The first thing that caught my attention about this book was its cover as I was browsing the library. Despite what we're told, we all judge books by their covers, and this one told me it would be right up my alley—and it was right! Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller is about a magically gifted blacksmith, Ziva, who creates amazing weapons. She has made daggers that can shatter anything, a staff that returns to its caster, blades that never dull, and even a mace that steals a person's breath. All she wants is for her weapons to make the land of Ghadra safe and to protect her sister, Temra. Spending time alone in her forge to do it doesn't hurt, too, considering her severe social anxiety. But when warlord Kymora commissions Ziva to forge a broadsword more powerful than anything she's ever made before, Ziva outdoes herself. She makes Secret Eater, a sword with long-range abilities that reveals the secrets of anyone it cuts—including warlord Kymora's. What Ziva hears sends her and Temra on a flight for their lives, accompanied by a mercenary, Kellyn, to protect them on the road. Kellyn is unlike anyone Ziva's met before, and she starts to feel safe with him in a way she's only ever felt with her sister. But can she overcome her anxieties to make a real connection while outrunning the most powerful person in all of Ghadra? I have never related to a character more than I relate to Ziva. She overthinks every interaction with another person, every conversation, every minuscule movement, and wonders what she may have done wrong to cause such a reaction. She hates when people invade her forge—her safe place—and dislikes when people talk to her without being invited. Her anxiety is nearly crippling, with panic attacks that leave her unable to function. Everything Ziva did resonated with me in a way I've been searching for since accepting my own anxiety over the past year. Because of that connection, I quickly became attached to her and, by extension, the story itself until I was desperate to keep reading even when I should have gone to sleep. Beyond Ziva herself, Blade of Secrets is a delightful story. It is action-packed with just enough romance, it has secrets and betrayals, it has plot twists and high stakes, and it has creative, exciting magic. It is exactly the kind of book I love to read and hope to write someday. I can't think of anything I didn't like about it. I'm still waiting to pick up the sequel, Master of Iron, from the library, but I'm sure I'll love it just as much as this one. I don't hesitate to rate Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller 5/5 stars. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go find the rest of her books because I may have found a new favorite author.
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