Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Dallas, Texas : Argyll Productions, 2018.
Pages
418
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Romance. HTML: Return to the world of Clockwork Boys in an all new novel of sword, sorcery, and romance by T. Kingfisher! 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..
Language
Original publication date
2018
Physical description
418 p.; 24 inches
ISBN
9781614504634
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User reviews
LibraryThing member Herenya
A fantasy romance/roadtrip set in the same world as Clockwork Boys, told with hope and humour and a dash of horror. (I do mean a just dash. I’m emphatically not a horror person, and it’s a level of darkness I can deal with.)
Halla, a widowed housekeeper, has been left her great-uncle’s estate
I’ve noted before that I love the way Kingfisher blends fantasy with reality -- mixing the magical with the mundane, the epic with the domestic. In Swordheart she pairs a friendly and avidly curious housekeeper, who is used to defending herself by chattering away so she appears harmless, with an enchanted, hulking former mercenary commander, who is used to defending others on battlefields.
It’s a delightful combination. They surprise each other and support each. In many respects, Sarkis is a weapon Halla can summon and wield as she choses, but she chooses to treat him like a person, because to do otherwise is just unfathomable to her. And Sarkis, instead of focusing on the power that Halla could have over him, doesn’t want to take advantage of the way Halla is depending upon him. I like that the growing attraction between them is accompanied by affection and by awareness of the other’s needs.
There’s also something very appealing about seeing someone like Halla, who doesn’t have the abilities of a warrior or a witch, go on a fantasy roadtrip and have her companions respect her for her strengths rather than define her by what she cannot do.
On their adventures, Halla and Sarkis are joined by a grey-haired temple priest/lawyer, a gnole and an ox. I liked Halla’s easy friendship with Zale, and the scholarly approach the two of them take to learning more about Sarkis’s enchantment.
This is definitely going to be a comfort-reread. And I’m looking forward to the sequels about Sarkis’ friends.
One of the grimmer realizations of Sarkis’s youth had been the discovery that knowing you were being an ass did not actually stop you from continuing to be an ass.
She can just sheathe the damn sword at any time, you know, and the great god knows what trouble she’ll get into if she’s afraid to draw it again for fear you’ll growl at her. Stop bristling like a damned boar and apologize.
“Well,” she admitted, looking at the pile of potatoes, “you’re good at that.”
“I have a great deal of experience skinning my enemies,” he said, deadpan.
“Do you have many enemies among the potatoes?”
“Not any longer.”
Halla, a widowed housekeeper, has been left her great-uncle’s estate
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and been locked up by his relatives, who want to control her inheritance. She discovers an enchanted sword containing an immortal swordsman, Sarkis, who appears whenever the sword is drawn. Together they escape from Halla’s relatives and set off for the city to seek legal assistance.I’ve noted before that I love the way Kingfisher blends fantasy with reality -- mixing the magical with the mundane, the epic with the domestic. In Swordheart she pairs a friendly and avidly curious housekeeper, who is used to defending herself by chattering away so she appears harmless, with an enchanted, hulking former mercenary commander, who is used to defending others on battlefields.
It’s a delightful combination. They surprise each other and support each. In many respects, Sarkis is a weapon Halla can summon and wield as she choses, but she chooses to treat him like a person, because to do otherwise is just unfathomable to her. And Sarkis, instead of focusing on the power that Halla could have over him, doesn’t want to take advantage of the way Halla is depending upon him. I like that the growing attraction between them is accompanied by affection and by awareness of the other’s needs.
There’s also something very appealing about seeing someone like Halla, who doesn’t have the abilities of a warrior or a witch, go on a fantasy roadtrip and have her companions respect her for her strengths rather than define her by what she cannot do.
On their adventures, Halla and Sarkis are joined by a grey-haired temple priest/lawyer, a gnole and an ox. I liked Halla’s easy friendship with Zale, and the scholarly approach the two of them take to learning more about Sarkis’s enchantment.
This is definitely going to be a comfort-reread. And I’m looking forward to the sequels about Sarkis’ friends.
One of the grimmer realizations of Sarkis’s youth had been the discovery that knowing you were being an ass did not actually stop you from continuing to be an ass.
She can just sheathe the damn sword at any time, you know, and the great god knows what trouble she’ll get into if she’s afraid to draw it again for fear you’ll growl at her. Stop bristling like a damned boar and apologize.
“Well,” she admitted, looking at the pile of potatoes, “you’re good at that.”
