| Title | : | The Paladin Caper (Rogues of the Republic, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 480 |
| Publication | : | First published October 27, 2015 |
Loch and her crew are determined to stop the ancients from returning to reclaim the world they once ruled, but a kidnapped friend throws their plans awry. When a desperate rescue turns into a shocking reunion, the ancients return and seize power. Determined to stop them, Loch and the crew look for a way to close the gate to the ancients’ world, but this time, they find themselves up against an enemy that has insinuated itself into the highest ranks of the Republic. Cruel, cunning, and connected, the ancients target the crew’s families and histories, threatening to tear friendships apart.
If that weren’t bad enough, Loch must deal with her treacherous assassin sister, her turncoat ancient friend, and a daemon who has sworn to hunt her to the ends of the earth. In order to save the Republic and pull off her largest con ever, Loch will need her friends…and maybe her enemies too.
The Paladin Caper (Rogues of the Republic, #3) Reviews
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I'm not sure if this is the final book or not, but if it is, then Weekes did a good job of showing growth in all of the characters, tying up all the loose ends, and putting a bow on top of it all.
This sort of thing tends to make me happy.
sniffle
No, really! I knew/believed/trusted that everything would end up the way it should...and the author delivered!
Especially the part about Gwalafalafel...Galf.....Gandolfwal...Gwenfalr...fuck it...
The Hammer!
Which looks like Mjolnir to me, because I'm a nerd.
If you're read the first two books, then you know what to expect from the plot.
Is that a good thing? I'm not sure. At some point I was just expecting everything I was reading to be an elaborate lie, you know? Took some of the original suspense out of it for me.
I never really felt any of the (main) characters were in real danger. Even when they appeared to be totally done for, I didn't really have the Gasp! reaction, because...?
Well, because that's just not how Weekes operates.
So this was me at the end of the book:
Am I saying that no one bit the BIG one? No.
Not everyone is getting out of this alive.
But I'm not giving you any hints, so there! *cackles*
What I'm trying to say is, this is an excellent addition (possibly ending?) to the Rogues of the Republic books. While I might not have been as surprised by the twists and turns, I still enjoyed them.
Does that make sense?
I'm just not someone that can't read or watch something if I already know how it's gong to end. Those of you who know me, know that I'm not one to get upset about (most) spoilers, and even ask for them sometimes.
I know, it's weird. What can I say?
Anyway, to me, Loch & her lovable gang of thieves are always worth reading about. And if this was it, then it was a damn fine trilogy. If not, then I'll be standing in line to read the next one!
Also reviewed for:
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Fight the enemy, not their people. Even rogues have their principles.
This was a satisfying conclusion to an interesting trilogy. While not in the same vein as the epics and classics of fantasy which I term as “Must Read”, this series is good in its own unorthodox and entertaining way. Think of it as a palate cleanser of sort, especially useful when getting over a book hangover, or when you just want to read something fun that doesn’t bust your brains or emotions too much.
Firstly, the world-building was not too intricate and had a blend of something familiar yet different. I can’t really pinpoint a suitable era to akin this to as it had both steampunk and medieval flavours, so all in all it was fairly unique.
Then, there were also no complicated sub-plots within plots to wrap your head around. The story was straightforward, albeit not without some twists and revelations to keep it fascinating and the readers guessing. There was a clear commentary of racial and cultural discrimination laced throughout the series. In this last book, the notion of human enslavement to modern wearable technology was definitely being explored. While the premise was ultimately about saving the world, it had just the right spin to keep the story fresh. And finally, the pace was kept tight and fast, with a lot of action.
Now, on to the best part - the characters. In my reviews of the previous books, I lamented about how we do not get to know enough of them given the large ensemble cast. This was most felt in The Palace Job and was handled better in The Prophecy Con. The character development really improved in this book, especially for those whom I felt were a bit left out till now, in particular Kail, Icy, and even Dairy. It also pleased me that the climax of the series gave each and every character their due credit instead of just focusing on one overriding main protagonist. Nonetheless, I felt that there was one individual who stole the show and he was the one I was most curious about up until now, that is Indomitable Courteous Fist, aka Icy.
