, but after 30% in I quickly grew bored.

Sarkis and Halla’s relationship developed nicely and slowly, but I was not invested in their relationship 100%, which did not make me care so much.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this advanced reader's copy and the opportunity to this early. Review has been posted on Waterstones and Goodreads.

This is my first time reading anything by T. Kingfisher, and WOW have I been missing out!!
An absolutely adorable, low stakes plot with characters that you can’t help but root for. The humour and wit in this book are out of this world, I laughed out loud more times than I can count. Immediately ordering a physical copy because this is one I will be reading and recommending non stop!!

With Swordheart, T. Kingfisher delivers a charming mixture of fantasy, romance and quirky humour - a novel that is somewhere between fairy tale, road trip and love story.
At the centre of the story is the widowed Halla, who suddenly comes into possession of an enchanted sword. It contains the warrior Sarkis, who is magically bound to her after an initial scene and has to accompany her on a turbulent journey in which Halla's legacy and her self-determination are at stake.

What initially sounds like a typical adventure story quickly develops into more of a cozy fantasy novel, with a strong focus on dialogue, character development and a slowly unfolding romantic arc. The dynamic between Halla and Sarkis - a classic Grumpy x Sunshine relationship - adds a lot to the entertaining atmosphere. The way Kingfisher takes his time to develop great depth of character from small moments is particularly successful.

However, the tone of the novel is not to everyone's taste. The humorous and quirky tales contrast with Halla's rather naive nature with the endearingly quirky characters. Sometimes she comes across as very exaggerated and also a little exhausting.
Kingfisher endeavours to explain these peculiarities in the course of the story - as protective mechanisms of a woman who has had to survive in a patriarchal world. This is done in a comprehensible way, but in the end I wasn't entirely convinced, so that I put the book aside every now and then, annoyed. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it!

If you liked Kingfisher's earlier works such as The Clocktaur War or A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking, you'll probably find what you're looking for here again. Swordheart is an unusual, sometimes contradictory novel - between lightness and seriousness, comedy and tragedy - that works above all if you are prepared to engage with its quirky idiosyncrasies.

Actual rating: 4,5 stars

Swordheart is another fantastic book by T. Kingfisher, full of delectable humour, lovable characters, delightful romance and exciting adventures.

The dynamic between Halla and Sarkis is especially delightful, sharp, funny, and genuinely heartwarming. It’s also refreshing to see older protagonists with rich backstories and motivations that reflect their life experiences.

My only criticism is that the story feel longer than necessary, and the pacing suffered from it. Other than that, Kingfisher’s humour, as usual, perfectly hit the spot and delivers a thoroughly enjoyable and cosy read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

A magical sword, a locked bedroom, and a reluctant widow with a knack for awkward honesty—Swordheart kicks off with all the right ingredients for a cozy romantic adventure, and for a while, it delivers exactly that. With her trademark dry humor and grounded protagonists, T. Kingfisher brings readers back to the World of the White Rat in a story full of banter, magic, and meandering mishaps.

Halla is an unexpectedly endearing heroine—thrust into chaos after inheriting her late uncle’s estate, only to find herself on the run with an immortal swordsman bound to protect her. Sarkis, the swordsman, is a gruff and weary warrior more accustomed to battlefields than breakfast conversations, and watching the two of them navigate each other’s quirks is one of the book’s core delights. Their dynamic falls comfortably into the grumpy x sunshine mold, and fans of that trope will find plenty to enjoy in their awkward, slow-to-bloom connection.

Kingfisher’s voice is unmistakable—witty, clever, and often delightfully irreverent. There are moments of genuine charm here, especially in the early chapters, where humor, worldbuilding, and budding affection intertwine beautifully. Halla’s insistence on asking far too many questions, and Sarkis’s confusion at being drawn into her very non-heroic problems, lend the story an absurdity that’s oddly wholesome.

That said, the book does begin to stumble under its own weight. At nearly 400 pages, the plot often meanders, with several detours that feel more like narrative padding than meaningful progression. The central romance—while sweet in places—leans heavily on repetition and physical attraction, and loses momentum in the latter half. Likewise, while Halla’s innocence is endearing at first, her characterization sometimes slides into exaggerated naïveté that makes her feel far younger than her stated age.

The tone, too, becomes uneven. What starts as charmingly offbeat begins to feel strained by overextended jokes and clunky pacing, and some of the humor detracts from the emotional beats that try to surface later in the story.

Still, Swordheart has heart—and fans of Kingfisher’s universe will find comfort in the familiar rhythm of her storytelling. It’s a book that tries to do a lot: romance, adventure, humor, emotional healing, and a bit of theological fantasy along the way. Some of it works beautifully; some less so.

