Hello everyone, No matter how much you want to spend your time reading a fantasy novel that mixes romance, humor and adventure and talking magical swords, you are in luck! Today I am reading Swordheart by T. Kingfisher which is a standalone novel set in the same world as his series The Clocktower War. It is strange, heartwarming and gloriously human. So, what to do.
Book Summary
Swordheart is the story of Halla, a widow who is a middle-aged pragmatic woman who inherits a large fortune against all odds. But instead of celebrating, she is held captive by greedy family members who think the money belongs to them. Panicked and helpless, Halla steals an ancient family treasure, the unusual sword, and finds that the sword is locked away and frees the prisoner who lives with the sword: the boring and rather dull warrior Sorsis.
Serkis respectfully obliges that he has never seen someone so unscrupulous as Halla. She is neither a warrior nor a member of the royal family, but a wise, simple woman with enough decency and the ability to drive him completely insane.
As they journey together to obtain Halla's inheritance and avoid various assassination attempts, the two encounter magical dangers, strange religions, and their growing passions for each other. The heartwarming and funny novel is a realistic example of good nature combined with the dutiful seriousness of Halla and Serkis.
My Review
Studying the Bible is not an easy task. In my opinion, no faith or religion is absolute for a person, not even for themselves. I am almost completely in love with Swordheart. T. Kingfisher writes with a witty, yet refreshingly simple style. The book is a joy to read because it is light hearted full of quirky characters, quick lines, and emotional truth, unlike most fantasy novels that are based on clashing armies and busy royal families.
One of my favorite fantasy heroines is Halla and that is because she is not actually strong in the traditional sense but is brave in caring for others and protecting herself. It would have been easy for the warrior, Serkis, who is wrapped in a sword, to become a trope, but behind her tough facade, there is a somewhat soft core and that is what makes her so appealing.
Their love affair was slow burning and fun, just the way I like it. What about the worldbuilding. It's not too over the top, and it's subtle but dense, with some oddly magical examples that balance the content and make it interesting, but don't overwhelm the story.
And the best part is, the book tackles many touching themes like consent, self-esteem, and freedom with surprising insight, which in many cases is also humorous.
Swordheart is an underrated work of fantasy, with a touch of humor, characters you can recognize, and some slow-burn romance. It's charming, fun, and memorable, a story of adventure, but also a story of hugging you in the sack. This is a perfect read for those who love T. Kingfisher, romance and non standard fantasy.
Thanks you so much for reading. See you next :)
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NOTE- All the content is mine otherwise noted.