Big thank you to NetGalley & Tor Publishing for providing an arc of this book. The thoughts and feelings below are my own.

I feel like before I get any further I should mention I have a love/hate relationship with T. Kingfisher. For example, I enjoyed Nettle & Bone but hated A Sorceress Comes to Call. And to top it off going into Swordheart I had no idea this book had previously been published and was being re-released. So going in I didn’t have a whole lot of expectations. I am happy to report that Swordheart is now my new favorite by this author even though it’s far from prefect.

Swordheart follows our MFC Halla, who picks up a sword only to discover there is an immortal warrior our MMC, Sarkis trapped inside it. Since Halla is now the owner of the blade Sarkia is now bound to protect her. They two travel across the country so Halla can collect the inheritance that her late husband’s family is trying to steal from her. Along the journey they end all sorts of danger ranging from bandits to flying jelly monsters.

Overall verdict we are giving this book 3 stars. Swordheart started really strong. The concept was great. The banter and early romance between the two leads was flowing perfectly. Then about half way through the book just lost steam. The plot felt like it basically disappeared and then randomly reappeared at the last minute. The ending was honestly a big let down especially with how strong it started. And the only thing distracting me from how ungodly long this book was, was the banter between Sarkia and Halla. Regretfully even though the grumpy v sunshine banter was delightful it wasn’t enough to save all aspects of the book.

Now the age old question, would I recommend it? After some thought, Yes I would. I think anyone who’s a fan of cozy fantasy’s will enjoy this. So definitely give it a shot and see for yourself when it rereleases later this February.

Thank you Netgalley for an early arc of this one. The Special edition cover is so beautiful, I can't wait to have get a physical copy of this. T.Kingfisher is an amazing author. I have and love all her books. Thank you for writing this. I gave it 5 stars.

I love T. Kingfisher. She does such an excellent job of combining fantasy, comedy, and romance elements to make for a fun, adventurous story. It’s wonderful and refreshing to read a fantasy book with a main character over thirty, and with queer representation that’s so natural it doesn’t even register.

I loved the world of Swordheart. The storyline is very interesting and original. The characters jump out at you. The very heroic but reluctant hero and the very commonsense but deceiving heroine. The side characters are quite fun as well. I am interested in the stories of all the swords but I really hope the other stories are as interesting and funny. If you like a good fantasy with some romance to spice it up, this will be a good pick for you. There is quite a bit of profanity and for me that was distracting so I can't give it full stars.

Read this if you like:

✨cozy fantasy
✨slow burn romance
✨found family
✨an immortal swordsman

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an e-copy of this book in exchange for a review!

This was a cozy, low-stakes, romantic fantasy that gives a few god laughs! SARKIS, the man that you are 😍

What immediately grabbed my attention when I applied for the ARC was the blurb—it sounded like the perfect mix of adventure, humor, and just the right touch of romance. The premise? Halla, a housekeeper, unexpectedly inherits her great-uncle’s estate… along with his unruly relatives. But the real twist? She accidentally frees Sarkis, an immortal swordsman who has been trapped in an enchanted sword for centuries. Now, instead of enjoying his newfound freedom, he’s magically bound to protect her from bandits, inquisitors, and, of course, her chaotic in-laws. How could I resist a setup like that? 🤭

Halla and Sarkis delivered peak grumpy x sunshine energy, and their dynamic was such a joy to read. Their relationship had the perfect enemies-to-lovers slow burn, which was painful in the best way possible. However, while the romance played an important role, it wasn’t the main focus of the book. The story itself had a solid and engaging plot, though I have to admit that, at 480 pages, some parts felt a bit dragged out. That being said, the writing was immersive, and the pacing, for the most part, kept me hooked.

That being said, Zale and my sweet Brindle (the gnole) absolutely stole the show for me!😭 I adored their characters and the warmth they brought to the story. The enchanted sword concept also added a really fun and unique twist, making the narrative feel fresh and different from other fantasy books I’ve read.

As someone who has been shifting from reading mostly romance to more fantasy, I really appreciated the lighter world-building in this book. It made the transition feel much more manageable without overwhelming me with overly complex lore or heavy descriptions. I loved the balance of adventure, humor, and character-driven storytelling, and it’s definitely left me excited to dive into even more fantasy this year!

