Of Sword & Silver

A Conqueror's Kingdom #1

by January Bell

We’re supposed to hate each other, but I need him if I want to live.

I stole from the wrong mark— a disciple of the death god. Instead of a priceless treasure, I’m left with a killer curse. The only one who can stop it? A dark warrior known as The Sword, the most feared of all the death god’s worshippers. Wonderful.

To make things worse, he’s currently rotting in a cell for murdering the followers of my goddess. But I’ve never let a little thing like the law stop me, and I certainly won’t now, not when the most important thing to me is on the line: my life.

I manage to break The Sword out of his prison, and he swears to help me find a cure for the blood curse in return for his freedom. We have to learn to rely on one another… and manage to build a grudging respect that might just be turning into something more.

No matter what he says, though, The Sword seems to have his own agenda on my quest for the cure. If I want to live, I have to figure out his plan before it’s too late.

Trust’s never come easy to me, but betrayal’s never hurt so much.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Fae, Enemies To Lovers, Audiobook

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 7, 2024

About the author

January Bell writes steamy sci-fi and fantasy romance with a guaranteed happily ever after. Combining pure escapism, a little adventure, and a whole lotta love makes for romance that's a world apart. For the latest updates, follow her on Instagram and Twitter and subscribe to her newsletter for exclusive content. Is there a character you would like to see featured in a future novel or novella? Don't be shy! She'd love to hear from you.

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one started out super slow for me! I had a pretty hard time getting into it and just didn't feel the connection between the two characters but at around 60%(ish) I started to become a little more intrigued.

I loved how grumpy The Sword was but why did I hate his name? 😂 I also felt like the slow burn was too damn slow.. typically I don't care about the lack of spice but the banter wasn't really hitting it for me so I struggled.

The plot was good. The ending was a WOAH moment. This was just good. I didn't hate it, didn't love it.

-fantasy (new adult I'd say)
-grumpy / sunshine
-annoyance to love
-fated mates
-curses
-one bed
-plot twist
-cliffhanger
-slow burn
🌶️

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Death's embrace, no matter how expected, always comes as a surprise."

The gods have spoken.. 4.25 stars!

This book was such a fun adventure with the fate of Kyrie and the Sword shrouded in secrets and the promise of fate! I discovered January Bell through her alien romances, and I have come to love her easy writing and sassy heroines. I was so excited when she announced she was branching into the romantasy genre, and this novel held all of her trademark humor and adventure while also teeming with forbidden sexual tension and warring gods trying to dictate fate.

I admit I guessed the big secret pretty early in the story, but I loved following along these characters as Kyrie's mischievous personality gets her into trouble nearly as much as it gets her out of it. I loved how Kyrie was unapologetically herself; she lives her life to the fullest and I admire her for that. The Sword was surly, brooding, and determined not to be affected by her sunny disposition, but even he cannot break the binds of fate nor the oath he swore to help his Silver. The ending left me reeling with so many questions of WHY, and I am breathlessly waiting for more🖤

Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine, brooding hero, sarcastic heroine, forced proximity, forbidden love, hate-to-love-you, meddling gods, ancient prophecy, found family, slow burn, mild cliffhanger (part of a duet), steamy🔥

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I was so invested in a book, I finished it in one night! Kyrie is a thief with the gift of a silver tongue who steals then drinks from a cursed chalice. Her best friend, Lara, is a seer and tells her the only person who can break the curse is a man known as The Sword. The only catch, he’s in prison. Kyrie breaks The Sword out of prison and what follows is a whirlwind quest with new and old friends to find the relic that will cure the curse before it kills her. This book has all the things I love- snarky FMC, grumpy MMC, slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance, found family, banter, touch her and die, secrets, magic and an epic quest. #januarybell #ofswordandsilver #romantasy #bookstagram #morallygreyismyfavcolor #slowburnromance #enemiestolovers #advancedreaderscopy #comingsoon

[emscozyreads_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 Stars ✨

WOWWWWW I picked up this book randomly on KU because it sounded really interesting and…..

