Unfortunately this was not a book for me. After trying to pick it up a couple of times, I couldn’t get into the story and the characters, especially the FMC. The FMC annoyed me to the max and couldn’t get past her behaviour. This meant that I DNF it at around 20%, instead of getting more annoyed with the FMC and pushing myself through it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love reading anything written by T. Kingfisher. This is also one of my favourites from her. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. I can't wait for her new work.

What a marvelous read! This is exactly how Romantasy touches my heart! I am a devoted fan of small stories set within vast, epic worlds. And “Swordheart” is a beautifully magical, utterly adorable, and hilariously charming tale that captured my soul.
Hella is a widow who has just inherited her late great-uncle’s estate and fortune. Yet, her family cannot bear the thought of losing the family wealth to her, especially not to her. They try to force her into a marriage with her cousin. Faced with despair, she contemplates surrendering to her fate, but then a mystical, immortal warrior living within a Sword appears—stopping her and helping her toward justice.
The characters are simply extraordinary. Each one shines brilliantly through their interactions, and the romantic chemistry between Hella and Sakis feels so genuine and compelling. What touched me deeply was how Queerness is woven so seamlessly into this magical world. Zale, the nonbinary priest and attorney, is always respected and never questioned for their gender. Marriage customs are discussed with a non-heteronormative tradition. Meanwhile, Sarkis as the fierce warrior and Hella as the caring housekeeper are traditional roles that T Kingfisher masterfully reimagines with a feminist, empowering twist.
The humor in this book is absolutely delightful. Watching Zale and Hella investigate the science behind the magical Sword in which Sarkis resides had me laughing out loud multiple times.
Aside from “What Moves the Dead,” this has quickly become one of my favorite books by T Kingfisher.

This was such a fun time! The two MCs were hilarious, I love T. kingfisher’s humour and wit.
Halla after being left her late husband’s relative’s inheritance and being kidnapped by his family, she unsheathes a sword and a warrior comes out of it. Sarkis is bound to a sword and has to protect whoever owns it. Halla runs with Sarkis to the temple of the rat to seek help and get back her house and her life.
Personally the relationship between the two MC was hilarious, they were perfect for each other. They reminded me a lot of other works by the same author, which I’ve loved so far. I loved the connection with the other paladin’s series and I cannot wait to get a sequel for this as well as end the other series. The trips and tumbles that the main cast of characters take were super fun to read. The plot was fun and fast paced as well. The humour is top tier in my opinion and I loved my time with this.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars
This was fun, albeit it felt a bit too long or like it dragged a bit but still very engaging.
I like the author's writing style and the way the characters were written.
The plot was fun and cute and different.
Overall, it was a very entertaining read.

A perfect grumpy x sunshine dynamic that really works.
On one side: Sarkis, a grumpy warrior magically trapped in a sword.
On the other: Halla, a witty, talkative widow who's intelligent, funny, and refreshingly normal—not a typical badass heroine, but so endearing.

The pacing is slow, and there’s not much action, but that’s the charm of it. It’s a cozy fantasy filled with sharp dialogue, heartwarming moments, and a lovely found family vibe.

It’s fun, clever, and comforting. A refreshing read that doesn’t rely on epic battles or drama, but on character connection and quiet strength.

Recommended if you’re into soft fantasy, memorable characters, and romance that feels genuine.

Halla is such a yapper and I love it! Her rambling sessions were so amusing and hilarious, especially when she would confuse everyone around her to a point they forgot what they've even wanted to do with her. Sarkis's grumpy personality went very well with her sunshine-ness and their conversation were adorable, albeit sometimes exasperating for Sarkis.

I loved Zale with their bendable morals and Brindle's obsession over his ox and muttering about how humans are stupid. The whole found family element with these four (five if you count the ox) was my favorite part of this book and I'd like to follow them on more adventures.

This was my first mostly fantasy leaning book by T Kingfisher and it blew me away with its clever humor and its interesting and complex characters.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a honest review ✨

As soon as the mmc was introduced, his first line made me laugh, and I thought I was going to love this book. I found the pacing too slow so it became a bit boring. If you want something easy then this is probably a good pick, but it just wasn't for me. Maybe it's too soon after reading assistant to the villain - both mfc's are very similiar. Halla is sweet and naive, and very likeable. Zane is a great character, but I just found there wasn't enough going on to excite me

I’m really trying to read more fantasy, so when I got approved for this one I was keen to dive in. What a book! I really felt for Halla and loved her dynamic with Sarkis. A really great fantasy read that I couldn’t put down

Readers of this blog are well aware that I'm on a bit of a T. Kingfisher tear at the moment. Having finished the Saints of Steel series, I dove straight into Swordheart, a (currently) standalone fantasy book set in the same world. While it is not her strongest book, it's still a fun and charming romantic fantasy adventure.

One of the delights of Swordheart is the link to the Saints of Steel books, as well as the Clocktaur War duology. We see some familiar faces from these other books - one of my particular favourite side characters from Paladin's Grace plays a large supporting role in this story and was an absolute delight. The Temple of the White Rat is the connective tissue of this particular fantasy universe, and I’m always happy to see our do-gooders play a role in Kingfisher’s stories. We also get introduced to the concept of her particular brand of magic swords, which was just so cool and gave us a glimpse into the wider world and magic.

Halla and Sarkis are our romantic leads, and I really enjoyed their banter and relationship arc, though it wasn't as strong as some of the relationships she writes in later books. I do think that their individual characters could have been a little more fleshed out. This is where her experience as a writer comes into play. I can see what she was trying to do with these characters, especially Halla, but unfortunately I don’’t think she quite hit the mark. Rather than being a multidimensional and complex character, Halla came across as just not that bright, while Sarkis was quite single-minded and repetitive. However, they did ultimately compliment each other and the romance was charming.

