Halla may be a bit of a nobody, but she just wants to live her life! A widow and now the unexpected inheritor of her great-uncle's estate, his greedy family wants to force her into marriage so they can get the estate. Halla, locked in her room, draws a sword on which to throw herself on...only to release Sarkis, an immortal warrior sworn to protect the wielder -- who happens to be Halla. Things go questingly and charmingly sideways as only Kingfisher can.

I adore this book and I was so delighted to see that it will be receiving the special edition treatment. Hopefully this reprint will draw more readers' attention to this overlooked romantasy gem.

When Halla inherits her uncle's estate, her relatives try to trap her in a marriage to claim her new assets as their own. Fortunately, Halla discovers that part of her inheritance includes a sword -- and that sword has a warrior magically bound to it. What follows is a nice, low stakes fantasy adventure about estate settlement. Plus some slow burn romance between middle-aged main characters. Swoon.

Because it's Kingfisher, there's lots of humorous dialogue and lovable characters. If you need a cozy fantasy that doesn't follow the mold of some of the more popular romantasy titles, I highly recommend you check out this one!

One of my favourite Kingfisher books purely based on the specific level of fantasy that is written in this genre. I enjoy the written prose and fantastic characters. Though it is my favourite book of hers, I feel is it slightly underrated compared to the rest of her catalogue, therefore I recommend it to readers of Kingfisher for the first time and if you want a brilliantly crafted fantasy story.

I am a huge T. Kingfisher fan and I was excited to see that Swordheart was getting re-released. Swordheart is prime romantic fantasy, I think it's the perfect balance between world building and fantasy elements and romance. The story follows the widow fmc on her journey to becoming independent from her less than ideal family. Kingfisher's writing is top tier. Her ability to combine succinct story telling with witty humor and great character work is unmatched. Also, if you like Swordheart her Paladin series is set in the same world and are also some of my favorite books.

This story is full of lovable characters, witty banter, delightfully awkward moments, and a storyline that had me rooting for the FMC from start to finish. I couldn't put this book down and I read it over a weekend!

Halla's greedy family wants to lay claim to her inheritance, a vast estate and fortune left to her by a great-uncle. They decide that in order to take what is hers, they will force her into a marriage that will allow them to gain complete control over her land, money, and life. Halla feels so abandoned, alone, and hopeless that she feels there is only one way out of her predicament. That is, until she draws a familial sword and is suddenly face-to-face with Sarkis, a warrior bound to serve and protect whoever wields the weapon.

From there the adventure begins with plenty of amusing dialogue that will keep the reader entertained and thinking about this story well after its finished. Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an ARC of this book!

Hilarious and sweet! I love the world and everyone in it (at least those on Halla's side). Halla is spectacular in a sensible way (mostly). Sarkis is excellent at adapting to unexpected circumstances. Zale and Brindle are delightful.

I read this book so quickly at the recommendation of a friend. It has led to me reading many others by the same author, and I have loved all of her writing. Swordheart is a romantic adventure that feels like playing an RPG. It's set in a quasi-medieval setting. The main character discovers that a sword hanging on her wall is imprisoning a man who was bound to it as punishment. The pair go on a quest to free her from the family demands that come to the surface after she inherits the property of her great-uncle. There are some horror elements, but the book is primarily a rom-com adventure. I loved this book and the world it introduced to me!

I love T Kingfisher's work and Swordheart is no exception! She continues to create female characters that are weirdly relatable considering the fantasy/faux-historical settings. Any book that allows me to visit the world of the white rat will be a winner to me, and I love her ability to write a romance that is also a full-fledged fantasy. I really hope Kingfisher writes the stories of the other sword warriors.

I loved this book. This was my first five star read of the year. I love when I get to follow an older character. There was adventure, a little romance and quirky characters that had me laughing. I love this author and I will read anything they write.

More cozy fantasy involving road trips and sarcastic, quirky buddies. As always with T. Kingfisher, this hit my sweet spot — funny with heart — and can I tell you what I really appreciated? Halla’s incessant questioning of how Sarkis’s curse worked. You better believe that if I met a man trapped in a sword, I’d be running all kinds of tests, especially if I found myself falling for him. The miscommunications around their relationship did annoy me a little bit, but I am of course willing to put that aside because everything else was so delightful. And I freaking love this new cover. AND I was even more excited to finish and find out that there would be more adventures to come.

