User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
8/3/22 BLADE OF SECRETS hit the New York Times Bestseller list! AHHHHHHHHHHH. Thank you, everyone!
5/4/21 Today’s the day! Blade of Secrets is officially out in the world! Thank you for all the early support, and happy Star Wars Day!
9/28/20 I'm so excited we have a cover now! Thank you to everyone who has given it some love! What to expect in this book:
-Magical weapons
-Blacksmithing
-Banter (you're getting not one, but two romances out of this book!)
-Adventure
-Unlikely heroes
-An unbreakable bond between sisters
5/7/20 Hey guys! This one is off to copy edits. I hope to see cover samples really soon. Can’t wait for you all to read about my socially-anxious Gryffindor and her Slytherin mercenary love interest. Social anxiety is something I’ve dealt with my entire life, and it was both liberating and terrifying to write a character who deals with this same disability (while also having to try to save the world).
I know you guys are used to getting a book from me every February, but this one has been pushed back two-and-a-half months. My editor and I were both surprised by the news, because everything was turned in on time. The new release date is a result of many things, the most obvious being the fact that so many authors were pushed back this year (2020) due to the corona virus, so they’ve had to move around the schedule for 2021. I was very lucky to be able to go on tour for THE SHADOWS BETWEEN US before corona hit, but other authors had books release in the thick of it—while other release dates have been delayed to help sales. I’m so lucky to have an amazing team working hard to bring my books to my readers. Whether my latest release is your first time reading a book from me or you’ve been with me since DAUGHTER OF THE PIRATE KING, thanks for giving my books a read! And I’m sorry for the longer wait!
Rating: really liked it
This was such a pleasant surprise! I picked it up on a whim because I was kind of in the mood for a fantasy and had packed most of my other books for my move, so I decided to try it out. An hour or so later I was already a third or so into the book. This is a super easy, suck you in, fast paced fantasy read. You follow Ziva who is a blacksmith and also suffers from social anxiety. She is most comfortable with her sister Temra. The two end up having to go on the run together because Ziva created a weapon of mass destruction that they have to keep out of the wrong hands. They have a mercenary join them for protection and a magic scholar as well. The pacing of this book is exactly what I want from fantasy reads. There was no point where I felt bored or like things were dragging. The anxiety representation was spectacular. I related so much to Ziva's anxiety struggles, although mine isn't specific to social situations. The relationship between her and her sister was the cherry on top for me. I wasn't expecting it to be a main focus because it's kind of glazed over in the synopsis, but I loved it. The romance is a slow burn sort of enemies to lovers deal and it was a lot of fun to read. The characters contrast so much but worked really well together. Overall this was great! I wasn't expecting to hate it or anything, but I just hadn't expected to love it as much as I did. It was fun, action packed, intriguing, and heart warming, all at once!
Rating: really liked it
rounding up because while this isnt the best YA fantasy out there, i cant stop thinking about it.
i cant stop thinking about the social anxiety rep, kellyn, the cute banter, kellyn, the rag-tag team, the adorable sisterhood, oh, and did i mention kellyn? lol. the fast-paced adventure, extremely likeable characters, quick length, and easy-going writing make this impossible not to binge read.
how things end have me biting my nails, so the sequel cant come soon enough!
↠ 4.5 stars
Rating: really liked it
As I'm about to write a review on this (after 5 days reading them, I still squealed like I just finished it). I honestly going into blind when I started the book and did not know what to expect.
Blade of Secrets follows a story of
Ziva, who loves to spend her alone time in the forge creating unique weapons imbued with power using her magical gift. Simply to say, she loves metal
more than she is with people. Then, she was commissioned by a warlord, to create the most powerful blade and has created one that could cut far deeper than the length of its blade. But here's the catch, it could also whisper secrets of the people it killed. And unknowingly, after the warlord intentionally cut herself to the weapon, she discovered her wicked intentions to use the weapon and enslave all the world under her rule.
