Paladin's Hope

T. Kingfisher — 2021

Piper is a lich-doctor, a physician who works among the dead, determining causes of death for the city guard's investigations. It's a peaceful, if solitary profession ... until the day when he's called to the river to examine the latest in a series of mysterious bodies, mangled by some unknown force. Galen is a paladin of a dead god, lost to holiness and no longer entirely sane. He has long since given up on any hope of love. But when the two men and a brave gnole constable are drawn into the web of the mysterious killer, it's Galen's job to protect Piper from the traps that await them. He's just not sure if he can protect Piper from the most dangerous threat of all ...

Reviews

Hannah Bateman@hjbat

Apr 17, 2025

It definitely felt way more rushed than the previous two, but it made me giggle and gave me butterflies so it did it’s job.

Cici Pearson@cocoisabird

Feb 13, 2025

not the strongest of the series so far, not entirely sure why. almost felt rushed rather then leaning back into the main plot.

Sivani@sivani

May 3, 2024

I like the gnoles

Sarah Sammis@pussreboots

Apr 4, 2024

Paladin's Hope by T. Kingfisher is the third of the Saint of Steel novels. Piper is a lich-doctor. Galen is a paladin of a dead god. Both have been enlisted by Constable Earstripe, a gnole who is investigating the headless bodies that have been fished out of the river. Thus begins the weird and wonderful marriage of fantasy, cozy mystery, and romance genres. This novel has a similar pacing to Double or Muffin by Victoria Hamilton but with the two main plots reversed. Hamilton puts the domestic / contemporary plot first and the mystery second. Here Kingfisher jumps right into the mystery and then segues into the romance between Piper and Galen. What holds the two pieces together is the fantasy setting and the return of the wonder machines. http://pussreboots.com/blog/2021/comm... Privileged Uhoria Maze 00CCCC

Amira BEN@amirasreading

Jul 17, 2023

I feel like this trilogy was really consistent.

I can say it was pretty strong and the qualities i've seen in the first 2 books are still here for me. Even more here than book 2 because the length of this book is perfect to me based on the intrigue we have in this particular book.

The escape game like adventure we had here was quite original and of course the romance was top notch.

Dear T Kingfisher, if you see this. Please write more fantasy romance you're honestly good at it 😂

Janice Hopper@archergal

Nov 2, 2022

There's too much romance in many of these books for my liking. But I'm notoriously anti-romance. Here I felt like too much of the plot got overshadowed by all the Gotta-get-these-guys-together-ism that went on. But if you like romance and happy endings and a small side dish of adventure, you'll probably like it. I didn't hate it, mostly. I just get tired of all the "OMG I just want to get my hands on this person and RAVISH them" that goes on. But I'm an old crank about stuff like this. And there's a good set-up for the next book at the end.