This is the kind of book you don't want to put down. The main character struggles with anxiety, which creates an inner dialogue which is unlike most main characters. Her character is written with respect and care, and the result is beautiful representation of a person who lives with mental illness but isn't defined by it. A fast paced story with complex characters. I can't wait to read the second book.

I was pleasantly surprised by this. I loved the neurodivergent rep in the main character (though I am no expert and will not label it) and the flaws in her. I appreciated the fact that the main character's 'specialness' was not the chosen one trope. I think teens will really enjoy the sprinkling in of romance without it being too gushy. I look forward to the sequel!

I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

My Rating: 4 Stars

I’ve said it before in a Tricia Levenseller review, and I’ll say it again – her books are ALWAYS one sitting reads for me. Once I’ve picked up one of her books, I can’t put it down until I’ve finished it. I think it has something to do with her writing style. It just keeps me turning pages and I’ve yet to find a book by her that I didn’t just absolutely devour.

It was so refreshing to see anxiety well represented in Ziva. I loved her character and found her endlessly relatable. Tricia Levenseller did an incredible job of expressing Ziva’s feelings and anxiety in her narration without making the book feel to heavy on inner monologues. I also couldn’t get enough of her relationship with her sister. Their strong bond was part of what made this book so special.

The secondary characters are all lovable and flawed, and the found family aspect of the book may have been my favorite part of the entire story. I’m beyond excited to see how their group dynamic changes with the new revelations that came to light at the end of this book and definitely look forward to reading book two! What a way to end a book!

Thank you Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the eARC via netgalley.
*Dnfed around 40 percent.
1.75 stars

Ziva prefers being alone in her forge. Ziva has built up a great reputation for herself as being a skilled craftswoman. People come from near and far to get a tool crafted from Ziva. When Ziva crafts a powerful weapon which could be deadly for all.

I love the idea of representation of a young girl dealing with her social anxiety in a fantasy world setting. When authors include real life elements and situations that people can connect with and understand, this makes a more encompassing as well as impactful read. Overall I really enjoyed this inclusion and I think it helped add more depth to the character and situation at times.

However, despite having a great set up with some well-written scenes and information in the beginning, things soon took a turn for the uneventful and annoying. This book is dripping with oversaturated romance that makes basically no sense. Insta-love to the extreme is included with Ziva and the male mercenary character who is soon introduced into the book. Unfortunately this romance was so poorly done that it led to the downfall of my enjoyment. The flirting, suggestive comments, and lovey-dovey notion soon consumes the entire focus of the story.

In the beginning the reader gets a delightful plot set up and sense of adventure. As things are being set in motion Ziva meets a male mercenary whom she hires to assist her on her journey. For a supposed mercenary he does a poor job at being professional and keeping information to himself. One of my main questions that I had was why would he tell others about where his family was as well as where he lived. This could be false information but based on how things are presented it does not seem likely. I feel like the characters’ intelligence and critical thinking skills begin to decrease rapidly. Once our characters begin our journey there is just so much focus on potential romance instead of the actual plot. It was nauseating.

It has been pretty disappointing to love this author’s first three books and not like their two newest releases.

I had an epiphany upon completing Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller: I don’t particularly enjoy books where the characters are traveling/on a journey for a huge chunk of story. I’ve found that, for the most part, they all follow a very similar trajectory. At the beginning, the game is set, the players are named and an instigating event takes place to kick off their journey. This is usually pretty well-paced and compelling enough to propel you at least a little ways into the meat of the book, which is where the traveling actually takes place. And the characters travel. And they travel. And they travel. And…. You guested it, they travel some more. This section is often monotonous, repetitive and dull. Then, when you reach the last 50-75 pages, everything suddenly goes from 0 to 100 in a whiplash-inducing race to the finish line. And that finish line is often a cliffhanger designed to snag your interest in the sequel. Which is exactly what you get with this book.