And Ziva did the only right thing to do with her sister. They fled.
Along the way, they hired themselves a mercenary as well as getting a young scholar who has extensive knowledge of magic to follow. This book takes reader together to escape and find themselves a safe place from the dangerous warlord.
Now to my favorite part of the book:
The characters 1. Ziva Ziva is a magical blacksmith who also suffers from social anxiety. Often time, she is envious of her carefree sister,
Temra who gets to talk to other people and put herself forward without having to worry about what people think of her. I love how Ziva's character is presented authentically; like a Fantasy YA character with mental illness representation?
Yes, sign me up! Tricia wrote Ziva exquisitely; you can see whatever actions Ziva did is a reflection to her anxiety and I could honestly relate to that.
Another thing that I love about Ziva is her relationship with her sister. You can see how much she loves and is very protective of Temra, having to be the rightful guardian after both of their parents were killed. In whatever outcomes or decisions she made, she'll always put Temra first — even when her potential love interest chose to save her than her sister. Trust me, she would hold grudges on you for that. There were so much warmth from the siblings and I'm bowled over by it (because 85% of the time, I want to beat tf out of my sister).
2. Temra Temra can be a very admirable character. Even when she is the younger one, she takes care of her anxious sister very well and become her self-appointed protector. Always come out at the right moment when she knows there were turmoils going on in that brain of Ziva. Is carefree, good with blades and overall endearing. I just felt like that one part of her outburst was rather sudden but this is probably the author's way of showing Temra's flaws, which I could commend that.
3. Kellyn Kellyn is an interesting character. He was deemed as attractive, making Ziva captivated by his charm when she first saw him... only to be repulsed at how disgusting he is. At one time you can see him staring at Ziva (like you think he really likes her) only to refuse to help her when there is no money involved. You might find him confusing but I particularly like how fiery Kellyn is. He is arrogant but also sweet and caring when it comes to Ziva and his family.
4. Petrik Petrik is a nice addition to the group. I especially love seeing the dynamic between him and Kellyn, offering some humour and a light atmosphere in the book. The most admiring character of his would be his loyalty towards the Tellion sisters. Petrik may be seen as a subsidiary but is equally sweet, which made him equally important to the story.
Needed to say, the characters in this book is to die for. I was hoping this to be a found family trope later on because these people are just, again, darling.
While the world-building still need to be refined, I believe it will get better in the next book. The plot is satisfactory since there was not much going on as you would really just see them trying to escape and save themselves throughout. But then, this will be a series, so I believe we still have a long way to go.
Meanwhile the ending was definitely a surprise. I did not foresee it and couldn't wait to see how it will contribute to the shift in the connection between characters especially Temra and Petrik. The cliffhanger though..... Levenseller just never know when to disappoint isn't she? I need the second book right this instant!
Rating: really liked it
I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.So...that was an evil way to end it, but in no way diminishes
my love for it. Like her previous book, The Shadows Between Us, this was so much fun, which put me in such a great mood that
I binged the heck out of it in no time at all. I really need to work on finishing the remainder of Tricia Levenseller’s backlist.
I’ll be the first one to admit that this isn’t the
BEST fantasy that I’ve ever read, yet it simultaneously checks all of the boxes for me.
Adventure? Romance? Sword fights? Witty banter? To be honest, I’d recommend this to
Princess Bride and
Arthurian mythology lovers the most. It has
EVERYTHING going for it!!! (Also, there's a fun
Arthurian twist that I think you'll like :P)
But there are also so many elements that make it special among the plethora of YA fantasy. Can I just say how refreshing it is to see
social anxiety representation in a
FANTASY NOVEL? So many times, if I want to see certain representation, I’m usually resigned to seeking it out in the contemporary genre, but, for once, it’s actually in a fantasy book, which makes me
soooo happy.
