swordcrossed
A LitHub Most Anticipated Book of 2024
Mattinesh Jay, dutiful heir to his struggling family business, needs to hire an experienced swordsman to serve as best man for his arranged marriage. Sword-challenge at the ceremony could destroy all hope of restoring his family’s wealth, something that Matti has been trying—and failing—to do for the past ten years.
What he can afford, unfortunately, is part-time con artist and full-time charming menace Luca Piere.
Luca, for his part, is trying to reinvent himself in a new city. All he wants to do is make some easy money and try to forget the crime he committed in his hometown. He didn’t plan on being blackmailed into giving sword lessons to a chronically responsible—and inconveniently handsome—wool merchant like Matti.
However, neither Matti’s business troubles nor Luca himself are quite what they seem. As the days count down to Matti’s wedding, the two of them become entangled in the intrigue and sabotage that have brought Matti’s house to the brink of ruin. And when Luca’s secrets threaten to drive a blade through their growing alliance, both Matti and Luca will have to answer the question: how many lies are you prepared to strip away, when the truth could mean losing everything you want?
Praise for SWORDCROSSED
“Marske writes what I crave most in romantasy: brilliant craft, fresh voice, characters worth obsessing over, and genuine honest-to-god heat.” —Casey McQuiston, New York Times bestselling author of Red, White and Royal Blue
“There’s nothing in fantasy or queer romance that Marske can’t do.” —Sarah Rees Brennan, author of Long Live Evil
“The perfect blend of charm, yearning and romance delivered at sword’s point, Swordcrossed is a compulsively readable fantasy with characters who will steal your heart.” —C.S. Pacat, New York Times bestselling author of Captive Prince
“What a world Freya Marske has created for us! I feel like I could close the book and go walk the streets of her city—and enjoy myself thoroughly. A beguiling romance between a man who is too careful and a man who thinks he has nothing to lose.” —Ellen Kushner, author of Swordspoint
“Freya Marske is my first stop in romantasy. . . . [her] books are something special.” —Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author
“Both deliciously cozy and blisteringly hot, Swordcrossed is a book best read by a fire, with a glass of mead in your hand and a hot swordsman on your knee.” —Lex Croucher, author of Gwen & Art Are Not in Love
“Clever, sparkling, and perfectly indulgent, Swordcrossed feels like stepping into a party already in full swing. Everything is possible; everything is wondrous. This is fantasy romance at its very best.” —Grace D. Li, New York Times bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief
“Wonderful . . . Funny, cosy and romantic, with fabulous sword fighting and lovable characters.” —Stephanie Burgis, author of Wooing the Witch Queen
“Swordcrossed is so good I want to set it on fire and physically throw it at people’s faces. . . . It filled my brain with tickly champagne bubbles of glee.” —Alexandra Rowland, author of A Taste of Gold and Iron
“An effervescent, sparkling fantasy romance that eagerly pulls you along into its blade-sharp dance until the final words.” —Emma Denny, author of One Night in Hartswood
“This cozy fantasy sizzles. . . . Fans of Marske’s Last Binding series will be thrilled to find the same effortless worldbuilding, rich characterization, gentle humor, and steamy love scenes here.” —Booklist, starred review
“[T]he romantic tropes are delightful, the worldbuilding is vivid, and the cast of characters all lend a hand in creating a cozy fantasy with heat and heart.” —Bookpage
“Readers looking for red-hot queer romantasy will want to snap this up.” —Publishers Weekly
Content warnings
- explicit sexual content