The Sword of Light

Set back in time. Just the way I like my love story.

It is a great book couldn't put it down. The people you grow to love, the magic of the the way things go. I love Ireland and the history of the land.

Hope there is a sequel

Deidre and Kylin don't think much of each other until they unexpectedly start having dreams and then gifts bestowed on them from the Tuatha Dé Danann. Determined to protect their people and understanding from their dreams that they need to work together, their perception of each other changes. They fall in love as they work together to uncover a traitor in their midst and protect their people from an upcoming invasion from the Northmen.This book had a lot of promise, but I feel like it fell a bit short. Story idea and plotline, as well as good masking of the traitor until the very end, was good. I had difficulty with the amount of exclamation points in the story. it reminded me more of child dialogue than adults. Additionally, Deidre and Kylin felt very young and romantically immature in their thoughts, more like what I would have envisioned if the time period put her as a 16 year old and him as 18 years old. I found myself skimming parts of the story.

This is a good romantasy. I did like the main characters, Deidre and Kylin, and they had some chemistry but the story moved a bit slow for me. It took me a bit to really want to read it. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

4.5 ⭐'s rounded upI finished this book a few days ago, but I needed time to process and stare at the wall for a little while. I haven't read Heather Graham in a really long time so I had no real expectations when I asked to read this book on NetGalley. However, it took me a ride that I did not want to get off. I loved the ancient gods that were helping both Deidre (FMC) and Kylin (MMC).There is found family in this and hesitant allies to lovers between the FMC and MMC. Kylin's father had long ago come to Rí's island of Éire. Seeking a safe place to live and not be sent out to commit terrible crimes in the name of power. This gives you so many characters and the personalities are distinct. You are guessing at who the traitor is until the very end because you jump from thinking it's one person. I was honestly not expecting who the traitor had turned out to be.I loved the chemistry and the slow coming of Deidre to trusting Kylin. There are magical objects that "Shimmer" a female ancient god that helps lead Deidre to some of the magical objects, and Kylin has a male ancient god who also shimmered but did not give him a name.Deidre is a fierce FMC, who will run head first into a fight to protect those that she holds dear. Their two fathers are such nice men who have complete faith and trust in each other and their children.Alana Kerr Collins did a great job at narrating the story. I was so wrapped up in it that I completed it nearly in one sitting and then had to start it again as soon as I woke up to finish the story. I definitely would recommend this to anyone that wants a great story of overcoming challenges and standing together united to face down the threats. There is some fade to black spice but I definitely would not call this a spicy book but that did not diminish it at all.Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Audio, Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for allowing me to read this in advance of release day. Make sure you check this out on October 14, 2025. All of my opinions are my own.