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.

This was a T Kingfisher book through and through.

- Hilarious? Check.
- Completely over-the-top and lovable characters? Check.
- Full of heart with something to say? Absolutely.

I'm so happy this book was being re-published so it can get a wider audience, because it is such a gem.

Thank you so much to Tor and NetGalley for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3ish stars; though I usually like T. Kingfisher, this book was not for me. A romantic fantasy featuring a sensible widow and her magic sword, that slowly fall in love while on their quest for aid.

I liked the premise of this book a lot, and the Princess Bride-esque vibe it had about it, but I found the dialogue very hard to read. The characters saying “err” so much got on my nerves after a while.

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. 💙⚔️