3.5 stars --
• after inheriting her great-uncle’s estate (& with it his relatives), halla, a housekeeper, teams up with sarkis, a swordsman trapped inside an immortal sword. after halla draws the sword, sarkis does whatever it takes to protect halla from those out to get her, including bandits, inquisitors, and her horrible in-laws.
• this is such a fun, silly take on the hero’s journey. it’s got intrigue, romance, battle scenes, but all told with a charm & wit that makes this story feel more low-stakes.
• it felt a bit long at times, and sometimes the whimsy felt a bit much, but overall i enjoyed!

Swordheart is a fantasy tale about our main character, Halla, whom we meet locked up inside a bedroom by her Aunt Malva in an attempt to force Halla to marry her son, and Halla’s cousin (by marriage), Alver in an attempt to reclaim Uncle Silas’s inheritance that was left only to Halla. Out of time, and options, Halla takes a sword off the wall to end her life but after unsheathing it finds Sarkis standing in her room. Sarkis claims he came from inside the sword. Sarkis also claims that he is duty bound to help the wielder of the blade.

A wonderful story of adventure blooms off this plot, which only is further enhanced by the character development of the characters throughout the story. The banter only serves to drive the character development and plot forward. In moments when Halla tries to downgrade herself or call herself stupid, Sarkis is there with an inner monologue of insight to disperse her fears of how she will appear to him (or anyone else) with not only kind words to drive away her negative thoughts but to assert in her a positive relationship in which it seems Halla never had before.

It’s a refreshing take that puts added importance on the fact the characters in this tale aren’t young people in their twenties. They are middle-aged (and maybe a few hundred years old give our take) and full of wisdom or bleakness that only the world can show in all its beauty and brutality over the years. And yet, through her own bleak circumstances, Halla remains ever positive with an outlook on life that looks for the bright instead of the dark. It’s a love story, of sorts, that progresses in a way we can believe; Halla’s kindness to Sarkis and in treating him like a man and not a weapon. Small gestures of decency we, as the reader, come to find endearing and touching that drive home how Sarkis’s viewpoint of Halla changes throughout the course of their journey with the same being shown for Halla.

The side characters we meet throughout this book are equally as endearing and funny. Zale the Rat Priest and the gnole, Brindle becoming unforgettable companies that spark a new level of kinship for Halla that she didn’t have before.

Swordheart exceeded every expectation I had while going along on this journey. A grew attached to each character, including the side characters, and found myself laughing out loud more than a few times while reading. T. Kingfisher has only solidified themselves further as being one of my favorite authors of our generation and I cannot wait to continue to devour more of their works.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for this advanced reader copy.

SWORDHEART is peak T. Kingfisher. A fleshed out world, found family, and a grounded romance. Who doesn’t love a meet cute that starts with trying to end it all? Halla is a heroine you can’t help but root for. She’s smart, resourceful, and loves with her whole heart. Sarkis is a grumpy immortal, dedicated to his mission and, now, his chance at a new future. But most important for me, Kingfisher gave me side characters that not only added to the story, but that I wanted to read more about! It was peak friendship watching Zale, the priest/lawyer, nerd out with Halla. And Brindle is a relatable gnole, beyond exasperated with humans. SWORDHEART is well paced, funny, and reaffirms for readers that good help may be hard to find, but it’s definitely worth the trip.

I can't express how much I LOVED Swordheart! Halla and Sarkis are absolutely wonderful! I adore T. Kingfisher's writing and this book is no exception. It was so funny and sweet, with the world building always present in Kingfisher's work. I have to!d anyone who will listen to read this book.

Thank you so much, Netgalley and Tor books for an ARC of this gorgeous book!

I liked this, but it admittedly was not my favorite Kingfisher. Often, darker themes in the plot and some stakes balance out her humor and the tone of her writing for me. This felt a bit light all the way through, and the plot was a little vague for me. There were a lot of little comments about the world that were brought up and never really expounded upon. I would be interested in reading about the world more. (Especially after the Vagrant Hills chapter, which I really enjoyed).

I thought the characters were fun to read about, but I felt a bit lukewarm on this attraction-driven romance. In general, Swordheart was fine, but I have been spoilt by the layers in Kingfisher's more recent work (Thornhedge and Sorceress Comes to Call, I especially loved).

Great character interactions and I was hooked on Serkis from the beginning! Halla really knows how to bring the humor, but I found her to be a little too much with the run on thoughts. If the moments where there were thoughts italicized were a bit condensed, it wouldn’t have taken me so long to read the novel. Despite the story needing to be shortened a bit, I really did enjoy this cozy fantasy romance read!

Thanks to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group and T. Kingfisher for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

Swordheart is a unique, lighthearted fantasy romance book!

Halla was an enjoyable protagonist to read about. She was inquisitive, intelligent, and strong. The love interest, Sarkis, was also a compelling character and I liked his protectiveness over Halla. However, there were moments in which it felt like both Halla and Sarkis were acting younger than their ages. They were supposed to be in their mid-thirties but sometimes they felt almost like teenagers. This didn't necessarily take away from my enjoyment of the book but it was something worth noting.