“I have a great deal of experience skinning my enemies,” he said, deadpan.
“Do you have many enemies among the potatoes?”
“Not any longer.”
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LibraryThing member quondame
Fun and silly as if [[Lawrence Watt-Evans]] was challenging [[Georgette Heyer]] to entertain friends. A bit too much of the same jokes repeated, but not to the point of hard wear. A romp through the world after the Clockwork boys are gone, with a new problem growing but not yet at the general
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crisis stage while our protagonists are just trying to settle a bit of inheritance. Show Less
LibraryThing member souloftherose
"I’ve been respectable for thirty-six years, and it got me locked in my own room by a grasping old woman who wanted me to marry her nasty clammy-handed son. I might as well try being less respectable for a while. If that means running off into the night with a man in a sword, so be it.”
Another
This is planned as part of a trilogy but this is a complete story on its own and I'm not even certain the other books in the trilogy will feature the same characters.
So, now I've caught up on T. Kingfisher's most recent releases I'm off to read her backlist.
Another
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very enjoyable T. Kingfisher story - this is set in the same world as the [Clockwork Boys] duology but this works as a standalone novel. A good dose of fantasy, romance and humour. I enjoyed the world and the characters, especially the female character Halla, who's constantly curious and asking questions. She's unusual in the heroine of a fantasy/romance in having no particular sword or sorcery skills and being (just) over the age of 35. This is planned as part of a trilogy but this is a complete story on its own and I'm not even certain the other books in the trilogy will feature the same characters.
So, now I've caught up on T. Kingfisher's most recent releases I'm off to read her backlist.
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LibraryThing member rivkat
Halla is a widow about to be forced to marry her repellent cousin by marriage; she’s constantly asking questions that work as a matter of self-defense in a variety of situations, but not this one. Sarkis is a guy in a sword, enchanted to serve whoever owns the sword. Turns out, this time it’s
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Halla! Shenanigans ensue, with some banter, some slaughter, and a lot of journeying back and forth. Also, Halla and Sarkis fall in love. It’s cute. Show Less
LibraryThing member LisCarey
This book is set in the world of the Clockwork Boys, about five years later. Halla is a widow who has been acting as housekeeper to her late husband's uncle, Silas. Silas has now died, and the reading of the will reveals the new, as shocking to Halla as to Silas's own relatives, that he has left
Her husband's cousin Alver, and his mother, Malva, are not prepared to accept this. The only acceptable resolution, at least in their minds, is that Halla marry Alver. Aside from the fact that she has no desire to marry clammy-handed Alver, Halla wants the ability to provide dowries to her own nieces, which clearly won't happen if Malva and Alver control the money.
Locked up in her bedroom until she gives in and agrees, Halla accidentally discovers that part of her inheritance is a magic sword. Imprisoned in it is a long-dead warrior, Sarkis, who is bound to serve whoever is the legitimate owner and wielder of the sword. He's also outraged that it's possible for a woman's in-laws to lock her up and attempt to force her to marry to suit them. He breaks her out, and they head off to possible help.
This is, of course, only the start of their troubles and adventures.
Along the way to, first to Silas's friend Bartholomew in Amalcross, and then to the Temple of the Rat in Archenhold, they meet bandits and priests of the Hanged Mother (roving inquisitors with a nasty attitude), and people who aren't entirely sure about this rather modestly dressed, middle-aged woman, with her (apparently) hired guardsman and her own sword on her back. They have a lot to learn about each other's view of the world. This isn't always helped by Halla's tendency to ask lots of pretty detailed questions under stress, and Sarkis's tendency to favor swords and fire as the most promising solution to any problem.
When they reach the Temple of the Rat, the best source of high-quality, practical legal help, and Zale is assigned as Halla's lawyer, they still have to get back to Rutger's Howe, and a good deal more in the way of adventure. Zale's gnole wagon driver, Brindle, the Vagrant Hills (which, of course, are always to be avoided and not always avoidable), the Rune, unexpected treachery, and unexpected friends and allies, all still lay ahead of them.
I like this world, and I found Halla, Zale, Brindle, and Sarkis completely engaging. It's a lot of fun.
Recommended.
I bought this book.
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her his entire estate.Her husband's cousin Alver, and his mother, Malva, are not prepared to accept this. The only acceptable resolution, at least in their minds, is that Halla marry Alver. Aside from the fact that she has no desire to marry clammy-handed Alver, Halla wants the ability to provide dowries to her own nieces, which clearly won't happen if Malva and Alver control the money.
