Reviews

Paladin's Faith by T. Kingfisher

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wardenred's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful

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

4.25

Here we are, the future of the world’s economy at stake, probably being chased by people with murder on their minds, and I keep thinking ‘But does he like me?’”

For about half of the book, I was very much here for the romance. Shane and Marguerite didn’t seem all that compatible to me, but also had undeniable chemistry, and I was really interested to see how this “opposites attract scenario“ was going to play out. My problem was that just as things started getting interesting, it was like the book merely leaped over the best parts and carried on, leaving me confused. I legit didn’t understand how exactly lust turned to love here. Like, there were hints at that journey starting, and then we were suddenly at the destination? And then there was that scene in the later half with a single line that felt like it existed to gut me—

“I’m less broken when I’m around you“

—but it didn’t, *because* some crucial bits of getting there were missing. That was honestly so disappointing, because I was so, so here for these two.

But! That disappointment aside, I loved plenty of other aspects of the book so much??? Like, seriously, I kept taking breaks because I didn’t want it to end too soon. The characters are all so good, the prose is T. Kingfisher at her best, the adventure went to such exciting places, and the worldbuilding! It expanded in the most interesting ways, and I can’t wait to see how things develop from here. I’m a bit sad that the book didn’t fully pick up where the previous installment left off with the overarching plot, but it also kind of did, in away? It’s pretty obvious that the lore and the developments we’re getting here are all a huge part of that journey, and it’s all so exciting.

Speaking of the book as part of a larger series: I loved seeing glimpses/hearing about of the paladins who were the MCs in past novels. All these guys have super similar character arcs and trauma, but getting to envision them all alongside each other when they were all namedropped early on kind of helped me draw the lines and focus on the differences. Which in turn made me appreciate Shane more as his own character. He has such a great arc here, by the way, and such a fitting resolution to it. In the late part of the book, I was so, so worried for him, and then so happy for where he ended up.

Also, the women paladins getting extra screen time? Yay! I absolutely loved Wren, though I feel like she deserved a lot more than the narrative gave her. Like, seriously, having to spend a huge chunk of the story playing the part of a girly girl and feeling lacking because that’s not her, and then when one thing that felt good on a personal level came out of the deception, it turned out to be… not good at all? Please give Wren all the happiness to make up for this. And Judith, what is even her deal? I am so curious about Judith, you all have no idea. Here’s hoping all the mystery around her pays off properly in the future.

abenetto's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

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

3.75

lealeamat's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny hopeful medium-paced

3.5

peppermintlegs's review against another edition

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adventurous 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? Yes

5.0

The return of Marguerite!! The plot outside of the romance was fun and juicy—cultists and poison and espionage—but the romance just as compelling. The berserker paladins are so special to me <3 Cannot wait for the next installment.