12 books featuring weapons with curses or spirits
Not all weapons serve their wielders willingly.
Some whisper in the dark, haunted by ancient spirits or bound by wicked curses that thrum beneath their gleaming edges. These are no ordinary blades or bows; they are living relics of wrath and sorrow, of forbidden power and spectral vengeance. To wield one is to court both greatness and ruin—because when the weapon hungers for more than battle, it is the soul of the bearer that may be claimed.
In the realms of fantasy, cursed or spirit-bound weapons become characters in their own right—enigmatic, seductive, and terrifying. They tempt, they protect, they destroy. Here are 12 unforgettable books that explore the chilling allure and devastating beauty of weapons with minds—and grudges—of their own.
1. Stormbringer by Michael Moorcock
Perhaps the most iconic cursed blade in fantasy, Stormbringer is a soul-devouring sword that grants the albino anti-hero Elric immense power—but at a tragic cost. This sentient weapon turns victory into tragedy and love into ashes.
2. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Shardblades are ancient and mighty, but behind their brilliant sheen lies a history drenched in loss. These blades are remnants of betrayed oaths and forgotten gods, and their silent judgment lingers in the hands that wield them.
3. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
While no weapon is overtly cursed, sympathy-bound tools and ancient blades in this world often carry histories that blur the line between object and entity—hinting that not all steel lies silent.
4. The Bone Ships by RJ Barker
Ships made from the bones of long-dead sea dragons carry relic weapons that thrum with residual power. Some harbor more than just salt and storm—haunting the sailors who dare to command them.
5. The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
Blades infused with magic—some unstable, others corrupted—reveal the treacherous nature of power wielded through color and emotion. In this world, a weapon’s magic can betray its master with spectral fury.
6. Sabriel by Garth Nix
Sabriel’s bells are no ordinary weapons. Each harbors its own spirit and personality, used to command the dead. But even in the hands of a necromancer, these instruments ring with danger—and sometimes defiance.
7. The Demon Cycle Series by Peter V. Brett
Warded weapons carved with ancient symbols are humanity’s last defense against demonkind. But some are imbued with spirits or cursed legacies that can turn their bearers into something monstrous.
8. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Rin’s power comes with a devastating spirit—The Phoenix—burning through her mind and body. While not a weapon in the traditional sense, the god-bound magic she channels is both tool and tormentor, an ethereal blade with its own cruel will.
9. Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
Here, cursed artifacts and divine relics tangle with fate. While the weapons aren’t always sentient, they are tools of gods—and gods are rarely kind or clear in their purpose.
10. Witchmark by C.L. Polk
Though more subtle, magical objects—especially those forged with inherited or stolen power—can behave with malevolent will. Cursed family legacies take on the weight of blades in a war of spirits and secrets.
11. The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter
Forged weapons and battle techniques in this world are tied to dragons and a legacy of sacrifice. Some weapons carry memories and fire-fed curses that burn through generations.
12. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
Mia’s dagger isn’t just sharp—it’s alive. Shadow-bound and whispering in her mind, her blade becomes an extension of her rage, trauma, and vengeance. But every pact has a price.
These stories show that when steel is bound with spirit, every slash draws more than blood. The true battle lies not just on the battlefield but within the soul of the wielder. Whether cursed by ancient evils or inhabited by long-dead sorcerers, these weapons demand more than strength—they demand sacrifice.
So choose your blade carefully. It might just choose you back.