Locked up in her bedroom until she gives in and agrees, Halla accidentally discovers that part of her inheritance is a magic sword. Imprisoned in it is a long-dead warrior, Sarkis, who is bound to serve whoever is the legitimate owner and wielder of the sword. He's also outraged that it's possible for a woman's in-laws to lock her up and attempt to force her to marry to suit them. He breaks her out, and they head off to possible help.
This is, of course, only the start of their troubles and adventures.
Along the way to, first to Silas's friend Bartholomew in Amalcross, and then to the Temple of the Rat in Archenhold, they meet bandits and priests of the Hanged Mother (roving inquisitors with a nasty attitude), and people who aren't entirely sure about this rather modestly dressed, middle-aged woman, with her (apparently) hired guardsman and her own sword on her back. They have a lot to learn about each other's view of the world. This isn't always helped by Halla's tendency to ask lots of pretty detailed questions under stress, and Sarkis's tendency to favor swords and fire as the most promising solution to any problem.
When they reach the Temple of the Rat, the best source of high-quality, practical legal help, and Zale is assigned as Halla's lawyer, they still have to get back to Rutger's Howe, and a good deal more in the way of adventure. Zale's gnole wagon driver, Brindle, the Vagrant Hills (which, of course, are always to be avoided and not always avoidable), the Rune, unexpected treachery, and unexpected friends and allies, all still lay ahead of them.
I like this world, and I found Halla, Zale, Brindle, and Sarkis completely engaging. It's a lot of fun.
Recommended.
I bought this book.
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LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Oh, now, _this_ one lives up to my expectations entirely. I love Halla - her well-trained defense of idiocy and all. Serkis is great, as a person and as a concept. Zale and Brindle are fun. Even the minor characters - Mina and the Mother's priests and silly Alver and the rest - are richly drawn.
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The concepts are amazing, and I loved watching Halla work out some of the implications. I was laughing helplessly at least three times. Matters start out petty, rocket up to serious on several levels, and then go back and solve the petty (several times, unfortunately) as well as answering some of the serious matters raised - but not all. There's a lot of running gags, but not to the point of annoyance. And a gnoll character; Brindle brings a very different viewpoint. More, please! Yay for this being a trilogy, I want to read more! Show Less
LibraryThing member gabarito
Enjoyable read, but not on the same level as Clockwork Boys or Wonder Engine to me. Just a lot more romance than I prefer.
LibraryThing member quenstalof
This was really fun!
LibraryThing member Andrew_C
The story of a widow who inherits a magical sword from her husband's uncle, her struggles to regain the rest of her inheritance and how she finds love in an unexpected place. A wonderful, satisfying read, filled with Vernon/Kingfisher's typical quirky details, strong-willed women and sense of
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humour. It's set in the same world as The previous Clockwork Boys series but its not necessary to read that to enjoy this. It stands on its own but its intended to be part of a series and I'm impatiently waiting for the next book. Show Less
LibraryThing member RedQueen
It's been a long time since I stayed up late to finish a book! This is a delight - charming, funny, occasionally violent. Looking forward to more in this world.
LibraryThing member jennybeast
Very entertaining story about a romance between a woman who asks too many questions and the man trapped in a sword who ends up defending her. Reads like a hilarious D&D adventure, most of the fun is in the dialogue, the casual murder, the endearing characters and the very very slow travel along the
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same road from village nowhere to small town nowhere. Loved it. Also loved the delightful gender nonconforming god-touched Lawyer-Priest of the Rat, and the gnoll character. A gnoll is a good caretaker for an ox. Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Now I need the rest of this series and almost everything written by her.
Halla inherits her great-uncle's estate and unfortunately her relatives disagree and want to marry her off to her clammy handed cousin-in-law but she doesn't want that. Her last marriage was to quite a similar man and she just
Yeah, but the sword is magical and once she unsheathes it she has to contend with Sarkis who is trapped in the sword and somewhat done with dramatics. They go to the nearest city to get a lawyer to help them and meet Zale, a non-binary lawyer priest who is awesome and has some great dialogue.
The dialogue is sharp and Halla is a lot of fun. She doesn't fight but convinces people to disregard her which is hilarious and also frustrating because you can see the smart shes had to bury to get to the point of survival. Sarkis doesn't think much of the civilization he's found himself in but he does think a lot of good about Halla and wonders how he can manage to create a relationship with her.
