Paladin's Hope

It took me a while to get to this third book but it's always such a joy and so easy to find myself lost in a T. Kingfisher book.

I was actually planning to read this one through the audio just like I did the first two but I found myself suddenly impatient and continued with the kindle ebook, devouring the whole thing in just a couple of hours because it was such a delight to read. The writing is breezy despite the murder investigation and a huge part of the book being about surviving an ancient obstacle course of life and death, and even when the stakes are so high, the author manages to keep the proceedings emotional and personal.

Shane is a berserker like his brothers in arms and doesn't think he deserves love or companion in his life because of his nightmares, but he is a Paladin full of honor and sense of duty, and it's just so easy to like him. Piper on the other hand is kind of a medical examiner who might prefer working on dead humans instead of dealing with living ones and their emotions, but he is also equally all about helping people and believes in equality and Justice. It's obvious right from the get go that they are perfect for each other and the author creates some very dangerous and close proximal situations which help them see the other for who they are and develop feelings.

The trio is completed by the absolutely sincere gnole Earstripe who may be discriminated everyday in his position as guard because of his not being human, but that doesn't stop him from being extremely proud of his job and takes it seriously even when no one wants to listen to them. If this book is a love story of Piper and Shane on one hand, it's also the story of Earstripe's belief in getting to the truth as well as the overall perspective of gnoles in this world dominated by humans.

It's a perfectly blended story of love, friendship, and justice, and only T. Kingfisher can make both dark themes and joyful moments seem like they belong in the same book. I was initially worried that this series would only be a trilogy but the author recently confirmed that she is working currently on the fourth book and I'm delighted that we won't have to leave this world yet. In the meantime, I'm already eager to get to the author's upcoming novella.