Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller (review)

Eighteen-year-old Ziva is the only magic bladesmith in Ghadra, which makes her a popular artisan with mercenaries and warlords in the divided country. When Warlord Kymora commissions Ziva for a sword that can “bring nations to their knees, ” Ziva weighs the sword down with her secrets to imbue it with magic, and as a result, she learns Kymora will use it for mass destruction. Ziva and her extroverted sister Temra run away from home with scholar Petrik and the handsome mercenary Kellyn, one of the only men Ziva has ever felt attracted to, but Kymora’s influence is broad and the powerful sword Ziva has forged seems indestructible. This fast-paced novel caters to popular romance and fantasy tropes while still feeling fresh, but it really shines in its portrayal of Ziva, who has an anxiety disorder that colors all of her social interactions and leads her to have frequent breakdowns and panic attacks. Rather than treating Ziva’s anxiety as a problem to be solved, the characters adapt their behaviors to accommodate it, and as a result Zira gets a sweet romance with Kellyn. Readers will be craving not just the sequel but also more fantasy fiction that handle disabilities with this level of care.