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ritabriar's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The main characters are delightful, kind, and a bit snarky. I adore Halla's ability to weaponize questions and the way Sarkis respects her quickly, especially once he gets to know her. (Things do get spicy, though it's not the main focus.) Zale and Brindle are also stars of the book, in spite of their official status as support characters.
These main characters contrast with the various villains, who suffer from a severe inability to take interest in the perspective of others, each in a slightly different way.
The plot is both character- and setting-driven, in the manner of a campaign run by an excellent game master: some things happen not because the characters make them happen, but because things like this just happen here, and they might as well happen now. (To be clear, these events serve the plot or character arcs and I love them.) I'm thinking of the Vagrant Hills, especially, which area piece of geography that grabs travelers if they feel like it. The Motherhood priests probably also qualify.
As you'd expect in a book starring a magic sword, the setting has plenty of magic, which follows definite rules (though the characters don't know all of the rules and sometimes have to figure things out as they go). There are horrific mechanics to some of the magic and magical creatures, though I would not say this is a horror book.
These main characters contrast with the various villains, who suffer from a severe inability to take interest in the perspective of others, each in a slightly different way.
The plot is both character- and setting-driven, in the manner of a campaign run by an excellent game master: some things happen not because the characters make them happen, but because things like this just happen here, and they might as well happen now. (To be clear, these events serve the plot or character arcs and I love them.) I'm thinking of the Vagrant Hills, especially, which are
As you'd expect in a book starring a magic sword, the setting has plenty of magic, which follows definite rules (though the characters don't know all of the rules and sometimes have to figure things out as they go). There are horrific mechanics to some of the magic and magical creatures, though I would not say this is a horror book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Violence, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Murder, Body horror, and Misogyny
Minor: Terminal illness, Gaslighting, Gore, Stalking, Suicide attempt, War, and Infertility
The first thing that happens is that Halla's relatives lock her in her own room. Sheamy_in_the_city's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was overall a fun read! I loved Halla, with her curiosity about the world. I appreciated the way she protected herself by confusing and annoying people with her inane ramblings until they left her alone. Sarkis was great too. The real star of this book was Zale, the priest/lawyer. I loved them and the church of the White Rat so much. This book was so funny and the humor at times reminded me of Monty Python.
Sarkis kept alluding to some big secret he needed to tell Halla, and I was really expecting it to be something major and a plot twist. When it was finally revealed, my reaction was "Is that the big secret? That's it?" I thought Halla overreacted to that reveal as the secret had nothing to do with her at all and no effect on her life. It felt very contrived just to add in some conflict between the couple.
I liked how inclusive this world seemed to be of various LGBTQ+ identities, with one very notable exception. Same sex couples appeared to be widely accepted and to have the same rights as straight couples. The nonbinary character was never misgendered or questioned about their gender, even by the villains. This culture of acceptance integrated into the worldbuilding was what made it so shocking to me when towards the end of the book, there were several moments where the characters seemed very unaccepting of, and even hostile towards, asexual people. Halla had an unsatisfying sex life with her late husband and described him as having been uninterested in sex in general. Sarkis vilified the late husband for this and even said he wished he could hurt him. Eventually, they seemed to settle on seeing the late husband and his asexuality as a burden. There's a lot of language that suggests ace people are broken, like saying he'd have to be "half-dead not to be interested in you" or Sarkis saying his religion has no use for someone who can't please their partner. This all felt really uncalled for. It put a damper on my enjoyment of the book and left a bad taste. It's a shame because this had been such a cozy and fun book for me, but it ended with me feeling attacked.
Sarkis kept alluding to some big secret he needed to tell Halla, and I was really expecting it to be something major and a plot twist. When it was finally revealed, my reaction was "Is that the big secret? That's it?" I thought Halla overreacted to that reveal as the secret had nothing to do with her at all and no effect on her life. It felt very contrived just to add in some conflict between the couple.
