My Five Word TL:DR Review: Loved It.  Want Much More

Paladin’s Grace was such an easy book to read.  I can’t seem to get enough of this author at the moment and the books seem to be coming fast and furious which is a real bonus.

Paladin’s Grace is the first in series.  It’s a romantasy, cosy in many respects but also with the author’s usual touch of darkness, bordering on light horror.

As the story begins we meet Stephen, a former paladin, brought low following the death of the God he dedicated his life to.  Stephen is one of only a few remaining paladins.  Most died on that ominous day and the rest live in disgrace, (after their God died the paladin’s were overcome with a beserker rage that led to bloodshed).  Stephen wants nothing more than to live his life serving others and helping his brothers live out their days in peace.  Well, that wouldn’t be much of a story would it?  So, in a chance encounter, one evening, he makes the acquaintance of a perfume maker called Grace.  Following this chance encounter the two find themselves, much against their will, thinking of each other often and innocently bumping into each other on a number of occasions.

I don’t want to go much into the plot. This is a very entertaining story with spies, assasins, over zealous religious types, a serial killer who removes people’s heads, a threat against royalty and two people becoming rather smitten.

What I really liked about this.  Just everything to be honest.  The story has a lovely pace, there are without doubt some darker elements, but for the most part I loved the dialogue and the characters and put simply I was rather smitten myself.  I certainly didn’t guess the direction that this was going to take.

Stephen and Grace are very easy to engage with and actually were refreshingly original.  Stephen is the epitome of knightly behaviour – when he’s not knitting socks or overthinking his feelings.  Grace is a bundle of indecision with an excellent ‘nose’ who is about to become caught up in something of a dilemma.  Grace is running from her past, Stephen is also scarred by his past and the two are undoubtedly broken but, put the two together, and as well as the chemistry there is definitely hope for both their futures – if only they can see it.  These two are great.  They undoubtedly made me laugh.

I also really enjoyed the supporting cast, Stephen’s brothers in arms – all needing a bit of a group hug themselves and at the same time ready to rush into the fray at the drop of a hat to protect their friend.  The Monks who try to keep the paladin’s alive – in spite of the paladin’s themselves and Grace’s friend Marguerite – a spy who seems to have fingers in many pies.

To be honest I don’t think I can say much more.  A cosy romantasy, with darkness and death but also a big splash of hope, an intriguing murder mystery and an assassination attempt – all mingled together.  I loved reading this and can’t wait to read the next.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4.5 of 5 stars