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sunsorbit's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Mental illness, Police brutality, Grief, Death, Gore, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Animal death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol
miss_berry315's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
2.75
Ohhhh man, I really really wanted to like this book. I was beyond excited to read Paladin's Hope knowing that Galen was one of the MCs and that it was a M/M romance. The book starts out strong, Piper is a likeable character, the gnole stole the show as usual, and the plot is mysterious and interesting. That is unfortunately the end of what didn't disappoint me.
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 third act breakup and then end in marriage to validate everything . It really just felt like the author was checking off a representation box and didn't really talk with anybody from the community irl. Its giving "yeah I met a gay person once! I also read an article about gay culture and totally agree with gay rights, see?" Very disappointing.
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*)
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*)
Content Warnings
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 findsalexijai98's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- 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
I liked the plot of this book the most out of the series so far I think!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Confinement, Medical content, Murder, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
distilledreads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
5.0
Of the first three The Saint of Steel books this is my least favourite, which was disappointing because I was so, so excited for Piper’s story. I’ve loved him as a character from Book #1 and I love him even more now that we were able to experience his perspective. The reason this installment fell short for me is because of the brevity, so I guess that’s a testament to Kingfisher that I just wanted more.
Insta-love is one of my least favourite tropes, and I definitely found Piper and Galen’s story to be insta-love. Not only is the timeline in the book significantly shorter than the two previous books, but the length of the novel is much shorter too. Unfortunately, that was really apparent to me and I wanted more development between Piper and Galen. As it was, I couldn’t quite buy into how quickly they fell in love and their relationship progressed. Although I will fully admit that the life-or-death situation and adrenaline pulsing through most of the book would sway both to going all in very quickly.
As well, I believe there were two continuity errors in Paladin’s Hope, or at the very least two explicit references to past scenes that didn’t quite match up with how they were previously described. That took me away from the story quite a bit as I tried to parse through it.
All of that said. The last line. My gods, the last line. Paladin’s Hope was hovering around a four-star rating for most of the book because of the brevity and insta-love, but the final line had me sitting up in bed and actually screeching.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Blood, Death, Violence, Grief, Child death, Gore, Sexual content, Murder, and Medical content
purplepenning's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
My favorite of this series so far — and they've all been great!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Moderate: Gaslighting, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Grief, Police brutality, Violence, Classism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Death, Murder, and Sexual content
Minor: Excrement
readinggem's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A romance much like the previous two in this series. A lot of space is given to how unworthy the paladin is for love. But it’s still a fun premise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Medical content, Murder, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
no_mourners_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
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
maryellen's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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: Cursing, Medical content, Sexual content, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Animal death and Grief
marsh_mall0w's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Confinement, Violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse and Child death
booksthatburn's review
adventurous
tense
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
4.5
PALADIN'S HOPE features Galen, one of the paladins of the (now dead) Saint of Steel. He appears in the first two books in the series but now gets a story of his own. The main story is entirely new, as Earstripe the guard-gnole requests that Galen and the lich-doctor, Piper, help him find out the cause of several mysterious and violent deaths (which are both introduced and resolved). Very late in the book I figured out that this wraps up some things left hanging from other White Rat books, not just the first two Saint of Steel books (though it does that as well). The epilogue, in particular, exists to show the state of Galen and Piper's relationship some time after the main story, and to continue the underlying thread of the death of the Saint of Steel. It leaves the book on a bit of a cliffhanger, but one related to the general course of the series and not to the central plot of the book.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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