This was a bit of a slow start to me - but that might just be because I'm not best equipped to be plunged into fantasy. I struggle to visualise lots of description, and keep track of names and customs. However, once I got to know the two main characters, and witnessed their fantastic chemistry, I was invested. As ever, the writing is gorgeous - funny and clever and heartfelt. Matti and Luca were a joy to spend time with, and I loved how well rounded they were, the complexity of their experiences, emotions and motivations. Matti's upcoming wedding (arranged - and not to Luca), his and Luca's growing feelings for one another, the backdrop of Matti's family (I'd have liked more time with Maya), and a twisty industrial espionage type plot all provided plenty of action, immersing us into this colourful world and giving us time to get to know our protagonists, all of which was woven through with the theme of honesty - the lies we tell to others, to ourselves, through omission, and what all of that can cost. Although it took me a while to get going, I was soon racing through it, and was sad to say goodbye. Plus, as a bonus, I did enjoy the brief mention of a sexy librarian.

I love the concept of having duelist at formal events. It was such a good idea and well executed and if anything I'd have liked to have seen more of this! Both our main characters are really well fleshed out, and I felt for them both learning their history and pressures they face. I'm not sure the relationship was built up as well as it could have been, it was very rapid and I felt we could have had some excellent tension instead. That being said, they actual relationship was lovely to read. They seemed to really see each other for who they were, vulnerabilities and all.
The plot itself I found to be a little lacking, but it was a romantasy so I guess it mostly focused on the romance part more than the plot, which was okay but nothing amazing.
Marskes writing is beautiful and easy to follow as always but was a tad repetitive by the end, but otherwise an overall good romance

💚🗡️🌸BOOK REVIEW - Swordcrossed by Freya Marske🌸🗡️💚

🌟🌟🌟🌟 (4/5 stars)

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the advance reader copy!

Freya Marske's Swordcrossed is a romantic and charming low-stakes fantasy that ticks all the boxes for a feel-good read. The book centres around Matti Jay, the heir to a struggling merchant family, and Luca, a swashbuckling swordsman-for-hire, who get tangled in a series of duels, marriage arrangements, and unexpected chemistry. Marske's signature witty banter and tender romance shine through, making rooting for this pair as they navigate secrets and schemes easy.

While the plot was pretty predictable, it didn't detract from my enjoyment. The slow-burn romance between Matti and Luca is sweet and steamy in all the right ways. While less complex than her previous Last Binding series, the world-building was solid enough to support the story.

If you're in the mood for a low-stakes, feel-good romantasy with just the right amount of intrigue and swordplay, Swordcrossed is a solid pick. It's not groundbreaking, but it's a thoroughly enjoyable read that will satisfy fans of Marske's unique blend of romance and fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the advance reader copy.

I found this a hard book to get into, there’s a lot of information about wool and trading.
There seemed to be a large portion of the book that felt like it was padding out the story and felt like it could have been edited out and made this into a novella of some kind.

I imagine people will enjoy this but I personally didn’t and had to DNF.

Swordcrossed is a cosy and romantic low-stakes fantasy book that centres on Matti, heir to a noble merchant house that has fallen on hard times, who must hire a duellist for his upcoming wedding. Enter the charming and witty Luca, the only duellist Matti can afford who also happens to be the man that scammed him the day before. What follows is a charming story involving scheming, secrets, hidden identities, arranged marriages, flirting and lots of swords. I enjoyed the banter and chemistry between Matti and Luca and was rooting for their romance from the very start. The plot was a little predictable, but I didn’t mind as I found it to be an original premise, and I enjoyed every minute reading. I would recommend Swordcrossed to anyone wanting a romantic light-hearted read.

*Thank you to the publisher for sending me an early copy in exchange for an honest review*

As always Freya Marske’s writing is so beautiful. The queen of sensual intimacy and pining.

I really enjoyed the romance and the slow building attraction between Luca and Matti. The sword lessons were such a great way of building up the chemistry between them.

I will say I found it a little slow and not the most captivating plot. The world building felt a little odd and almost too subtle for me. I’d actually have preferred it if it was in an actual historical setting.

This may have suffered a little from my ridiculously high expectations - Marske’s last binding series are among my favourite books of all time. I did enjoy this and it’s wonderfully written but didn’t blow me away as much as I wanted.

Thank you to Netgalley, Pan Macmillan, and Freya Marske for this ARC of Swordcrossed.

