Let's Talk Books

From the bestselling author of A Marvellous Light comes the most aching, yearning, wanting, lust-filled romance I have read all year! Burdened with the weight of running his family business, Matti Jay is ‘happy’ to marry if it means his family can get by, name and reputation unscathed. Running from a mysterious past, Luca Piere is trying to build a new life on his one marketable skill: his ability with a sword. When their paths cross both men find something they had not been looking for, a deep and undeniable connection, and an attraction unlike either of them have felt before.

The highlight of this book is the relationships Marske constructs. Luca and Matti feel in love, you sense their desire from one another from almost their first meeting. Every element of intrigue, every choked-off conversation, all of it builds towards a compelling and genuine romance. I have read straight-up romances that have less-successfully presented me with love and lust and yearning, than this fantasy novel with strong subplots and side characters. I think Marske has also brilliantly rendered the pressures of being the eldest child. Matti is, in so many ways, an ode to the eldest daughter, and at the same time, a reminder of the stoicism people expect from their sons. He encapsulates such intense and complex emotion, but never feels like a mouthpiece or a patsy – just a really well written character.

Swordcrossed has a strong, well-conceived, and well-plotted primary conceit. Whilst this is very much a romance in a lot of ways, Marske has ensured that the framing story is robust enough to carry the plot forward. This is almost to its detriment; Marske’s plot is so well-plotted and engaging, that the romance sometimes felt like it was competing with the other plot, that neither was sub- so much as sharing space. This is the only thing that holds Swordcrossed back from a full 5-stars for me, I loved every scene, but I struggled with the balance in places!

Overall, I would highly recommend Swordcrossed for anyone in need of an emotional gut-punch, excellent spice, and beautifully penned prose. 4.5 stars.