This was a fast cozy fantasy romance read that’s an enemies to lovers bodyguard romance. One of the mmc Matti who hires a swordsman Luca to be his best man at his arranged marriage. As they work together of course they are attracted to each other but also they both navigate secrets, politics and troubles.

The romance in this was really cute, both characters had good chemistry and there was a lot of flirting especially when they were practicing sword crossing. This is a slow burn with lots of longing and quite a few steamy scenes. I liked how light this book was but there were so many slow parts where I felt like not much was really happening. I did like the world and how everyone was accepted and being queer was the norm. Overall this is cute if you want a cozy queer romantasy you should read this.
Thank you Bramble for this arc for an honest review!

This was so sweet and fun. Marske's voice is wonderful to inhabit and the characters are so lively. I liked it less than A Marvelous Light, but I think that's just because it was so incredibly good. I also loved how the low stakes and quickly achieved happy ending, it was just enjoyable with very little tension from start to finish.

If you liked Freya Marske's The Last Binding series and are willing to trade an elaborate, arcane. and devious system of magic for an elaborate, arcane. and devious system of commerce — with all of the queer spice you've come to expect from her — boy, are you in luck! Swordcrossed is luscious world-building, piercing class commentary, fully realized supporting characters, and a romance that'll have you sending that sweaty emoji to your book group. It reminded me a bit of Ellen Kushner's Swordspoint series with all the gayness and dueling. I know this is a standalone, but I think Marske could easily write several more books in this series! This fantasy world is ripe for more of her stories!

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group | Bramble for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.

The tone and banter between the characters here was SO refreshing, I can’t wait to pick up a physical copy when the title is out, but the yearning was EXACTLY what i needed :)
Thank you for the ARC in exchange for a review

Ok, I don't generally read romance. Or fantasy. Or anything where sword fights might break out. However, that being said, I absolutely TORE THROUGH THIS BOOK. I am a huge fan of Marske's The Last Binding series so I knew when I picked this up that I wouldn't be disappointed, even though it wasn't what I usually read. The two main characters are super cute, have great chemistry and there is a great caper woven into the story that, along with a hefty dose of spice, really propels the story forward.

I would recommend this book to folks who like romantasy but don't want to get bogged down in a huge doorstop of a book, or anyone interested in a sweet, queer, enemies-to-lovers situation.

I truly have enjoyed Freya Marske's "Last Binding" series over the years, and was curious to see how she fared writing a standalone romantasy. "Swordcrossed", unfortunately, did not work for me. It feels almost like two books smashed together. One is a breezy, steamy, engaging (if generic) romantasy between two insta-lust young men with clashing motives, and one is a treatise on the fantastical wool trade in extreme detail. The two plots coexist extremely poorly; it was as if Marske went buck-wild with worldbuilding and forgot to ask herself... is that level of detail really necessary to propel the plot forward? I can tell you lots about her world's pantheon of gods, magical silkworms, and Guildmasters. I cannot really tell you how the central characters of Matti and Luca are unique and memorable (but boy howdy, if you like spice, this one has it in spades. In between the wool trade treatises).

This felt like two separate books of different genres (and honestly, quality).

"Yes, the swords do cross."

Sorry if you need me to keep going I can– this book is Filthy and Incredible. I love two little boyfriends that fight eachother with swords! Funny and full of drama!

I absolutely love the cover design for this book, and whoever designed it did a wonderful job, and honestly can't wait to see more covers under the publisher Bramble. I also absolutely love that this is an achillean novel, and with it arriving before holiday means it will get the attention it deserves.
This book is told in third person, and is the first by this author I have read. It's great if you're looking for a lighter romantasy with sword fighting.

I had just finished Marske's Last Binding trilogy when Swordcrossed became available on NetGalley, so naturally I snatched it up. This one was slower to hold my interest. It took me longer to get into the swing of things before I could really enjoy the story, The world building is good but I found it a bit confusing at times. That being said I found this to be a more interesting world to engage with because it seemed foreign yet comfortable. I can see this following they same pattern as the Last Binding trilogy if she were to publish another one in this series but is good as a stand alone as well.

Freya Marske I am in you WALLS foaming at the mouth for whatever you write next. First of all, inspired to just be like actually everyone's gay and what of it. But I LOVED this book. I've known Marske was a powerhouse since A Marvelous Light and I have shoved that series in the hands of anyone who will listen for even a moment but this was wonderful. Matti and Luca were both so compelling in their own right and then their morning lessons, stolen moments were irresistible. Matti who was so practiced in denying himself anything he wants for the sake of his family finally taking something and the heartbreak of the reveal of Luca's last name I was tearing up (and also desperately trying to sneak a few pages in at work) I cannot wait to get my hands on my physical copy

Another masterpiece from Marske! Swordfights and falling in love, betrayals and surprises, achingly beautiful lines, searingly hot spicy scenes. Matti Jay is the beleaguered heir to a textile dynasty, trying to keep his House afloat, not stress out his parents too much, and preparing for his upcoming nuptials to a woman who is certainly lovely, but not exactly what he looks for in a partner.