Ziva Tellion, a bladesmith with the power to imbue magic into the weapons she forges, prefers the company of her creations to that of actual humans. The only exception would be her sister, Temra. Temra handles the customers while Ziva forges the weapons. Really, a match made in heaven. All is going according to plan, and they’ve almost saved up enough money to leave the business behind for a home in the country. That is, until a powerful warlord commissions an equally powerful blade. After learning of the nefarious plans for this sword, Ziva and her sister flee, desperate to keep the weapon out of the warlord’s hands. Along the way, they’re joined by a roughish mercenary and a reticent scholar, who help our sisters face down odds that are definitely not in their favor.

I will admit, compared to others that follow the above mentioned traveling/journeying formula, Levenseller does an above-average good job. While I did find the middle chunk of this book to be a slog to get through, I thought the climax was both compelling and satisfying. I think I actually gasped aloud when I realized what this story is actually about, and it’s rare for a young adult fantasy novel to catch me by surprise like that. I won’t say anything more, just because I don’t want to risk spoiling the reveal for any potential readers (though I suggest not reading any reviews before diving in, because I’ve seen it mentioned several times). As far as the cliffhanger goes, I felt fairly indifferent about this one. The stakes don’t feel particularly high, as I don’t think there’s much of a chance that things will go poorly. Though I did appreciate the tension between some of the characters as a result of the ending/cliffhanger. And that’s about all I can say without risking spoilers.

Back to what I was saying about books that feature traveling/characters on a journey: the only time I find the middle chunk of these novels compelling is when the characters are interesting and dynamic enough to carry the story. Unfortunately, I don’t feel like any of our protagonists hit that mark. Do I love that Ziva is a strong female character with a conventionally masculine job and crippling social anxiety? Yes. That’s the type of representation we desperately need more of! But giving a character these traits without fleshing them out and making them feel like a whole person is such a waste. Kellyn, Petrik and Temra felt equally flat, though I appreciated Kellyn’s gentle handling of Ziva and her anxiety. And don’t get me started on the romances! Ziva has never once felt attraction to anyone, until she looks out her window and spots Kellyn. Cue instalove. And Temra only pursues Petrik because he shows no interest in her? Honey, no. That’s not a good look.

In reference to the mental health representation, I do think Levenseller did a decent job. Some of the scenes where Ziva is having a panic attack really took me out of the story, though. I feel like part of that had to do with the fact we were told so much and shown so little. For example, we were told she has crippling social anxiety and barely interacts with anyone other than her sister. Though after the first couple of chapters, her actions and behaviors don’t particularly allude to this. Ziva certainly has moments of social awkwardness, though it’s nowhere near the level Levenseller originally described. This makes the intense moments of panic particularly jarring.

One final thing I wanted to make note of: throughout the book, Kellyn constantly teased Petrik about his robes, referring to them as dresses. It’s the year of our lord 2021 and I promise you we don’t need that toxic masculinity in our lives. I found it really disappointing and groaned every time it was brought up.

To sum up my final thoughts: in many ways, Blade of Secrets feels like your average, run-of-the-mill YA fantasy (circa early 2010’s). Thought it’s cheesy, cringe-inducing and over-the-top, I can’t say I hated my time spent in this world. Though I’ll probably forget everything about it in a week or two.

Content warnings: panic attacks/panic disorders, bodily fluids (blood and vomit), violence, murder and grief.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Macmillan/Feiwel & Friends, for sending me this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Thank you YallWest/NetGalley for this arc! This story was so good. Honestly the first part totally killed me because I also suffer from severe social anxiety so it was so real but kind of nice to read from someone that struggles with the same issue. There was so many twists and turns that I did not expect. And now I should know by now to expect it from Tricia. There’s points in this book I was literally almost to the point of screaming “she did not!” This book was such a masterpiece I just cannot commend Tricia enough!. Such an immersive,twisting,thrilling read definitely recommend.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review*

Quick blurb: A teenage blacksmith with social anxiety accepts a commission from the wrong person and is forced to go on the run to protect the world from the most powerful magical sword she's ever made.