Swordheart is one of her earlier titles - it initially came out in 2018. You can see how she has grown as a writer - this book features her trademark charm, lightheartedness, and tinge of darkness. I actually went back and counted how many books she’s published since Swordheart's initial release - fourteen! I always enjoy going back through a beloved author's backlist and seeing how they have evolved, and Swordheart is no different.

I’d definitely recommend Swordheart as a fun standalone title, but perhaps not as one’s first Kingfisher book . While not her strongest book, I think fans will still delight in digging into her backlist. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that books about the other two swords - we’ll have to wait and see!

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I’m a huge T kingfisher fan and this one is just another great one. I thought I loved her horror stories most, but the fantasy is just so cozy in a way. I have read 3/4 from the saint of steel along with nettle & bone, sorceress comes to call and clockwork boys. All are fantastic. I highly recommend this one and I loved returning to this world!

Thank you so much for the early copy.

I absolutely love T. Kingfisher's writing, and this book is no exception. Halla is a wonderful main character - she is seen as “weak” by almost everyone around her, but she’s actually much more intelligent and perceptive than anyone gives her credit for. I loved her curiosity and millions of questions, which were such an unexpected and hilarious way to get out of sticky situations. I was laughing out loud when she was rambling about cauliflower to get out of a confrontation with the priests of the Hanged Mother. Sarkis was a lovable grump, and it was nice to see him realise that Halla is strong in her own way, even if he did often want to beat his head against a wall. I love Zale as well - they were an excellent addition to the trio!

Kingfisher always writes brilliant banter and realistic love stories, two things I’ll never get tired of. This is a lovely, lighthearted and cozy fantasy read which I highly recommend. Can’t wait for the sequel!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of T. Kingfisher and all of their works. This one is no exception. From horror to fantasy, they can do no wrong in my eyes.

OMG all I can say was I absolutely loved it!

The juxtaposition between Halla and Sarkis absolutely cracked me up. It is really hard to have a favorite character in this book as each is so unique in their own way. Halla’s curiosity leading to question after question and being able to utilise that (and acting stupid) to get herself out or near death situations is brilliant.

Sarkis grumpy yet loving personality means you can’t help but feel for him and how he feels about his new wielder, his annoyance yet compliance at all the “little tests” thrown at him by Halla and Zale show he has a soft side under his warrior exterior.

And zale how can i explain them, the priest that you build a love for, his compassion, his humour and ability to stay calm in so many unexpected situations draws you in. I felt like he became the fun uncle or fatherly figure that Halla needed in her life.

An unexpected trio that come together under complex and somewhat dangerous circumstances build an undeniable bond that is an enjoyment to read.

A great easy read, fantastic storylines and characters I wish I could meet in real life!

T Kingfisher strikes again. Whilst the formula is familiar, it never ceases to delight, as all her characters are quite distinct. Girl meets boy, boy rescues girl, they go on a quest, they fall in love. Right?

Except… everyone is an adult (in fact, one of them is several hundred years old and sort of immortal and sort of undead).

But, it’s not that kind of story either. No sexy vampires here.

Instead, it’s the kind of story where a widow discovers that the apparent way out of her troubles is an ancient, cranky barbarian trapped in a magical sword, and with said sword she will determine her inheritance. Which will involve a very good lawyer, a very slow ox-cart, and a gnole.

A book to laugh and to sigh over, with surefire pacing and enough humour and tension and novelty to make the more obvious plot points shine.

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher is not the kind of romance I typically go for, but maybe that’s why it totally worked for me.

If I had to describe this beautiful novel, it’s like The Princess Bride movie and Priestess by Kara Reynolds had a baby. And that baby grew up to be a story about:
✔️ a cursed swordsman
✔️ a respectable widow who just wants to escape her in-laws
✔️ a priest-lawyer whose God is a rat
✔️ a gnole (badger-mole thing?) and his beloved ox

It sounds unhinged, and it is, but in the best way.

The humour is sharp and clever, the banter is excellent not only with the FMC and MMC but with supporting characters too, and the romance is surprisingly sweet (the spice level is not zero, but not much more).

What really stood out was the main character, Halla. She’s not your typical heroine. She’s not swinging a sword or saving the world; she’s a sensible, world-weary widow who’s had enough of everyone’s nonsense, especially her terrible in-laws. She’s smart in a way that feels real and earned, but also sheltered and kind in a way that makes you want to be her best friend. And her ability to go on charming, exasperated tirades is just another reason I loved Halla. Somehow, she ends up with a hot, curmudgeon swordsman trapped in an actual sword, he helps her escape her crazy in-laws for an adventure on the road. Mayhem ensues. And the rest, as they say, is history.

I also want to point out that Kingfisher wrote an incredible nonbinary side character that feels real and developed and not just there for “diversity” and it made me love this novel even more.

i really really tried to enjoy this book, but the writing style unfortunately wasn’t for me. i made it to around 20% and had to dnf.

I'm very on the fence with Swordheart. The writing itself was lovely; I felt like I was reading a fairytale and I really enjoyed that aspect. On the other hand, the story meandered unnecessarily and was too bogged down by (oftentimes cringe) humour and back-and-forth for me. I could've done with the book being 100 pages less. I liked the characters to begin with but by the end I'd had enough of them (I'd never tire of Brindle and the ox though). The romance was my least favourite thing but that was unfortunately a very big part of the plot - Sarkis was just too much of a brute for me and I couldn't take to him.

A mesmerising read that drew me in from page 1. Beautiful author craft, a captivating story and some really great characters.

Swordheart is a fun lighthearted journey reminiscent of The Princess Bride where opposites attract and chaos ensues. Throw in some witty banter and cute but cringey moments and you have a the perfect fantasy romance story for a rainy day.