What do you think?
Rate this book
Swordcrossed
Brimming with steamy romance, charm and intrigue, Swordcrossed is a dazzling queer fantasy from the internationally bestselling author of The Last Binding trilogy. 'This is fantasy romance at its very best' - Grace D. Li, author of Portrait of a Thief
Low stakes. High heat. Sharp steel . . .
Mattinesh Jay, dutiful heir to his struggling family business, needs to hire an experienced swordsman to serve as best man for his arranged marriage. Sword-challenge at the ceremony could destroy all hope of restoring his family's wealth, something that Matti has been trying - and failing - to do for the past ten years. What he can afford, unfortunately, is part-time con artist and full-time charming menace Luca Piere.
Luca, for his part, is trying to reinvent himself in a new city. All he wants to do is make some easy money and try to forget the crime he committed in his home town. He didn't plan on being blackmailed into giving sword lessons to a chronically responsible - and inconveniently handsome - wool merchant like Matti.
However, neither Matti's business troubles nor Luca himself are quite what - or who - they seem. As the days to Matti's wedding count down, the two of them become entangled in the intrigue and sabotage that have brought Matti's house to the brink of ruin. And when Luca's secrets threaten to drive a blade through their growing alliance, both Matti and Luca will have to answer the question: how many lies are you prepared to strip away when the truth could mean losing everything you want?
The cosy, low stakes of Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree meets the scorching bodyguard fantasy of Jennifer L. Armentrout's From Blood and Ash in this enemies-to-lovers romance by Freya Marske.
'Swordcrossed proves there's nothing in fantasy - or queer romance - Marske can't do' - Sarah Rees Brennan, author of Long Live Evil.
Low stakes. High heat. Sharp steel . . .
Mattinesh Jay, dutiful heir to his struggling family business, needs to hire an experienced swordsman to serve as best man for his arranged marriage. Sword-challenge at the ceremony could destroy all hope of restoring his family's wealth, something that Matti has been trying - and failing - to do for the past ten years. What he can afford, unfortunately, is part-time con artist and full-time charming menace Luca Piere.
Luca, for his part, is trying to reinvent himself in a new city. All he wants to do is make some easy money and try to forget the crime he committed in his home town. He didn't plan on being blackmailed into giving sword lessons to a chronically responsible - and inconveniently handsome - wool merchant like Matti.
However, neither Matti's business troubles nor Luca himself are quite what - or who - they seem. As the days to Matti's wedding count down, the two of them become entangled in the intrigue and sabotage that have brought Matti's house to the brink of ruin. And when Luca's secrets threaten to drive a blade through their growing alliance, both Matti and Luca will have to answer the question: how many lies are you prepared to strip away when the truth could mean losing everything you want?
The cosy, low stakes of Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree meets the scorching bodyguard fantasy of Jennifer L. Armentrout's From Blood and Ash in this enemies-to-lovers romance by Freya Marske.
'Swordcrossed proves there's nothing in fantasy - or queer romance - Marske can't do' - Sarah Rees Brennan, author of Long Live Evil.
384 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 8, 2024
About the author
Freya Marske
18 books2,621 followersFreya Marske lives in Australia, where she is yet to be killed by any form of wildlife. She writes stories full of magic, blood, and as much kissing as she can get away with, and she co-hosted the Hugo Award nominated podcast Be the Serpent. Her hobbies include figure skating and discovering new art galleries, and she is on a quest to try all the gin in the world.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
March 26, 2024
That cover! It’s so stunning! And yes, the story is equally fantastic! There’s so much yearning and pining and longing, and I fell so hard for it!
All of you like me who don’t read romantasy often, listen! This story reads like a historical romance set in an emancipated foreign country you don’t know much about. Feminist women? Check. Same-sex marriage? Check. Still a historical feeling? Check. So, if you like historical novels, I’m convinced you’ll love this one too.
This story is goood. Oh, I already said that, right? But it is. Swordcrossed has two great main characters. Matti is the one who was never a child, always doing what is expected of him, hiding everything he thinks or feels, and might be demisexual. Luca is an open book, a fiery extroverted, impatient red-head who especially hates early mornings, and might have ADHD. They are so great together!
But there’s more. A likable wedding partner, great family dynamics, lots of banter, vivid writing. A smile danced on my face so many times! Even though this is a standalone, I could do with another story in this world!
Thanks so much, Erin from Macmillan International, for this review copy! I’m always so grateful when you send me the ARC I’m asking for!
Actual rating somewhere between 4 and 4.5 stars.
Follow me on Instagram
All of you like me who don’t read romantasy often, listen! This story reads like a historical romance set in an emancipated foreign country you don’t know much about. Feminist women? Check. Same-sex marriage? Check. Still a historical feeling? Check. So, if you like historical novels, I’m convinced you’ll love this one too.
This story is goood. Oh, I already said that, right? But it is. Swordcrossed has two great main characters. Matti is the one who was never a child, always doing what is expected of him, hiding everything he thinks or feels, and might be demisexual. Luca is an open book, a fiery extroverted, impatient red-head who especially hates early mornings, and might have ADHD. They are so great together!
