Member Reviews

Freya Marske does it again in Swordcrossed—a brilliantly crafted Historical Romantasy that blends low-stakes charm with high-heat chemistry and, of course, a dash of thrilling (and sexy!) swordplay.

This book follows the unlikely partnership between Mattinesh Jay, a hardworking heir desperate to save his family’s business, and Luca Piere, a roguishly charming swordsman with a checkered past. Marske’s writing is absolutely stunning, breathing life into every scene with her vivid descriptions and knack for balancing romance and tension.

The mystery woven through the plot kept me turning pages as Matti and Luca work together against looming sabotage and secrets threatening to ruin Matti’s family. The twisty plot has just enough intrigue to keep the stakes high without overshadowing the romance that builds so naturally between the two main characters. Marske skillfully brings these two opposites together—Matti’s responsible, honorable nature is the perfect balance to Luca’s playful, slightly dangerous charm, making their interactions sparky, tension-filled, and incredibly swoon-worthy!!

And as always, Marske’s ability to immerse readers in a historical, romantically charged world is unmatched. The setting feels authentic and atmospheric, grounding this love story in a world that feels both familiar and fantastical. Swordcrossed is full of Marske’s signature wit, well-timed humor, and masterful pacing, making it a delightful escape into a world where duty and desire are constantly at odds!

Highly recommend!

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Freya Marske’s Swordcrossed is an enchanting blend of charm, humor, and emotional depth with a low-stakes narrative that is sure to give you cozy romantic vibes. Set in a vibrant world of merchant houses filled with intrigue, the story follows Mattinesh Jay, a dutiful heir navigating the complexities of an arranged marriage, and Luca Piere, the charismatic swordsman and part-time con artist he hires as his best man. Their journey unfolds in delightful ways, exploring love, self-discovery, and the unexpected bonds that form in the most unlikely circumstances.

Marske’s immediately immerses readers in a setting where duty and desire collide. The historical elements add depth to the narrative, and the writing is engaging, filled with witty banter and moments that made me smile. The chemistry between Matti and Luca is unmistakable, with their relationship evolving in a slow burn that is both sweet and satisfying. Matti’s kind-hearted yet anxious nature complements Luca’s carefree spirit, creating an entertaining and heartwarming dynamic.

I particularly appreciated the sensitivity and depth with which this story represented neurodiversity and mental health. Both characters feel fully realized, with their struggles resonating deeply and shedding light on the importance of support and understanding in relationships. The supporting cast, including Matti’s sister Maya and his betrothed Sophia, enhances the narrative, providing levity and complexity without overshadowing the central romance.

While the pacing may feel slower, it allows the characters' relationships to breathe and evolve naturally. The engaging dialogue and emotional stakes kept me turning the pages, lost in Marske's masterfully created world.

In conclusion, Swordcrossed is a delightful romantasy that beautifully intertwines humor, heart, and depth. It’s a story I didn’t want to end, and I wished for more adventures with these characters. For anyone seeking a cozy yet captivating read filled with romance and witty banter, I highly recommend this book. Freya Marske has proven herself a master storyteller!

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This was a delightful reas filled with adventure and whimsy! Luca, with his sneaky charm, brings Mattinesh out of his shell in the most endearing way. Their witty banter and chemistry kept me grinning from start to finish. I was kicking my feet a few times!

The enchanting blend of romance and humor makes it a perfect pick for anyone in need of a lighthearted escape.

And that ending line? My heart! ❤️

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I really enjoyed the characters and their relationships, especially the main relationship. Though, I have to say I wished that the worldbuilding was a little more comprehensive because I was a little hung up on the guilds and the gods and the goddesses--I thought that this was super interesting I was just a bit unsure on how it all went together. Overall, though, I really enjoyed this! Another great read from Marske.

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These two characters were disasters in the dearest way, and their relationship kept me pulled into the story. Luca was always going to put his foot in it, but I knew he'd charm his way out of it in the end, and helped everyone to their happy ending.

I could have used a little more of explanation on how the guilds worked, especially their patron gods and goddesses, as there wasn't a ton of explanation.

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Thank you to Bramble for my review copy. My opinions are my own.

I've never learned so much about an industry in a fictional book as I did in this one, but oh my goodness, I would love to know more about the wool industry even though I am highly allergic to wool. This was fascinating and low stakes but with plenty of feeling as Matti and Luca stumble around figuring out things but with swords.

I loved the dual perspective and all the secrets that were there. The development of the relationship against the backdrop of the mystery of why House Jay was failing.

I'm intrigued to find out if this is a standalone or if there are more stories coming.