It did not disappoint! I absolutely ATE this book up 😍

Kyrie and The Sword are perfect!!! They gave my Jon Snow and Ygritte vibes from Game of Thrones and I adored both of them so much

Kyrie is a feisty fmc who has a really really reallllllly hard time being vulnerable. She is sassy, stubborn and often uses humor and sarcasm as a way to keep her walls up and to not let anyone get too close and to not let others see her as kind and caring and vulnerable and honestly I loved her so much and related to her a lot. There are moments you get with her where you see her kind heartedness and you see how much she cares for those she loves and it feels so special

The Sword is SO grumpy and so easily annoyed by Kyrie and she knows exactly how to push his buttons to get a rise out of him and it was so fun to read 😂 But just like Kyrie beneath the rough and solemn and hard exterior The Sword has a kind and loving heart

I adored all of the side characters and the two animal companions, they all felt like they added a lot to the story!

And THE ENDING I kind of had an idea of what might happen but I was SHOOK and I neeeeed the second book asap

Please pick this one up! It’s such a fun and fast paced read and I’d absolutely recommend it!

[Destiny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75⭐️
One spice scene that happens at 90ish%

Tropes
• fun banter
• romantasy
• found family
• gods
• forced proximity
• grumpy sunshine
• who did this to you

Thoughts

I did receive an arc but all thoughts and opinions are my own 💖

This was a really fun easy to binge book. It follows the fmc kyrie who drank from a cursed chalice and is on an adventure to not die from the curse. I at first didn’t love the fmc but she did grow on me over time. The mmc was such a grump. It was great.

I did find the ending/ twist to be very predictable. There were a couple things in the boom that gave it away. If those couple things were gone, I would’ve not been able to see that ending coming like I did.

But overall, I do think this was a super fun easy read! I liked it a lot!

[Poppy || Monster Lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mind the Cliff!
Kyrie was a sunshiny ball of chaos with a sharp tongue, quick wit, and a penchant for thievery. The Sword was an enigmatic, somewhat surly counterpart. They served gods that didn’t get along at all and so, unsurprisingly, they didn’t get along.
The pacing of the story was excellent and it was a good mix of heart wrenching and humorous. They had all the banter and absolutely appalling communication skills. Sometimes I thought the foreshadowing was a lil bit overdone, but it was a really good book!

Spice: 3/5

Triggers: discussion of human trafficking, violence, gore, poisoning, fire, murder, parental loss, sibling loss, child abuse (off page), grief, imprisonment, severe illness

[haya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so invested in this story from the start and let me tell you he falls first/harder will get me every time. I was swooning from the beginning. I loved the main characters, the side characters were chef’s kiss and the plot was a bang from the get go! I appreciated that the story started from page one and there wasn’t any filler. And the romance was so cute I couldn’t help swooning!! I was highlighting almost every page. I will say the FMC is a lil bit more quirky than I am used to and the sex jokes got to be a lil much at some parts, but I had to just accept that was her personality and I still enjoyed the story! I’m so obsessed and I cannot wait to read more about Kyrie’s backstory and learn a little more about her and her struggles! Also that ending????? I am still shocked. I was equally excited and terrified at the same time! I am in love! Thank you so much for the ARC! I cannot wait for book 2!

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book in the series ✨

What to expect:
- Fantasy
- Quest
- Fate
- One Tent
- Gods and magic
- Slow burn

This was my first read by January Bell. She got right into the action with the way the book opened and I liked that. This world is great for beginners in the fantasy genre because it's a simple magic system with gods and a sort of religion based around it. The book is not heavy on the world building but on the quest and the characters. It's a fun slow burn with mystery.

Plot:
Kyrie is a thief who accidentally steels the wrong thing. Whether bound by fate or not, now she has to go on a quest to break her curse. Step 1 - save The Sword. Who also happens to be the servant to the God of Death and hates all of the followers of her Goddess of Chaos.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
.5🌶️

[kate! · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @53% I really wanted to give this book a chance but after trying to read it for almost 2 weeks and only getting to the halfway mark, I gave up. The plot and characters were underdeveloped, there was ZERO chemistry between the love interests besides physical attraction, and wayyyy too many “sword” jokes. Very disappointed.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely amazing!

It doesn’t happen very often anymore that I’m as invested in a book as I was in this one! It had me in a chokehold from the first until te last page. The plot was amazing, loved the (unique) magic system, loved that de MMC reminded me a lot of Geralt (yes the Henry Cavill version) and the romance and tension were ON POINT. Kyrie and the Sword their chemistry was amazing, I loved their banter and jokes and constantly teasing each other and the way they went from enemies to lovers was actually really sweet!

