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booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
PALADIN'S FAITH follows Marguerite and Shane. Marguerite was last seen in PALADIN'S GRACE, where she vanished quite suddenly in the middle of some stressful events and it was discovered that, while other characters knew she was a spy, "Marguerite" was in fact the name of a different spy who had died years earlier. As we never get another name for this character, both the book and this review will continue to refer to her by her chosen name of Marguerite. What happened to her after this point was a great mystery, especially to her friend Grace, the perfumer who got together with Stephen in that book. Now, in PALADIN'S FAITH, Marguerite has returned to ask Bishop Beartongue for the loan of some paladins so that she can find an artificer with an economy-changing invention that has the possibility of fixing a great many of the White Rat's current problems. Shane has been around in the previous books, present, but not generally playing a major role. Wren, the other paladin who travels with them, has hitherto been mentioned only incidentally as part of the group of the late Saint of Steel's paladins.
I like Wren, I'd been waiting for any of the female paladins to get as much attention as their brother paladins and I'm quite pleased with the result. I enjoy Marguerite and Shane, both separately and together. Shane is consistent with his brief appearances in earlier books, and to whatever extent there’s more variation from Marguerite's early appearance, much of that is due to finally knowing more about her. I love how T. Kingfisher keeps finding new permutations of the kind of person who would become a paladin and end up looking like guilt-ridden walls of muscle from the outside, but turn out to be kind, strong, very capable, guilt-ridden walls of muscle from the inside.
The Saint of Steel series has hit its stride, with a level of obvious consistency in quality where I'm super happy with this book, it's everything I wanted but couldn't anticipate, and I'm very excited for the next one. This also is a point where it gets harder for me to have non-spoiler specifics for a review. I had a great time, and if you are this far in the series, you, too, probably like fluffy paladin romances with some death and relative gore (but remarkably fewer severed heads than the first three books).
PALADIN'S FAITH. is definitely not the last book in the series, it appears that there are supposed to be seven in total, one for each of the paladins. Regardless of the eventual tally, this is not the last book and there is a hell of a teaser at the end for something that will be very relevant in future books. Even without that teaser, this book is not devoted to solving the mystery of the Saint's death and so that plotline is ready to receive more attention later. Shane does get a few insights from an unlikely source, and I'm interested in how that will all pan out.
I like Wren, I'd been waiting for any of the female paladins to get as much attention as their brother paladins and I'm quite pleased with the result. I enjoy Marguerite and Shane, both separately and together. Shane is consistent with his brief appearances in earlier books, and to whatever extent there’s more variation from Marguerite's early appearance, much of that is due to finally knowing more about her. I love how T. Kingfisher keeps finding new permutations of the kind of person who would become a paladin and end up looking like guilt-ridden walls of muscle from the outside, but turn out to be kind, strong, very capable, guilt-ridden walls of muscle from the inside.
The Saint of Steel series has hit its stride, with a level of obvious consistency in quality where I'm super happy with this book, it's everything I wanted but couldn't anticipate, and I'm very excited for the next one. This also is a point where it gets harder for me to have non-spoiler specifics for a review. I had a great time, and if you are this far in the series, you, too, probably like fluffy paladin romances with some death and relative gore (but remarkably fewer severed heads than the first three books).
PALADIN'S FAITH. is definitely not the last book in the series, it appears that there are supposed to be seven in total, one for each of the paladins. Regardless of the eventual tally, this is not the last book and there is a hell of a teaser at the end for something that will be very relevant in future books. Even without that teaser, this book is not devoted to solving the mystery of the Saint's death and so that plotline is ready to receive more attention later. Shane does get a few insights from an unlikely source, and I'm interested in how that will all pan out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, and Death
Moderate: Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Gore
Minor: Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Murder, Child death, Vomit, Kidnapping, Suicide, Torture, and Death of parent
wilybooklover's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
5.0
Another fantastic instalment in this series. Shane and Marguerite were a perfect pairing of opposites — the former honourable and gentle yet plagued with guilt, and the latter practical and flirty with absolutely no patience for guilt. I really loved how Marguerite took the reins in their relationship; it felt right for the couple and I'm never opposed to a hint of femdom.