But there’s more. A likable wedding partner, great family dynamics, lots of banter, vivid writing. A smile danced on my face so many times! Even though this is a standalone, I could do with another story in this world!
Thanks so much, Erin from Macmillan International, for this review copy! I’m always so grateful when you send me the ARC I’m asking for!
Actual rating somewhere between 4 and 4.5 stars.
Follow me on Instagram
June 2, 2024
Trust Freya Marske to write a romantasy book that I really enjoy. I still personally prefer the Last Binding series, but Swordcrossed was a super fun, fast read.
Swordcrossed introduces a world of merchant houses ruled by scheming and secrets. I found the custom of duelists at formal events such as weddings entertaining and unique. Though I think a bit more could have been done with the tradition. I would have loved to see a few more dramatic or important scenes involving Luca’s role.
I loved Luca and Matti as characters. They both feel the weight of the world on their shoulders with their complicated pasts and family dynamics. The tension between them at first—caused by Matti’s dire situation—was really engaging. I loved the vulnerability in their relationship. They both saw sides of the other person that were hidden from the world. My one complaint is the strong insta-lust vibes. There was a lot of tension to build on in their relationship but the book moved past the pining stage very quickly.
As I would expect from a romantasy book, the romance takes up the majority of the story. I wish the plot had been a bit stronger, especially in the earlier parts of the book. The scenes between Luca and Matti started to feel a little repetitive because there wasn't a lot of variety in their routine. I also found some of the later plot developments really predictable, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment too much.
Freya Marske’s writing is engaging as always. However, I found some of the language irritatingly repetitive. Especially the overuse of the same three metaphors.
Swordcrossed is a charmingly romantic fantasy story with heartfelt character relationships.
Thank you Bramble for the eARC
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
Swordcrossed introduces a world of merchant houses ruled by scheming and secrets. I found the custom of duelists at formal events such as weddings entertaining and unique. Though I think a bit more could have been done with the tradition. I would have loved to see a few more dramatic or important scenes involving Luca’s role.
I loved Luca and Matti as characters. They both feel the weight of the world on their shoulders with their complicated pasts and family dynamics. The tension between them at first—caused by Matti’s dire situation—was really engaging. I loved the vulnerability in their relationship. They both saw sides of the other person that were hidden from the world. My one complaint is the strong insta-lust vibes. There was a lot of tension to build on in their relationship but the book moved past the pining stage very quickly.
As I would expect from a romantasy book, the romance takes up the majority of the story. I wish the plot had been a bit stronger, especially in the earlier parts of the book. The scenes between Luca and Matti started to feel a little repetitive because there wasn't a lot of variety in their routine. I also found some of the later plot developments really predictable, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment too much.
Freya Marske’s writing is engaging as always. However, I found some of the language irritatingly repetitive. Especially the overuse of the same three metaphors.
Swordcrossed is a charmingly romantic fantasy story with heartfelt character relationships.
Thank you Bramble for the eARC
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
Shelved as 'dnf'
April 12, 2024DNF na 40%. Pewnie nie możecie w to uwierzyć tak samo jak ja. Jak to, porzucać autorkę CZAROGEJÓW? Ale to nie jest fantasy, przepraszam bardzo, proszę przestać używać tego określenia do książek, które rozgrywają się po prostu w zmyślonej lokacji (wzorowanej na XVII-wiecznych Niderlandach z bardziej współczesną mentalnością) i nie mają ŻADNEJ MAGII. Bo bez magii to już jest tylko zwykły romans, a zwykle romanse są nudniejsze niż raport o plonach z Wielkopolski z czasu drugiego zaboru, nie zapraszam do dyskusji.
Want to read
March 21, 2024UMMM??? this looks so slay, I’m foaming at the mouth!!!
Shelved as 'netgalley-tbr'
May 29, 2024new freya marske!!!!!
edit 29.05 I GOT AN ARC EEEEEEKKKKKK
edit 29.05 I GOT AN ARC EEEEEEKKKKKK
March 28, 2024
SO fun and lighthearted, absolutely loved it!!
June 28, 2024
This book feels like the loveliest possible mashup of Cat Sebastian's gentle historical queer romances and Ellen Kushner's Swordspoint, and it's just wonderful. Funny, cozy, and romantic, with fabulous swordfighting and lovable characters. The plot is less propulsive than the Last Binding books, but that gives Marske time to really dive deep into the characters.
I felt very lucky to get an early copy!
I felt very lucky to get an early copy!
September 30, 2024
4.0 Stars
This might be one of my new favourite “Romantasy” novels. The setup was just cute. The two men were so likable. The writing was great, with right balance of nice prose and witty dialogue. Finally, I was pleasantly surprised that this one got hot. I often assume romance is all “fade to black” but this one got steamy.
