This book was exactly the balm my weary soul needed to close out 2024. Sweet, funny, and delightfully odd at times, I loved Halla as our somewhat awkward heroine, and Sarkis as her grumpy, reluctant (though duty-bound) protector. Don't want to give too much away, but it was great to visit this world again and the mention of previous sects from other T. Kingfisher stories was a welcome surprise. Look forward to more books in this Swordheart world!

***received a Netgalley ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.***

I absolutely devoured Swordheart! This book hooked me right from the first chapter and kept me completely engrossed until the very end.
The dynamic between Halla and Sarkis is chef’s kiss.
Halla is such an unexpected heroine—practical, funny, and so relatable. Her banter with Sarkis, the grumpy yet loyal swordsman, had me melting!
I also loved the world-building. It’s rich and vivid without being overwhelming, and the blend of magic, adventure, and dry wit kept me completely engaged. The secondary characters, from quirky innkeepers to scheming relatives, added so much charm and depth to the story.
Honestly, Swordheart is everything I love in a fantasy novel. It’s fun, fast-paced, and filled with heart. I couldn’t put it down and honestly expected nothing less from the author! If you’re a fan of cozy fantasy with memorable characters and a dash of romance, this one is a must-read.

Halla has lead a life of drudgery. First with a husband who didn’t have interest in her, then as housekeeper to his elderly uncle. After she becomes wealthy upon her uncle’s death, suddenly she becomes of value to the family. But Halla has no interest in marrying her clammy handed cousin by marriage, so when she finds a handsome warrior trapped in a magic sword- life starts to get interesting. With his help, perhaps she can make it to the Temple and get legal aid to protect her inheritance from her scurrilous family.
Fun cozy romantasy with lots of humor.

T. Kingfisher's Swordheart masterfully blends romance, fantasy, and humor in a way that feels both fresh and comfortably familiar. The novel takes the classic trope of an enchanted weapon and transforms it into something uniquely charming through its focus on character development and witty dialogue.

The plot kicks into gear when she unsheathes an ancient sword and releases Sarkis, an immortal warrior bound to protect the sword's wielder. This premise could easily have fallen into predictable territory, but Kingfisher subverts expectations by focusing on the smaller, more human moments rather than grand magical adventures.

The pacing is deliberate and character-driven, allowing the relationship between Halla and Sarkis to develop naturally. While there are plenty of action scenes and moments of tension, the story never sacrifices character development for spectacle.

Beyond the romance and adventure, Swordheart explores deeper themes of agency, duty, and the nature of freedom. The relationship between Sarkis and the sword raises interesting questions about free will and obligation, while Halla's journey touches on themes of self-discovery and empowerment.

Overall, Swordheart is a delightful addition to the fantasy romance genre, offering a perfect blend of humor, heart, and adventure. It succeeds both as a romance and as a fantasy novel, with strong character development, engaging dialogue, and thoughtful world-building. The novel proves that fantasy romance can be both sophisticated and entertaining, making it a recommended read for fans of either genre.

I absolutely loved this book! I think it is my favorite of the series. Although this isn’t really a series is it? It doesn’t follow just one group of characters in each book, but it is all set in the same world, so not sure what you would call that. Whatever you want to call it, this one is my favorite.

I just adored all of the characters in this book. I think Halla and Sarkis are my favorite couple of the year. They are perfect together, but they also do well as individuals. Hala asks a lot of questions, which would probably make me just as crazy as it did Sarkis, but I also loved that about her. She also had such a quick and witty mind. I loved how she used her wits and her ability to question people to death to get them out of some very sticky situations.

Sarkis also had his charms, and he was a perfect straight man to all of Halla’s comments and questions. I also found him pretty hot, even though he is an old soldier who has seen better days. His backstory is slowly revealed over the course of the story and it was one that I really need to know more about. His loyalty to Halla makes up for some of his mistakes of the past. I also loved how willing he was to do all of the experiments Halla and Zale request of him to help them figure out how the sword works. Some were quite hilarious.