If you enjoyed Freya's gaslamp fantasies, then might I make a suggestion that you try this one (even though there is no magic).

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When I signed up for the review copy of this book I was under the impression that it was YA but it's not and boy am I thankful. Because Freya Marske can write a spice scene.
I don't know if it's actually placed in a Romantasy genre and I maybe a little confused about the genres but I think it's more of a historical fiction or at least reads like one.

The characters are more or less in similar situations but both of them have opposite ways of dealing with the burden they carry. Although it's not mentioned I think Luca quite possibly had ADHD which was the reason the way he was and I could relate to him so well. Being call lazy all the time, restlessness, it all made sense.

The romance is so well done but this one has an amazing plot as well.

My only complaint is that some of the chapters felt unnecessarily descriptive and long and I had to push through them but it's still worth it.

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Thank you to Tor Books, Bramble, and NetGalley for the chance to review this book, all opinions are my own.

Well, this review is like 2 weeks overdue but after struggling to get through the first third of the book, thinking I would have to DNF, I actually ended up really enjoying this one!

When you aren’t clicking with a book right away (but you’re also a mood reader whose brain just refuses to cooperate sometimes), it’s hard to know if the book just isn’t right for you or if it just isn’t right for you right now. Normally I would set this kind of book aside for a couple months and come back to it and see if I felt differently about it. But because this was a review book I continued to push through, even when I just wasn’t into the book. But luckily somewhere around the 50% mark the book started to really catch my interest and I came to care about the characters and the outcome of the story.

I would say this book falls under the category of cozy fantasy (though there isn’t actually any magic in the book), in that the characters are not plotting to bring down an ancient evil or overthrow a tyrannical regime but instead save a family from going bankrupt (and prevent it’s oldest son from being miserable for the rest of his life).

I think this might be why I struggled to get into the book at first. I loved Freya Marske’s Last Binding series and I think I was expecting world building and plotting like that one. While the writing was good in this book (Marske’s prose can be absolutely beautiful), the plot did not immediately capture my interest. I didn’t really care about dueling or textile manufacturing and while the world building was solid, it wasn’t very unique or intriguing. I also didn’t really love any of the characters right off the bat either. And this is so important with cozy fantasy because usually the characters are what makes the book so fun and enjoyable.

But as I continued to read, the characters did start to grow on me. I cared about Matti and his family troubles, and Luca’s mysterious background began to make him interesting. And of course once the big mystery of the book was revealed (and it wasn’t just going to be sword fighting and agonizing over losing the family business) I did start to get very invested. I actually flew through the last third of the book in one day because I was dying to know what would happen and how all of the drama and revelations would resolve themselves.

The ending definitely had a cozy fantasy convenience to it, everything works out perfectly for all involved - except for the villains who are punished - but it still made me happy and I felt very satisfied when I finished the book. I actually found myself missing the characters a day after and wanted to spend more time with them again.

That kind of feeling at the end of the book would usually lead me to rate it 5 stars but because I struggled so much at the beginning I’m giving it 4.5 stars.

I think a lot of people will enjoy this for the easy cozy romantasy that it is.

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Wasn't hitting me. I love Freya Marske and I have nothing bad to say about this book. Just wasn't grabbing me at the moment, I may very well come back to it and love it.

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5 stars and my thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC!

I really, truly loved this book. Matti and Luca 4 eva.

Matti is set to be married, but knows he will be sword-challenged during the ceremony for the hand of his bride. Knowing next to nothing about swordwork, he hires Luca Piere to be his best man and swordsman. Through a variety of hijinks, Matti gets Luca to show him how to fight and ~*sparks fly*~.

Imagine for a moment, you're getting married for business reasons and some hot dude walks by and now you're caught up in intrigue and swordfighting and oops your sister is making out with your bride-to-be?

I sincerely love Marske's books and I can't wait to read more from her.

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3.25. Fun queer fantasy romance. Don’t go into this expecting much swordfighting, but if you don’t mind a lot of mild worldbuilding mainly involving wool and silk trading interspersed with Bridgertonesque parties and breathless sex scenes, you’ll have a good enough time.

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Freya Marske has quickly become an author whose work I will always take interest in! This book is set in a fantasy land, though one (seemingly) without magic; just a different set of countries and customs and foods than our world has. Matti and Luca have a delicious relationship, built on a deception that snowballs out of control as they catch feelings for each other. And the society has queer normativity, polytheism, and at least some instances of matriarchy—more of all this in fiction, please! (And in real life; that'd be nice.) The story involves a lot of intrigue around trade and guild politics, which in my opinion is an improvement over being heavy on combat or war or other bloodshed. Recommended for those who prefer their queer fantasy on the cozy side.

