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Swordheart #2
Daggerbound
New York Times bestselling author T. Kingfisher returns to the charming fantasy world of Swordheart in this delightful and unexpected new romantic adventure.
Learned Edmund, a disillusioned scholar, is transporting yet another precious relic from one stuffy temple to a different stuffy temple. Another great adventure for the ages…
But when Edmund is set upon by bandits, in desperation, he breaks the cardinal rule and grabs for the relic, an ancient sword. To his surprise, instead of unsheathing a rusty, ancient weapon, an alarmingly handsome man appears, wielding daggers of blue steel and cutting the thieves down.
This man is the Dervish, an immortal warrior who’s been trapped for centuries in a sword of enchanted steel, and is angry as hell about it. He hates the curse that put him there, and he wants to hate Edmund, just as he has hated every wielder before him.
But the damned scholar is just so sweet and clever and kind. And while the Dervish may be able to protect Edmund from bandits, cultists, dragons, and strange inhuman diplomats, he may find it much harder to protect his own heart.
Learned Edmund, a disillusioned scholar, is transporting yet another precious relic from one stuffy temple to a different stuffy temple. Another great adventure for the ages…
But when Edmund is set upon by bandits, in desperation, he breaks the cardinal rule and grabs for the relic, an ancient sword. To his surprise, instead of unsheathing a rusty, ancient weapon, an alarmingly handsome man appears, wielding daggers of blue steel and cutting the thieves down.
This man is the Dervish, an immortal warrior who’s been trapped for centuries in a sword of enchanted steel, and is angry as hell about it. He hates the curse that put him there, and he wants to hate Edmund, just as he has hated every wielder before him.
But the damned scholar is just so sweet and clever and kind. And while the Dervish may be able to protect Edmund from bandits, cultists, dragons, and strange inhuman diplomats, he may find it much harder to protect his own heart.
436 pages, ebook
First published August 25, 2026
About the author
T. Kingfisher
71 books30.3k followersT. Kingfisher is the vaguely absurd pen-name of Ursula Vernon. In another life, she writes children's books and weird comics, and has won the Hugo, Sequoyah, and Ursa Major awards, as well as a half-dozen Junior Library Guild selections.
This is the name she uses when writing things for grown-ups.
When she is not writing, she is probably out in the garden, trying to make eye contact with butterflies.
This is the name she uses when writing things for grown-ups.
When she is not writing, she is probably out in the garden, trying to make eye contact with butterflies.
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April 7, 2026I have wanted the story of the other enchanted swords ever since I read Swordheart, so learning this was the Dervish's story filled me with glee. (He's mentioned maybe six times in Swordheart: that is how you lay elegant sequel bait.)
I don't actually think there are any spoilers in the following (it mentions characters returning from book 1 of the series?) but whatever.
Gleefully romantic, wise, funny, and human in the most clear-sighted, kind/angry way. T Kingfisher is filling the hole Terry Pratchett left in our hearts.
I had an ARC from the publisher.
I don't actually think there are any spoilers in the following (it mentions characters returning from book 1 of the series?) but whatever.
Gleefully romantic, wise, funny, and human in the most clear-sighted, kind/angry way. T Kingfisher is filling the hole Terry Pratchett left in our hearts.
I had an ARC from the publisher.
August 30, 2026
I'M FINALY FREE.
Honestly, I'm really disappointed in this book.
I kept waiting and waiting for that romance everyone seems to love, telling myself that once the romance developed, I would definitely enjoy it. But I was very wrong.
I don't even know where to start because this was just poorly executed. First, the writing: this is my first book by this author, and I'm sorry to say, it read like a badly written fanfiction. While many people praise this author's writing style, it’s simply not for me.
Moving on to the plot, there was one, but it only became prominent in the last few pages of the book. Most of the story was just traveling back and forth across scenes. I'm usually fine with a book that focuses more on atmosphere and vibes, but in such cases, I need to love the characters for their interactions to be meaningful, and unfortunately, this book failed in that regard.
Edmund was a decent character; I liked him, but the more he accepted how The Dervish treated him, the more he appeared to me as somewhat pathetic. I can't stand it when someone is yelled at for something they didn't do, and all they do in response is apologize over and over. Sorry, but that’s not acceptable to me.
As for The Dervish, oh, I hated this character so much. He was exactly the kind of love interest I absolutely cannot stand. From the moment he appeared on the page, he grated on my nerves intensely. I usually enjoy arrogant, narcissistic characters, but he was all about his trauma and sex; that was literally all there was to him. This guy couldn’t stop talking about how much sex he had, and when he wasn't doing that, he was rambling about his trauma. By the halfway mark, I was so fed up with him that I couldn’t even feel sorry for his pain anymore. He came across as an asshole with numerous issues, and I honestly think this book should have ended with him alone, working through his trauma.
I appreciated the side characters and found them interesting, but I felt that the author didn't fully explore their potential.
Now, let's discuss the romance: what was this even? Seriously, what was the point? It didn't help that the relationship dynamic was something I despise with a burning passion. The experienced (playboy, Casanova) paired with the inexperienced (shy, virgin, blushy) that cliché is tired enough, but here, it was done so poorly. The emotional development was rushed to the point that I kept thinking, this can't be how this book rewards me for not DNF’ing. They went from friendship to lust, then to love, in such a short span; I was furious. Most of the story was about developing their friendship and building sexual tension, only to have the emotional connection rushed. Seriously? When they finally confessed their love, it felt like a joke, a huge joke. It also didn't help that I didn’t feel any real chemistry between them, which made the whole relationship feel unconvincing.
In conclusion, I am so tired of this book that I don't want to talk about it anymore. So yes, this was a major disappointment for me, but I'm glad to see that many others seem to love it.
Honestly, I'm really disappointed in this book.
I kept waiting and waiting for that romance everyone seems to love, telling myself that once the romance developed, I would definitely enjoy it. But I was very wrong.
I don't even know where to start because this was just poorly executed. First, the writing: this is my first book by this author, and I'm sorry to say, it read like a badly written fanfiction. While many people praise this author's writing style, it’s simply not for me.
Moving on to the plot, there was one, but it only became prominent in the last few pages of the book. Most of the story was just traveling back and forth across scenes. I'm usually fine with a book that focuses more on atmosphere and vibes, but in such cases, I need to love the characters for their interactions to be meaningful, and unfortunately, this book failed in that regard.
Edmund was a decent character; I liked him, but the more he accepted how The Dervish treated him, the more he appeared to me as somewhat pathetic. I can't stand it when someone is yelled at for something they didn't do, and all they do in response is apologize over and over. Sorry, but that’s not acceptable to me.
As for The Dervish, oh, I hated this character so much. He was exactly the kind of love interest I absolutely cannot stand. From the moment he appeared on the page, he grated on my nerves intensely. I usually enjoy arrogant, narcissistic characters, but he was all about his trauma and sex; that was literally all there was to him. This guy couldn’t stop talking about how much sex he had, and when he wasn't doing that, he was rambling about his trauma. By the halfway mark, I was so fed up with him that I couldn’t even feel sorry for his pain anymore. He came across as an asshole with numerous issues, and I honestly think this book should have ended with him alone, working through his trauma.
I appreciated the side characters and found them interesting, but I felt that the author didn't fully explore their potential.
Now, let's discuss the romance: what was this even? Seriously, what was the point? It didn't help that the relationship dynamic was something I despise with a burning passion. The experienced (playboy, Casanova) paired with the inexperienced (shy, virgin, blushy) that cliché is tired enough, but here, it was done so poorly. The emotional development was rushed to the point that I kept thinking, this can't be how this book rewards me for not DNF’ing. They went from friendship to lust, then to love, in such a short span; I was furious. Most of the story was about developing their friendship and building sexual tension, only to have the emotional connection rushed. Seriously? When they finally confessed their love, it felt like a joke, a huge joke. It also didn't help that I didn’t feel any real chemistry between them, which made the whole relationship feel unconvincing.
In conclusion, I am so tired of this book that I don't want to talk about it anymore. So yes, this was a major disappointment for me, but I'm glad to see that many others seem to love it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Okay. Let’s be honest.
When T. Kingfisher announces a return to the world of Swordheart, I don’t even read the synopsis properly. I just clear my schedule and prepare to fall in love.
And yes — it happened again.
This story follows Learned Edmund, who might be one of my favorite types of Kingfisher heroes: exhausted, intelligent, slightly awkward, and deeply, painfully decent. He’s transporting a sacred relic (from one suffocating temple to another — thrilling life, truly), when bandits attack and he does the one thing you’re absolutely not supposed to do.
He grabs the sword.
Instead of pulling out an old blade, he accidentally summons an immortal warrior who has been trapped inside enchanted steel for centuries.
The Dervish.
Angry. Lethal. Traumatized. Extremely done with humanity.
And understandably so.
What I loved immediately is that this isn’t some flashy, dramatic alpha-warrior-meets-helpless-scholar situation. Edmund is soft, yes — but not weak. He’s thoughtful. Curious. Ethical to a fault. The kind of man who worries about proper procedure while chaos is exploding around him. And the Dervish, who fully intends to resent his new wielder, finds himself deeply inconvenienced by the fact that Edmund is… kind.
