I am so thankful to NetGalley, T. Kingfisher and TOR publishing group for the opportunity to read this ARC copy of Swordheart.

The concept of Swordheart is so original and refreshing. It was a nice cozy fantasy with low stakes. The story follows a widow who picks up a sword only to find that there is a man inside the sword that is now duty bound to protect her.

It’s charming, funny and has great banter.

I would recommend!

Cozy bodyguard romance fantasy, I was blessed to get it as an arc and this should definitely be one of the books you add to your the.

4.75 ⭐️

First and foremost, thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me and eARC to read and review Swordheart by T. K. Kingfisher! I laughed, I cried, I laugh-cried at so many parts/chapters. I really love this authors writing style/sense of humor. Halla, Sarkis, and the other minor characters were so fun to read. Halla is my spirit animal and Sarkis is the man every woman wants. This was a very comedic, quest driven book and I definitely recommend. I feel like the pacing in the last 25% was a little funky but I enjoyed regardless and I will continue to go through all this author’s backlog.

“Swordheart” is a solid four out of five. There are a lot of laugh-out-loud moments, mostly due to Halla’s rambling. I enjoyed the way the company came together, and enthusiastically followed them on their adventures, however slow and plodding they turned out to be.

My only problem is that the romance is decidedly not fade to black. The scenes aren’t as explicit as a lot of romantasy out there, but it’s still more than I want. Just close the bedroom door, peeps!

Other than the spice, this is a fun fantasy with a unique twist. T. Kingfisher remains one of my favorite authors.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group/Bramble for the advance digital copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review

T. Kingfisher books are always a hit for me. I love the more mature protagonists that aren’t unreasonably skinny or weirdly muscular with no fat. The characters always feel so much like real people rather than just someone you’d find in a book.

I’ve already read(and loved) the Saints of Steel books so seeing familiar characters from there pop up was so fun!

It wasn’t an epic fantasy adventure by any means, more a mix of family drama and slice of life semi-cozy fantasy vibes? If you haven’t read anything else in the universe it’ll be weird, but if you love the universe I think it’s well worth a read.

Thank you so much to Tor PublishingGroupfor the E-ARC!

I really enjoyed this book. It felt very different from a lot of the romantasy I've read. The dialogue felt particularly unique. Halla's rambling and curiosity stood out so much. The dialogue was also just hilarious at times. It was so fun! My favorite scenes are the ones where Hall and Zale were debating/hypothesizing what happens to Sarkis's bodily fluids after he goes back into the sword. I about died.

While I really enjoyed it, the plot, the dialogue, I found that it dragged at times. This book was so long, and really not a lot happens. It's a lot of back and forth between locations. I thought i would never finish. Still, I really enjoyed this and definitely recommend it!

Also, Bartholomew is a snake.

I love this book with my whole heart. I've read the previous version and I don't think there were any significant changes (not that it needed any), so this was a delightful reread for me. Where so many other "romantasy" books fail me, this one works. It has strong fantasy elements with a unique world AND a compelling romance. Character growth, dark humor, an engaging plot, and a dash of spice too. What more could a reader want?

Halla is contemplating suicide instead of marrying her despicable cousin, when she unexpected gains a magical bodyguard named Sarkis. He helps her escape and they go on a quest to gain her inheritance, making unlikely friends and enemies along the way.

This exists in the same world as several other T. Kingfisher books but can be read by itself. The epilogue does have me wondering if we'll get a more direct sequel though. Hopefully!!

Thank you Netgalley for the arc, I really loved the premise of this book, the beginning of the book had me enthralled and the adventure seemed thrilling but towards the middle, it felt a bit too repetitive for my liking. Towards the middle of the book I could not continue, I really tried but the story did not grasp my attention anymore.

I do enjoy T. Kingfisher's writing and I was able to get a look into it, but this book/story personally was not for me. I liked the characters but something was lacking for me and I think I will check out her other series.

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher is another delight. Halla, a diligent widow who served her deceased husband's uncle as his housekeeper, was shocked to learn that her employer made her his heir. But she was not as surprised as some of the other relatives! One particularly unpleasant niece decided to solve the problem by forcing Halla to marry her son. Instead, Halla draws a sword to try to escape and finds that the sword is the enchanted home of Sarkis, a solder from days long past. Sarkis defends Halla and helps her escape to find legal recourse to gain her inheritance. Along the way, they face corrupt priests, betrayal, and magical mountains.

Anything by T. Kingfisher is an auto buy for me. She can write horror & the most unsettling but somehow cozy fantasy books? Sign me up. This book had a cozy adventure, fairy tale vibes & a slow burn romance. What more could you want?

“Swordheart” by T. Kingfisher had me in its grip from the moment I started it! Halla finds herself in trouble when her great uncle leaves her his estate. Quickly Sarkis enters the scene and from there, the wit and jokes do not stop! Throughout the story, there is also a quest as Halla tries to get help for the trouble she has found herself in. After reading this book, I found out that it was part of The World of the White Rat, and even though I haven’t read the other books from this world, I found that it did not take away from my enjoyment. Thank you to Tor- Bramble for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

This is a very very cozy & heartwarming romantasy novel with a bit of adventure mixed in. I loved Halla & Sarkis’s banter and the genie in a bottle-esque feel to their meeting. It is set in the world of the previous duology The Clocktaur War but I don’t think it’s a necessity to read that to enjoy this, you’ll just get more background of the world building.