Aside from each individual, there was also the growth and evolution of the interpersonal relationships between this ragtag crew of misfits which provided the touch of emotional resonance into this fun, action-packed series.
In short, I definitely recommend this to anyone who has an interest in fantasy, in general, and heists, in particular. It does get less ‘heist-like’ as the story progressed to higher 'save-the-world' stakes but there remained elements of a con-game in the background.
This review can also be found at
Booknest -
Okay. So I originally gave this book a 4-star rating. But then I thought to my little self: to hell with it, let's go for 5 dazzling, glorious stars. Yeah, I'm generous like that. And you might think that it has something to do with the wonderfully delightful Holiday Spirit, and all the positive feelings floating around at this time of the year. Yeah, you might think that. And you might be very wrong. Because, frankly, all that luuurrvvvve is in the air crap is making me shudder. But I digress. Where were we? Oh yes, I finally went for a 5-star rating. Why? Because this series is awesome. And because I love every single character in it. I don't care whether they're good or bad. I don't care what they do. I don't care how they do it. I don't care where they do it. I LOVE them all . And the moral of this paragraph is: no matter what happens, this series always makes me feel like:
So 5 stars it is. Come to think of it, I should make it 6 stars. Because character development in this instalment is nothing short of amazing. Check this out:
★ Ululenia turning evil unicorn and embracing her dark, more sexed up than ever side? Brilliant. Gone are the pretty unicorn days of arrogant apple, babbling brook, and creeping cat. Gone are the days when all she wanted was to frolic in the forest with young, muscular virgins. Okay, so she's still into young, muscular virgins. But now she's into bloodshed, too. Ululenia 2.0? Bloody awesome, I tell you.“Perhaps I should slice open your belly and ride you as you slowly bleed to death,” Ululenia said, still crouching, “coaxing you with gentle caresses into the very motions that would send your guts spilling to the earth.”
Ha. Now that's my kind of unicorn! Let me tell you, it doesn't get much better than that. Well it does, but I won't tell you. Because spoilers. You're welcome.
★ Desidora finally accepting her death-priestess-ness (yes, there is such a thing)? Fantastic. I want to have her powers when I grow up. I mean, can you imagine being able to use your aura to turn everything and everyone into evil, dark, very bad, things? And basically squashing them to death with your thoughts? And making zombies out of fish? And having your clothes turn glossy black with silver glyphs, while your skin turns chalky white and your lips black? So cool. You gotta admit, the girl has a great sense of style.
Actually, I don't only want Desidora's powers. I want to be her, period. Because, you know, Kail is kind of interested in her. And Kail is pretty hot. In a subtle kind of way. I know, I know, let's be honest here, Kail has the subtlety of a rhinoceros. But rhinos can be sexy, too. Of course they can. Why would you ever doubt that?
★ Kail's mother!!! What's better than a truckload of Kail's ever-subtle, ever-hilarious mother jokes? Kail's mother in the flesh!! She's awesome! She kicks ass! And she will take anybody who gets up in her face! BAHAHAHAHA, she's her very own mother joke!! To Kail's total and utter dismay obviously. Because for all his jokes about other people's mothers, Kail is overwhelming protective when it comes to mommy. So cute. Not that she needs anyone's protection, by the way. I mean, the woman can be slightly terrifying. And somewhat overbearing, too. I can't wait for her to meet dear-daughter-in-law-to-be Desidora. That should definitely make for an interesting scene.
★ I could go on and on and on about all the characters in this series. I could tell you how badass and cool and super clever Loch the-scout-turned-thief-turned-resident-savior-of-the-universe is. And how much I want to be her when I grow up. I could tell you there is not enough Pyvic in this story. And that I'm kind of in love with him, despite his NOT being an asshole. I could tell you how much I love Tern. And what an awesomely cute couple she and Hessler make . I could tell you that Icy is full of surprises. And that I love him more with each new instalment. I could tell you that Dairy is still the naïve teenager we once knew, but not really. And that interspecies love is a thing. I could tell you that hammers and axes make for fantastic characters. And that they are the coolest villains ever. And finally, I could tell you that not all characters named Ethel look like this:
Please don't tell me you don't know who this ↑↑ is. I might have to unfriend you if you do.