I thoroughly enjoyed Swordcrossed, another fabulous M/M romantasy creation by Marske. Set in an entirely fictitious world, the worldbuilding was excellently handled and richly woven. The details were dropped in throughout the novel, rather than all being dumped in the beginning, like so many books do, which I appreciated. It is written as a one-off novel, but lends itself to being a brand new world for a universe of novels.

I am a character reader, and I wasn't disappointed. The two protagonists have plenty of (hidden) depth and motivation and the progression from enemies to lovers is handled well and 'realistically' in as far as a fantasy romance can be realistic. The romance and intimacy is incredibly steamy, passionate, and well-written - this is very much an adult book, and should not be classified as YA (this is why I like Marske's books, they have the playful romantasy elements of plot, but with adult intimacy I'm looking for at the ripe old age of 41).

The plot appears simple and straight-forward until twists and turns appear, which are clever and insightful, and keep you hooked - turning the page again and again to find out what happens next. Absolutely a treasure and a boon to the LGBTQIA+ genre.

After loving Marske's debut trilogy, I was pretty much up for anything she wrote next. Both that series and this book are listed under historical fantasy, but they couldn't be more different. There are very little fantasy elements in Swordcrossed; it is set in a fictional world with fictional mythology. While there are hints that the deities may have an active role in the lives, they do not have an active role on page.

I have to admit that for a good portion of the book I wasn't sure if this was my type of book, despite being a fan of the author. This book is a very slow burn, but it is worth the wait, and I was won over in the end. I'm not a huge romance fan, and normally need more fantasy elements to catch my interest. It says a lot about the calibre of the writer and the strength of the characters that I loved this book.

3.5 STARS

This book was really nice, but to be completely honest I was hoping for something a tad different. Mind me, it is nice and sweet, with good characters and chemistry, but it has the feeling of a debut novel, mostly because to me there was a great imbalance between the plot and the romance part.
A lot of romances, being they fantasy, contemporary, or historical, have romance as the focus, and everything else is secondary to that, even the plot. But in these cases, the plot is like an afterthought, it is not something big, it’s just there to move things along and you shouldn’t be too bothered by it. And that’s okay. (Sure, it is not my preferred method, and I don’t gorge myself on this kind of books, but I still enjoy them, from time to time, and I have no problems with that, usually), but that’s not the case with this book. Here the plot is pretty central to everything, but the author is constantly switching it in and out of focus.
And there are some instances in which this simply does not make sense.
Matti, our MC, has a lot of problems because he is the head of the family (his father is alive, but since he is in politics, and it is a hard thing because he is really trying to do good things for people and he puts a lot of efforts into this, Matti has taken over the family business) and the businesses aren’t going so well lately, because of a series of unfortunate events, and the family is almost without money.
And this is slowly destroying him, because he is trying his best and he feels all the responsibility for it. He is carrying around the world on his shoulders, and all this is taking its toll.
At one point he and Luca discover that things are not exactly like they seem and that some intrigues and fool play are afoot, so I was expecting them to take action, at least in some way, because this is a huge revelation but… nope, all of this is suddenly out of focus because the romance part has to take the spot light. And it was maddening. (And also a tad out of character for Matti).
This was the hugest example, but not the only one, but I hope it helps carry my point across.

That said, I still had a good time with this book, because Matti and Luca are nice characters, and following their relationship growing, with highs and lows and drama and whatnot, was pretty fun. But I have to say that the girls still stole the scene. I would have loved to see more of Maya, Matti’s sister, and Sofia, Matti’s betrothed. They are so full of life and they are witty and so strong-willed!
Mind me, Matti and Luca are nice characters and I highly enjoyed spending time with them, but still… I was more curious about the girls.
Even more so because Sofia is central to a topic that I think should be talked about more. A lot more. And I loved that we get to see it there (even if, once again, the romance outstages this).
Matti and Sofia’s wedding is nearing, and there is a peculiar costume in this world: if someone objects to the wedding, he (or she) will challenge to a duel the husband-to-be or the wife-to-be. Sofia has a suitor who is really good with a blade and he is not happy that she is marrying Matti so everyone and their mother knows that he will challenge Matti at the wedding. And since it is permitted to have a champion dueling in your stead and since Matti is no good with a sword, he hires Luca.
Everyone knows that Sofia and her suitor are in love and that she is going into the marriage because of duty and not love, there is even a popular song about these two star-crossed lovers (a song composed by the suitor himself).

THE FOLLOWING BIT IS A MINOR SPOILER, SO IF YOU DON’T WANT TO READ IT, JUMP TO THE “IT’S SAFE AGAIN” BIT.


