Oh, and one thing I 💕lurves💕 about him is his commitment to, um, craftsmanship (as in, you know, um, craftsmanship). He has a high sense of propriety (well high for a sword, anyway) and the delicious tendency to break people in half, too. His body is old and battered and scarred all over and he has salt and pepper hair and NOMNOMNOM, I say. Just like Halla, my new boyfriend Sarkis has seen better days. All in all, I think you could maybe say that there is a slight chance that Hally might be a Moderately Scrumptious MC (MSMC™). Another one of Halla's nifty abilities is her innate gift for questioning people into oblivion. Oh, and she weaponizes ignorance just as cunningly as Fleet Admiral DaShrimp weaponizes my murderous babies (which is Slightly Very Cool-SVC™-if you ask me). Sorry, what? Oh, you want to know more about the story? Well, it's about a widowed 36-year-old housewife and the ever-scowling, most deliciously grumpy enchanted sword she wields (aka MY Sarkis).īesides being most deliciously ancient, Halla-the widow-is curvy as shrimp and definitely NOT one of those boringly drop-dead gorgeous female leads (which is refreshing as fish, if you ask me). I mean, you have to admit this isn't really helping my nefarious rep. And still I gave the book a most barbaric 5 star ratingĪ little, yes. ② It features what is considered-at least in my subaquatic dominion-an outrageously unhealthy amount of fluffy stuff and romantic crap. ① It's hilarious as fish, as I may or may not have perhaps mentioned before (maybe) ↓↓↓. There are only three things you need to know about this book: ⚔️ Fluffy Stabby Things for the Win Buddy Read ( FSTftWBR™) with the MacHalos and stuff ⚔️ And sequels! I would swap a limb for Angharad and the Dervish's stories.

Glorious funny dialogue, intense but clearsighted compassion and humanity, a fair bit of highly enjoyable murder. And talking of variety: curvy mid-30s heroine, important nonbinary character whose identity and pronouns are never an issue, queerness existing and unquestionably accepted. Very much more towards the romance side than other books, and does it beautifully.Īnd the world! Kingfisher is endlessly inventive in her threats and monsters, and also one of the few fantasy writers who can conceive of oppressive organised religions that aren't Catholicism in a funny hat. Except that what we're actually saving is a woman's self-respect and a man's humanity, which actually is stakes high enough for any book. Set in the Clockwork Boys world but with ostensibly far lower stakes-we're not saving the world from demons, here, just saving a widow from being forced to marry a cousin. I could really use a new T Kingfisher right now.Īn absolute joy.

As comforting, wise, funny and sharp-edged as I recall. I was saving this one for time of need and by God this is one.

Swordheart book