In a world where important ceremonies (such as births, naming, and marriages) come with ritualistic sword fights - but also, very rarely, challenges to the marriage - Matti must hire a best man who can fight for him, and win. His fiancee has a very determined poet and swordsman vying for her hand, and as this marriage to her will save his House financially, there is no question that the challenge must be met, and the challenger must be defeated. Matti doesn't have a ton of money, but what little he does have he spends on hiring a new swordsman to the town, Luca Piere. A very handsome, talented, and entirely too delightful for his own good, swordsman.

Chaos ensues, and oh my, is it delightful. While reading, it didn't feel as 'low stakes' as described - there was certainly quite a lot of conflict, from both outside sources (rival Houses) and inside (family, and of course, the romance between the two men). I did see the plot twist coming from a mile away, but it didn't really take away my enjoyment of the book. I am so thrilled I was able to read a copy of this, and can't wait to recommend it when it publishes in October!

Once again Freya Marske has hit the mark with another stunning literary composition that I spent every minute enjoying. There's nothing quite like the trope of friends to lovers, so I knew from the start that I was going to enjoy 'Swordcrossed' (especially when you toss in the light fantasy aspect), but nothing could have prepared me for the highs and lows that Mattinesh and Luca experience on their journey.

If you liked "Legends & Lattes', you'll also really enjoy this as it has the same low-stakes romance with a touch of drama that will keep you happily reading until the end. If that's not enough, you also have feminist women, sword fighting, colorful fashion, arranged marriage, and some delightfully spicy scenes to entertain you.

In all, I'd highly recommend that you take a peek into this wonderful romantasy that Marske has cooked up.

This is a delightful queer romance/fantasy/mystery from Freya Marske, who delivers again. The characters were wonderful and this truly is a cozy read (though not entirely low stakes). While the pacing sometimes felt a bit off, I still enjoyed it a great deal and know fans of cozy romantasy will be eager to get this one.

Trust Freya Marske to write a romantasy book that I really enjoy. I still personally prefer the Last Binding series, but Swordcrossed was a super fun, fast read.

Swordcrossed introduces a world of merchant houses ruled by scheming and secrets. I found the custom of duelists at formal events such as weddings entertaining and unique. Though I think a bit more could have been done with the tradition. I would have loved to see a few more dramatic or important scenes involving Luca’s role.

I loved Luca and Matti as characters. They both feel the weight of the world on their shoulders with their complicated pasts and family dynamics. The tension between them at first—caused by Matti’s dire situation—was really engaging. I loved the vulnerability in their relationship. They both saw sides of the other person that were hidden from the world. My one complaint is the strong insta-lust vibes. There was a lot of tension to build on in their relationship but the book moved past the pining stage very quickly.

As I would expect from a romantasy book, the romance takes up the majority of the story. I wish the plot had been a bit stronger, especially in the earlier parts of the book. The scenes between Luca and Matti started to feel a little repetitive because there wasn't a lot of variety in their routine. I also found some of the later plot developments really predictable, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment too much.

Freya Marske’s writing is engaging as always. However, I found some of the language irritatingly repetitive. Especially the overuse of the same three metaphors.

Swordcrossed is a charmingly romantic fantasy story with heartfelt character relationships.

Did I enjoy this? Sure, but it felt a bit haphazard. The plot was mostly unremarkable—not overly complex, yet it somehow managed to be convoluted. The romance was pleasant but ultimately forgettable. Overall, the story was rather bland and flimsy, enjoyable in the moment but lacking any standout elements. Honestly, the cover held more intrigue and tension than the book itself.

Swordcrossed by Freya Marske is a fun, hot, low fantasy romp set in a queernormative world ⚔️

Matti has to hire a dualist for his upcoming marriage into a rich family which has been arranged to save his family's failing wool business. His bride-to-be has a very insistent admirer who may challenge Matti to a duel at the wedding, and so hiring a competing dualist who's good with a sword is crucial. The only person he can afford though, is Luca, the man who scammed Matti just the day prior. With no other choice, Matti pays (and blackmails) the mysterious, new-to-town Luca into becoming not only his dualist but also his new sword-fighting instructor.

Their mutual attraction that neither initially plan on acting on only grows stronger the more time they spend together which is frankly incredibly inconvenient since Matti's set to be married. While this arrangement was only meant to be one of business, soon Luca and Matti are falling into bed together, and Luca starts helping Matti trying to figure out if his family's business failing might be due to sabotage rather than accidents while also desperately trying to keep his own past a secret.

Swordcossed is full of hot, flirty fun between Matti and Luca while also diving into lots of schemes and secrets - from multiple sides. There are crushes, sword-practice used as foreplay, trickery, arranged marriage where neither party's particularly into it, complex family dynamics, honour, and quite a bit of insight into the wool trade.