I loved Ziva, seeing her have her quiet life disrupted and her and her sister in danger had me rooting for her from the jump. I loved her talent and seeing her make swords. I loved the subtle hint at some mythology that I LOVE so much.

I don't read much YA Fantasy anymore, but I always make an exception for this author. I was hooked right away and I couldn't put it down.

This book has a really slow burn in the romance aspect, which makes sense with the heroines social anxiety. I felt their chemistry right away and I love how Kellyn is unknowingly her inspiration for the sword's power.

I loved the road-tripping element and the bonding that happens along the way.

My one critique is that I feel like not a lot happened in this book and it had a cliffhanger that I was not expecting. I feel like there was some filler to make this long enough to be part one.

I am excited for the next entry and to see what other magic there is in this world.

4/5 stars for me.

I was drawn to Blade of Secrets immediately after reading its synopsis. A story of magic, and kingdoms unsettled is always a go-to for me. This book stands out in particular because the leading young woman struggles with social anxiety. I was anxious to read about a character that would battle their own inner demons and also the bad guys on the outside.

Tricia Levenseller delivered a masterpiece to her readers!
Ziva is a blacksmith that commissions weapons infused with her magic. While magic was outlawed in the past, she’s free to use it in weapons making and becomes renowned throughout the Kingdoms. While some people commission weapons as wall trophies, many others seek her out for a weapon that never misses a target, or shatters anything it touches. Working alone in her forge is her safe place. She can remain quiet in her thoughts and pursue what she’s best at. Her sister Temra works the front of the shop, handling all of the social interactions.

It’s not long before Ziva’s skills become too well known, and someone wants her as their own personal weapon. Forced to flee the safety of her home and forge, Ziva and her sister Temra begin a dangerous trek without a plan. Temra was clever to realize they needed hired protection, but bringing along an attractive mercenary is very complicated for Ziva.

First impressions aren’t always the best impressions.
Ziva doesn’t like people on a good day. Kellyn, an attractive mercenary who spends the first day of their journey passed out atop their horse does little to warm up her desire to be social. Their introduction is rough for sure, but Tricia Levenseller does amazing work with character development. Slowly over time we watch Ziva begin to trust herself. She allows herself in incremental steps to relax in the moment. Speak her thoughts without terror of being wrong.

Her whole life, Ziva had Temra to jump into conversations for her, and steer attention away. Running for her life and hiding in dangerous towns, Ziva is forced into situations where she’d rather flee and instead has to adapt to survive. I admired this so much. Ziva gets through hard times with a bravery she doesn’t believe is her own. She decompresses from all the stress and emotion, later. Sometimes her friends leave her alone to process, and others they intrude to help her grow. Life can be uncomfortable, and they nudge her when necessary to help her through it.

I’ve written 5 paragraphs so far about this book and I could write 20 more.
I love Blade of Secrets so very much. There’s action, young romance, adversity, but the shining light was Ziva. Her charcter was a strong beacon throughout. I read Blade of Secrets as an ARC but I already ordered it in print this morning. I can’t wait to hand it over to my daughter who struggles with her own anxiety. Like Ziva, she’s much braver than she realizes. She’s really pushed herself outside of her comfort zone within the last two years. I hope that this book will speak to her soul, because it definitely spoke to mine.

"I want you to outdo yourself. I want you to treat my sword as though it is the weapon you've been practicing for your entire life. It is to be of immense power. Something that can defeat many opponents at a time. Something that could bring nations to their knees."