I liked how inclusive this world seemed to be of various LGBTQ+ identities, with one very notable exception. Same sex couples appeared to be widely accepted and to have the same rights as straight couples. The nonbinary character was never misgendered or questioned about their gender, even by the villains. This culture of acceptance integrated into the worldbuilding was what made it so shocking to me when towards the end of the book, there were several moments where the characters seemed very unaccepting of, and even hostile towards, asexual people. Halla had an unsatisfying sex life with her late husband and described him as having been uninterested in sex in general. Sarkis vilified the late husband for this and even said he wished he could hurt him. Eventually, they seemed to settle on seeing the late husband and his asexuality as a burden. There's a lot of language that suggests ace people are broken, like saying he'd have to be "half-dead not to be interested in you" or Sarkis saying his religion has no use for someone who can't please their partner. This all felt really uncalled for. It put a damper on my enjoyment of the book and left a bad taste. It's a shame because this had been such a cozy and fun book for me, but it ended with me feeling attacked.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Suicide attempt, Violence, Death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia and Sexual content
Minor: Sexism, Grief, War, and Religious bigotry
sonatica's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
(If you plan on reading this book, please make sure to look at the content warnings, as it opens up with some really heavy topics right out the gate!)
While there were some aspects of the book and romance between the main characters that weren't for me, I genuinely enjoyed it! The narrator of the audiobook does a great job with the character voices though, that really stood out to me - especially Sarkis! Du be warned though, if you do listen to the audiobook version, that this book has a few 'spicy' scenes in it. Those generally catch me off guard in audiobooks, so I thought it might be helpful to others if they knew beforehand.
Spoilers for the end of the book ahead:
I loved the last fight (in chapter 56-58 I believe?) so so much! Halla's role in general over the ending chapters was great and the dynamic between her and Zale adds so much, too. :)
While there were some aspects of the book and romance between the main characters that weren't for me, I genuinely enjoyed it! The narrator of the audiobook does a great job with the character voices though, that really stood out to me - especially Sarkis! Du be warned though, if you do listen to the audiobook version, that this book has a few 'spicy' scenes in it. Those generally catch me off guard in audiobooks, so I thought it might be helpful to others if they knew beforehand.
Spoilers for the end of the book ahead:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Cursing, Death, Confinement, and Grief
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Physical abuse, War, and Murder
maiadawn's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Fun, fast read. Serious grumpy/sunshine vibes from start to finish. The characters were great, I loved Halla's crazy rants that confused nearly everyone within earshot. I also found Sarkis's simple solution of wanting to run people through who were causing trouble for them to be endearing (yes, I know, it sounds crazy.) I enjoyed the world building and I found several of the places they went and the characters they met to be unique and fascinating. I truly think T. Kingfisher is a new favorite author for me and this is a new favorite read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Domestic abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Kidnapping
Minor: Bullying and Torture
welgan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Spoiler-free review
This is not a 5 stars due du personnal preferences, but as far as its genre goes, it definitely should be !
Note : this is my first T. Kingfisher book, and it's interesting to see references to other books (Clockwork Boys), but it never felt like I needed to have read those beforehand.
Swordheart is a lighthearted and wholesome romance aventure that never stops to be interesting. I got really attached to the characters thanks to their inner monologue and quirks.
It would be easy for a hetero bodyguard type of romance to fall in the trope of "damsel in distress", but I felt it was well handled : while the warrior bodyguard is indeed experienced and efficient in any martial situation, we discover that the female main character has her own ressources and strength that shine in other situations. All of the main characters had strength and weaknesses, and felt very human and caring.
And there is depth in the emotions and struggles of the main characters, nuancing them quite well !
The culture contrast between the two main characters led to very interesting considerations too, especially about the women's condition in Halla's (female main character) country !
A slight warning : for those romance fans who prefer an approach based on emotions only and would prefer little to no mention of physical attraction, be aware that this is a romance between two people who are very much physically attracted to each other (not only, definitely), and it is explicitly told so ! (It was an interesting ride for my asexual mind lol). If you're unsure about sex references (very minor spoiler) :expect two sex scenes, explicit but not too detailed, consensual and between people who are very much in love with each other. Expect also some mentions of genitals and physical reactions to a loved one, but it's in no way overwhelming (take that from somleone who has very low tolerance about that matter)
I felt that is was well done, being respectful and wholesome, and adressing the hardships of being attracted to someone, so even if it's not what I am used to, it felt right. Sarkis especially (the bodyguard) is a very respectful man, aware of his strength and the dominant position he can have through his bodyguard role.
