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jayishino 's review for:

Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller
4.0
adventurous medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Loveable characters: Yes

Ziva is an introvert with extreme social anxiety. She spends her days crafting magical weapons, and she much prefers to continue doing this alone and in peace. When a warlord comes to her to commission a sword, Ziva accidentally imbues the sword with an incredibly powerful magic. After learning of the warlord's plan, Ziva and her sister flee with the sword, taking along a scribe, and hiring a handsome mercenary. Only after they feel safe, can they determine how best to dispose of the sword.

First of all, I thought Ziva was very well-written, and could be an incredibly relatable character for those who are like her. I commend Levenseller for writing about the problems some young teens face so candidly as well as weaving them into an interesting story. Mostly, I enjoyed the characters. However, the romance fell a little flat for me. I know it wasn't central to the story, but maybe it would have been better without it? Who knows? Anyway, here you have an interesting story with compelling characters. Recommended.