I would highly recommend to those who love romance fantasy stories, particularly those with a gay angle. This one was so much fun.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This might be one of my new favourite “Romantasy” novels. The setup was just cute. The two men were so likable. The writing was great, with right balance of nice prose and witty dialogue. Finally, I was pleasantly surprised that this one got hot. I often assume romance is all “fade to black” but this one got steamy.
I would highly recommend to those who love romance fantasy stories, particularly those with a gay angle. This one was so much fun.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
September 23, 2024
4.75 stars.
Completely and utterly satisfying in all ways!
I'm genuinely a bit sad this book is over. A part of me wanted to stretch out and make it last, but once I got past the halfway point, I couldn't put it down. The book did try to break my heart a few times, but it was all completely worth it by the end, I promise! I loved this book so very much. The characters were wonderful (if occasionally infuriating!), the romance was so well done, and the whole thing just felt like a warm, cozy hug of a story.
Freya Marske has a way of writing characters that makes them feel alive and vibrant in the way they interact with the world and each other, and I loved all of these so very much. Swordcrossed just has such spectacular cast of main and side characters! I can't help hoping that we'll get to see more written in this world (perhaps featuring a couple of side characters in particular...) because I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to everyone. Regardless, this is a book I expect I'll be coming back to occasionally just to relive my favorite moments again!
As far as the plot, I won't pretend that this is a deep literary novel, and a lot of it was predictable, but that was part of what made this book so very enjoyable to read. Freya Marske did exactly what I could have hoped for her to do, and did it very well! The intrigue and drama the plot involved was just delightfully fun to follow, and the relationship journey was the perfect blend of sweet, spicy, and dramatic. (So very dramatic. But what can you expect with Drama-King Luca involved!)
All in all, I really loved this book and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a satisfyingly delightful romance adventure!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Completely and utterly satisfying in all ways!
I'm genuinely a bit sad this book is over. A part of me wanted to stretch out and make it last, but once I got past the halfway point, I couldn't put it down. The book did try to break my heart a few times, but it was all completely worth it by the end, I promise! I loved this book so very much. The characters were wonderful (if occasionally infuriating!), the romance was so well done, and the whole thing just felt like a warm, cozy hug of a story.
Freya Marske has a way of writing characters that makes them feel alive and vibrant in the way they interact with the world and each other, and I loved all of these so very much. Swordcrossed just has such spectacular cast of main and side characters! I can't help hoping that we'll get to see more written in this world (perhaps featuring a couple of side characters in particular...) because I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to everyone. Regardless, this is a book I expect I'll be coming back to occasionally just to relive my favorite moments again!
As far as the plot, I won't pretend that this is a deep literary novel, and a lot of it was predictable, but that was part of what made this book so very enjoyable to read. Freya Marske did exactly what I could have hoped for her to do, and did it very well! The intrigue and drama the plot involved was just delightfully fun to follow, and the relationship journey was the perfect blend of sweet, spicy, and dramatic. (So very dramatic. But what can you expect with Drama-King Luca involved!)
All in all, I really loved this book and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a satisfyingly delightful romance adventure!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2024
Swordcrossed by Freya Marske is a fun, hot, low fantasy romp set in a queernormative world ⚔️
Matti has to hire a dualist for his upcoming marriage into a rich family which has been arranged to save his family's failing wool business. His bride-to-be has a very insistent admirer who may challenge Matti to a duel at the wedding, and so hiring a competing dualist who's good with a sword is crucial. The only person he can afford though, is Luca, the man who scammed Matti just the day prior. With no other choice, Matti pays (and blackmails) the mysterious, new-to-town Luca into becoming not only his dualist but also his new sword-fighting instructor.
Their mutual attraction that neither initially plan on acting on only grows stronger the more time they spend together which is frankly incredibly inconvenient since Matti's set to be married. While this arrangement was only meant to be one of business, soon Luca and Matti are falling into bed together, and Luca starts helping Matti trying to figure out if his family's business failing might be due to sabotage rather than accidents while also desperately trying to keep his own past a secret.
Swordcossed is full of hot, flirty fun between Matti and Luca while also diving into lots of schemes and secrets - from multiple sides. There are crushes, sword-practice used as foreplay, trickery, arranged marriage where neither party's particularly into it, complex family dynamics, honour, and quite a bit of insight into the wool trade 😆
Matti's a gentleman, comes from a fancy family, and has the burden of running an entire business on his shoulders. Luca is chaotic af, impulsive, has forever unruly hair, a mysterious past he'd prefer to not get into, and a giant crush on Matti. Which is great since Matti crushes right back though he's more reluctant to act on things. Once he does though? Phew, these two get hot and heavy, and there's some kink that's juuust out of reach but definitely implied. It felt a bit like kink-teasing to be honest 😂
I really liked the characters, and the plot was interesting but a little overly into descriptions of the intricacy of the wool trade at times.
Overall, a very enjoyable book with a hot, fun romance, great characters, and a plot with mysteries and schemes.
