Collection
Publication
[Place of publication not identified] : Red Wombat, 2021.
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Romance. HTML: He's a paladin of a dead god, tracking a supernatural killer across a continent. She's a nun from a secretive order, on the trail of the raiders who burned her convent and kidnapped her sisters. When their paths cross at the point of a sword, Istvhan and Clara will be pitched headlong into each other's quests, facing off against enemies both living and dead. But Clara has a secret that could jeopardize the growing trust between them, a secret that will lead them to the gladiatorial pits of a corrupt city, and beyond....
Language
Original language
English
User reviews
LibraryThing member N.W.Moors
I really love this author and her books. They are so original when many fantasy books trod the same ground, some better than others. And very, very funny...
"I was married once, " said Istvhan defensively. Doc Mason raised an eyebrow. The problem with being a paladin was that you were fundamentally
Or this:
A nun not sworn to celibacy is...probably someone's fetish.
Clara and Istvhan are such a wonderful couple and very unique for the hero/heroine in so many ways. I hope the Saint of Steel books continues, but for now, I'm going to read more of Ms. Kingfisher's books.
"I was married once, " said Istvhan defensively. Doc Mason raised an eyebrow. The problem with being a paladin was that you were fundamentally
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honest. "For about six weeks. It was more of a fling with extra paperwork."Or this:
A nun not sworn to celibacy is...probably someone's fetish.
Clara and Istvhan are such a wonderful couple and very unique for the hero/heroine in so many ways. I hope the Saint of Steel books continues, but for now, I'm going to read more of Ms. Kingfisher's books.
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LibraryThing member quondame
Way too much time and angst was spent while the protagonists weren't fucking instead of being creative about what would have happened if they were. A predictable way of padding out what had enough story to make a good shorter book and that made the journey tedious. Not bad, but people convince
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themselves that they should act on lust in spite of good reasons not to and rarely find reasons not to when there aren't any real obstacles. Show Less
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Very Ursula Vernon - ok, T Kingfisher. Which means somewhat more explicit, but the usual pragmatic style. It is a romance, even if it takes them most of the book to admit it; it's also an excellent fantasy adventure, with multiple quests overlapping in various ways. Sister Clara, a nun with a
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secret (we don't learn it for a while, so no spoilers), and Istvhan, a paladin of the Saint of Steel - the dead god. Her convent has been burned out and her sisters kidnapped - that's her quest. Istvhan is trying to track the Smooth Men - the villains of the previous book - to their origins - that's his. And various minor quests and tasks pop up along the way. I was laughing helplessly at parts, and crying at others - it is (as expected) a glorious story (yes, they're solid idiots for a large portion of it. I did say it was a romance). I started it, unwisely, late in the evening - and now the sun's coming up. Show Less
LibraryThing member rivkat
A paladin whose god died is making a new life, chasing down some seriously creepy murderers, when he encounters a lay sister of an order that was attacked and nearly destroyed. The attackers discarded her because she was sick, but now she’s better and looking to rescue her sisters. Did I mention
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she’s a bear shifter? The best thing about that is that her bear is conflict-averse and tends to respond to danger by (1) manifesting and (2) running away if possible. Anyway, banter and romance ensue, as well as danger when they arrive at the lawless city that is the source of both of their problems. Show Less
LibraryThing member Herenya
Istvhan, a paladin of the Saint of Steel, crosses paths with Clara, a lay sister of St Ursa.
He's a paladin of a dead god, tracking a supernatural killer across a continent. She's a nun from a secretive order, on the trail of the raiders who burned her convent and kidnapped her sisters.
I liked
But that wasn’t love, was it? You are my friend and we understand each other and the thought of bedding someone else makes me tired? Saint’s balls, try to put that in a love letter, see how far you get.
Hell, he couldn’t even say that he’d die for her. He was a paladin. He’d die for almost anyone. It was part of the job description.
He's a paladin of a dead god, tracking a supernatural killer across a continent. She's a nun from a secretive order, on the trail of the raiders who burned her convent and kidnapped her sisters.
I liked
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reading this but don’t have strong feelings one way or the other about it. It’s the sort of story where saving the day means accepting that you can’t fix the whole corrupt system and just tackling what you can. Usually I really appreciate Kingfisher’s juxtaposition of fantasy and realism but maybe -- at this point in the pandemic -- I’m wanting more escapism? But that wasn’t love, was it? You are my friend and we understand each other and the thought of bedding someone else makes me tired? Saint’s balls, try to put that in a love letter, see how far you get.
Hell, he couldn’t even say that he’d die for her. He was a paladin. He’d die for almost anyone. It was part of the job description.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
Series Info/Source: This is the second book in the Saint of Steel trilogy (at least right now it's a trilogy). I bought this on audiobook through Google Play.