Here,
Ziva is a reluctant heroine, but not because she’s an antiheroine - no, she is genuinely a
good person who doesn’t want her creations falling into the wrong hands. Rather, she just has difficulty in social settings with her
anxiety and panic attacks. And her loved ones don’t make her feel any less for it. They
accept her for who she is with no exceptions whatsoever, even pointing out that they also have fears of their own, so who are they to judge her? Plus, there is the sweetest and most
gentle romance...and the loveliest of
sisterly bonds.
I really have
nothing bad to say about this book, except that now the wait for the finale will undoubtably be
torturous. I highly recommend keeping this 2021 release on your radar! :D
Rating: really liked it
(still sounding slightly possessed)
Rating: 😊🔪🔪🔪 4.4*me talking to the mirror pretending it's the author*
Let's get something out of the way first. How dare you?
Seriously.
How. Dare. You.You know what? You are selfish. Bring me to the abysm of heart break, go ahead and rip the life giving elixir from my hands and say 'oh, I'll give it to you a year from now' and all that, has the same energy as to what this did to me.
That's a huge no no, ma'am. Don't make me go over there and beg. Yeah, you do NOT want to see me do that. And don't you wish for me to cry out of pain, because I already am, so haha! Jokes on you, hahaha.
I need a break from this.
I actually don't, but I'm writing this directly after finishing the book (which I never do) and my reviewing capacities have denigrated to a near zero existence.
So, bonjour! This is going to be an epic disaster.
To be completely honest, I thought this book wouldn't gather such an extreme reaction from yours truly (considering this is a series, and I was aware of the fact that there may be a cliffhanger to keep me hooked. Alas, did I listen to reason? Why do that when you can get completely bamboozled and left for a carcass at the feet of Zeus?)
I could've probably finished this in a day, perhaps a few hours. (it being so fast-paced and all) But as we allll know, this chick started this book at 12 am. Meaning, what? She had to stop or dare to approach the life of the living dead in the morning hours. Trust me, they have nothing on me when I'm in that state. I should be casted or something- So yes, I postponed ending this book for a few hours. Woke up and ignored said book. Before, obviously, being forced to read the rest, therefore causing my potato life to be hindered. And I shall say that after all of that (missing) thought process, one thought ran rampant through my synapses, which was:
This was so freakishly cool.Believe me, I tried to make that statement sound so much more eloquent, but I'm afraid that slight part of my nervous system is non-existent for the time being.
The writing flowed extremely nice, considering I was not focused on it for the majority of the story. Sue me, I was not in the mindset of reviewer. *snort* I really liked how the whole book was written. Being in first person just made it so much better for me, since I like experiencing things firsthand and not third hand (hehe). It immersed me into the world I was reading about, nice imagery adding to the package, no 'I let go of a breath I didn't realize I was holding' crap, no over enthusiastic poetic moments which would take away from the story. Maybe there a few times where I skipped a monologue for being too long. But all in all, not bad. And I say this for the sole reason that this author's books have been a slight hit-and-miss for me these days. And I frankly can mention that I enjoyed it nonetheless. I just lowered my expectation a bit and all was well.
I would describe the plot as 'a short amount of pages that tried to accomplish a lot of things and which completed at least half of them'. Yes, that's exactly how I referred to it in my head. You know, it actually works sometimes. That conclusion jump-scared me too, don't worry. Because I'm still overly dramatically angry at how it ended (though I shouldn't be BUT COME ON, I NEED THE SECOND BOOK) I shall roast some small details that are maybe not that worthy of roasting. That being, the world in and of itself. Okay, *COUGH* I have no idea in which time this was set in. Like, none at all. It gave me the sass of the Knighthood era but then shoved the 'Modernized version of the world' down my esophagus. They used words that would be described in this day and age, whereas the clothing and sometime manner of speech sounded too old to be of this century. Let me explain, there were words such as 'school' and 'restaurants'. However, then there were words that literally fit in with the overall 'old esque' aspect. On those part I was all, wait- what? Where are we??? And maybe it's because my lazy behind didn't bother to read the whole map, or it's actually a valid reason to be peeved about. Now, I need to yell a little: THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF EVERY MAGICAL THINGY WAS SO ASTRONOMICALLY COOL, I CANNOT DEAL. Yes, that is it. It was confusingly nice, and I so look forward to knowing more of it. ( Like now. The book. Now)
If I could get out of the tomb of ghost hood and haunt the characters for the rest of my non-existent life, it would be worth it. They were so cinnamonic (that sounds like demonic but overlook that detail, please) I wanted to hug them and protect them from the world.