BUT the ending… MY GOD, I think I do not have the patience to wait until book 2 comes out?? (I know I have to but I’m just a bit in shock) this book ends on a HUGE cliffhanger and I just really need to know what happens next. I see so much potential for book 2 to be even better and I already gave this one 5 stars. Very excited to see what happens next!

[Racheal · Rating 5 out of 5]

In true January Bell fashion, this book brought to life everything I love about her writing! It had all the humor with Kyrie's quick wit and sharp tongue, not to mention her sass. I just loved everything about her character and how there was so much more to her than what meets the eye. I also loved that she didn't fit the typical mold for being born into chaos. Her heart was so big and I loved how she genuinely cared.
I also loved the Sword! He was shrouded in mystery and was such a grump! That said, I loved how he was honorable and protective.
This book wasn't as spicy as what I've read from Bell before, but it was still really well done. There was just the right amount of foreshadowing to ease my anxiety with the cliffhanger. Legit, I DON'T do cliffhangers, but this one was really well done. Just be forewarned that it will leave you aching for book two, like yesterday! Seriously, I can't wait!!
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and would give it a solid 5 stars!

**Also sending a huge thank you to January Bell for the ARC and the opportunity to read this! My thoughts and opinions are my own. =)

[KMart Vet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of Sword & Silver thrusts readers into the meat of the story from the very beginning, wasting no time in immersing them in a world of curses, gods, and prophesies. The story follows a thief with a silver tongue, threatened with a life-threatening curse on behalf of the death god. The only hope for a cure lies in an alliance with a formidable warrior known as The Sword, an individual with his own agenda who has been imprisoned for quite some time. Of course, our sassy heroine wastes no time in freeing him and these two start bantering immediately. The banter between the lead characters adds a layer of humor and camaraderie, offering moments of levity amidst the darker aspects of the plot. The found family theme resonates strongly here and there are several animal companions too.

The novel's strength lies in its ability to maintain a brisk pace without sacrificing depth. The world-building unfolds seamlessly, revealing essential elements of the narrative as the story progresses. The gods, magic, and the intricate dynamics between characters are interwoven to create a rich tapestry that keeps readers engaged. I really enjoyed this aspect of the story; so often things can get bogged down with exposition in other books. The magic system, with the involvement of gods, adds a fascinating element.

As the story unfolds, deeper themes emerge - especially in the backstories, and there are several unexpected twists in the plot. The ending is a gut-punch and makes me yearn for the next in the series. Of Sword & Silver is a delightful and engaging read, seamlessly blending action, a heist, and interpersonal dynamics. January Bell crafts a story that entertains with its fast-paced plot and fun characters.

Thanks to the author for the copy. This is an honest review.

[Lauren Bridgeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Takes the Gold

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5/5)  
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ (2.5/5)

“You are, for better or worse,” I say slowly, trying desperately to help her see it, knowing I cannot tell her plainly, “the only one special enough to drink from that chalice. The silver tongue, the first blessed with such power in an age or more. You are the distillment of magic and chaos, the embodiment of all that Sola holds precious.”

Tropes:   
Romantasy
Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Touch Her and Die
Found Family

Vibes:   
HEY ALL YOU ROMANTASY READERS - this is the perfect indie read. Captivating. Tantalizing. Addicting. I need more. I love these characters - so full of intrigue and surrounded by mystery…. Be prepared for a cliffhanger ending - you’re going to want to come back for Book 2. Also - this was such a quick read! I kept up with the entire storyline from the beginning which is not always easy with a new fantasy read.

  My Summary:
Kyrie, a mortal born with a unique gift of the silver tongue, is sworn to Silva - the god of Chaos and Lies. She’s made the most of her brutal upbringing at the hands of her sisters in the faith, but is cursed when she steals a drink from an enchanted chalice. The only one able to help her find a cure is the Sword - a fae-like male and imprisoned disciple of Hrakan - the god of Death. They’re enemies but have an unmistakable soul-deep connection - one that proves impossible to resist. Will the cost of the cure prove too high and sever the trust they’ve built?

Recommended to...  
Any romantasy reader in need of a fantastic new series!

[Avi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been a recent fan of January Bell’s books because I stumbled upon her alien series. January does such a great job of pacing, plot, story, romance and her books always have a good payoff at the end. When I heard that she was moving more towards 'regular' fantasy (although who are we to say what is regular anymore), I was beyond excited. I got the ARC and had to jump into it this past weekend. This book has definitely made January Bell one of my must-read authors now.