This book had two of the best side characters as well. I loved Zale, a priest of the white rat who helps Halla get her inheritance back from her nasty relatives. Zale was very sweet and also committed to helping both Halla and Sarkis. Brindle is a Gnole, a type of sentient badger like creature, that we first meet in the Clocktaur War books. I enjoy reading about the Gnoles, but I think Brindle is my favorite so far. His comments about human behavior are often hilarious.

I really enjoyed the world building and the writing was of course wonderful. The story is well paced with lots of action and adventure. Even the somewhat boring times while they were traveling were taken up by their experiments to help them understand how the sword worked were fascinating. And even though this is the third book set in the same world, we are still learning more about it.

So this was originally published in 2019, and the author mentions in her acknowledgements that it is the start of a trilogy, but so far no other books to be seen. This one left me with so many questions, I certainly hope we get those other books someday soon. But even with all of those questions, this is one T. Kingfisher you don’t want to miss.

This charming fantasy romance is an absolute delight! The dynamic between Halla and Sarkis is pure gold, with their witty banter and slow-burning tension making every moment between them a joy to read. The plot is full of light-hearted adventure and surprising depth, balancing cozy moments with moments of tension and danger. If you’re looking for a tale of love, loyalty, and a touch of magic with plenty of heart, this book is a must-read. It’s a perfect blend of humor, romance, and fantasy, with a heroine you’ll root for and a hero who will steal your heart.

I'm a big T. Kingfisher fan and am excited to see that Swordheart is being re-released. I've only just started reading her books within the past couple of years and I haven't made it to Swordheart yet.

If you are looking for cozy fantasy romance with fun and comedy, you will find it with Swordheart. Tropes include bodyguard/guardian, age gap (only because of magic!), slow burn, forced proximity, opposites attract, cursed, unexpected inheritance. Minimal spice. Lots of blushing and swords. For a cozy fantasy, people do seem to get injured and sometimes even die quite frequently.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for a digital advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is a perfect read for cozy fantasy lovers. When Halla unexpectedly gets her late husband's great uncle's inheritance, his family is not pleased. Her late husband's aunt is determined to wed Halla and her son Alver. After denying Alver, she becomes a prisoner in her own home. Determined to end it all, Halla draws an old sword hung above her bed when a man pops out. Sarkis is the servant of the sword determined to protect its wielder. This is the story of their adventure to get Halla's inheritance and protect her from marrying Alver.

I was laughing out loud through the majority of this book. My only complaint is that they use "err" a little bit too much throughout the book. To me, it took away from some of the great parts of the writing. Overall, I think that this is a quick and easy read for someone who is looking for a low-stakes fantasy with found family and great banter.

Thank you Netgalley and T Kingfisher for the arc.

Honestly you can't go wrong with a book by this author. This was a great Grumpy X Sunshine trope with some casually creepy elements. I don't honestly have a lot of feedback other than this author really is a top tier prime writer of this current generation.

Too many cozy fantasies forget that things need to happen to keep a novel moving, but Kingfisher doesn't fall into this trap. The stakes of this are fun but not stressful and Halla and Sarkis are so charming.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc. This was such a beautiful cozy fantasy with strong romance and adventure

This was a delightful blend of adventure, humor, and romance set in a vibrant fantasy world. The dialogue is sharp and often hilarious, making the banter between Hala and Kardos one of the book's highlights. The pacing is swift, with plenty of action, but the emotional arcs are equally engaging. Kingfisher also does an excellent job of mixing classic fantasy tropes with fresh perspectives, making the story feel both familiar and excitingly new. Fans of light fantasy with strong character-driven plots will find this book an absolute joy.

5 stars

Fantasy is a more challenging genre for me. While I can enjoy it, that's an uncommon result. However, I have never met a T. Kingfisher book that I don't love (or at least really like), so I'm not too surprised that I ended up really enjoying this one.