I enjoyed the read from start to finish and I have a few of the rest of this series on order.
Halla inherits her great-uncle's estate and unfortunately her relatives disagree and want to marry her off to her clammy handed cousin-in-law but she doesn't want that. Her last marriage was to quite a similar man and she just
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doesn't want it. She is locked into a room with some of her great-uncles's collection of stuff and she decides to use the sword to end it all here.Yeah, but the sword is magical and once she unsheathes it she has to contend with Sarkis who is trapped in the sword and somewhat done with dramatics. They go to the nearest city to get a lawyer to help them and meet Zale, a non-binary lawyer priest who is awesome and has some great dialogue.
The dialogue is sharp and Halla is a lot of fun. She doesn't fight but convinces people to disregard her which is hilarious and also frustrating because you can see the smart shes had to bury to get to the point of survival. Sarkis doesn't think much of the civilization he's found himself in but he does think a lot of good about Halla and wonders how he can manage to create a relationship with her.
I enjoyed the read from start to finish and I have a few of the rest of this series on order.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book in the World of the White Rat series. It is set after the Clocktaur Wars series but before The Saints of Steel series. I borrowed a copy of this ebook from the library.
Thoughts: This was a cute fantasy romance story that is a bit heavy on the romance
The characters in here are very quirky and cute; I really enjoyed them all. However, very similar to the Saints of Steel series, the characters are incredibly self-deprecating which gets repetitive at times. At times I was rolling my eyes, "Yes, we know you think you are unworthy of each other...again..please let's move on."
There is a lot of humor in here and I love the temple of the White Rat and their involvement in this story. I also love that the characters journeyed into the mysterious and changeable Vagrant Hills again. There a ton of fun side characters and I really enjoyed how everything played out. This is a goofy, fun story with some action and quite a bit of romance. There are some sex scenes in here but they weren't all that explicit, so just a heads up on that.
This story is a bit more deliberate in pace, but I didn't mind that. I enjoyed the banter between the characters and the strange situations they got themselves into. I did feel like the story was a bit incomplete. Things seem to be set up for another book in this series but given that this was written back in 2018 I am not sure where that second book stands.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this book. Previous to reading this I had also read The Clocktaur War series (loved it) and the first two Saints of Steel books (fun but not as good as the Clocktaur War books). This is more similar to the Saints of Steel series. It is a fun fantasy romance with some adventure. It is full of quirky characters and goofy situations but was heavier on the romance than I expected. It also feels a bit unfinished and I am hoping at some point Kingfisher comes back and adds to this series.
Thoughts: This was a cute fantasy romance story that is a bit heavy on the romance
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side of things. It was similar in tone to the Saints of Steel series. The story revolves around Halla, a housekeeper who has suddenly inherited her great-uncle's estate. The rest of her family objects to her inheritance, locking her in a room while they plot her marriage to one of the male family members. While locked in the room Halla draws a sword and finds out it is home to Sarkis, an ancient warrior who was bound to the sword. He helps her escape capture and Halla sets off on an adventure to secure her inheritance.The characters in here are very quirky and cute; I really enjoyed them all. However, very similar to the Saints of Steel series, the characters are incredibly self-deprecating which gets repetitive at times. At times I was rolling my eyes, "Yes, we know you think you are unworthy of each other...again..please let's move on."
There is a lot of humor in here and I love the temple of the White Rat and their involvement in this story. I also love that the characters journeyed into the mysterious and changeable Vagrant Hills again. There a ton of fun side characters and I really enjoyed how everything played out. This is a goofy, fun story with some action and quite a bit of romance. There are some sex scenes in here but they weren't all that explicit, so just a heads up on that.
This story is a bit more deliberate in pace, but I didn't mind that. I enjoyed the banter between the characters and the strange situations they got themselves into. I did feel like the story was a bit incomplete. Things seem to be set up for another book in this series but given that this was written back in 2018 I am not sure where that second book stands.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this book. Previous to reading this I had also read The Clocktaur War series (loved it) and the first two Saints of Steel books (fun but not as good as the Clocktaur War books). This is more similar to the Saints of Steel series. It is a fun fantasy romance with some adventure. It is full of quirky characters and goofy situations but was heavier on the romance than I expected. It also feels a bit unfinished and I am hoping at some point Kingfisher comes back and adds to this series.
