Swordcrossed

‘If you’re doing romantasy without Freya Marske, you’re doing it wrong’
– Casey McQuiston, author of Red, White & Royal Blue

A dazzling queer fantasy from the bestselling author of A Marvellous Light, brimming with steamy romance, rougeish charm and intrigue. Perfect for fans of Travis Baldree, Lex Croucher and Casey McQuiston.

Low stakes. High heat. Sharp steel . . .

Mattinesh Jay, heir to his family’s struggling business, needs his arranged marriage to go off without a hitch. But if he’s to successfully restore his house’s fortunes, Matti must first hire a swordsman to defend him against any sword-challenges at the altar. Unfortunately, the only duellist he can afford is part-time con artist and full-time charming menace Luca Piere.

All Luca wants to do is make some easy money and forget the crime he committed in his home town. 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 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?

‘Deliciously cosy and blisteringly hot’
– Lex Croucher, author of Gwen and Art Are Not in Love

‘Swordcrossed proves there's nothing in fantasy – or queer romance – Marske can't do’
– Sarah Rees Brennan, author of Long Live Evil

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 & Royal Blue
Both deliciously cosy 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 and Art Are Not in Love
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
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, author of Portrait of a Thief
Freya Marske's books catch my heart with a butterfly net, because I believe in her characters so utterly . . . Swordcrossed proves there's nothing in fantasy – or queer romance – Marske can't do -- Sarah Rees Brennan, author of Long Live Evil
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. Freya Marske's characters leap from the page and take your whole heart in their hands, so compelling and vividly drawn that you can't help but love them -- Emma Denny, author of One Night in Hartswood
When I'm looking to lose myself in a book, I know Freya Marske will deliver something smart, sexy and splendid. Freya Marske is my first stop in romantasy --  Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author of Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake
What a world Freya Marske has created for us! . . . 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
Wonderful . . . Funny, cosy and romantic, with fabulous sword fighting and lovable characters -- Stephanie Burgis, author of Wooing the Witch Queen
Marske is an extraordinary talent who writes compelling characters, entertainingly awful families and love stories like nobody else -- Everina Maxwell, author of Winter's Orbit
Delightful and spicy . . . Marske is simply superb at her chosen genres -- The New York Times on The Last Binding trilogy
Cross my heart, can’t wait to swoon over this one -- LitHub, A Most Anticipated Book of 2024

Freya Marske is the author of A Power Unbound, A Restless Truth and A Marvellous Light, the latter of which became an international bestseller and won the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Award for Romantic Fantasy. Her work has appeared in Analog and has been shortlisted for three Aurealis Awards. She is also a Hugo-nominated podcaster, and won the Ditmar Award for Best New Talent. She lives in Australia.

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