Paladin's Strength

The sequel to the marvelous ‘Paladin's Grace’ continues with the murder mystery that stretches far beyond the mountains into Morstone. This book centers one of the Saint of Steel Berserkers, Paladin Istvhan, a man on the hunt for an unknown serial killer, and Clara, a nun searching for the people who have kidnapped her sisters from St. Ursa. Due to unfamiliar traditions, they’re forced to travel together, and as they do, both the nun and the paladin struggle with their secrets and the underlying feeling of something they’ve both ignored their whole lives. Honestly, the Saint of Steel universe is quickly becoming one of my favorites, especially because every book in the series highlights different oddities that make this universe so utterly unique. Clara and Istvhan are both forces to be reckoned with, and I thoroughly enjoyed the romance, where both characters are at eye level. I appreciate how Kingfisher builds her world slowly over the course of the books. Sometimes it feels a little overwhelming to start a new fantasy series, especially if it's been a bit since you last read fantasy, but with The Saint of Steel, it’s easily digestible and just gets more interesting the deeper you get into it. Definitely recommend it to people who get intimidated by fantasy and those who like a little romance with their heroes.

Ever wondered what would happen if Brienne of Tarth and The Hound from “Game of Thrones” kissed? Pick this up. I love that T. Kingfisher writes big, tall, interesting women and the love interests? The greenest of green flags. T. Kingfisher’s male main characters are super refreshing and honestly setting a new standard. The way she writes romance paired with cozy fantasy settings + hilarious, witty humor makes these books close to perfect. Also, I’m a huge sucker for fantasy mysteries and the little investigation plot connecting these installments and continuing in the background is sooo seamless and engaging! If you’re ever in need of a palate cleanser or a novel that saves you from a reading slump, I can highly recommend the “Saint of Steel” series.

I liked this book just fine! It's not as good as the first installment of the series, why I can honestly not tell you, but it's a good read :) I liked that the characters are different from your normal fantasy couple, but I just wasn't able to really vibe with them, they just seemed a bit distant? Idk? But yeah, loved the plot and will definitely continue the series (Obvs, it IS a kingfisher after all!!)