Thoughts: I enjoyed this book even more than the first Saint of Steel book. This book follows one of the Saint of Steel paladins that was
This story follows two main plots: Istvhan tracking down the decapitating murderer introduced in the first book and Clara trying to track down her enslaved sisters. I liked that there was a lot more action and plot in this book than there was in Paladin's Grace. There is still a lot of Istvhan and Clara hemming and hawing over how they are not worthy of each other, but it didn't completely take over the story like it did in the first book.
I listened to this with my family on a roadtrip and the narration was well done. My son is 15yrs old and it was a bit awkward listening to some of the sexual talk and sex scenes with him. However, he informed me and my husband he hears a lot worse at school (which I don't think made us feel better). The relationship in here is respectful and well done, so I enjoyed it and didn't mind my son listening to it.
I continue to really enjoy Kingfisher's writing style. She puts a lot of humor in her stories. As mentioned above I thought there was a better blend of intriguing plot, excellent action scenes, character development, and romance in this book than there was in the first book. We do get to spend a bit more time with Wonder Makers as well. I still enjoyed the Clocktaur Wars a bit more, but this has been a fun read too.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this even more than the first book in the series. I felt like the character development and romance were better balanced with an intriguing plot and some excellent action scenes. I look forward to reading the final book in this series, Paladin's Hope, soon.
Thoughts: I enjoyed this book even more than the first Saint of Steel book. This book follows one of the Saint of Steel paladins that was
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introduced in Paladin's Grace, Istvhan. He is tracking the killer that was introduced in that book and ends up getting into some trouble with one of the clans. Clara is offered to him as payment for a debt owed. Clara is grateful to leave her captors but has secrets of her own and she is definitely Istvhan's match in many ways.This story follows two main plots: Istvhan tracking down the decapitating murderer introduced in the first book and Clara trying to track down her enslaved sisters. I liked that there was a lot more action and plot in this book than there was in Paladin's Grace. There is still a lot of Istvhan and Clara hemming and hawing over how they are not worthy of each other, but it didn't completely take over the story like it did in the first book.
I listened to this with my family on a roadtrip and the narration was well done. My son is 15yrs old and it was a bit awkward listening to some of the sexual talk and sex scenes with him. However, he informed me and my husband he hears a lot worse at school (which I don't think made us feel better). The relationship in here is respectful and well done, so I enjoyed it and didn't mind my son listening to it.
I continue to really enjoy Kingfisher's writing style. She puts a lot of humor in her stories. As mentioned above I thought there was a better blend of intriguing plot, excellent action scenes, character development, and romance in this book than there was in the first book. We do get to spend a bit more time with Wonder Makers as well. I still enjoyed the Clocktaur Wars a bit more, but this has been a fun read too.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this even more than the first book in the series. I felt like the character development and romance were better balanced with an intriguing plot and some excellent action scenes. I look forward to reading the final book in this series, Paladin's Hope, soon.
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LibraryThing member jennybeast
This was a long and complex tale, but also a delightful audiobook. It’s so ridiculous (nunnery of werebears) (mules instead of an ox) (patented medicine peddlers) (continuing pottery decapitations) (creepy rabbit warren hive minds) — I mean, only T. kingfisher could make this up, and yet what
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an awesome adventure, with a lovely awkward romance between large people thrown in — yay Istvan and Clara! Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
There were pieces of it that felt a little forced, and really they needed to use their words with each other, but at the same time, being a reticent person I could see that most of it fell within the realm of possibility.
It was so refreshing for the female character to not be tiny compared to the
It's not an easy romance and occasionally they get interrupted, to comic effect and a raising of the heat between them; but with two quests going on that lead to the same place, its a story where their cooperation is important.
I really really enjoyed this read and found the characters to be delightful. While it makes more sense if you have read the first book in the sequence, it would work alone. I enjoy the sarcasm and attitude of the characters and can see the motivations quite clearly. There's ongoing trauma that isn't handwaved away and secrets that have consequences if they're revealed. It was a great read that kept me nicely distracted when I needed it.
It was so refreshing for the female character to not be tiny compared to the
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male character and that a lot of the reticence was stuff in their respective pasts and scars that are still in place rather than being in the past.It's not an easy romance and occasionally they get interrupted, to comic effect and a raising of the heat between them; but with two quests going on that lead to the same place, its a story where their cooperation is important.
I really really enjoyed this read and found the characters to be delightful. While it makes more sense if you have read the first book in the sequence, it would work alone. I enjoy the sarcasm and attitude of the characters and can see the motivations quite clearly. There's ongoing trauma that isn't handwaved away and secrets that have consequences if they're revealed. It was a great read that kept me nicely distracted when I needed it.
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LibraryThing member JorgeousJotts
I like that the heroine was kinda hefty, and had an impressive shift. And I generally liked this couple together, though the doubting on both their sides was excessive. Overall I'm pleased I read it.