Book Review: Swordheart, by T. Kingfisher

I borrowed an e-copy of T. Kingfisher‘s Swordheart through Hoopla.

Halla is a housekeeper who has suddenly inherited her great-uncle’s estate… and, unfortunately, his relatives. Sarkis is an immortal swordsman trapped in a prison of enchanted steel. When Halla draws the sword that imprisons him, Sarkis finds himself attempting to defend his new wielder against everything from bandits and roving inquisitors to her own in-laws… and the sword itself may prove to be the greatest threat of all.

This is the second T. Kingfisher book in a row that I’ve read and loved. I imagine I’ll be steamrolling my way through the whole rest of their back-list in short order. I absolutely loved the characters here; their personality and who Kingfisher opted to let them be—older than you’d expect, without perfect bodies, and not adhering to standard expectations of beauty, gender, or behavior.

I had so much fun and laughed often, all while appreciating the intricacies of the story being told. It’s isn’t a sweeping plot or full of action and adventure. It’s actually pretty small when you really stop and think of it. But it was enough to both contain and highlight the story and the characters.

While I realize, of course, that Halla weaponized the appearance of stupidity and was in no way actually stupid. She was somewhat flighty and I thought that did play into stereotypes of women a little. But I also enjoyed watching Sarkis come to terms with and then to admire her for that same quality. All in all, I’m hoping that open ending means there will be a second book. I can’t wait to meet the other two swords (fingers crossed).