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thebetterstory's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
Another book with a wonderful premise and T. Kingfisher’s signature mix of the creepy and the cozily mundane. Unfortunately, this is actually my least favourite of hers I’ve read so far—which is a shame, given it’s the only one that’s part of a series—owing purely to the rather clumsy romance.
Normally I quite like Kingfisher’s romantic subplots, perhaps because all the ones I’ve read previously have been quite low-key, but it takes up a much larger focus in this one and the novel suffers for it. Grace and Stephen are individually likeable, but there were numerous asides in every chapter where they had ill-timed inappropriate thoughts about each other and pattered on for a bit about what a bad idea it would be to kiss/have sex with the other that quickly weighed the narrative down and honestly felt a bit juvenile. You could cut out all the times Stephen thought about breasts or Grace thought about muscles, or a side character teased them about it, and the book would be both much shorter and much better.
Happily, there’s still plenty to like here. Things pick up a lot about halfway through, which thankfully also means less badly written internal monologuing about anatomy, and the plot is tidy and satisfying. The entire conceit behind the paladins and their dead god hits all my fealty kink buttons, the banter is funny when it’s not about getting laid, and the supernatural villain eventually encountered is fantastically creepy. There’s enough depth to the worldbuilding that I’m excited to get different characters in future instalments that can explore the setting from more angles.
Recommended along with the rest of T. Kingfisher’s work; even not at her best, she packs lots of fun ideas into her narratives. Just know that you might enjoy yourself more with a different book of hers if you end up bouncing off of this one.
Normally I quite like Kingfisher’s romantic subplots, perhaps because all the ones I’ve read previously have been quite low-key, but it takes up a much larger focus in this one and the novel suffers for it. Grace and Stephen are individually likeable, but there were numerous asides in every chapter where they had ill-timed inappropriate thoughts about each other and pattered on for a bit about what a bad idea it would be to kiss/have sex with the other that quickly weighed the narrative down and honestly felt a bit juvenile. You could cut out all the times Stephen thought about breasts or Grace thought about muscles, or a side character teased them about it, and the book would be both much shorter and much better.
Happily, there’s still plenty to like here. Things pick up a lot about halfway through, which thankfully also means less badly written internal monologuing about anatomy, and the plot is tidy and satisfying. The entire conceit behind the paladins and their dead god hits all my fealty kink buttons, the banter is funny when it’s not about getting laid, and the supernatural villain eventually encountered is fantastically creepy. There’s enough depth to the worldbuilding that I’m excited to get different characters in future instalments that can explore the setting from more angles.
Recommended along with the rest of T. Kingfisher’s work; even not at her best, she packs lots of fun ideas into her narratives. Just know that you might enjoy yourself more with a different book of hers if you end up bouncing off of this one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror and Toxic relationship
Minor: Miscarriage and Violence
vagrantheather's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Grace is a middle aged perfumer three years into a new life in a new city (the beloved fantasy world that Kingfisher has used in a number of novels), after running from her asshole of a husband and business partner. Steven is a paladin whose spirit broke when his god died, who has taken up residence as an armed warrior for another god, the Rat. The two find themselves thrown together when a poisoner attempts to assassinate a foreign diplomat at an event they're both attending.
As usual, Kingfisher manages to write a delightfully lighthearted, fun, and engaging book, that explores some grim topics and develops strong characters. While Paladin's Grace didn't manage to be quite as funny or charming as Swordheart, it was thoroughly enjoyable and gratifying. Potential readers should be aware that there is one somewhat graphic sex scene.
I absolutely love that Kingfisher writes in trans representation without feeling the need to make the character's identity into a plot point. I also adore that our MC Grace interprets the world through smells.
As usual, Kingfisher manages to write a delightfully lighthearted, fun, and engaging book, that explores some grim topics and develops strong characters. While Paladin's Grace didn't manage to be quite as funny or charming as Swordheart, it was thoroughly enjoyable and gratifying. Potential readers should be aware that there is one somewhat graphic sex scene.
I absolutely love that Kingfisher writes in trans representation without feeling the need to make the character's identity into a plot point. I also adore that our MC Grace interprets the world through smells.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Toxic relationship
Minor: Confinement, Infidelity, and Emotional abuse
silentquercus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual content, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Gaslighting, Blood, Confinement, Infidelity, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Violence
britreadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book has everything. A god dies in the first chapter. There are loveable berserkers, a woman with the nose of a bloodhound, a sexy spy. People are being decapitated and no one cares, until they really do. Zombies! A cat! I learned a surprising amount about perfume. Cathedral balcony sex. I don't know what more I can say. Read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
natalie_chase's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- 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
I really liked this story. The plot is definitely secondary to the character development but does exist. Both the MMC and FMC in this book are a breath of fresh air and build their relationship in a very thorough meaningful way. The side characters are very interesting and active in their interaction with the plot and main characters. The MMC might be the first romance hero I’ve actually thought would make a good book boyfriend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Emotional abuse
miss_berry315's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
I originally dnf'd this book, realized the Saint of Steel series can be read as stand-alone books, read Paladin's Strength and Paladin's Hope, started Paladin's Faith and realized I wanted more context so I went back to this one.