The side characters finally were intensely loveable : I'm joining the crowd of the gnoles fans (Brindle here at least is a very good fellow), and I really loved one of main secondary characters, who is a non-binary person (they just are, no plot related to this fact : they exist in this world as everyone else and it's very comforting). I got really attached to them and their friendship with the main characters were a highlight of the whole book to me.
This is not a 5 stars due du personnal preferences, but as far as its genre goes, it definitely should be !
Note : this is my first T. Kingfisher book, and it's interesting to see references to other books (Clockwork Boys), but it never felt like I needed to have read those beforehand.
Swordheart is a lighthearted and wholesome romance aventure that never stops to be interesting. I got really attached to the characters thanks to their inner monologue and quirks.
It would be easy for a hetero bodyguard type of romance to fall in the trope of "damsel in distress", but I felt it was well handled : while the warrior bodyguard is indeed experienced and efficient in any martial situation, we discover that the female main character has her own ressources and strength that shine in other situations. All of the main characters had strength and weaknesses, and felt very human and caring.
And there is depth in the emotions and struggles of the main characters, nuancing them quite well !
The culture contrast between the two main characters led to very interesting considerations too, especially about the women's condition in Halla's (female main character) country !
A slight warning : for those romance fans who prefer an approach based on emotions only and would prefer little to no mention of physical attraction, be aware that this is a romance between two people who are very much physically attracted to each other (not only, definitely), and it is explicitly told so ! (It was an interesting ride for my asexual mind lol). If you're unsure about sex references (very minor spoiler) :
I felt that is was well done, being respectful and wholesome, and adressing the hardships of being attracted to someone, so even if it's not what I am used to, it felt right. Sarkis especially (the bodyguard) is a very respectful man, aware of his strength and the dominant position he can have through his bodyguard role.
The side characters finally were intensely loveable : I'm joining the crowd of the gnoles fans (Brindle here at least is a very good fellow), and I really loved one of main secondary characters, who is a non-binary person (they just are, no plot related to this fact : they exist in this world as everyone else and it's very comforting). I got really attached to them and their friendship with the main characters were a highlight of the whole book to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Domestic abuse
Minor: War
Harsh themes are adressed in the book, though rarely the main focus of the story, and handled with a lot of humour. The book is definitely light-hearted, so if those are not triggers for you, go ahead ! The violence and injuries are what to be expected from a fantasy book where a warrior bodyguard has to kill bandits, for example. The sexual content is very respectful, consensual and wholesome.booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Halla is a widow who has inherited her uncle's fortune, whereupon her aunt and brother-in-law have locked her in her room until she agrees to marry him. He has an odious personality and clammy hands, and seemingly no understanding that locking a woman in a room until she agrees to marry you is a very terrible start to any kind of relationship. When she decides that death is better than her upcoming fate, she tries to kill herself with a sword that turns out to have Sarkis, an immortal swordsman, trapped inside. Together they escape and attempt to get help for Halla's legal troubles and grasping relatives.
SWORDHEART is one of the funniest books I’ve read recently, and the main contenders for that honor are other White Rat books by this same author. It’s vibrant without requiring the characters to constantly be witty, the whole thing is a delight. It’s a fluffy romance in desperate circumstances, buoyed by Halla’s never-stymied open nature and endless optimism, and tempered by Sarkis’s practicality. Halla uses prattle, questions, and observations as a multi-purpose tactic on a near-constant basis. Sarkis is trapped in a sword and is unfamiliar with current customs of Halla’s home, creating a natural ebb and flow of competency and possession of relevant information at any one moment. Zale is a welcome addition to their party, a temple lawyer acquired to help with Halla’s legal tangle, and Brindle rounds out their party by taking care of the ox and cart.
SWORDHEART is not technically a sequel, it is a stand-alone book. However, it takes place in the world of the White Rat approximately five years after the events of CLOCKWORK BOYS and THE WONDER ENGINE. It contains details that blur the line between callback and spoiler, I think they’re suitably opaque as to keep from giving away major plot points of that duology, but I do recommend reading this after the duology for the best overall experience. The worldbuilding seemed complete enough to stand on its own, someone reading just SWORDHEART would know everything they need to. It is focused on different aspects than in the earlier duology, complementing the prior information without feeling redundant. Because Sarkis is from another land it also helps to establish the patchwork of kingdoms and territories in this part of the world.
