Quirky and fun characters; fans of romance with humor will enjoy this one. The concept of an ancient warrior in a sword and a young woman who is dealing with horrible family members is interesting. I find T. kingfisher’s range to be fascinating.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this ARC.

This book was a delight and left a warm feeling in my heart <3

4.5 out of 5 stars

In a wave of the current, stereotypical romantasy books that have been released lately, Swordheart is a breath of fresh air. A truly unique plot line with the characters to match. I loved it to pieces! T Kingfisher’s writing style is so her own and makes every book feel lived in. It automatically sets the scene and the tone perfectly. Her characters do as well. I loved that this was a romance between an older couple, though i know our knight was moreso around the centuries old. The cast of characters that they meet on their journey shined too. I also loved the cozy fantasy vibes, the way they met different and almost silly challenges every few chapters kept the pace up.

Swordheart is laugh-out loud funny and as sweet as a forehead kiss.

I’ve really enjoyed the few T. Kingfisher books I’ve read, so when I saw Swordheart was being republished, I jumped on the ARC! And I’m so glad that I did because I had such a blast reading it and it’s currently ranking second in my mental Kingfisher list. Just under, Nettle & Bone, that’s quite a compliment! The ridiculous banter, and sunshine/grumpy chemistry made the reading experience so pleasurable for me. If my genuine cackles and foot-kicking giggles are any indication, it’s probably the funniest book I’ve read in a while. I especially enjoyed the scenes which attempted to scientifically explore the limitations of a human body being stuck inside a scabbard for centuries!

As with other Kingfisher books, I was struck by the sheer creativity and whimsy of the world she created. Her imagination and ideas are always what I admire the most about her stories. While it fits snugly into the ‘cozy’ space, there’s also enough adventure and tension (both romantic and plot-wise) to keep me engaged and rooting for the characters all the way through.

The romance felt refreshingly unrushed and earned. In my mind, it was the right levels of sweet and steamy for a cozy fantasy. That being said I have one small issue with Sarkis’ characterisation. I understand that he’s from an era long gone and as a result he has outdated notions. Nevertheless, his constant obsession with what Halla was wearing or not wearing was annoying. It gets challenged within the story, but it still dampened my ability to fall head over heels with the romance so it’s worth noting.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the friends they made along the way TM, as they are a standout for me. Zale, the priest and Brindle, the ox-hander gnole enhance every step of the journey. Aside from their endearing wholesomeness, Zale also grounds the story with their wisdom and wit.

I would recommend Swordheart to anyone who likes cozy fantasy romance.

I thought this had the potential to be a five star read. Ultimately, for myself, it just didn’t past the threshold. I liked the plot of the book - I’m a big fan of both shenanigans and tomfoolery and there was *plenty* of those!

However, Sarkis’s *constant* thinking about boobs wore on me, and the acephobia in how they discussed Halla’s ex-husband was off-putting.

Thank you @netgalley for my eARC of Swordheart by T. Kingfisher.

Well, first off, as you can see here (on Instagram)....I bought the physical copy of Swordheart. I was approved for the ARC the day before release and immediately knew I was going to buy it too. I have also listened to the audio!

I am fully on the T. Kingfisher train and have zero plans of ever leaving. Her combination of humor and cozy-adjacent fantasy is something I will always devour and Swordheart was no exception! It had me from the beginning and never let go! It features Halla, a widow in her 30s, who was trapped in her room by her in-laws determined to marry her off in order to steal her inheritance until she discovers Sarkis, a swordsman stuck in a magical sword who is bound to protect Halla.

Swordheart is actually a rerelease this year and I am so happy to see that T. Kingfisher's books are getting more attention (and pretty editions!). If you haven't read any of her books yet...this is your sign to do so!

This. Was. Everything. Hilarious, magical, and heartwarming. This story had me laughing from the beginning. The main characters are so well rounded and lovable. This was such a fun world to dive into. I have always loved kingfishers writing, but this one was definitely my favorite. Halla and Sarkis are the new slow burn couple I didn’t know I needed.

One of the only cozier fantasy books that i enjoyed. it was funny but not too funny and surprised me with the amount of plot we got. for some reason it really reminded me of shrek?

Thank you to NetGalley, T, Kingfisher and Tor Publishing Group for granting me an arc of this book!

Not gonna lie, this almost had me DNFing in the first half. I’m glad I stuck around for the cozy fantasy vibes because it did eventually win me over enough to want to finish it. ✨

This is as cozy a fantasy as a cozy fantasy gets. It’s low stakes, with all the whimsy and fancifulness of a fantasy world. I wish there was a bit more plot and a bit less pages, but overall this is a fun adventure. 🦄

I was won over by the inner monologue of Sarkis (MMC) and the banter of the group of characters in the middle to end of the book. 🗡️

However I could absolutely not reconcile with the FMC, who was apparently 36 but acted like an awkward 14-year-old. If she never spoke a single word in this book after the first chapter, that would’ve been fine with me. 👀

If you like cozy fantasies and FMC’s who ask a literal million ridiculous questions, you will love this. If you enjoy a fun, silly adventure with cute banter and warm fuzzy romance, this is also for you. 💙⚔️

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read this ARC for an honest review!