Thanks to Bramble, Macmillan, and Edelweiss for the ARC. Swordcrossed is out October 8
Matti has to hire a dualist for his upcoming marriage into a rich family which has been arranged to save his family's failing wool business. His bride-to-be has a very insistent admirer who may challenge Matti to a duel at the wedding, and so hiring a competing dualist who's good with a sword is crucial. The only person he can afford though, is Luca, the man who scammed Matti just the day prior. With no other choice, Matti pays (and blackmails) the mysterious, new-to-town Luca into becoming not only his dualist but also his new sword-fighting instructor.
Their mutual attraction that neither initially plan on acting on only grows stronger the more time they spend together which is frankly incredibly inconvenient since Matti's set to be married. While this arrangement was only meant to be one of business, soon Luca and Matti are falling into bed together, and Luca starts helping Matti trying to figure out if his family's business failing might be due to sabotage rather than accidents while also desperately trying to keep his own past a secret.
Swordcossed is full of hot, flirty fun between Matti and Luca while also diving into lots of schemes and secrets - from multiple sides. There are crushes, sword-practice used as foreplay, trickery, arranged marriage where neither party's particularly into it, complex family dynamics, honour, and quite a bit of insight into the wool trade 😆
Matti's a gentleman, comes from a fancy family, and has the burden of running an entire business on his shoulders. Luca is chaotic af, impulsive, has forever unruly hair, a mysterious past he'd prefer to not get into, and a giant crush on Matti. Which is great since Matti crushes right back though he's more reluctant to act on things. Once he does though? Phew, these two get hot and heavy, and there's some kink that's juuust out of reach but definitely implied. It felt a bit like kink-teasing to be honest 😂
I really liked the characters, and the plot was interesting but a little overly into descriptions of the intricacy of the wool trade at times.
Overall, a very enjoyable book with a hot, fun romance, great characters, and a plot with mysteries and schemes.
Thanks to Bramble, Macmillan, and Edelweiss for the ARC. Swordcrossed is out October 8
September 4, 2024
Rep: gay mcs, lesbian side characters, transmasc side character
Swordcrossed is a perfectly alright fantasy romance, but remarkably unmemorable, as will be evidenced by the length of this review. I knew what I was getting into beforehand, having read all of Freya Marske’s previous books, and it was pretty much exactly as expected. A reasonably fun read, an enjoyable enough way to pass the time, with characters I liked and a fast-paced plot. But so unmemorable! In fact, I remember more of the third book in Marske’s series (which I read in June 2023) than I do this one (read in May 2024). So, in lieu of continuing to say more here, let me just paste what I wrote on finishing this one:
reminded me a lot of a taste of gold and iron and i don’t mean that in a positive way: the central relationship was a LOT better here & the plot better integrated with the romance, but said plot was somehow made more convoluted than needed.
Swordcrossed is a perfectly alright fantasy romance, but remarkably unmemorable, as will be evidenced by the length of this review. I knew what I was getting into beforehand, having read all of Freya Marske’s previous books, and it was pretty much exactly as expected. A reasonably fun read, an enjoyable enough way to pass the time, with characters I liked and a fast-paced plot. But so unmemorable! In fact, I remember more of the third book in Marske’s series (which I read in June 2023) than I do this one (read in May 2024). So, in lieu of continuing to say more here, let me just paste what I wrote on finishing this one:
reminded me a lot of a taste of gold and iron and i don’t mean that in a positive way: the central relationship was a LOT better here & the plot better integrated with the romance, but said plot was somehow made more convoluted than needed.
Want to read
October 26, 2023and i say: that's my fucking queen freya marske!!
September 7, 2024
should have named this wool trading instead bc there was more of that than swords being crossed
May 30, 2024
did i like this? sure, but idk it felt kind of...cobbled together. the plot is mostly just whatever--its not a super complex plot and yet it somehow came across as convoluted--and the romance itself was enjoyable but forgettable. altogether this was a bit bland, a bit flimsy, nice in the moment but a story where ultimately nothing much stood out to me. (tbh the cover has more intrigue and tension than the actual book...)
(thank you to Bramble for the eARC!)
(thank you to Bramble for the eARC!)
June 1, 2024
and the tradition of me going feral for everything freya marske writes continues i see!
June 26, 2024
[4.5, rounded up] i don't even remember requesting this but omg??!?!? i have 0 regrets
⚔️ we follow mattinesh jay, heir to a House that's falling into debt and disrepair, and is due to marry the daughter of another (more successful) House. he needs to find a talented swordsman to defend his honour at the wedding when his bride-to-be's (alleged) lover inevitably challenges them, but surprise surprise the only one he can afford is the mysterious guy who ran a con on him days prior and cheated him out of 200 gold. woah.... interesting..... you guys wanna read this so bad... 🌀🌀
okay if that somehow didn't intrigue you, LISTEN UP 🗣️
its a historical fantasy(!) focusing on a m/m romance(!) in a world where queerness is normalised!! the main character, matti, is brown (which i rarely see in fantasy books) and has (implied) anxiety. the other main character, luca, has (implied) adhd and dyscalculia. plus there's nb, transmasc and wlw side characters!! also, for people who love tropes, the author managed to include tropes without beating you over the head with them, which i really liked.
⚔️ i personally think the tension was perfectly done, usually i feel like romantasy books are either way too strung out, or (more often) there's insta-love and you don't feel a connection with the characters or between them.
but this time i rooted for matti and luca the moment they met again in the centre of a practice room. their banter didn't feel forced, both characters were interesting in their own ways, and i liked how they contrasted :3 they were hilarious, fun to learn about, and easy to understand and empathise with. seriously, i loved them sm i caught myself looking up fics for this book before i remembered that its just an arc atm 😔
ALSO i'm also very surprised that i didn't lose all interest as soon as they started getting 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓴𝔂, cause that tends to be a big problem for me usually 😭
⚔️ the reason i didn't give this a five was that despite how interesting the setting was, it wasn't fleshed out enough, and the book could've really benefited from an exposition dump (which is not something i say often 😭)
since i found it hard to understand the plot and the wool-related stuff (?) i honestly found myself tuning it out and just focusing on the characters, the relationships between them and the Houses, and the wedding.
and speaking of the wedding, i think i would've liked more of it (considering how it was like the main plot point of the book,,) but i did think it was done really well and was delightfully dramatic despite how short it was.
anyways i know this is a standalone but freya marske if you can hear me i need a second book 🙏
arc from netgalley
⚔️ we follow mattinesh jay, heir to a House that's falling into debt and disrepair, and is due to marry the daughter of another (more successful) House. he needs to find a talented swordsman to defend his honour at the wedding when his bride-to-be's (alleged) lover inevitably challenges them, but
okay if that somehow didn't intrigue you, LISTEN UP 🗣️
its a historical fantasy(!) focusing on a m/m romance(!) in a world where queerness is normalised!! the main character, matti, is brown (which i rarely see in fantasy books) and has (implied) anxiety. the other main character, luca, has (implied) adhd and dyscalculia. plus there's nb, transmasc and wlw side characters!! also, for people who love tropes, the author managed to include tropes without beating you over the head with them, which i really liked.
⚔️ i personally think the tension was perfectly done, usually i feel like romantasy books are either way too strung out, or (more often) there's insta-love and you don't feel a connection with the characters or between them.
but this time i rooted for matti and luca the moment they met again in the centre of a practice room. their banter didn't feel forced, both characters were interesting in their own ways, and i liked how they contrasted :3 they were hilarious, fun to learn about, and easy to understand and empathise with. seriously, i loved them sm i caught myself looking up fics for this book before i remembered that its just an arc atm 😔
ALSO i'm also very surprised that i didn't lose all interest as soon as they started getting 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓴𝔂, cause that tends to be a big problem for me usually 😭
⚔️ the reason i didn't give this a five was that despite how interesting the setting was, it wasn't fleshed out enough, and the book could've really benefited from an exposition dump (which is not something i say often 😭)
since i found it hard to understand the plot and the wool-related stuff (?) i honestly found myself tuning it out and just focusing on the characters, the relationships between them and the Houses, and the wedding.
and speaking of the wedding, i think i would've liked more of it (considering how it was like the main plot point of the book,,) but i did think it was done really well and was delightfully dramatic despite how short it was.
anyways i know this is a standalone but freya marske if you can hear me i need a second book 🙏
arc from netgalley
April 23, 2024
spent the whole book highlight every double entendre about sword fights and i’m not ashamed about it.
September 18, 2024
Bridgerton meets The Bodyguard (by way of Georgette Heyer) in this low stakes and sizzlingly romantic, fantasy of manners. Which follows a dutiful heir and the charming, con-man-turned-swordsman he hires to serve as best man at his arranged wedding.
As a huge fan of The Last Binding series, Swordcrossed has been on my list of most anticipated reads since Freya Marske shared the premise at an online Q&A last year. And having finally read it, I can confirm it’s just as fun, steamy and dazzlingly cosy as I hoped it would be.
Marske’s prose was once again vividly detailed and dripping with intrigue, yet it was her heartfelt, character driven narrative (and a certain playfully witty, cinnamon roll MC) that really made this a standout read for me.
Our first POV character, Matti, was such a kindhearted (though anxious) protagonist. But his willingness to put everyone else first, even at the expense of his own happiness (or comfort) was soo incredibly endearing. Plus his interactions with the roguishly charming, Luca (our second POV character) were deliciously swoon-worthy and gave Robin and Edwin (from The Last Binding) some pretty strong competition in the slow burn relationship stakes.
Luca, in all his Labrador-esque (and cinnamon roll) glory, completely stole my heart with all his antics. His laissez faire demeanour and outlook on life contrasted so well with Matti’s self imposed reticence (which we see Luca slowly dismantle) but also served to hide some of his own insecurities (primarily his struggle with Dyscalculia.)
I really liked that Marske explored both neurodiversity and mental health in her protagonists; adding a layer of depth and dimension to Matti and Luca’s experiences that only made me love them more.