So this is the story of Sword and Kyrie. Sword is a disciple of Hrakan (the God of death & time) and Kyrie is a disciple of Sola (the Goddess of chaos & lies). They don't meet under the best of circumstances, and each had a preexisting dislike of each other. However, in order to achieve their goals, they have to ‘trust’ each other and have no choice but to work together.

There’s a lot of my favourite tropes in here- enemies-to-lovers, found-family and a relatively medium burn. It has a snarky FMC, grumpy MMC and of course, touch-her-and-die vibes.

I think this was a great start to the series and sets up the plot very well. I’m very excited for the next installment in the series to know of the intentions behind some of the decisions made in this book and to me, that’s the best kind of fantasy book.

I’m giving this a high 4-stars!!! I did receive an ARC but wasn’t mandated to write this review.

[Alexus · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“There’s nowhere you could go that I wouldn’t find you”

The story follows Kyrie who drank from a cursed chalice, and her only hope of survival is The Sword. They’re followers of two different gods, they’re enemies. In order to get his help, she has to break The Sword out of prison because he has been locked away for murder. They agree to go on a heist that will cure Kyrie of the curse and help the Sword achieve freedom. It’s easy to agree to something, but it’s harder to rely and trust your enemy throughout the journey. The Sword seems to have his own agenda on her quest for the cure. Can Kyrie figure out his plan before it’s too late?

Of Sword & Silver has:
🩵 Enemies to lovers
🐴 Heist
👑 Masquerade
💀 Banter
🖤 The Witcher vibes
🗡️ Found family

Of Sword and Silver is a Romantasy that I couldn’t stop reading until the end. You’re sucked into a new world with magic and gods that immediately pulls your attention. If you liked Geralt from The Witcher, then you will love The Sword! His description and mannerisms are spot on. Kyrie is fierce, hilarious, and stubborn. She loves to push The Sword on every turn. Throughout their journey, we get to see a side of her she tries to keep hidden. The banter between the two of them had me giggling. While they may be enemies, the chemistry was burning right away. It’s the kind where he hates her, but if someone were to harm her they wouldn’t get very far lol. The side characters in this story all had their own part that I enjoyed every glimpse we got. This book is apart of a series and it will end in a massive cliffhanger.

“My self-control is slipping around Kyrie, everything about her a siren’s call to my very soul. Just as fate knew she would be. My opposite in so many things, both attractive and infuriating for just that reason. A light against the darkness, everything l’ve needed and been resistant to all at once.”

This book has easily went into my favorites for the year. I highly recommend it and it publishes today!!

[Emily Graves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omgggg, January has done it again!

I’ve loved her alien romances since I first stumbled across Claimed by the Lion, and as a certified romantasy lover™️ I was beyond excited when this book was announced. And I literally squealed when I got the ARC! I’ve been savoring this book, trying not to rush through it but that was hard to do. For a first foray into romantasy, this is a strong entry. There is clear world building and thought put into things, there are all the loved tropes - both of the genre and of January’s winning formula. Giant direcat for the win! I can’t wait for book two and to see what happens next with everyone.

“There is nowhere you could go that I wouldn’t find you.”
If a man doesn’t have this energy?? While looking like Henry Cavill in the Witcher? I don’t want him. Sword for the win! He’s a strong silent type character, but there is so much in his actions. And when there is banter? Love it. Love the dynamic between him and Kyrie. And his dynamic with the other characters too.

"I couldn't exactly leave him in the city. I was rescuing a death knight, remember? About this tall, unfriendly, his handsomeness wasted on his shitty personality? Maybe you know him."
Kyrie is everything I love in a sassy heroine who uses her sarcasm as a shield and a mask to hide the fact she’s really a softy underneath it all. Who doesn’t love that?

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 in A Conqueror's Kingdom

This is the first book in a new trilogy by January Bell. I stumbled upon this author on Kickstarter, of all places, and fell in love with a special edition hardcover bind up of the Fated by Starlight series. Saw the art, read the summaries of the book. Immediately backed it for the physical book and rewards. Then started reading them. Five stars. Now, I haven't finished that series... I want to savor them... but so far I have given all the books I've read Ms. Bell 5 stars. Then I saw another Kickstarter she launched- Accidental Alien Brides. Yep, you guessed it. I backed that too. Have I read them? No. But do I know they'll be more than worth it? Yes. Without a doubt.

