Paladin's Faith

The Saint of Steel, Book 4

De: T. Kingfisher

Narrado por: Joel Richards

From Hugo Award winning author T. Kingfisher:

Marguerite Florian is a spy with two problems. A former employer wants her dead, and one of her new bodyguards is a far too good-looking paladin with a martyr complex.

Shane is a paladin with three problems. His god is dead, his client is much too attractive for his peace of mind, and a powerful organization is trying to have them both killed.

Add in a brilliant artificer with a device that may change the world, a glittering and dangerous court, and a demon-led cult, and Shane and Marguerite will be lucky to escape with their souls intact, never mind their hearts . . .

©2023 Ursula Vernon (P)2024 Tantor

Fantastic

Another wonderful book in this series, I
Can’t wait to see where it goes . I also enjoyed the performance of the reader

Good part of the series

Don’t start with this novel, though. As a stand alone, I think it’s the weakest. As part of the arc that begins with the Clocktaur books, it’s an excellent book that leaves me wanting to know more.

The reason I find this the weakest stand alone is the romance facet. Tbh, I wish the author felt able to just leave that aspect out. The romantic leads and their relationship just feels implausible. The sexual tension between them feels implausible. The HEA feels extremely implausible.

But the advancement of the plot, and the espionage, are exciting. The teasers that say we might find out how the Saint of Steel died, that there’s more to learn about the motivation and fate of Wisdom, and Judith, and what Stephen’s role as a paladin is going to be… those all have me eagerly awaiting the next book!

I love this world that T. Kingfisher has created. From the Bishop of the White Rat, to the Dreaming God, the Clocktaurs, the desolate Paladins, and the gnolls, every aspect is wonderful.

I highly recommend the series.

Wonderful

Oh man. Kingfisher did it again! The hits keep coming and they don’t stop coming.

Best one yet

The first 2 books had some standout plot & world elements but I didn’t love all of the character development happening in them. The third had standout characters but my least favorite plot & world elements. This book found a way to have great plot, world building, AND characters. What a nice surprise in a publishing industry where books often go downhill after the first few!

Okay, I’m a convert!

I am totally charmed by T Kingfisher by the fourth paladin book. I am totally charmed by the narrator too. I put down the first book to never return but could not stop thinking about it. I am so glad i gave the series another chance. So, while waiting for book 5, i going to ck out her other books.

Another excellent story in the world of the many gods, clocktaurs, cursed swords, and broken paladins

Each of these books stands on its own, but intersects with others in the same world. Paladin's Grace was my very favorite romance for a long time. Paladin's Faith gives it a run for its money. Apparently, Vernon still has some things left to say about paladins. Marguerite was one of my favorite side characters, and I'm so glad to read her story and get to know Shane. The characters are always so well fleshed out and real-feeling. Plus, it was delightful to get that little callback to _The Wonder Engine_ and a tease of what it might look like for Marguerite and Slate to meet.

In the meantime, I can't wait to see what happens with Judith and Wisdom, and how that intersects with Piper's discovery in Paladin's Hope, if at all. And now I'm really hoping for Wren to get a story, because I'd love to see how it works out. And Marcus - his situation seems like exactly the sort of thing that asks for a T Kingfisher treatment.

The best Paladin yet

Enchanting from beginning to end, with fully fleshed-out supporting characters, and character growth. Had me laughing out loud several times. Unexpected twists towards the end, Really looking forward to the next one. The narrator is excellent, as always. On occasion, some characters have accents, which is delightful.

Long awaited but disappointed

I can’t put my finger on it but it was wasn’t as satisfying as the previous books in the series. Still enjoyable!

Bit slow but very good overall

I love T KingFishers Paladin series, specifically the last two Paladins Strength and Paladins Hope. Unlike those two it was a bit harder for me to get farther into this story. It felt long and it dragged a bit in the beginning but once you got to the real meat of the story it picked up and got interesting. It didn't really become enjoyable to me until they *LIGHT SPOILERS DONT READ FROM THIS POINT IF YOU WOULD NOT LIKE TO BE SPOILED* left the court and was running from their enemies.

While the romance and pining between Marguerite and Shane was nice, I didn't enjoy how rushed the 1st sex scene seemed to be. I understand why it happened, it just felt out of nowhere and put me off. The 2nd scene however was wonderful, quick, and fun to read.

I secretly wished that there would have been a enimes to lovers event with Davith and Wren I can accept him not wanting to stick around after everything happening.

Lastly I secretly really like Wisdom. Even though their a demon and killing people to have a host probably isn't the most moral thing. I think its ambitions is only its nature, and overall he was a pretty fair, compassionate, and likeable leader. Otherwise he probably wouldn't have a following. Excited to see what they decide to do with them in future books.

Overall score:

Story : 7/10
VA Performance: 8/10
Character Likeabilty: 9/10

Absolutely thrilling with the trademark unique humor included in all the previous books.

The conservation of characters and over arching long term plots made me giddy regularly through the book. This one is a bit more spy novel than say the first book in the series (which was more mystery imho). I couldn’t guess the next plot twist coming time after time. I enjoyed it all and am now unreasonably impatient for the next novel in the series.