... minus the MC.
I'm sorry, you HAD to know I would rant against something in particular, so why not make it (once again) about the main character? It's so much fun to imitate people who probably think, BOOKSY JUST LIKE SOMETHING FOR ZEUS'S SAKE. And I want to say, I am tryiiinnnnnggggg. It's not my fault they're useless! Incredibly moronic! And dumb!
You would expect that a smithy with magical abilities would use a sword to defend herself more than once. But nooooo. Well, that's actually not entirely true, she used t for two strikes at the end- logic has no place here. Indeed, I found her personality incredibly relatable and THE SOCIAL ANXIETY REPRESENTATION WAS ASTOUNDING. I actually screamed at times because it made me so happy to see more books representing it. (I'm so sorry that I'm randomly screaming, I have to do exercise and I want to kill something) I liked how strong she was and how she was an amazing sister. Overall, even though I hated her being so weak at times (not mentally, I mean when in fights. Sword which she has in her hand? Useful? Nah, let' just try to talk it out) I'm looking for that character ARC that I'm expecting to blow my brains out and make soup with them.
The side characters such as the sister, the handsome mercenary, and the teddy bear-y scholar (he cried over books, ya'll. Forget everything, I loved him) were so well-developed and had such an abundance (less than my adoration level but more than most) of personality I could actually see myself inheriting. I need ammo for future arguments, and they were sarcastic enough and witty for spades to earn a place in the Donate Booksy Banter. Excuse you, I actually need it. I lived for every interaction between the sisters which left me feeling replenished and wiping my eyes because of the beauty.
The brewing relationship between the two love interests was too much for me to handle and
'the screech' was present more than once. I awaited patiently (not) for every dialogue and blooming bromance that at times, I caught myself hanging off the edge of my seat for the anticipated surprise. And it DELIVERED.
And with what? The romance (bromance). It will never cease to astonish my soul when two characters don't immediately start professing their love for each other after the fifth interaction because it has happened so many times. And this didn't do! Ahhhhh, okay. So. I really, really liked it. Sure the MC fell in the 'crush' zone after seeing the guy, however upon further investigation, he was to die for, so I completely understand. Their lovely banter and awkward moments were a balm to my heart and I squealed so many times I still have a tingly feeling resting against my throat. All in all, it seemed real, attainable and best of all... actually useful.
I still think that the Love interest has a long way to go, priority wise, but I hold it in my utmost custody the fact that he will become a future husband of mine. (or I'll wish him dead) For now, he shall rest beneath the pages that I threw in the metaphorical wind after the ending chapters. (yes, I am indeed still petty in regard to that)
On a closing note, if it wasn't yet completely obvious, I need the second book. Yesterday, more like. I left this review bubble in my subconsciousness after 5 beautiful hours of sleep, so I attribute all non ethically intelligent mumbling to that. (I cannot promise it won't happen again) The story was enriching in its unique premise, characters were lovely, sisterhood was out and shining (which I stanned. HARD), representation was much needed and very appreciated and the romance was not horrible (like in the previous book I had read from the author) so I would totally recommend just so y'all can suffer just like me. Or not, you may not like it, but hey, some books are just worth the read.
And the wait.
Ahahhahahahaha
2022
You thought-
Worth five stars though? Not exactly.
......................................................
*cleans glasses*
*throws glasses at wall*
*locates book*
*throws it out the window*
*shamefully brings it back*
*sits on the book*
*screams*
Ha!