The inclusion also highlighted just how necessary representation is in raising awareness, amplifying voices and combating stigma surrounding neurodivergence, and the effects that a lack of support can have on people’s mental health. The LGBTQ+ rep was phenomenal as well and just one of many reasons Marske has quickly become one of my favourite authors.
I don’t want to say too much else for fear of spoiling the plot, but the supporting cast (including Matti’s sister, Maya and his betrothed, Sophia) were wonderfully well written too. I’m not sure if this is standalone or not, but I really hope we get the chance to see more of them as they were both soo delightfully entertaining.
The pacing was a bit slower than anticipated, but did made up for it with its witty banter and engaging characters. Definitely a worthwhile read for slow burn, historical romance lovers or fans of Freya Marske’s previous books.
Also a huge thank you to BookBreak / Tor for the proof.
As a huge fan of The Last Binding series, Swordcrossed has been on my list of most anticipated reads since Freya Marske shared the premise at an online Q&A last year. And having finally read it, I can confirm it’s just as fun, steamy and dazzlingly cosy as I hoped it would be.
Marske’s prose was once again vividly detailed and dripping with intrigue, yet it was her heartfelt, character driven narrative (and a certain playfully witty, cinnamon roll MC) that really made this a standout read for me.
Our first POV character, Matti, was such a kindhearted (though anxious) protagonist. But his willingness to put everyone else first, even at the expense of his own happiness (or comfort) was soo incredibly endearing. Plus his interactions with the roguishly charming, Luca (our second POV character) were deliciously swoon-worthy and gave Robin and Edwin (from The Last Binding) some pretty strong competition in the slow burn relationship stakes.
Luca, in all his Labrador-esque (and cinnamon roll) glory, completely stole my heart with all his antics. His laissez faire demeanour and outlook on life contrasted so well with Matti’s self imposed reticence (which we see Luca slowly dismantle) but also served to hide some of his own insecurities (primarily his struggle with Dyscalculia.)
I really liked that Marske explored both neurodiversity and mental health in her protagonists; adding a layer of depth and dimension to Matti and Luca’s experiences that only made me love them more.
The inclusion also highlighted just how necessary representation is in raising awareness, amplifying voices and combating stigma surrounding neurodivergence, and the effects that a lack of support can have on people’s mental health. The LGBTQ+ rep was phenomenal as well and just one of many reasons Marske has quickly become one of my favourite authors.
I don’t want to say too much else for fear of spoiling the plot, but the supporting cast (including Matti’s sister, Maya and his betrothed, Sophia) were wonderfully well written too. I’m not sure if this is standalone or not, but I really hope we get the chance to see more of them as they were both soo delightfully entertaining.
The pacing was a bit slower than anticipated, but did made up for it with its witty banter and engaging characters. Definitely a worthwhile read for slow burn, historical romance lovers or fans of Freya Marske’s previous books.
Also a huge thank you to BookBreak / Tor for the proof.
Want to read
October 26, 2023OHHH MY GOD??? i just love freya marske's dedication to giving us exactly what we want every single time!!!
June 19, 2024
More often than not, a book will be an instant favourite when 60% of the story would not have happened if the sapphics just admitted they were in love.
By no means was Swordcrossed a perfect book, but I absolutely devoured this. The plot reminded me so much of Running Close to the Wind, which was one of my favourite books I read this year - just as fun and chaotic and flirty. I did find some of the merchant goings-on a little confusing, but I don't know whether or not this was due to the writing or just my complete lack of aptitude for anything business/economics related.
Luca was my favourite, but I loved all the characters and character dynamics, especially the familial ones. I was delighted to see that Matti was terrible at sword fighting - really appreciated the physically inept representation. I even liked the romance, although the steamy scenes went on for way too long.
All in all, this was such a lighthearted and delightful read, and I'll be rereading it for sure.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.
By no means was Swordcrossed a perfect book, but I absolutely devoured this. The plot reminded me so much of Running Close to the Wind, which was one of my favourite books I read this year - just as fun and chaotic and flirty. I did find some of the merchant goings-on a little confusing, but I don't know whether or not this was due to the writing or just my complete lack of aptitude for anything business/economics related.
Luca was my favourite, but I loved all the characters and character dynamics, especially the familial ones. I was delighted to see that Matti was terrible at sword fighting - really appreciated the physically inept representation. I even liked the romance, although the steamy scenes went on for way too long.
All in all, this was such a lighthearted and delightful read, and I'll be rereading it for sure.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.
September 24, 2024
Swordcrossed is a romance story set in a regency-inspired fantasy world, although there was no magic in it. Our protagonists are Matti Jay, heir to a textile business slash noble house on the brink of bankruptcy, and Luca Piere, a no-name swordsman slash con artist with dubious identity. Matti had to hire Luca as a swordsman for his upcoming wedding, after being conned by Luca himself.
