This book actually precedes the Saint of Steel series, but I couldn’t get it off the library hold list until now. Practical housekeeper Halla inherits her great-uncle’s estate and suddenly finds herself at the mercy of her greedy in-laws, who are intent on forcing her into marriage so they can get their hands back on the estate; she stumbles upon an ancient, magical sword containing Sarkis, a warrior sworn (or perhaps cursed) to protect the bearer of the sword. Because this is a Kingfisher fantasy, there is plenty of hilarious miscommunication and misfortune before the two of them manage to figure out a way around their problems. I particularly liked the characterization of Halla, who consciously uses the stereotype of a silly, babbling middle-aged woman to get herself out of sticky situations.
Tag: author-t. kingfisher
Paladin’s Hope, by T. Kingfisher
Third in the Saint of Steel series, in which traumatized paladins find love with unlikely partners while investigating murder mysteries. (It actually works really well.) The paladin at the center of this book is Galen, who jokes around by day and screams through nightmares in his sleep; the person he grows close to is Piper, a lich-doctor (basically an investigative coroner) with a fierce sense of justice and secrets of his own; the murder mystery involves corpses turning up in rivers with mysterious and varied death-wounds. Nice societal commentary on the role of the gnoles in human society, as well. As with other Kingfisher characters, Galen and Piper are attracted to each other not just because they’re handsome, but because of one another’s competence; as a reader, it’s one of my favorite tropes.
Paladin’s Strength, by T. Kingfisher
Second in the Saint of Steel trilogy, this one follows good-natured Istvhan as he is forced to detour from his investigation of supernatural killings to aid Clara, a nun, in her rescue of her sisters from slavers. Antics ensue! As befits Kingfisher heroes, both paladin Istvhan and secretive nun Clara are both terrifyingly practical but also terrible at talking about their feelings for one another, leading to much hilarious self-flagellation and misunderstanding before they get it together and pursue both Istvhan’s murderer and Clara’s kidnappers. Super cute romance, engaging adventure story.
Paladin’s Grace, by T. Kingfisher
First of the Saint of Steel series, which I’m characterizing as “cutesy fantasy romances with a background of macabre murders.” The Saint of Steel (a god, even though he’s called a saint) abruptly dies, which has the unfortunate effect of sending his beserker paladins into sudden mental breakdown. Years later, Stephen and a few of his surviving fellow paladins have found refuge in the Temple of the Rat, acting as bodyguards for the order of do-gooder lawyers, doctors, and other public servants. He has a meet-cute with Grace, a perfumer who finds herself embroiled in a scheme of political intrigue. Grace’s awkwardness and Stephen’s determined morality, along with the practicality of the people of the Rat, make this a very enjoyable book to read.
The Wonder Engine, by T. Kingfisher
Second in a duology, sequel to the excellent Clockwork Boys. This installment takes advantage of the unique strengths of the motley party to combat the seemingly unstoppable forces of giant golems, evil mobsters, and an uncaring bureaucracy; meanwhile, the party’s unique disadvantages (fraught interpersonal relationships, small numbers, lack of allies) continue to work against them. As with the first book, the addictive interplay between the characters is what draws you through the book, even as events get ever more dramatic. Really great finish with a surprising amount of angst, given the lighthearted way in which the series began, but I loved it all and wouldn’t change a thing.
Clockwork Boys, by T. Kingfisher
This was purely delightful. A disgraced paladin, a resigned forger, a cheerful assassin, and a naive scholar are thrown together in a last-ditch effort to try to stop giant clockwork soldiers from destroying their town: a classic oddball group on a suicidal quest. There’s also demon possession, a spreading plague, ancient magical wonders, and a journey into enemy territory; it’s all urgent enough but it’s the interaction between the characters, and their internal monologues, that make the story amazing. The members of the party banter and trade snarky jabs at one another (and sometimes actual jabs with knives; they have issues), but since they take turns being POV characters, we also know that they’re just as hard on themselves, even though they don’t show it outwardly. The writing is simply addictive. Book 1 of a duology, but at least it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger.
Nettle & Bone, by T. Kingfisher
T. Kingfisher is so good at writing “subverted fairy tales;” her stories turn the standard tropes inside-out and examine them with a critical eye. Marra, third daughter of the king, has watched both her older sisters get married off to the cruel prince of the much more powerful neighboring kingdom one after another; deciding that this is unsustainable, she sets off to do whatever she can to rescue the remaining sister, despite the powerful blessing of the prince’s fairy godmother. I loved the characters; Marra’s determination contrasts well with the resigned world-weariness of the various witches, heroes, and fairy godmothers, and her mother and sister are also really interesting in their motivations and decisions. Great commentary on the lack of agency of women in traditional fairytales, and how they find ways to exert their power anyway.
Minor Mage, by T. Kingfisher
A really tight little novella, about a very minor mage and his very major quest. Great characters (especially the armadillo familiar), and a realistic nod to the kind of mob mentality that can turn a kid into a target.