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And that's a blackout! #BookSpinBingo

I think this could've maybe used being at least 50 pages shorter, but I do always enjoy T. Kingfisher's work.

Was it too long? Yes. Was I annoyed with the constant interruptions? Also yes. But would I read this again? A third yes. Listen: I love my little guys, paladins and nun-bears both, and I just want them to be happy. Istvhan and Clara both need a NAP, STAT. The ending reminded me a LOT of the Six of Crows duology (parts of both).

3.5 stars | #fantasy #romance #romantasy

Two-thirds of the way through. I love Ursula Vernon, but I feel like this book would benefit from slashing 100 pages or so out of it. The pining is repetitive and the roadtrip overly long without good justification.

Fingers crossed it speeds up from here.

I'm really enjoying the second book in the Paladin series!

Plus, word one from #WickedWords knocked off on day one of the month. @AsYouWish

I liked this even more than Paladin's Grace, because the characters are such delightful gentle giants.

More at my blog: https://willaful.wordpress.com/2025/05/22/tbr-challenge-paladins-strength-by-t-k...

#SeriesLove2025
#URC rodent on cover. (The main one -- this is an alternate.)

Even though the background story - or the two of them - is very good, I cannot give this one a „pick“. The constant wailing of „Does she / he like me“ was going on my nerves. Am I too German to them cone out more straight foreward? Never in my life I would have overthought an love interest that much. 🤦‍♀️ But again, Istvan trying to solve the morders of the first book and Clara trying to save her sisters are thrilling stories.

😂😂😂

There was no town. There was only the road, which was damp clay splotched with stones, like a toad's back. Perhaps the whole world was a toad. It was no stupider than anyone else's cosmology. Clara would leave the order of St. Ursa and found the order of St. Toad. They would sleep a lot. Yes. Sleeping seemed like a good commandment for the order. Sleep and hot tea. Yes.

This was funny.

“Istvhan had never yet blamed a woman because he was attracted to her, and he certainly wasn‘t about to start now.” Jesus…. What a man. And the way I pictured this man is weathered but gentle giant…. Sigh….. 😌 I do love me a gentle giant.

I'm trying not to reread these one right after the other.

Unfortunately, I've already almost finished “Paladin's Hope“

“No real tradition of paladins up here. They have a lot of gods of the sea, but if one of them calls a paladin, you get a god-touched privateer.“

Istvhan was a paladin for the Saint of Steel until his god died. Now he works for the temple of the Rat and is on the trail of a murderous golem. On the trail, Clara, a nun of St Ursa is thrust into his care after she and her fellow nuns were kidnapped from their convent. They agree to help each other while trying to keep their secrets.

This was another great installment of the Saint of Steel series, lots of humor mixed with battles & some magic. We follow Istvhan on his journey tracking the "smooth men" killers from book one. He comes across Clara, a nun on her own quest to find her sisters who were kidnapped after their convent was burned down. As they travel together & grow closer, hiding their secrets from each other becomes more risky
#SeriesLove2023 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView

This was really good. Well written with plenty of action and a bit of romance to go with it.

I really enjoyed this funny romantic fantasy adventure. It is the second in the series, but can work as a standalone. Our MC‘s are a paladin who‘s god has died so he‘s freelancing, and a not really a nun who‘s convent has a big time secret. I really enjoy this series and it was great on audio! 4.5⭐️

4.5/5

Paladin of the dead god the Saint of Steel, Istvhan's journey to find the source of strange killings in his city bring him into the path of Clara, a nun who's order was kidnapped after their convent was burned down. They join forces to find Clara's sisters and Istvhan's killer and realize their secrets make them more similar than different.

Another great book in this series, and I loved the gnole Brindle.

1. Paladin's Strength by T. Kingfisher, Under the Whispering Door by T. J. Klune, and Good Enough by Kate Bowler

2. A Duke, the Spy, an Artist, and a Lie by Vanessa Riley

3. Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

Pros: The worst thing about this book was it ENDED. And aside from having a number of interesting sideplot details ideally poised to be continued in subsequent books, I could read a whole other book just about the recovery and repair.

Cons: Despite my assumptions, Bishop Beartongue does not make an apperance here. Well, maybe next book. Also, a ton of this book had me laughing aloud, but little of it was suitable for quoting due to spoilers.

RELEASE DATE FEB 28! YAY!