Swordheart

What a marvelous read! This is exactly how Romantasy touches my heart! I am a devoted fan of small stories set within vast, epic worlds. And “Swordheart” is a beautifully magical, utterly adorable, and hilariously charming tale that captured my soul. Hella is a widow who has just inherited her late great-uncle’s estate and fortune. Yet, her family cannot bear the thought of losing the family wealth to her, especially not to her. They try to force her into a marriage with her cousin. Faced with despair, she contemplates surrendering to her fate, but then a mystical, immortal warrior living within a Sword appears—stopping her and helping her toward justice. The characters are simply extraordinary. Each one shines brilliantly through their interactions, and the romantic chemistry between Hella and Sakis feels so genuine and compelling. What touched me deeply was how Queerness is woven so seamlessly into this magical world. Zale, the nonbinary priest and attorney, is always respected and never questioned for their gender. Marriage customs are discussed with a non-heteronormative tradition. Meanwhile, Sarkis as the fierce warrior and Hella as the caring housekeeper are traditional roles that T Kingfisher masterfully reimagines with a feminist, empowering twist. The humor in this book is absolutely delightful. Watching Zale and Hella investigate the science behind the magical Sword in which Sarkis resides had me laughing out loud multiple times. Aside from “What Moves the Dead,” this has quickly become one of my favorite books by T Kingfisher.