This is a fun romance between a sensible widow and her enchanted sword. After an unexpected inheritance, she has to escape from her greedy relatives with the help of the warrior spirit she found inside a magic sword, embark on a quest for legal aid, and avoid creepy forests and menacing priests, all while falling in love. It's a good adventure - with bandits, creepy monsters, and rescues and escapes - but also a very touching love story between two people who have been hurt before and are uncertain why anyone would want them. (Pretty sexy, too, without being graphic about it.) It's an engaging story, the characters are great, funny and sensible, and you can really see how well they complement each other. I'd recommend this to anyone, especially if you want a fantasy that isn't about saving the world.

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher 4⭐️

I am so happy and surprised that the main female lead Halla was a woman in her late 30’s. Not only was she funny but she is kindhearted. Plus I love how she rambles on when she’s kinda nervous or trying to avoid being killed. LOL This was a refreshing read and i was rooting for Halla and Sarkis the whole time.

The story follows Halla and her magical sword (Sarkis). Halla inherits her uncle (in-law) house and everything he owns. Shes pretty much force to fight his family for the will and it’s an interesting adventure.

Sarkis is a man stuck in a sword and is probably over 500 years old. So there’s technically a huge age gap but he’s technically a magical sword… kinda? LOL

Anyway it was a fun read and I would definitely recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc! I’m going to pick up the deluxe edition so it can live on my shelf forever. Enchanted sword who protects you? Sign me up please 💙🥰

Thank you, Kingfisher, NetGalley, and Tor publishing for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first book I've read by Kingfisher, and it did not disappoint!
The world building was exceptional, and the characters were so well written. As an over thinker, and an answer seeker, I've never related to a character more than I relate to Halla. She is hilarious. I also appreciated reading a story where the main characters were not in their teens. Halla is an average 36 year old woman.
As a reader who imagines myself as the main character, I was easily able to picture myself on her journey. Books with parapets and life or death trials also hold space in my heart, but I enjoyed how the adventure in Swordheart simply stemmed from Halla avoiding marrying her cousin. It made it a lighthearted, comfy and cozy, fun read.

4.5 stars rounded up and my thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC!

I loved this story so much! Kingfisher writes horror really really well, so I'm not at all surprised that her fantasy/romance books are just as amazing.

Halla is trapped by her in-laws after the death of both her husband and his elderly uncle whom she was caring for. Trapped both metaphorically and physically, she's about to be forced to marry her late husbands cousin and locked in her bedroom until she agrees to such. When she finds a sword, she unsheathes it in preparation to kill herself, only to have a handsome knight suddenly appear and swear fealty to her.

Halla and Sarkis had such a fun relationship throughout the whole book. Halla trying to survive and Sarkis trying his best to prevent her from causing trouble. I loved the banter between the two of them, especially near the beginning when they were first learning each other.

The only thing keeping it from the full 5 stars was the length of the book. I think it probably could have been cut maybe 50 pages or so here and there. There was a part of the novel that seemed like it was going to set something up with Sarkis and finding out more about him, but then it went nowhere and meant really nothing to this story.

This special edition of T Kingfisher’s 2018 Romantasy Swordheart was released this week. There is nothing like the way Kingfisher gives her characters such a sarcastic and yet endearing voice that is hilarious and cozy. I have mostly read her horrorish novels in the past so I was a little unsure about a romantasy, but Swordheart was everything I wanted it to be and more.

A 30 something widowed housekeeper finds herself the soul inheritor of her great uncle’s property and fortune. His hideous family is not happy and plots to force her into a marriage with her cousin so they can get the money. But when Halla unsheathes a sword she discovers, an immortal man appears and announces he is sworn to her service.

For most of the story Halla and Sarkis travel together to call on an order of priests to help her receive her inheritance, but along the way we find some great side characters and some adventures. But the real jewel is how the journey allows time for us to get to know Sarkis and Halla, and surprise surprise, see them fall in love. Given that Sarkis has his own backstory, and his inability to not serve the sword-bearer, things get pretty complicated.