Their dynamic is everything.
The slow burn here is slow in the best way. It’s awkward glances, reluctant conversations, small acts of protection, moments of vulnerability that sneak up on you. No forced destiny. No biological bond nonsense. Just two men gradually realizing they see each other. And choosing each other.
That choice matters.
The Dervish carries centuries of rage and damage. Edmund carries disappointment, disillusionment, and a quiet sadness about the direction of his life. Watching them navigate danger — bandits, strange political tension, creatures that absolutely should not exist — while also navigating their own emotional walls felt so organic.
And the humor. My God.
Kingfisher has this unmatched ability to slide something dry and absurd into the middle of tension and make you laugh out loud — then two pages later, you’re unexpectedly emotional. It’s not cozy exactly, but it has warmth. Even when things get messy, there’s heart beating underneath it.
Also — I love that her romances feel adult. These are grown people with complicated pasts and fully developed frontal lobes. They communicate. They hesitate for real reasons. They don’t implode over manufactured misunderstandings. The love story builds because it makes sense, not because the plot demands it.
By the end, I felt that very specific happiness I only get from her books — like I’ve been on an adventure, laughed more than I expected, and somehow had my heart handled gently at the same time.
This is romantasy the way I want it written: smart, character-driven, emotionally grounded, and just a little bit weird.
A very huge thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group | Bramble for sharing this addictive fantasy novel from my favorite auto-approved author, T. Kingfisher, with me in exchange for my honest feedback. I’ll happily return to this world anytime she lets us.
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When T. Kingfisher announces a return to the world of Swordheart, I don’t even read the synopsis properly. I just clear my schedule and prepare to fall in love.
And yes — it happened again.
This story follows Learned Edmund, who might be one of my favorite types of Kingfisher heroes: exhausted, intelligent, slightly awkward, and deeply, painfully decent. He’s transporting a sacred relic (from one suffocating temple to another — thrilling life, truly), when bandits attack and he does the one thing you’re absolutely not supposed to do.
He grabs the sword.
Instead of pulling out an old blade, he accidentally summons an immortal warrior who has been trapped inside enchanted steel for centuries.
The Dervish.
Angry. Lethal. Traumatized. Extremely done with humanity.
And understandably so.
What I loved immediately is that this isn’t some flashy, dramatic alpha-warrior-meets-helpless-scholar situation. Edmund is soft, yes — but not weak. He’s thoughtful. Curious. Ethical to a fault. The kind of man who worries about proper procedure while chaos is exploding around him. And the Dervish, who fully intends to resent his new wielder, finds himself deeply inconvenienced by the fact that Edmund is… kind.
Their dynamic is everything.
The slow burn here is slow in the best way. It’s awkward glances, reluctant conversations, small acts of protection, moments of vulnerability that sneak up on you. No forced destiny. No biological bond nonsense. Just two men gradually realizing they see each other. And choosing each other.
That choice matters.
The Dervish carries centuries of rage and damage. Edmund carries disappointment, disillusionment, and a quiet sadness about the direction of his life. Watching them navigate danger — bandits, strange political tension, creatures that absolutely should not exist — while also navigating their own emotional walls felt so organic.
And the humor. My God.
Kingfisher has this unmatched ability to slide something dry and absurd into the middle of tension and make you laugh out loud — then two pages later, you’re unexpectedly emotional. It’s not cozy exactly, but it has warmth. Even when things get messy, there’s heart beating underneath it.
Also — I love that her romances feel adult. These are grown people with complicated pasts and fully developed frontal lobes. They communicate. They hesitate for real reasons. They don’t implode over manufactured misunderstandings. The love story builds because it makes sense, not because the plot demands it.
By the end, I felt that very specific happiness I only get from her books — like I’ve been on an adventure, laughed more than I expected, and somehow had my heart handled gently at the same time.
This is romantasy the way I want it written: smart, character-driven, emotionally grounded, and just a little bit weird.
A very huge thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group | Bramble for sharing this addictive fantasy novel from my favorite auto-approved author, T. Kingfisher, with me in exchange for my honest feedback. I’ll happily return to this world anytime she lets us.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
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April 25, 2025Miss ma’am I need this IMMEDIATELY. Also on the off chance Kingfisher reads this, you are the sole reason as to why I read romance. Never did until I read Swordheart. Also I love rats, so I fuck with the white rat shit.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Horror becomes valor if you just wait long enough. People turn sinners into saints”
I learned two things here. I really can enjoy cozy(ish) fantasy, and I am very late to reading T. Kingfisher. Suspicions confirmed. I suppose now would be the time to admit I haven’t read Swordheart…your honor, I plead guilty to reading out of order. In my defense, I’ve had Kingfisher on my TBR for a long time, and the premise of a fantasy with an immortal knight and a blushing scholar sucked me right in.
Learned Edmund, disillusioned with the Order he serves, is making one last delivery of relics before he calls it quits, when he is attacked by bandits. In an attempt to save the books, Edmund unsheathes a sword he is transporting, and is shocked to find that he is the new wielder of an immortal knight who resides within the sword.
I’m not sure I’ve read an author who is able to infuse a quirky story with social commentary, depth and humor in quite the same way. The major theme running through this story seems to be the fact that humans find many ways to use and “dehumanize” others deemed less than equal, and find any number of excuses for this cruelty: survival, gender, research, religion. Not so cozy. But it all comes down to choice, and Kingfisher actually left me feeling more hopeful than depressed.
It’s the characters that truly make this story. Edmund is awkward and filled with self doubt, but so earnestly good hearted that he managed to steal mine. The Dervish is jaded, charming, and vain, but also not immune to Edmund’s overwhelming goodness. Somewhere between their innuendo filled banter and simmering attraction I was hopelessly enchanted by these two. There’s also a touch of spice, which was surprising, but certainly not unwelcome.
Their accumulated group of found family also managed to work its way into my cozy averse heart. A sapient giant pill bug and a gnole, a talking (and also sapient) badger, helped to imbue every unlikely adventure with humor and humanity.
Somehow Kingfisher crafted cute characters and a strange, yet surprisingly realistic world into a story that actually managed to make me feel all those emotions that so many cozy stories usually don’t. I loved them. And I will definitely be going back for Sarkis and Halla’s story. Fingers crossed I also someday get to meet Angharad.
4⭐️’s audiobook. I loved Jesse Vilinsky’s narration in the Dark Inheritance Trilogy, and I was even more impressed with her range in this one.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pre-read: Bumbling scholar inadvertently becomes the wielder of an immortal knight when he uses an old sword in a skirmish with bandits in this cozy quirky fantasy. Here to find out how much the knight can make him blush 😌
I learned two things here. I really can enjoy cozy(ish) fantasy, and I am very late to reading T. Kingfisher. Suspicions confirmed. I suppose now would be the time to admit I haven’t read Swordheart…your honor, I plead guilty to reading out of order. In my defense, I’ve had Kingfisher on my TBR for a long time, and the premise of a fantasy with an immortal knight and a blushing scholar sucked me right in.
Learned Edmund, disillusioned with the Order he serves, is making one last delivery of relics before he calls it quits, when he is attacked by bandits. In an attempt to save the books, Edmund unsheathes a sword he is transporting, and is shocked to find that he is the new wielder of an immortal knight who resides within the sword.
I’m not sure I’ve read an author who is able to infuse a quirky story with social commentary, depth and humor in quite the same way. The major theme running through this story seems to be the fact that humans find many ways to use and “dehumanize” others deemed less than equal, and find any number of excuses for this cruelty: survival, gender, research, religion. Not so cozy. But it all comes down to choice, and Kingfisher actually left me feeling more hopeful than depressed.
It’s the characters that truly make this story. Edmund is awkward and filled with self doubt, but so earnestly good hearted that he managed to steal mine. The Dervish is jaded, charming, and vain, but also not immune to Edmund’s overwhelming goodness. Somewhere between their innuendo filled banter and simmering attraction I was hopelessly enchanted by these two. There’s also a touch of spice, which was surprising, but certainly not unwelcome.
Their accumulated group of found family also managed to work its way into my cozy averse heart. A sapient giant pill bug and a gnole, a talking (and also sapient) badger, helped to imbue every unlikely adventure with humor and humanity.
Somehow Kingfisher crafted cute characters and a strange, yet surprisingly realistic world into a story that actually managed to make me feel all those emotions that so many cozy stories usually don’t. I loved them. And I will definitely be going back for Sarkis and Halla’s story. Fingers crossed I also someday get to meet Angharad.
4⭐️’s audiobook. I loved Jesse Vilinsky’s narration in the Dark Inheritance Trilogy, and I was even more impressed with her range in this one.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pre-read: Bumbling scholar inadvertently becomes the wielder of an immortal knight when he uses an old sword in a skirmish with bandits in this cozy quirky fantasy. Here to find out how much the knight can make him blush 😌
July 27, 2026
Another adventure begins in T. Kingfisher’s delightfully strange fantasy world with Daggerbound, the second book in the Swordheart series. This time, familiar character Learned Edmund gets his chance to take center stage—and what follows is an adventure filled with dangerous creatures, unusual traveling companions, an extremely opinionated donkey, and a romance between two men who would apparently rather face mortal peril than talk openly about their feelings.