A huge thank you to @NetGalley and @ArgyllBooks for the ARC—I had such a great time reading this one! 💓

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! As far as low stakes fantasy books go, this might be my favorite; where many lose interest due to lack of driving plot, Swordheart kept pace and carried the storyline with witty banter, character development, and interpersonal relationships among all characters.

Halla, a respectable widow, suddenly inherits a great sum, to the dismay of her remaining family members. This sum also includes an enchanted sword, who also houses a protector of sorts, named Sarkis. The pair journey across the country and back to ensure Halla's inheritance, while encountering a handful of problems and characters to stall their quest.

Halla is the most realistic character I may have ever read, and I can relate to her whole heartedly! She isn't brave, worldly, or experienced in anything outside of homely duties, and although willing, struggles to adjust to life outside of her comfort zone. She asks too many questions, is very awkward, and tends to ramble on when uncomfortable. It was wonderful to read about a FMC that wasn't inherently good at everything despite a lack of experience and training.

I highly recomend reading this book if you're looking for a cozy/low stakes, and easily digestable fantasy novel.

This was such a fun read! Some formatting issues, but I'm sure that will be fixed at publication. T. Kingfisher is a writer I often have hits and misses on, andt his was definitely a hit. There's no doubt the talent present, and the characters and world are both so well developed. Sarkis and Halla are easy to root for, and I enjoyed the development of their romance. I also appreciated that Halla is an older character and that Sarkis isn't just a super hot man. This is what I want from a Romantasy! More of this!!

This is such a cozy fantasy, perfect for someone who wants a low-stakes plot. The banter between Halla and Sarkis was entertaining and the blossoming romance was sweet.

One of my favorite things is that T. Kingfisher writes characters who are older, allowing me to connect on a deeper level. I find it refreshing to read a badass FMC who is not in their 20s.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing group for this ARC. This is an honest review and my thoughts are my own.

I loved the world building in this book, but most of all I loved the characters. I found myself incredibly invested in their adventures and rooting for them the whole time. Mythology has always been my love- whether historical or imagined- and the gods and their chaos and quirks made this book so much fun.

Beware the man with clammy hands!!

Halla has had nothing but loss in life but it does not get her down. Even now, she's locked in her own bedroom by her dead husband's aunt because she had the audacity to inherit the estate of said husband's great-uncle. Malva is incensed that it did not fall to blood family and that Halla is refusing to marry her son, the man with clammy hands, but Halla will stay in her room until she is forced into marriage. Until Halla discovers a secret in her room. Her great-uncle collected many, many things that piled up everywhere in the house and when she unsheathes a sword she has decided to kill herself with, Halla is saved by none other than the magical warrior living inside the sword. Sarkis is sworn to protect the wielder of the sword and soon he remedies Halla's situation and rescues her from her insane family. They go on a journey to help get Halla back what is rightfully hers and it is nothing short of eventful!

I looooved this book! Swordheart is only the second book I've read by T. Kingfisher and she is fast becoming one of my favorite authors! The quick witted, dry humor present in this book is such a fun surprise and Kingfisher executes it perfectly. I could go on and on, this book was perfection and I cannot wait to see more in this world!

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Oh my, Halla cracked me up. It was after bedtime when I was reading this, and Halla, Zale, and Sarkis were doing an “experiment” (that’s all I can say) and my laughter woke everyone up. This book is so funny! I’m sorry I never went back to read this before.

I love the idea of a man being trapped in a sword because it’s a clever plot concept. The world building and various aspects are superb. I only wish I would have read this sooner, it’s a fantastic read!

I'd read Kingfisher/Vernon's grocery list. Love all her stuff. This book is amusing and while there are some serious issues touched on, the whole is hopeful and sweet. Love a happy ending!

I really enjoyed this fantasy world with quirky gods and immortal warriors! It was a perfect balance of cozy romance with humor and sword slashing. I would recommend this to anyone that is has read a lot of high fantasy but wants to explore the genre!

A priest, a widow, and an enchanted sword set out and it's hilarious, tender, and meaningful.

I've only discovered Kingfisher in the last year, but I'm quickly becoming a massive fan. Swordheart is a perfect example of what Kingfisher does best - walking the fine line between comedic fantasy and making it matter. A widow, an enchanted sword, and a priest doing anything sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but Kingfisher brings Halla, Sarkis, and Zale together and makes them so alive. I'm so upset that I finished the book and that there isn't any more for me to read. Part of getting an ARC for a special edition is supposed to mean that the sequel is published, but I can't find more of Halla, Sarkis, and Zale's adventures anywhere. (A note on Reddit says the sequel is still in the works.)