The romance that blossomed between Halla and Sarkis was sweet and it was entertaining watching them both pine for each other throughout the story.. Their emotional connection was not the strongest I've seen but the chemistry was there and the banter between them
was good as well.

My biggest complaints about this book were the ending and the pacing. The end felt so abrupt that I thought I had somehow skipped a few pages..It almost felt like the author was setti9ng up for a sequel, but I don't believe that's the case. As for the pacing, it was a bit slow at times and I found myself wishing for more action. However, even in the slower moments, I was still intrigued enough by the story to keep reading.

Overall, this wasn't groundbreaking but it was a fun read. If you're a fan of cozy fantasy romance and this story appeals to you, I'd say give it a try.,

Swordheart is a delightful romantic fantasy. The romance and fantasy are very well balanced. It is a journey story with definite fairy tale vibes, although I do not believe it is a retelling of an actual fairy tale. I would not characterize this book as cozy due to multiple scenes of explicit violence, but it is otherwise very sweet throughout.

Our main character, Halla, goes on a journey to escape her evil in-laws and receive her rightful inheritance, accompanied and protected by the warrior, Sarkis, trapped in her magic sword. They are exasperated with each other, but as the journey progresses, they begin to yearn for one another. The spice level in this book remains at about a 2🌶️ level.

The most of the secondary characters are well developed and interesting, though the in-laws are cartoonish villains as might be expected from a fairy tale. I appreciated the inclusion of women in non-traditional roles, and the diverse representation of gender and sexuality throughout.

This book was in 5⭐️ territory for me throughout most of the book, with the exception of a repetitive section at the end that left me a bit frustrated. I still believe it is a wonderful book, landed on 4.5⭐️s, and strongly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for an e-ARC in advance of publication of a new edition of this book.

Where do I even start with this book. It is a light hearted story, with lovable characters. Halla is one of the most enjoyable main characters I’ve read about in a long time. Her and Sarkis, the warrior imbued to the sword make a dynamic pair, and their journey together is whimsical, but at times very unsettling. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the Assistant to The Villain or The Prince Bride. The only down side to this book is that there is no book two, yet.

This was a fun read, but I didn't love it as much as I really hoped and even expected to. I've only seen people rave about this book, and the way it was described made me expect the same thing. And while I definitely enjoyed my time and had fun, it's not one I see myself coming back to reread.
I would definitely recommend this to all of the cozy fantasy lovers out there, and cozy romance lovers as well. The only reason it wasn't a 5 star for me is because I need more action and angst in my fantasy romances, and I didn't feel that here. But if you love a nice cozy book, you'll love this one!

When Halla inherits the estate of her late husband's great uncle for whom she's kept house these last many years. Not everyone is pleased with this outcome. Her relatives have locked her in her small attic room while plotting her fate. Desperate, she plots as well; her own death seems her only escape route. Her weapon? Well, that's where the story takes a turn. An ancient sword hanging on the wall inspires questions - Halla is ever so good at questions - about how to stab oneself. But when she unsheathes the blade, the real adventures begin.

With her usual flair for dialog and wry humor, Kingfisher's tale unfolds. Kingfisher fans will enjoy meeting up again with a few familiar characters among the cast. Betrayal, long held secrets, enchanted lands... there's something here for any Kingfisher fan.

This was definitely a Gilmore Girls style Romantasy. Some of the FMC ramblings were a little long winded, purposefully, but other than that it was an easy read. The characters were witty and the villains were delightfully exaggerated. Everyone gets a happy ending and even though it first came out in 2018, the epilogue hints at a second book about the other swords…

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this ARC.

Having already lost a husband, Halla isn't quite sure where life will take her next when the great- uncle who had taken her in also passes away. When she learns she is the heir to his estate, she's not sure if that's the solution to her problem either. Her late husband's sister wants to marry her off to her son to keep the inheritance in the family, but Halla is very sure that isn't going to happen. She's about to take matters into her own hands when she discovers a magical sword, and with it, a new-found protector. Sarkis has been a part of the sword for hundreds of years, and as such is the sword-bearer and guardian for whoever bears the sword. He rescues Halla from the clutches of her underhanded relatives and they set off on an adventure to try to reclaim her inheritance.

The banter and growing relationship between Halla and Sarkis was super cute. The characters came to life off of the page and I loved looking forward to seeing what crazy thing Halla would say next. The side characters were also wonderfully well developed, with my favorite being Brindle and his duty and devotion to caring for the ox. The writing was lush and full of life and the descriptions of the landscape and the adventures of the characters kept things moving along at a great pace.

This is a super fun treat for fans of Kingfisher's other works and a great way for anyone who hasn't experienced her writing to get a feel for the fantastical things she comes up with. I am looking forward to searching out the other titles in this world.

Swordheart is an absolute delight—a blend of humor, heart, and high adventure that feels fresh and captivating. T. Kingfisher weaves a unique fantasy tale where a quirky widow, Halla, teams up with Sarkis, a cursed swordsman bound to a magical weapon. Their dynamic is hilarious and heartwarming, with plenty of witty banter and genuine emotional depth.