Edmund, the scholar readers may remember from Kingfisher’s Clocktaur War duology, is tasked with transporting a mysterious relic when he is attacked by bandits along the road. The relic happens to be a sword, and, with few options left, Edmund unsheathes it.
For those who have read Swordheart, you probably know what happens next.
An immortal warrior known as the Dervish appears, bound to the sword, and promptly saves Edmund with the help of two silver daggers. Unfortunately, the Dervish is considerably less enthusiastic about the arrangement. After centuries trapped within the sword, he is understandably angry to find himself bound to yet another wielder. At least Edmund, with his extensive knowledge of history, can recount everything the Dervish has missed—however awkwardly and at whatever wildly inappropriate moment the information happens to occur to him.
Between Edmund’s brain and the Dervish’s brawn, the two manage to escape one dangerous situation after another. That is, once they learn to work together with some semblance of trust. And with trust comes mutual admiration, followed eventually by something considerably more complicated.
The Dervish can’t help being charmed by Edmund’s nerdier tendencies, even when they become actively life-threatening. There is perhaps no better example of Edmund as a character than his decision to stop and sketch a dragon when getting away from said dragon would seem like the more pressing concern. Yet the Dervish also comes to recognize that Edmund’s seemingly endless supply of knowledge can save their lives, particularly when they encounter unfamiliar and dangerous flora and fauna.
Edmund, meanwhile, can’t stop noticing the Dervish’s physique or his obvious prowess as a warrior. Of the two, the Dervish is also far more socially adept—and far more willing to scheme his way through a problem when necessary.
As in Swordheart, the journey becomes even more entertaining as an increasingly bizarre collection of companions joins the travelers. Among them are Large Francis, a giant pill bug, and Dog Violet, a female gnole who quickly became one of my favorite additions to Kingfisher’s wonderfully peculiar world. Their travels also involve dangers ranging from murderous hounds and human sacrifice to a particularly horrifying allergic reaction.
Yet even when the characters are facing potentially fatal circumstances, Kingfisher never loses her signature sense of humor. The dialogue is masterfully funny, with even the characters’ muttered comments often worth their weight in gold, while their internal monologues are equally entertaining. This book will be particularly enjoyable for readers who, as the Dervish observes, would “pick maniacal humor every time.”
That humor also carries beautifully into the romance. Edmund and the Dervish have a great deal they should probably discuss and very little interest in actually discussing any of it. Watching their mutual attraction develop while both dance awkwardly around their feelings is hilarious, but what ultimately makes their relationship work is the tenderness underneath the comedy. They may struggle to say what they feel, but they become remarkably quick to show it. As the danger increases, so do the sacrifices they are willing to make for one another.
The audiobook adds another layer to an already colorful cast. Jesse Vilinsky rises to the considerable challenge of voicing this entire collection of humans, gnoles, warriors, scholars, and other unusual beings on her own. Through distinct accents, personalities, and vocal choices, she makes the characters immediately recognizable and brings Kingfisher’s dialogue to life. Her performance is particularly well suited to a story in which so much of the humor depends on character interactions and delivery.
Daggerbound combines fantasy adventure, romance, found family, strange creatures, genuine danger, and the kind of wonderfully absurd humor that makes T. Kingfisher’s world so much fun to revisit. Readers who loved the combination of romance, adventure, and eccentric characters in Swordheart should feel very much at home here. And anyone who appreciates intelligent characters making occasionally spectacularly unintelligent decisions in the name of curiosity or love will find plenty to enjoy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Edmund, the scholar readers may remember from Kingfisher’s Clocktaur War duology, is tasked with transporting a mysterious relic when he is attacked by bandits along the road. The relic happens to be a sword, and, with few options left, Edmund unsheathes it.
For those who have read Swordheart, you probably know what happens next.
An immortal warrior known as the Dervish appears, bound to the sword, and promptly saves Edmund with the help of two silver daggers. Unfortunately, the Dervish is considerably less enthusiastic about the arrangement. After centuries trapped within the sword, he is understandably angry to find himself bound to yet another wielder. At least Edmund, with his extensive knowledge of history, can recount everything the Dervish has missed—however awkwardly and at whatever wildly inappropriate moment the information happens to occur to him.
Between Edmund’s brain and the Dervish’s brawn, the two manage to escape one dangerous situation after another. That is, once they learn to work together with some semblance of trust. And with trust comes mutual admiration, followed eventually by something considerably more complicated.
The Dervish can’t help being charmed by Edmund’s nerdier tendencies, even when they become actively life-threatening. There is perhaps no better example of Edmund as a character than his decision to stop and sketch a dragon when getting away from said dragon would seem like the more pressing concern. Yet the Dervish also comes to recognize that Edmund’s seemingly endless supply of knowledge can save their lives, particularly when they encounter unfamiliar and dangerous flora and fauna.
Edmund, meanwhile, can’t stop noticing the Dervish’s physique or his obvious prowess as a warrior. Of the two, the Dervish is also far more socially adept—and far more willing to scheme his way through a problem when necessary.
As in Swordheart, the journey becomes even more entertaining as an increasingly bizarre collection of companions joins the travelers. Among them are Large Francis, a giant pill bug, and Dog Violet, a female gnole who quickly became one of my favorite additions to Kingfisher’s wonderfully peculiar world. Their travels also involve dangers ranging from murderous hounds and human sacrifice to a particularly horrifying allergic reaction.
Yet even when the characters are facing potentially fatal circumstances, Kingfisher never loses her signature sense of humor. The dialogue is masterfully funny, with even the characters’ muttered comments often worth their weight in gold, while their internal monologues are equally entertaining. This book will be particularly enjoyable for readers who, as the Dervish observes, would “pick maniacal humor every time.”
That humor also carries beautifully into the romance. Edmund and the Dervish have a great deal they should probably discuss and very little interest in actually discussing any of it. Watching their mutual attraction develop while both dance awkwardly around their feelings is hilarious, but what ultimately makes their relationship work is the tenderness underneath the comedy. They may struggle to say what they feel, but they become remarkably quick to show it. As the danger increases, so do the sacrifices they are willing to make for one another.
The audiobook adds another layer to an already colorful cast. Jesse Vilinsky rises to the considerable challenge of voicing this entire collection of humans, gnoles, warriors, scholars, and other unusual beings on her own. Through distinct accents, personalities, and vocal choices, she makes the characters immediately recognizable and brings Kingfisher’s dialogue to life. Her performance is particularly well suited to a story in which so much of the humor depends on character interactions and delivery.
Daggerbound combines fantasy adventure, romance, found family, strange creatures, genuine danger, and the kind of wonderfully absurd humor that makes T. Kingfisher’s world so much fun to revisit. Readers who loved the combination of romance, adventure, and eccentric characters in Swordheart should feel very much at home here. And anyone who appreciates intelligent characters making occasionally spectacularly unintelligent decisions in the name of curiosity or love will find plenty to enjoy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Want to Read
April 22, 2025New reason to live: Two T. Kingfisher releases in 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5! This was an awesome romantic fantasy that kept me entertained from start to finish. I haven’t read much of MM romances in the past so I wasn’t sure where to set my expectations but Daggerbound had me laughing out loud in no time. The banter was actually funny, I loved all the innuendos and puns and the wild side of the Dervish. I loved reading their inner monologues and some of their thoughts depicted how well they balanced each-other! Their dynamic worked really well for me as I found them very compatible despite their opposite personalities. The side characters, Dog Violet and Large Francis were awesome additions and added warm and coziness of found family to the story as a whole. Both were hilarious and their interactions were some of the best in the story. Honestly I just adore when side characters shine as much as the main ones.
FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW!
I haven't read Swordheart and I didn’t feel that I missed anything important as we follow two new protagonists in this action packed, fun, slow burn romance.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan audio for an early ALC!
Narrator: Jesse Vilinsky
Duration: 16 hours 9 minutes
Speed: 1.75x
Publication date: August 25, 2026
FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW!
I haven't read Swordheart and I didn’t feel that I missed anything important as we follow two new protagonists in this action packed, fun, slow burn romance.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan audio for an early ALC!
Narrator: Jesse Vilinsky
Duration: 16 hours 9 minutes
Speed: 1.75x
Publication date: August 25, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There’s just something about a shamelessly flirty MMC who constantly denies his attraction, saying ’he’s not my type’, while the other is secretly yearning, convinced ’there’s no way he likes me, he flirts with everyone’.
It gets me every. single. time. Sigh.
This sequel has all the same ingredients as the first book: an unexpectedly eventful journey, a guy inside a sword, and of course the wielder turned romantic interest. Even the plot is practically the same. And while I should probably find the exact same setup boring, what really worked for me here was the characters.
For one, I liked the main couple a lot more. It’s not all just about the humor and banter (and SO much blushing). There’s also a layer of darkness here because Edmund represents the very order that broke the Dervish. Watching him avoid dealing with that trauma, while Edmund tried to make up for everything his order did, made for such a delicate, complicated dynamic. I felt for them, and then I fell for them.