The plot took a good while to kick in (I think it could've done with a bit of a tougher edit in the first half) but by the end it was absolutely fascinating. I cannot wait to see where the plot is going with Judith.
I really hope that Wren isn't paired up with Davith though. I hate second chance and theirs is a dynamic that I just don't enjoy.
The plot took a good while to kick in (I think it could've done with a bit of a tougher edit in the first half) but by the end it was absolutely fascinating. I cannot wait to see where the plot is going with Judith.
I really hope that Wren isn't paired up with Davith though. I hate second chance and theirs is a dynamic that I just don't enjoy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Confinement, Gore, and Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual harassment, Suicide, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
directorpurry's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content
bookwyrmknits's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I greatly enjoyed this installment of the Saint of Steel books. It was really nice to get to know some of the Saint's paladins we haven't seen much of before. (And I'm really looking forward to Wren's book, in whichever order that comes! But Judith, what have you done?) The side characters were really what made this book for me.
I liked both Shane and Marguerite, and thought that by the end they make a really good couple, but it took a while for me to accept them together. It wasn't really until their main on-screen sex scene 2/3 or so into the book—which was steamier than I had expected—that I was properly okay with them together.
This book had its own plot, which was wrapped up nicely by the end of the book, and I appreciated that. However, this is the middle book in a series and in many ways it feels like it. There were at least as many series plot points as book plot points, and (as you would expect) the series plot does not resolve here. I can't complain about that part; it's what you expect when you reach the presumed midpoint of a series, that there will be things that carry over.
I liked both Shane and Marguerite, and thought that by the end they make a really good couple, but it took a while for me to accept them together. It wasn't really until their main on-screen sex scene 2/3 or so into the book—which was steamier than I had expected—that I was properly okay with them together.
This book had its own plot, which was wrapped up nicely by the end of the book, and I appreciated that. However, this is the middle book in a series and in many ways it feels like it. There were at least as many series plot points as book plot points, and (as you would expect) the series plot does not resolve here. I can't complain about that part; it's what you expect when you reach the presumed midpoint of a series, that there will be things that carry over.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Sexual content
Minor: Suicide attempt and Animal death
CW details:condls27's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? No
4.75
I love this weird little series so much. This one was a little slow for me (but that also just could be end of year reading fatigue) but it still had the same charm as the rest of the series. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, Gore, and Animal death
amyteurhour's review against another edition
3.5
Content warning: gory/violence
The somewhat repetitive descriptions of people's physical attributes was a little bit off-putting, but has been a constant throughout the series. This was kind of boring and slow to start, but things start to pick up in the last third. Things did seem to get a little predictable, however there were a couple twists I wasn't expecting; some interesting concepts that were touched on, but didn't get expanded on. I'm eager to find out what happens next and look forward to whenever the next book is announced/comes out.
The somewhat repetitive descriptions of people's physical attributes was a little bit off-putting, but has been a constant throughout the series. This was kind of boring and slow to start, but things start to pick up in the last third. Things did seem to get a little predictable, however there were a couple twists I wasn't expecting; some interesting concepts that were touched on, but didn't get expanded on. I'm eager to find out what happens next and look forward to whenever the next book is announced/comes out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
maryellen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Violence, and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
ollie_again's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual harassment
wickedgrumpy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
The pacing was a bit off, but it generally is when there is a stark contrast between periods of travel and then periods of court politics.
The aspects of religion, godhood, demonic possession, champions, and artificers are really interesting. I really wished that the whole World of the White Rat contained more about the White Rat, because their people are predominantly main side characters.
Since it's been mentioned that it is planned to be seven books in this series I imagine that we get one for each of the remaining paladins. I'm looking forward to Wren, and eventually Judith, though I expect with what happened at the end of this book, she might be the focus of the end of the series.
The aspects of religion, godhood, demonic possession, champions, and artificers are really interesting. I really wished that the whole World of the White Rat contained more about the White Rat, because their people are predominantly main side characters.
Since it's been mentioned that it is planned to be seven books in this series I imagine that we get one for each of the remaining paladins. I'm looking forward to Wren, and eventually Judith, though I expect with what happened at the end of this book, she might be the focus of the end of the series.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gaslighting, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Animal death, Slavery, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Body shaming, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Grief, Child abuse, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Blood, Classism, Confinement, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Torture, and Vomit
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