Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher

23 reviews

cwerber's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-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

That was a very delightful read. I read through the last 25% as quickly as I could, but as luck would have it, people just kept *talking* to me, and I had to be a *normal* person. 

Seriously, though. I loved the two main characters and several of the secondary characters. I can't wait to read the second and third books. 

But I do have a question that may never be answered. How did Stephen's god die? Maybe that question will eventually be answered.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, and Sexual content

directorpurry's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, and Confinement

Moderate: Body horror and Toxic relationship

Minor: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity

lilbookbee's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

T Kingfisher has truly solidified herself as one of my favorite authors. I have been in a book slump since August, managing to start very little, never mind actually finishing. But listening to the Paladin's Grace audio on my new long commutes has been a breath of fresh air. I was excited to get into the car and go to work so I could listen to more. And I was just as excited to leave for the day and get more of this story.

I loved everything about this book from start to finish. The characters were funny and broken and compelling. The story itself was fascinating, full of twists and surprises I wouldn't have expected. Stephen and Grace were such a perfectly awkward matched and reading their romance was such a joy.

I truly cannot wait to pick up the next book in this series. And shout out to the audiobook narrator, he was really amazing!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Sexual content, and Violence

Minor: Gaslighting, War, Cursing, Abandonment, Blood, Murder, Cannibalism, and Toxic relationship

readsbymoonlight's review

funny lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

Stephen and Grace are so freakin adorable it warms my cold dead heart

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Confinement, and Murder

Minor: Emotional abuse

ariep's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Really loved this read!! The story was engaging, and the characters were very fun and wonderful. I thought it was a great book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Body horror, Violence, Sexual content, Medical content, Infidelity, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

aneverbird's review

adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Body horror, Gore, Blood, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexual content, and Violence

saintyeehaw's review

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Violence, Emotional abuse, Murder, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

calmcozycorner's review

funny lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was fine. It was a good palate cleanser -- lighthearted and entertaining. At first, the constant internal dialogue was a little tedious, but I got used to it as the story progressed. I also found Grace to be slightly annoying. I think I've learned that I like a little more edge to my romance! The end of the book was compelling, which might motivate me to continue with the series. Otherwise, I would probably just leave it here.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Gore

Moderate: Grief and Vomit

Minor: Suicide

canyongoblin's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Big picture: the story is fun, somewhat lighthearted, and I truly enjoy the world that Kingfisher creates. I like the humor and the built in kindness of the characters and the originality of the story. I will read the second book to see if I like it more. 

Nitty gritty: 
Grace and Stephen are a little stifling and feel like they are emotionally stunted, but without good reason and their 16-year-old want to jump each other but being so shy and self-deprecating made it feel forced into their characters. 
So. I didn’t really love the portrayal of the romance and their thoughts during moments of attraction but I loved their quirky traits, kindness, empathy for each other and the depth of respect and trust that was built. 

Low stakes. Romance. Intrigue. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Domestic abuse

booksthatburn's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

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