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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall this book was fun and I read it in about two sittings but I definitely like Kingfisher's horror and middle grade (although that's under a different name) a lot more. Basically, readable and chill and I like all the perfume stuff-as usual Kingfisher does a good job of tying her characters' professions into their lives & personalities. But at the same time, there was very little progression in the main relationship which was structurally the heart of the story.
But the most frustrating thing is that I felt like Stephen's trauma is pretty consistently dismissed. Like when Grace's trauma impacts their relationship, she is acknowledged & supported. When Stephen's trauma impacts things Grace blames him, Maguerite blames him, Stephen blames himself. At no point is anyone like "yeah it seems valid that you have overly restrictive boundaries around self control given all the the attempted murder & actual killing in your past." The only people that actually support Stephen are the other paladins and while I love intimate, supportive male friendship, presumably one wants to feel like the romantic interest in a story will take you seriously when you're like "I'm really scared & shutting down & don't think this will work" rather than being like "wow, what a callous jackass" not just in the moment (which, like, fair, emotions are a thing) but for DAYS to come. At no point does Grace show herself capable of emotionally supporting Stephen and, like, I guess he'll be fine because he gets emotional support from Ishtvan and the Bishop and stuff but how I am supposed to ship them long term?
Still, it was a fun time. The world felt more cohesive than a lot of D&Desque worldbuilding is and I find the premise very compelling, if not always the execution. And like, again, I read this whole thing in like a day and a half, so what do I know? Clearly I was entertained.
Spoiler
There's a good 100+ pages where both characters are just completely in denial that the other person could be into them despite 1. it being super obvious and 2. having trusted friends who are good judges of character repeatedly being like "yeah they wanna smash." And like I get self-doubt or whatever the but inability of BOTH characters in their 30s to consider that maybe their read of the situation is off definitely feels weird and makes things drag.But the most frustrating thing is that I felt like Stephen's trauma is pretty consistently dismissed. Like when Grace's trauma impacts their relationship, she is acknowledged & supported. When Stephen's trauma impacts things Grace blames him, Maguerite blames him, Stephen blames himself. At no point is anyone like "yeah it seems valid that you have overly restrictive boundaries around self control given all the the attempted murder & actual killing in your past." The only people that actually support Stephen are the other paladins and while I love intimate, supportive male friendship, presumably one wants to feel like the romantic interest in a story will take you seriously when you're like "I'm really scared & shutting down & don't think this will work" rather than being like "wow, what a callous jackass" not just in the moment (which, like, fair, emotions are a thing) but for DAYS to come. At no point does Grace show herself capable of emotionally supporting Stephen and, like, I guess he'll be fine because he gets emotional support from Ishtvan and the Bishop and stuff but how I am supposed to ship them long term?
Still, it was a fun time. The world felt more cohesive than a lot of D&Desque worldbuilding is and I find the premise very compelling, if not always the execution. And like, again, I read this whole thing in like a day and a half, so what do I know? Clearly I was entertained.
adventurous
funny
tense
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I’ve read swordhearth before this and although the romance didn’t click with me I liked the world and thought I could get more of that in the saint of steel serie.
The romance turned out to be the same formula and I find myself groan every time the protagonists flirt with each other.
This type of romance is not for me
The romance turned out to be the same formula and I find myself groan every time the protagonists flirt with each other.
This type of romance is not for me
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced