Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC and the publisher for a finished paperback! all thoughts are my own.

Swordheart made me laugh within the first few pages, and continued to do so throughout. The wittiness is brilliantly done, and while the story certainly has its hilarious moments, it also manages to be heartfelt, emotional, romantic and pretty high stakes at the same time. There's a cosiness that runs throughout, the world setting one that reminds me of something like The Princess Bride. It definitely has this nostalgic feeling about it! The characters were fantastic. Halla is a breath of fresh air - a 36 year old widow who is very practical but at times seriously naive. Thank the great god for Sarkis, bound to the sword and its wielder, and exasperated at every turn. Found family works itself into the plot with the appearance of Temple of the Rat Priest Zale and their gnole companion Brindle, who join Halla and Sarkis on a cross-country quest. Beautiful. I want to read a thousand more books set in this world!

dnf at 37%

it's not a bad book but i do not think it's a book for me.

i was listening to the audiobook for an hour or so and when i saw the progress i had made, i only felt despair that there was still this much left. i don't think i should push myself to read a book that makes me feel this way.

i'm still grateful to netgalley and the publisher for providing me this early reviewer copy.

A fun, cosy fantasy with entertaining characters and incredible world building - what else would you expect from a T. Kingfisher book!?
Swordheart's unlikely protagonist is Halla, a respectable widow who ends up going on quite the adventure with Sarkis, aka an enchanted sword/man, in order to rightfully claim her inheritance from her evil family. Along the way, Zale (non-binary priest/lawyer of the rat god), and Brindle (a gnole, kind of like a talking badger type creature) and an ox join their quest, and hijinks ensue.
At the end of the day, this book is just pure fun, and it's perfect when you want to read high fantasy without having to work really hard at it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to the eARC.

Swordheart is a delightful, cosy fantasy, with all the good whimsical bits, without drifting into a cringe. It's comforting and funny, but as with all of T. Kingfishers books, with an edge that elevates Swordheart from cosy fantasy to really fantastic cosy fantasy.

⤷ 3✩

Thanks to Orbit for providing me with the E-ARC via NetGalley.

Swordheart is quite entertaining with a good writing style and well-executed world building. However, I miss an emotional attachment to anything happening in the story. I don’t feel that engaged to the characters, as I did not necessarily care for the fate of any of them. The plot sometimes falls a bit flat. Not a lot seems to happen. Problems seem to occur just for the sake of a funny quote or to keep the story moving. Overall, quite entertaining, but not mind blowing by any means.

If you love a cozy fantasy this is most definitely worth the read. The whimsy and journey are so fun and keep you so entertained. The romance had great moments but also some cheesy moments, I touch of some cringe. But I still had a great time.

T. Kingfisher’s Swordheart is a delightful and sharply written fantasy romance set in the same universe as The Clocktaur War series, though it stands independently. With its lower-stakes plot and character-driven focus, the novel blends humor, adventure, and heartfelt romance into an utterly charming narrative.

The story follows Halla, a practical widow who inherits her late husband's estate, only to be imprisoned by his family until she agrees to marry her cousin. In a desperate moment, she unsheathes a decorative sword, unleashing Sarkis, a cursed warrior bound to protect the sword’s wielder. What follows is a journey filled with quirky legal battles, magical creatures, witty banter, and slow-burn romance, as the duo seeks justice through the Temple of the White Rat.

A refreshing departure from the typical young fantasy hero archetype, Swordheart features protagonists in their 30s and 40s, lending emotional maturity and grounded decision-making to the story. The narrative is strengthened by a diverse and inclusive cast, including Zale, a nonbinary Rat priest and lawyer, and Brindle, a gnole with a dry wit.

While the plot leans into absurdity and playful parody of fantasy tropes, it’s the relationships, particularly the endearing dynamic between Halla and Sarkis, that truly shine. The book balances cozy fantasy with deeper themes of self-worth, consent, identity, and personal freedom. Kingfisher also thoughtfully addresses topics rarely explored in traditional epic fantasy, such as bodily autonomy, legal rights, and gender inclusion, without ever interrupting the story’s pace or tone.

With rich dialogue, inventive worldbuilding, and a cast of deeply human characters, Swordheart is a joyful, intelligent read that blends romance and adventure with compassion and humor. Fans of romantasy and cozy, character-driven fantasy will find this novel a standout, both laugh-out-loud funny and quietly profound.

Highly recommended for readers seeking a fresh, inclusive, and heartwarming fantasy experience.

There is just something magical about this talented authors books. They are always filled with heartening scenarios and characters you would really like to meet in real life. A reliably consistent author.

Swordheart is, unsurprisingly, an absolute delight. Classic T Kingfisher; full of lovable characters who you want to follow forever. I’m always happy in the world of the white rat!!