But what everyone knows is a lie. Nobody ever asked Sofia what she thinks or what she feels. And this was amazing! And it could have been developed into something even more amazing! I would have loved for them to take action and do something about this! But… again, the romance part has to come first and this just went out of the scene again.

FROM HERE ONWARD IS SAFE AGAIN TO READ!

There are so many good ideas here, and they all are overshadowed by a romance that is quite mediocre. And this to me was such a shame! Mind me, Matti and Luca are cute and their romance is not bad, at all! We have some banter, we have unusual situations and some beloved tropes, we have a lot of good things, but when all is said and done, the romance part was good but not so special. What was special was all the rest: the plot was solid, there are some themes that need more visibility and that are original, and the world building was quite fascinating too (we have a lot of different gods in there, and the society has some complex rules) but everything is always outstaged by the romance.

All in all is not a bad book, I had fun with it and it was a nice reading, but I think it could have been so much more! And this was a tad disappointing.

Love love loved this!!

Anything Freya writes.. I will read!! 🤩
Swordcrossed was definitely a different direction from the Last Binding trilogy, but it didn’t disappoint!

The story follows Matti Jay, a head of house for wool distribution who is about to enter and arranged marriage to save his house’s reputation. Little does he know, that the man who he hires to be his best man (swordsman for anyone who challenges the marriage) that his life is going to get a heck of a lot more interesting than just crunching numbers and organising shipments!

I loved both Luca and Matti’s characters! Luca is definitely ADHD coded which I loved, and Matti clearly struggles with anxiety. I loved the way that these two balanced each other out though, Luca calming Matti’s panic attacks and Matti soothing Lucan’s need to move. Their relationship is both spicy and sweet! I loved all the side characters too, especially Maya and Sofia who both have a fierce side that I love to see!

All in all, a solid 4 stars for this book! I found it a little slow to start, but once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down!!

Great characters, great sword fighting, great spice, and the ending was a wonderful twist. Loved it!

As a huge fan of The Last Binding trilogy, I was so excited to read Swordcrossed and it absolutely did not disappoint. Swordcrossed follows the story of Matti, heir to his family's wool buisness and swordsman Luca whom Matti employs as his best man for his upcoming wedding. Much like Marske's previous books, Swordcrossed is full of the mystery, intrigue and romance that she's known for. This was an absolute pleasure to read, witty, steamy and so full of love that it practically bursts from the page. As someone who doesn't read a lot of books that have such in-depth world building, I did get a little confused with the sheer amount of information packed into the story regarding the houses and politics of the setting, but the characters and the story were more than enough to keep me hooked and I've no doubt I'll appreciate it more on my inevitable second read. Even with that in mind, this is an easy five stars and as always, I cannot wait to see what Marske writes next.

Big thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Swordcrossed is a queer romance, and while it’s labeled as fantasy on Goodreads, it’s more about the whimsical worldbuilding and historical romance atmosphere than traditional fantasy elements.

I really enjoyed this story—it had me giggling the entire time, and I absolutely adored the two protagonists! 💕

I fell for Luca right away, and Matti’s commanding presence had me melting, too. 😍 I loved watching their relationship evolve as they both fell for each other without even realizing it! The plot twists and mysteries definitely kept things interesting. 🔍✨

My rating is almost 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐, but I struggled with following the dialogues at times. It was confusing figuring out who was talking, and it threw me off a bit.

That said, the spicy scenes were 🔥🔥🔥—totally unexpected but very welcome! 😏

Thank you Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for this ARC copy!

A thoroughly enjoyable romance set in a fantasy world. The two main characters came alive on the page and I found myself rooting for them right from the beginning, despite not being able to see a way through their issues. I did get a little confused by all the politics in it but I pretty much understood what was going on by the end- not that it mattered if I didn't. The romance was enough to keep me reading anyway! I liked the elegant solution at the end (no spoilers!) and would definitely love to find out more about the world it is set in now that I've got my head around some of the religion and politics. It's always refreshing to read a queer romance completely free of homophobia as well. There was a diverse range of characters without it ever feeling forced.

As a lover of Marske's other works, especially A Marvellous Light, I was very excited to read her new romantasy and was not disappointed. As always, I really enjoyed her writing style and the way that she brings the characters, setting, and story to life! This is a fairly low stakes and cosy romantasy, with a rivals to lovers trope, an oh the longing and pining! Matti hires Luca for his skills with a sword to protect him on his (arranged) wedding day as there is a tradition of duels and challenges at the altar. The chemistry takes off from there! I still prefer the Last Binding series, but this was still a fast and fun read with a heartfelt and believable romantic story.

