First may I say, FINALLY A FANTASY NOVEL WHERE THE MAIN CHARCTERS AREN'T 18! I enjoyed this book so much! Perfect for fans of cozy fantasy with a touch of humor and romance. I have read some horror books by Kingfisher before, but I can say this is my favorite book I have read from her and it makes me excited to explore some more of her fantasy novels. I am so excited this is going to be a series.

Swordheart was such a fun and imaginative book. this book made me laugh out loud throughout. The action, feelings, laughs, and sadness was interspersed through the whole book in a way that just sends you on a journey.
Sarkis & Halla were absolutely wonderful characters and their differences really made the book fun to read. Zale and Brindle were absolutely perfect side characters to really flush out the book.

I liked this book but the beginning was weird. I did still enjoy the book and found it entertaining to read. I didn't understand part of the lore though.

This is such a solid book with really lovely characters and whimsy to spare. T Kingfisher excels at taking familiar ideas and stories and twisting them just enough to make them new. It's an easy sell to anyone looking for a cosy fantasy that still retains enough stakes to propel the story forward.

This was my first book by T. Kingfisher, but I don't think it'll be my last.

This was very well written, the story flowed easily, and kept me engaged the entire time. I did enjoy the romance and the majority of the characters. I did find our main character Halla a bit frustrating though. She is 30-something but acts more like a teenager. If she had acted more mature, this would have been the perfect read.

Rated 4 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC ebook.

This is sweet, warm-hearted, and lovely. Not sure why it's available as an ARC due to being published nearly seven years ago, but still glad that I had the opportunity to sneak a read while the library's waitlist was out the door.

This is not my first read from Kingfisher, but it is the longest! When reading the synopsis, I had no idea where the story was going to go. It did NOT disappoint. The characters, the story, the details were so original and that is hard to do now!

I am absolutely in love with this book! T. Kingfisher has done it again—crafted a magical, heartwarming story filled with humor, adventure, and romance. I don’t think this author is capable of writing a book I wouldn’t adore!

This slow-burn fantasy romance had everything I could have hoped for. Halla and Sarkis are chef’s kiss perfection—a grumpy-sunshine duo with incredible chemistry. Watching their bond grow as they navigate bandits, inquisitors, meddling relatives, and even a cursed sword was such a delight!

And let’s talk about the supporting cast. Zale, the nonbinary priest, and Brindle the gnole were absolute scene-stealers, adding so much charm, humor, and heart to the story. But what really stood out to me was how real and relatable the characters felt. Kingfisher has this incredible way of making even the most fantastical worlds feel cozy and believable.

If you love romantic fantasy, quirky humor, and stories that leave you smiling long after you’ve turned the last page, this book is an absolute must-read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the book I can't stop talking about. As I was talking to folks in the bookstore last week I realized how popular Kingfisher has become with diverse readers from their twenties to their eighties who are now eagerly awaiting Swordheart. This story of Halla, a widow locked away by her late husband's avaricious family accidentally releases a warrior from a sword. Sarkis breaks her out and they start their quest to get her inheritance encountering various priests, mountains ranges that actually range, and amazing librarians.

This was a really fun low stakes fantasy with added bonuses of romance and adventure. I love a good slow burn and this didn’t disappoint. I’ve heard nothing but great things about this book and I’m glad all of them were correct!

T. Kingfisher has an elusive way with writing that I just can't quite grasp. This book was enjoyable and I love a good thorough fantasy. Sub plots, romance, all there. Still fell a little flat for me. I had to push myself to finish.

This book was everything I needed and more. It tugged on my heart strings and made me fall for characters I'd never thought I'd fall for. One of the best books I've read all year.

I honestly don't think T. Kingfisher can possibly write a book that I don't adore. Swordheart was no different. I love the way she crafts characters that aren't usually considered main character material and yet still makes them lovable and human. The romance in this was so so sweet and I love the persnickety FMC!

Overall, I really liked Swordheart. I loved Halla and Sarkis together and thought their romance was sweet. They played off each other well and I enjoyed the humor. I really loved Zale and Brindle. Once they are added to the group, the book really picks up and Zale and Halla playing off each other was so fun. I appreciate that Halla used what she knew to keep herself safe. She has no training, but she is able to use words and the way men in power see women as ditzy and beneath their notice to shield herself.