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3.75 stars. Freya Marske's SWORDCROSSED is a romantasy - (light on the fantasy) - that's centered around house politics and angsty sword fights, both in AND out out of the bedroom. Matti Jay is the heir of one of the most prominent houses in Thesper’s wool trade, and Luca is a duelist/swordsman with no house to claim. Needless to say, Luca goes from teaching Matti how to handle a sword to teaching him how to handle HIS sword. This is definitely a slow burn, and I was admittedly bored throughout the middle, mainly because I found all of the politics surrounding the wool trade to be rather mundane and wanted to get back to the cuteness. SUE ME Susan. By the way, a PSA for the boys: If you have longer locks, there’s nothing sluttier than running your fingers through them. HOW DARE YOU!

Freya has built an intriguing set up with an arranged marriage and budding forbidden romance, complete with extravagant settings, costumes and atmospheres that are so detailed that the fabrics and colors jump off the page. That said, it's our main couple that steals the show, rightfully so. There were so many moments that I noted as either incredibly cute or hot. Like the ocean bath/pool scene - hot, but also cute because Matti gets to see Luca flounder in the pool like he does at his sword lessons. Since this is a slow-burn, it's really around the 39% mark where things start simmering, and then things don't get cooking until the 55% mark. It drags for me, I'll be honest. But one thing's for sure, “I don’t feel wrecked enough" was a crazy thing to say. I love how these two are opposites, but learn from each other. Luca will always speak his mind and teaches Matti to do the same.

So if you like some spice with your period piece romantasies and happen to be obsessed with textiles and the trade industry - you might really get off on this one. For me, it was cute and hot, but you lost me at the wool. I'm so sorry. That and the third act miscommunication was kind of meh for me, BUT Chapter 20 was hot as fuck and I love how comfortable Matti and Luca become at being inside each other. It's so cute. In general, their banter is squee inducing, but I don't think this is really a romantasy because the magic system was...um...yea...but if you're looking to see some cute boys get sweaty in some sword fights, look no further!

Quotes I pulled for various reasons:
- "Matti was so likable. You could cut him in half like fresh bread and he’d be warm all the way through.”
- “Luca looked at Matti, something uncertain and wild swirling in his stomach, and experienced the vastly strange sensation of not wanting to lie. Nor did he want to peel back the paper of himself and reveal something true. Both contrary impulses seemed to stem from the swirling, like tree trunks grown from the same seed.”
- “Luca didn’t know if he was envious or annoyed by the way Matti held himself: calm and still, as though he were waiting with unconscious ease for the attention in the room to center upon him, knowing he wouldn’t have to lift a finger.”
- "How did you solve the slow surrender of yourself to another person, like a dwindling stack of coins on a card table, only to look up from your empty hands to see the cold triumph of your opponent?"
- “Matti made him forget to lie”.
- “Dueling is barely two steps up from acting.” (As an actor, I'm offended).
- “You really are taller than you need to be, Matti.” (As a 6'5 man...also offended).
- "Lukas felt like a route being memorized and artwork being considered one last time by its creator before it was sent for framing. It made him want to make huge, impossible, unwise promises. It took him three tries to speak." - I MEAN, WHERE IS MY LUCA?!

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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I have read and enjoyed all of Freya Marske’s releases so far, but I have to say that Swordcrossed is officially my new favorite book of hers! The story was well-balanced between romance, pining, and political plot drama regarding the houses and their businesses. The world was well-built, with a rich system of patron gods that brought depth to the story’s setting. With how fascinating this world was, I would love to see future novels taking place in the same setting!

Swordcrossed is hands-down one of the best romantasy novels I have read to date. The romance was perfectly paced and incorporated into the narrative so that nothing felt forced, rushed, or underdeveloped. This book is a perfect example of what I hope for whenever picking up a title marked as “Romantasy” and I hope that more stories like Swordcrossed will be published in the future!

My Recommendation:
If you’re hesitant about romantasy books, I urge you to give Swordcrossed a try! This book has the depth, intrigue, and character development I seek in all my fantasy reads, with a healthy dose of romance to round out a five-star read!

Thank you to Bramble Romance for the gifted review copy of Swordcrossed!

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I really enjoyed the build of this relationship. It was a gradual climb that worked well for these characters. In the midst of all the chaos love finding root was incredibly fun to experience.
This has a wonderful historical vibe without being stuck in the historical romance box. The author had a writing style which provided beautifully built scenes along with amazing banter.
The humor paired with all these lovable characters made for a wonderful read. The author did a great job of making this story easy to fall in love with.

