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Swordheart #2
Daggerbound
Not yet published
Expected 25 Aug 26New 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.
A Macmillan Audio production from Bramble Books
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.
A Macmillan Audio production from Bramble Books
Audible Audio
Expected publication August 25, 2026
About the author
T. Kingfisher
68 books29.6k 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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July 3, 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.
Read
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 😌
Want to Read
April 22, 2025New reason to live: Two T. Kingfisher releases in 2026
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.
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!
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
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😭
wishlist
October 22, 2025Oh my bloody shrimping hell of the stinking fish, a Swordheart sequel!!!!!!!!!!!!!
· Book 1: Swordheart ★★★★★
· Book 1: Swordheart ★★★★★
Want to Read
October 1, 2025SWORDHEART SPIN-OFF AND IT'S M/M ROMANCE??? GIVE IT TO ME NOW!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
daggerbound ꒱ 5 stars
⌗ 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥: jun 7, ‘26 ⌇ 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥: jun 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: jun 7, ‘26 ⌇ 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥: jun 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 17, 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!
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.
Want to Read
August 22, 2025LEARNED EDMUND???????? DERVISH?????? I'M SAT AND GLUED TO MY CHAIR FOR A YEAR
August 7, 2026
I absolutely loved Swordheart, so I couldn’t wait to jump back into this world.
The story starts by following Edmond, who is completing one last task before leaving the priesthood. When he’s attacked while traveling, he accidentally pulls the sword he was told not to use, releasing Dervish, the immortal spirit bound to the sword. The story follows them as Dervish accompanies Edmond on his journey.
I loved Edmond. I love a scholarly man who can always talk about something. Edmond truly cared about understanding the world and keeping an open mind. The banter and dynamic between him and Dervish was so entertaining. At first, their relationship is complicated because Dervish is magically bound to him, but as it develops into friendship and then flirting?! I was living for it!
Dervish has been through hell and back. Being immortal and bound to the sword, he’s seen some things. He’s used to being used, so he’s naturally on guard. The fact that he wanted to hate Edmond because of the sword bond but couldn’t was everything! Honestly I fully understood all his feelings. Even with their ownership bond, I really wanted them to develop into something more!
The side characters in this story were so funny! I loved how each time they were introduced Edmond was so happy and curious. Their quirky contributions were so entertaining and honestly a nice touch.
The story as a whole was a very entertaining quest. I enjoyed the many situations they found themselves in. The last quarter was so exciting, and the ending was perfect.
I loved this audiobook! It was narrated by Jesse Vilinsky, who did an amazing job. I loved her inflections and vocal expressions, especially with the quirky side characters. Her voice was smooth and enjoyable to listen to. She truly brought the story to life!
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
The story starts by following Edmond, who is completing one last task before leaving the priesthood. When he’s attacked while traveling, he accidentally pulls the sword he was told not to use, releasing Dervish, the immortal spirit bound to the sword. The story follows them as Dervish accompanies Edmond on his journey.
I loved Edmond. I love a scholarly man who can always talk about something. Edmond truly cared about understanding the world and keeping an open mind. The banter and dynamic between him and Dervish was so entertaining. At first, their relationship is complicated because Dervish is magically bound to him, but as it develops into friendship and then flirting?! I was living for it!
Dervish has been through hell and back. Being immortal and bound to the sword, he’s seen some things. He’s used to being used, so he’s naturally on guard. The fact that he wanted to hate Edmond because of the sword bond but couldn’t was everything! Honestly I fully understood all his feelings. Even with their ownership bond, I really wanted them to develop into something more!
The side characters in this story were so funny! I loved how each time they were introduced Edmond was so happy and curious. Their quirky contributions were so entertaining and honestly a nice touch.
The story as a whole was a very entertaining quest. I enjoyed the many situations they found themselves in. The last quarter was so exciting, and the ending was perfect.
I loved this audiobook! It was narrated by Jesse Vilinsky, who did an amazing job. I loved her inflections and vocal expressions, especially with the quirky side characters. Her voice was smooth and enjoyable to listen to. She truly brought the story to life!
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2026
T. Kingfisher does it again!! This trip back to Swordheart and the world of the White Rat is just what I needed. We get to meet Learned Edmund and The Dervish. We get appearances by beloved past characters. We get romance. 💙💙 We get a gnoles, a donkey named Sweetness and…….a large pill bug? It’s fine. Everything is fine.
