This was a quick read that I ended up enjoying quite a bit. As an autistic lady who understands anxiety, I found the depiction of social anxiety realistic, even though in the beginning it made the protagonist somewhat unlikeable (to me personally). I’m glad I stuck with the book because obviously the main character grows up a lot along the course of her journey. The sister relationship was very sweet, as was the romance subplot. The book sets up a sequel and has a couple cool twists toward the end. Definitely a young adult fantasy for young adults (there’s such a wide range of sophistication in the genre sometimes it’s hard to tell) but as a 30-something I still enjoyed it and would recommend!

Another slam dunk from Tricia Levenseller! This is such a fantastic fantasy story, and it keeps you flipping pages eager to see what comes next!

This was a fast paced, exciting new read. Couldn't put it down. Loved the story, loved the humor thrown in and the writing style. Now I can't wait to see what happens next.

Loved it... Did not see the plot twist coming at all. Well written and great characters. Will be ordering for my YA collection at work.

Loved this fantasy YA from Tricia Levenseller!

I've loved this author since I read The Shadows Between Us, so was super excited to pick up Blade of Secrets. Magical weapons? Yes, please!

I loved Ziva, the main character, so much! Her magical weapon making skills, her dedication to her sister Temra, and her honest struggles with anxiety made her a character you really root for. I loved the team with forms with Ziva, Temra, Kellyn, and Petrik. Levenseller makes each character unique and have their own motivations and desires.

The romance is slow burn, with excellent banter! The ending felt a little rushed, but sets it up nicely for the next book in the series! This book did start a bit slow, but once the quest really starts you get pulled in nicely.

Can't wait for book two with these amazing characters!!

Thank you Netgalley for this ebook arc.

Ziva enjoys her small life, working in her forge creating magical weapons and taking care of her younger adventurous sister, liking that she can avoid most human interaction since her social anxiety is so limiting. When she meets a very powerful warlord who wants her to make her a magical blade, Ziva is thrilled at the opportunity to prove her skills. But soon she learns that not everything is as it seems and her life is about to be turned upside down.

As per the usual, this author is able to mix action, danger and romance into a cohesive package that is engaging, unique and fun. This story was a little different from her previous books since the main character suffers from (at times debilitating) social anxiety- whereas basically all her other book MCs have been bursting with confidence and swagger, so this was a totally new type of read. I have never experienced this condition personally so I can't speak to the realism of Ziva's attacks, but as a reader it felt very encompassing and debilitating, making for a very different kind of encounter for me to read about.

So this is the first book in a series and you are being warned now. The ending was terrible, a big hot mess that left a lot up in the air! Yes, I said it- and now I will be waiting impatiently for the sequel to see how everything will play out (especially the fate of one of my favorite characters).

My full review can be read here: https://twincitiesgeek.com/2021/06/blade-of-secrets-has-sharp-characters-paired-with-a-dull-story/

Please note there are mild spoilers through this review. Stop reading now if you don’t want to know anything! My full review can be found on The Nerd Daily, here: https://thenerddaily.com/review-blade-of-secrets-by-tricia-levenseller/

As a long time fan of Tricia Levenseller’s novels, and a survivor of the epic hangover that came with reading The Shadows Between Us, I knew going into Blade of Secrets that it would be another amazing read. What I didn’t know was how much I needed this book in my life, and why every other person who has any hint of anxiety out there, should move this book to the top of their TBR, and meet Ziva and her ragtag gang of misfits, immediately!

Social anxiety representation in a fantasy novel? Oh, yes.
In a young adult fantasy novel, no less? Mmhmm, that’s right.
Actual authentic depictions of what anxiety is like for the main character?
Say what? I KNOW! FINALLY!

After what feels like forever and a few too many days, the YA fantasy genre has caught up and entered the realm of mental illness representation in a main character with Ziva. And by representation I don’t mean they skim over it, make light of it, or they suddenly lose all their fears midway through the book because someone made a snarky comment and they broke through their cocoon.