It's a fun, uneven journey with moments of brilliance, weighed down by repetition and tonal inconsistencies. Worth a read for cozy fantasy fans, especially those already enchanted by the world of the White Rat.

I didn't want this book to end! Low fantasy, a hint of fairy tales, older protagonists, and with characters you grow to love from the first pages, it is a pleasure to read this world the author has created.

Halla and Sarkis are thrown together by unusual circumstances, and the addition of Zale and Brindle forms an endearing group that goes through many trials and tribulations. Witty, humorous, nerve wracking at times, and with some mild spice that manages to be funny at the same time, it is easy to lose yourself in the pages, walking along the dusty, well-travelled roads and through the wandering Vagrant Hills with them all.

T. Kingfisher is one of my favourite authors, and each book is a joy to read. Her quirky characters and even quirkier storylines are perfect for me, and I can't wait to read more of her stories. Highly recommend!

I love everthing T. Kingfisher writes, This has her typical coyz horror sugnature, complete with some whimsy for good measure. I especially enjoy the mature MCs.

a low-stakes Fantasy that will take you on a fun ride with well fleshed out loveable characters, a adventure that will make you want to turn pages and a romance that burns slowly but you cannot help but root for.
as with all Kingfisher books it is unique and entrancing right from the start.

I finished Swordheart by T. Kingfisher the other day. So far I had only read her Gothic novels, but while I expected to love her Fantasy books too, I underestimated just how much I would love Swordheart.

Right away I was pleased that the book’s protagonists are in their 30s and 40s. That was a really refreshing change of pace to the usually very young Fantasy protagonists, and it really reflects on their actions and thought processes. Halla and Sarkis are incredibly lovable protagonists (and I loved that we got both of their POVs), and Zale and Brindle are great characters as well. On top of that, Zale is also non-binary. The inclusion of that felt very natural and positive.

The plot is a little absurd and over the top, but that just works incredibly well. I laughed out loud at some parts and just had a blast reading the book. It’s definitely in part a parody of popular Fantasy tropes and it just does it well.

All in all, I highly recommend this book to any Fantasy fan. Except if you have clammy hands. Then maybe skip this one.

Halla’s quiet life of gentle struggle should have been improved immensely when her husband’s uncle leaves her his entire estate. Alas, the rest of the family has other ideas, and Halla finds herself locked in her bedroom and told that she will be marrying Cousin Alver (of the clammy hands) and should feel lucky that anyone would have her, middle-aged widow of no great beauty that she is. Deciding that would be a fate worse than death, she is in the process of trying to figure out how one goes about falling on a sword – since there’s an old, decorative one above the bed – in an efficient manner, when she accidently releases the warrior cursed to inhabit said sword.

Used to being summoned on battlefields, Sarkis is more than a little bemused to find himself confronted with a currently half-naked widow with a curious mind and ability to ask more questions than anyone could possibly hope to answer. Bound to protect her as the sword’s wielder, the pair escape and set off to seek help with the whole, messy situation.

I love, love, love Ursula Vernon’s (aka T Kingfisher) work, and was surprised and delighted to realised I’d somehow missed reading this one. It’s absolutely my favourite of her ‘genres’: fantasy for grown ups, not a fairy tale retelling (although those are also excellent), not horror (those are a little too good at being creepy!) although there is a lot of ‘real world’ horribleness, and with a large dollop of romance done so well I actually don’t mind despite usually disliking the genre. All of that and a big adventure, it’s wonderful!

Although it is a standalone tale, Swordheart is set in the World of the White Rat, after the Clockotaur Wars (Clockwork Boys, The Wonder Engine) and before the Saint of Steel books (starting with Paladin’s Grace), and with all of the warmth, humour, adventure, and common sense that I’ve loved about all of those.

One of the great strengths of many of Ms Kingfisher’s books is the often middle aged heroine possessing very down to earth skills and common sense. Halla is all of this, somehow maintaining a lovely wholesomeness in a world that hasn’t handed her a great deal of good. There’s such a real-world “ah-ha!”, too, in her explanation of playing ‘ditsy’ as a form of self-defence. It’s absolutely no wonder that Sarkis is so drawn to protecting her, while at the same time she is absolutely not a drippy damsel in distress.

I do think the structure of the romance plot is reused in one or more of the later books, so it did feel a little familiar. A lot of both sides assuming the other couldn’t possibly be interested, and neither with the best self-esteem about it all. However, it is very sweetly and well done here.

I think it’s also quite telling that this was an early book in the series, and there is perhaps a little too much crammed in? It makes for a richer story, yes, but also I did feel the pacing was a little off at times. Did the side journey into the Vagrant Hills really add to the whole, or could that perhaps have been streamlined? As the travellers bemoan the back-and-forth on the road there almost did feel to be one too many – well, maybe. And yet I loved spending time with these characters in this world, so even as I grumble I still loved reading it all so much that it barely dents my rating.

