Blade of Secrets Series: Bladesmith #1 Published by Feiwel & Friends on May 4, 2021
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Epic, Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Romance, Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Dating & Sex, Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Mental Illness
Pages: 336
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Goodreads
In Blade of Secrets, a romantic YA fantasy adventure from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author Tricia Levenseller, a teenage blacksmith is forced to go on the run to protect the world from the most powerful magical sword she's ever made.
Eighteen-year-old Ziva prefers metal to people. She spends her days tucked away in her forge, safe from society and the anxiety it causes her, using her magical gift to craft unique weapons imbued with power.Then Ziva receives a commission from a powerful warlord, and the result is a sword capable of stealing its victims' secrets. A sword that can cut far deeper than the length of its blade. A sword with the strength to topple kingdoms. When Ziva learns of the warlord’s intentions to use the weapon to enslave all the world under her rule, she takes her sister and flees.
Joined by a distractingly handsome mercenary and a young scholar with extensive knowledge of the world’s known magics, Ziva and her sister set out on a quest to keep the sword safe until they can find a worthy wielder or a way to destroy it entirely.
Praise for the Bladesmith Duology:
"An addictive page-turner. Loaded with action, betrayal, slow-burn romance—honestly, that is the best first kiss scene ever... Be prepared to laugh, cry, and gasp." — Mary E. Pearson, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Remnant Chronicles"Levenseller elevates her already intriguing fantasy world through her depiction of Ziva, whose anxiety will ring true for anyone who’s ever had a panic attack. Grab this and devour it." — Booklist, starred review
"Blade of Secrets is an impactful, eye-opening journey of social anxiety that is flawlessly blended with Levenseller's signature flair for adventure and romance." —Bookstagram sensation Bridget Howard, @darkfaerietales_
Review:
What I like: Ziva and her sister are a loving pair who work well together and understand their relationship. Temra, even though her younger sister, does a fantastic job of helping her anxiety-ridden sister navigate life. Ziva doesn’t communicate well with people, has high anxiety around numerous ones, and loves working alone in her forge making magical weapons. Ziva stands out as a unique character. Rarely does the hero or main character have these traits; they are known to be bold and strong and converse with others naturally. Ziva is a great character to connect with, and the author shows excellent rep for those who have these traits to see a female character navigate the world and grow as a character.
What I wanted more of: I wanted to see Ziva get the chance to make more weapons and use the special gun she forms to discover more secrets about the people she encounters. I did think that the fitting nod to the sword in the stone part of the story was a fantastic way to deal with such a dangerous weapon.
Final Verdict: Blade of Secrets is a solid start to this duology. We are given the foundation of the magic in the world and the main characters and learn who is on our characters’ side and who shouldn’t be trusted.
About Tricia Levenseller
Tricia Levenseller is from a small town in Oregon, but she now lives in Utah with her bossy dog, Rosy. She received her degree in English Language and editing, and she is thrilled that she never has to read another textbook again. When she’s not writing or reading, Tricia enjoys putting together jigsaw puzzles, playing volleyball, and watching her favorite TV shows while eating extra-buttered popcorn.
I’ve enjoyed the other book I’ve read by this author, and this one was an award nominee for our state library association a year or so ago. I need to give it a try. Great review!