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LibraryThing member tuusannuuska
“Halla of Rutger’s Howe had just inherited a great deal of money and was therefore spending her evening trying to figure out how to kill herself.”
Our main character is a middle aged woman (of 36), a widower, and has recently inherited her great uncle’s fortune. Her aunt and cousin are a
“Sarkis turned around and began to beat his forehead very gently against the wall. “The great god is punishing me,” he said softly, “for my crimes. I cannot go to his hell, and so he has sent a woman to torment me.”
The plot is essentially just a journey through the land with the objective of ensuring Halla has sole possession of her inheritance, without any meddling relatives. But really it’s just a lot of pining between a widower and her protector, until everything gets resolved and they get to be happy together. The main draw of the book is the humorous writing style, which had me grinning aloud a lot.
“What would you say if I tortured you?" asked the bandit leader conversationally.
Halla blinked at him. "Err, 'Ow,' probably. 'Stop, Stop, Stop,' something like that?” What a bizarre question. What does he expect me to say?”
Both the main characters are pretty adorable, and most of the (good guy) side characters are as well. I especially liked Halla, though, who had the habit of protecting herself from adversity by talking incessantly about whatever came to mind and thus confusing her adversaries into oblivion.
This was a really delightful, light hearted fantasy book that I’ll probably re-read at some point when I’m in need of a good, fun book that makes me laugh, is fast paced, and doesn’t make me too anxious.
Our main character is a middle aged woman (of 36), a widower, and has recently inherited her great uncle’s fortune. Her aunt and cousin are a
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little miffed and as a result, Halla is now imprisoned in her bedroom until she agrees to wed her clammy handed cousin. Enter a magical sword, from which a warrior emerges. The warrior, Sarkis, is sworn to protect the wielder of the sword, and promptly breaks Halla out of her imprisonment. “Sarkis turned around and began to beat his forehead very gently against the wall. “The great god is punishing me,” he said softly, “for my crimes. I cannot go to his hell, and so he has sent a woman to torment me.”
The plot is essentially just a journey through the land with the objective of ensuring Halla has sole possession of her inheritance, without any meddling relatives. But really it’s just a lot of pining between a widower and her protector, until everything gets resolved and they get to be happy together. The main draw of the book is the humorous writing style, which had me grinning aloud a lot.
“What would you say if I tortured you?" asked the bandit leader conversationally.
Halla blinked at him. "Err, 'Ow,' probably. 'Stop, Stop, Stop,' something like that?” What a bizarre question. What does he expect me to say?”
Both the main characters are pretty adorable, and most of the (good guy) side characters are as well. I especially liked Halla, though, who had the habit of protecting herself from adversity by talking incessantly about whatever came to mind and thus confusing her adversaries into oblivion.
This was a really delightful, light hearted fantasy book that I’ll probably re-read at some point when I’m in need of a good, fun book that makes me laugh, is fast paced, and doesn’t make me too anxious.
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LibraryThing member spiritedstardust
Slow paced, meanders quite a bit
LibraryThing member JorgeousJotts
I wanted to like this way more than I actually did. Their road trips, which took up most of the book, felt kind of plodding rather than adventurous, which is a real missed opportunity, because I usually enjoy road trip stories, and because they're in an unusual world. But that disappointment was
Like, the hero needs to fess up about something, and he could just explain it in his own words, or he could recite the ancient sword script from memory (it specifically states that he does have it memorized), but no, instead he takes it to the collector he's always had an uneasy feeling about for him to muddle through translating the script out loud. Like what, she wasn't going to believe him when he said the thing that can only make him look bad? That the difficult conversation would be improved by having a voyeur?? It's ridiculous. And then she gets all butthurt about him not telling her sooner about this mistake he made (and paid for) 500 years earlier and which has nothing to do with her. All so that they can have like 5 new problems in the last part of the book.
The villains were paper thin, and the humor was kind of goofy. Near the end the hero thinks the heroine is 'just so absurd' and I agree with the sentiment, but find it less charming than he does apparently. There were just too many things, mostly in the last part, to be fair, that made me feel like rolling my eyes. I did like the first Clocktaur book, so I'll probably still read the Paladin trilogy, but these last two books have been kind of sorry.