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3.5 - ⭐⭐⭐💫

"I want you to keep making me laugh. I want to keep you, Luca..."

Swordcrossed is a standalone fantasy romance follows dutiful heir Matti who's family's business is struggling after a series of mishaps. To help save the business Matti decides to marry into a wealthy family...but there appears to be a competing love interest who plans to challenge the wedding by sword fight, an honorable tradition throughout the land. This means Matti needs a best man to fight on his behalf and it turns out the only one he can afford is a con artist, Luca. Through gold coins and blackmail, Luca accepts the role of best man as well as agrees begrudgingly to help train Matti in combat. As they two spend their days together practising the craft of sword crossing they also soon find not everything is as it seems with Matt's dire financial situation and Luca's secret past. Will these two be unable to unearth the lies and find a path forward or will they lose everything in the fight?

This book is a fun light read but it didn't wow me.

Matti can be adorable and is steadfast in his duty. He wants to make his family proud and placed so much burden on himself. Seeing him engage with Luca highlights the first time he really did something for himself and it was sweet.

Luca is a bit more cockier character with secrets aplenty. I loved his cranky morning attitude, struggle to figure out how to teach, and him being charmed by Matti who has no idea.

This book does contain spice. I would say 2.5 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. There are at least two spicy scenes. I would say it is a medium burn and it is well written.

In terms of the story I enjoyed the mystery and the investigation around what is happening to Mattis' family business. I also found the world of the guilds to be fascinating. There are also fun side characters to shake things up. I think I just wished for more banter and chemistry between Luca and Matti. On their own they're strong but I felt I was told their romance more than I saw it. That said I easily dove into the book over the course of three days and found it all came together really well!

If you want a good fantasy world, light romance, and mystery to explore then definitely pick this up!

Thank you Bramble for this arc!

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I knew I was going to love the writing and the characters in this book. Freya Marske never misses there. The banter was wonderful! The romance was angsty! The issues each character had to face felt realistic and important! But I wasn't expecting to love the mystery at the heart of this story. I loved the final scenes where it all gets laid out and the surprise turn at the end. A highly enjoyable book that I'd definitely recommend.

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The cover? Amazing. The story? Amazing. I loved this story, I loved these characters. I loved the writing. It was actually my first Freya Marske book and I will most definitely be checking out her other ones ASAP

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Swordcrossed by Freya Marske is the first I’ve read from this author, and I now feel compelled to read her entire backlist if this is representative of her style.

Matti Jay, heir to a struggling family business, is engaged to Sofia, the daughter of a wealthy family, in a bid to save his family’s name and social standing. Sofia has an unwanted suitor who plans to challenge their marriage, so Matti is in need of a hired duelist (or best man) to defend him at the upcoming nuptials. The professional he can afford is Luca, who’s a bit of a con man with a complicated past. The two find themselves fighting the growing attraction between them as they spend time together in the months until Matti and Sofia’s wedding.

Sword Crossed is a low-stakes fantasy romance rife with political machinations, intrigue, betrayal, sabotage, and a mystery to solve. Despite all of these elements being present, I’d say it is first and foremost about the romance that develops between Matti and Luca. Freya Marske gives a master class in how to write a slow-burn that’s both deliciously sweet with longing while also being sizzling hot when it finally ignites.

This book is many things - fans of historical fiction will feel at home with the setting that’s Regencyesque, fantasy lovers will appreciate the magical/mythology elements. I love books that have a historical feel but feature a society that does not subscribe to heteronormative mores, so a queer romance that also has a supporting character who’s trans makes my heart happy.

The characters are well developed, and I really enjoyed seeing Luca’s growth over the course of the book. Not just Luca, I felt like Matti also learned to stand up for himself and ask for what he wanted, and his sister Maya stepped up to help him see it’s okay to ask for help and not be able to do everything for everyone.

I loved the way the core cast of characters resolve the mystery and the unexpected twist at the wedding. That scene was so satisfying to read. Over the course of this novel, I grew to care about all of the central characters and didn’t see the resolution happening the way it did but it was simply perfect.

I think this is a standalone and with the way it ended, I don’t see it being the beginning of a series, but I’d love to read more of this world and hated saying goodbye to the characters. I could think of a couple of ways for this to happen, but the plot is wrapped up very nicely at the end of the book.

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This one was a bit of a slow burn but in a way that was intensely charming. I loved Luca and Matti and their scheming. I hope Marske writes more in this universe.

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