I really enjoyed this book (no surprise there).
Halla is trying to kill herself in order to escape having to marry a man with clammy hands. The sword sword she chooses to throw herself on happens to be an enchanted on and it turns into Sarkis, ancient warrior turned ... well, sword.
He's bound to protect her from everything, including herself. So he helps her escape and they set off on a wild adventure to try and find a lawyer to help Halla keep her inheritance.
This book is set in the world of the Paladins. It was really nice to see lawyer from the Temple of the Rat again (great non-binary rep). This book was interesting and Halla was genuinely funny. She's a heroine who has weaponised her 'incompetence' (she says 'they don't kill stupid women, they just kick them aside'; she's not stupid, but she's really good at pretending to be when needed). Sarkis is old fashioned and has his own code of honour. It's all terribly cute and funny.
If you like cosy fantasy that's funny and interesting and character driven, you'll love this book.

This was a fun ride! Not my favourite from this author, and a little slow in places, but it was cute. Loved the characters, especially the non binary priest. It’s definitely one I’ll be recommending.

The book starts with Halla locked in her room in the house she has just inherited. She has been cornered by the family who expected that they would inherit it, and who intend to force her to marry as a way of bringing things back in line with their expectations. Halla's way out of this predicament appears when she draws a sword which summons an immortal warrior to come to her aid.

Kingfisher regularly writes books that are fun and easy to read, and this is no exception. This one is on the lighter side with plenty of humour and friendship and romance and only a few touches of horror. It also includes a fair amount of the Temple of the White Rat, an institution with a practical and not always legal attitude to getting justice for those who call upon it, and which I have an existing fondness for based on Kingfisher's other books in the same universe.

DNF 40%

This had a promising start but unfortunately it's just too slow to allow me to really get into it. The characters are cute and I really like both of them but I don't really buy their romantic chemistry. The world is really well built and interesting, and the characters are charming as always, but the plot wasn't really for me.

A really funny and delightful romance that had me giggling and kicking my feet the whole time. Halla is a fantastic character with her constant questioning that comes in handy when befuddling the many dangerous people they encounter. Would love to read more books in this series as hinted by the end. I desperately need to know what happens to the others who were trapped in swords! I can only hope that this reprint means more books might be coming. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Swordheart is a delightfully funny fantasy romance romp by T Kingfisher (aka one of my favourite authors). It is / has:
• F/M fantasy romance with older main characters
• An unlikely alliance, he is bound to a sword…
• Quests
• Dual POV
• Set in the same world as the Clocktaur War dulogy and The Saint of Steel series.
In Swordheart we follow Halla, a 36-year-old widow turned housekeeper who is left a surprise inheritance upon the death of her uncle-in-law; however, her relatives-in-law are not too pleased and hope to manipulate the situation to their advantage. Cue Halla, whilst locked in a room contemplating her options drawing a mounted sword, which isn’t all it seems…it summons Sarkis, the immortal warrior bound to the sword and now Halla’s protector. What follows is the story of Halla seeking her inheritance whilst romance blossoms.

Obviously, I loved the slightly zany plot, but I also loved so much more:
• One of my favourite things about T Kingfisher is the engaging and unique main characters she pens. Halla like many other T Kingfisher MCs is very endearing, she is in her mid-30s, she is inquisitive, and I loved following her in the story. Sarkis is also brilliant; he is a little grumpy and frequently baffled (and enamoured) by Halla; but their opposites attract dynamic kept my romance seeking heart very happy.
• The romance! Halla and Sarkis’ first meeting is so funny, and the relationship develops from allies to more. Plus there are some tropes I love (sharing warmth, forced proximity to name but a few).
• We also have great side characters and villains. For readers that have read the other books in this world they will be happy to know that we have a representative of the Temple of the White Rat (Beartongue even makes an appearance) and a gnole, as side characters. Our in-law relatives, aka the main villains were dastardly, Alver’s ‘clammy hands’ and manipulative self-serving aunt Malva, I impatiently awaited them getting the comeuppance.
• Like I have already mentioned, this story is hilarious, from Sarkis’ reactions to Halla, and the absurd situations they both find themselves in, this was a hugely entertaining read.

This book is a fantasy romance with unique twists, I would say it is a must read for fans of T Kingfisher (if you’ve not read it already), and a great option for fans of the fantasy romance genre.

4.5

I’ve been wanting to read a T. Kingfisher book for some time now and was delighted to get the chance to read Swordheart. I went into this book not knowing a great deal about the premise and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

I think Halla may be one of my favourite characters ever put on the page. She is relatable, smart, hilarious, curious and an absolute pro at pretending to be stupid. This was especially enjoyable when brought out in front of actually stupid and ridiculous male characters. Halla was wonderful and should get all her flowers.