I honestly loved Swordheart from the first chapter; I love Kingfisher taking women who are "not supposed to be main characters" and telling their story anyways. Halla is a respectable widow, her husband passed a decade ago and she's been taking care of his great-uncle as he was the only family that would take her in. She's 35, so practically ancient by main character and fantasy standards. But Halla still has a story to tell, her life isn't over. With the inheritance of her great-uncle's estate, her adventures have just started.

Kingfisher uses the "we're not supposed to hear your story" so strongly in telling Halla's story. There's a line that's stuck with me "Nobody kills stupid women, they just kick us out of the way." . Yes, Halla's a "normal, boring, and ordinary" respectable widow, but Kingfisher takes a moment to pause and recognize the superpowers that allow Halla to get through her "normal, boring, and ordinary" life while still remaining sane and respectable. The absolute beauty of how Kingfisher took these skills and applied them to the traditional fantasy quest made me love Swordheart. Halla isn't worth reading because she's some mystical chosen warrior, but worth reading because she's an ordinary housewife.

Halla, Sarkis, and Zale make a perfect team. I know that Zale doesn't show until about a quarter of the way through the book, but I would have loved to have chapters from their POV. As both a lawyer and a priest, Zale told some of the wittiest one-lines throughout the book. Some of the best ones are too spoilery to include in this review, but Kingfisher had me cackling and reading out-of-context quotes to my husband. My desire to just re-read the entire book again to reexperience all of those moments is so strong right now.

The romance between Halla and Sarkis needs to be fully experienced to be appreciated, but it was absolute pure and utter perfection. I won't spoil it for you.

After falling in love with T. Kingfisher’s What Moves the Dead last year, I knew I had to dive more deeply into her work. So when Bramble and NetGalley kindly granted me an eARC of Swordheart (out Feb. 24), I couldn’t resist jumping in immediately.

This story is wildly different from my first Kingfisher read but just as enchanting — possibly even more so. Set in the shared universe of The World of the White Rat (Clocktaur Wars and The Saint of Steel series fans, take note!), Swordheart is a cozy, laugh-out-loud fantasy romance about a respectable widow, Halla, and the magical, cranky sword-wielding warrior, Sarkis, who she unexpectedly inherits.

The humor here is exactly my kind — dry, clever and sprinkled with delightful absurdity. (When the story opened with a village named Rutger’s Howe, I knew I was in for a treat.) The cast of characters stole my heart, especially Brindle the gnole, who might be my favorite, though Halla, Sarkis and Zale are close runners-up.

This book delivers cozy fantasy vibes with just the right touch of romance. It’s lighter on the spice than a lot of fantasy romances, but the chemistry and humor are there and I don’t tend to read a lot of romance anyway. If you enjoy stories like The Princess Bride, Assistant to the Villain or Tress of the Emerald Sea, you’re going to love this one!

I laughed, I grinned and every time I had to put the book down, I wanted to jump right back in. T. Kingfisher has firmly secured her spot as a favorite and I can’t wait to continue my journey through her works.

3.5 stars

Thank you Tor and Netgalley for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve become a big T Kingfisher fan over the last year and I was really keen to read this one!

It’s a cosy romcom fantasy. Heavy emphasis on the comedy, honestly. It had me chuckling and smiling the whole way through. There is so much sarcasm and the main character loves a ramble which really just got funnier the longer it went on.

The plot is absurd and wonderful for that fact. It’s a little meandering and we spend most of the time on the same road back and forth, but there was something comforting in the repetitive monotony of their travels.

I really liked Halla as a main character. She uses everyone’s assumptions about women and intelligence to her own advantage and she doesn’t suffer fools. She’s bright and inquisitive and can more than look after herself but is also very grateful to have someone look after her.

I ADORED Zale. They were such a wonderful addition to this book and elevated it a lot, in my opinion. Their friendship with Halla and their willingness to help her no matter what made me so happy to read.

Sarkis is where this one let me down a little. I just didn’t like him very much and as a result, the romance didn’t really spark anything for me.

I did enjoy everything else about this book though, it was just missing a deeper emotional connection for me.