And chapter 23? Broke my fucking heart. (I'm still mad at you, T. Kingfisher, for putting me through that) ((I’m kidding, please continue. I live for that shit)).
I do agree the start was slow, but I also think the characters balanced it out. Plus, the audiobook added an extra layer of fun. I don’t have that much experience with these yet (besides Jeff Hays, iykyk), but I love how Jesse Vilinsky brought so much life to these characters. I just wanted to keep listening, any chance I had.
I also loved the reunion with past characters. Getting to see Zale, Halla, and Sarkis again was so nice.
Oh… and the last line of this book? Perfection.
─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: the fact that i get to read this right now is making me so happy! 🥹💃🏻 i’m about to meet the Dervish (ahhh!) and i love that it’s M/M romance (double ahhh!)
please let this be just as good as Swordheart 🙏
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the alc!
It gets me every. single. time. Sigh.
This sequel has all the same ingredients as the first book: an unexpectedly eventful journey, a guy inside a sword, and of course the wielder turned romantic interest. Even the plot is practically the same. And while I should probably find the exact same setup boring, what really worked for me here was the characters.
For one, I liked the main couple a lot more. It’s not all just about the humor and banter (and SO much blushing). There’s also a layer of darkness here because Edmund represents the very order that broke the Dervish. Watching him avoid dealing with that trauma, while Edmund tried to make up for everything his order did, made for such a delicate, complicated dynamic. I felt for them, and then I fell for them.
And chapter 23? Broke my fucking heart. (I'm still mad at you, T. Kingfisher, for putting me through that) ((I’m kidding, please continue. I live for that shit)).
I do agree the start was slow, but I also think the characters balanced it out. Plus, the audiobook added an extra layer of fun. I don’t have that much experience with these yet (besides Jeff Hays, iykyk), but I love how Jesse Vilinsky brought so much life to these characters. I just wanted to keep listening, any chance I had.
I also loved the reunion with past characters. Getting to see Zale, Halla, and Sarkis again was so nice.
Oh… and the last line of this book? Perfection.
─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: the fact that i get to read this right now is making me so happy! 🥹💃🏻 i’m about to meet the Dervish (ahhh!) and i love that it’s M/M romance (double ahhh!)
please let this be just as good as Swordheart 🙏
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the alc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
T. Kingfisher does it again.
Ever so slightly less outrageous than Swordheart but still an absolute blast.
Whats to love…
- laugh out loud funny
- outrageous motley crew of side characters
- found family
- eternal warrior x soft scholar
- A QUEST!!!
- Cozy romantasy with enough stakes to keep the plot moving
Audio Narration: 5/5
Narrator: Jesse Vilinksy
Length: 16 hrs 9 mins
Style: Single
Thoughts: Jesse Vilinsky is so ridiculously talented. A fem narrator that is able to do male voices 10/10. The fact that this book has two male POVs and I never for a single second felt it was lacking a male narrator? 20/10 Each character has a distinct voice, including an outrageous voice for one that is SO fun. Pacing and pausing are perfection. She really does not miss!
Ever so slightly less outrageous than Swordheart but still an absolute blast.
Whats to love…
- laugh out loud funny
- outrageous motley crew of side characters
- found family
- eternal warrior x soft scholar
- A QUEST!!!
- Cozy romantasy with enough stakes to keep the plot moving
Audio Narration: 5/5
Narrator: Jesse Vilinksy
Length: 16 hrs 9 mins
Style: Single
Thoughts: Jesse Vilinsky is so ridiculously talented. A fem narrator that is able to do male voices 10/10. The fact that this book has two male POVs and I never for a single second felt it was lacking a male narrator? 20/10 Each character has a distinct voice, including an outrageous voice for one that is SO fun. Pacing and pausing are perfection. She really does not miss!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I screamed when this hit my inbox a few days ago!!! HUGE thanks to NetGalley & Little, Brown book group UK | Orbit for a chance to review this arc! You’ve made this girl so happy 🥹
Honestly, I don’t believe T. Kingfisher could ever write a bad book. She has a whole lot of little somethings in her writing that makes it so addictive.
Daggerbound follows the second man-sword ; the Dervish. He’s mad & fed up. All he wants is his freedom (valid) but he ends up shackled to the most golden retriever human ever. So on one side we have the Dervish - fed up with everything, and Edmund who just wants to save everyone & everything.
And that’s how they end up with so many strays.
Daggerbound was a fun time. I did love Swordheart more but I don’t think they could compare because their stories are different.
As always, I absolutely loved the characters. T. Kingfisher’s characters are ALWAYS the best because they’re all so unique! They have quirks & little somethings that make them stand out & relatable.
I absolutely loved the ending and I can’t wait to read the third one! Angharad was built up in my head because of the Dervish so I can’t wait to read her story. The other thing I love about this author is that she never forces marriages & kids on her characters. She’s one of the few that realized it’s not everyone’s idea of success/happiness.
Anyways, I always recommend everything she writes so give this series a try!
Honestly, I don’t believe T. Kingfisher could ever write a bad book. She has a whole lot of little somethings in her writing that makes it so addictive.
Daggerbound follows the second man-sword ; the Dervish. He’s mad & fed up. All he wants is his freedom (valid) but he ends up shackled to the most golden retriever human ever. So on one side we have the Dervish - fed up with everything, and Edmund who just wants to save everyone & everything.
And that’s how they end up with so many strays.
Daggerbound was a fun time. I did love Swordheart more but I don’t think they could compare because their stories are different.
As always, I absolutely loved the characters. T. Kingfisher’s characters are ALWAYS the best because they’re all so unique! They have quirks & little somethings that make them stand out & relatable.
I absolutely loved the ending and I can’t wait to read the third one! Angharad was built up in my head because of the Dervish so I can’t wait to read her story. The other thing I love about this author is that she never forces marriages & kids on her characters. She’s one of the few that realized it’s not everyone’s idea of success/happiness.
Anyways, I always recommend everything she writes so give this series a try!
August 16, 2026
”Horror becomes valor if you just wait long enough. People turn sinners into saints.”
once again, T Kingfisher delivers a charming romantasy with quirky characters that you can’t help but love. i adore this world and i think i might even prefer this book over Swordheart. i just couldn’t get enough of Edmund’s flustering over the Dervish, and the way the Dervish was equally broody and sarcastic. the side characters were so much fun, along with seeing some familiar faces from the previous book. watching these two open up to one another was so sweet, i am absolutely obsessed with the ending line and how it ties back to a running joke (and inner denial) that the Dervish had about Edmund.
➺ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Macmillan Audio for the alc, all opinions are my own.
once again, T Kingfisher delivers a charming romantasy with quirky characters that you can’t help but love. i adore this world and i think i might even prefer this book over Swordheart. i just couldn’t get enough of Edmund’s flustering over the Dervish, and the way the Dervish was equally broody and sarcastic. the side characters were so much fun, along with seeing some familiar faces from the previous book. watching these two open up to one another was so sweet, i am absolutely obsessed with the ending line and how it ties back to a running joke (and inner denial) that the Dervish had about Edmund.
➺ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Macmillan Audio for the alc, all opinions are my own.
Did Not Finish
August 7, 2026💜⚔️💙 𝖕𝖗𝖊𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉 💜⚔️💙
OKOK IM READING IT
i have this alc how badly do y'all want to me read it 😏😏😏
OKOK IM READING IT
i have this alc how badly do y'all want to me read it 😏😏😏
Read
May 4, 2025Angharad? is that you?
Read
January 7, 2026
Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:
Swordheart’s long-awaited sequel follows Sarkis’ queer brother in arms, Dervish, whose soul has been trapped in a blade for hundreds of years. When scholar Learned Edmund finds himself in danger on route to deliver the sword, he draws the blade, discovering the captivating warrior inside. Now Dervish is bound to protect Learned —and without falling in love with him. T. Kingfisher is a cozy romantasy expert with the ability to twist the sword and sorcery subgenre to center older, world-worn protagonists who are getting a chance to be heroes. I could not be more excited. —R. Nassor
Swordheart’s long-awaited sequel follows Sarkis’ queer brother in arms, Dervish, whose soul has been trapped in a blade for hundreds of years. When scholar Learned Edmund finds himself in danger on route to deliver the sword, he draws the blade, discovering the captivating warrior inside. Now Dervish is bound to protect Learned —and without falling in love with him. T. Kingfisher is a cozy romantasy expert with the ability to twist the sword and sorcery subgenre to center older, world-worn protagonists who are getting a chance to be heroes. I could not be more excited. —R. Nassor
October 1, 2025
4.5 stars. Charmingly delightful and the exact kind of swoony swords and sorcery I love, Daggerbound is an excellent romp of a romantasy that I devoured in a single sitting.
Currently Reading
October 20, 2025Oh my bloody shrimping hell of the stinking fish, a Swordheart sequel!!!!!!!!!!!!!