Ziva has amazing skills - both in the forging of weapons, and imbuing magic in those weapons. There's great demand for Zivan blades, as well as the other objects she creates: buckles that never dull, daggers that never break, horseshoes that allow horses to run faster. And she can't wait to take her sister Temra and retire in the northern kingdom, where she doesn't have to interact with anyone else. Temra runs the shop while Ziva works the forge, keeping herself from the interactions that spike her social anxiety. Ziva's latest creation was a mace for the governor, and to show his gratitude, he invited the girls to dinner. Dinner, however, turned out to be a party, where the governor's son Asel tried to kiss Ziva, and then claimed she hit him when she rejected his advances. There was clearly no evidence of violence, and the party was cut short with Asel disgraced. To retaliate, Asel turned Temra's friends against her, and sent his own friends to overturn everything in the forge and shop.

As the sisters discussed their options and were coming to the decision that it wasn't realistic to continue living in this town, in walked Warlord Kymora Avedin. She commissioned a sword from Ziva, and said that if it was satisfactory, Ziva and Temra would move to her estate and work for her. A way out! With a couple weeks remaining until the warlord's return, Ziva was finishing the metalwork on the sword and trying to think of what magic to use in order to create the extremely powerful weapon Kymora wanted. But then she was distracted, as something entirely new to her happened - she saw a boy she found attractive. She whispered that she wanted to touch him, and the blade reacted. Ziva continued to tell the sword her secrets, and found that this set the magic. The sword has long range abilities, hewing into objects feet away without touching them. But she discovered another ability. If someone's blood is on the blade, the bearer hears their secrets. And when the warlord returns and test the sword, Ziva discovers that Kymora plans to destroy the current rulers and overtake the country with an army supplied with Zivan blades. Ziva is peace loving and can't allow this to happen. Kymora wants the girls to leave with her immediately, but Ziva puts her off until the following morning. And now Ziva and Temra are on the run from the most skilled swordswoman in the land, hoping they'll find safety with their father's family, whom they've never met. They're accompanied by Kellyn, the handsome boy Ziva saw, who turns out to be a mercenary who traveled here for a Zivan sword, and Petrik, a scholar writing a book on magical abilities, who's longing to interview Ziva about her skills. And the sword, Secret Eater, which they have found can't be destroyed. To maintain peace, they must keep it out of the warlord's hands.

I liked Ziva's characterization for the most part. She's a blacksmith, so she's freaking strong, but she wants to ensure her weapons are only used in a way that nets peace. Pretty sure this is the first fantasy I've read that has a character with anxiety, which led to some points of conflict but wasn't the focus. Unclear whether she's somewhat ace, or whether this was a "hadn't met the right person" sort of deal. I liked Temra's confidence, and there was a little twist with her that I really enjoyed. I kind of wished there was more worldbuilding - there was one location that felt more fleshed out, but I could have used a better picture of what this place is like. I have to say I wasn't terribly caught up in the plot either. Beyond the fact that Ziva's a magical blacksmith, it was mostly teens on the run and there's romance. I'd be interested to see if the sequel turns down a retelling route, based on an event near the end of this book, but otherwise a little too generic for me.

Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for the eARC. Blade of Secrets was published May 4th.

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends for the digital arc of this title. All opinions are my own.

One sentence review: I enjoyed this YA fantasy for its strong heroine and the strong bond between sisters.

Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller is a YA Fantasy but honestly almost felt like a YA romance with fantasy elements. The story centers around Ziva, a blacksmith who makes magical weapons. She unintentionally creates a weapon for a warlord that, if handed over, could end up with the world enslaved under the warlord. And so she flees town with three others, her sister, a mercenary, and a scholar of magic. And so the adventure begins.

My thoughts:
- I loved that Ziva was a strong woman in what is typically a male profession.
- Ziva has severe social anxiety and I thought the author did a good job of describing how this deeply affected her everyday life.
- The character development in the book is top notch. These are characters you just want to get to know better.
- I think if someone is a hardcore fantasy fan, this book might disappoint a bit. There is some world building but it is primarily some magic and outlining of the political structure of the world. I didn't really feel like I was fully immersed in this world. I wanted more explanation into the magic I think.