I'm totally fine, if you're even the slightest bit curious.
Totally not fantasizing of going over to the author and demanding some things.
And totally not screaming at absolutely no one because WHAT WAS THAT FREAKING ENDING. WHAT WAS THAT. WHERE'S THE REST.
YES, IT IS A SERIES.
YES, THERE'S A SECOND BOOK.
ALSO, YES. I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL 2022.
AHAHAHHAHAHA.
2022.
AHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA
someone's going to perish tonightAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH
*starts screeching out of nowhere*
The book, where's the book? Does somebody have the book? I need the book. Give me the book. Hiya, I need the second book.
Give. It.
(I shall return in a bit. I need to get some things... terminated)
(I sound low-key possessed, omg-)
Rating: really liked it
“I prefer metal to people, which is why the forge is my safe space.”
~Rating- 3 stars~
Content/ Trigger Warnings- Anxiety, Social Anxiety, Panic Attacks (on page), Attempt at Sexual assault (almost non-consensual kiss, stooped before it happens) Self- harm (mention of cutting for magic related purposes and one character deliberately tries to bruise themselves on page), Death of parents (mention), Child Abandonment, Grief, Mention of fear of spiders, Mention of fear of darkness, Mention of claustrophobia (small breakdown because of it on page), Murder (on page), Blood, Bullying (on page)
- No mention of these in the review- “It’s a phase,” Temra says, reading my thoughts. “It will pass eventually.”
“I’m sure you’re right.”
But I don’t believe it for a moment.
Ziva prefers metal to people and spends her days tucked away in her forge, safe from society and the anxiety it causes her. She uses her
magical gift to craft unique weapons imbued with power, but when Ziva receives a commission from a powerful warlord, she
creates a sword capable of stealing its victims' secrets. This sword is
more powerful than any weapon Ziva has made before and when Ziva learns of the warlord’s intentions to use the weapon to enslave all the world under her rule, she takes her sister and flees.
Joined by a mercenary and a young scholar with extensive knowledge of the world's known magics, Ziva and her sister
set out on a quest to keep the sword safe until they can find a worthy wielder or a way to destroy it entirely.
“Beauty.
Such a silly, superficial thing, and yet, so much danger was created because of it.”
The plot of the book was entertaining, and kept me
hooked from the beginning to the end. It is
fast-paced and
Blade of Secrets is a perfect book to get you out of a reading slump. There were a few plot twists but I felt they could have been foreshadowed a bit more. Otherwise, the plot was satisfying.
“One day, you’re going to fall madly in love. You’ll find someone who will make you want to leave the forge. You won’t even see him coming.”
“The day the world runs out of iron ore will be the day I leave my forge. But even then, I’m sure I could figure out something with copper.”
The world of
Blade of Secrets was interesting, but this was
the least developed part of the book. While I would have liked more world building, I think it was
a good choice not to be too descriptive about the world. This is one of the rare instances where I was happy with the lack of world building, as I feel it wouldn't have flown well with the plot. Extreme details of the world were not necessary, and I was glad it was not there.
"I am more than my fear and weaknesses, but so much of the time, they're all I can think about."
The writing of the book was great. It was
easy to follow along and perfectly fit the tone of the book. The chapters were short and the book did not feel like a drag. This was my first by this author, and I am looking forward to reading more work by Tricia Levenseller.
“Love is uncomfortable at first. It’s terrifying and exhilarating. But that will pass. It will become easier and something that you need rather than want. And if that doesn’t happen, then you’re with the wrong person.”
The characters were the best part of the book. They were all flawed and well-written, but most importantly
they felt like realistic teenagers and acted accordingly, which was a relief. In most YA books I've read, the characters are the same age as me, yet I cannot connect to them as they do not feel like an authentic depiction of teenagers. Fortunately that does not happen here.
