4.5 stars!

So, I had no idea the Paladin books were going to be a series and therefore this was a lovely surprise. I enjoyed everything about Istvhan and Clara- from being privy to their inner thoughts, to their attitudes. I particularly enjoyed reading about Istvhan's reactions in certain circumstances regarding Clara and the care and effort he put into it being consensual. While more heartbreaking than Paladin's Grace, I enjoyed every single part of this novel and I'm now panting for Galen's story.
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I like that the heroine was kinda hefty, and had an impressive shift. And I generally liked this couple together, though the doubting on both their sides was excessive. Overall I'm pleased I read it. ( )

Paladin’s Strength is the second volume of T. Kingfisher’s Saint of Steel trilogy. It is a sequel to Paladin’s Grace. Istvhan is a berserker working for the temple of the white rat. He is leading a team hunting for the serial killer identified by Grace and Stephen in the first novel. But first, he has to rescue a nun whose whole convent has been kidnapped. Since I want to avoid spoilers, I just say that the nun is not as helpless and chaste as she seems. And, yes, romance ensues. 4 stars for this stylish mix of action, romance, and magic. ( )

There were pieces of it that felt a little forced, and really they needed to use their words with each other, but at the same time, being a reticent person I could see that most of it fell within the realm of possibility.
It was so refreshing for the female character to not be tiny compared to the male character and that a lot of the reticence was stuff in their respective pasts and scars that are still in place rather than being in the past.
It's not an easy romance and occasionally they get interrupted, to comic effect and a raising of the heat between them; but with two quests going on that lead to the same place, its a story where their cooperation is important.

I really really enjoyed this read and found the characters to be delightful. While it makes more sense if you have read the first book in the sequence, it would work alone. I enjoy the sarcasm and attitude of the characters and can see the motivations quite clearly. There's ongoing trauma that isn't handwaved away and secrets that have consequences if they're revealed. It was a great read that kept me nicely distracted when I needed it. ( )

This was a long and complex tale, but also a delightful audiobook. It’s so ridiculous (nunnery of werebears) (mules instead of an ox) (patented medicine peddlers) (continuing pottery decapitations) (creepy rabbit warren hive minds) — I mean, only T. kingfisher could make this up, and yet what an awesome adventure, with a lovely awkward romance between large people thrown in — yay Istvan and Clara! ( )