I dnf'd this book originally because of the scene where Stephen and Grace meet. It is fairly early in the book and I really felt like the author could have done literally anything other than have Stephen practically SA Grace.
IDC if this is a spoiler, it's really not done well and adds absolutely nothing to the story overall.
Stephen is walking back home when he hears someone running and he determines that the person sounds like they're in trouble, so he wants to help (paladin things). Grace approaches him near an alleyway and asks Stephen to help her hide. Stephen then grabs her, shoves her against the wall so she's hidden from the people chasing her, and begins dry humping her and acting as if he is having sex. She plays along with it, he's apologizing the whole time (super uncomfortable) and the people chasing her end up leaving them alone. It's important to note that this happens in an alleyway very close to this city's version of a 'Red Light District' aka a place where sex workers are known to be present and offering services. The author does not write about sex workers in a positive way. The language used is outdated, Stephen says he would 'never be involved with a sex worker' and Grace is relieved. Its just really not empowering and starts the relationship between these two off in a very uncomfortable place. Why couldn't Stephen help Grace into a crate or behind some barrels, or in a pile of trash or literally anything in the entire world that could have been realistically in the alleyway? Why did the author see the only option as borderline SA??
Other than that, the book was fairly boring in plot, characters, and romance. Grace is defined by her relationships and career. I felt like the perfume making stuff could have been interesting, but kind of fell flat. I understand it's hard to write about how someone may have a natural ability to create something and how they often will incorporate that into their lives however they can, but the way that Grace can differentiate smells within complex ones just came off like the whole 'chosen one' 'special-special' trope that protagonists often have.
I dnf'd this book originally because of the scene where Stephen and Grace meet. It is fairly early in the book and I really felt like the author could have done literally anything other than have Stephen practically SA Grace.
IDC if this is a spoiler, it's really not done well and adds absolutely nothing to the story overall.
Stephen is walking back home when he hears someone running and he determines that the person sounds like they're in trouble, so he wants to help (paladin things). Grace approaches him near an alleyway and asks Stephen to help her hide. Stephen then grabs her, shoves her against the wall so she's hidden from the people chasing her, and begins dry humping her and acting as if he is having sex. She plays along with it, he's apologizing the whole time (super uncomfortable) and the people chasing her end up leaving them alone. It's important to note that this happens in an alleyway very close to this city's version of a 'Red Light District' aka a place where sex workers are known to be present and offering services. The author does not write about sex workers in a positive way. The language used is outdated, Stephen says he would 'never be involved with a sex worker' and Grace is relieved. Its just really not empowering and starts the relationship between these two off in a very uncomfortable place. Why couldn't Stephen help Grace into a crate or behind some barrels, or in a pile of trash or literally anything in the entire world that could have been realistically in the alleyway? Why did the author see the only option as borderline SA??
Other than that, the book was fairly boring in plot, characters, and romance. Grace is defined by her relationships and career. I felt like the perfume making stuff could have been interesting, but kind of fell flat. I understand it's hard to write about how someone may have a natural ability to create something and how they often will incorporate that into their lives however they can, but the way that Grace can differentiate smells within complex ones just came off like the whole 'chosen one' 'special-special' trope that protagonists often have.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Death, Murder, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Stalking, and Panic attacks/disorders
The book starts off withmabechel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
It's a good mix of fantasy world building and a somewhat fluffy romance. Refreshing in it's approach to both.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Infidelity, Suicide, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Police brutality
bdingz's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Murder
Minor: Infidelity
kitwhelan's review against another edition
3.75
This is my first book by this author, so I’m not sure if I’m missing more about this world, but I found it enjoyable! The golem part is very disturbing but I’d probably read more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Suicide
alexijai98's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
If you’re not into “idiots in love” or whatever the trope is called this isn’t the book for you. I came very close to DNFing simply because I was getting very tired of the protagonists continuing to doubt each other’s feelings and self flagellate, but I found that pushing past my annoyance was worth it. Also the infidelity and toxic relationship is NOT between the two protagonists!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Murder, Violence, Grief, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship