Marguerite Florian—spy—has two problems: an ex-employer wants her dead, and her new bodyguard is a far too handsome paladin with his own burdens (namely a martyr complex). Shane—paladin—has three problems: his god is dead, Marguerite Florian is driving him to distraction, and a powerful organisation wants them both dead. Throw in a brilliant artificer with a world-changing device, a dazzling but dangerous court, and a demon-led cult, and Shane and Marguerite will be lucky to escape with their souls intact, let alone their hearts.

Paladin’s Faith is the fourth book in The Saint of Steel series, and it is the best of the series so far on all fronts. Set in a world that is rich in lore, it features a wonderfully diverse supporting cast of well-developed and loveable characters, and a fascinating narrative on both the individual story and overarching series levels. The chemistry between (in this case) the FMC and MMC is intense; there’s a generous portion of spiciness both in thought and action, and the romance feels natural and realistic. I’m not really doing it justice, so let’s try another way: I love this series with a passion and intensity that I cannot truly put into words, because it requires generous use of facial expressions, gestures, and a variety of vocalisations that do not translate well into text. I cannot get enough of this universe and will be waiting (very impatiently) for the next book in the series.