Daggerbound lifted my heart and my spirit at a time when I needed it the most. I adored all the characters but as a teacher who likes to know things, I love Edmund and everything he stands for. He’s so sweet and so passionate and so concerned for everyone but himself. Thank goodness he’s found friends (and more) who will watch out for him.
Thank you to Bramble and NetGalley for the arc!
Daggerbound lifted my heart and my spirit at a time when I needed it the most. I adored all the characters but as a teacher who likes to know things, I love Edmund and everything he stands for. He’s so sweet and so passionate and so concerned for everyone but himself. Thank goodness he’s found friends (and more) who will watch out for him.
Thank you to Bramble and NetGalley for the arc!
May 27, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5 stars
Daggerbound is my most anticipated release of the year and I am SOOOO GIDDY that it absolutely lived up to my very very high hopes.
This has everything I love in a T. Kingfisher romantic fantasy: awkward and earnest characters, found family, rich worldbuilding, witty and sardonic writing, yearning a plenty, whimsical and weird creatures (gnoles included), and an addictive plot.
Edmund and the Dervish are so dear to me, and they complement each other perfectly. Francis and Dog Violet were such wonderful side characters and added such depth and humor to the story.
As a lover of the world of the White Rat, the lore in Daggerbound was especially so much fun. I loved how Kingfisher built upon plot points first introduced in the Clocktaur War and Swordheart.
This was truly a phenomenal read and despite my best efforts to savor it as long as possible, I devoured this book in 24 hours. I need 1,000 more books in this world.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group | Bramble for the eARC!!
Daggerbound is my most anticipated release of the year and I am SOOOO GIDDY that it absolutely lived up to my very very high hopes.
This has everything I love in a T. Kingfisher romantic fantasy: awkward and earnest characters, found family, rich worldbuilding, witty and sardonic writing, yearning a plenty, whimsical and weird creatures (gnoles included), and an addictive plot.
Edmund and the Dervish are so dear to me, and they complement each other perfectly. Francis and Dog Violet were such wonderful side characters and added such depth and humor to the story.
As a lover of the world of the White Rat, the lore in Daggerbound was especially so much fun. I loved how Kingfisher built upon plot points first introduced in the Clocktaur War and Swordheart.
This was truly a phenomenal read and despite my best efforts to savor it as long as possible, I devoured this book in 24 hours. I need 1,000 more books in this world.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group | Bramble for the eARC!!
October 19, 2025
Would throw myself in front of a moving horse for Large Building Francis
August 6, 2026
I love this universe, I love T. Kingfisher, I could read it forever !
So tender, so funny, so witty and heartwarming. I loved all the characters and I’m glad we saw some we already knew back !
I will be seated for Angharad’s book, I spotted the title for her during my reading and Ursula confirmed it in her acknowledgments 🤭
So tender, so funny, so witty and heartwarming. I loved all the characters and I’m glad we saw some we already knew back !
I will be seated for Angharad’s book, I spotted the title for her during my reading and Ursula confirmed it in her acknowledgments 🤭
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25⭐️
I would say Daggerbound perfectly met my expectations—and when it comes to the World of the White Rat, that is absolutely a good thing.
Learned Edmund was such a little prissy jerk in Clockwork Boys, so it was great to be back with him after all this time. He's come a long way, he's cured a disease, he's sort of a celebrity? And he's leaving his temple, thank the gods. He's just got this one last errand to do and then he's done.
That errand, of course, has to do with dropping off a certain Sword. Now, I went into Swordheart blind, so the general premise was a truly delightful turn of events for me when I first read it. Obviously I knew what was coming with the Dervish, but his character was so different from Sarkis in a very fun way.
Now, when I say this book met my expectations, there's a certain formula here that mainly revolves around traveling from place to place and meeting non-human companions. And there's a horse, of course. If you've read enough of these books by T. Kingfisher you've grown to find a certain comfort in it. I certainly do, and so while I can't say this book blew me way...I really enjoyed it! And the unlikely romance was entertaining because of how incredibly different the Dervish and Learned Edmund are.
Would I say this is the first T. Kingfisher book you should read? No. But it fits in very well with the others in the series! I was not disappointed.
(A big thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Also I'll just keep this here: I love you, Ursula.)
I would say Daggerbound perfectly met my expectations—and when it comes to the World of the White Rat, that is absolutely a good thing.