Now, onto this book itself. I am very happy to report that THIS book is ALSO 5 stars. Well, I want to give it all the stars, personally. If I could I'd give this 10 stars (out of 5.)

This is the story of Sword and Kyrie. And no, Sword isn't his real name, but you will find out his real name if you read this book. See what I did there? Anyway, Sword, a disciple of Hrakan (god of death & time) and Kyrie, a disciple of Sola (the goddess of chaos & lies) don't meet under the best of circumstances, and each had a preexisting dislike of each other. Yes, that would make this an enemies to lovers story. However, these two, in order to "trust" each other swear an oath to one another as they have no choice but to work together to fulfill their goals. And, they can't do that without *blows a trumpet* some help - and here enters the found family aspect. A party of six in total (including Sword & Kyrie Ilinus): Lara Tross, a seer; Morrow Vossen, a protector; Caedia Wood, a healer; and Dario Krauss, a smuggler.

Heska is a fantastical country filled with waring gods and magic with a rugged medieval type of environment (think no tech, but with some plumbing.) Sword and Kyrie provide the best banter while the slow burn builds. It was so refreshing to read a book where the MMC wasn't thinking about the FMC's lips on... *clears throat* you get the idea. You actually believe their love story. This isn't an insta-lust to insta-love book. You are able to get to know the characters and what they see in each other and how they can't help but fall in love... even when they are actively trying not to!

And the pacing! *chef's kiss* It was perfect! I didn't want to put this down. I almost finished it within one day... but you know, life, and then I couldn't finish it the next day because of a migraine. But, oh my gosh! I wanted to know who Sword actually was and what he was keeping secret (and Lara even knew!) I didn't even want to spoil it for myself by trying to think about it. I just kept reading. Holy Moly!! THAT ENDING!!! Perfection. It was sheer perfection. And I even forgot to mention the cute huge cat (actually a direcat, who later gets named Fil.) Everything and cat! What more can you ask for?

Yes, I did receive an ARC of this book for free. However, I have pre-ordered the ebook. And I certainly hope there is a physical book or a special edition that can be purchased through Kickstarter down the road because I loved this. And I will definitely be re-reading this before the next book in the series comes out.

[Mariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

this might just be one of the best fantasy books i’ve ever read.

it’s an enemies to lovers where the banter was just *chefs kiss*, you could see them fall in love with each other even though they fought so hard not to.

the world in this book was written perfectly, the Gods and their followers, the curses, the giant cats (i love Fil), literally everything.

i loved the found family in this book, Sword and Kyrie find Lara (Kyrie’s best and only friend) and we get to meet , Morrow, Caedia and Dario later on, and understand their job in this difficult quest, we also see as they get to know each other and share their past (mostly, Sword, Lara, Kyrie, Morrow and Caedia) and truly get the feeling of the found family


i think January Bell did a beautiful job writing this book and i recommend this to everyone who loves fantasy!!


a quote that i loved:


“I love you,” he tells me fiercely, “ more than all the stars in the night sky. More than the ocean with its bottomless depths could understand.”

[Tawny Tran · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 total rating. Thanks to the author for letting me read the ARC!

This is a fun, fluffy romance fantasy read. And while it is an entertaining read, it is not very original. Very tropey and has been done before.

If you’re a fan of grumpy/sunshine romance and found family, this is the book for you. While not very unique, the characters are colorful and witty and the pacing is exactly what it should be for this kind of fluffy read: quick and entertaining.

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNFing yet another book after making it over halfway through. I AM SO SICK OF SHITTY BOOKS

[MarissaIsBooked · Rating 3 out of 5]

Between 3.5 & 3.75⭐️ idk
🌶️

I thought this was a fun, easy read. I loved the banter between MCs, the chemistry between them was good, and honestly I love a good quest.

However, I guessed the big plot twist in the first ~20% of the book and it just became more and more obvious as the book went on. Yes I still enjoyed, yes I had a good time, yes I’ll read book 2 (this is a duet). But I reallllly hope if there’s any big reveals in book 2 that they’re not being practically shouted at us. It took away from the book a bit

And my final point…I was approached about reading this as an ARC. I was told, and I quote, “OS&S will be approximately 2 chili peppers minimum (about 3-4 explicit sex scenes).” There was ONE (1) spice scene and it happened at 93%. I’m not sure if they meant to say the duet would include that, but the series/duet is called ‘A Conqueror’s Kingdom’ so the ‘OS&S’ in their message could only mean this book.

