Starred Review Eighteen-year-old Ziva is a smith who makes magical weapons imbued with special properties. Her latest creation, a mace that causes an opponent to suffocate, has impressed the governor so much that he's referred a friend of his, the warlord Kymora Avedin, to her services. When Kymora demands a blade that will "bring entire nations to their knees," Ziva complies but soon comes to realize that no one can be trusted with such unbridled power. Her blade, a broadsword that can extract secrets from anyone it cuts, must be hidden from everyone, especially the warlord whose big secret is her lust for world dominance. Ziva and her sister, Temra, hire the ridiculously good-looking Kellyn, whom Ziva longs for on sight, to protect them as they run from the warlord and seek out long-lost family in another region. Also joining them is the scholar Petrik, who wants to know how Ziva's forge magic works mething she's not even sure she can explain. Levenseller (The Shadows between Us, 2020) elevates her already intriguing fantasy world through her depiction of Ziva, whose anxiety will ring true for anyone who's ever had a panic attack. Added details about how Ziva functions in everyday life with her anxiety, something not often addressed in fantasy, bring additional depth. Grab this and devour it.