In summary, I really liked the book, the characters and the story surrounding them. I am however a romance reader at heart who likes to read fantasy to switch things up. I think high or epic fantasy lovers might be a little disappointed in the world building.

This is an awesome new fantasy featuring a heroine with social anxiety. It’s so cool to see mental health issues represented like this in a fantasy story. This is not my favorite of Tricia's books, but there is tons to love here and I'm still eager to see how the second book in the duology unfolds. I think this is really just a personal taste thing; despite the characters being on the older side, this one felt a little younger to me. It's YA, so that's to be expected -- I've just been reading more adult romance lately, so the difference was very noticeable. Even so, I'll definitely be staying tuned for book two.

Ziva is a young, magical blacksmith who is forced to go on the run with her sister in order to stop her most powerful creation from falling into the wrong hands.

Tricia Levenseller’s YA fantasy novels usually feature very independent and powerful heroines. Girls other girls wish they could be more like, instead of girls they can really relate to. Ziva is a welcome departure. Although she is considered a prodigy and very sought after for her rare ability of imbuing weapons with magic, she also suffers from severe social anxiety. Her sister is the only person she is comfortable being around, and all she wants is to save enough money to be able to retire somewhere remote and safe. Her fear of interacting with people she doesn’t know and being in unfamiliar places is crippling. I really appreciate when authors include a diverse cast of characters, and having a main character with a condition that is often marginalized in our society is hopefully eye-opening to readers unfamiliar with it, and an opportunity for understanding and empathy. I think a lot of people will find her relatable even if their anxiety doesn’t affect them so severely.

The story began a bit slowly, but I felt the pacing really improved when a few other interesting characters where introduced and their adventure began. Their interactions are sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant, and there is a bit of romance that is sweet and slow burning. There is a plot twist I never saw coming, and a cliffhanger ending that shouldn’t be surprising considering this is the first part of a duology.

Blade of Secrets is a light YA fantasy full of laughs and likeable characters. It’s a fast read that felt like it was over as soon as I started it. Despite the fast pace, it never felt lacking in character development or world-building. I was immersed in the novel and engaged with the plot to outrun the warlord. With its medieval setting and Levenseller’s straightforward way of writing, the book immediately called to mind Tamora Pierce and her beloved works. I enjoyed the book for being uncomplicated and effortlessly itself. I had fun reading, and it was hard to put down. The book ends on a cliffhanger, so it’s been a bit difficult waiting to get my hands on the next book. I can’t underscore how much I liked other than to say it was soooo good. (4.5 stars rounded to 5 stars)

Ziva is a talented Smithy with a secret to her weapons. When Ziva makes a weapon that threatens the entire kingdom she makes a run for it to keep her sister and the kingdom safe. They hire a mercenary and take a scholar with them on the road. Ziva struggles with crowds and people and her growing feelings for her travel companion. Secrets are getting in the way of the relationships between friends. Levenseller always writes strong, but flawed female characters. Ziva's anxiety and panic attacks make her a character that is relatable. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

Tricia is such an amazing writer, I have loved all of her books, and this one too was perfection! I love these characters so much. I really appreciate Ziva’s character having social anxiety, it is so nice to see a main character for once who isn’t the most confident and brave..it makes her so much more relatable! I love that Temra is so fiercely protective of Ziva and her anxiety, despite the fact that she is the younger sister! It was nice to see Ziva finally come out of her shell around Kellyn! But that ending..I can’t wait to see what happens next!!!

I want to start this review with a warning. This is the first book in a duology meaning that if you read it close to the release date you will have to wait a whole year for the second book. If you don't like cliffhanger-ish endings and you want a complete story please wait until closer to the second book is released. Don't get mad about the ending because you were warned that this is 2 parts.