I had a fantastic time reading this and I'm looking forward to more books set in this world.
SWORDHEART is one of the funniest books I’ve read recently, and the main contenders for that honor are other White Rat books by this same author. It’s vibrant without requiring the characters to constantly be witty, the whole thing is a delight. It’s a fluffy romance in desperate circumstances, buoyed by Halla’s never-stymied open nature and endless optimism, and tempered by Sarkis’s practicality. Halla uses prattle, questions, and observations as a multi-purpose tactic on a near-constant basis. Sarkis is trapped in a sword and is unfamiliar with current customs of Halla’s home, creating a natural ebb and flow of competency and possession of relevant information at any one moment. Zale is a welcome addition to their party, a temple lawyer acquired to help with Halla’s legal tangle, and Brindle rounds out their party by taking care of the ox and cart.
SWORDHEART is not technically a sequel, it is a stand-alone book. However, it takes place in the world of the White Rat approximately five years after the events of CLOCKWORK BOYS and THE WONDER ENGINE. It contains details that blur the line between callback and spoiler, I think they’re suitably opaque as to keep from giving away major plot points of that duology, but I do recommend reading this after the duology for the best overall experience. The worldbuilding seemed complete enough to stand on its own, someone reading just SWORDHEART would know everything they need to. It is focused on different aspects than in the earlier duology, complementing the prior information without feeling redundant. Because Sarkis is from another land it also helps to establish the patchwork of kingdoms and territories in this part of the world.
I had a fantastic time reading this and I'm looking forward to more books set in this world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Physical abuse, Excrement, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Suicide, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Kidnapping, Animal death, Grief, Confinement, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Pregnancy, Slavery, Child death, Alcoholism, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, War, Terminal illness, Torture, and Death of parent
wilybooklover's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
This was so fun. Cosy fantasy with a smidge of death and horror and a lot of swoony romance. It was so genuinely funny, too. I often find that humour in books falls flat for me but the banter in Swordheart had me laughing out loud. Sarkis and Halla were such great characters and worked together so beautifully (if I’m being honest I kind of want a Sarkis myself). I loved that they were both older and had the bodies to show for it.
The world that T. Kingfisher has created is so intriguing. The variety of different gods and religions and all of the lore and rules behind them, the truly inventive creatures, the incredibly disturbing Vagrant Hills. You could tell at times that the author also writes horror, because some of the scenes were so creepy they sent a chill down my spine.
One thing I really appreciated was a key aspect of Halla’s characterisation. She basically uses the misogyny of the world to her own advantage and deliberately plays stupid and acts like a bit of a vapid airhead so that people underestimate her and she can get away with things. Weaponised ignorance, basically. You don’t often see women in fantasy novels taking back some power in this way.
I really didn’t like the third-act conflict though. It felt very out of character for Halla to react in the way that she did, especially after everything she’d been through in the book. It read more like a deus ex machina in order to tie up the Bartholomew/Nolan plot. And I have some qualms about the ending, with Sarkis remaining immortal while Halla is mortal. There’s scope for it to be addressed in future books, I suppose, but it didn’t really feel like a proper HEA.
I want to end on a positive note, because I really did love this book, so I’ll just say that Zale was amazing and I would die for them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Death, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, War, and Misogyny
wickedgrumpy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book takes place five years after The Clocktaur War series and follows Halla, who can talk her way out of most of the dangerous situations that occurs, Sarkis, the grumpy sword/man, Zale, the non-binary priest/lawyer/clerk, and Brindle, the job-gnole that takes care of the ox.
I had a lot of fun reading this book and I look forward to everything else that occurs in this world.
Repetitions of "decadent south" and "respectable widow" were pervasive enough to essentially reach meme status for me in the it-is-so-bad-and-or-ridiculous-it-is-good-again way.
I had a lot of fun reading this book and I look forward to everything else that occurs in this world.
Repetitions of "decadent south" and "respectable widow" were pervasive enough to essentially reach meme status for me in the it-is-so-bad-and-or-ridiculous-it-is-good-again way.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, War, Blood, Confinement, Death, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Torture, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Violence
theirgracegrace's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Confinement, and Physical abuse
Minor: Xenophobia, War, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Sexism, Rape, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Body horror, and Incest
beholderess's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Racism
Minor: Suicide
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