This book was adorable! I was really invested into the protective bodyguard type trope. Also where is my knight in shinning armor, I need to find me a Sarkis. I have never found humor quite like I did in this fantasy book and the characters Halla and Sarkis rightfully carried this story! I mean who wouldn't fall for a handsome warrior protector. It was interesting to read a book with a FMC far older than I (mid to late thirties) and this book is slower paced so I would say it's more of a cozy fantasy as it doesn't have the spice aspect or heavy political attributes other fantasy books have in their plots. P.S. I feel like this books ends with the potential for a second.

Another refreshing and fun fantasy story by Kingfisher.

This one starts out with our kind and naïve heroine Halla figuring out how she can off herself due to money grubbing relatives that are forcing her to marry in order to get the generous inheritance her quirky uncle left her. While trapped in her bedroom, as she tries to think of the best method, she unsheathes a decorative looking sword, but boom sudden warrior arrival.

The dynamic between Halla and warrior Sarkis is established quickly as Sarkis tries to figure out what the heck is going on, and Halla asks more curious questions than she answers. They eventually decide to bust their way out of the room and travel to the Temple of the White Rat for help with the inheritance. This starts a long journey. It isn't a smooth ride and Halla gets some real world experience while Sarkis adjusts to being out of the sword again after so many years.

Their romance isn't instant and it takes a little bit of time before they truly see one another. But once they do it's pure besotted love on both sides. Sarkis's want to stab everyone that looks at Halla funny and Halla's kindness are very sweet. They make sense together.

I've read (and loved) the Saint of Steel series so seeing characters like Zale, Brindle, and Beartongue was delightful.

Overall, I enjoyed this one though I think it could've been shortened just a bit. I'm eagerly awaiting the next book!

Thank you to Tor & NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, this was such a cozy fantasy book! I loved the adventure portion of the story. I realized that this book was set in a world from a previous book by the author, but I don't think that it necessarily took away from the story not knowing the world. I loved that the FMC wasn't a teenager or early twenties. That was very much appreciated. Overall, the storyline was cute! I loved the grumpy x sunshine trope as well.

Received an eArc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to see Swordheart come through NetGalley. I have wanted to read the book for years, so it coming through as an arc for a rerelease was a great excuse to finally prioritize reading it.

I generally like T Kingfisher books. They are never 5 stars for me, but they are usually a consistent 4 star romp. This one was much the same. I liked both of the main characters and the side ones along the way. Is it an all-time favorite? No. Was it a fun romp? Yes, yes it was.

I'm such a huge fan of T. Kingfisher and I'm so glad to see this book re-published with a beautiful cover. This one is a true "cozy fantasy" and as always, I loved that it included a romance between older characters. This is a low-stakes fantasy read full of adventure, and found family and I really loved the slow burn romance and the fun dialogue. The book is set in the same world as The Clockwork Boys but with lower stakes; this one is so much fun, and often funny and I truly enjoyed reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bramble for an eARC of Swordheart!

Swordheart is a funny, cozy fantasy romance that totally took me by surprise—in the best way. It follows Halla, a no-nonsense widow who unexpectedly inherits a fortune, only to be locked up by her greedy relatives. She ends up freeing Sarkis, a warrior magically bound to a sword, and the two set off on a weird and wonderful adventure full of gods, undead monks, and plenty of dry humor.

Halla and Sarkis have great chemistry, with lots of banter and awkward, sweet moments that feel genuine. T. Kingfisher’s writing is witty and warm, with just the right mix of absurd fantasy and real emotional depth.

If you like quirky world-building, strong (but totally relatable) characters, and a romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Swordheart is 100% worth the read.

This was SO FUN!! Unique story, with great characters. I can't wait to read more by this author! The whole premise of this book was fascinating from the start. Hence why I picked it up. I could not put this one down!

This is not a retelling like I have come t expect from T. Kingfisher. It is a cozy fantasy with historical romance vibes, set in the world of the Clocktaur War Duology. You can read it as a standalone. I have not read the previous duology and I did not feel like I was missing anything for this book. This book was a lot of fun. I enjoyed every minute of the banter. Kingfisher is definitely quickly becoming a automatic buy author for me.

Swordheart was a cute adventure with loveable characters. I enjoyed the dynamic and as someone reading the Saints of Steel series it was great to see a book in the same world.

I do think the book had some opportunities with pacing as the last half felt rushed but it was an overall satisfying conclusion.

I love T. Kingfisher and this was pretty much exactly what you’d expect. I love her paladin books so it’s fun to return to the world of the white rat. Excellent fairy tale, I hope the sequel releases soon.

I received a digital copy of this book as an advanced reader copy from the publisher. 🖤
I have to say that overall I really liked this book. You grow to love the characters. I even like the MFC who is SOOOO annoying at times. I adore Sarkis; the MMC. If you like a slow burn, oh my, this could be the book for you. Just a little bit of spice; nothing overly explicit. This book is supposed to be part one of a trilogy and honestly I can’t wait to read the next one. This can be read as a standalone. But, you will likely want to continue to the next book to come.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
Forced Proximity🗡️
Humor 😀
Mild Spice🌶️
Touch her and die. 🖤