◙ Ziva “I wish I had her [Temra's] fearlessness. I wish I could rid myself of the sinking sensation that feels like falling whenever I’m on display. I wish it didn’t become hard to breathe when someone new wants to strike up a conversation. I wish I wasn’t helpless in a crowd. I wish my body didn’t dictate how I’m supposed to react to things. That I could just tell it, Behave, and it would listen.
I wish I could separate myself from the fear, to learn who I truly am.”
Ziva is our main character, and I loved reading from her perspective. I loved seeing the metal health representation in a fantasy book, and I loved seeing Ziva's day-to-day struggles because of it.
“I’ve always forged my own weapons. I enjoy the process of creating something out of nothing. The magic is wonderful, too, but I love shaping steel into what I need.”
I also liked the fact that Ziva made weapons for a living. I feel this isn't explored much in fantasy so it was nice to read from Ziva's POV.
◙ Temra “Ziva. A sister is the most special gift you could ever be given. Better than any doll. She will be a best friend you can take with you through life. Someone who will love you no matter what.”
Temra is Ziva's sister, and their sisterly bond was a joy to read about. Temra is the exact opposite of Ziva, but their clashing personalities only strengthens their love. Their relationship was the best part of the book.
"It’s all right, Ziva. Whenever it happens, I’ll be here for you."
◙ Petrik Petrik was my favourite character! He is such an adorable cinnamon roll.
“I’m no good with blood, and I refuse to be party to your ill-conceived idea."
I loved his relationship with Temra, though I wish it was more of a slow burn.
◙ Kellyn Kellyn was an ok character, but he didn't make much of an impression on me.
“Sometimes change takes generations," Kellyn says. "And sometimes people disregard the law to pursue their own beliefs.”
I liked him a lot more once we got to know more about him, but I wish he was more developed.
“When did I become the leader of this poorly-stitched-together group?”
Overall,
The Blade of Secrets was a fun read. While I enjoyed it a lot,
unfortunately it still remains only a 3 star for me. Despite the wonderful mental health representation, there wasn't much about this book that made it unique form the rest of the YA books I have read, but it is still a great read.
"My life is a world of opposites. One instant I'm safe in my forge; the next I'm on the run for my life. One second I'm fine, and then I'm lost to despair and panic. I can't control any of it."
Buddy read with Nashita and Madinah. Thank you so much for reading it with me!
Review written on 29th August, 2021.DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.
How I Rate-1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite
...................................................
This was entertaining. Buddy read with Nashita and Madinah. 3 stars. Review to come.
………………………………………………………………
Really excited for this one!
Rating: really liked it
Beauty.
Such a silly, superficial thing, and yet, so much danger was created because of it.”⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars
Thank u Bhavya and Madinah for putting up with my overly excited ramblings about Temra💖💖
Just so y'all know Im
very extremely pissed. That ending
HOW DARE YOU'
I cried for days💔
Now before I start crying, ill continue the review
Plot "I prefer metal to people, which is why the forge is my safe space.”
Ziva has always preferred metal to people. She loves forging more than conversations. Armed with knowledge and magic, she uses her magical gift to craft unique weapons imbued with power.
The only person she loves is her sister Temra for whom she has provided her entire life. She would do anything for her. The sisters together live in a forge.
But trouble arrives when Ziva learns that her weapon that is capable of stealing secrets is to be used by a warlord to enslave all the world under her rule, she takes her sister and flees.
And joining them is a handsome mercenary whom Ziva has admired from a distance for a while and a young scholar with extensive knowledge of the world's known magics.
Their quest to destroy the weapon takes them on a journey that is unforgettable and deadly
WritingI adore Tricia Levenseller's writing. It addictive, fun and heartbreaking at teh smae time. Like her previous books, it had teh right amount of everything and teh pacing was perfect!
I loved it a lot
CharactersZiva "I am more than my fear and weaknesses, but so much of the time, they're all I can think about."
Ziva is character that i absolutely enjoyed reading about. She was totally different from the authors usual MCs.
Alosa and Alessandr are shown as like other girls and they're smart, sassy, brave. they're also sexually empowered, independent and the type of person you would think twice before crossing.
