Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Paladin's Hope

I could not stop reading this book. I love the characters, and the writing, and the plot! It was so tense, and incredibly engaging. I really loved the first two, and this one is no exception! I don’t know what else to say other than I loved it, and I will probably read it again.

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distilledreads's review

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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.

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mirandalikesbooks's review

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This series just keeps getting better! I think Piper and Galen were such a lovely pair, and the secret to what was causing the deaths being explored in the beginning was a fun adventure.

I like how this book explored discrimination within this fantasy setting. It made the main characters that much more loveable that they stood up for the underdog.

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neighbor_reads's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

I'm struggling to find words to convey how much I love this series - the characters are so endearing and the story has touched my heart.

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purplepenning's review against another edition

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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!

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lilbookbee's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional 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? No

5.0

God help me, T Kingfisher owns me, mind, body, and soul. I've loved every book I've read by her, especially those in The Temple of the White Rat series, but this one takes the cake. I was already pretty sure it was going to be a five star read, but that final line, WHEW BOY. I listened to this on audio in my car alone, and upon hearing Piper's utterance of the final line of the book I SCREAMED. Out loud. More than once, for multiple minutes. I stopped screaming only to start hollering again moments later. The ending of this book shook me to my core. A fellow reader in my book club said that Paladin's Grace (the first in the Saint of Steel series, of which this is the third) had the best opening line, and this one had the best final line. Nothing truer has ever been said.

I don't even know how to talk about how amazing the rest of this book was. I knew I was going to like Galen, but I still wasn't expecting to love him this much. And Piper too!!! They were the best match and the cutest and the snarkiest and all around my favorite couple in the series. Only Kingfisher could write a series and have me love each couple more than the last. Piper and Galen have my heart.

This book also had one of the hottest scenes I've had the pleasure of reading, and it wasn't even a smut scene. Listening to the scene in chapter 20 where Galen and Pipe are pressed together getting through the blade trap, and Galen keeps Piper distracted by murmuring potentially suggestive things and kissing the back of his neck. Like they are in an absolutely perilous situation and yet somehow the two of them are just oozing sexual tension. In the words of T Kingfisher herself, that scene made *me* want to howl like a dog. And then the follow up in chapter 21 where after getting a great blow job from Piper, Galen gives him the hottest reach around known to man. As in they are sitting on the floor, and Galen has Piper basically in his lap, Piper's back to his chest, and he reaches around and gets him off and oh my GOD. God help me, a position like that has ALWAYS made me hot and bothered, but after the rocketing tension from the chapter before??? Whew boy 🥵🫠

I cannot believe I waited as long as I did to read these books. I don't know if I will ever be able to stop talking about them. I want and need everyone to read them so I can discuss them in perpetuity forever.

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attolis's review against another edition

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4.25

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no_mourners_'s review against another edition

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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

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