Honestly shoutout to T Kingfisher for being so consistent across all of their works. Honestly I've never been disappointed with one of their books and it didn't start now, a fantastic read.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

i really enjoyed this- it was super silly (kinda shrek vibes) and i liked the combo of comedy and fantasy and romance- our main character was super fun to follow and i loved the personality of the man in the sword- lots of adventure and some fun little romance made this one a fun read!! if you liked assistant to the villain but wished it was written better i would def recommend this! 4.25 stars!

Not going to lie, I hadn't read any of Kingfisher's fantasy until I read this one. And then I read them all in the space of a few weeks, buying what I could not check out from the library, because I couldn't wait and yes they really are that good. A fellow reader of mine described Kingfisher's fantasy books as "where she goes to breathe and play", and that really feels true for this one especially. It's playful and sweet and fun, where every character trait is well fleshed out and every flaw feels like a shining facet of humanity, and hope could be around the corner at any time. Can't wait to pick up a hardback copy for rereading on hard weeks. This book is precisely for that. And we've still got, like, a lot of hard weeks left in 2025.

Swordheart was a much more lighthearted and less dark than the usual T. Kingfisher, but with the expected rich worldbuilding and characters that aren't teenaged Mary Sues.

This was described as "cozy". I don't know that I would call this book cozy since I dislike most cozy fiction yet loved this one. It was more akin to a LitRPG, if a LitRPG had fully fleshed out characters more lush worldbuilding.

I know this was a re-release of Kingfisher's and had less of a creepy atmospheric overtones than I expect from their current works, but I loved it.

Quirky and clever, Swordheart mixes fairy tale vibes with sharp wit and some genuinely unexpected twists. Kingfisher’s humor cuts through the darker moments, keeping the story fresh and unpredictable. It’s a little rough around the edges in places, but the characters’ voices and the world-building make it worth sticking with. If you like your fantasy with a side of sass and heart, this one delivers.

DNF at 50%. While I really enjoyed the characters, there wasn’t enough plot to keep me interested. It’s definitely a cute cozy fantasy and I think fans of the genre will love it! It just didn’t quite work for me right now, I may come back to it though because I love the author and the concept!

T. Kingfisher hits it out of the park again. Loved the return to the world of the Clockwork Boys, loved the protagonist and the deft hand she has with writing the most awkward of romances. The characters feel real even though one of them is a magic sword, which is definitely not a real thing, except of course in this world. There's humor, betrayal, adventure--everything you want in a cozy fantasy book. If you've read and liked any of T. Kingfisher's previous books, you're going to love this one. I definitely did!

T. Kingsolver, unless she turns into a TERF or something, will forever be one of my Season’s Passes. I will ride ALL THE RIDES. Multiple time. And with RELISH.

This standalone (though it does blow kisses to previous works) was everything I wanted it to be.
A FMC with a fully cooked noodle, a cursed hero, an epic journey, a talking badger.

Gah, it was so good.

My favourite bit was, of course, Halla’s rambling when she finds herself in scrapes. Not just a pretty face, my friends.

I did find her reaction to Sarkis’ confession a little out of character, but besides that, the only thing I’m mad about is that it pointed out several other of her books I’ve yet to read.

Saint of Steel, anyone?

I enjoyed this book so much! It had a perfect blend of comedy, fantasy and romance.

I loved Halla and Sarkis! Halla's curious mind and kind soul had me rooting for her from page one. And I liked Sarkis's personal journey of learning to be human again.

I definitely need to check out more stories by this author.

Phenomenal read, as I expect from T Kingfisher. She's just an automatic read for me, and some of the folks I work with in the library have all formed an informal book club, whenever a new book of hers comes out it's immediately pored over and shared. I thought this was an interesting take, and having read Sun, Moon, Dust (her short story that delves into soldiers living in swords) I thought I knew where this was going. Delighted to be wrong, and I cannot wait to read more about this trio of swords, and the people affected by them. I went from a casual fan to frenetic lover of her books with What Moves the Dead, but this world she's showing us more of makes me want to read through the Saint of Steel books closer.

Excellent time. This was more openly romantic/yearning/horny than her other books, in a way that I didn't hate. I'm here for whatever she wants to publish, but I'm going to be especially looking out for more in this series. Thanks Netgalley and Tor for the ARC!

I am a huge T. Kingfisher fan, and this just cements her more firmly as a queen of fantasy. Kingfisher has a lovely sense of humor that permeates her work (even the horror!). I especially appreciated that the protagonists in this book were older than the typical 18-25 age range of romantic interests.

I was already a huge fan of Kingfisher, but I hadn’t read anything from her World of the White Rat before
this. Now I have to go buy a bunch of new books as I am absolutely stuck in this world. I want to know more about the magic hills!! Who was the smith?? Ahh!! The yearning is top notch too. Halla is hilarious and so clever. Absolutely brilliant work.

Romantic and cozy, this harkens back to fairytales. When Halla, a practical, middle-aged housekeeper, inherits her late uncle’s estate, only to be immediately imprisoned by greedy relatives, she accidentally summons Sarkis, a centuries-old warrior trapped in a sword. Together, they embark on a journey to reclaim her freedom, dodging assassins, bureaucratic nonsense, and their own growing attraction. It's a cozy read masterpiece.

Again another fantastic book from the one and only T. Kingfisher. I didn’t realize this was a spin off of the Saint of Steel series. Oh darn (hehe) now I will have to go and read those books. Love T. Kingfisher.

This was just the silly, goofy read I needed! A classic fantasy quest story but with a romantic and comedic sort of twist. Featuring a younger-than-her-years widow who word vomits her way out of tricky situations while on a journey to secure her inheritance with her sworn protector who is also an immortal warrior trapped within a sword.

It’s a bit ridiculous at times, but it has depth. Both funny and heartwarming. I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for an eARC!

There's nothing that T Kingfisher does better than a beautifully crafted couple, bantering in a fantasy world that's slightly falling apart around their ears.

What makes Kingfisher such an exceptional writer is the way that she handles the tougher subjects, things that are somehow deemed taboo rather than openly talked about--such as birth control and the fact that heroes really aren't allowed to go on a murdering spree, regardless of what our D&D campaigns may have told us.

It was a joy to return to the world of the Clocktaur Wars, as Kingfisher's stories are driven primarily by their characters and its easy to slip within these stories.

I'd recommend to fantasy and romantasy fans alike.

I don't even know where to begin with this one. I loved every second of this! These are the kind of stories that you sit down to start and 6 hours later it's three in the morning. The world building in this beautifully done and a lot of fun. I loved the landscapes that moved and the amazing but terrifying creatures that they came across. The plot was well written and i found myself compelled in every step of their journey. Although there are some serious themes through out the book that are well handled. The real show stopper for me in this one is the banter between Halla and Sarkis is absolutely delightful. I have never laughed so hard in my life at quick quips and off handed comments. Their relationship is so enduring, and it is so easy to root for them. I will say in true Kingfisher fashion there are a few curve balls thrown in that I really didn't see coming and it made the story so much fun. I cannot wait to see if there is going to be another book considering that ending!!

Halla has inherited the estate of her late husband's great-uncle and his family is furious. They are doing everything they can to force her into marriage with her cousin. All she wants to do is bring her sisters to live with her, alleviating their poverty and giving them a future she never imagined would be possible. In an effort to defend herself, Halla removes a sword from the wall and finds that it contains a swordsman who's been protecting the wielder of the sword for hundreds of years. They escape from the house and are then on the run from her family.

I found Halla irritating at the beginning, but she soon charmed me. There is a method to her madness. There are a variety of adventures, dangerous situations, and romance. They pick up others on their way which brings in the element of found family. I laughed quite a bit and thoroughly enjoyed the whole story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ebook ARC.

This was my first Kingfisher and I am bummed that I wasn't able to finish it in time before my family moved cross-country! The dry humor, the setting, and the unique characters all had me hooked immediately. I will absolutely check this book out from my local library to finish it and reading more of their work.

T. Kingfisher ability to combine romance, fantasy, and humor is unparrellelled at this point. There isn't a book of hers that I don't find something that I liked and Swordheart is no exception. From the older protagonists to the longing, I couldn't put this book down. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for something a bit different than the typical fantasy.