I was intially skeptical about Ziva bcz i ususally hate the not like other girls thing, but here the author has done a great work!
We see an actual reason why she wasnt like other girls. She also doesnt shame others for being a certain way and I loved that.
I loved the
anxiety rep and how it was dealt with. I found myself relating to Ziva soemtimes when suffered due to anxiety.
I loved how caring she was of teh people she loved and her relationship with Temra. It was so pure and beautiful.💖💖
Speaking of Temra A. How dare you
B. HOW DARE YOU🔪🔪
The first thing i would like to say is im totally in love with Temra. She's just so fucking awesome!!!
If you're wondering where is teh authors signature charcater, look no far because here she is. She is smart, strong and brave. I love how confidnet she is
It’s all right, Ziva. Whenever it happens, I’ll be here for you
I loved how caring she was of Ziva. She always takes care of her even though its supposed to be the other way around. 💖
the more i think abt her, the more i wanna cryLet us now wipe away tears and talk about the next character
PetrikPetrik is literally the most cutest character here. He is
a leading expert on ancient
magics. At first I was skeptical about him, but then as teh book moved on, i realized he's just a big cinnamon roll. I loved his character.
“I’m no good with blood, and I refuse to be party to your ill-conceived ideas
Haha but he does end up being a part of all the ill conceived ideas
And Im totally aboard the Temra X Petrik ship💖
KellynTBH, he is the character I care about the least. He kinda amybe struck me as a bit boring. I was really interested in his character and I loved how he supported Ziva throughout whenever she had a panic attack💖
But compared to all other characters, he was the one I least liked
And YES I love the Kellyn X Ziva ship! I cnat wait to see more😌💖
Anyways,
Ill be re reading this book before Master of Secrets come out. And until then, im going to pretend this never existed because I cant handle the ~pain~
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My rating system:
5⭐ - I loved it soo much! New favorite
4⭐ - It was really good! But something was missing
3⭐ - It was nice..but had more potential
2⭐ - I did not like it at all!... It could have been soo much better
1⭐ - Nope. Just No. I hate
Rating: really liked it
"I'm never gonna finish my TBR", I cry, as I casually add more books to my TBR
also, this cover. I'm here for it...
Rating: really liked it
4 stars!
Wow. The wait for the second book is going to kill me. Blade of Secrets is about Ziva, a magic bladesmith, who imbues magic into the weapons she forges. Dealing with social anxiety, she relies on her sister Temra to handle most of the communication with customers and everyone else in her town. By mistake, Ziva ends up creating a sword that reveals secrets when it cuts someone, and she soon realizes in the wrong hands the owner of the sword can conquer the world. She and her sister flee, with a mercenary and a scholar, and they hope to find a way to destroy this new magic weapon.
Tricia Levenseller has become an auto-buy author for me. She’s published five novels and I’ve enjoyed every single one of them. And lucky us, she seems to release one a year so it’s not like the wait times are killer.
I loved that the main character of this book had social anxiety. I think Levenseller did a great job depicting it. While I personally don’t have the same level of social anxiety that Ziva does, I’ve experienced much of what she did in this book on a smaller scale, and like her there are times when I need to be alone. Having a character like Ziva, I think many people will be able to relate to her and I love it.
I thought this book was wonderful. The plot was a little bit all over the place in terms of the challenges the main characters faced, but it was really fun overall. The romance in this was great and I liked all four main characters a lot. I’m so excited to read the next book, you guys have no idea.
Rating: really liked it
It has an ideal storyline that was very beautifully written. Whether it was a romantic, a friendship or a blood relation, the way all the relationships are portrayed here was admirable. I liked how the author wrote Ziva's emotions so skillfully that I felt very sympathetic towards all her struggles, frustrated thoughts, and her constant internal war with herself.
“𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯. 𝘈𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘹𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦.”
