Blade of Secrets - (Bladesmith) by Tricia Levenseller (Paperback)
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4.6 out of 5 stars with 7 reviews
100% would recommend
6 recommendations
3 out of 5 stars
12 September, 2022
YA fantasy with social anxiety rep
Ziva, an 18-year-old blacksmith with severe social anxiety, goes on the run with her sister, a hired mercenary, and a scholar after finding out her latest creation, an all-powerful magic sword, is intended to be used for evil by the warlord that commissioned it. I found BLADE OF SECRETS to be a mediocre YA fantasy read. Although the concept of the story was enticing, the world building was lacking. Though there was some action, none of it was very intense so I didn’t find the book to be a gripping page-turner. There is also a romance sub-plot. This is book one of a duology and does end on a cliff-hanger. Even so, I don’t feel very motivated to pursue the second book. BLADE OF SECRETS wasn’t the best fit for me but fans of YA fantasy or those looking for social anxiety character representation might like to give it a try.
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
29 August, 2022
Empowering read. I liked it.
Reading Tricia Levenseller's books has never left me with dissatisfaction. In actuality, after reading this book and exactly the last page, I read it with just as much if not additional delight than in anticipation of. I flew into this book expecting a good read and girl did I get it. As you read this book you will get originality & dauntlessness, exploding with enchantment in addition to jeopardy. I've unquestionably fallen in love with the indestructible and fierce sisterly connection. If you've enjoyed what I said so far and also have a liking for forging, you'll learn quite a bit about in here. With which I found rather interesting. The book cover is mysterious and captivating. I especially took great pleasure in scrutinizing the cover. Subsequently I glanced back to the book to see how it would all play out in my imagination. So I really found the cover accommodating with expanding my imagination toward watching the story come to life inside my head. (P.s. I look forward to indulging myself with reading the continuation of this volume.)
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
22 August, 2022
A fun, fast-paced young adult fantasy adventure
Blade of Secrets is a fun, fast-paced young adult fantasy adventure with an unconventional strong female protagonist. It’s a classic quest to keep a powerful magical object from falling into the wrong hands. Tricia Levenseller manages to put a fresh spin on this old and beloved fantasy trope. It’s got sword-fights, clever strategizing, haphazard plans, mad dashes from one near disaster to another, creative magic, a band of misfit heroes on the run, reluctant allies, plot twists, and morally good yet imperfect main characters. All these familiar fantasy genre tropes done right have me nostalgic for my old favorite fantasy reads. Finally, we have a female protagonist, Ziva, who not only stands up for herself, her sister, and what’s right, but also ends up the leader of our misfit bunch despite her social anxiety. Add to that action that keeps you on the edge of your seat and some wonderfully wicked plot twists, and you’ve got one memorable story. Ziva just wanted to forge magical weapons in the solitude of her forge until she’d made enough money for her and her sister (the only family she’s got left) to go live where no one knows them or will bother them. When she took a too-good-to-be-true commission to make a broadsword for a warlord, she outdid herself and accidentally made it too powerful to let fall into wrong hands. It could strike down enemies from afar and steal secrets of those it cuts. Unfortunately for Ziva, she also appears to have made it virtually indestructible. Whoops! On the bright side, she found the perfect name for her problematic blade: Secret Eater. When Ziva discovered the warlord had dastardly and dangerous plants, she and her sister, went on the run with the sword until they could find a way to destroy it. They hired the handsome mercenary, Kellyn, to for protection. They also let Petrick, a scholar of magic tag along. My full review with content warnings can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4753476595
4 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
10 August, 2022
The flight of a magical blacksmith
Ziva and her younger sister Temra were orphaned at an early age when their parents were murdered. Temra goes to school and Ziva provides for them as a blacksmith by forging weapons imbued with magic. A warlord commissions a sword and Ziva inadvertently creates an unusually powerful and dangerous sword. When Ziva discovers that the warlord intends to enslave the world, she realizes that she can never let the sword fall into the woman's hands. She flees with Temra, a scholar of magic and a handsome mercenary. Ziva has social anxiety and would rather spend time with iron and steel than people. On the road, with new companions, in constant danger, she is way out of her comfort zone. Blade of Secrets is a binge-worthy, exciting, fast-paced adventure, with interesting characters, fun banter, romance, plot twists, and a unique heroine. A lot of readers will relate to Ziva's anxiety, and it is good to see this representation in the fantasy genre. I wished the book had been longer with more world building. I love the beautiful map by Noverantale. The story ends in a devastating cliff hanger, which is why I'm excited that the sequel is coming soon.