· Book 1: Swordheart ★★★★★
· Book 1: Swordheart ★★★★★
Want to Read
February 4, 2026literally did not know kingfisher was writing a sequel… lowkey she’s like the sanderson of quirky, satirical epic fantasy! she just keeps pumping out amazing reads😭
September 10, 2026
Learned Edmond is the... lucky fella to stumble upon an enchanted sword this time. Dervish and all this hostility get linked up with Edmond as they encounter gnolls, dragons, cultists, and more. The connection forming between them might be the deadliest part.
Anything Kingfisher publishes, I purchase. It's a guaranteed 5-star every time. And remember, friends, we don't eat human meat!
Thank you to Bramble Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date : August 25,2026
Anything Kingfisher publishes, I purchase. It's a guaranteed 5-star every time. And remember, friends, we don't eat human meat!
Thank you to Bramble Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date : August 25,2026
August 13, 2026
Vibes & Metrics:
🤩 Memorable Rating: High
🌶 Spice: Low
🎭 Tone: Balanced (Lighthearted with subtle dark/heavy moments)
⚡️ Pacing: Moderately Fast-Paced / Twists & Turns
📖 Focus: Strongly Character-Driven
What I Loved:
🍿 The banter was so hilarious—I enjoyed every single time The Dervish made Edmund blush!
🐾 Edmund is a pathologically naive and loving type, but those side characters really proved his point! Honestly, I was expecting the dragon to be yet another cutie in disguise, like in (very young) children's books :D
🧭 Going from point A to point B felt quite pointless in itself (maybe that's part of the bigger trilogy picture), but the amazing character work meant that you never got bored.
💖 The humour that carried the book through good and bad times, combined with great character work on all sides, is what makes Daggerbound a five-star read for me.
Final Thoughts & Conclusion:
I had read another book by this author before, and I was underwhelmed and saddened that this very beloved author didn't seem to be my jam after all. But when I saw this one, I decided to be brave and try again.
I suppose the setting and premise were different enough that the whole writing style feels fresh, and I'm very glad for the pleasant surprise! I also like the idea of fantasy books that can be read as standalones and/or in a different order without losing meaning. Interconnected standalones are not common in this genre. This is probably a little different than just an interconnected story, though, because the ending is not as resolutive and final as we'd expect given the overarching goal. This means book three will likely have to feature more of the current protagonists in addition to the third sword's story.
This, though, is the cause of the only not-so-exciting thing I have to say about this book: the ending. While this is cozy fantasy and not meant to be high-stakes, the conclusion still felt a bit weak and underwhelming compared to how engaging all the rest was.
Favorite Quotes:
💬 "Oh bookless hells"
💬 "I don't suppose you could die a little faster?" "I am freezing as fast as I can," he answered for the boy, with offended dignity.
💬 "I don't want to dismember anybody." "What, nobody?" "Huh." (The Dervish could think of at least five people he'd happily dismember, without even trying hard. Granted, four of them were probably already dead of old age, so it wasn't likely to come up, but he felt it was important to have his priorities straight.)
💬 "You would charge headfirst into hell, so long as you could complain the entire time." "It's still bravery, even if you're screaming."
CHECK OUT MY FULL IG CAROUSEL
______
Ah this was so good! 🥹 Only took me this long cause I, unexpectedly, had no time to read while on vacation!
Immortal scarred rascal meets pure and innocent academic genius that's so not his type, but maybe he is exactly his type after all! 🫠 I managed to grab a Barnes and Noble copy too while I was in the US though!
RTC
Reading
I'm gonna be late finishing this cause I'm traveling but it's freaking great and almost surely a 5 stars to be!
Pre-read
Daggermouth was a no, but I'm confident this dagger will be a YES! Fantasy MM rarely disappoints!
🤩 Memorable Rating: High
🌶 Spice: Low
🎭 Tone: Balanced (Lighthearted with subtle dark/heavy moments)
⚡️ Pacing: Moderately Fast-Paced / Twists & Turns
📖 Focus: Strongly Character-Driven
What I Loved:
🍿 The banter was so hilarious—I enjoyed every single time The Dervish made Edmund blush!
🐾 Edmund is a pathologically naive and loving type, but those side characters really proved his point! Honestly, I was expecting the dragon to be yet another cutie in disguise, like in (very young) children's books :D
🧭 Going from point A to point B felt quite pointless in itself (maybe that's part of the bigger trilogy picture), but the amazing character work meant that you never got bored.
💖 The humour that carried the book through good and bad times, combined with great character work on all sides, is what makes Daggerbound a five-star read for me.
Final Thoughts & Conclusion:
I had read another book by this author before, and I was underwhelmed and saddened that this very beloved author didn't seem to be my jam after all. But when I saw this one, I decided to be brave and try again.
I suppose the setting and premise were different enough that the whole writing style feels fresh, and I'm very glad for the pleasant surprise! I also like the idea of fantasy books that can be read as standalones and/or in a different order without losing meaning. Interconnected standalones are not common in this genre. This is probably a little different than just an interconnected story, though, because the ending is not as resolutive and final as we'd expect given the overarching goal. This means book three will likely have to feature more of the current protagonists in addition to the third sword's story.
This, though, is the cause of the only not-so-exciting thing I have to say about this book: the ending. While this is cozy fantasy and not meant to be high-stakes, the conclusion still felt a bit weak and underwhelming compared to how engaging all the rest was.
Favorite Quotes:
💬 "Oh bookless hells"
💬 "I don't suppose you could die a little faster?" "I am freezing as fast as I can," he answered for the boy, with offended dignity.
💬 "I don't want to dismember anybody." "What, nobody?" "Huh." (The Dervish could think of at least five people he'd happily dismember, without even trying hard. Granted, four of them were probably already dead of old age, so it wasn't likely to come up, but he felt it was important to have his priorities straight.)
💬 "You would charge headfirst into hell, so long as you could complain the entire time." "It's still bravery, even if you're screaming."
CHECK OUT MY FULL IG CAROUSEL
______
Ah this was so good! 🥹 Only took me this long cause I, unexpectedly, had no time to read while on vacation!
Immortal scarred rascal meets pure and innocent academic genius that's so not his type, but maybe he is exactly his type after all! 🫠 I managed to grab a Barnes and Noble copy too while I was in the US though!
RTC
Reading
I'm gonna be late finishing this cause I'm traveling but it's freaking great and almost surely a 5 stars to be!
Pre-read
Daggermouth was a no, but I'm confident this dagger will be a YES! Fantasy MM rarely disappoints!
August 29, 2026
4.5 stars
This is a great sequel to Swordheart, and the wait was absolutely worth it. I deeply adored this book, which skillfully captures the essence of its genre and shows why I love the White Rat universe so much. The story immersed me with Narnia-like vibes, blending a sense of wonder with well-placed humor. I especially enjoy the dynamic among the members of this diverse found family, whose relationships and individual traits add layers of depth and warmth to the narrative.
Thank you Little Brown Book Group UK | Orbit for the digital arc
This is a great sequel to Swordheart, and the wait was absolutely worth it. I deeply adored this book, which skillfully captures the essence of its genre and shows why I love the White Rat universe so much. The story immersed me with Narnia-like vibes, blending a sense of wonder with well-placed humor. I especially enjoy the dynamic among the members of this diverse found family, whose relationships and individual traits add layers of depth and warmth to the narrative.
Thank you Little Brown Book Group UK | Orbit for the digital arc
September 2, 2026
T. Kingfisher is always a good time! This is a M/M romance spinoff of Swordheart, wherin Learned Edmund runs from his temple and inadvertently awakens the warrior stuck in a sword. The Dervish just wants freedom, but the nerdy earnestness of Edmund is hard to resist. They proceed to have adventures, escape danger, and collect an odd assortment of companions on the way to falling in love. A delight, and the audio narration is excellent as well! I received an audio review copy via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
daggerbound ꒱ 5 stars
⌗ 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥: jul 7, ‘26 ⌇ 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥: jul 9, ‘26
full review with small spoilers
ᨳଓ i. story
this story follows a priest who decides to complete one last task for his temple before leaving for good after realizing he cannot change the beliefs of his religion. during his travels, edmund is attacked and draws a sword he has been told not to use. out of a shining blue light comes out a man with twin daggers, who edmund believes to be an angel, who is there to save him. the dervish, an immortal sword spirit, hates the curse that bounds him to the wielder of the sword. as he accompanies edmund on his journey, they stumble upon they stumble upon cultist, bandits, dragons and unexpectedly love.
i absolutely loved being back in this universe, swordheart was a wonderful read and the world building of the living swords was so well done. edmund and the dervish’s relationship was very much a slow burn with many obstacles in the way of them having an actual conversations.
ᨳଓ ii. characters & relationship
𑣲 edmund, the first chapter of the book was really something but it really sets up edmund’s character. he was such a humble, hopeful and optimistic guy, which i think contrasted perfectly with the dervish’s personality. he really reminded me of halla, especially his curiosity with just absolutely everything. him being a scholar was my favorite part of his character design, he was genuinely interested in learning as much as possible and educating everyone he could. his upbringing in the temple also gave a lot of insight to his personality, him traveling obviously open up his mindset and led him on the journey that was this book and i think that is a very strong driving point to the story.
