• I received an ARC for this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and I appreciate both your work and commitment to this project. The following opinion is my own and holds no major spoilers. •

Swordheart is proof there are still books out there that can exceed my expectations, even amongst the fantasy genre I’m so used to reading. I was expecting somewhat of a tragic romantasy and not one where I’d lose track of time while laughing so much until my Kindle notified me I was out of battery and that it was 4am.

The story tells us about Halla, our FMC stuck in a situation where she’s the heir of her great-uncle who passed away and held captive by her family who wants to marry her with a cousin to keep the fortune in the family (and away from her hands). Realizing death is a better way out, she finds a sword and decides to take her life away with it. However, when she unsheathes it, the guardian of the sword materializes itself in front of her like a very attractive man who swears its service to her.

First of all, let me say this: taking this book seriously is the worst thing you’ll do. The humor (most of the time, dark humor) is the permanent main character of Swordheart, and when you eventually realize the book is making fun of itself and its genre, it’ll be one of the best reads you ever read.

Let me start with the characters: We finally have a FMC that’s 30+ that acts like it without being boring and a MMC that’s brooding without losing the sense of humor. Their interactions and dialogues made me put my book down to laugh so many times and I don’t even know how many quotes I highlighted just because of it. They’re both clever in their own way and I saw myself dreading that the book would end at some point even though I was really far from it. Their romance is also a very slow burn which is ACTUALLY a slow-burn and I almost cried when I noticed the author wasn’t rushing it. The secondary characters are also delightful, and even the ones that are there just to help the main characters move the plot forward are interesting and thicken the worldbuilding somehow.

The other thing that made me so glad was seeing a worldbuilding slowly unraveled through the character’s eyes and into the book, and not just walls of infodump. Since Halla (the FMC) is someone who almost never left her home and Sarkis (the MMC) has been stuck inside a sword for so many years, they both have very different and compartmentalized knowledge about the world outside, which puts them in delicious situations that made me giggle uncontrollably.

I know some people would find it weird that the plot isn’t that heavy, but I feel like the cosy genre creeps in often in this book on purpose, even though there’s also heavy themes and moments, making the perfect balance for both fun and deep reading.

The author said there will be two more books in this saga, probably focusing on the other two swords, and I’m dying to read those as well. This was my first Kingfisher book and she already became one of my favorite fantasy authors just because of it.

Unfortunately, I have had to soft DNF this and I don't know if I will be able to pick it up again before the archive date. Please be assured, though, that the issue is mine, nothing to do with the story. As always, it's wonderfully written and funny, but I think I've read too many T Kingfisher books back to back at the minute and they're all just sort of merging into one entity.
Will definitely come back to this at some point in the future.

When 36 year old, widow Hella inherited the estate of her elderly uncle who she has been keeping house for, she had no idea of the trouble that it would cause. Her family insisted that she marry her husband’s cousin to keep the inheritance in the family and when she refused, she was locked in her room with no chance of escape. Driven to despair, she tried to commit suicide with an old sword that had been hanging on the wall. To her intense surprise, when she pulled the sword from its scabbard, a man appears. This was Sarkis, an immortal soldier who has been magically trapped in the sword for centuries and who informs her that he is now her protector.
Halla’s previously calm, quiet life is then turned completely upside down as she is rescued quite dramatically and then goes on a journey to try and get help to secure her inheritance.
I loved Halla. Although she is 36, she has led a very sheltered life, married to a man who really wasn’t interested in her as a woman and then looking after her elderly uncle so is fairly naïve. She also talks constantly and asks seemingly never ending. This can be irritating but stick with it as it becomes clear that this is her defence mechanism against people who have power over her. Naïve isn’t the same as stupid and Halla uses the fact that she is underestimated by people to get herself out of some awkward situations.
Sarkis is the grumpy to her sunshine and was a brilliant foil for Halla’s personality. I would have liked it if he had been a bit less fixated on Halla’s physical attributes as I felt this lessened the strength of the attraction between them.
My favourite character was definitely Zale, the priest/lawyer who I had met previously in Paladin’s Grace and was really pleased to see had a much more important role in this story. His asides and banter with Halla added a huge amount to the level of humour in this story which as always with this author was excellent. I don’t often laugh out loud while reading but but T Kingfisher hits the spot every time. Sock raids anyone? There was a lovely found family aspect to this book which also included the non-human gnole.
A minor negative would be that the characters spent most of their time travelling up and down the same piece of road which felt a bit a repetitive. Even they were fed up with it but that’s a minor grouse and this was a book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I hope that the author does get around to writing about the other two who were trapped in their swords. I would love to read Angharad’s story.
This was a lovely, humorous cosy fantasy with a touch of horror and I am very grateful as always to Net Galley and the publishers, Little Brown Book Group UK, for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book. T. Kingfisher is one of my favourite authors and I’m on my way to reading all her books. There were a few short sections where I wished the story would move a bit faster but overall I loved this cozy romantasy.

Halla has just inherited everyone from an uncle, something everyone else in the family does not agree with. Naturally they lock her up in her bedroom until she marries her dead husbands brother. In desperation Halla decides to kill herself and unsheates a sword.
Said sword has a man (Sarkis) bound to it and he is forces to serve the wielder.
This book was genuinely funny without feeling like it tries super hard to be funny.
I also get the concept of a book boyfriend now. Sarkis is geniunenly goals. Him not confessing his feelings for Halla bc he wanted to make sure that she would be in a place where shes not reliant on him anymore and therefore will not say yes out of fear of him leaving her (which he’d never do) was just peak romance idk. I was so invested in his and Hallas relationship and I usually dont care about romance at all.
The entire concept of man bound to sword is so well thought out, down to stuff I hadnt even really considered.
I would also die/commit murder/both for Zale the lawyer priest.
Now I cant wait for the other two books since not knowing what happened to the other sword was my biggest complaint about this book

Oh my. This book. I have a particular fondness for T Kingfisher's sense of humour because I suspect it is very close to mine. For any one that's woken up with a pain in your back from sleeping awkwardly, this is the book for you. For any one who's had someone dry rub your left l*bia lip and asked if it's good for you, this book is for you. For any one that's just about had enough, this book is for you.

No one is perfect. One is an immortal warrior stuck in a sword, and one is a very inquisitive middle-aged widow. But maybe they're perfect for each other.

Also, Zale is great!

(4.5/5⭐️) 📚 Thank you NetGalley and T. Kingfisher for a copy of ‘Swordheart’. This was such a wholesome fantasy. I never know what to expect from this author, having only read ‘Nettle & Bone’, but this had a very similar vibe yet was completely distinct. I love a story that’s about a journey, following characters as they have internal journeys of their own. Halla is one of my favourite characters. She is so uniquely herself, not tainted by the world around her, innocent but intelligent. I loved seeing her grow within herself, and was completely invested in her mission to get her rightful inheritance! I do hope there’s a sequel as I am very curious about the first sword that Nolan’s order had acquired. It’s rude to leave me on such a cliffhanger!! I will definitely be on the lookout for a book 2, and will continue to reread until then!

This is such a heartwarming book. I loved the characters but not all. Halla has inherited her great uncle’s estate as well as a sword too. But when her Aunt forced her to marry her cousin, she somehow summoned the swordsman trapped in the enchanted steel since so long. She wanted to k!ll herself but as soon as Sarkis came out, secrets, truth, mystery and adventure also unfolded. Halla made really brave decisions and some bad decisions too. I felt all the emotions and the book is so immersive. The book will break and mend your heart at the same time. This is the author’s best book.

Thanks to the Publisher

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.