I am 100% okay with reading books with little to no spice, but please don’t try to entice readers with a spice level the book doesn’t actually have.


Note: I did receive an ARC from the author but due to my work schedule I was unable to read until 2 days after release. Decision to read/review was my own. Opinion is my own.

[Hailey Stalter · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had the bones to be AMAZING. It started out so promising. Around 45% or so things fell apart. On their own Kyrie and the Sword were fantastic. Once the rest of the crew had to come into play everything changed. The storyline was too loosely wound. We knew basically nothing of the other characters and it was so hard to feel invested at all.
Also as an aside can we PLEASE stop with the forever slow burn that doesn't make any sense? It's genuinely infuriating. And then to get the ONE sex scene at the end and find out none of it mattered? Could've been fucking the whole time. Had you spoken about it in depth there's like a 95% chance you could've had the half nymph whip you up a pain pot so you could do the thing and come back as death's bride? How is that not something you'd want seeing y'all love each other? Lara knows the whole time and lies to Kyrie like a shit ass friend? And what was her deal anyway? Why was Lara so godamned mean after being so nice in the first scenes we saw her in? I'm sick of this, folks. So much of what I've read lately reads like this. 😭

[Ivy Deluca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quickish Review

I am really irritated. I hate cliffhangers and I went into this blindly, got hooked and now I have to wait for the next book. The cruelty.

But my hatred of cliffhangers aside, I like the characters, intrigued by the story and the worldbuilding isn’t overwhelming or underdone. It’s a slow burn but the couple scenes that are fully focused on their chemistry are strong.

While yes my guess as to who The Sword is was right, that cliffhanger! Dammit. I felt it was happening, I kept looking at the page count trying to deny the truth and then it happened anyway.

So well played Ms Bell. I’m grumbling but I’m gonna read the next one.

[Kristina Marquardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this fantasy.  I found it original, entertaining, and had interesting characters. The plot kept me engaged in the story, waiting for details and drama to explode onto every few pages.  The tension between the main characters is thick throughout the whole book. The side characters add a great dimension to the story. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.  Good story for those who enjoy a well written fantasy. 

[Abby · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. The dialogue was cringe

[Janni (theladysparks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kyrie is a silver-tongued thief, gifted with magic by the Goddess Sola that allows her to detect lies and force people to believe hers, and she has stolen from the wrong mark. She went in believing she’d made off with a priceless treasure from a disciple of the death god but instead has been cursed and the only one who can help stop it is a dark warrior who is simply known as The Sword who is also the most feared of all the death God’s worshippers.

After Kyrie breaks the Sword out of prison (where he resides after the murder of a slew of Sola followers), the two make an oath to one another so that he can get his freedom and Kyrie can be cured of her curse. But The Sword seems to have his own agenda on this quest. And as their journey progresses, these enemies grow closer but there are secrets between them all.

"There's nowhere you could go that I wouldn't find you."

I've been in a bit of a reading slump between the end of February and the beginning of March but picking this up has cured me. This is the fantasy romance book of my dreams and I will literally be thinking about it nonstop until the next book comes out. It's giving Witcher vibes. It's giving Baulder's Gate 3 vibes. It's giving a magical world that I would like to be transported to immediately if I can have the Sword call me pretty little liar.

Kyrie's story gives me major Shadowheart vibes from Baulder's Gate 3 but only if she were a really sarcastic rogue. I love her with my whole being and I really enjoyed how she was written because it felt like as the people around her learned more about her, so did we as the readers. It felt like the further I got into the book, the more trust was being shared and the more she was stripping herself of the layers she has to protect herself. I think her entire backstory is so interesting (sad but interesting nonetheless) and I loved the fact that January Bell did not hold back when it came to the flaws that make Kyrie who she is.

The Sword was literally written for the people who love a dark, broody fae man who grunts more than he actually speaks. The same way that January Bell unraveled secrets with Kyrie, she did with the Sword but in a bit of a different way so we would get abrupt half-answers to questions we didn't even realize we had. It was frustrating but I loved how he was trying to give Kyrie the answers without actually giving the answers. (Especially funny if you take into account the fact that he talks about hating the Gods riddles on multiple occasions.) I think that this is a character that the bookish community is going to be obsessing over, and honestly as they should because same.

