Swordheart charmed my heart. At the end of 2025, this is one of my favorites of the year. I’ve really delved into T. Kingfisher this year and I’m not ready to stop! Keep reading this book review of Swordheart for my full thoughts.
Summary
The delightful charm of The Princess Bride meets the delicious bodyguard romance of From Blood and Ash in this cozy fantasy romance from New York Times bestselling author T. Kingfisher
Halla has unexpectedly inherited the estate of a wealthy uncle. Unfortunately, she is also saddled with money-hungry relatives full of devious plans for how to wrest the inheritance away from her.
While locked in her bedroom, Halla inspects the ancient sword that’s been collecting dust on the wall since before she moved in. Out of desperation, she unsheathes it—and suddenly a man appears. His name is Sarkis, he tells her, and he is an immortal warrior trapped in a prison of enchanted steel.
Sarkis is sworn to protect whoever wields the sword, and for Halla—a most unusual wielder—he finds himself fending off not grand armies and deadly assassins but instead everything from kindly-seeming bandits to roving inquisitors to her own in-laws. But as Halla and Sarkis grow closer, they overlook the biggest threat of all—the sword itself.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Swordheart delivers the ultimate bodyguard romance. I love Halla’s spirit, her natural curiosity, and her heart. There’s a wryness of her narration and a humor which makes Swordheart emotional, swoony, and action packed. With all these new experiences, Swordheart allows us to see both Halla and Sarkis’s thoughts. Welcome the ultimate yearning! We see the ways in which the world can take advantage of her naivety, but also how she attracts goodness and has a heart that we can all envy. I loved watching Halla come into her own, to see her rise to these challenges, this new world, and to find her own strength. At the same time, Sarkis is so powerful, but he’s only ever been seen for what he can do, seen as a weapon or a tool.
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Swordheart is one of those romance books where I loved witness both character’s evolution. He’s isn’t used to being allowed to want, to remember what it was like to live. Scarred by the past, the whims of men, kingdoms and battles, quests for power and usurpation. As someone who adored Paladin’s Grace, this gave me similar vibes with an immortal twist! Also we love the lawyer priest combo side character! It’s whimsical, hilarious, and magical all at once. Find Swordheart on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.