𑣲 the dervish, this man went through hell and back, he deserves his happy ending and be free of his curse (keeping my fingers crossed for this one). i found it absolutely hilarious when he would respond to himself as edmund during the beginning chapters. he had great interactions with secondary characters, which i loved, it’s made him much more human. i loved how he used his confidence and good looks as a kind of armor even if it wasn’t something he did knowingly. his backstory added so much to his character in terms of his ptsd and how that impacted his actions and how cautious he was of certain circumstances, i think it was a very well written expansion of his character.
𑣲 the relationship, talk about slow burn. i absolutely enjoyed reading the inner turmoil of both characters. their dynamic is complicated because of the sword bounding them together, but i really appreciated that edmund was always willing to let him be free. while edmund didn’t fully understand the extent of control the sword had over the dervish, once he realized he was horrified. them finally getting to really talk about what it meant to be a spirit of the sword was such an important turning point to the realization that they truly cared for each other beyond the master/servant of the sword bond that they had. their love confessions were so incredibly well written and so wholesome, that scene instantly became one of my favorite scene in the book.
ᨳଓ iv. final thoughts
i had an amazing time reading this book, the tension between edmund and the dervish was exquisite. the plot twist at the end was so unexpected, at least for me, and i loved seeing the characters from last book come together in this book. the characters and plot are wonderfully written, t. kingfisher has easily become an author whose writing i really enjoy. her author’s note mentions shieldborn, which is obviously angharad’s book and i’m so excited to see where her story will go and how it will intertwine with the plot of this book and swordheart.
— ᨳଓ pre-read
i am so excited to read this, i read the swordheart not that long ago and loved it so i can’t wait to see how this world grows !!
ⓘ thank you t. kingfisher, tor publishing & netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review
⌗ 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥: jul 7, ‘26 ⌇ 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥: jul 9, ‘26
full review with small spoilers
ᨳଓ i. story
this story follows a priest who decides to complete one last task for his temple before leaving for good after realizing he cannot change the beliefs of his religion. during his travels, edmund is attacked and draws a sword he has been told not to use. out of a shining blue light comes out a man with twin daggers, who edmund believes to be an angel, who is there to save him. the dervish, an immortal sword spirit, hates the curse that bounds him to the wielder of the sword. as he accompanies edmund on his journey, they stumble upon they stumble upon cultist, bandits, dragons and unexpectedly love.
i absolutely loved being back in this universe, swordheart was a wonderful read and the world building of the living swords was so well done. edmund and the dervish’s relationship was very much a slow burn with many obstacles in the way of them having an actual conversations.
ᨳଓ ii. characters & relationship
𑣲 edmund, the first chapter of the book was really something but it really sets up edmund’s character. he was such a humble, hopeful and optimistic guy, which i think contrasted perfectly with the dervish’s personality. he really reminded me of halla, especially his curiosity with just absolutely everything. him being a scholar was my favorite part of his character design, he was genuinely interested in learning as much as possible and educating everyone he could. his upbringing in the temple also gave a lot of insight to his personality, him traveling obviously open up his mindset and led him on the journey that was this book and i think that is a very strong driving point to the story.
𑣲 the dervish, this man went through hell and back, he deserves his happy ending and be free of his curse (keeping my fingers crossed for this one). i found it absolutely hilarious when he would respond to himself as edmund during the beginning chapters. he had great interactions with secondary characters, which i loved, it’s made him much more human. i loved how he used his confidence and good looks as a kind of armor even if it wasn’t something he did knowingly. his backstory added so much to his character in terms of his ptsd and how that impacted his actions and how cautious he was of certain circumstances, i think it was a very well written expansion of his character.
𑣲 the relationship, talk about slow burn. i absolutely enjoyed reading the inner turmoil of both characters. their dynamic is complicated because of the sword bounding them together, but i really appreciated that edmund was always willing to let him be free. while edmund didn’t fully understand the extent of control the sword had over the dervish, once he realized he was horrified. them finally getting to really talk about what it meant to be a spirit of the sword was such an important turning point to the realization that they truly cared for each other beyond the master/servant of the sword bond that they had. their love confessions were so incredibly well written and so wholesome, that scene instantly became one of my favorite scene in the book.
ᨳଓ iv. final thoughts
i had an amazing time reading this book, the tension between edmund and the dervish was exquisite. the plot twist at the end was so unexpected, at least for me, and i loved seeing the characters from last book come together in this book. the characters and plot are wonderfully written, t. kingfisher has easily become an author whose writing i really enjoy. her author’s note mentions shieldborn, which is obviously angharad’s book and i’m so excited to see where her story will go and how it will intertwine with the plot of this book and swordheart.
— ᨳଓ pre-read
i am so excited to read this, i read the swordheart not that long ago and loved it so i can’t wait to see how this world grows !!
ⓘ thank you t. kingfisher, tor publishing & netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review
July 13, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ WHAT A STORY!!!!! This audiobook was phenomenal.
First I want to mention the narrator: she was amazing and put so much life and emotion into ALL of the characters. It was so entertaining and extremely easy to connect to the characters.
T. Kingfisher made the characters so compelling and loveable. I laughed out loud multiple times, and had a smile on my face for a good percentage of the story. For example “Large Francis building”
The companions we meet on the way may be my favorite aspect. Or the hilarious relationship between Sweetness and The Dervish… The companions' voices from the narrator were 100x better than I would’ve imagined if I read a physical book, and I’m so happy I listened to this.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t realize this was the second in a series… and by the time I started I decided to give it a try without reading the related story (Swordheart). I’m sure it’s a better idea to read them in order, but I STILL loved this and nothing felt more confusing than it should’ve.
I would HIGHLY recommend this, and especially the audiobook read by Jesse Vilinsky. Thank you to the author and publisher for the ALC!
First I want to mention the narrator: she was amazing and put so much life and emotion into ALL of the characters. It was so entertaining and extremely easy to connect to the characters.
T. Kingfisher made the characters so compelling and loveable. I laughed out loud multiple times, and had a smile on my face for a good percentage of the story. For example “Large Francis building”
The companions we meet on the way may be my favorite aspect. Or the hilarious relationship between Sweetness and The Dervish… The companions' voices from the narrator were 100x better than I would’ve imagined if I read a physical book, and I’m so happy I listened to this.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t realize this was the second in a series… and by the time I started I decided to give it a try without reading the related story (Swordheart). I’m sure it’s a better idea to read them in order, but I STILL loved this and nothing felt more confusing than it should’ve.
I would HIGHLY recommend this, and especially the audiobook read by Jesse Vilinsky. Thank you to the author and publisher for the ALC!
September 8, 2026
Little by little, T. Kingfisher has been pairing off her Paladin and Paladin-adjacent characters; this time, it’s the turn of that pissy misogynist intellectual and notable all-around pill Learned Edmund.
That’s ex-misogynist, ex-pill, not-so-pissy Edmund — no longer Learned, even, because he has left the order of the Many-Armed God in despair over the impossibility of getting his fellow dedicates to join him in ex-misogyny. Edmund’s doing one last errand for his order, bringing some books and an old dagger to a scholar in Archenhold. This errand entails, technically, stealing a pack mule named Sweetness, but oh well. Edmund really likes her!
So, Edmund and Sweetness are set upon by bandits; in the ensuing mess Edmund is badly beaten and, while crawling around at the end of his strength trying to escape further blows, accidentally draws the dagger. Enter the Dervish.
The Dervish — this seems to be not just a sobriquet but his actual name — has been imprisoned in the dagger, just as Sarkis in Swordheart is imprisoned in the titular sword. And just as Swordheart’s Halla becomes Sarkis’s wielder when she draws his sword, so Edmund has, in drawing the dagger, become the Dervish’s wielder.
Unfortunately for their prospects of mutual understanding, the Dervish has had an absolutely crap time of it even apart from the awfulness of being trapped in a blade, in servitude to whoever wields it, and immortal. Just suppose that you were really, really into vivisection and you had a subject whom you could experiment on endlessly with only the minor inconvenience that whenever they died all you had to do was wait a couple of weeks for them to recover and then you could start all over again. The Dervish is a little bit bitter about his time on the receiving end of that enthusiasm.
Also, Edmund is not at all the Dervish’s type.
Eventually the Dervish is persuaded of Former Pill Formerly Learned Edmund’s basic decency and good faith. It also turns out that Edmund is slyly funny and that his disquisitions on topics of interest to him turn out to be of interest to the Dervish as well. As for Edmund, he finds the Dervish hot AF from the jump, which doesn’t stop him from appreciating the Dervish’s courage and sarcasm.
You already know where that all ends, but of course our heroes encounter many vicissitudes and make some friends, notably a gnole named Dog Violet and a gigantic extremely intelligent pillbug named … ah, no, I’ll leave that as a surprise. In fact, the scene in which Edmund, the Dervish, and Dog Violet learn the pillbug’s name is all by itself an argument for listening to the audiobook instead of reading with your eyes, because Jesse Vilinsky’s delivery is matchless.