There was a really strong supporting cast of characters, including a direcat and a mule who had their own personalities that you cannot help but love. The supporting characters all have their own web of intricacies that I found really compelling while I was reading. They all have their flaws but you love them all the same. I think January Bell did a really great job at bringing out their humanness which sounds so silly but I think with fantasy books and anytime there are otherworldly things happening, the writing of characters can feel less human even when they're supposed to just be human so I just really appreciated that.

This book had me laughing. This book had me crying. This book had me throwing it down on the bed because I was so frustrated or shocked by what was happening. And I can't wait to read the next book. A very strong 5 star read that I highly recommend.

- fantasy romance
- enemies to reluctant allies to lovers
- slow burn
- high romantic tension
- loads of wonderful banter
- "little liar" as a pet name
- forced proximity
- really interesting magic
- a prison breakout, a heist and a masquerade ball
- touch her and die vibes
- found family, so much so
- grumpy hero / sassy heroine
- open door
- loads of secrets to unravel

[Britt · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️

Disclaimer: I received this book as an e-arc to review but this of course doesn't have any influence on my opinion.

I had a hard time getting in to this book. Up till the 50%/60% mark I did not really care for the characters, nor the plot and love story. BUT. After the 60% I really loved it! I don't know what happened but it really saved this book for me. It got so much better after this point and all the other side characters + the progression of the love plot made me so much more interested and invested. And the ending. O my. I have to say I did see it coming but I want to know what happens nevertheless! I cannot wait to read the second book.

Concluding, for a first book in a series this book really delivers. The first half was rough for me but I really loved the second part!3,5 ⭐️

Disclaimer: I received this book as an e-arc to review but this of course doesn't have any influence on my opinion.

I had a hard time getting in to this book. Up till the 50%/60% mark I did not really care for the characters, nor the plot and love story. BUT. After the 60% I really loved it!✨ I don't know what happened but it really saved this book for me. It got so much better after this point and all the other side characters + the progression of the love plot made me so much more interested and invested. And the ending. O my. I have to say I did see it coming but I want to know what happens nevertheless! I cannot wait to read the second book. (Oh yes and all the cat references- I am obsessed)🥺

Concluding, for a first book in a series this book really delivers. The first half was rough for me but I really loved the second part! 🥰

[Greyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐️ I try to stay away from books labeled: “A —- of —- and blank —-“, Or just “of —- and —“, Because those books usually suck and the MMC’s are creepy and gross. This book did not disappoint me nearly as much as the others of a similar name. At the beginning of this book it held the potential to be a 4/4.5 star read because I like the FMC a lot. She’s corny and unserious in serious situations. She’s hardheaded, rude, and a little selfish at times and I like her a lot. I kinda liked the MMC at the beginning but when he and one of the side characters held back vital information from the FMC that affected her actual life and death, he lost sexy points. She tried and tried to be decent and sweet toward him and he was being a lying dick. Omissions are lies! He could have been nice to her and told her the truth like 80 pages earlier or just waaay before fucking her, and it would not have taken much from the plot. Also, the ending “twist” wasn’t all that surprising. I’m gonna read book 2 because I had a decent time and I want to see her hate him for the first quarter of book 2.

[K Huskić · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This story hooked me from the start. The Sword was in prison, and Kyrie made a deal to break him out of prison, but each had their own reasons for making those choices.

In Kyrie’s case, she was cursed and needed The Sword’s help to break it. So began an adventure, enlisting the help of a few more people, to find the way to do that.

I liked all the different characters and what they each brought to the story. The chemistry between The Sword and Kyrie is of course undeniable, but they had a very back and forth relationship.

I liked the twists and turns in the story. This was the first that I’d read from this author, and I loved it. A fantasy story with prophecies, and gods, goddesses, magic - so much to enjoy.

There’s of course a cliffhanger at the end (I love a cliffhanger so that doesn’t bother me at all) but I can’t wait to read the next one! I need to know what happens next.

[J]

DNF at 56%. I can’t keep making myself read this book. The characters are more like caricatures than real people, they don’t have any chemistry together, the main character is annoying, the world building is as flimsy as a wet newspaper, the dialogue is corny and repetitive, every single scene is a rehash from the one before, the plot seems utterly uninteresting and unengaging (especially since we don’t even have any answers 50% of the way in, since the author seems insistent on having the main characters think vaguely about answers we need but not actually reveal anything), everything is told and not shown, and nothing in this world feels developed by even an inch. I’m so bored I can’t even bring myself to finish to give a bad rating. If I could, this would be a 1 star.