This was a fun read and I’m in love with these characters. It’s not Kingfishers best novel, but that bar is pretty darn high at this point.

If you like a fairy tale vibe with grown ass characters with an attitude, I would highly recommended this adorable romantasy.

A funny and fantastic adventure story from one of my favorite authors! Such a good revamp of her earlier work!

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher was a breath of fresh air.
Kingfisher shines by writing a light, pithy story while simultaneously detailing the woes of women in society. The way Halla felt she had to “dumb herself down” was enraging, AND YET, through Kishfisher’s writing, is undeniably hilarious.
The story's premise is refreshingly unique: a widowed housekeeper mistakenly draws an enchanted sword, forever tying herself to an immortal warrior bound by magic to protect her from harm. The peculiar cast of characters collected along the way quickly endeared themselves with wit and charm. And the world-building was not once overwhelming.
I will say that Swordheart is not a high-speed, high-stakes (or, in general, anything fast) read. It is a funny, low-stakes, cozy fantasy I looked forward to cuddling beside my fireplace to read each night.
Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank Bramble for allowing me to read the advanced copy of this rerelease!

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher is probably my favorite book written by T. Kingfisher.
The writing is genuinely stunning and incredibly emotional, genuinely it's such a rush to read.
I couldn't put this down and I would highly recommend it to anyone!

I really enjoyed this story. A cute, cozy fantasy perfect for a rainy or snowy day with strong elements of found family and redemption. Reminiscent of older princess tales with rotten-to-the-core families who treat the FMC like dirt and a hero who comes to her rescue from the unlikeliest of places. I found myself laughing more than I thought I would at their back and forth banter, witty quips, and Halla's incessant questioning. High recommend the audio version of this book as well!

This was SO cute!! I loved all the characters, but especially Zale - more Zale please!

I still haven't read a Kingfisher book I haven't loved - this one is no different. With a light-hearted, Princess Bride kind of vibe and a delightfully real feeling middle aged woman MC, this was a joy. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this universe.

So I’m here from reading multiple books by T. Kingfisher. I enjoy the writing style and how the plot unfolds. The characters are interesting and the world building well written. This is an easy read. I always add this author to the TBR.

Thank you to Bramble and the author for a gifted copy of this book.

I enjoyed this book so much. I’m so happy I got to read it for the release. This book was heartwarming and heartbreaking. It had laughing at loud. The characters were lovable all around, the villians were truly hate worthy. There was romance and adventure. This has it all!

This was everything I could’ve possibly wanted in a cozy fantasy. I was giggling and kicking my feet through all of it. The characters were amazing, the banter was great. I loved it so much and highly recommend to anybody needing a smile.

an absolutely delightful journey featuring bureaucratic nonsense, money-grubbing relatives, a slow-burn romance between a literal murder-sword-man and a woman with an unmatched ability to roll with weird situations, and just enough humor to make me snort-laugh in public. The dialogue is sharp, the world is immersive without feeling bogged down in lore, and the romance? Chef’s kiss.

Laughed out loud—Frequently! Not bad for the 2nd time around!

I had so much trouble controlling my laughter especially as it was 3am in the morning and my partner was sound asleep. 😂🤣😂
Halla had to her complete surprise inherited her great uncle Silas’ estate. Silas’ sister Malva is not happy. So much so that Malva has imprisoned Halla in her attic bedroom until she consents to marry Malva’s son, Cousin Alver, he of the clammy hands. Looking around for a way to escape and finding none, she resorts to trying to stab herself using an old sword. She draws the sword a few inches when with a flash of electric blue light, out pops the sword’s resident guardian who will protect whomever draws the sword. He’s shocked because Halla’s scantily clothes, and Halla because, well, could this day get any worse? Halla becomes garrulous. She asks questions when she faces danger. Most people ignore her and think she’s empty headed. However it seems Sarkis is now sworn to defend her, garrulous or not.
Which leads to them fleeing Rutger’s Howe and heading for Archen’s Glory the capital of Archenhold to find the temple of the White Rats.
The White Rat priests become involved—always fun!
A wonderful tale of missteps, misadventure, and misdirected set in the very dynamic world of Archenhold.
(The Deluxe hard cover edition.)