Learned Edmund was such a little prissy jerk in Clockwork Boys, so it was great to be back with him after all this time. He's come a long way, he's cured a disease, he's sort of a celebrity? And he's leaving his temple, thank the gods. He's just got this one last errand to do and then he's done.
That errand, of course, has to do with dropping off a certain Sword. Now, I went into Swordheart blind, so the general premise was a truly delightful turn of events for me when I first read it. Obviously I knew what was coming with the Dervish, but his character was so different from Sarkis in a very fun way.
Now, when I say this book met my expectations, there's a certain formula here that mainly revolves around traveling from place to place and meeting non-human companions. And there's a horse, of course. If you've read enough of these books by T. Kingfisher you've grown to find a certain comfort in it. I certainly do, and so while I can't say this book blew me way...I really enjoyed it! And the unlikely romance was entertaining because of how incredibly different the Dervish and Learned Edmund are.
Would I say this is the first T. Kingfisher book you should read? No. But it fits in very well with the others in the series! I was not disappointed.
(A big thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Also I'll just keep this here: I love you, Ursula.)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Can't wait for Shieldborn!!!
--
Learned Edmund??? What are you doing here???
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Learned Edmund??? What are you doing here???
July 3, 2026
I’m so sorry Bob the Sourdough Starter, Large Francis of Building has dethroned you as the best T. Kingfisher character 🐛
In my review of Swordheart, I do believe I said if Halla wasn’t the main character, I didn’t want it. Well. Consider me wrong. The Dervish was such a fantastic character. His development? His friendship with Dog Violet? WHEN HE TALKS TO HIMSELF? I’m wheezing.
I really didn’t think we could top Swordheart but here we are. If I could give Daggerbound 6 stars I would.
And the audiobook? What a masterpiece. If you get the opportunity, LISTEN to this book. Jessie Vilinsky has such a knack for accents and voice acting. There truly isn’t a better narrator out there IMO.
THANK YOU NetGalley for the audiobook. I am patiently awaiting the third book 💕
In my review of Swordheart, I do believe I said if Halla wasn’t the main character, I didn’t want it. Well. Consider me wrong. The Dervish was such a fantastic character. His development? His friendship with Dog Violet? WHEN HE TALKS TO HIMSELF? I’m wheezing.
I really didn’t think we could top Swordheart but here we are. If I could give Daggerbound 6 stars I would.
And the audiobook? What a masterpiece. If you get the opportunity, LISTEN to this book. Jessie Vilinsky has such a knack for accents and voice acting. There truly isn’t a better narrator out there IMO.
THANK YOU NetGalley for the audiobook. I am patiently awaiting the third book 💕
July 21, 2026
advanced reader copy received from NetGalley
4.25 THIS is the T. Kingfisher I fell for. I could read one of Ms. Vernon’s books written in this style every week and would always always love it. Daggerbound is the romantic, witty, whimsical sequel to Swordheart and did not disappoint.
Following our second victim of The Smith in the World of the White Rat (my favorite fantasy world currently), we met new characters, encountered beloved old characters, and had a whole lot of great and funny dialogue along the way.
Written as a journey, which all the best books are, there were quite a few similarities to Swordheart in terms of plot and structure. At first I was like “oh this again” and then i was like “OH this again 😏.” A romance between a young scholar, Edmund, and a scoundrel, The Dervish, the dynamic was similar to Halla and Sarkis but dare I say sexier? Our two young (physically at least) men, one a nerd and one a heartthrob, encounter a gnole, a 12 foot pillbug (giving Mosscap from Psalm of the Wild Built), and a giant draft horse who is infatuated with the pack mule, journey to find liberation from the steel - hijinks ensue. The world was developed further in this book, with new species and new political considerations coming into play.
Sometimes I feel the sidekicks are used too much as comedic relief or as crutches for less dimensional main characters, but each character was multi-faceted and had moments of humor and depth along the way. I feel like this book specifically gave us another side of gnoles with Dog Violet which I really enjoyed.
Two small critiques:
1. I do wish there was a glossary or mapping of some sort of the gods, their religions, and the names/titles of their priests because it’s been awhile.
2. Ending felt abrupt. I get we finished the action but where was Sweetness? Is Dog Violet apprenticing Brindle? Where are Edmund’s books? How long is Big Francis staying and how is she getting back to her people? Are the Many Armed God priests mad or even care about Edmund leaving? Who is Zale’s lover? Who made the dragon? Is Alba okay?