Matti's a gentleman, comes from a fancy family, and has the burden of running an entire business on his shoulders. Luca is chaotic af, impulsive, has forever unruly hair, a mysterious past he'd prefer to not get into, and a giant crush on Matti. Which is great since Matti crushes right back though he's more reluctant to act on things. Once he does though? Phew, these two get hot and heavy, and there's some kink that's juuust out of reach but definitely implied. It felt a bit like kink-teasing to be honest.

I really liked the characters, and the plot was interesting but a little overly into descriptions of the intricacy of the wool trade at times.

Overall, a very enjoyable book with a hot, fun romance, great characters, and a plot with mysteries and schemes.

Swordcrossed was advertised as high heat, low stakes, and enemies-to-lovers. I guess two out of three isn't bad? There is nothing low stakes about this story. Matti Jay has worn himself into the ground in an attempt to save his family from ruin, and is preparing to marry a friend he doesn't love when nothing else will work. Luca is also in a precarious situation, but saying anything more about him will be unforgivably spoilery. The romance between the two men is explosive.

This book is about lies. The lies that shape the world around us, the lies we tell others, and the lies we tell ourselves. And it's brilliantly written: twisty, surprising, emotional, and funny. It's hard for me to review, because I was so anxious in the first half that I forgot to enjoy myself, spent the third quarter panicking, and fairly fizzed with joy for the remainder of the book. Swordcrossed is a delightful standalone romantic mystery, and I look forward to a reread where I can focus on the sneaky way it unfolds instead of the stress of watching Matti and Luca struggle to a well-deserved happily ever after.

I always love stories that pit a strong sense of familial duty against personal interest, and that’s the core of Mattinesh Jay’s arc as the young acting head of his family’s House. We’ve also got guild intrigue and espionage, clandestine fencing lessons, queer romance (and normalization thereof!), and some steamy scenes with a healthy dose of kink.

There are lots of twists and turns, but with subtle enough foreshadowing to surprise without leaving the reader feeling cheated.

It was originally pitched as pitched as “Swordspoint meets Legends & Lattes,” and reading this book you can absolutely tell Marske read Kushner’s Riverside novels and said “but what if…?” Swordcrossed isn’t a knockoff, it’s a thrilling, painstaking love letter to a book that helped bring about cozy fantasy decades before audiences knew that could be an option.

This book is like a warm cup of tea on a rainy day. It combines cosy historical fantasy vibes with a sweet queer romance, sparkling banter, a sprawling mystery, and endless shenanigans. Opposites attract with instant chemistry in this story of a con man and a dutiful son who find solace in each other's company while they wrestle with their futures. This is a lighthearted romp that sizzles with just the right amount of spice, and as always, Freya Marske delivers some really lovely turns of phrase (my favorite: "his breath was wheels over potholed streets"). An irresistibly charming read!

***Thank you to Bramble for providing an early copy of Swordcrossed via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***

I'm going to rip the Band-Aid off here at the start. I did not love Swordcrossed as much as Marske's last series. It took me a while to get into this book because there wasn't a whole lot going on at first. The cover was not lying when it advertised the book as low stakes, which made it difficult for me to stay engaged with the story. Luckily, the characters were great, and the story did pick up some as it went along, especially once all the secrets started coming out. By the end, I was having a great time and enjoying all the schemes and humor.

The world-building in Swordcrossed was a mixed bag. I loved all of the detail explaining the fabric industry and the role of sword dueling in this fantasy world, and the queer normative culture was fun to explore. The political system, however, could have been clearer. There were guilds, houses, councils, and multiple cities/states. I never got a great sense of how it all fit together. It was convoluted, and a bit more information early on would have been helpful in parsing it all out.

The real draw of Swordcrossed, and all of Marske's work, was the characters. She did such a fantastic job of bringing Matti and Luca to life. They each had their issues and well-developed personalities. Matti was obsessed with duty and bringing his house back into prosperity at the cost of his own health and happiness. Whereas, Luca was just a mess. He was a con man, a criminal, and an absolutely dashing rogue with secrets galore. They complemented each other really well and pushed each other in ways that led to quite a bit of growth. The supporting characters also had depth despite not having as much page time, and they each added something special to the story.

The romance between Matti and Luca was sort of enemies to lovers, with its start in a con and blackmail, and all of their secrets caused a ton of problems for their relationship. They had an instant attraction, but they also slowly developed intimacy as their relationship deepened and their layers were peeled back. There was so much yearning in Swordcrossed, which eventually led to some pretty hot sex scenes. The heat wasn't as high as I'd expected, though, and it does take the characters quite a while to get physical. So, if you are looking for tons of super explicit scenes, you might be disappointed, but there were lots of clever sword-play innuendos that had me cackling.

Overall, Swordcrossed was not my favorite book by Marske, but I still had a great time with it. Once the plot kicked into gear and I became attached to the characters, I rarely wanted to put the book down. The romance had a lot of humor and plenty of sexual tension, and I enjoyed seeing how Matti and Luca impacted each other's lives, both inside and outside of the bedroom. Therefore, I give Swordcrossed a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.