At this point, those who haven't read this book might be wondering if there is actually a story here. Oh ye of little faith. This is the Rogues of the Republic we're talking about, people. OF COURSE there is a story. It's just that I can't tell you about it. Because, in pure Weekes fashion, it's all twist twist twist, surprise surprise surprise, gasp gasp gasp, revelation revelation revelation, and then some. So it's not that I don't want to tell you about the story. It's just that I can't. For your own sake. Wow. I'm so thoughtful and kind-hearted all of a sudden. The Holiday Spirit must be getting to me *shudders* But anyway. One thing is clear: the fact that the reader knows there will be tons of unexpected developments along the way doesn't make them any less enjoyable. Because Weekes is talented like that. And the book is all awesomeness and coolness from beginning to end.
What? You still want to know what the story is about? Sigh. You people are going to be the death of me. If I wasn't so lazy and inconsiderate, I'd treat you with a story recap. It would probably be something like this: so Loch and crew are now spoiler-spoiler-spoiler, so they have to spoiler-spoiler-spoiler in order to spoiler-spoiler-spoiler. But it won't be easy because spoiler-spoiler-spoiler, and now that spoiler-spoiler-spoiler, well, you know, spoiler-spoiler-spoiler. Wow. Pretty crazy stuff. Thankfully enough, spoiler-spoiler-spoiler. And then spoiler-spoiler-spoiler does spoiler-spoiler-spoiler. Talk about a twist. Especially when spoiler-spoiler-spoiler. To think I was a little in love with spoiler-spoiler-spoiler. Sigh. It's a good thing spoiler-spoiler-spoiler finally managed to spoiler-spoiler-spoiler. And started glowing from spoiler-spoiler-spoiler. Then spoiler-spoiler-spoiler went and spoiler-spoiler-spoiler with spoiler-spoiler-spoiler. And finally, everybody had a glass of wine.
Hey, you're the ones who wanted to know about the story, so don't come complaining now. Besides, I do what I can with the feeble intellectual means at my disposal. So stop criticizing and start thanking. You bunch of ungrateful people.
And the moral of this review is: it is now the time for me to threaten Patrick Weekes with bodily harm. Yes, you read that right. Why would I want to hurt the author of one of my favorite series ever, you ask? Because if Mr Weekes doesn't write another instalment in this series, I might not survive. Because I already miss Loch, Pyvic, Kail, Ululenia, Diz, and the rest of the gang. Because I want to know what happens next. Because, surely, the end of the world is near. Again. And only the greatest crew ever put together could save it. So get to work, Mr Weekes. Humanity needs you! Unicorns need you! And so do talking power tools!
· Book 1:
The Palace Job ★★★★★
· Book 2:
The Prophecy Con ★★★★ -
Maybe I’m finally getting used format of these books or this one is just less confusing and the author has really started to find their stride but FINALLY I feel less like I’m in the mind of someone with severe A.D.D. and more like I’m just in a fast paced story.
In the conclusion to this series there are again a lot of subtle cons, twists and unexpected situations and turnabouts happening. Just when you think you know what is going on everything gets blown apart and our heroes have to do a lot to get out of all the trouble that they have now found themselves in.
Add to that Desidora’s acceptance of her death priestess powers super cool by the way, Ululenia dealing with her new ‘urges’ since becoming a dark fae and Loch not being as dead as the reports led us to believe and there are even better side stories going on. Favorite character was really a toss-up between Desidora and Ululenia.As the queen who eats her mate when she has finished with him, Ululenia’s voice rang in Tern’s mind, I am sex and death, desire and destruction. They will die in ecstasy, knowing that I was their fulfillment, my pleasure their end.