Overall, loved this book, it was well planned, characters were well rounded and lovely, there was the familiar tone of other White Rat books but was still fresh, and set up some open ends that I can’t wait to be addressed in the third book.
4.25 THIS is the T. Kingfisher I fell for. I could read one of Ms. Vernon’s books written in this style every week and would always always love it. Daggerbound is the romantic, witty, whimsical sequel to Swordheart and did not disappoint.
Following our second victim of The Smith in the World of the White Rat (my favorite fantasy world currently), we met new characters, encountered beloved old characters, and had a whole lot of great and funny dialogue along the way.
Written as a journey, which all the best books are, there were quite a few similarities to Swordheart in terms of plot and structure. At first I was like “oh this again” and then i was like “OH this again 😏.” A romance between a young scholar, Edmund, and a scoundrel, The Dervish, the dynamic was similar to Halla and Sarkis but dare I say sexier? Our two young (physically at least) men, one a nerd and one a heartthrob, encounter a gnole, a 12 foot pillbug (giving Mosscap from Psalm of the Wild Built), and a giant draft horse who is infatuated with the pack mule, journey to find liberation from the steel - hijinks ensue. The world was developed further in this book, with new species and new political considerations coming into play.
Sometimes I feel the sidekicks are used too much as comedic relief or as crutches for less dimensional main characters, but each character was multi-faceted and had moments of humor and depth along the way. I feel like this book specifically gave us another side of gnoles with Dog Violet which I really enjoyed.
Two small critiques:
1. I do wish there was a glossary or mapping of some sort of the gods, their religions, and the names/titles of their priests because it’s been awhile.
2. Ending felt abrupt. I get we finished the action but where was Sweetness? Is Dog Violet apprenticing Brindle? Where are Edmund’s books? How long is Big Francis staying and how is she getting back to her people? Are the Many Armed God priests mad or even care about Edmund leaving? Who is Zale’s lover? Who made the dragon? Is Alba okay?
Overall, loved this book, it was well planned, characters were well rounded and lovely, there was the familiar tone of other White Rat books but was still fresh, and set up some open ends that I can’t wait to be addressed in the third book.
August 10, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio, and the author for an Advanced Listener Copy of this audiobook.
Just like with Swordheart, I had such a fun time reading this. The characters are unique, funny, and just different than what I am used to. This books is like a breath of fresh air, cozy, but adventurous. I love the banter that happens through the entire book. If you loved the first book, then I definitely think you’ll enjoy this adventure.
Just like with Swordheart, I had such a fun time reading this. The characters are unique, funny, and just different than what I am used to. This books is like a breath of fresh air, cozy, but adventurous. I love the banter that happens through the entire book. If you loved the first book, then I definitely think you’ll enjoy this adventure.
August 10, 2026
4.5 stars ✨ Daggerbound was exactly what I wanted (and needed)! T. Kingfisher has a very distinct writing style full of humor, wit, and heart. Although I don’t think this is going to be everyone’s cup of tea, it certainly is mine. This series is the perfect example of cozy, romantic, fantasy and I would recommend for other readers to start with Swordheart before reading this one. If you loved Swordheart, I’m certain you’ll love Daggerbound (maybe even more).
From the world of The White Rat we get Learned Edmund, who’s attempting to leave the temple but finds himself tasked with delivering books and a sword (hmmmm) to another scholar in a far off city. Trouble finds Edmund quite early on! Cue The Dervish, a beautiful, traumatized, dagger wielding man who’s cursed to live in a sword and protect its wielder. This story was a delightful follow up to Swordheart and the romance was surprisingly tender. I love when opposites attract. Also, the side characters are quirky, unique, and a perfect fit for this world! This series holds a special place in my heart.
Thank you NetGalley and Bramble/Tor Publishing Group for this eARC 🖤
From the world of The White Rat we get Learned Edmund, who’s attempting to leave the temple but finds himself tasked with delivering books and a sword (hmmmm) to another scholar in a far off city. Trouble finds Edmund quite early on! Cue The Dervish, a beautiful, traumatized, dagger wielding man who’s cursed to live in a sword and protect its wielder. This story was a delightful follow up to Swordheart and the romance was surprisingly tender. I love when opposites attract. Also, the side characters are quirky, unique, and a perfect fit for this world! This series holds a special place in my heart.
Thank you NetGalley and Bramble/Tor Publishing Group for this eARC 🖤
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