Swordcrossed

The cozy, low stakes of LEGENDS & LATTES meets the scorching bodyguard fantasy of Jennifer L. Armentrout's FROM BLOOD AND ASH in this enemies-to-lovers romance where, yes, the swords do cross.

"There's nothing in fantasy or queer romance that Marske can't do."—Sarah Rees Brennan

A USA Today bestseller!

A New York Times Best Romance of 2024

An Indie Next pick

A LibraryReads Hall of Fame pick

A LitHub most anticipated book of 2024

High heat. Low stakes. Sharp steel.

Mattinesh Jay, dutiful heir to his struggling family business, needs to hire an experienced swordsman to serve as best man for his arranged marriage. A 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. He needs a master swordsman.

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 an insufferably responsible—and inconveniently handsome—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, they must decide their futures, their allegiances—and most difficult of all—their hearts.

About the Author

Freya Marske is the author of A Power Unbound, A Restless Truth, and A Marvellous Light, which was an international bestseller and won the Romantic Novel Award for Fantasy. She has been nominated for two Hugo Awards, and won the Ditmar Award for Best New Talent. She lives in Australia.