I ... didn't like the majority of this book. I may be in a romance story fatigue, so it's not 100% the book's fault, but yeah. The tension between the MCs was good until like 30% then I started to find nothing to be hot anymore, more in the cute and comfy realm. I kept hoping the MCs will be doing some hot stuff, but it always fizzled because it's too nice and polite for me. The worldbuilding was great, but way too complicated than the story needed, imo. By 68% (I'm looking at my notes here) I didn't care whether the MCs will end up together or not. Instead of making me sympathize, their personalities both annoyed me. It was too painfully obvious their frontal lobes had not yet finished developing. The last 2 chapters were nice (92-100% of the book). The worst of all, I suppose, was how boring all the business and technical talks were! I wanted to dnf at like 60% but decided to push through and I suffered. I just found no excitement while reading this book. It's not bad, but it wasn't for me.
eARC provided by NetGalley and PanMacMillan.
I ... didn't like the majority of this book. I may be in a romance story fatigue, so it's not 100% the book's fault, but yeah. The tension between the MCs was good until like 30% then I started to find nothing to be hot anymore, more in the cute and comfy realm. I kept hoping the MCs will be doing some hot stuff, but it always fizzled because it's too nice and polite for me. The worldbuilding was great, but way too complicated than the story needed, imo. By 68% (I'm looking at my notes here) I didn't care whether the MCs will end up together or not. Instead of making me sympathize, their personalities both annoyed me. It was too painfully obvious their frontal lobes had not yet finished developing. The last 2 chapters were nice (92-100% of the book). The worst of all, I suppose, was how boring all the business and technical talks were! I wanted to dnf at like 60% but decided to push through and I suffered. I just found no excitement while reading this book. It's not bad, but it wasn't for me.
eARC provided by NetGalley and PanMacMillan.
Want to read
August 13, 2024freya marske mlm historical fantasy romance save me, save me freya marske mlm historical fantasy romance.
this fall cannot come soon enough!
this fall cannot come soon enough!
June 27, 2024
3.5/5 ⭐️
This was a fast cozy fantasy romance read that’s an enemies to lovers bodyguard romance. One of the mmc Matti who hires a swordsman Luca to be his best man at his arranged marriage. As they work together of course they are attracted to each other but also they both navigate secrets, politics and troubles.
The romance in this was really cute, both characters had good chemistry and there was a lot of flirting especially when they were practicing sword crossing. This is a slow burn with lots of longing and quite a few steamy scenes. I liked how light this book was but there were so many slow parts where I felt like not much was really happening. I did like the world and how everyone was accepted and being queer was the norm. Overall this is cute if you want a cozy queer romantasy you should read this. Thank you Bramble for this arc for an honest review!
This was a fast cozy fantasy romance read that’s an enemies to lovers bodyguard romance. One of the mmc Matti who hires a swordsman Luca to be his best man at his arranged marriage. As they work together of course they are attracted to each other but also they both navigate secrets, politics and troubles.
The romance in this was really cute, both characters had good chemistry and there was a lot of flirting especially when they were practicing sword crossing. This is a slow burn with lots of longing and quite a few steamy scenes. I liked how light this book was but there were so many slow parts where I felt like not much was really happening. I did like the world and how everyone was accepted and being queer was the norm. Overall this is cute if you want a cozy queer romantasy you should read this. Thank you Bramble for this arc for an honest review!
Read
March 8, 2024i'll be honest i skimmed this HARD "low stakes" is really, really just not for me and this confirmed it lmao god even the sex was boring somehow which freya has NEVER struggled with before
June 5, 2024
rtc! It’s mostly just heart eyes emojis
July 7, 2024
No notes. Absolutely flawless 😭😭😭
Read
September 26, 2024DNF @ 10%
I just don't CARE. The story is boring and the writing is boring. The stakes mean nothing to me.
I just don't CARE. The story is boring and the writing is boring. The stakes mean nothing to me.
August 11, 2024
3.5 stars (might round up once I've written the review).
Review to follow.
Review to follow.
July 4, 2024
Received a netgalley of this!
Happy to report that Damn did I ever appreciate that.
Freya Marske has this really interesting way of writing about historical times that recognizes colonialism. I'm not sure that it always lands well for me, sometimes I end up incredibly uncomfortable because I can't decipher if Freya is purposefully making commentary on the really weird idiosyncrasies of colonialism. I think she's doing an okay job of it, but I'm a white lady so... like... shrugs uncomfortably. But because I struggle to be able to read between the lines, sometimes I'm like 'was that purposefully commenting on [insert weird historical thing]'. I'm not a history major, I have no clue.
I appreciate that all of Freya Marske's books are essentially well plotted out, infinitely interesting romance stories. I wish there was considerably more exploration of women characters, they were all strong characters but because the story was primarily a romance about Matti and Luca, the women were just... strong background characters. I would have been interested in seeing them more fleshed out, especially because of some of the hinted at scenes.
Imagine me sitting here, crossing my fingers that there will be another book and it will not be about men.
Happy to report that Damn did I ever appreciate that.
