find I love these slightly crazy fantasy books. Take me to a world that blends cozy and high fantasy any day of the week.

Swordheart takes the question of "I wonder how the magic sword feels" and runs with it. In this story, you have the respectful widow Halla, and she came into a large sum of money. Well, that caused some problems with the extended family. Luckily for Halla, the sword she wanted to use to end it all was actually an enchanted man in a sword. Who is now sworn to protect her. The rest is an adventure you'll just have to read to experience.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I enjoyed the characters and the writing. I also appreciated the backstory on the religion that I didn't get from Paladin's Grace (which I read before Swordheart). I did struggle a bit with the pacing, but I think it is just because they spent so much time on the road. This book isn't meant to be a serious high fantasy, but it also holds more gumption than most cozy fantasies. It also holds more death than a cozy fantasy. But I think that works in its favor.

4.5 stars

After inheriting her Uncle-in-law’s whole estate, Halla is locked in her room because she is unwilling to marry her deceased husband’s brother. She decides to try and kill herself. But the only thing she can kill herself with is a sword that hangs on the wall in her room. As she goes to kill herself, a man comes out of the sword, and now she’s on the adventure of a lifetime with Sarkis, the man from the sword.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. I would recommend it to people, especially the audiobook. The narration by Jesse Vilinsky is incredible. I did an immersive reading (book + audio together) for this one, and I’m so glad I did.

There was one section of the book that I found a little boring or not that exciting, and it was the Vagrant Hills.

Halla was such a fun, smart, and awkward character. While Sarkis is a surly, always wants to “kill first, ask questions later” mercenary. But they balance each other out so well. I also enjoyed when Zale joined the group. Their character was similar to Halla, and they asked a lot of questions, but Zale was so calm in situations that it was amusing. And Brindle, the gnole, was so interesting with his fun disdain towards humans. You knew by the end that he found his group of humans amusing.

This book made me laugh out loud and I stayed up late finishing it in less than 24 hours. I couldn't get enough of it. I would highly recommend this book if you like fantasy. I haven’t read the Clockwork Boys duology. But it’s set in the same world, and now it’s on my TBR. Also, I’m looking forward to book two in this trilogy. I really hope Halla and Sarkis pop up in it at least once.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

This book was an absolute banger. I am obsessed with T. Kingfisher, and this book led me to do a deep dive into her backlist. I consumed all of the books that take place in the World of the White Rat in like a week. I cannot wait until Daggerbound comes out next year.

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher is a dark fantasy full of adventure, magic, and morally complex characters. The story follows a protagonist navigating a dangerous, unpredictable world where choices carry weighty consequences. With witty writing, thrilling action, and a richly imagined setting, it’s an engaging read for fans of adventurous and slightly twisted fantasy.

Loved it. The funny moments, the pacing and build up. Kingfisher’s phrasing is always so sharply written, and I devoured it all.

A man stuck in an enchanted sword sounds helps a woman fight for survival from her in-laws who want to take her inheritance.

Halla discovers the sword she found releases an immortal warrior bound to protect her. Sarkis, aka: the sword, has a deep backstory that I believed is linked to another series of the author's, or at least has some background from other tales. This didn't stop me from understanding or appreciating what he went through or how he got into his immortal home. I really enjoyed he and Halla's slow-burn romance and the awkward situations they found themselves in. The story was a bit cheesy in some parts (which I didn't mind) and at parts I felt the story could have been cut down a bit, but overall I really enjoyed this read and will definitely be waiting for sequels.

Another hit from Kingfisher. I don't know why I'm even surprised anymore.

I loved returning to this realm with new and diverse characters with intricate laws and social customs. She could write a book on arboreal law to accompany this series and I would consume every word happily.

4-4.5 out of 5
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC
I didn't read this when it was first published, but T. Kingfisher has become one of my favourite fantasy authors and I was excited to see a review copy.
If you're familiar with the author's work, this takes place in the same world as the Clockwork and Paladin books, but this is certainly a standalone novel.
Halla has been her uncle's housekeeper since her nondescript husband died, and becomes her uncle's heir when he dies - but, other relatives want the estate and are trying to pressure her into a sham marriage to take control of the money. She stumbles upon a sword that magically becomes a warrior (Sarkis) at need, and this sets in motion an adventure to a far-off city where they find a non-binary lawyer-priest and a helpful gnole who will accompany them back to do legal battle with the hateful aunt.
There's a tongue-in-cheek will they/won't they romance between Halla (whose marriage was a long time ago and not very passionate) and Sarkis (who has spent large amounts of time trapped in a sword), so while they are adults, they have the emotional experience of 10-year-olds. It's really very funny if you don't mind characters in a 'heroic fantasy' acting like nervous teens. I love that Kingfisher messes with character 'types' in her fantasies, and often features female protagonists who are about as far from stereotypical 'damsels' as it's possible to get.
And, because I hadn't read anything else in this world setting before - gnoles. GNOLES!!
If you like banter, and some silliness along with amazing world building and unlikely characters, this is the book for you. Do not read if you think fantasy has to take itself dreadfully seriously all the time. WWSD (what would Stormbringer do).

I loved Halla and how she embraced everything about herself. The snark was top shelf, and I can’t wait to read this one on repeat.

This is just adorable and a perfectly T Kingfisher romance. One of the greatest strengths of Kingfisher's romances is how wholly specific and original the characters are and how clearly they fit together as love matches. So sweet.