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paltry compared to the tediousness of the characters in the last quarter or so. The drama felt very contrived. The villains were paper thin, and the humor was kind of goofy. Near the end the hero thinks the heroine is 'just so absurd' and I agree with the sentiment, but find it less charming than he does apparently. There were just too many things, mostly in the last part, to be fair, that made me feel like rolling my eyes. I did like the first Clocktaur book, so I'll probably still read the Paladin trilogy, but these last two books have been kind of sorry.
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LibraryThing member Tom_Wright
The characters' inner reasoning for not disclosing their feelings/motivations became repetitive, but other than that, a fine enough read.
LibraryThing member zjakkelien
This was cosy and charming. I had to get used to the humour a bit, but then I started laughing out loud. I liked the equality, and the magic sword/ warrior being good at peeling potatoes and other mundane tasks. He was never condescending, and I enjoyed the interaction between him and Halla.
It was
It was
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not a great book, so I can't give it more stars, but it was nice, and a good choice for when you don't want a great book. Show Less
LibraryThing member SpaceandSorcery
Having by now read a few books by T. Kingfisher, I have come to the conclusion that this author would never disappoint me, no matter which of her novels I pick up. Swordheart is set in the same background as my previous read, Paladin’s Grace, so that I found some familiar details and even a
Swordheart’s protagonist is Halla, a mid-thirties respectable widow who in the past few years took care of a grumpy relative: at his death she discovers that Uncle Silas indicated her as his heir, to her enormous surprise and to the anger of other relatives, particularly unpleasant Aunt Malva and her son Cousin Alver, a mother-dominated individual who wants to marry Halla to set his clammy hands on her inheritance. At the woman’s refusal to acquiesce, the two lock her in her room and after a few days poor Halla starts to contemplate suicide as a means of escape: taking a sword - part of the extensive collection of artifacts left by Uncle Silas - from its wall mount, she intends to fall on it, but as soon as she unsheathes it, a man appears in a flash of blue light. It’s Sarkis, a warrior who has been magically trapped into the sword as a punishment, forever forced to obey and protect the wielder of the sword - in this case bewildered Halla.
Sarkis helps Halla to escape her greedy relatives’ clutches and the two embark on an eventful journey toward the city of Archon’s Glory and the Temple of the Rat, whose skilled lawyers might help her to settle the inheritance issue. The return journey, together with priest-lawyer Zale and the gnole cart driver Brindle will be just as eventful and the controversy with Halla’s relatives will prove to be not so easily resolved, but with such tenacious allies, and a good measure of ingenuity, our widow grows in confidence and courage and also finds that her plans for the future might turn out to be even better than she imagined…
Not for the first time I find that T. Kingfisher is one of those rare authors who manage to insert a very enjoyable romantic angle in their stories, which is quite surprising, since I tend to avoid romance in my reading - but Kingfisher always does it with a good dose of humor and a sprinkle of quirky misunderstandings that turn the romantic thread into something totally entertaining. Of course here it helps that Halla is far from an inexperienced, fluffy-brained girl, and that Sarkis is a wry veteran of many battles, and very serious about his duties as the genie-in-the-sword. The juxtaposition between these two characters is one of the best elements in the story, what with Halla posing endless streams of questions about, well, anything and gruff Sarkis teetering between annoyance at Halla’s endless curiosity and a growing sense of protectiveness toward his wielder. And his attraction for her generous bosom as well….
The story however sports some dramatic moments, particularly where Sarkis’ past is concerned: his pain for past mistakes of judgment, that cost the lives of many of his comrades and that ultimately led him to this present condition, is something that adds an intriguing layer to his personality and the main reason - besides being tied to an enchanted sword, that is - he’s reluctant to express his feelings toward Halla. He is somewhat damaged, and as the story unfolds we discover that Halla is too, in her own way: the beauty of their relationship comes from the fact that they end up complementing and enhancing each other, which is made possible by their maturity and the sum of their lives’ experiences.
This review would not be complete without a mention of the lawyer-priest Zale (which I already encountered in Paladin’s Grace) and of their intriguing diversions into the details of legislation, not to mention their deadpan attitude that often serves the group of travelers when they encounter some unsavory characters. The Temple of the Rat and its servants piqued my curiosity in the first Paladin novel, and I was quite happy to learn more about them here: there is an intriguing narrative angle in the descriptions of this religious sect’s adherence to law in what looks like an otherwise lawless background, and I hope to learn even more about that in the other books set in this same universe.