Freya Marske has this really interesting way of writing about historical times that recognizes colonialism. I'm not sure that it always lands well for me, sometimes I end up incredibly uncomfortable because I can't decipher if Freya is purposefully making commentary on the really weird idiosyncrasies of colonialism. I think she's doing an okay job of it, but I'm a white lady so... like... shrugs uncomfortably. But because I struggle to be able to read between the lines, sometimes I'm like 'was that purposefully commenting on [insert weird historical thing]'. I'm not a history major, I have no clue.
I appreciate that all of Freya Marske's books are essentially well plotted out, infinitely interesting romance stories. I wish there was considerably more exploration of women characters, they were all strong characters but because the story was primarily a romance about Matti and Luca, the women were just... strong background characters. I would have been interested in seeing them more fleshed out, especially because of some of the hinted at scenes.
Imagine me sitting here, crossing my fingers that there will be another book and it will not be about men.
June 8, 2024
4.25 ⭐
“Swordcrossed” is a standalone fantasy romance written by Freya Marske. A light, fast and fun novel, embellished with refined and effervescent prose. A book I was so intrigued by and in the end I loved it!
The story takes place in a large and complex medieval-style city-state, based heavily on trade. A place dominated by houses and guilds, each tied to a particular god. There is no magic, no magical creatures, but the actual fantasy element is limited to the alternate setting. I loved this world building, the vivid descriptions of the city, the information provided, the attention to detail, and the fact that it is queer normative! The book really focuses a lot on the mercantile aspect of the city, with particular reference to the wool market. The author provides a lot of detail about it, perhaps too much, so much so that it seemed to me a bit heavy at times. In addition, there are really a lot of names in this book between houses, guilds, gods, and neighboring city-states, which might initially leave readers a bit bewildered.
The narrative proceeds between subterfuges, political intrigues, power plays, alliances, betrayals, conspiracies, and tasty interactions, in an atmosphere that I would describe as almost cozy. There are no big villains to defeat, no real sense of urgency, but everything unfolds in a relaxed manner. From the first pages I found myself absorbed in the events, unable to tear myself away from the pages, curious to know. And in the end I was fully satisfied!
Matti and Luca, protagonists with their respective third person povs, won me over! Matti is the heir to his family's struggling business,focused solely on the welfare of his family and the desire to get them out of trouble. Serious, practical, diligent, organized and meticulous, he lives perpetually crushed by worries and responsibilities, oblivious to words like lightness, fun and leisure. At least until he meets Luke, an irresponsible, impulsive, carefree and chaotic man who is destined to shake up his life. Their interactions are really sizzling! The two are essentially opposites, and this leads to some hilarious situations! Seriously, I lost count of the number of laughs I had! Although there is an insta lust, a trope that basically did not excite me, the slow burn rather slooow allowed me to appreciate the romance very much. I loved the development of their relationship, the way Matti and Luca bring out the best in each other, supporting each other. The spicy scenes then were really hot and made me swoon a lot! The secondary characters also convinced me, with a special mention to Sofia, who pleasantly surprised me.
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“Swordcrossed” is a standalone fantasy romance written by Freya Marske. A light, fast and fun novel, embellished with refined and effervescent prose. A book I was so intrigued by and in the end I loved it!
The story takes place in a large and complex medieval-style city-state, based heavily on trade. A place dominated by houses and guilds, each tied to a particular god. There is no magic, no magical creatures, but the actual fantasy element is limited to the alternate setting. I loved this world building, the vivid descriptions of the city, the information provided, the attention to detail, and the fact that it is queer normative! The book really focuses a lot on the mercantile aspect of the city, with particular reference to the wool market. The author provides a lot of detail about it, perhaps too much, so much so that it seemed to me a bit heavy at times. In addition, there are really a lot of names in this book between houses, guilds, gods, and neighboring city-states, which might initially leave readers a bit bewildered.
The narrative proceeds between subterfuges, political intrigues, power plays, alliances, betrayals, conspiracies, and tasty interactions, in an atmosphere that I would describe as almost cozy. There are no big villains to defeat, no real sense of urgency, but everything unfolds in a relaxed manner. From the first pages I found myself absorbed in the events, unable to tear myself away from the pages, curious to know. And in the end I was fully satisfied!
Matti and Luca, protagonists with their respective third person povs, won me over! Matti is the heir to his family's struggling business,focused solely on the welfare of his family and the desire to get them out of trouble. Serious, practical, diligent, organized and meticulous, he lives perpetually crushed by worries and responsibilities, oblivious to words like lightness, fun and leisure. At least until he meets Luke, an irresponsible, impulsive, carefree and chaotic man who is destined to shake up his life. Their interactions are really sizzling! The two are essentially opposites, and this leads to some hilarious situations! Seriously, I lost count of the number of laughs I had! Although there is an insta lust, a trope that basically did not excite me, the slow burn rather slooow allowed me to appreciate the romance very much. I loved the development of their relationship, the way Matti and Luca bring out the best in each other, supporting each other. The spicy scenes then were really hot and made me swoon a lot! The secondary characters also convinced me, with a special mention to Sofia, who pleasantly surprised me.
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews