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miss_berry315's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
2.75
Okay, so firstly, Galen is nothing like he is in Paladin's Strength. Like, every bit of humor, banter, wittiness, etc was just washed away for this book. His personality is entirely focused on the brokenness, guilt, and other emotional/mental struggles from the trauma of losing their God. It really made Galen feel like an entirely different character than what we got to see in Paladin's Strength.
I really wanted to like Piper, but his entire personality is a mix of too timid to function, random bursts of confidence, and medical jargon. (I never want to hear the phrase 'spongiform erectile tissue' ever again).
I really did not like how the relationship built. It didn't feel natural or make sense to the situation they are in. This wasn't a will-they-won't-they and didn't really feel like a slow-burn bc of when things happened. I was not a fan of this relationship being more along the lines of we-want-to-but-shouldn't. I feel like not enough companionship and mutual respect/appreciation was built prior to the first intimate scene.
I find it a little bit offensive to have the only openly gay character be in a 'we really shouldn't do this' relationship that feels mostly fueled by physical desires/attraction and fear (bc of the situation they're in, not bc of their sexualities). Every other couple in the Saint of Steel series builds a solid emotional foundation prior to becoming intimate, even if they aren't open with themselves or each other about it. Why is the only LGBT relationship the one that speeds to the sex? Also, they're the only couple in the series to get a
Honestly, I really just wish authors would write same sex couples EXACTLY the same as different sex couples (as in the way the relationship builds, the struggles they face, the companionship they build, etc)
Oh, and why did the author name the only openly gay paladin Galen? (like seriously, I realized that part way through the book and almost stopped reading right there. That's some she-who-must-not-be-named level naming systems *eye roll*)
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, Confinement, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Medical content, Domestic abuse, and Violence
There is a scene towards the beginning in Piper's POV where he is talking about the cause of death of a few people. He findsdistilledreads's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Blood, Death, Violence, Grief, Child death, Gore, Sexual content, Murder, and Medical content
christy4's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Child death and Child abuse
bee742's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Violence and Child death
no_mourners_'s review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Violence, Police brutality, Sexual content, Animal death, Medical content, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Alcoholism, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Child death, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Cursing, War, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Drug use, Excrement, and Torture
bruisedtigers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I've noticed now that I've read a few Kingfisher books, that she does sometimes cut into her emotional (or scary, in the horror novels) moments by having a character do quips. Sometimes, it's funny, but other times it's distracting. I'm surprised she doesn't just lean into the emotional moments. The rest of the book seems earnest about being a little romance story, so I wish pivotal confessions weren't spliced up with someone joshing the pair. Let the
Also, yeah, the last line is good. I saw reviews talking it up and it still took me off guard.
Graphic: Death
Minor: Child death
marsh_mall0w's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Confinement, Violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse and Child death
booksthatburn's review
- 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
Galen and Piper are both new narrators, though Galen is consistent with his previous appearances as a secondary character. The main story would make sense for someone who started here without reading the rest of the series or any other White Rat books, but the epilogue in particular will make much more sense for someone who has read the first two books. There's a pretty cool character detail to delight anyone who read THE WONDER ENGINE, and the return of a couple of characters who first appeared in SWORDHEART, but these connections aren't necessary for understanding most of the book. It is the strongest entry in the ongoing thread of greater understanding between gnoles and humans, or at least between some specific gnoles and a few humans. Until now it seems like gnoles have been doing most of the understanding, so it's nice to see things start to shift.
The worldbuilding focuses on gnole/human interactions and the details of the place where they find themselves. It's a character-focused story, but the setting is specific and growing more detailed with each new entry in the White Rat books.
Galen is a brooding paladin, but a very different flavor of one from either Stephen or Istvhan. He has nightmares which can trigger the battle-tide if he's touched in his sleep. The warning that Galen should not be touched in his slumber has been consistent in the series so far, and now we get his side of that burden. Piper works with the dead, a profession which most people find distasteful. The pace of their relationship has an entirely different flavor from the first two books. It takes place over a fairly short period of time, with the main action confined to a day or two. The restricted but fascinating setting acts as a crucible where Galen, Piper, and Earstripe spend a lot of time together under very stressful circumstances. They don't have quite as much trouble figuring out whether that the other person is interested (at least not for long), but are trying to figure out whether this is a fling or if it can be something more long-term once they're not in mortal danger.
I enjoyed the different pace of this one and am excited for more entries in the series.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Blood, Gore, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism, Murder, Child death, and Alcohol
Minor: Slavery, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, and Pregnancy
wilybooklover's review
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gore, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Xenophobia, Racism, and Torture
Moderate: Medical content, Animal death, and Body horror
Minor: Child death and Police brutality
notthatlibrarian's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Death
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Blood, Child death, Sexual content, and Torture
Minor: Police brutality