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
25 July, 2022
Loved it
Title: Blade of Secrets Author: Tricia Levenseller This book and it's cover were both amazing. Thank you to Bookishfirst for sending me a copy of it to review. The book starts off as Ziva a magical bladesmoth dealing with a Karen customer who hurt himself on his blade. Quote: "It's not nearly as hurt as your pride else you would be at a healers and not here." Page 5. I agree this is very true and he is acting like a two year old which I found hilarious. Quote: "How can a man who injures himself with his own weapon be dangerous?" Page 7. This had me laughing. Than the story went on to Ziva meeting Petrik who specializes in ancient magic and wants her help writing the book he's working on. He's an important character in this book so pay attention. I didn't trust him at first he gave bad vibes but in the end he was on Zivas side. Quote: "This mace steals the breathe of surrounding enemies! It can kill without even touching an opponent, and yet it sits above the mantel as though it were a-a-decoration!" I agree I would have been mad to putting a good magical weapon to no use. Can just use a normal non-magicked mace for a decoration. Ansel goes to try to kiss her and doesn't understand no means no. Quote: "You think saying a few nice words to me earns you a kiss? That's not how it works." This is 100% true and many people need to learn to understand this. He goes on to have a fit but his parents end up believing her. She also meets Warlord Kymora Avedin during this time. She can't be trusted and I also found it funny Ansel didn't get his way. When Ziva is making the sword for Kymora she sees Kellyn who is important in this story for the first time. The swords magic is made from her feelings for him and her telling it all her secrets. Which was amazing I loved it that part was intense. When showing Kymora it cuts Kymora and Ziva finds out she can hear the victims secrets when it cuts them. Two of Kymoras secrets are: Quote "This weapon will make me unbeatable in combat." Which can be a good thing if your a good guy she's not. Quote "I will crush Ghadra's pathetic rulers and reunite the regions under one rule once more: my own. The people will be enslaved to my will. The royal family will all bow before me. Right before I remove their heads." This is where I couldn't put it down. For the safety of her country and sister they decided to run. Their journey was fun and interesting. I loved it. Ziva and Kellyn fall for each other and she finally opens up about her anxiety which I can relate to. I loved this story and can't wait to read the next one. It has an amazing but sad cliffhanger ending. P.S. It's on my favorites shelf now.
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
20 July, 2022
It was a great story
Like the authors other books, I absolutely loved this one! To start out with, it he main character Ziva was so cool! I loved her power of being able to make magical weapons. I loved all the side characters too, especially Kellyn, the love interest. Ziva’s relationship with her sister was also a nice touch. I also think it was really cool that Ziva struggled with severe social anxiety because that’s definitely a characteristic you don’t see in most of your YA fantasy heroines. I think it was a little aggravating how perfect and beautiful her sister was compared to Ziva mainly because Ziva was just “so tall”, but I still loved the book regardless. I will also say that the plot of the book was great. It was entertaining and kept me interested the whole time. The world building in this book was also really good. It was really simple which is one thing I love about this author. The magic system is also not complicated at all which I loved. Overall this was a great book!
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
20 July, 2022
Great new book from an old favorite!
This book reminded me why Tricia Levenseller is one of my favorite current authors - I fell in love with Daughter of the Pirate King within the first few pages, and I could tell from its opening that Blade of Secrets was going to give me that same wonderful reading experience. I love how Ziva's magic was explored; the weapons detailed in this story had creative, unique abilities that were skillfully explained to make perfect sense based on whatever Ziva was doing or thinking at the time of forging. Her social anxiety was a poignant plot point without overwhelming the rest of her character. The way she was able to speak easily about her work, the way she tried to convey that she couldn't just "think" her way out of it, it felt authentic. The sister dynamic was great, how they pushed and pulled on each other's strengths and weaknesses, trying to keep their bond alive and central even though they have very different ideas of what an "ideal" life would be. I will definitely be picking up the second volume!