Take a photo of a barcode or cover
bardexe 's review for:
Swordheart
by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
“The great god have mercy. She’s found a way to weaponize ignorance.”
A fish-lady, a sword-man, a rat-priest, a job-gnole, and an ox go on a quest.
I’m so glad I read the Clockwork Boys duology beforehand, because diving into Swordheart felt more like returning to a beloved world than starting from scratch. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it—Kingfisher excels at character-building. Her quirky worlds may be on the simpler side, but her characters and the oddball situations they find themselves in are so wonderfully original and memorable.
The book is fast-paced, driven heavily by dialogue, which is exactly where Kingfisher shines. Her banter is hilarious, her dynamics are clever, and her characters feel alive.
Halla is an absolute joy—smart, practical, and full of surprises, and Sarkis gives off strong Caliban-meets-Brenner energy. I couldn’t help but think of Soul Eater while reading—something about the sword's magic gave me the nostalgic anime vibes.
I especially loved Zale (I mean, a lawyer and a priest!), and don’t get me started with the gnoles. Brindle was a standout, and at this point, gnoles might just be my new favorite fantasy creatures.
Yes, there were a few moments that made me cringe a little, but honestly, I think they were meant to be tongue-in-cheek. They fit perfectly with the book’s quirky tone. I was secretly hoping for a scene where Halla shuts down an argument by dramatically sheathing Sarkis mid-rant, and while we didn’t get that scene, the possibility alone was enough to keep me grinning.
The open ending left me eager for more, and I can’t wait until Daggerbound comes out next year. In the meantime, I’ll be making my way through the The Saint of Steel series and catching up on more of Kingfisher’s work. Luckily, I’ve still got a good backlog to enjoy.
Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK, for the ARC!