The world-building is rich yet accessible, and the story balances thrilling action with moments of laugh-out-loud humor and quiet introspection. If you’re looking for a fantasy with sharp wit, endearing characters, and a dash of romance, Swordheart is a must-read!

Cozy. Romantic. Thrilling. Hilarious.

I don’t understand how T. Kingfisher’s World of the White Rat isn’t more popular with the romantasy crowd. This book, and her Saint of Steel series, are the ideal formula for a cozy, but often thrilling, romantasy read. There’s just so much to love about it.

✨The heroes are compelling, charming, well-rounded folks that have their own (very complicated) inner lives.

- Halla, our relatable main character who is in her thirties (how refreshing!), wields naivety and curiosity like a well-honed sword.
- Sarkis, our “touch her and I’ll kill you” male lead is so much more than the mere weapon he claims to be.
- Zale, solicitor-sacrosanct priest of the Temple of the White Rat, becomes a clever, close friend—it’s also so refreshing to see our characters, even the aforementioned dark and dour wall of middle-aged, but immortal muscle, make friends that become family by the end.
- Brindle, job-gnole, keeps the group grounded because, as we’re often reminded, “humans can’t smell.”

✨The villains are disgustingly evil, but horrifyingly real.

- Grasping, entitled in-laws with clammy hands and no regard for the free will of a widow.
- A fascist, bullying order of priests.
- Bandits who are only trying to confirm whether or not someone can become invisible.

✨The world is thoroughly built, part of a larger story that interweaves with this one.

- The Temple of the White Rat and their army of lawyers
- The recent Clocktaur War
- Wonderworkers and artificers
- Smith saints and paladins
- Sentient, wandering hills

Kingfisher has a wonderful talent for making people speak like actual people—bumbling, blunt, and oftentimes laugh out loud hilarious.

“I’m going to put on my pants and go stab her.”

“That’s your solution for everything!”

SWORDHEART is simultaneously one of the funniest books (Where does your piss go when you disappear inside a sword?) and the most romantic (”You wouldn’t have hurt me!” “Couldn’t take the chance. Not with you.”). Halla and Sarkis fall for each other in realistic increments, and the whole core of characters are steadily bonded together through hardship and hijinks.

The only ehhh aspect is the pacing—we’re stuck on the road between Rutger’s Howe and Amalcross for what feels like, both to our characters and the reader, centuries. I get that travel was no easy thing in this medieval-ish setting, but going at an ox’s pace can be agonizing. In hindsight, all the encounters on the road came together in the end, but sometimes they felt like they were thrown in to give the characters something to do while they slowly, slowly, slowly journeyed forward.

As long as you don’t get mired down in that middle bit, SWORDHEART is a great read that I foresee becoming comfort reading for me in the future. It’s a warm cup of tea. It’s ooey-gooey macaroni and cheese. With the smallest hint of spice. ✨

Thanks to NetGalley for the special edition copy which is GORGEOUS.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6966454386

Thank you netgalley for the chance to read this! 3.5 / 5 stars
This was a really slow start for me: I enjoyed it but it took me a bit to really get into this DnD like story of a maiden, priest, and warrior venturing off to save her family legacy. It was funny, kind of goofy, full of adventure and strange creatures, and a ton of hijinks. I adored Sarkis in particular: his voice was really intriguing, and I loved the duality between his immortality and his growing desires for a more mortal life. Halla was spunky and hysterical; the use of humor as a weapon was really well done.
This isn't an epic 'fantasy' I'm going to be thinking about for awhile, but it was an enjoyable palate cleanser type story.

Oh This is delightful, I'm so sorry I missed the original printing but I'm so happy a new HC copy is available and it's just as gorgeous as its story.

Swordheart, is set in Clockwork Boys Universe, but you absolutely do Not have to have read those books to enjoy this one. I, for one, did not know about the Clockwork Boys and now they are on my TBR. (As well as the rest of Kingfisher's books.)

What an absolute joy. If you're a fan of of the kind of humor and warmth from a story and its characters found in TP's Discworld universe... You will have a BLAST here. There are one or two scenes on the spicier side, but nothing Explicit. After all, Halla is a Respectable widow.

Who doesn't just want to live their life - so fun the first time I read it, and again, I hope that the new special edition will bring more people back to this book since I'm pretty regularly surprised that more people haven't read it. 10/10, go read it!

First off thank you for letting me receive this arc via net galley - this truly was such a ball to read! A previous book I read by the same author was Thornhedge - which was also a 5 star book for me - leading me to have hopes for her newest book Swordheart....and Kingfisher delivered tenfold!
This was such a cozy fantasy read, with characters that lead me to literally laugh out loud during most of the read. The world building was so well done, I felt as if I was actually in Amallcross every time. Moreover, the writing style perfectly fit the story and plot setting. I cannot wait to read more of this author

Swordheart by T Kingfisher

* Thank you to @netgalley and @torpublishing for providing an ebook in exchange of a honest review.

I loved the caracters in that book but I would have love a more complex quest. The original event that made Halla travel is a little bit simple in my opinion but I still had a good time with the story. If you like magical realism and light fantasy and of course romance, you should check it out.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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