And last but not least, Brindle the gnole cart driver: in this universe, gnoles are badger-like creatures gifted with speech who peacefully co-exist with humans, taking on several menial tasks: Brindle is far more than a comic relief in the story, because his impassive replies and his somewhat bewildered comments about human nature add a very welcome humorous point of view about our own behavior.
Once more, T. Kingfisher managed to enchant me with her oh-so-unlikely heroes and their equally unlikely adventures, a veritable breath of fresh air in a genre that too often tends toward grimness and ominous threats. I can’t wait to sample what other delightful stories are set in this imaginary background.
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familiar “face” from that book, and what’s more, a passage in this book led me to learn about a duology - The Clocktaur War - that shares some of those same elements, so that will probably be one of my next picks from T. Kingfisher.Swordheart’s protagonist is Halla, a mid-thirties respectable widow who in the past few years took care of a grumpy relative: at his death she discovers that Uncle Silas indicated her as his heir, to her enormous surprise and to the anger of other relatives, particularly unpleasant Aunt Malva and her son Cousin Alver, a mother-dominated individual who wants to marry Halla to set his clammy hands on her inheritance. At the woman’s refusal to acquiesce, the two lock her in her room and after a few days poor Halla starts to contemplate suicide as a means of escape: taking a sword - part of the extensive collection of artifacts left by Uncle Silas - from its wall mount, she intends to fall on it, but as soon as she unsheathes it, a man appears in a flash of blue light. It’s Sarkis, a warrior who has been magically trapped into the sword as a punishment, forever forced to obey and protect the wielder of the sword - in this case bewildered Halla.
Sarkis helps Halla to escape her greedy relatives’ clutches and the two embark on an eventful journey toward the city of Archon’s Glory and the Temple of the Rat, whose skilled lawyers might help her to settle the inheritance issue. The return journey, together with priest-lawyer Zale and the gnole cart driver Brindle will be just as eventful and the controversy with Halla’s relatives will prove to be not so easily resolved, but with such tenacious allies, and a good measure of ingenuity, our widow grows in confidence and courage and also finds that her plans for the future might turn out to be even better than she imagined…
Not for the first time I find that T. Kingfisher is one of those rare authors who manage to insert a very enjoyable romantic angle in their stories, which is quite surprising, since I tend to avoid romance in my reading - but Kingfisher always does it with a good dose of humor and a sprinkle of quirky misunderstandings that turn the romantic thread into something totally entertaining. Of course here it helps that Halla is far from an inexperienced, fluffy-brained girl, and that Sarkis is a wry veteran of many battles, and very serious about his duties as the genie-in-the-sword. The juxtaposition between these two characters is one of the best elements in the story, what with Halla posing endless streams of questions about, well, anything and gruff Sarkis teetering between annoyance at Halla’s endless curiosity and a growing sense of protectiveness toward his wielder. And his attraction for her generous bosom as well….
The story however sports some dramatic moments, particularly where Sarkis’ past is concerned: his pain for past mistakes of judgment, that cost the lives of many of his comrades and that ultimately led him to this present condition, is something that adds an intriguing layer to his personality and the main reason - besides being tied to an enchanted sword, that is - he’s reluctant to express his feelings toward Halla. He is somewhat damaged, and as the story unfolds we discover that Halla is too, in her own way: the beauty of their relationship comes from the fact that they end up complementing and enhancing each other, which is made possible by their maturity and the sum of their lives’ experiences.
This review would not be complete without a mention of the lawyer-priest Zale (which I already encountered in Paladin’s Grace) and of their intriguing diversions into the details of legislation, not to mention their deadpan attitude that often serves the group of travelers when they encounter some unsavory characters. The Temple of the Rat and its servants piqued my curiosity in the first Paladin novel, and I was quite happy to learn more about them here: there is an intriguing narrative angle in the descriptions of this religious sect’s adherence to law in what looks like an otherwise lawless background, and I hope to learn even more about that in the other books set in this same universe.
And last but not least, Brindle the gnole cart driver: in this universe, gnoles are badger-like creatures gifted with speech who peacefully co-exist with humans, taking on several menial tasks: Brindle is far more than a comic relief in the story, because his impassive replies and his somewhat bewildered comments about human nature add a very welcome humorous point of view about our own behavior.
Once more, T. Kingfisher managed to enchant me with her oh-so-unlikely heroes and their equally unlikely adventures, a veritable breath of fresh air in a genre that too often tends toward grimness and ominous threats. I can’t wait to sample what other delightful stories are set in this imaginary background.
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