I had a great time with this! I really enjoy T Kingfisher's writing and her creepy whimsical vibes. This centers around Grace a perfumer with a troubled past and Stephen a Palladin of a dead God just trying to stay useful, who become embroiled in nefarious politics with a side order a disturbing serial killer spree. I loved how the mc's are both older and a bit awkward. Loved their slow burn and banter. I smiled lots whilst reading this with a few grimaces thrown in with the horror undertones. The supporting characters were great too. The craft elements of this were really interesting and lifted the world building nicely. I was thoroughly entertained, the prose and atmosphere a joy to read. Looking forward to carrying on with more set in this world.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for the arc, all thoughts are my own and left voluntarily.

In Paladin’s Grace we follow Grace, a gifted perfumer, who’s unexpectedly rescued by Stephen — a broken paladin who prefers knitting socks to wielding swords. As their unlikely connection grows, they’re swept up in a dangerous mystery.

I was really drawn to the love story, and the world-building is so rich and well-crafted that I’m excited to read more set in this universe!
The mystery plot didn’t fully capture my interest, I didn’t find it as compelling as I’d hoped, and at times I felt like it slowed the story down.
Still, the charm of the world and the characters has me excited to keep exploring this series, and I’m especially looking forward to seeing some of the side characters take the spotlight in future books!

I absolutely adored this book! And this is coming from someone who isn’t even a big fan of romance. But if one author could make me love this genre, it has to be T. Kingfisher. There is simply nothing this woman couldn't write. Her humour is, as usual, top notch, making this story an unexpected warm read.

I fell in love with both main characters (maybe just a little more with Grace, because of our shared love for scents) and couldn’t have hoped for a more compelling and relatable cast. I simply can’t think of a single bad thing to say about Paladin’s Grace because of how perfect this book is. A new favourite comfort read for sure!

Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher is such a good story. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic and the story is immaculate.

Kingfisher delivers time and time again and this is no exception!
A book filled with everything you could ever want.

No sé si serán un guilty pleasure, pero leer las obras de T. Kingfisher situadas en el universo de Clockwork Boys me llena de tranquilidad y buenos sentimientos. Y eso que en un muy corto espacio de tiempo he leído cuatro historias y se le nota cierto patrón en cada obra, una especie de plantilla en la que la autora va marcando los puntos que caracterizan esta serie: protagonista madura, historia de amor en la que ambos personajes dudan del interés del otro, temas legales, tensión sexual in crescendo… Así que es posible que estas historias no acaben resultando una fiesta de originalidad, pero sí un paseo agradable por un camino conocido que nos reconforta.


La protagonista es Grace, una perfumista que sin comerlo ni beberlo se ve envuelta en una conspiración en contra de un dignatario de visita en la ciudad en la que reside. Me encanta que Paladin’s Grace sea el relato de una persona normal, no un guerrero ni un espía ni nada así, aunque a su alrededor sí que aparezcan estos personajes. Y me parece acertadísima que la mayoría de las descripciones se basen en el sentido del olfato como corresponde a su profesión, algo que no recuerdo haber leído desde El Perfume.

Su contrapartida en el título y en la propia novela es el paladín Stephen, un berserker que desde que murió su dios (hay que ver qué cosas pasan) vive atormentado por la posibilidad de que un desliz de lleve a un ataque de furia que no podrá controlar. En su torturada vida solo vive para servir a los demás, incapaz de comprender que aún habiendo perdido la gracia de su dios todavía quedan otras cosas que hacer durante su existencia. Un encuentro fortuito aunará su destino con el de Grace.

Entiendo perfectamente que todo esto suena a comedia romántica y es que Paladin’s Grace lo es, aunque el entorno sea fantástico. Entre sus mejores cualidades está precisamente el humor del que hace gala la autora, capaz de hacerte sonreír con los equívocos y situaciones absurdas que aparecen en la trama. Pero también hay algo más de trasfondo en la historia, como la trama secundaria en la que aparecen cabezas humanas sin origen claro o el ya mencionado espionaje. Y algunos personajes secundarios son de quitarse el sombrero, como la compañera de piso de Grace o la mandamás de la casa de la Rata, que juegan un papel relevante en la trama.

He podido disfrutar de la narración de la obra a cargo de Joel Richards, con un tono quizá más serio del que se podría presuponer para el contenido, pero que le sienta bastante bien sobre todo a la parte de enredo y malentendidos.

En definitiva nos encontramos ante un libro que no es novedoso, pero que no lo necesita, que nos hace reconciliarnos una vez más con el ser humano.

Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher is a great example of great slow burn romance in a high fantasy book with rich world building and the distinctive T Kingfisher writing style full of humor.

Stephen, a grieving paladin of a dead god, is a wonderfully complex protagonist—honorable, self-doubting, and unexpectedly sweet. His dynamic with Grace, a skilled perfumer with secrets of her own, is full of tension, warmth, and some truly delightful awkwardness. Their relationship is built on mutual respect, wariness, and a gradual, aching attraction that makes every moment between them feel earned. Even the most hardened fantasy reader is sure to be giddy at their cute developing romance, rooting for their small touches and living with Stephens daily existential crisis and self doubting moments.

The murder mystery is not put aside like in other romantic fantasies I’ve read. It has somehow kept its equal position plot wise and the world building is so so well done that even if it’s a high/epic fantasy novel it feels more like a cozy hug while there are weird things happening all around you and murders and assassinations here and there.

I’ll definitely look forward to reading Kingfishers other novels in the world of the white rat!

4.5

T kingfisher always knows just how to make me love something I normally wouldn’t pick myself. She did it with her horror and she does it again with her romantasy.

I tend to reach for fantasy books with romance max on the background as a subplot but T. Kingfisher is a definite exception and manages to make me swing my feet and giggle while reading it.

Paladins Grace is the first book in the Saint of Steel series and a perfect introduction to Kinfishers World of The White Rat, frankly one of my favorite fantasy worlds, the perfect combination of adventures epic fantasy and cozy feel good world +murder of course.

I adored both Stephen and Grace individually and absolutely loved their dynamic as well, full of awkwardness and heartfelt kindness. Another very important part for me was each main characters relationship with other characters like Stephen and his fellow paladins and Grace and her roommate.

The writing is an absolute joy to read full with humor yet mature enough to enjoy, really reminding me of Martha Wells her writing style.

Overall, this is definitely one of my favorite reads ever and proving the authors place on my list of top authors. She has such a skill with making everything she writes enjoyable!