Halla is in a precarious, unprotected spot, and to some degree, this matches the state in which she has existed throughout her life. It's extra convenient, then, that when Halla draws a particular sword, it's a special one; it serves as a prison for Sarkis, an immortal swordsman! Since Halla possesses the sword, she also possesses Sarkis, and this turns out to create a lot of learning - in many ways - for both of them. It also results in a pretty charming romance.

I enjoyed this so much. The romance is great, but the character development, touches of humor, and world building are even more satisfying. I'm so glad I had the chance to read this and look forward to continuing to read more from both the back catalogue - and hopefully prolific future additions - from this fantastic author.

Halla’s surprised to inherit her wealthy uncle’s estate when he passes, despite the fact that she’s been the person caring for him during his waning years. What should be a positive thing quickly turns sour, with gold-digging relatives ready to take control of Halla’s life–and force her into a terrible marriage. While locked in her bedroom by said relatives, she discovers a magic sword––and an ancient swordsman bound inside it. With Sarkis at her side, Halla sets out to regain control of her life, and her inheritance. Along the way, Halla grapples with what it means to be a respectable widow and what she actually wants her life to be.

I found the story cozy in the best sense––deeply substantive and meaningful within the scope of a single life and the lives it touches. The secondary characters are fantastic, and the world is brimming with interesting and horrible (delightful) things. I particularly loved the paladins.

Delightfully fun and cozy with moments of suspense and intrigue splashed in. Recommended for fans of The Saint of Steel series as they take place within the same world.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!!

t. kingfisher, i loved how your crazy mind wrote chilling horror novels and whimsical (yet dark at times) fantasy novels that had crazy satirical characters, so of COURSE i loved your romantasy of a beautiful and chivalrous mmc that’s trapped in a magical sword who helps the quirky and wholesome fmc achieve independence… AND I WANT MORE!

Such a charming fantasy.

A sweet FMC that was so compelling, with strength and beauty that she thinks everyone else possesses but she does not. Listening to this character make her way through her world, I felt the need to just sit and have tea with her and just listen to her go on and on about all of her adventures.

The story is almost comical in the absurdity of the events and kind of a fourth wall break (with out it actually being one) recognizing the absurdity of it all by having her character laugh or comment about just that.

My biggest concern about this sweet novel - it could have been a little shorter perhaps a little less happening on the road - but the intensity of the story was perfect once the twist hit.

Such a cute read, you definitely can’t go wrong checking it out.

This is such a breath of fresh air where romantasy is concerned. Halla is a 36-year-old widow who has unexpectedly inherited an estate. Sarkis is a man trapped in a sword, bound to its wielder, who happens to be Halla. Together they journey all over the place in efforts to keep her family from stealing her inheritance and wind up falling in love.

Okay, simplistic wrap up, but it's a very inventive story and its characters are unlike the typical mold you'll find in all the big romantasy books. So if you're sick of the TikTok trends, give this one a try.

This was very unique! I definitely have never read a story like this. It is a fantasy novel but also feels kind or historical. The romance is a slow burn but the end of the story is extra good! This story made me laugh and made me very angry at Hallas “family”. It isn’t what I would normally read so that’s probably why I rated it lower then others may.

Swordheart is a charming Romantasy filled with palpable sexual tension and lovable characters. The book is a standalone within the rich world of the White Rat series. Halla is seemingly no one special, living in a small uneventful small town, at the end of her tether beset by her conniving in-laws. Sarkis is a man out-of-time, trapped in an enchantment, and slave to the whims of any who become the Sword Wielder. The two embark on a journey to reclaim her inheritance, a road filled with danger, magic, Paladins, overzealous Priests, and lots and lots of questions. Oh, and lust, lots of lusting after one another! Loved every minute, will hold out hope for a second book in the series.