Today I get to share with you a really fun page-turner. It is a new young adult fantasy novel that pulls you in and keeps you going on the adventure as well as a love story. It also shares the life of a teenager with high social anxiety. The book is the first in the Bladesmith Series. It is Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller. The suggested age is 13 to 18 but I am sure 18+ will also enjoy it.
From the Publisher:
In Blade of Secrets, a new YA fantasy adventure from the author of Daughter of the Pirate King, a teenage blacksmith with social anxiety is forced to go on the run to protect the world from the most powerful magical sword she's ever made.Eighteen-year-old Ziva prefers metal to people. She spends her days tucked away in her forge, safe from society and the anxiety it causes her, using her magical gift to craft unique weapons imbued with power.
Then Ziva receives a commission from a powerful warlord, and the result is a sword capable of stealing its victims secrets. A sword that can cut far deeper than the length of its blade. A sword with the strength to topple kingdoms. 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 distractingly handsome 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.
From Me:
First I love that that the book has its main character dealing with social anxiety. I also love that her younger sister is the one who helps her deal with society and that they meet the other two characters who figure out pretty quickly how to help her as well. As the mom of a social anxious child, this book is amazing to me. I also love that the story is an adventure which has powerful women as well as a fantasy. The story pulls you in and keeps you turning the page. I have to say it also leaves you on a cliff hanger so I cannot wait for the second book!!
The story is well written and the characters are very well developed. The fantasy and setting is unique and intriguing on its own. I love how family also plays into the story in many different ways. There are also several surprises throughout the book including ones involving family. I will not share them here so you can enjoy the story. This book is engaging and full of magic, love and adventure.
This book will appeal to anyone who loves fantasy. It also has the the romance as well as the sisterly and familial love. It will appeal to young adults as well as adults. I hope you will check it out.
