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A review by burnerkindle
Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I was in the mood for a palette cleanser but still wanted to stay in the fantasy realm and this fit the ticket. It was a bit slow for my tastes for around 60% but once the story took off, I couldn’t put it down.
If you’re looking for an easy to follow, sweet story with endearing characters, this one’s for you. If you’re in the mood for a high stakes story that will grip you from the beginning, I’d recommend skipping this one.
Plot Overview
Following the death of her wealthy uncle, Halla nearly finds herself trapped by her aunt in an arrangement to marry her cousin in order to keep money in the family.
Halla’s aunt keeps her locked in her room, and one day, she unsheaths a mysterious sword hanging on her wall. Out of the sword comes Sarkis, a warrior who is bound to defend the wielder. Sarkis and Halla embark on a journey full of danger to help her escape her in-laws and claim her rightful inheritance.
What I liked
If you’re looking for an easy to follow, sweet story with endearing characters, this one’s for you. If you’re in the mood for a high stakes story that will grip you from the beginning, I’d recommend skipping this one.
Plot Overview
Following the death of her wealthy uncle, Halla nearly finds herself trapped by her aunt in an arrangement to marry her cousin in order to keep money in the family.
Halla’s aunt keeps her locked in her room, and one day, she unsheaths a mysterious sword hanging on her wall. Out of the sword comes Sarkis, a warrior who is bound to defend the wielder. Sarkis and Halla embark on a journey full of danger to help her escape her in-laws and claim her rightful inheritance.
What I liked
- Characters: I enjoyed all the characters, but particularly Halla. I rarely laugh out loud while reading but her commentary throughout had me smiling and laughing. I also loved that she is 36. SO many books I’ve read are centered around chosen ones in their twenties and I can’t relate to them as much.
- Unique Story: I love the bodyguard trope, but a bodyguard sword made it so much more unique and opened up an opportunity for the MMC to have an interesting story. I hope we learn more about him in the next books.
- Dual POV: While most of the book was in Halla’s point of view, we got a few chapters told in Sarkis’ POV, which added a lot of depth to the romance as it built. Not to mention, Sarkis has an interesting story as a man who lives in a sword so it broke up the long swaths of Halla’s inner dialogue about the trek she’s on with Sarkis.
What I didn't like
- Pacing: The story didn’t really take off until around 60% of the book. There was nearly no world building needed so most of this section was Halla and Sarkis building their relationship and trust. It felt like the story was droning on and I almost DNFed a few times.
- Third Act Conflict: Sarkis hints a few times at the reason he’s trapped in the sword, suggesting it could be a dealbreaker for Halla. When it was finally revealed, her reaction felt like an overreaction—more like a manufactured conflict to extend the story.
Key Tropes (Could Include Potential Spoilers)