Okay now that we got that out of the way this book is amazing. Honestly one of Tricia's best books to date. While I still think Warrior of The Wild is my favorite this book is right up there. If you're looking for a fairly fast paced fantasy, a close sister relationship, a slow burn romance, and a heroine who was some serious social anxiety you have found the right book.

Ziva, our protagonist, is a bladesmith with the power to make her weapons magical. Each one is different based on partially on her intentions and on her feelings while making the weapon. Due to her skills she has become renowned throughout the kingdom and people are beginning to come from all around to commission a weapon. All Ziva wants is enough money to go somewhere peaceful and quiet where she never has to interact with people again. Ziva isn't your typical heroine as she has intense anxiety surrounding any and all social interactions with people and prefers to let her sister, Temra handle all of that while she hides in her forge.

Enter Kymora, a famous war lord who wants a Ziva weapon that will be the most powerful in the world and to have Ziva commission weapons exclusively for her army. Ziva takes on this challenge hoping it will get Temra and her away from people sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, Ziva is distracted while making this weapon and imbues it with the power of her secrets. This weapon becomes more than she ever thought it could be making it exceptionally dangerous. When the weapon cuts Kymora revealing her evil plans for the weapon, Ziva knows that she has to keep this weapon out of the wrong hands or risk the fall of the world as she knows it.

Temra and Ziva seek out a powerful mercenary, Kellyn, to protect them as they escape Kymora. What Ziva doesn't realize is the distraction that she had while making this weapon is the very man they are trusting to keep them safe. If Ziva is socially awkward with people she doesn't like just imagine her poor heart on the road with the first man to cause Ziva to feel something more than she thought she ever could. Joining them on the road is the scholar, Petrik, who is interested in Ziva, but purely from an academic standpoint and maybe even Temra (though he has no intentions to show that card just yet).

This book has so many twists and turns and action and a slow burn double romance that will give you all the feels. Kellyn was so surprising to me because I did not imagine falling for his character during our first impression of him. Also I loved that she portrayed her social anxiety in a realistic way. So many times authors will use anxiety as a quark to make their character's more interesting but it doesn't feed the story or ring true to the characters. While I cannot relate to anxiety even close to what Ziva feels I can empathize with her need for some alone time after any and all social interactions. She would be living her best life in the pandemic world we currently live in. I cannot recommend this book highly enough and I will be waiting with bated breath for the conclusion of this duology.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2021! Thank you so much to Fierce Reads for giving away these eARCs!

I was so excited to see a fantasy book where the MC has severe social anxiety! I knew immediately I just had to read it. This book did not disappoint!!

This book has all the following:

- Social anxiety rep
- Magical weapons
- Witty banter
- Sweet, slow-burn romance
- Swordfights
- Strong sisterly bond
- Arthurian twist

And more!!

The book starts out showing our MC Ziva, her younger sister Temra, and the bond they share. Ziva has severe social anxiety and relies on her sister to do most of her interacting with other people. Ziva is a magical blacksmith commissioned to forge a powerful sword for a prominent warlord. The sword she makes turns out to be more powerful and dangerous than she could have imagined. Ziva discovers the warlord’s intentions with the sword are evil, and realizes she must venture out of her comfort zone in order to keep the sword out of the warlord's hands. She is accompanied on the run by Temra, Petrik, who is a scholar of magic, and a hired mercenary named Kellyn.

Sword fights abound - I love the magical weapons! Much of the book is a road trip with bickering, witty banter, slow burn romance, and various dangers along the way.

My favorite part about this book were the characters. They were all relatable, though some of the MCs were more well-developed than others, but they all had their own distinct personalities and motivations.
Ziva was the character I most related to, as I have had social anxiety since I was very young. The depiction of social anxiety in this book felt very real when compared to my own experiences with this sometimes debilitating mental illness.

