I Should Read That

¹Book review

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. . .

You can read my reviews for the first three books here:

• Paladin’s Grace
• Paladin’s Strength
• Paladin’s Hope

I, like I imagine many others did, fell completely in love with Grace’s mysterious friend Marguerite in Paladin’s Grace. I was so thrilled to see that stars in Paladin’s Faith and, as one would expect, she completely stole the show. This, dear readers, is a spy book!

I grew up on Bond films and, to a lesser extent, the Mission Impossible franchise. I love a spy story! Kingfisher does a fabulous job of conjuring a fantasy spy tale, filled with mishaps, daring escapes, and disguises aplenty. It’s a long book, but it totally flies by as Marguerite, our paladins, and others hunt for a missing artificer. I really enjoyed a glimpse into the world outside of Anuket City and the upper echelons of society. I’m always amazed by how she manages to expand the world with every book!

I loved the glimpse of Marguerite we got in Grace and managed to love her even more in Faith. She’s a great character – she’s bold, funny, and incredibly capable. I loved seeing her in her element and doing what she does best – she really steals the show. I was so invested in her relationship with Wren – I’m always here for female friendships in books. IOn fact, Wren was another bright spot in this book as, like in Paladin’s Hope and Strength, we got a lot of time with side characters who would/will eventually get their own stories. My one complaint is that the chemistry between Marguerite and Shane isn’t as strong as the relationships in the other books. I like Shane, but his character didn’t feel as deep as the other paladins, which might be part of the issue. He’s lovely, but ultimately forgettable. The romance is sweet, but they felt more like a ‘happily for now’ rather than a ‘happily ever after’.

Paladin’s Faith is an extremely fun fantasy romp filled with the wit and charm that make Kingfisher’s books so fun. It has left me hungry for more, especially Wren’s book, and I can’t wait for more books in the series!

1. A copy of this book was provided by Orbit in exchange for an honest review. ↩︎