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vanessaedwards1882's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Death
Moderate: Violence
puck_jay's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
THE PALADINS ARE ADORABLE AND I LOVE THEM. This was a good book I wish the fandom was bigger.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Gore, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, War, Blood, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
hareems's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I'm not big on romances at all but this book was exactly what I needed in a romance. It has a solid backstory that never overshadows the leads' love story but that also isn't irrelevant enough to just be a plot device propelling their story forward. Plus the world building is great, again to serve as a strong enough backdrop for the main story but never to take over as the main element of intrigue.
Also Kingfisher writes dialogue and inner monologues like no one else. How were they SO relatable and effective? I could fully feel both Stephen and Grace's thoughts and they were written so realistically I imagine anyone else could've felt the same way.
Also Stephen is how "nice guys" should actually be written. He's nice to a tee but it's not his whole personality. And it's never remarked upon how nice he is, which is great because that's honestly the bare minimum. Actually ALL the paladins are equally as nice. And I'm glad it's never addressed because Kingfisher treats this as the standard, as something that's just a given. I wish this would become commonplace in the booktok space as well, seeing as how it plays such a vital role in books going vital (most of them toxic romantasy), much to chagrin (srsly, how is ACOTAR a 4+ star read on here?).
Plus the humour is remarkable. It's so funny and often self deprecating which I LOVE.
Also love Marguerite. How could you not? She's so wonderful. We all need Marguerites in our lives.
I think the only reason I'm really docking a point is because neither Stephen nor Grace are the most interesting characters. I love that they're ordinary, but even ordinary people have quirks that set them apart, and truly I don't think Stephen has a single one. His quirk is knitting socks, which I love, but that is just not enough. Same with Grace. I LOVE her perfumer identity and her talent for it, but again that's it. There's nothing more to either of them that makes them more interesting than the supporting cast.
Which leads me to Istvhan. He was easily my favourite character and I wanted more of him, which is great because we have a whole next book dedicated to his romance (ðŸ˜). He was actually hilarious and if that's just a snippet of him, I have to assume that a whole book of his POV will have me cackling regularly. Love that.
I think these may be my favourite romances of all time (even if I haven't read the rest), and despite my bar being low I genuinely think it's because Kingfisher has blown it out of the park with her writing.
Also Kingfisher writes dialogue and inner monologues like no one else. How were they SO relatable and effective? I could fully feel both Stephen and Grace's thoughts and they were written so realistically I imagine anyone else could've felt the same way.
Also Stephen is how "nice guys" should actually be written. He's nice to a tee but it's not his whole personality. And it's never remarked upon how nice he is, which is great because that's honestly the bare minimum. Actually ALL the paladins are equally as nice. And I'm glad it's never addressed because Kingfisher treats this as the standard, as something that's just a given. I wish this would become commonplace in the booktok space as well, seeing as how it plays such a vital role in books going vital (most of them toxic romantasy), much to chagrin (srsly, how is ACOTAR a 4+ star read on here?).
Plus the humour is remarkable. It's so funny and often self deprecating which I LOVE.
Also love Marguerite. How could you not? She's so wonderful. We all need Marguerites in our lives.
I think the only reason I'm really docking a point is because neither Stephen nor Grace are the most interesting characters. I love that they're ordinary, but even ordinary people have quirks that set them apart, and truly I don't think Stephen has a single one. His quirk is knitting socks, which I love, but that is just not enough. Same with Grace. I LOVE her perfumer identity and her talent for it, but again that's it. There's nothing more to either of them that makes them more interesting than the supporting cast.
Which leads me to Istvhan. He was easily my favourite character and I wanted more of him, which is great because we have a whole next book dedicated to his romance (ðŸ˜). He was actually hilarious and if that's just a snippet of him, I have to assume that a whole book of his POV will have me cackling regularly. Love that.
I think these may be my favourite romances of all time (even if I haven't read the rest), and despite my bar being low I genuinely think it's because Kingfisher has blown it out of the park with her writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Gore
Moderate: Sexual content
tigerproofrock's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.0
A fun, cozy murder mystery with some wholesome romance and a dash of spice.
Two mid-thirties protagonists feeling past their prime and unsure if they should hope for more out of life. Massive, gentle warrior and tired wallflower craftswoman doomed to awkward interactions that they just can’t quite get right.
Two mid-thirties protagonists feeling past their prime and unsure if they should hope for more out of life. Massive, gentle warrior and tired wallflower craftswoman doomed to awkward interactions that they just can’t quite get right.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Minor: Vomit
One nonbinary character, some acknowledgment that queerness exists, some sex positivity for an older character.purplepenning's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Infidelity, Body horror, Blood, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
mer_randa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Body horror, and Gore
Minor: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
sarah_grey's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Despite some gore, felt like a cozy fantasy romance
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore
elly29's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
4.25
This struck the right balance of intrigue, growth, and romance for me. It starts off well: first few sentences are about a god dying, and then his former paladin being adrift and broken. (I did think the romance was going to be gay paladins, but apparently that’s Book 3 in the series.) It had a lawyer, a perfumer, a spy, a prince, an assassin, a doctor, a weasel… and multiple severed heads (but they weren’t that bad? Don’t let a severed head deter you!)
The plot was fun and entertaining, and I am amazed at T. Kingfisher’s breadth.
There is some blood/gore, sexy times scenes, gaslighting, and emotional abuse. (I found them all to be pretty mild-medium, but am listing them as medium just in case.)
The plot was fun and entertaining, and I am amazed at T. Kingfisher’s breadth.
There is some blood/gore, sexy times scenes, gaslighting, and emotional abuse. (I found them all to be pretty mild-medium, but am listing them as medium just in case.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Blood, Violence, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Gore
readsbymoonlight's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Confinement, and Murder
Minor: Emotional abuse
sealreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
LOVED this book. An immediate favorite and I'm excited to read more by T. Kingfisher!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gore