Usually, this kind of adventure story is supposed to have some exciting scenes. I expected something like that, but here I got quite the opposite. This does not mean that it was bad. While reading this wonderful book, I felt a lot of relaxation and enjoyed it very much!
Anyway, this author establishes a solid foundation for what I hope will be a great and memorable fantasy series. Because after finishing this first book, I couldn't stop thinking about it and am anxiously waiting for the next installment.
Rating: really liked it
[anxiety and panic attacks (hide spoiler)]
Rating: really liked it
i felt that when one of the characters was
silently crying while being forced to burn the pages from his bookyes, this haunts me more than the cliffhangerRTC____
after loving the shadows between us so much, im really excited for this hehe
buddy read with lauren!!
Rating: really liked it
RTC after a re-read but
obviously I loved it and think it's one of the most wonderful fantasies out there . . . because I felt so seen and understood by it.
I received a digital ARC from Feiwel & Friends via Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Quotes in the review and reading updates were taken from an uncorrected ARC copy.
Rating: really liked it
One of my favorite reads of 2020 was
The Shadows Between Us—which was my first time reading a Tricia Levenseller book—so I was very excited when I heard about
Blade of Secrets! And this book
did not disappoint!
Listen, I don’t know how Levenseller does it, but her ability to fit in so much in such short books is wildly impressive. While
Blade of Secrets is the first in a duology, it surprised me how much character development and action Levenseller managed to squeeze into the first book alone. With
Blade of Secrets, I especially enjoyed seeing how Ziva changed as a person, but also how the dynamic between Ziva and her sister Temra changed over time. When the book starts, Ziva is both wildly co-dependent of Temra, but also steadfastly protective of her, which in and of itself is an interesting dynamic to navigate. Temra, while equally protective and loving toward her sister, very evidently wants to branch out and find her own place in the world that isn’t necessarily by Ziva’s side, and this creates conflict between the two as it becomes more apparent to Ziva that what she wants isn’t what Temra wants. Watching these sisters clash over their conflicting interests throughout the book, and seeing them learn to respect each other’s wishes and grow into themselves—Ziva especially—was such a realistic and gradual evolution, and I’m in awe of how well Levenseller made it work, especially for how short the book was.
So, yes, I loved Ziva and Temra and exploring their relationship, but we can’t forget about Kellyn and Petrik. I don’t want to spoil too much about these guys, but I have to give Levenseller kudos, once again, for writing such perfectly imperfect male leads! On top of that, the banter between our four main characters was just too fun at times, and I found myself laughing out loud while reading.
Now, we really need to spotlight the anxiety rep in this book because it is
phenomenal, in my opinion. I don’t know really anything about Levenseller and whether or not she herself experiences anxiety, nor is it my business to speculate whether that is the case, but if she doesn’t, I cannot applaud her enough on how accurately she depicts Ziva’s social anxiety, down to the smallest mannerisms. At first, I even found it a bit difficult to fall into a steady pace with reading
Blade of Secrets because being inside Ziva’s head was rather overwhelming with the rapidity of her thoughts and sensory overload she was constantly facing. But truly, Levenseller did such a fantastic job at making Ziva’s anxiety feel real and consistent, and not just like a tacked-on personality trait for the sake of mental health representation, nor like a caricature depiction of anxiety. Additionally, I cannot say enough how much I appreciated the fact that Levenseller was so careful about making sure Ziva’s love interest didn’t carry on the role of trying to “fix her”, and that he, rather, worked with her to understand her anxiety and help her in what ways he could while allowing her the space to figure things out for herself. When it comes to mental health, it seems to be such an easy trap for authors to fall into where they want one character to “fix” the other character, and that is just so damaging and disappointing to see in portrayals of mental health.
Even though
Blade of Secrets was only my second experience with a Tricia Levenseller book, I’m now, more than ever, thoroughly convinced I need to read more from her, and I’ll definitely be back for
Master of Iron when that is eventually published!
**Thank you to Fierce Reads for an eARC of this book!**