I mean, we’re with Ziva through her panic attacks and insomnia and see first hand how her anxiety not only impacts her daily life, but how she’s able to work through it. Not only that, but how she’s able to do something she loves, with the full support of her family. Full stop they’re not trying to change her at all. They accept her, no questions asked, no what ifs and I’ll be damned if it’s not one of the most refreshing family dynamics I’ve read in a book in a long while. Temra, Ziva’s sister, who’s pretty much the exact opposite of her in every way, is able to relate to and help Ziva cope with her fears without treating Ziva as though she should be encased in bubble wrap.

Does it seem like I’m stuck on this aspect of the book? Yeah? Well, good. Because it’s about freakin’ time we get to see that mix of magic and panic tossed in with the typical fantasy tropes we all love so dearly.

Speaking of those must haves in a fantasy novel… Blade of Secrets checked all the boxes I would expect a novel written by Levenseller to have with a reluctant heroine, witty banter between characters, a slow burn romance (not to mention that side romance that I can’t wait to see develop further in book two!), and all the adventure and sword fights a reader could ask for, plus how cool is it that Ziva forges magical swords? Can I have one too please? Promise I won’t use it for evil.

A great book and a lovely story of courage, strength, and great representation of anxiety! Love to see Tricia branch out in her work and I can't wait to see more.

3.5/5 Stars

Ziva is a magical blacksmith who suffers from social anxiety. She is commissioned by a warlord to create a blade that will make her unstoppable in battle. When Ziva learns about the warlord's true intentions with the magicked blade, she goes on the run with her younger sister in order to protect the world from the danger it could cause. Along the way they meet up with a mercenary named Kellyn, who they hire for protection. They are also joined by a quiet librarian named Petrik, writing a book about magical artifacts.

I was really excited for this book, as The Shadows Between Us was my favourite book of 2020. This book was a bit slow to start, but eventually picked up its pace as the story progressed. I loved all four of these characters so much. They were a lot of fun to read about. They all had different and unique personalities, and I loved learning more about them as the story progressed. Ziva was probably my least favourite of the four, which was a bit disappointing since she was the main character. Just something about her didn't sit right with me. I did think her ability was really cool though, and I wanted to know more about it and how it worked. She's definitely an unlikely hero, and I really liked that in her character. I loved Temra though, she was so feisty and interesting to me. I really liked the sister bond in this between Temra and Ziva and how protective they were of one another. Kellyn was such an awesome character too. I also liked the romance, its a slow burn enemies(?) to lovers. I loved how observant and patient Kellyn was with Ziva, always making sure she was okay with what was happening between the two./; of them. The banter between them made me laugh on more than one occasion, they were just so funny together, without meaning to be. Petrik was also really great, and he had a storyline I wasn't expecting at all, but I'm definitely intrigued with where its going to go in the next book.

I think the biggest complaint I have is the ending was so abrupt. I understand that its a set up for the second book, but it just came so suddenly. I am intrigued to see where the story goes when the sequel comes out.

Initial Thoughts
I will read anything and everything that Tricia Levenseller writes. Reading this book was a when, not an if.

Some Things I Liked
Anxiety rep. FINALLY. I absolutely loved the realism and the inner monologues that Ziva tells the reader. She's so raw and real and I loved every second of this book because of her.
The romance. I also really loved the romance plots in this story. Both Ziva and her sister have unique and interesting romance plots and I loved watching them develop in parallel.
That twist! I can't really say more but I LOVED it. As always, Tricia Levenseller kept me on my toes the entire time and thoroughly entertained.

Series Value
Please, please, please, can I have an ARC of the next book? I don't think I'll be able to wait until next year!

Final Thoughts
I can't even stand how much I loved this book. It is definitely my favorite Tricia Levenseller book to date (and I've read them all).

This book was everything I hoped for and more. It has the fierce female characters that Tricia is known for, the sassy male characters we all love, and just the right about of action and mystery to keep the pages turning. I didn't realize when I started reading that this was part of a duology. But when I noticed how many pages were left and how much there was to resolve, I quickly jumped onto Goodreads to find that book 2, Master of Iron, will be released in 2022.

