Blade of Secrets (Bladesmith Book 1)

Featured

4.0 (2)

5.0 (1)

459 0

Write Review Add to favorites

Author(s)

Tricia Levenseller

Publisher

Feiwel & Friends

Genre(s)

Age Range

13+

Release Date

May 04, 2021

ISBN

978-1250756800

Buy This Book

In Blade of Secrets, a romantic YA fantasy adventure from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author Tricia Levenseller, a teenage blacksmith 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.

Editor reviews

2 reviews

A fun, dangerous adventure with the added touch of magic!

March 13, 2025 (Updated: July 26, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

What I like: Ziva and her sister are a loving pair who work well together and understand their relationship. Temra, even though her younger sister, does a fantastic job of helping her anxiety-ridden sister navigate life. Ziva doesn’t communicate well with people, has high anxiety around numerous ones, and loves working alone in her forge making magical weapons. Ziva stands out as a unique character. Rarely does the hero or main character have these traits; they are known to be bold and strong and converse with others naturally. Ziva is a great character to connect with, and the author shows excellent rep for those who have these traits to see a female character navigate the world and grow as a character.
What I wanted more of: I wanted to see Ziva get the chance to make more weapons and use the special gun she forms to discover more secrets about the people she encounters. I did think that the fitting nod to the sword in the stone part of the story was a fantastic way to deal with such a dangerous weapon.
Final Verdict: Blade of Secrets is a solid start to this duology. We are given the foundation of the magic in the world and the main characters and learn who is on our characters' side and who shouldn’t be trusted.

Jan Farnworth, Digital Manager/Blog Assistant and Staff Reviewer Top 50 Reviewer 381 reviews

Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0

Easy to Pick Up. Hard to Put Down.

February 04, 2025 (Updated: July 26, 2026)

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

Blade of Secrets is a delightful start to a duology. Ziva and her sister Temra have been on their own for years since their parents were murdered. Ziva provides for them through her magical ability to imbue iron with special qualities that have gained the attention of the most powerful warlord of the land. At first, Ziva is thrilled until she accidentally creates an all-powerful long-range magic sword that steals people’s secrets and learns the warlord plans to enslave them all.
As Ziva and Temra flee with the Blade of Secrets and a few other special weapons, they hire a mercenary, Kellyn, to protect them. A scholar, Petrik, sees them flee and hurries to come along. I enjoyed reading about these strangers and how their tentative friendships grow into something more. Their budding friendships experience many setbacks as the guys learn more about the sword and its true nature. The final revelation at the end was a surprise that I did not see coming.
Ziva’s character is full of anxiety and lives her life sheltered. To go on the run with others beyond her sister is a big source of stress and potential for personal growth. The tenderness that Kellyn exhibits to patiently let her get comfortable and give her space is endearing. Seeing him around his family and how good he is with children puts him on the keep list.
This book was an engrossing read. It was easy to pick up and hard to put down. The characters grow as the story unfolds, and we have front-row seats. The surprises set up the second book nicely. Many things are revealed and resolved, but the stakes continue to grow for the second book. Luckily, it is already published. This is the first time I have read a book by Tricia Levenseller, but it is clear it won’t be my last.

Connie Reid, Site Manager and Staff Reviewer Top 10 Reviewer 1029 reviews

Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0

User reviews

1 review

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0(1)

Characters

5.0(1)

Writing Style

5.0(1)

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A(0)

Already have an account? or Create an account

Blade of Secrets Book Review

March 20, 2026 (Updated: July 26, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0

Characters

5.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

N/A

Blade of Secrets is a story that surprised me in how much it focused on Ziva’s inner world as much as the external adventure.

She isn’t the typical confident, quick-talking heroine. She’s anxious, socially awkward, and feels safest in her forge surrounded by metal and magic. Watching her navigate a dangerous quest while managing her own fears and insecurities made her feel very real and relatable. I liked that her sister Temra wasn’t just a sidekick but someone who genuinely understands and supports Ziva, giving their relationship a warmth and depth that balanced the tension of their journey. It’s refreshing to see a story where the main character’s struggle isn’t just defeating villains or magic, but also figuring out how to operate in a world that overwhelms her.

The magic system, centered around weapon crafting, stood out as well. I enjoyed how each creation is not just powerful but has personality and purpose, especially the sword that steals secrets. It’s a clever idea, and I appreciated how the story ties it to responsibility and trust. That said, I wanted more scenes where Ziva actually uses her crafting skills in inventive ways during the quest rather than mostly focusing on traveling and hiding the sword. I think showing her inventing a few smaller weapons or using them to uncover clues could have made her talents feel even more impactful and added extra excitement to the journey. The nod to the sword-in-the-stone myth was a fun touch and gave the story a sense of larger stakes and history without feeling forced.

My favorite parts were the quieter moments when Ziva is just thinking through problems or interacting with Temra, because those sections highlight her growth and the strength it takes to step outside her comfort zone. The interactions with the mercenary and the scholar also provided interesting contrasts to her personality, showing both her vulnerability and courage in new ways. The ending set up the next book well, leaving enough tension and unanswered questions to keep me invested in what comes next. Overall, it’s a strong start to the duology, giving us a heroine who is unconventional but compelling and a magical world that feels dangerous, thoughtful, and alive.

Good Points

- Unique protagonist with realistic anxiety and strong growth arc

- Creative magic system based on weapon crafting with meaningful stakes

- Warm sisterly bond that balances adventure and personal challenges