I've really enjoyed T. Kingfisher's novels in the past (both horror an fantasy), so when I heard that one of her self-published novels was being trad pubed I was very excited to read it. Honestly though, I think this might be my last favorite of her books to date though. I considered DNF'ing it once or twice, and while I'm glad I didn't in the end, I still feel like this was a rather weak showing from her. Now, I don't know how much, if any, this book was revised from the original publication back in 2018, and I don't know if some of my gripes were just a formatting issue, but I think one of my biggest issues was the writing. I want to be perfectly clear, the writing in general was fine, but there were an uncountable number of times when a sentence came along that had some kind of "um" or "eer" interjection that really should have been separated out with punctuation of some kind, and it just wasn't, so it made the entire thing awkward. If it had only happened once or twice I probably wouldn't have minded, but it happened countless times, and it got old. It made things hard to follow. The word "decadent" was also used WAY too many times. If I took a shot every time that word was used I probably would have died of alcohol poisoning long before the book was finished. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all bad. The story itself was quite fun, and the side characters were so enjoyable they're a large part of the reason I finished the book. I will say that this book was more romance heavy than the other Kingfisher books I've read, and it's certainly the most sexually explicit of hers I've read (although that's not saying much when her other books don't usually even involve kissing). Kingfisher has certainly created a fascinating world here, and if I'm being honest I'll probably go back to the other books in this world at some point. I do have to admit that I'm a little confused, because while this book is billed as a standalone there are things that are left open-ended, and there might as well be a part of the acknowledgements that states that this was supposed to be part of a trilogy, but it seems like that never happened. So overall I don't regret having read this one, and I think it held promise, but I also think it could have used a little more work considering the opportunity was there. I'll be curious to see if, now that this book has been picked up by a publisher, we'll get the other two books that seem to have been planned all those years ago, and perhaps if we do I'll check them out. Either way though, I'll still be checking out more stuff by Kingfisher, because I do think she is a good writer, and despite my issues with this title her books are humorous and unique enough that everyone should give her a shot at some point.

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher is a delightful mix of fantasy, humor, and romance, featuring an unconventional heroine, a grumpy yet endearing cursed swordsman, and a refreshingly pragmatic approach to adventure. Halla’s journey from sheltered widow to determined traveler is filled with sharp wit and unexpected heart, while Sarkis, the warrior bound to a magical sword, provides both dry humor and reluctant devotion. The story leans more on character dynamics than fast-paced action, which may slow the plot at times, but Kingfisher’s signature blend of warmth and sarcasm keeps it engaging. With charming banter, a slow-burn romance, and a touch of the absurd, Swordheart is a thoroughly entertaining read that balances whimsy with depth.

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher is a wildly entertaining blend of humor, adventure, and fantasy romance that manages to be both cozy and chaotic in equal measure. With an enchanted sword, a grumpy immortal warrior, and a delightfully odd heroine, this novel leans into its whimsical absurdity while delivering a heartfelt story about self-discovery, found family, and reluctant companionship.

Halla, a middle-aged widow who finds herself locked away by greedy relatives, stumbles upon an ancient sword—and in drawing it, she accidentally unleashes Sarkis, the warrior bound to it. From that moment, the two are stuck together, traveling across the land while dodging bandits, inquisitors, and an unreasonably determined extended family. Along for the ride is Zale, a snarky nonbinary priest-lawyer who frequently steals the show.

Kingfisher’s signature humor shines through with dry wit, exasperated banter, and bizarre yet oddly pragmatic fantasy elements. The characters are the highlight—Halla’s rambling naïveté hides a sharp mind, Sarkis is every inch the brooding, battle-worn protector, and Zale is, quite simply, a delight.

The romance itself is sweet, with plenty of awkward blushing and endearing moments. The pacing meanders at times, giving the story a relaxed, slice-of-life feel, though the middle section occasionally slows down. While the book leans into cozy fantasy, it doesn't entirely shy away from darker themes like power dynamics, coercion, and violence, all handled with Kingfisher’s signature blend of humor and thoughtfulness.

With a laugh-out-loud premise, endearing characters, and a whimsical yet heartfelt narrative, Swordheart is a delightful fantasy adventure. It’s The Princess Bride meets Howl’s Moving Castle, with a dose of Monty Python-esque ridiculousness. The story may not be as tightly plotted as some of Kingfisher’s other works, but it’s a fun, charming ride filled with snark and sincerity.