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A review by mary_soon_lee
Paladin's Faith by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is the fourth of the Paladin books, which combine fantasy with romance. It's very good. The romance is interwoven with a solid plot. The paladin in question, Shane, is a complete delight, twice-deserted by gods, ridiculously good, ridiculously hard on himself. The sections that deal with paladin matters such as gods and demons are handled very well [not quite as surpassingly well as Megan Whalen Turner achieves, but I have yet to discover an author to match her in that regard, and I am digressing....]
Marguerite, the other half of the romance, is clever, highly competent, used to looking out for herself, and able to appreciate every inch of Shane's appeal. I very much appreciate romances that show both viewpoints, as this does, and I also enjoyed the short dips into other perspectives. There are several secondary characters whom I hope to see again -- Lady Silver, Davith, the ever-wonderful Bishop Beartongue -- and a couple whom I suspect may get their own book in the series (Wren, Judith). Marguerite herself was a supporting character in book one in the series, Paladin's Grace, which is itself very good.
There's also a nice vein of humor running through this, and moments that moved me, and, unexpectedly, a sense that all might not end happily, which I usually don't experience in romance.
So, yes, very good. Four and a half out of five steel stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
Marguerite, the other half of the romance, is clever, highly competent, used to looking out for herself, and able to appreciate every inch of Shane's appeal. I very much appreciate romances that show both viewpoints, as this does, and I also enjoyed the short dips into other perspectives. There are several secondary characters whom I hope to see again -- Lady Silver, Davith, the ever-wonderful Bishop Beartongue -- and a couple whom I suspect may get their own book in the series (Wren, Judith). Marguerite herself was a supporting character in book one in the series, Paladin's Grace, which is itself very good.
There's also a nice vein of humor running through this, and moments that moved me, and, unexpectedly, a sense that all might not end happily, which I usually don't experience in romance.
So, yes, very good. Four and a half out of five steel stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Sexual content