Sweep of the Blade, by Ilona Andrews (Graphic Audio edition)

Maud Demille is a daughter of Innkeepers—a special group who provide ‘lodging’ to other-planetary visitors—so she knows that a simple life isn't in the cards. But even Maud could never have anticipated what Fate would throw at her.

Once a wife to a powerful vampire knight, Maud and her young daughter, Helen, were exiled with him for his treachery to the desolate, savage planet of Karhari. Karhari killed her husband, and Maud—completely abandoned by his family—has spent over a year avenging his debts. Rescued by her sister Dina, she's sworn off all things vampire.

Except... In helping Dina save the world, she met Arland, the Marshal of House Krahr, one of the most powerful vampire houses. One thing led to another and he asked for her hand in marriage. She declined. Arland is not used to hearing the word ‘no;’ and try as she might, Maud can't just walk away from Arland. It doesn't help that being human is a lot harder for Maud than being a vampire.

To sort it all out, she accepts his invitation to visit his home planet. House Krahr is extremely influential and Maud knows that a woman—a human, with a very questionable past—who's turned down a proposal from its most beloved son won't get a warm reception. Maybe she’s not sure about marrying Arland, but House Krahr isn’t going to decide for her. Maud Demille has never run from a fight, and House Krahr will soon discover that there's a lot more to Maud than they’re expecting.

Action, suspense, politics, treachery… and sizzling chemistry

I absolutely loved the first three books in the Innkeeper Chronicles. I fell hard for magical Innkeeper Dina, werewolf Sean, and the magical Gertrude Hunt Inn. I even became fond of the vampire knight and Lord Marshal of House Krahr, Arland—though I didn’t particularly want Dina to end up with him.

So when it came time to read book four, Sweep of the Blade, I was a little nervous that I wouldn’t like it as much as the first three books. I knew that it focuses on Dina’s sister Maud and Arland. The attraction between them was clear by the end of book three, One Fell Sweep. And I knew that Sweep of the Blade takes place on the Krahr home planet, which would mean no Dina, no Sean, and no Gertrude Hunt Inn, with its overly dramatic giant hedgehog chef and its other unusual residents. And I wasn’t ready to leave them.

I needn’t have worried. I was every bit as swept up in this story as I was in the first three books. It has all the action, suspense, and twists and turns of the previous books, plus absolutely sizzling chemistry between Maud and Arland. I don’t begrudge the slow-burn three-book arc of Dina and Sean’s relationship in the least, but I appreciated that Maud’s and Arlend’s arc moves more quickly.

Maud’s trauma from being thrown out of her traitorous first husband’s family and her fierce, protective love for her daughter Helen give her more than enough reasons to be wary of her reception by, and place within, House Krahr. She’s therefore wary of committing to a relationship with Arland, despite her strong feelings for him. But Maud isn’t without some pretty significant talents and skills. She is smart, politically savvy, well-versed in vampire history, culture, and etiquette, and she’s a kick-ass, give-no-quarter fighter. All this makes her an excellent match for Arland, who besides being the perfect knight in vampire form, is also the commander of all House Krahr’s considerable forces.

Call to mind the very best knights in the Arthurian mythos. That’s Arland in a nutshell: incredibly strong, superbly trained in combat, yet well-mannered and cultured… when he isn’t hacking people to pieces with deadly skill. He’s also got a sense of humor, an excellent grasp of strategy, tactics, and political maneuvering (which he tends to keep well hidden), and the romantic heart of a poet. He understands some of Maud’s fears and hesitations, and even when he doesn’t understand her, he’s still sensitive to her feelings and needs. In many ways, he’s a cinnamon roll, despite the fangs and formidable prowess in battle. And he loves Helen as well as Maud, which earns him major points in my book. (As the stepdaughter of a wonderful stepfather, I have nothing but appreciation for men whose hearts are big enough to embrace another man’s child as their own.)

Speaking of Helen, she is a delight: headstrong, fearless, already skilled in fighting, but still a five-year-old. Her mispronunciation of “repercussions” will live rent-free in my head forever.

I also enjoyed the deep dive into vampire culture and politics. As always, Ilona Andrews’s worldbuilding is excellent. Combined with interesting characters and a fast-paced plot full of unexpected twists and revelations, Sweep of the Blade more than met my high expectations. Five stars!

Audiobook notes: As I did with the first three books, I listened to the Graphic Audio edition of Sweep of the Blade. All the main character voice actors are well-cast, though a few of the secondary characters could use a little coaching on dialects and accents. The music is generally appropriate, and doesn’t overwhelm the scenes the way it sometimes does book one, Clean Sweep. The sound effects are pretty effective, too, but I could do with less moaning, whether in pain or in the throes of desire; without being able to see the actors’ faces, it can occasionally be difficult to differentiate between the two. I’ll put up with the moans for the sake of the character voices, though. Arland and Maud are particularly good, but almost everyone performs well. I would, however, have preferred a child actor for Helen’s voice; the adult voicing Helen never quite convinced me she was a child.

Challenges: Audiobook Challenge 2025; COYER 2025: Out to Lunch; Library Love Challenge 2025; Ilona Andrews Edge & Innkeeper Series Read-Along

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• Audiobook Challenge 2025
• COYER 2025: Out to Lunch
• Ilona Andrews Edge & Innkeeper Series Read-along (2025)
• Library Love Challenge 2025

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