by Tricia Levenseller
Feiwel and Friends, 2021. 324 pages. Young Adult
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. She receives a commission from a powerful warlord, and the result is a sword capable of stealing its victims' secrets--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. Now they're on a quest to keep the sword safe until they can find a worthy wielder-- or a way to destroy it entirely.
Levenseller delivers again with this fast-paced YA adventure. She spends lots of time on the character development, relationships, and dialogue. I like that Ziva, while totally competent and skilled at her trade, is no warrior/princess/chosen one. She does have magical capabilities, but also deals with severe social anxiety, and so is a fairly relatable protagonist. While the story does take place in a magical world, it's easy enough to follow along as the worldbuilding is not complex. I won't spoil anything, but I will say that it ends on quite the cliffhanger so I've already put the second book on hold!
If you like Blade of Secrets you may also like:
by Thomas Wheeler
Simon & Schuster BFYR, 2019. 408 pages.
Nimue grew up an outcast. Her connection to dark magic made her something to be feared in her Druid village, and that made her desperate to leave. That is, until Red Paladins slaughter her entire village, and Nimue's fate is forever altered. Charged by her dying mother to reunite an ancient sword with a legendary sorcerer, Nimue is now her people's only hope.
by Taran Matharu
Feiwel and Friends, 2015. 355 pages. Young Adult
When blacksmith apprentice Fletcher discovers that he has the ability to summon demons from another world, he travels to Adept Military Academy where must decide where his loyalties lie. The fate of an empire is in his hands.
by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Scholastic Press, 2018. 388 pages. Young Adult
Embroiled in a cruel immortal king's politics in spite of having spent three years in exile, Kestra Dallisor, daughter of a high-ranking official, is kidnapped by a group of rebels. They require her to search for a lost weapon capable of destroying the throne, a plan that she endeavors to sabotage despite conflicting loyalties.
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