Bladesmith Book 1: Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller

Bladesmith Book 1

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.

A teenage blacksmith with social anxiety accepts a commission from the wrong person and is forced to go on the run to protect the world from the most powerful magical sword she's ever made.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51591632-blade-of-secrets

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

I have yet to read a book by Tricia Levenseller that I didn't love. Blade of Secrets is another great addition to her works. And I'm so glad there is a sequel for this one! This story follows Ziva, a bladesmith who can make magical weapons. Everyone wants their hands on her work but all Ziva wants is to stay far away from people and earn enough money to get her sister and her faraway. Ziva suffers from social anxiety. She doesn't like people and prefers to stay far away from them. She is truly only comfortable around her sister, Temra. Though that does change when she meets a certain handsome mercenary. For the first time she wonders what it would be like to have conversation with him without her anxiety threatening to drown her. Both fortunately and unfortunately, Ziva is about to find out. When Ziva is approached by a warlord seeking a weapon, Ziva believes this may be the opportunity she was looking for to get her sister out of their town. But the weapon Ziva makes is more dangerous than she realizes. The sword not only can cut down enemies at a distance but when it spills blood the sword reveals the person's secrets. The sword reveals to Ziva that this warlord isn't seeking to continue peace but to rage war across the lands. And to enslave Ziva to build her more weapons. There is only one choice, Ziva and Temra must run. They have to find a way to protect the sword so they can destroy it. They end up enlisting the mercenary Ziva is fascinated by, Kellyn and a scholar, Petrik, who is looking to learn more about Ziva's magic, for help to get away. So many adventures the four of them go on as they fight the warlord's assassins and those who believe that magic is evil. But Ziva will do whatever it takes to make her sister safe and destroy the dangerous blade she created. 

I loved this story. These four characters are definitely favorites of mine. I loved how Ziva fought to work past her severe anxiety and in moments she thought herself weak, all I saw was how strong she was. Kellyn is great for Ziva as well. He works to understand her and challenges her to overcome her fears.  They were such a great group of characters and their dynamic was fantastic. The story had so many twists and turns and I couldn't put it down. The ending alone was crazy and now I'm desperate for book two!