Sarkis, the sword, was also brilliantly written. He was impatient, scowly and oh so loving. All the main characters love boldly in this story. Also, I was so here for the conceit of a man living in a sword and his back story was really intriguing.

Zale is a delight and I loved their friendship with Halla. Brindle was also wonderful. A human loved this gnole and his ox.

This was a great story with a lovely balance between plot and romance. The world building and magic was also concise and cool. I can’t wait to read more T.Kingfisher.

While plotting to end her own life to avoid marrying her overtly clammy cousin, girl finds and accidentally frees a man in a magic sword. Cue a cross country road trip featuring the slowest ox in existence, a non-binary Rat Priest, a witty badger and numerous encounters with some annoying individuals that absolutely don't end up in a frozen lake.

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Plot
I really enjoyed this plot. The premise itself is simple, but the way this entire story is put together, with the witty nuances and clever characters is just excellent. Every step of their journey is creative and filled with interesting dialogue and more religious organisations that is perfectly reasonable.
I even enjoyed learning about Sarkis' past and how this tied in with the ongoing plot.
There was a little spot of filler, but this in itself was so unique that I didn't really notice until they'd driven the cart right out.

Characters
FMC
I really liked this FMC. She was clever, showing her intuition no matter the situation and using her brain to get herself out of trouble, no matter how unorthodox. I actually really enjoyed her wittering, especially in the face of danger and ever more so when in conjunction with the Rat Priest; they made a wonderful pairing. At times she did come across a bit too absurd (I'm looking at you jar scene), but you know what, it worked.

MMC
Sarkis is a great MMC. I didn't really know what we'd get from a 500-ish year old sword-man, but I'm really glad we got a strong and caring individual who was pleasantly shocked to have this particular FMC as his wielder. I also enjoyed exploring this world through his eyes.

The Rest
Zale - our Rat Priest and solicitor, adds another hilarious voice into the mix. I particularly liked his interactions with the other priest sects and her family.

Brindle - the bestest badger ox cart driver.

Her family - deliciously horrible.

The Chemistry
These guys have great chemistry. And do you know what's even better? They're both adults. Who act like adults (at least most of the time).

The Good
This premise is just wonderful and I love it so much.

The Bad
Maybe a squidge long? Naaahhhh

The Ugly
Definitely no uglies.

The Wrap Up
For those folks looking for their true love, have you considered checking any swords around the house?

Massive thanks to Little, Brown Book Group (UK) for letting me read this ahead of its release (re-release?) in return for an honest review.

This was amazing! I'm so happy I discovered T. Kingfisher; I absolutely love how she writes and how she got me completely hooked from page 1. I will definitely pick up other Kingfisher's works.

Swordheart is a beautiful adult cozy romantasy that made me genuinely laugh with the characters' banters… they're so hilarious. It was definitely a refreshing reading, nothing like what I've read before.

I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a cute magical story with very witty and mature characters (finally not 16-year-olds!!)

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy!

There's nothing that T Kingfisher does better than a beautifully crafted couple, bantering in a fantasy world that's slightly falling apart around their ears.

What makes Kingfisher such an exceptional writer is the way that she handles the tougher subjects, things that are somehow deemed taboo rather than openly talked about--such as birth control and the fact that heroes really aren't allowed to go on a murdering spree, regardless of what our D&D campaigns may have told us.

It was a joy to return to the world of the Clocktaur Wars, as Kingfisher's stories are driven primarily by their characters and its easy to slip within these stories.

I'd recommend to fantasy and romantasy fans alike.

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher is such a joyously cozy feel good read, I literally wanted to hug it when I finished.
Halla is a widow in middle age who has unexpectedly inherited a large estate, immediately making her a marriage prospect for her spineless and sweaty palmed cousin who has cooked up a plan with his scheming mother that would see the estate and fortune pass into their hands. Halla wants nothing to do with the man or the plan and soon finds herself locked in her room to think it over, while instead thinking of increasingly desperate and rather silly ways of killing herself, a fate infinitely better than the planned marriage. When she spots a dusty sword as part of the room's decor she pulls it from its sheath and is shocked to find herself in the presence of Sarkis, a rather grumpy warrior, though of course it is pretty reasonable to be grumpy when you have been cursed and trapped in a sword for hundreds of years, sworn to protect its wielder. In order to protect Halla he will not be facing an army, but rather her in-laws, some bugling bandits...and maybe an Inquisition.
This grumpy sunshine quest was so much fun, but you do have to be willing to go with the whimsy and enjoy the humour, if you are looking for high stakes and drama this might not be the book for you. The found family that Halla surrounds herself with is delightful, including a non binary Rat Priest /Lawyer whose pragmatism sometimes outstrips his piety, and Brindle, a badger like creature with surprisingly keen observational skills. If you are willing to meander along in some excellent company then pick up this book.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.