Blade of Secrets is everything I love about YA fantasy and reminded me why it's one of my absolute favorite genres. I liked the fresh take on magic weilding she came up with for this story. I can always tell that the author has done her research. I have yet to be disappointed by one of Tricia's books. I can't wait to get my hands on the second Bladesmith novel!!!

A wonderful and honest depiction of social anxiety. I love seeing characters dealing with their mental health issues in fantasy books. Ziva was so relatable and I loved the bond between the two sisters. Tricia Levensellar proves once again why she is one of my favorite authors.

This one was just not for me... I love Tricia and her other books but this one just didn't grab me from the get-go which literally broke my heart. I'm definitely going to give it a try at a later date to see if it was just timing but ultimately this was a DNF for now.

Thank you for the chance to read early.

Tricia Levenseller has done it again. I have read every book she's written so far (The Shadows Between Us being my favorite) and I can honestly say that all of her books are entertaining fantasy reads. The MC's extreme social anxiety took me a bit to get used to as I was reading, but I do appreciate that Levenseller wrote the character this way and provided representation in fiction for those with the same high levels of social anxiety. The story was paced well, the characters interesting, and there were two romances to follow. The book does end on a cliffhanger and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.

Thank you to Fierce Reads ofr an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I actually ended up listening to the audiobook since I got the ARC so close to publication, but I'd definitely recommend it! Quick listen, great narration, and good pacing.

When Ziva agrees to create a magical sword for the warlord, she gets more than she'd bargained for. The sword tells the secrets of those it cuts with long range abilities. Ziva and her sister Temra flee, taking on a scholar, Patrick, and a mercenary, Kellyn.

This was fast paced. I really appreciated the mental helath rep in this book. Seeing Ziva work through her emotions and anxiety was really refreshing for a YA Fantasy novel. Ziva is definitely not your typical blacksmith. I loved seeing that side of it, especially a female blacksmith.

As always, i really enjoyed Tricia's Writing. she clear and has a very distinct voice. Would definitely recommend! Can't wait for its sequel!

This has been one of our favorite May releases. The main character’s struggle with anxiety is portrayed well and the magic system is interesting. Definitely recommend this standalone fantasy.

Every time I pick up a Tricia Levenseller book I know it's going to be like going home, comforting and always a good time.

My most favorite thing about Blade of Secrets was the way it handles anxiety, as someone who suffers from anxiety and has loved ones who do as well, it was so amazing to see it on page. It was relatable and it made me feel so seen and respected because it was handled really well. Just because of that alone, I would recommend this book to everyone. The story itself was equally amazing though. I love that our main character is badass and the whole weapon making was really cool to me!

The ending left me eager for Tricia's next book and I cannot wait!

Absolutely amazing - I love Tricia Levenseller books because she shows such growth as a writer with each. A truly wonderful story that left me wanting the sequel immediately, with the trademark charming, though a bit rough around the edges characters and witty one liners. Highly recommend.

What a fun read! A smithy who imbues her weapons with magic, wow. Just wow.

Things I loved:
Magic system
- I really enjoyed the new take on a way to use magic. While the storyline/plot of the magic being able to ruin the world isn't new, the way it is created and used definitely is.
Mental Health
- I loved that the main character has mental struggles (anxiety) and goes into details about how it affects her in almost every moment of the story. I enjoyed that it doesn't hinder her expectations of herself or her growth. I liked that she had support from the other characters.
Familial love
- The lengths that Ziva was a willing to go through to protect her sister (even when her sister really sucked at life) were heart warming. That kind of love and devotion is beautiful. Her and Temra are magic.
PLOT TWIST!
- LOVE when I don't see something coming and man did I not see that twist there at the end.

Things I didn't like:
Wishy washy feelings
If he proves himself, then so be it. Ziva's unwillingness to trust Kellyn while she freely gave her trust to Petrick was slightly annoying to me.

I would definitely recommend this if you love YA fantasy. There is so much to love: representation, love/romance (platonic and otherwise), adventure and of course magic.