A Tor ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

This was a bit of a swerve from my recent reading tastes but took me back to the days when I only read fantasy. If you are looking for a cozy fantasy, this is it. The stakes are fairly low and its banter was charming. It really fit my two favourite genres, romcom and fantasy, together to make for something quite fun. We need more romcom/fantasy books out there! My one complaint- it was a little longer than necessary for the story being told.

The banter was the best! This is a cozy read that I enjoyed. I feel like it could have been a bit shorter but other than that it was a fun time.

This will be the book I suggest for a palate cleanser for the rest of time.

The banter in the book made me laugh out loud over and over again. I loved all of our main characters. Many times books are compared to "The Princess Bride" but, baby, this one hits.

Following Halla as she accidentally becomes acquainted with Sarkis..the sword (Yes, our MMC is essentially a sword. )
He helps her escape from her delusional and money-hungry in-laws on a journey that consists of mostly Halla asking questions and strategically playing a fool. I loved every moment of this book. I will be buying the audiobook because I KNOW the banter will be made so much better.

This book originally released in 2018, but now with a stunning new hardcover and teal edges! This was a great cozy fantasy. It was unassuming and the witty banter was top notch.

I liked the author's portrayal of both the FMC (Halla) and MMC (Sarkis) in that they both didn't take each other too seriously. The love felt real between the two characters. There adventure together was also really fun in that it wasn't too serious, and seemed low stakes.

you want a romantasy without assassin teenagers or evil ones to overthrow? Would you prefer older main characters and constant humor? Kingfisher has got a story for you!

This may be the best romantasy I have read to date- developed characters, hilarious inner monologues, an easy meandering plot- that somehow still felt high stakes even though they were just dealing with matters of a will. Halla and Sarkis are so cute it makes me want to scream.

I found the world building so easy to understand (no info dumps!) and I want to venture into the Paladin’s series now as well. Kingfisher’s characters and stories have always been a win for me but I really enjoyed the lack of horror for once- glad that I have already purchased the new edition of this rerelease!

Halla inherits her uncle's estate, unfortunately her greedy relatives want it all for themselves. Her family decides to force her into a marriage so they can access the estate. Locked in her room, Halla draws a sword to end her life, only to release Sarkis, an immortal warrior sworn to protect her. Halla and Sarkis escape her uncle's estate and set off on an adventure to claim her inheritance and avoid the arranged marriage.

This was a cozy, feel good, romantasy book I didn't know I needed. I loved the banter between the characters, esp. the inner dialogue of Halla and Sarkis. It was laugh out loud funny.

T. Kingfisher adds another cozy fantasy romance to her world of the White Rat, and I couldn't be happier! As someone who has only read a couple of the books set in this universe, I am delighted that I can pick up a standalone novel like Swordheart and enjoy it without needing to read everything else first.

Kingfisher is remarkably talented at writing older characters simply existing and trying to find small happinesses in their normal lives, even if world-altering events are happening elsewhere. Halla is a widow who finds herself embroiled in dangerous, small-town family drama that she doesn't care to entertain. Sarkis may be bound to a magical sword, but he's also a middle-aged mercenary who's got baggage on baggage. Their personalities endear them to the reader immediately, so much so that even though this story was 80% road trip I wasn't bored for a single moment. The supporting cast of Zale, Brindle, and the iconic Prettyfoot round out the group for banter and some skills our main duo can't cover all by themselves. Zale in particular was so exciting to see in the spotlight after several mentions and cameos in other works.

The possibility of "sequels" is there, albeit from the perspective of characters only mentioned in Swordheart, but I want them!! I want those stories! For anyone who enjoys Kingfisher's Saint of Steel books or other cozy, small scale fantasy adventures, you will like this book

This is a HYSTERICAL, utterly delightful, glitteringly-heartwarming romantic fantasy! As usual, Kingfisher has created incredible, not-very-genre-typical main characters - Halla, a 'respectable widow' who asks lots of questions, is wonderfully practical, and is on the run from the kind of *mundanely* evil relatives who need to be dropped in a volcano; and Sarkis, an ancient warrior bound to the sword Halla tries to kill herself with. (It all makes sense in context, I promise.)

