After reading, and loving, Marske's "The Last Binding" trilogy (A Marvellous Light, A Restless Truth, A Power Unbound) about a year ago, I pre-ordered the shit out of this as soon as I heard of it. She is firmly cemented as my queer romantasy queen and I will make my last stand on that hill. 

 

Borrowing from Goodreads for the blurb: "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?" 

 

Ok look, I spent this entire book yearning and burning. Marske writes sexual tension that is perfectly excruciating and we get it almost immediately in Swordcrossed. I, quite simply, could not take it. And at the same time, I wanted more and more and more. How does she do it?! Marske shines in her writing of raw emotional need (and the looks and euphemisms that they use to try and sate or distract from it) growing between people, especially ones with many barriers and secrets. It *grips* you. To directly quote the novel, it’s “devastating intimacy.” I was devastated. Matti and Luca are perfectly flawed and needy and careful. Over and over again, they squeezed at my heart. I'll never be over them. 

 

Let me just also mention the plot. Because, yes, there was one of those too. And it was good! There was a political/economic mystery situation that involved some scheming and sleuthing from our MCs and their "accomplices" (primarily, Matti's sister, Maya, and his betrothed, Sofia). (Please note here, that there was kind of a lot of information about wool/cloth/dying/weaving, which I found interesting, but might be a bit extra on extraneous detail for some readers.) Anyways, there was intrigue and drama and one of the most fun culminating scenes in a novel that I have ever read. Was it a surprise reveal situation? Not really. But I was cheering hard for all the wins, especially the bonus relationship/marriage *and* the public takedown of a "won't take no for an answer" suitor. I would have loved to be a guest at that wedding. 

 

Other things I loved included the representation and portrayal of panic attacks. It felt real and handled well. And thematically, Marske really delved into the concept of honesty. How difficult and thorny it can be when considering what counts as lies: being a con artist versus seeming/keeping up appearances. She really explores the risks in fully opening up to someone and which type of lie is harder to overcome, when one is finally being truthful and sharing one’s whole self. Marske writes the bravery in that vulnerability like no one else. 

 

My goodness my heartttt. This was everythinggggg I wanted it to be. A new favorite for sure. (And if you, like me, appreciate a great queer romantasy standalone, with pining galore and enough plot to hold up, check out A Taste of Gold and Iron and The Emperor and the Endless Palace, both of which are reminiscent of Swordcrossed in their own ways.) 

 

“There was no shame in questioning. There was no shame in learning slowly…” 

 

“Nothing good ever came of wanting anything this badly, but gods, Matti was on fire with the thought of it anyway.” 

 

“But growing alongside that was the urge to crack himself open and whisper something true into the air between them.” 

 

“Love was a sword with two edges.” 

 

“When Luca spoke, he lifted his head, and the smile that broke over his face was like the moment when a lock surrendered to Luca's picks. Something gave way before it. Some small piece of machinery fell in Luca's chest with an audible click, some unseen hinges opened, and a soft unfamiliar happiness flowed through the crack.” (I mean COME ONNNNN) 

 

“Luca felt like a piece of plain fabric taking in dye: he wanted to soak this up, thread by thread.” (all the fabric metaphors are really well written) 

 

“Cruel is when you decide that what someone wants doesn't matter, just because you want them and you think that means you're owed something.” (OH YES, speak the truth girl!)