Swordcrossed is another taste of Freya Marskes delicious writing perfect for fans of Marvelous Light and Slippery Creatures.

Mattinesh is the perfect loveable and dutiful main character trying to save his families failing bussines by getting married. And then Luca stumbles onto his path and manages to topple his plans only to rebuild them even beter.

I was easily attached to the characters and really appreciated them being so fully written. I loved the girls too and really appreciated the openness of Sofia and Matti in their arranged marriage so we’re not made to dislike her and it’s no overdramatic I hate you cause I have to marry you situation.

Luca was a fun character to read about and even if messy his relationship with his family was very interesting to read. You could see his mother and brother really loved him even if he thought they didn’t.


All in all it was a great adventure to read and it makes me want to reread marvelous light again!!

*ive got an arc from netgalley all thoughts are mine*


I don't think Freya Marske can ever disappoint me. It's just the perfect blend of fantasy and romance. The stakes were not that high but I still felt the pressure Matti was under. He wanted nothing but help his family and seeing him taking something for himself for ONCE was so freeing.
Luca. Sweet summer child. That man never think before he act and I adored him. I can totally understand why Matti ended up in love with him.

Their banter was so hilarious, I could have read endlessly about their sword lessons.

And don't start me on Luca doing his best to help Matti 🫠

The wedding scene was *CHIEF KISSES*

NOW. MY FAVORITE PART WAS MAYBE THE SUBPLOT WITH MAYA. loved it.


ANYWAY. GO READ THIS!

An engaging read which caught my attention right away and kept me wanting more.

I absolutely adored Freya Marske’s previous series so I was very excited to receive her latest work, and I have to say, if you enjoyed The Last Binding books I would definitely recommend this one.

It has similar vibes and style to The Last Binding books, while holding its own as a different story in a different world. I love the alternate history feel that Marske’s books hold - that out of time but fantastical sense - and I was drawn in immediately by it in Swordcrossed.

Our two main characters are instantly engaging, and I was invested in their stories - which we learn more about as the book progresses - from the off. The way the relationships developed felt realistic and important to the plot without being the only thing that was going on, which I enjoy.

I loved the way the ending came together, it was so cleverly done and left me satisfied with the story’s conclusion.

Overall, if you enjoyed The Last Binding series, or like a queer historical feeling fantasy in general, I would highly recommend Swordcrossed, and I can’t wait to read more from Freya Marske in the future!

I loved all of the Last Binding trilogy by the author and was excited to see what delights Swordcrossed held.
The story is set in a world with its own vibe, carefully crafted by the author. For me there was an edge of the Regency storyline where the heir of a noble, but financially compromised house, has to marry a rich heiress to set the family fortunes straight. All this so that to the world the house continues to appear affluent and maintain societies standards.
Mattinesh or Matti Jay is our heir in need - Jay house has experienced setbacks and new competition in their wool empire. Sofia, the lady who is the solution to all the Jay family problems is a friend, however she already has a suitor who is likely to attempt to stop the arranged marriage by requesting a duel. Common practice is for a family to hire a best man who will duel on behalf of the family and this is where Luca Piere comes in. Luca swindles Matti out of some of his hard earned money and as recompense as well as being best man he is engaged to teach Matti dueling.
So the scene is set for a tangled web of intrigue, deceit and conspiracy to play out.
Sofia is not just a spare wheel in this story., as she has a strength and determination to forge her own path and take what advantages a marriage to Matti could bring.
I enjoyed the storytelling and the relationships that were built and look forward to the authors next book.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for access to this ARC - all views are my own.

If Freya Marske writes it, I will read it (and love it!)

It's no surprise this turned out to be a 5 star (and one of the best reads of the year). If, like me, you're here from the perfection that was A Marvellous Light, then be ready for a book just as memorable. Swordcrossed ditches the historical setting Marvellous Light had in favor of an all-new fantasy world. You can tell the author had immense fun with the worldbuilding, and I loved the concept of Houses and their Gods, but in a much lower-stakes narrative than most high fantasies.

The political intrigue lost me a bit in the first 100 pages (perhaps on account of too much information introduced too soon, I feel like we should have spent some more time with the characters first, so we had reason to care about their troubles), but after that stumble the plot got more engaging and by the end I was captivated.

The romance is, of course, the swoon-worthy Freya Marske type, that I know and love so well. Perfection is the only way I can describe it, there's nobody writing yearning quite like her.

My thanks to NetGalley and PanMacmillan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review