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caseymac's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Murder, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse, Vomit, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
emcat591's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
My issues with the book concern two areas: the romance plot, and the mystery plots.
I am a fan of romance, and I knew there would be a romance plot going in. However, I found it to be formulaic and uninspired. Following a formula is not always a bad thing, but in this case, Grace and Stephen's reasons for avoiding the relationship were very flimsy, and most of their inner monologues boiled down to "he/she would never be interested in me." I'm more inclined to give Grace a pass, due to her past experiences with relationship trauma, but for me, this part of the romance arc goes on too long. Stephen's primary obstacle in the relationship is easily shot down in one conversation with Isthvan. Grace and Stephen are supposed to be in their thirties, which in this book might as well be 100 based on the number of "I'm not in my twenties anymore"/similar comments between the two of them. Also, Grace continually refers to their conversations as "awkward," when they're honestly just normal conversations that you would have with someone you were getting to know. A certain amount of obliviousness/"everyone knows but them" is fine, but this was just a little too much. Overall, they did have some cute moments, but the romance suffered from a lack of development.
Secondly, the mystery plots felt like they were going to be way more of a focus in the story, but ended up falling flat. One is just sort of hand-waved away as being more or less the accidental bumblings of an idiot that had nothing to do with any of the protagonists at all, and the other is saved for the sequel when it was just finally heating up. This left the end of the book feeling unresolved and rushed, and most of the drama of the book ended up seeming pointless in retrospect.
Other nitpicks (under spoiler because they're more specific):
-Stephen's "berserker rage" was built up throughout the novel but ended up just being more of a property damage thing/didn't really have any consequences
-Marguerite just disappears at a certain point (possibly because her character would have been too useful with regards to the trial/political drama?) and there's not much resolution on that
-Phillip's reappearance was just sort of unfulfilling. He's obviously a worm who was paid off to testify against her, as he states later that he has lost the shop and has no money, and in a way I was sort of glad she got to tell him off a bit, but that scene also didn't feel as impactful as it could have.
As I said, overall I enjoyed the book, hence the mostly positive rating. I did appreciate the existence of the seemingly nonbinary/genderqueer Zale, who simply exists and operates within the story without having their gender be explained or take focus or define them in any way. That was nice to see.
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
booksthatburn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Grace is so genuinely trusting that she needs someone more cynical and observant around to keep things from turning out badly when people take advantage of her. She can, and has, reset her life after betrayal, but it's so nice to see a part of her life where people help her rather than leaving her to sink or swim in the wake of abuse and betrayal. Stephen and his fellow paladins are living each day without their god, trying to be helpful rather than letting the black tide swallow them. It's nice to read a story where the main characters have lives separate from each other, but it's obvious how their lives are enriched by each other's company and possible affection. Zale is a fantastic wit and an even better lawyer, it's great to see them again.
While technically not a sequel, this is set in the world of the White Rat, mentions places featured elsewhere, and includes at least one character from SWORDHEART. The story itself is entirely new. The worldbuilding focuses on just a couple of locations, but describes places in a way that provides relevant information for this story while giving details which complement what that other White Rat books established. I recommend reading at least SWORDHEART before this, but the main thing that will affect is whether Zale is a new or familiar character.
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Blood, Violence, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Vomit, Medical content, Murder, Cursing, Confinement, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual harassment, Cannibalism, Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Child abuse, Excrement, Terminal illness, Child death, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Animal death, Alcohol, and Suicide
gothnailcare's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Sexual content
Moderate: Gaslighting and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual harassment and Infidelity
wilybooklover's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Sexual content, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Infidelity and Injury/Injury detail
mars's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I'm so glad to have come across this book, as got me out of a reading slump. So excites to read more from the Saint of Steel series and to check out more of the author's books!
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Infidelity, and Animal cruelty
tostita's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
wickedgrumpy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Stephen's god died a little after noon on the longest day of the year.
With a compelling opening line like that how could I not have a good time reading this book?
To be honest, it kinda similar to The Clockwork boys/The Wonder Engine and Swordheart in that they feature a competent female protagonist in her 30s and a tortured soul of a male paladin(-esque) love interest nearing 40 (+/- a few hundred years), but what can I say beyond I apparently love the trope? It isn't even that unexpected since it's the same author.
Also worth note is that our non-binary friend/lawyer Zale makes an appearance as well as a few other known entities from the world of the White Rat.
My quest to read all the things written under the T. Kingfisher pseudonym continues.
Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence
buttermellow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Death, Gore, Infidelity, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Toxic relationship, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
anna_23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Violence