I have two main issues with the book. Halla and Sarkis' relationship was a little too fast, understandable as the plot does need to move along and while it's not world ending stakes, dealing with the estate and will is something they would want to sooner rather than later. They do spend a huge amount of time together, so at least it wasn't instalove in three days with the couple spending little time together. The bigger issue was the third act conflict. I thought it was a little overblown with what Halla and Sarkis already knew about each other and that Halla acted a little out of character during it.

However, I still really enjoyed Swordheart. I would definitely recommend it and Kingfisher has mentioned there will be more books in this series. I'm so excited to read their stories because the book makes it very clear who those will be.

What a fun addition to a Romantasy series. A heroine with a mouth that won't stop when she's scared, a hero stuck in a sword, and lots of action meld into this clever fantasy. Toss in lots of action, a bit of romance and you have a story that can't be put down. Halla is a fun character and her interactions with her trusty man (who was imprisoned in a sword) were entertaining. I can always count on strong characters and funny dialogue from T. Kingfisher.

A lovely romance with a fairy tale feel set in the same world as Kingfisher's Clocktaur War and Saint of Steel series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for allowing me to read a copy of Swordheart by T. Kingfisher in exchange for an honest review.

When Halla agreed to care for her husband's great uncle after his passing, she didn't expected the cooky old man to leave it all to her when death came for him. While not ungrateful, she understands what it means to be an unmarried widow with wealth. Especially when there are other family members who had plans for their assumed inheritance. That is exactly how Halla finds herself bolted in her room contemplating the end of her life. The last thing she could have prepared for when drawing a sword was a whole man to emerge. Sarkis, having been trapped in the sword for centuries, anticipated stepping into a battle or stopping an assailant... not a half naked woman figuring out how to fall on a sword. Halla and Sarkis begin their journey to rightfully claim Halla's inheritance and uncover information that could free Sarkis from his iron prison. But secrets make for bad travel companions and they can be more painful than the cut of a sword.

I have grown fond of T. Kingfisher's writing the last few years so I was overjoyed and grateful to be contacted again about reviewing a book. Swordheart is a very wholesome cozy read. The story building is not too complex - they travel to one town through another and back again. I love a good dual POV and I felt present in each narrator. Another part of this book that I really enjoyed is that the characters are older than what is the current norm for fantasy tales. Halla is in her late 30s and Sarkis is (chronically) in his early 40s. They have both lived a lot of life and I think that is important sometimes when bringing depth to characters. Can't wait to read more Kingfisher in the future!

I LOVE T. Kingfisher's World of the White Rat books; this one is no exception. This is a cozy adventure fantasy with lovable characters and a rich world. Fans of Travis Baldree should read this next. It works as a standalone but readers will get a little more if they've read other books in this world.

🗡️ ❤️ ARC REVIEW ❤️🗡️

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
5/5 ⭐
Rerelease date 🇺🇸: Feb 25, 2025

This author is an automatic read for me, and it's because of books like this. I loved this book, it was a cozy fantasy and just the thing I needed!

The book starts with a woman trapped by her family, trying to figure out how to extricate herself from the situation. She draws a sword, which releases a warrior trapped and bound to the sword. And they have an adventure!

Please read if you like the following:

❤️ Cozy fantasies filled with good, decent people
❤️ Grumpy x sunshine trope
❤️ Main characters that can't seem to get themselves out of trouble
❤️ Amazing banter

Thank you to NetGalley and Bramble for the review copy!

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Halla and Sarkis - the banter, the longing, the sloooooooooow burn…. oh, hello there, excuse me, lost my train of thought for a minute.

The cover, the mention of The Princess Bride, and a “cozy fantasy romance” sold me immediately on this. I was fortunate enough to receive an early copy and, pulled in by the opening on the first page, I read this happily and absolutely loved it ❤️ A purely fun and utterly enjoyable story.

This was my second time reading the author’s work and it’s safe to say that I’m officially a fan now and will absolutely be reading more of her work.



Thank you to Bramble and NetGalley for the DRC