I received an advance reader’s copy (ARC) of Swordcrossed by Freya Marske. Since this version is just a proof and not the final version, I won’t quote directly and will keep my comments general.

Swordcrossed tells the story of Mattinesh Jay, the heir to his family’s struggling textile business. Desperate to salvage the situation, Matti agrees to marry a woman from a wealthy family, even though they don’t love each other. But as is custom in this kingdom, a person may challenge a wedding and duel one of the prospective spouses. The problem is that Matti doesn’t know how to sword fight, and so he hires a man named Luca Piere to train him. Luca, however, is not all he appears. He’s running from the consequences of something he did in his hometown and hoping for a fresh start, even if it means using a fake name. But meeting Matti throws a wrench in his plans, as their mutual attraction proves to be distracting. Luca starts to wonder how long he can keep lying, while Matti starts to doubt if he can go through with his wedding after all, even if it means losing everything for a chance at something that might be love.

I read another book by Marske a few years ago and thought it was just okay. I’m pleased to report that I enjoyed this one more!

The fantasy land this takes place in is interesting enough. The class divide and hierarchy even among the rich merchants who are essentially the rulers was intriguing, and I liked the condemnation of the rich treating the poorer people with cruelty. I wish this had been explored a little more, especially since both main characters come from money, but I still liked what Marske did with it well enough.

However, the main plot of this is a romance—with swords, though, so that’s alright. Matti and Luca’s chemistry is well-written, and luckily comes with at least as much banter as sexual tension. They get along as people, and while there are obstacles in their way, it’s clear that they truly care about each other and want to support each other. As often happens, though, a lot of the conflict that arises between them is due to a lack of honest communication, which is tiring. I do understand why they kept things from each other, having not known each other for long, but still.

I also found a couple aspects of this to be super predictable. Then again, it’s a romance novel, so there are certain plot points that are a given. But one in particular involving Matti’s delightful sister was so obvious to me, though I think it might have been intended to be a dramatic reveal. I saw it coming from almost the first scene that she was in, though I was pleased that it came to fruition in the way it did.

Now, more importantly, the sword fighting was pretty fun. It’s entertaining to have a protagonist who’s just so terrible at such a thing, especially in a world where such a skill is pretty common. But I also had fun reading about the action scenes involving Luca, and the final showdown was rewarding from both a swordplay and a plot standpoint. More love stories should involve swords and chivalrous fights along with their declarations of love.

In the end, Swordcrossed isn’t the most amazing book I’ve ever read, but it’s definitely one of the better examples of the (*groans at having to use this word again*) romantasy subgenre that I’ve read. The characters are decent, their arcs believably paced, and the worldbuilding is pretty good. Some of the plot is predictable, but that doesn’t detract from the entertainment it brings. I don’t know that it’s a book I’ll ever revisit, but I had a fine time while I was immersed in it nonetheless.

Swordcrossed will be published on October 8th, 2024!