Sarkis' ancient code of honourable behaviour had me SHRIEKING with laughter - see, not wanting to interfere with Halla's niece coming to rescue her! - but as I'm used to with Kingfisher's love interests, he is far too world-wise not to realise how wonderful Halla is. The moment early on, when he realises that she's babbling in order to distract herself from how physically miserable she is...GAH. Instant heart-eyes from me! Kingfisher's heroes are never shallow, and I love that about all of them. But Sarkis might hold a special place in my heart, less for his tragic backstory (and it is quite tragic) than for the way he helps Halla realise how worthy she is.

And Halla!!! Hi, I love her!!! I feel quite strongly that we would be excellent friends. (ATTACK SHEEP. Hysterical!)

It's amazing how much Kingfisher can make you hate her villains; they're never comically, over-the-top evil, but realistically so - I suspect most readers recognise something in most of her villains, and that's definitely the case here. I had to keep putting the book down to take a break from grinding my teeth at these UTTER ASSHATS!

Swordheart is immensely satisfying in every respect - it even works pretty well as a standalone, although it's the start of a trilogy! - and it's CATAPULTED to the top of my favourites list. Recommended MOST STRONGLY!

What a unique premise! This on the cozier side romantasy hit the right spots for me. While it took some suspension of disbelief initially to accept he’s a man and also an enchanted swords once I wrapped my brain around it I sank into it

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher follows Halla, who has been imprisoned in her room by her family following her inheritance of a great fortune. The only escape for her is death by sword, which is lucky for Halla considering she has one hanging above her bed. Unfortunately, the being that lives inside the sword, a warrior named Sarkis, won’t allow Halla to die. With the help of Sarkis, Halla escapes from her house arrest and the two go on a great adventure.

My personal thoughts: I’ve loved every T. Kingfisher book I’ve read, this one included. The writing is immersive and entrancing, and the plot moves quickly enough to keep you hooked. This book has its share of romance, but it isn’t the entire focus which I appreciate. Halla and Starkis both felt fleshed out, which I also appreciate as a reader. A glorious fantasy filled with all the romance my little heart could ask for. Another great from T. Kingfisher!


I would recommend this book to lovers of cozy fantasy and lovers of Travis Baldree and Rebecca Thorne. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Tor Publishing group for allowing me to read this e-arc!

Swordheart stole my entire heart. I did not expect it to, but wow, it did. I mean of course I thought I'd enjoy it, it's T. Kingfisher after all, but I did not expect to absolutely adore it as much as I did- so much so, in fact, that I had to pre-order it. It's driving itself to my house as we speak type. This is basically the definition of romantasy, before romantasy even called itself that. (Shoutout to Bramble for re-releasing it, for 2018 Shannon would have never noticed it, while 2025 Shannon devoured it.)

What's there to say? It's definitely on the cozier end of the spectrum, and the romance is a big focus (though not the whole focus, which I appreciated). I adored Halla, and felt a real connection to her, and the side characters were the best. The snark and banter was 1000% on point, as always. Sarkis is a wonderful love interest too, and I enjoyed his backstory. And look, the book is perhaps a wee bit longer than it needed to be, but I was having so much fun that it hardly mattered. It is charming, and so downright funny, I could not put it down!

Bottom Line: Amazing characters, a great story, a ton of fun. What more can you ask for?

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor/Bramble, and T. Kingfisher for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

Ironically enough I have read several books this month purporting to be Princess Bride-inspired and THIS one was my favorite, by far, of them all. Plotwise it isn't necessarily the same, but the same jaunty tongue-in-cheekness was there and the characters, OMG, absolute perfection.

After all, a gnole knows what is best for a gnole. IYKYK

I LOVED Halla, Sarkis was absolutely spot-on, I really all the various priests and priesthoods and Zale was absolutely terrific, gnoles in general were great and Brindle was my fav character in the entire book. I realize this review is less of a review and more of a written fangirl squeeeeeeee! but rarely ever has T. Kingfisher steered me wrong and THIS is the best of of the bunch. I really really hope that the "World of the White Rat" tagline GR has posted above the title is a real thing and that there will be more books set in this world.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I think one of my favorite parts about this story was that the romantasy aspect was with a heroine who was older and who wasn't the hottest, tiniest, longest-haired, biggest-eyed, curviest, etc. person in the entire fantasy world. Don't get me wrong, I love tons of romantasy that contains all of that--but this was just such a refreshing read and my brain very much enjoyed it. I think that the relationship building for the romance was very masterfully done, it was very real and believable. I just loved this. I thought the set up was great, the characters were compelling, and the romance was great. I had a lot of fun with this one, and I cannot wait to get our physical copies in at the branch!

This book was so much fun! I loved Halla and I loved reading a Romantasy with an older heroine who wasn’t amazing at being in a fantasy novel and wasn’t overly special. She did inherit a sword that was special, but it was a breath of fresh air to have her be quite useless at combat and be so funny. Sarkis was also fun and I loved that he didn’t just immediately have heart eyes for Halla, but genuinely got to know and love her and also admit she had her quirks and flaws, such as her incessant talking, which turned out to be useful in many situations.
This book was just perfection! I absolutely loved it, highly recommend it, and can’t wait to see more books set in this world. There was fun, adventure, high stakes, romance, and a ton of laughs along the way.

A woman who is left a large inheritance by a wealthy uncle finds herself being trapped by family members hellbent on getting the money from her and the only way to escape is with the help of the mysterious immortal warrior trapped in the sword that her uncle owned. Romance, adventure, and magic await! Halla was never really attached to her husband so when he died his uncle took her in... and when he died he left Halla all his fortune... his considerable fortune that the rest of his family means to take from her, whether by forcing her to marry a man she wants nothing to do with or to kill her for it.... they've locked her in her room and put guards making her only true option to escape is to end her own life.... except the sword she picks up to do it with suddenly has a man appearing in her room! Said man is named Sarkis and he is an immortal warrior trapped inside the sword and he is forced to be the bodyguard of anyone who wields the sword. Sarkis is used to fighting off dragons, wars, deadly assassins... but he never expects to be doing is helping a woman escape her in-laws and going against bandits! Halla and Sarkis find themselves journeying together as they escape trouble and find a soft romance brewing between them... but can a romance between a wealthy widow and an immortal warrior really work out or are they just too different? This was such a fun cozy fantasy romance. I loved the soft romance between Halla and Sarkis and I enjoyed the ending they got. It's a cute read and the story itself felt fun to read, I immediately liked Halla and had so much fun with her adventure. I've always been a huge fan of T. Kingfisher's writing and seeing this story get a whole new deluxe edition was a pleasant surprise!

Release Date: February 25, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group | Bramble for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

“Halla of Rutger’s Howe had just inherited a great deal of money and was therefore spending her evening trying to figure out how to kill herself.”

Man, this was a fun read. I’ve been reading a lot of really high fantasy books with complex worlds and magic systems and this was a perfect palette cleanser. It’s a light fantasy romance with a heartwarming story and fun characters. Swordheart was wickedly funny throughout and I found myself laughing out loud at some of the interactions between Halla, Sarkis, and Zale. Halla in particular is a highlight, with her wacky responses and witty humour making this book incredibly entertaining. Sarkis broods a bit too much for my liking, but I’m sure there’s a lot of people who would really like it. I also appreciated that the characters were actual adults, not freshly-turned 18-year-old kids - though Halla did act quite naive at times. If you’re looking for a light romance with some fantasy elements, I’d definitely recommend it!

New T. Kingfisher? New T. Kingfisher!

Okay, new-ish. Swordheart was first published back in 2018, but it's getting a shiny new reprint courtesy of Tor's Bramble imprint. So, new!

Halla doesn't have a lot in her life. Her husband died years ago, and she's been living in her great-uncle Silas's home, caring for him and the household in his old age. She describes herself as a respectable widow, and while she is infinitely curious, she's also relatively content to live has she has been.

Silas's death changes everything. Due to Halla's having cared for him, he left her (and her alone) all of his possessions in his will, and his other relatives are livid at the perceived slight. Her great-aunt Malva and cousin Alver vow to lock Halla up in her room until she agrees to marry Alver, so that Silas's house and things will remain in their possession. In her desperation, Halla decides to kill herself, drawing a sword that was in Silas's collection. Her attempt to stab herself is cut short when a man appears in the room with her. His name is Sarkis, and he is bound to the sword that she just drew. Remove the sword from the scabbard, and you can command him, a la a genie in a lamp. With a duty to protect Halla, as she is the rightful owner of the sword now that Silas has died, Sarkis sets about freeing her from her imprisonment.

After breaking out of what is, by all rights, Halla's own house now, she and Sarkis flee the small town of Rutger's Howe (and I can't help thinking that T. Kingfisher is a Blade Runner fan). They set off on a journey to secure Halla's inheritance so that she has something to bequeath to her own nieces, having no children of her own, but there are many obstacles in their path. Soon, they have to face off against brigands, lawyers, priests, and unspeakable horrors. With the assistance of Zale (a representative of the Church of the White Rat) and a gnole named Brindle, the adventurers journey from Rutger's Howe to Archen's Glory. They need not only to prove that Halla is the rightful heir to Silas's house and the sword that contains Sarkis, but also solve the mystery of Sarkis's entrapment in the sword almost 500 years prior.

And what's an adventure in a medieval-inspired fantasy world without a little romance? This is a Bramble title, after all. Halla is a respectable widow, and Sarkis is an ancient soul bound to an iron blade. That's not about to stop either of them from developing feelings toward each other. They might be able to eventually tell each other the truth, but truth is often more complicated than it should be. Is Halla attracted to Sarkis only because he saved her life? Is Sarkis only attracted to Halla because he's been barely able to live as a man over the last few centuries of sword-dwelling? Is it right for a widow to fall in love with her bodyguard and vice versa?

Set in the same world as Kingfisher's Saints of Steel series, Swordheart will delight fans who will recognize elements of Halla's journey (and maybe several of the characters she meets along the way). For me, it was my first foray into the world of the White Rat, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Halla is delightfully disarming and has much to learn about the world outside of her small home town, while Sarkis is brusque and harsh but slowly comes to understand the people of the "decadent south" as time passes with her. The influence each has on the other is slow-building, but masterfully written. The reprinted version of Swordheart hits shelves Tuesday, February 25th. Check it out.

My utmost thanks to Tor/Reactor/Bramble and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for a fair review.

This review originally appeared here: https://swordsoftheancients.com/2025/02/24/swordheart-a-review/

T. Kingfisher doesn't miss. This was such a good slow burn read. I cozied up on the couch and devoured it.

As always, I can't wait for the next.

Absolutely loved this book! Can’t wait to read more books by this author. The ending was a little open ended for me though.

What do I not like/love about this book? NONE
Has T. Kingfisher ever disappointed me? NO

I've been preaching this for a while now: WE NEED MATURED HEROINES. If you need a case study on it's efficacy or if it matters/affects the story, add Swordheart to the list. Halla is 36, a widow, and she's LIVED and her insight about life is refreshing. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy the occasional book with younger characters, but now that I'm in my 40's, I'm seeking heroines that are around my age and have experienced life. I don't want my age bracket to be relegated to the Literary Fiction or other genres, I want us to be in the forefront with the youngins because our voice is different and it lends a different perspective to the story. So, thank you Ms. Kingfisher for featuring older women in your work and championing us.

On to the story. Swordheart is HILARIOUS, Halla's talkativeness and curious questions (often in the more inopportune time) juxtaposed to Sarkis' steadfast demeanor is the source of amazing comedic relief. I was chuckling the entire time and totally love their interactions. The romance is a slow burn, and I love that we hear from Sarkis more on this than Halla. The cast of characters are well developed and I will never forget Alver Clammy Hands. Reading Swordheart was time well spend on my part, the pacing is amazing, the humor is on point, and the cast unforgettable.

An absolute delight of an adventure, full of chaos, hilarity, danger, and love.

Halla is a widow who has been living with the uncle of her deceased husband, Silas, and cares for him until his death. All hell breaks loose when the extended family learns that Silas left Halla everything. After a whole lot of drama and ridiculousness, Halla gets locked in her room, a 36 year old adult treated like a child, until she does what they want. Desperate, Halla takes the sword off her wall with the intention to end things, but when she pulls the sword from the scabbard there's blue lightning and then a hot warrior. Halla learns that the warrior, Sarkis, is bound to the sword and bound to serve the one who wields it.

Sarkis helps Halla escape and they start an adventure across the decadent Southern lands to help her claim her inheritance, and find what freedom might look like. Sarkis is drawn to Halla and all her frustrating but surprisingly wily ways, and the way that they overcome danger and missteps together.

This world was so much fun, and the side characters filled everything out so perfectly. There were a few times I was shouting at the page for them to trust their suspicions (or be MORE suspicious) and maybe a few times that I wish they had stabbed someone, but overall I think I smiled for most of the end of this book as Halla and Sarkis figure their crap out so they can focus on the fact that they want each other SO BADLY.

Seriously, a delight.

This book was what I needed to read at this moment in my life. It was the right combination of adventure, humor and romance. I liked that there was romance but it wasn't the main focus of the book. The characters were all so vibrant and likeable. I wouldn't mind going on an adventure with all of them.

🗡️❤️ Swordheart by T. kingfisher ❤️🗡️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Swordheart was originally published in 2018, but is being rereleased in this beautiful special edition format TOMORROW, February 25, 2025.

Halla is a respectable widow who has spent the past decade caring for her uncle and his home. He passes away and she inherits his estate, along with some terrible, greedy relatives who refuse to accept and let her claim what was rightfully left to her. While they have her locked in the bedroom, she takes down a sword that has been hanging on the wall for years and upon unsheathing it realizes it is housing Sarkis, the immortal warrior/sword-bearer who is bound to protect the swords owner (which is now Halla). The duo set off on a low stakes quest, full of shenanigans, across the land to find an attorney who will help Halla claim her new fortune.

This was the epitome of a cozy fantasy and brought so much wholesomeness and humor, I couldn’t get enough! I truly have nothing negative to say, this was very easily a 5 star read for me! I can’t believe it took me 7 years to discover this book and T. Kingfisher in general. I can’t wait to read more from her.

Swordheart is set in the world of The Clockwork Boys, but you do not have to read one to understand the other.

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher is one of those rare books I didn't want to stop reading. I fell in love with the unconventional leads, Halla and Sarkis, as well as the side characters, Zale and Brindle. T. Kingfisher does an excellent job balancing the darker aspects of this medieval fantasy world with lighthearted humor and cozy consent-forward romance. I truly enjoyed this and can't wait to share it with others.

This is going to become a comfort read for years to come. There was something simply magical about this book and I could not put it down. The banter between Halla and her bodyguard-in-a-sword, Sarkis, was hilarious and had me laughing most of this book. It may be my most tabbed book ever with all of the funny quotes.

“I have a great deal of experience skinning my enemies,” he said, deadpan.
“Do you have many enemies among the potatoes?”
“Not any longer.”

The supporting cast of side characters, especially Zale and Brindle are some of my favorites from recent reads and really stood out on their own. I loved Brindle’s manner of speaking and how Zale, despite being a priest, knew when to bend morals a bit to keep the group alive and moving toward their goals. Speaking of which, anytime Halla came into contact with the Priests of the Hanged Mother was hilarious as she made them uncomfortable by either crying or talking too much and this usually sent them away from her.

I was hooked from the first line as it was jarring and funny at the same time and piqued my interest immediately.

“Halla of Rutger’s Howe had just inherited a great deal of money and was therefore spending her evening trying to figure out how to kill herself.”

The pacing and structure of this story were brilliant and again make the argument that T. Kingfisher is a master of the modern fairytale. I cannot wait for Angharad’s story.

“Mortal flesh may not last as long as immortal steel, but it will last long enough to be happy.”