I also loved that the characters were just regular people. Though Ziva was one of a seemingly scarce amount of people in this world who actually possessed magic, she never suddenly developed new powers that appeared conveniently in time to save the day. She was just a girl who is trying to do the right thing despite having a condition that would have made it much easier and safer for her to stay in her comfort zone and let the warlord carry out her evil intentions. The fact that she chose the harder path makes her braver and stronger than any ‘chosen one’ in my opinion.

The characters around Ziva never questioned her social anxiety and panic attacks, they never suggested she should try to change or needed to be cured. She was just accepted as she was which was so refreshing to see. Her companions gave her space when needed, encouragement when necessary, and tried to understand her fears.

The romance in this book was so sweet it made my heart just melt. Kellyn was so gentle and respectful of Ziva’s need for space and time, it was just beautiful to see. The secondary romance was also done well.

Really my only complaint with this book was the world-building. There was not much depth to the world, and though the characters went to many different towns and parts of the continent? countries? I don’t know because there really was not much to distinguish one place from the rest. I am really hoping the world building will be further developed in the next book.

4 stars

I will definitely be recommending this book to my students and requesting a copy for our library!

Thank you to Netgalley and Feiwel & Friends for the opportunity to read this book.

I love love love the premise of Ziva, Blade of Secret’s main protagonist. Like so many other reviewers have already said, it’s rewarding to see a YA fantasy female main character with social anxiety, especially one who goes on adrenaline-filled adventures nonetheless. Adding to that unique representation is the fact that Ziva is a bladesmith—I don’t think I’ve ever read another YA fantasy where the protagonist’s magic involves that kind of physical labor/craftsmanship. The relationship between Ziva and her sister Temra also warmed me. Temra’s charisma is the perfect balance to Ziva’s reticence, so I enjoyed seeing them bicker and complain while still consistently supporting one another. Temra also serves as Ziva’s motivation throughout the novel; Ziva forges and sells her magic-imbued wares so that she and her sister can have a better life. This determination is what leads Ziva to agree to the powerful warlord’s commission and thus sets off the rest of the action.

I also have to gush about the other characters, and, naturally, the banter that occurs between them. Admittedly, I was initially skeptical of Kellyn, one of the love interests, but his understanding behavior toward Ziva and her anxiety proved his compassion. It’s also a slow-burn romance, so that obviously gets extra points from me. I especially adore the interactions between Ziva, Temra, Kellyn, and Petrik (another friend who gets roped into their escape); they all have clearly different personalities, but their dialogue’s united by sarcastic gems (Exhibit A below).

Less well-done is the pacing. The plot grabbed my attention at the beginning of the novel, but toward the middle, it definitely slowed down, which made the action feel less urgent. As weird as it sounds, there were a few instances where I thought the characters needed to have less fun because I started to forget that they were on the run from a warlord. But this did allow for lots of sweet moments between the main characters, which I have trouble saying no to. The action does pick back up at the end though (and there’s even an Arthurian allusion)!

The dynamics between Blade of Secret’s characters made me smile, and, despite being a bit flat at times, Ziva was a brave and likable character with anxiety (and demisexual?) representation. The plot was pleasant if a bit predictable, so I’d recommend it if you’re interested in a lighter YA fantasy.

I loved this!

Ziva really doesn't like people. She has social anxiety and would rather forge weapons alone in her forge (and let her social sister deal with the customers). All that changes when she makes a weapon for a warlord who wants to take over the kingdoms. Now she's on the run with the weapon (the blade of secrets), her sister, a magic scholar, and a mercenary.

This was fun! I love a good ensemble cast! And this book had it and banter. (Also the relationship dynamics were so well-written) Honestly I'm pretty pleased with the sister dynamic in this novel - some of their interactions reminded me of my relationship with my sister.

All in all, I really enjoyed this one! I don't know how I can survive the wait for book two, though!

Special thanks to YALLWest and Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan Children's Publishing Group) for this eARC through NetGalley! I really appreciated the opportunity to read this!