You’d think that inheriting a substantial estate would be good news, but Halla finds it rather intolerable. She would be happy just going about her duties as a housekeeper and being ignored by everyone, but now that she’s inherited the coveted money, her extended family has plans for her: plans that include locking her in her room until she agrees to marry her odious cousin. It is at this point that she draws the sword that has hung in her room for years – and discovers it is actually a man. Or rather, a man is the sword, and he is bound to protect her at all costs.
Sarkis has been trapped for centuries, bound to serve and protect whichever terrible person unsheathes the sword. In the past, this usually meant countless battles and pain. Halla is not the type of wielder he is used to – she is thoughtful, and kind, and talks entirely too much, and is decidedly not terrible. Still wary of each other, they set off on a mission to secure Halla’s inheritance and safety, and find friends and adventure along the way.
Kingfisher’s skill with character development and language make this novel engaging and complex while still maintaining the feel of a fairy tale. It is an eminently enjoyable tale and highly recommended.
