As it is, they might think I’m being foolhardy, if anybody notices me at all.” If I were younger or better looking, someone might care. “Often enough,” Halla said, wrapping the cloak tight around her shoulders. “…Do women travel alone in your country?” Sarkis is at first dumbfounded and then bemused and somewhat exasperated with Halla and her infernal questions. She uses the former to disguise the latter to great effect. She’s funny and practical and well aware of her skills and shortcomings. There follows a delightful road trip to Archon’s Glory and the Temple of the Rat to seek assistance in gaining control of her inheritance and thence back (with additional support) to Rutger’s Howe with many adventures in between. He is sworn to the wielder of the sword and as that person is now Halla, he helps her escape her horrid relatives in order to fulfill his oath and protect her. Sarkis, the man in the sword, was enchanted into the weapon hundreds of years earlier in circumstances which become known as the book progresses. Only, when she draws the sword, there’s a sparkling blue light and a man appears in armour and holding his own weapon. Silas was a great collector of artefacts and in Halla’s room there is a great sword on the wall. Halla, who dislikes clammy hands (among other things) is not good with this plan and in any event, thinks it unlikely she’d survive very long once the vows are exchanged.Īfter a few days and out of acceptable options, she decides to take matters into her own hands and end her life. As a result, she has been locked in her room, pending her agreement to marry Alver of the clammy hands. Silas, very unexpectedly, left all his property to her and his remaining relatives, including Aunt Malva and Cousin Alver, are incensed. For the past few years she has been keeping house for Great Uncle Silas who has recently passed away. Halla is a widow who lives in Rutger’s Howe with her deceased husband’s relatives. I gather there are earlier books set within the same universe – and certainly the later Saint of Steel books are too (I recognised Brindle the gnole here) but I have the sense that the world has much yet to explore and is as big as the real one I live in. Your humour really works for me and I enjoy the effortless diversity and acceptance of queerness in this rich world you’ve created. However, it is delightful and well worth reading. It’s partly why I ended up taking a bit of time to read this one.
There are similar themes between Swordheart and Paladin’s Strength so I would recommend to readers perhaps taking a short break between reads to get the most out of it.
I recently had the great pleasure of listening to Paladin’s Grace and reading Paladin’s Strength so I immediately went to your (extensive – hooray!) backlist for more goodness with Swordheart.
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