My goodness, did I have fun. Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC; I’m pretty sure Angharad’s book comes next (if you’ve read Swordheart you already know), but also I would like to request one starring Zale.
That’s ex-misogynist, ex-pill, not-so-pissy Edmund — no longer Learned, even, because he has left the order of the Many-Armed God in despair over the impossibility of getting his fellow dedicates to join him in ex-misogyny. Edmund’s doing one last errand for his order, bringing some books and an old dagger to a scholar in Archenhold. This errand entails, technically, stealing a pack mule named Sweetness, but oh well. Edmund really likes her!
So, Edmund and Sweetness are set upon by bandits; in the ensuing mess Edmund is badly beaten and, while crawling around at the end of his strength trying to escape further blows, accidentally draws the dagger. Enter the Dervish.
The Dervish — this seems to be not just a sobriquet but his actual name — has been imprisoned in the dagger, just as Sarkis in Swordheart is imprisoned in the titular sword. And just as Swordheart’s Halla becomes Sarkis’s wielder when she draws his sword, so Edmund has, in drawing the dagger, become the Dervish’s wielder.
Unfortunately for their prospects of mutual understanding, the Dervish has had an absolutely crap time of it even apart from the awfulness of being trapped in a blade, in servitude to whoever wields it, and immortal. Just suppose that you were really, really into vivisection and you had a subject whom you could experiment on endlessly with only the minor inconvenience that whenever they died all you had to do was wait a couple of weeks for them to recover and then you could start all over again. The Dervish is a little bit bitter about his time on the receiving end of that enthusiasm.
Also, Edmund is not at all the Dervish’s type.
Eventually the Dervish is persuaded of Former Pill Formerly Learned Edmund’s basic decency and good faith. It also turns out that Edmund is slyly funny and that his disquisitions on topics of interest to him turn out to be of interest to the Dervish as well. As for Edmund, he finds the Dervish hot AF from the jump, which doesn’t stop him from appreciating the Dervish’s courage and sarcasm.
You already know where that all ends, but of course our heroes encounter many vicissitudes and make some friends, notably a gnole named Dog Violet and a gigantic extremely intelligent pillbug named … ah, no, I’ll leave that as a surprise. In fact, the scene in which Edmund, the Dervish, and Dog Violet learn the pillbug’s name is all by itself an argument for listening to the audiobook instead of reading with your eyes, because Jesse Vilinsky’s delivery is matchless.
My goodness, did I have fun. Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC; I’m pretty sure Angharad’s book comes next (if you’ve read Swordheart you already know), but also I would like to request one starring Zale.
September 1, 2026
i want to live in the world of the white rat forever
August 22, 2026
I wasn't expecting much from this because I found the first book in the series to be very meh, but this sequel might just be a new favourite of mine. 4.5/5
The shy, humble scholar and the devilishly charismatic sword-man made for a very charming pair to follow. I love how the scholar can't help but be fascinated by the world around him and spew facts about any topic of conversation, and the beautiful sword who loves dropping innuendos and watching his cheeks pinken. Absolutely adorable dynamic.
The plot itself is interesting and involves an assortment of ~animal companions, a scheming cult, a global plague, scientific advancements, culture+language exchange, a dragon, and numerous hijinks. There was never a dull moment along their journey and I definitely recommend giving this book a try.
Audiobook Notes:
I found the narration to be utterly charming, especially the voice and affectation chosen for the scholar and the sword-man. I highly, highly recommend picking up the audio for this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The shy, humble scholar and the devilishly charismatic sword-man made for a very charming pair to follow. I love how the scholar can't help but be fascinated by the world around him and spew facts about any topic of conversation, and the beautiful sword who loves dropping innuendos and watching his cheeks pinken. Absolutely adorable dynamic.
The plot itself is interesting and involves an assortment of ~animal companions, a scheming cult, a global plague, scientific advancements, culture+language exchange, a dragon, and numerous hijinks. There was never a dull moment along their journey and I definitely recommend giving this book a try.
Audiobook Notes:
I found the narration to be utterly charming, especially the voice and affectation chosen for the scholar and the sword-man. I highly, highly recommend picking up the audio for this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 27, 2026
I am all for reading escapist cozy fantasies in August (northern hemisphere but now I think of it, it would work for the southern hemisphere also, right). I feel like I should put a disclaimer proclaiming, yes, I am a fan of T. Kingfisher (it was an insta-read on publication date) and I read ALL of the white rat universe stories before. This was eagerly waited for, right? I am a very good faith reader, I wanted to love this book.
So now I put out all those disclaimers: meh. I am disappointed. It felt like a meddley of fan service to all (ok, not all, but a lot) white rat universe characters and plotlines, not just Swordheart (whose characters are way too much in this book). It feels like a book for fans and they are many, yeah, but the warning, you need to read previous books (preferably the clocktaur books and swordheart) for optimal engagement. (You can skip the Paladin books). I was wondering while reading it if I could push this as a first book set in this universe to a friend and for a bit I thought I might, but then no, some things will not be clear, and it runs the risk of Halla being all precious in the last part of the book being really annoying.
Incidentally, and I blame ("blame") Adrian Tchaikovsky for this, important moral non human character with many legs and a carapace from a species with males smaller and unequal in rights - I am going to ignore the differences between insects and isopods (though I kept waiting for a joke or commentary on males getting eaten post mating, and nobody even thought about it...).
So, theoretically a romance, if so it is slow burn and I was not really feeling any emotional chemistry, with an adventure campaign with side quests, cozy feel with non human side kicks (sadly not the mule, the gnole and pillbug take over the wiseass cracking), some basic morality and tons of tie ins to other books. It is long, it feels slow, and it remains just oh so shallow. Humans are bad, and might be dangerous to other species. We touch rather lightly an ethical dilemma regarding a plague from Clocktaur books, and it is not handled more deeply here - and it is a big ethical dilemma and I do not think Edmund is even doing the right choice. But the author seems to endorse it.
Also, sorry, but gnoles are at least as annoying as ewoks, and there is something deeply uncomfortable for me, in the way they are portrayed and human characters are oh so paternalistic to them, while all the gnoles seem to do is be sassy at humans and are fine wanting to work for humans as the only option. I can't put my point exactly on why it bugs me (maybe because it bugs), and I am probably influenced by their roles in other books in being unsatisfied in their roles in these books.
Petty complaint, but why is Dervish, always "the Dervish"? I get it is an alias and matches the storm, but just the same when reading about characters named Storm or whatever they are not "the Storm". Another petty rambling, daggerbound, the title is just pointless right? Dervish (Ah, see, no "the") is not actually bound to any dagger, nor are daggers important.
Sorry for the rambling, trying to note down thoughts while the reading is fresh. I might be an outlier here, I often am, but this is not the book of my expectations at all. 3 stars, which is a little bit below my rating average for all books but this was a little bit below reading enjoyment and definitely significantly below the enjoyment I expected getting from a new T. Kingfisher book.
So now I put out all those disclaimers: meh. I am disappointed. It felt like a meddley of fan service to all (ok, not all, but a lot) white rat universe characters and plotlines, not just Swordheart (whose characters are way too much in this book). It feels like a book for fans and they are many, yeah, but the warning, you need to read previous books (preferably the clocktaur books and swordheart) for optimal engagement. (You can skip the Paladin books). I was wondering while reading it if I could push this as a first book set in this universe to a friend and for a bit I thought I might, but then no, some things will not be clear, and it runs the risk of Halla being all precious in the last part of the book being really annoying.
Incidentally, and I blame ("blame") Adrian Tchaikovsky for this, important moral non human character with many legs and a carapace from a species with males smaller and unequal in rights - I am going to ignore the differences between insects and isopods (though I kept waiting for a joke or commentary on males getting eaten post mating, and nobody even thought about it...).
So, theoretically a romance, if so it is slow burn and I was not really feeling any emotional chemistry, with an adventure campaign with side quests, cozy feel with non human side kicks (sadly not the mule, the gnole and pillbug take over the wiseass cracking), some basic morality and tons of tie ins to other books. It is long, it feels slow, and it remains just oh so shallow. Humans are bad, and might be dangerous to other species. We touch rather lightly an ethical dilemma regarding a plague from Clocktaur books, and it is not handled more deeply here - and it is a big ethical dilemma and I do not think Edmund is even doing the right choice. But the author seems to endorse it.
Also, sorry, but gnoles are at least as annoying as ewoks, and there is something deeply uncomfortable for me, in the way they are portrayed and human characters are oh so paternalistic to them, while all the gnoles seem to do is be sassy at humans and are fine wanting to work for humans as the only option. I can't put my point exactly on why it bugs me (maybe because it bugs), and I am probably influenced by their roles in other books in being unsatisfied in their roles in these books.
Petty complaint, but why is Dervish, always "the Dervish"? I get it is an alias and matches the storm, but just the same when reading about characters named Storm or whatever they are not "the Storm". Another petty rambling, daggerbound, the title is just pointless right? Dervish (Ah, see, no "the") is not actually bound to any dagger, nor are daggers important.