Halla, a recently widowed 36-year-old, inherits her late uncle’s estate—along with a house full of scheming relatives—and accidentally unleashes Sarkis, a grumpy immortal warrior trapped in a sword, while trying to escape their clutches. As Halla and Sarkis team up to outwit her greedy family, their unlikely bond grows amidst magical chaos, sharp banter, and increasingly absurd adventures. As the characters develop through the story, readers will fall more and more in love with them and cheer on their love story.
The first in a series, Swordheart is wildly irreverent, delightfully quirky, and full of snarky charm with a generous dose of heart.

This was cute with pretty low stakes. I was hooked for the first half, but it started to drag in the middle. I assume we'll have a second book eventually so those plot points will come back later, but some parts felt unnecessary to the overall story. The third act conflict was so stupid. I'm sure I actually rolled my eyes while reading it.

The good parts: I love an FMC in her 30s who really knows who she is. Halla was a nicely well-rounded character. The magic and way religions are discussed was so different and made for an interesting world.

Swordheart is hilarious and cozy. It’s fantasy with a slow burn romance, but for me personally, the romance was more of a subplot than the focus of the book. The characters are fantastic. It is written in third person, dual POV. Halla was crazily lovable, she and Sarkis are a great pair of characters.
I think students will enjoy their voices and it is nice that it is not a steamy fantasy. I think my students will enjoy this book and it could be a fun school book club book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ebook to preview,

This was such a fun manhandling of an adventure. Cozy fantasy is now a new favorite. I absolutely felt like I was actually with Halla, Sarkis and the whole gang. It very much gave me "The Hobbit" vibes or even a small amount of "The Wizard of Oz" vibes-a leisure adventure with small inconveniences but nothing will stop them from getting to where their going...at least for long.
The banter between all the characters was phenomenal and I was constantly chuckling-especially at the internal dialogue. The general pacing of the timeline is slow however there's enough to keep you entertained the entire book! If you want to travel on an adventure filled with only minor inconveniences that may or may not get out of hand a time or two, this is the book!
This is the perfect read to enjoy snuggling into the couch with a cup of anything cozy and really at any time of year! I absolutely love T. Kingfisher's writing and she will forever be an auto-buy author for me. The way she can write is in its own way poetic. From horror to fantasy you're going to have a good time!

A new cozy fantasy for readers looking for less romance in their reads! Halla is tasked with traveling to secure her late husbands inheritance and along the way she finds a sword that is set on protecting her. Unfortunately, I found the pace and the quest hard to focus on so It was easily set down.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the e-arc!

T. Kingfisher does it again! Love ya Netgalley and publishers that approve me for Kingfisher's work, I will never not be grateful. I loved the relationship between Halla and Sarkis, and found the struggles they face to be less cozy but compelling.

Lemony Snicket for Adults!

This book was great. I have not laughed so much throughout a book in a really long time. The characters were all likeable (well the good ones), the world was interesting, the series of events were hilariously unfortunate. The conversations could take the most serious of subjects, and turn them into a laugh. Halla, Sarkis, Zale, Brindle, and that poor, long suffering ox took me on an exceedingly enjoyable, exceedingly slow, yet rewarding journey. I highly recommend.

This book is perfect for lovers of "cozy fantasy". Swordheart follows Halla, a women who has just inherited an estate that her late husband's family is scheming to take control of. After picking up a sword and finding an immortal being named Sarkis inside, the two take off on an adventure across the countryside where Sarkis is duty-bound (read: magically-bound) to protect Halla from danger, and danger do they find. This is an adventurous, low-stakes fantasy with a nice dose of slow-burn romance.

T Kingfisher writes characters with heart. I find myself lost in the banter and adventure of this author's stories over and over again. A hero with humor on a journey of healing. I will always read books by this author

I just finished Swordheart by T. Kingfisher. Thank you to Bramble and NetGalley for a free eARC. This book is a re-release, with a beautiful cover and lovely teal edges.

Halla is locked in her room. Well, her room at her dead Great-uncle (in law) Silas's house. Silas left everything to her, and now his family has locked her up until she agrees to marry a cousin with CLAMMY hands. At the end of her rope, Halla draws the sword that's mounted on the wall to be presented with, well, a man. Sarkis is the sword, or the he is a man who is trapped in the sword, or he was a man... But regardless of the logistics, he's not an apparition, and he's sworn to protect the wielder of the sword, AKA Halla. Breaking down the door, engaging in fisticuffs with her aunt's hired bodyguard, Halla and Sarkis flee into the night to try to find a way for Halla to get her inheritance, kick out her greedy relatives, and live a quiet respectable life. What they get, is a lovely adventure.

This is what cozy fantasy (or romantasy if you're so inclined) should be. Halla is a wonderful protagonist. She's "middle aged" (38), widowed, kind, funny, and smart as a whip. She has doubts about her overall worth, but that stems from society's failings, not hers. Sarkis is a man with a long and storied past, he's a warrior trapped in a sword, but he's never cruel or emotionally stunted. The chemistry between them feels natural, and their romance blooms slowly across the pages. Halla is very sheltered, so they have many trials and adventures along the way, but it never feels ridiculous or trite. It's a wonderful adventure with a land of an absurd amount of gods; it's both refreshing and delightful. I can't wait for book 2.