I read everything that T. Kingfisher writes and enjoy the large majority and this was no exception. My only critique would be the length could be a bit shorter, I didn’t think it needed for 400 pages.

As always, T. Kingfisher knocks it out of the park. It was lovely getting to visit this world again.

T. Kingfisher is very hit or miss for me and so is cozy fantasy, this was a really nice vibe but i was just kind of bored.

Swordheart is a fun and funny romantic fantasy adventure from T. Kingfisher. I really enjoyed this book overall. The characters took me a little time to get used to but I ended up loving the romance but the friendships that develop as well. Brindle was such a fun and unexpected character, I did not think I would end up liking them as much as I did. This world is also very interesting and I am mildly curious to check out other books this author has written in this world, even though I'm sad there is no direct sequel following these same characters. This book felt like it was going to be part of a series. The way it ends just made me so confused as I was frantically searching to see if there was a sequel. Because this isn't a series, I found the ending a little strange and abrupt but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story overall. I had a lot of fun reading this book and could not put it down. I feel like I fell in love with our main character, Halla, right along with Sarkis as we get to know her more and learn more about how she navigates the world she lives in.

This perfectly matched my rainy-day reading mood yesterday! A delightful blend of fantasy, romance, adventure, and humour. The story follows a beleaguered widow who unexpectedly becomes the inheritor of a magical sword—and from that moment, nothing unfolds quite the way either of them could have imagined.

I love this book.

Why do I love this book? Well, the top reason is the dialogue. It goes beyond the usual flirty banter. It is great among all the characters and brings them to life. It is this endearing, funny, heartfelt back and forth between all characters. It made what they were experiencing and who they were so vivid in my head.

The book is a bit of a cozy read. You follow this cast of characters on an actual journey, and they encounter problems along the way.

Halla is a fantastic FMC. For one, she is in her late 30s, which I greatly appreciate. She is quirky and witty and uses her observations to get the upper hand. And her relationship with Sarkis - swoon! It is a slow burn at its finest. And since you have both their point of views, it is so great to follow along.

Now, I have to mention my favorite trope: found family. And, of course, it is in this little gem. Halla is without family because her relatives are horrible, but through this journey, she forms one! It is a family with its protector and grump in Sarkis, a soulmate of a friend in Zale, and a voice of reason in the gnome who protects no one but his slow-moving ox.

The only downside is that it has a slow start. There is a bit of setting the stage and understanding why this journey must begin. But the story picks up when they hit the road and never lets up. I was with it until the last page.

It’s such a great book for the first read of the year!

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher is a charming and sweet romantasy that effortlessly blends humor, adventure, and a dash of romance. The story follows Sarkis, a cursed swordsman, and Halla, a no-nonsense widow caught in a web of inheritance drama. Their witty banter and undeniable chemistry make them lovable protagonists, even if they experience little character growth throughout the journey. The world-building is richly imaginative, with quirky elements like the Church of the Rat adding a delightful layer of humor. Kingfisher’s clever wit and lighthearted tone create a narrative that’s both amusing and engaging, while hinting at a larger universe yet to be explored.

Overall, Swordheart is an endearing and enjoyable read, though it can feel a bit slow at times. The romance is subtle, sweet, and well-paced, with just a hint of spice that adds warmth without overpowering the plot. Kingfisher’s ability to craft a fun, magical world filled with memorable characters makes this novel an easy recommendation for fans of cozy fantasy. For readers intrigued by Sarkis and Halla’s world, there’s hope for more in Kingfisher’s other books, including the Clocktaur War series, which shares the same universe.

✨ ARC Review ✨
📚 Book: “Swordheart”
📖 Release Date: February 25, 2025
💫 Rating: 4.5 stars
✨ Review:
I have to admit, I judged this book by its cover—though, who could blame me? The new cover of “Swordheart” is absolutely stunning. It immediately caught my attention, and I knew I had to read it. I’m so glad I did. T. Kingfisher is a master of blending whimsy, heart, and humor into a unique story that stands apart from anything I’ve read before.

The plot revolves around Halla, a woman who comes into possession of a magical sword and finds herself entangled with a sentient blade who has a bit of a mysterious past. It’s a wonderfully cozy romance with plenty of action and intrigue. Halla's character development was one of my favorite parts of the book; she starts out uncertain but grows stronger and more confident throughout the journey, in a way that feels both natural and heartwarming.
Kingfisher’s creativity shines through in the world-building and the interplay between the sword, the magic, and the characters. I’ve never encountered anything quite like it, and I was hooked from the first page. The author’s wit and charm make the book both funny and poignant, with just the right amount of mystery to keep you turning pages.
Here's one of my favorite quotes from the book:
"A sword is only as good as the hand that wields it. But sometimes, it’s the sword that changes the hand."
This is a lovely, lighthearted read with depth and heart, and I loved it so much that I immediately devoured two more of T. Kingfisher’s books after finishing it. If you're in the mood for a cozy fantasy with a touch of romance, mystery, and humor, I highly recommend “Swordheart”.

This is actually my first T. Kingfisher book and I loved it. The voice, the unique plot, all of it. It gave me cozy vibes.