Sorry for the rambling, trying to note down thoughts while the reading is fresh. I might be an outlier here, I often am, but this is not the book of my expectations at all. 3 stars, which is a little bit below my rating average for all books but this was a little bit below reading enjoyment and definitely significantly below the enjoyment I expected getting from a new T. Kingfisher book.
Read
August 24, 2026Once upon a time, I was girl who had never heard of T. Kingfisher and I think my reading life was 10-15% less happy because of that. But then in 2021 something magical happened when I read the first book in the Swordheart series and fell…in…love. It was everything Romantasy should be but rarely is. It is a great blend of fantasy worldbuilding AND a slow build romance that you could enjoy and get behind. Daggerbound is the second book in this series and while I generally am very on the fence about same sex book romances, I enjoyed everything about the slow build behind this one.
If you read the Clocktaur War series you may remember Learned Edmund, who initially had some very unusual/usual views about women. He has decided to leave the order he has been a member of most of his life, but as a cover he is going to deliver a sword and some books to someone in the capitol. Everything should have been easy, but Edmund seems to attract trouble at every turn and when he pulls out the sword, he finds it also held a man, a very attractive man. The Delvish was a mercenary until his captain lead them into a bad bargain and he ended up curse to be bound to protect whoever wields the sword. Edmund is different than all his prior wielders and if he can keep the man alive, he just might be able to help him find a way to break the curse.
I have been waiting, with baited breath for the sequel to Swordheart for five years and I was so worried it wouldn’t live up to original. I had nothing to be concerned about as Edmund and the Dervish have a fun dialog between them and the romantic tension was delicious. Add in a fan favorite priest of the White Rat, Zale, to travel with and few new friends one a Gnoll and Francis a Pill Bug of unusual size. How could it get any better…but wait there is more. Halla and Sarkis and Brindle all make an appearance too and it was everything I wanted it to be and more. Halla is probably one of my favorite characters in fiction and I loved seeing how she has kept up her discombobulating ways as they are truly epic.
Kingfisher has again produced something wonderful in this World of the Rat. It has action and adventure along with heartfelt moments and humor. Edmund’s way of looking at the world is wonderful. The Dervish, so broken after so many years in the sword with the trauma that came from having some incredibly harsh masters, never expected a wielder to treat him as a person. Edmund’s understanding and kindness, something the Dervish never expected, helped him start the journey of healing.
There is a real plot behind the story, smart dialog, hilarious moments and just a fun time all around. I’m so happy with how well Daggerbound was crafted. Kingfisher has done it again and created a story I can’t wait to read again and again. She build adult complex characters with flaws and quirks and doesn’t shy away from the good and bad sides of them. They feel like whole people instead of caricatures of people. It is what makes T. Kingfisher an auto buy for me no matter the genre she is writing in, though her romantasies are my favorite.
Narration:
This is one of those times that I think the audio helps make the story even more enjoyable. There is a subtle humor to T. Kingfisher’s writing and having the correct narrator can help because they assist in the comedic timing in some of the dialog and events. Jesse Vilinsky returns to guide the reader through this adventure. The dialog, the characters, the accents, everything was on point and practically perfect. I loved the narration of this story and know that it captured the heart of what Kingfisher’s vision. Highly recommend the audio. I was able to listen to the story at my usual 1.5x speed.
Performance: ★★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★★
Diction: ★★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★★
Sound Effects: none
If you read the Clocktaur War series you may remember Learned Edmund, who initially had some very unusual/usual views about women. He has decided to leave the order he has been a member of most of his life, but as a cover he is going to deliver a sword and some books to someone in the capitol. Everything should have been easy, but Edmund seems to attract trouble at every turn and when he pulls out the sword, he finds it also held a man, a very attractive man. The Delvish was a mercenary until his captain lead them into a bad bargain and he ended up curse to be bound to protect whoever wields the sword. Edmund is different than all his prior wielders and if he can keep the man alive, he just might be able to help him find a way to break the curse.
"I gnoll thinks maybe we should go around.”
“Yes.” Said the Dervish “Yes, that seems like a very good idea. We want to be well around it by the time it gets cold and decides to…Edmund, are you sketching it?”
“Only a quick sketch.” The scholar said. He had put his glasses on and pulled out his notebook almost as fast as the Dervish could draw his daggers.
I have been waiting, with baited breath for the sequel to Swordheart for five years and I was so worried it wouldn’t live up to original. I had nothing to be concerned about as Edmund and the Dervish have a fun dialog between them and the romantic tension was delicious. Add in a fan favorite priest of the White Rat, Zale, to travel with and few new friends one a Gnoll and Francis a Pill Bug of unusual size. How could it get any better…but wait there is more. Halla and Sarkis and Brindle all make an appearance too and it was everything I wanted it to be and more. Halla is probably one of my favorite characters in fiction and I loved seeing how she has kept up her discombobulating ways as they are truly epic.
"What gets me,” said Zale as the sounds of arguing faded from the yard, “Is how rarely they interrupt. You can see them getting impatient. But for some reason they hardly ever cut you off. You’re like a snake charmer that babbles instead of playing the flute.”
“It’s a gift.”
Kingfisher has again produced something wonderful in this World of the Rat. It has action and adventure along with heartfelt moments and humor. Edmund’s way of looking at the world is wonderful. The Dervish, so broken after so many years in the sword with the trauma that came from having some incredibly harsh masters, never expected a wielder to treat him as a person. Edmund’s understanding and kindness, something the Dervish never expected, helped him start the journey of healing.
There is a real plot behind the story, smart dialog, hilarious moments and just a fun time all around. I’m so happy with how well Daggerbound was crafted. Kingfisher has done it again and created a story I can’t wait to read again and again. She build adult complex characters with flaws and quirks and doesn’t shy away from the good and bad sides of them. They feel like whole people instead of caricatures of people. It is what makes T. Kingfisher an auto buy for me no matter the genre she is writing in, though her romantasies are my favorite.
Narration:
This is one of those times that I think the audio helps make the story even more enjoyable. There is a subtle humor to T. Kingfisher’s writing and having the correct narrator can help because they assist in the comedic timing in some of the dialog and events. Jesse Vilinsky returns to guide the reader through this adventure. The dialog, the characters, the accents, everything was on point and practically perfect. I loved the narration of this story and know that it captured the heart of what Kingfisher’s vision. Highly recommend the audio. I was able to listen to the story at my usual 1.5x speed.
Performance: ★★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★★
Diction: ★★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★★
Sound Effects: none
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy of the audiobook.
Absolutely loved this! I totally missed that this was part of a series and was worried I'd be confused but nope, I got into this easily from the very start. T. Kingfisher is just a pro at fantasy tbh and I was so impressed by this. I have to buy the first book now because this was soooo good!
I loved the relationship between Edmund and Dervish. Edmund is at first totally stricken by Dervish and how attractive he is, thinking he's an angel. Eventually he gets to know Dervish better, as a person, and still finds him incredible. Dervish on the other hand takes time to warm up to Edmund but also gets to know him as a person and that's the most important part - yes there is some physical attraction but really these two are getting to know who each other really, truly is and falling in love. The banter and conversations are top notch as well, which is another thing T. Kingfisher is really good at tbh
We also get a fun cast of side characters, from Large Frances to Violet the gnoll, and all the characters they run into on their journey, I absolutely loved everyone, even the bad guys. Everyone felt so real and interesting and like Edmund I want to know absolutely everything about everyone and everything in this world lol
My only super minor complaint is that the traveling in the middle felt like it took a bit too long - but overall the pacing and plotting was really good. I never felt disengaged at any point, I always wanted to continue listening. Which, also, the narrator, Jesse Vilinsky was AMAZING. So many voices and accents, it almost felt like I was listening to a full cast narration and I was in awe. This is is one of my favorite audiobook experiences I've ever had.
Easy 5*, and I predict it will make my best of list at the end of the year.
Absolutely loved this! I totally missed that this was part of a series and was worried I'd be confused but nope, I got into this easily from the very start. T. Kingfisher is just a pro at fantasy tbh and I was so impressed by this. I have to buy the first book now because this was soooo good!
I loved the relationship between Edmund and Dervish. Edmund is at first totally stricken by Dervish and how attractive he is, thinking he's an angel. Eventually he gets to know Dervish better, as a person, and still finds him incredible. Dervish on the other hand takes time to warm up to Edmund but also gets to know him as a person and that's the most important part - yes there is some physical attraction but really these two are getting to know who each other really, truly is and falling in love. The banter and conversations are top notch as well, which is another thing T. Kingfisher is really good at tbh
We also get a fun cast of side characters, from Large Frances to Violet the gnoll, and all the characters they run into on their journey, I absolutely loved everyone, even the bad guys. Everyone felt so real and interesting and like Edmund I want to know absolutely everything about everyone and everything in this world lol
My only super minor complaint is that the traveling in the middle felt like it took a bit too long - but overall the pacing and plotting was really good. I never felt disengaged at any point, I always wanted to continue listening. Which, also, the narrator, Jesse Vilinsky was AMAZING. So many voices and accents, it almost felt like I was listening to a full cast narration and I was in awe. This is is one of my favorite audiobook experiences I've ever had.
Easy 5*, and I predict it will make my best of list at the end of the year.
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