Reading this before the Paladin books would probably have worked better, where the themes will be reused, a little more calmly perhaps? I’m looking forward to a reread now! And I’m even more delighted by the suggestion that there could be another book or two following this one – absolute fingers crossed for that!

Oh I have been waiting impatiently for T Kingfisher to become available in the UK! This is a perfect blend of whimsy, cosy adventure, and magical world building with romance at its core -- my exact preferred combination in a gentle read.

Swordheart is a cozy fantasy romantic adventure with a lighter plot and filled with great banter that unfortunately for me suffered from being too long and repetitive.

Hella’s adopted great-uncle has left her everything - and her (non) relatives are not happy! Locking her away until she agrees to marry her “cousin”, Hella contemplates how to get out of her situation. Potentially in a very permanent way (TW suicide idealization). When she unsheathes a decorative sword she finds Sarkis, an immortal swordsman, who guards the sword and the wielder. After helping her escape, Sarkis and Hella are on the run. Sarkis vows to help Hella reach safety…which might just be more than he bargained for.

While sweet at times, I don’t believe this story needed to be anywhere near 400 pages. The journey becomes a bit repetitive, even in the humor and love story. The instalove and instalust for me just became tedious.

Personally, my biggest gripe is that I was looking forward to a 36 year old FMC…unfortunately she still reads like a 18-20 year old girl. For me, the draw of reading a 30’s/40’s character is that they have loved, they have grown, and they know who they are. Hella’s age here seems irrelevant, and she is sheltered, naive, a widow with little sexual experience, has the dialogue of a “quirky”teenager, and spends the whole story blushing. As a 35 year old woman, I found it really frustrating and couldn’t really get past it.

Content warnings: suicide idealization, hinted at SA (not on page).

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK, and Orbit Books for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review. The new print of Swordheart comes out June 17th.

This is an interesting book: I'm not sure where I come out on it.

I liked the initially whimsical nature of the story, but that wore off a bit as the story progressed, which was a bit of a shame.

I liked Halla and Sarkis, although their characters didn't feel fully developed to me somehow,

I liked the journey they went on together, until I didn't. But I did like the ending!

So, all in all a mixed bag as I have sometimes found this author's books to be. But they are always worth a read, so I'll keep picking her books up!

• Grumpy x sunshine
• Bodyguard romance
• Enchanted object
• Aventure
• Cozy fantasy

𝑨𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒅𝒐𝒘, 𝒂 𝒔𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒓, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒅 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓.

This read started off so well! The humorous tone of the book had won me over and made me smile, but the charm faded quicker than expected… The comedic style quickly turned ridiculous, awkward, repetitive, and overwhelming. Around halfway through, the humor shifted toward crude, piss/shit jar jokes that just irritated me.

The plot is incredibly flat! It lacks pacing and twists, so I wasn’t at all drawn into the story. The events are forgettable, and the author simply strings together scenes that are completely nonsensical. I honestly had no idea where she was trying to take us with this story — I felt like I was following an endless journey with no real destination.

As for the characters, I initially liked the FMC, Halla, who was portrayed as a clumsy, naive woman asking lots of questions. However, as the story progressed, she became increasingly absurd and caricatured. She started acting like a child — even though she’s supposed to be 36 years old??!! I get that the exaggeration is intentional, but that choice ruined any chance I had of connecting with her. As for the MMC, he left absolutely no strong impression on me.

The romance didn’t help either. Sarsis, the MMC, is obsessed with Halla’s boobs, which seriously put me off. So I didn’t enjoy the romantic aspect either, as it was based solely on lust, physical attraction — nothing felt authentic to me.

This book had a promising foundation, but everything fell apart way too quickly… what a shame.


જ⁀➴ Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for the eARC in exchange for a honest review <3

The only thing that makes me happier than reading this book is the fact that it’s the first in a series according to the author notes 🥳
This was the perfect blend of humour, low stakes adventure and romance.
One of my favourite things about Kingfisher is that her female characters are often in their 30s or 40s which is so refreshing.
Hella is a widowed housekeeper whose life is thrown into chaos by the death of her benefactor; whilst trying to evade a “suitor” of the clammy hand persuasion, she discovers a protector who has been cursed into a sword. Yes, into!
What follows is a fabulous fantasy adventure with a pitch perfect romance. I absolutely loved it.

ARC 4.5/5 ⭐️ I love this Romantacy, and I loved being back in this world again! Halla and Sarkis are such good characters, with such a sweet and awkward romance. Their journey had me laughing at times, it's was just such a cozy romantacy. And it was so good to see Zale again.

Thank you, NetGalley, Orbit, and T. Kingfisher, for sending this eARC for review. All opinions are my own.