10 books about characters unlocking the secrets of weapons
In the realms where myth breathes and magic lingers in steel, weapons are more than tools—they are keys. Keys to forgotten legacies, to awakening dormant magic, to the secrets of the past and the fate of the world. Some whisper, others roar. Some choose their wielder; others must be mastered, piece by perilous piece.
These ten books take you deep into stories where characters don’t just wield weapons—they unravel them. They decipher ancient engravings, bond with cursed blades, or discover sentient artifacts that alter destiny itself. The journey is never simple. But within the heart of every weapon lies a secret waiting to be unearthed—and a cost waiting to be paid.
1. Sabriel by Garth Nix
Weapon: The Bells of the Abhorsen
In a world where the dead don’t always stay buried, Sabriel inherits a necromancer’s bells—each one steeped in arcane danger. As she journeys into the Old Kingdom, she must learn the secrets of these eerie weapons, unlocking their uses one by one in a race against time, death, and corruption.
2. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
Weapon: The Sword of Shannara
A blade that cannot lie, forged with ancient magic and hidden truths. When young Shea Ohmsford takes up the weapon, he must first understand its power—because the Sword reveals not just the weaknesses of enemies, but the deepest truths of the wielder’s soul.
3. Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff
Weapon: Thunder Tiger’s Harness
Set in a Japanese-inspired steampunk empire, the protagonist Yukiko bonds with a mythical beast—and with it, a weaponized harness meant to channel divine power. As she unlocks its potential, she discovers the dark history behind the empire’s might, and the weapon’s role in shaping it.
4. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Weapon: Damaris, the Sword of Truth
As assassin-turned-queen Aelin Galathynius uncovers the truth about her past, a sword bound by truth itself emerges. It tests its wielder’s worth, revealing lies and deception—but only to those strong enough to carry its burden.
5. The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter
Weapon: The Blades of the Gifted
In a brutal, war-torn land, Tau seeks vengeance. But the weapons of the chosen Gifted are steeped in mystery, magic, and death. As Tau trains beyond human limits, he uncovers how these weapons connect to a deeper magic—and how they can be turned against those who once seemed invincible.
6. Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne
Weapon: God-forged Relics
Long after the fall of the gods, their weapons still echo with divine ruin. When mortals uncover them, they risk awakening ancient beasts and divine curses. The characters must learn to wield these remnants—before the weapons devour them from within.
7. City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett
Weapon: The Divine Armaments
In a city where gods were slain and their miracles buried, Shara Thivani uncovers weapons born of divine will and forgotten faith. These relics are forbidden, powerful, and full of secrets that can topple nations. To wield one is to awaken the dead voices of gods.
8. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Weapon: Ancient Staff of the Magi
Zélie must unlock her magic—and the weapon that channels it. With each battle, the artifact she carries reveals new powers, secrets of the gods, and the true cost of reclaiming lost heritage. A weapon of ancestry and pain, tied to blood and resistance.
9. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Weapon: Phoenix-Linked Invocation
While not a blade in the traditional sense, the true weapon Rin unlocks is herself—through shamanic rites tied to a forgotten god. The cost of such power? Sanity, morality, and the lives of thousands. To control this weapon is to understand destruction as divine will.
10. Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock
Weapon: Stormbringer
Perhaps the most infamous sentient sword in fantasy, Stormbringer drinks the souls of those it slays—and sometimes, those its wielder loves. Elric’s journey to understand and resist the blade’s will becomes a harrowing tale of power, dependence, and the price of strength.
Final Words:
These stories remind us that weapons in fantasy are never merely steel—they are story, soul, and snare. To unlock a weapon’s secrets is to confront one’s fears, pasts, and fates. Whether they hum with divine energy or drip with malice, these legendary arms demand not just a wielder—but a worthy one.
Dare to draw them? Just remember: some secrets are meant to stay buried. Others… will bury you.
