Reviews with content warning for Confinement - Paladin's Grace

I wanted to like this book so bad. I loved the world-building and ate up every little detail. Unfortunately, I loved every character except the two protagonists. I found Grace's inner monologues to be so cringeworthy that I barely finished the book.

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marsh_mall0w's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted 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

4.75

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booksthatburn's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny 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

The White Rat books definitely have a trend towards featuring broody men who are good at stabbing things and carry around an enormous amount of (understandable but often overwrought) guilt. Stephen is no exception to this. He is a paladin whose god died suddenly three years ago, which left people disturbed and confused that a god could die, and triggered berserker rages in many of the paladins. The survivors are now in one of the White Rat’s temples, offering their services as protectors, guards, and whatever else the temple needs where muscled and frequently brooding swordsmen are of use. Grace is a perfumer who has an excellent sense of smell and finds herself rather suddenly in trouble.

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.

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wilybooklover's review

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

5.0

If there’s one interest that I love almost as much as fantasy romance novels, it’s fragrance, so a fantasy romance featuring a perfumer heroine felt like it was tailor-made for me.

Besides that, this was a delightfully fluffy romance juxtaposed against quite a dark storyline. That balance can be quite tough to pull off but T. Kingfisher does it so well. Grace and Stephen are two damaged but kind people who fall in love despite getting caught up in a web of political intrigue and a preponderance of severed heads (the cause of which was unbelievably creepy). Despite the dark background this story is infused with so much humour and warmth and hope. The hero knits socks! I loved it and will immediately move on to book two.

Oh, and we see the return of Zale and the Temple of the White Rat, from Swordheart! Sardonic Zale may be my favourite secondary character ever and I kind of want to read an entire series following them as they solve legal problems.

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mars's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious medium-paced

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 haven't found a book as fun as this in a long time. It had all the things I've been currently looking for in a book: fluffy romance, an interesting world setting, a found family, and some lighthearted humor that, although some felt out of place, it brightened the mood to a somewhat somber & mysterious plot.

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!

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ldermer's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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morganish's review

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funny hopeful mysterious relaxing 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

5.0

Exactly what is it about T. Kingfisher, or this book in particular, that's so great? And my answer is... I honestly don't know! T. Kingfisher just seems to be able to write really great stories without them having to be gimmicky or high-concept or repeating the same story/trope over and over.

Paladin's Grace is a sweet, simple, tense little romance set in a pretty standard, traditional fantasy world. But it distinguishes itself by being part cute romance about sad 30-somethings finding new hope in each other, and part murder-mystery/thriller. It's straightforward, definitely humorous, and just a bit self-aware of the tropes and conceits of its genre(s). Trigger warnings for panic attacks, past domestic and child abuse, and stuff about corpses and dead bodies.

Aaannnd that's it, folks. Otherwise, it's pretty much exactly what it says on the tin. A story that seems big, but feels small and intimate, and may only become your favorite book if you're looking for something that's not trying to become blow you away. It's comfortable, and intimate, and cozy. And I'm very biased, but it's hard for me to imagine someone not liking this unless they don't like romance, don't like anything that even smacks of horror or thriller-type action, or just can't get on board with something set in a traditional fantasy world.

Just another T. Kingfisher book that leaves me wondering why I haven't read all the other T. Kingfisher books already.

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wardenred's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious fast-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? No

5.0

Normal people flirt. I think. Apparently we just exchange terrible life stories.

I think I fell in love with this book before I was even 20% in, and it never disappointed me. There's a lot going on here. Murders! Cults! Mysteries! Spies! Political intrigue! Legal drama! Also, perfumery, sock-knitting, and a domestic civet cat! Seriously, there's so much going on, but it also never gets too much, and all the plot threads and setting details get tied together wonderfully.

First and foremost, though, this is a story about healing,. The romance between Grace and Stephen was super enjoyable to read as they both grappled with the trauma from their pasts and got more and more prepared to go forward. Their love story didn't feel like a magic cure for the PTSD they're both obviously dealing with, but rather as a reason for both of them to recognize that, despite the events of their pasts, they can still work toward a happy future; that they deserve happiness, and it isn't inaccessible.

I was deeply intrigued by the setting with all of its many gods and the concept of paladins as divine berserks—I'd love to know more about all these deities and their relationships to their paladins and priests and the world in general. I loved everything about the Rat's priests who devote their lives to helping others and fixing everything that can be fixed in the most optimistic manner possible. Every scene with the Bishop was a delight, and Zale is my favorite lawyer (also, it was really cool to see a nonbinary character just casually being themself and no one ever misgendering or questioning anything about them). In general, this book is full of loveable and interesting supporting characters: Margeurite, Grace's spy friend; all the other Saint's paladins around Stephen (Istvhan especially, because he got the most screen time, but there was also that really poignant scene with Marcus, and Shane is definitely someone I'd love to see more of, too); the more minor characters like healer Francis and that one prison guard much further into the story. Really, an amazing cast.

All in all, this book offers a wonderful mix of horror and coziness with lots of twists, turns, and genuinely funny moments that never diminish the seriousness of the issues the main characters have to contend with.

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