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edamamebean's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Very cuteeee. I will definitely be continuing this series. T. Kingfisher excels at writing lovable characters and I especially enjoyed Stephen’s friendships with his fellow paladins and the other members of Temple of the White Rat. The romance was very sweet. It gets docked from four stars because, like all of Kingfisher’s longer books, it dragged heavily in the middle to a frustrating degree. But I will say I thought the slog paid off at the end, even if the main conflict was wrapped up a little too conveniently…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Violence, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
smartcookiesca's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Gaslighting
Minor: Death of parent and War
bree_h_reads's review against another edition
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
4.5
Somehow I forgot this was a romantasy between placing my hold on Libby and getting the book. It was a pleasant surprise!
Overall I think it was a good book! I really enjoyed listening to it. Stephen and Grace were really interesting and complex MCs. It was fun to follow them and uncover more about their histories and see how they function in the situation thrust upon them. Not only that, but I really enjoyed each character’s personal arc. Stephen grappling with his grief, struggle with losing his god, and how it’s bonded him so deeply to the other paladins was really compelling. I also loved learning more about Grace’s past and seeing her grow and overcome it.
The characters being so well written and compelling really sold me on the romance and its development. While it moved a little quickly for my taste, I still loved every minute. I thought it was really sweet and the conflict keeping them from being together was understandable. It didn’t frustrate me like some others do.
The book did have its flaws though. I don’t think the book balanced the three plot lines very well. It left me feeling dissatisfied by the conclusion. Also, while I loved the narrator’s voice, I think his delivery was a bit lacking in feeling.
Overall it was a really enjoyable romantasy. I definitely recommend checking it out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and War
Minor: Child death, Infidelity, Police brutality, and Medical content
sadetanssija's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Murder, and Gaslighting
thisbookisbananas's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Paladin’s Grace is T.Kingfisher’s beginning book in a fantasy romance series. This is not to be confused with romantasy. I love that genre, but that is not this! I’d say this verges on is an eerie fantasy that is distinctly T.Kingfisher with a romantic subplot. It was wonderful and had all of the hallmarks of any T. Kingfisher book I read: snarky humor/banter, lovable, dare I say sweet, characters and the dark fantastical aspects of her writing.I look forward to reading the next book in this series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Gaslighting
teddie_valetine98's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
toobusy's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.75
This book was so much fun and not your typical Romantasy on the market. I cackled many many times while reading/listening to this. NOW I find out that it's a series that follows each of the paladins??? I'm in love.
"Good mystery elements + good romance and banter + established fantasy world = fun read for me"
As another reviewer noted, this book is great if you've outgrown the amazingly gorgeous and talented 18-yr olds that are destined to save the world. This story is about two people who have seen some of the world and it hasn't always been kind. I love the awkward but well meaning interactions between Grace and Stephen and crew even if the "I'm too hurt to love anyone" trope gets a bit old. The character dialogue is light and full of banter that keeps it light-hearted and fun despite the darker mysteries afoot.
Some of the internal dialogue does get repetitive and I got tired of Grace's timidness. Yes I know you think you're a little grey boring mouse and that you can't do anything right. But at some point you have to start growing past that mindset right? At least for the sake of character development.
At times I found the romance to be a bit "male gaze-y" and oversimplified for me. Lots of descriptions of how small and plump and round the FL is and how hard and LARGE the ML is (whole body not just certain bits...).
Loved the characters from the Temple of the White Rat and Stephen's fellow paladins (see Beartongue and Istvhan). Overall I liked how all the characters fit in. Plus casual LGBTQ+ representation is always a bonus.
This felt well paced up until about the 2/3 mark where it dragged for a bit but then picked up the pace for the ending.
2.5/5 🌶
(suggested content throughout the book and some Not-to-black moments)
*AudioBook*
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Minor: Gore, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
turrean's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a lot of fun. Some romance, some banter, a villain or two, as well as several solid friendships among genders.
The audiobook was not a winner. Wooden delivery from an apathetic narrator.
The audiobook was not a winner. Wooden delivery from an apathetic narrator.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
silentquercus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Confinement, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting
miss_berry315's review against another edition
medium-paced
2.0
I originally dnf'd this book, realized the Saint of Steel series can be read as stand-alone books, read Paladin's Strength and Paladin's Hope, started Paladin's Faith and realized I wanted more context so I went back to this one.
I dnf'd this book originally because of the scene where Stephen and Grace meet. It is fairly early in the book and I really felt like the author could have done literally anything other than have Stephen practically SA Grace.
IDC if this is a spoiler, it's really not done well and adds absolutely nothing to the story overall.
Stephen is walking back home when he hears someone running and he determines that the person sounds like they're in trouble, so he wants to help (paladin things). Grace approaches him near an alleyway and asks Stephen to help her hide. Stephen then grabs her, shoves her against the wall so she's hidden from the people chasing her, and begins dry humping her and acting as if he is having sex. She plays along with it, he's apologizing the whole time (super uncomfortable) and the people chasing her end up leaving them alone. It's important to note that this happens in an alleyway very close to this city's version of a 'Red Light District' aka a place where sex workers are known to be present and offering services. The author does not write about sex workers in a positive way. The language used is outdated, Stephen says he would 'never be involved with a sex worker' and Grace is relieved. Its just really not empowering and starts the relationship between these two off in a very uncomfortable place. Why couldn't Stephen help Grace into a crate or behind some barrels, or in a pile of trash or literally anything in the entire world that could have been realistically in the alleyway? Why did the author see the only option as borderline SA??
Other than that, the book was fairly boring in plot, characters, and romance. Grace is defined by her relationships and career. I felt like the perfume making stuff could have been interesting, but kind of fell flat. I understand it's hard to write about how someone may have a natural ability to create something and how they often will incorporate that into their lives however they can, but the way that Grace can differentiate smells within complex ones just came off like the whole 'chosen one' 'special-special' trope that protagonists often have.
I dnf'd this book originally because of the scene where Stephen and Grace meet. It is fairly early in the book and I really felt like the author could have done literally anything other than have Stephen practically SA Grace.
IDC if this is a spoiler, it's really not done well and adds absolutely nothing to the story overall.
Stephen is walking back home when he hears someone running and he determines that the person sounds like they're in trouble, so he wants to help (paladin things). Grace approaches him near an alleyway and asks Stephen to help her hide. Stephen then grabs her, shoves her against the wall so she's hidden from the people chasing her, and begins dry humping her and acting as if he is having sex. She plays along with it, he's apologizing the whole time (super uncomfortable) and the people chasing her end up leaving them alone. It's important to note that this happens in an alleyway very close to this city's version of a 'Red Light District' aka a place where sex workers are known to be present and offering services. The author does not write about sex workers in a positive way. The language used is outdated, Stephen says he would 'never be involved with a sex worker' and Grace is relieved. Its just really not empowering and starts the relationship between these two off in a very uncomfortable place. Why couldn't Stephen help Grace into a crate or behind some barrels, or in a pile of trash or literally anything in the entire world that could have been realistically in the alleyway? Why did the author see the only option as borderline SA??
Other than that, the book was fairly boring in plot, characters, and romance. Grace is defined by her relationships and career. I felt like the perfume making stuff could have been interesting, but kind of fell flat. I understand it's hard to write about how someone may have a natural ability to create something and how they often will incorporate that into their lives however they can, but the way that Grace can differentiate smells within complex ones just came off like the whole 'chosen one' 'special-special' trope that protagonists often have.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
The book starts off with