Also it seems that her mind boggle has morphed arching ardor, bejeweled bosom, curling caress, decadent desire but I’m gonna say a Unicorn dealing with her evil side is a ton of fun. And then there is Des. I love it every time she starts to channel her death priestess power and things start turning all black and silver.”How’s Desidora today?”
“Her aura isn’t turning all the plants into giant versions of those carnivorous things that eat flies anymore.” Kail smiled.
As always there is Dairy who all honesty and goodness even if he isn’t quite a virgin anymore *wink, wink*. Then Tern and Hessler who are an adorable couple. Icy whose past isn’t even close to what I thought it was and Kail with more your momma jokes in any language than a rap contest. Even his own.”I’m glad your mother is safe.”
“I think I saved the ancients from her more than the other way around,” Kail said, and grinned. “My mom will take anybody who gets up in her face.”
Desidora shuddered, and at first Kail thought she was sad, and then cold.
After a minute, he realized that she was trying to hold a laugh.
“Diz, Diz?”
“You,” she gasped, still trying not to laugh, “you say all these things about people’s mothers! And then you say that about yours, and I’m not supposed to think anything?”
The ancients are trying to return with the help of a few soul imbued weapons and Loch and company have to come up with a good way to defeat them. There is also the fact that every elemental deamon they come across is still trying to kill Loch and then there is the specialized assassin team sent by the ancients to help them make their way into the world.
Wow things got so crazy in the end and it was amazing and I really enjoyed how everything went down in the finale. This really has been a fun and fast paced series. The Palace Job takes a little getting used to since there were so many characters to meet but once we picked up our team it was great to follow them through all the stories to get her to the end.
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And the third one's the charm.
I loved this. I thought I loved the second novel, but this one pulls me by my heart strings just as much as it pulled my absolute gushing love of plot and twist. It turned out to be much less of a heist novel than the previous two, but that's okay because what we've got instead is a truly evolving team up against a truly, magnificently difficult enemy.
The best part is how all of it ties so very tightly to the previous two novels. From the spoiler spoiler spoiler in the first novel, to the spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler in the second novel, to how each and every one of those wonderful bits and pieces wove together to make spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler, when even a fantastic Now/Then sidebar that illustrates exactly how the spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler worked out, and even then, I still can't figure out if Loch's plan worked because she's just that good or that she's relying on only a hella-huge pool of luck and goodwill.
I could give you a breakdown of all those spoiler bits, but I'm not. It's not fair to any of you sitting on the fence about picking up these novels, because YOU really NEED to READ them. You'll know exactly what I mean and be just as fucking delighted as I was.
The writing is damn fine. Everything is super crystal. The action scenes are absolutely fantastic, quick, colorful, and always in the service to the story. Even the character development twists flow like water, both contrary and obvious in retrospect.
And while I'm on about that: Having a love/death priestess on the team IS really and truly a GOOD REASON why there's so many damn hookups happening all over the place. It was never overboard, but it was definitely delightful and so damn necessary to the plot. My heart jumped into my throat, damn it. There were way too many serious reversals for our loveable heroes, even ones that I couldn't quite stomach. (I couldn't stomach one just because I loved his character too much.) Still, keep reading, because I'll tell you now that it is a cry-worthy ending.
Saying that this novel is satisfying just isn't cutting it. It's more of a fist-pumping gushfest of an ending that remains, even now, so bittersweet that I think I want to go lay down and cry.
Thanks, Netgalley! -
*** 4.45 ***
A buddy read with my MacHalo Freaks:)
Another high octane, action packed, backstabbing and world bending issue by the very talented Mr. Patrick Weekes!!! I have not been able to point at anything he has done wrong in the series so far... Did you guys notice this "so far"? This is me being hopeful that there are going to be more books in this series, since I am not tired of any one of the characters and would love to see them get in as much mischief as they possibly can! We need this gang of thieves in order for the world to stay OK! ... Too much? Well, maybe not world saving, but this series has been a ray of sunshine in the book landscape of today... So yes, I want to sunbathe more, can you blame me in this gray, wet, and windy weather....
Our gang is once again in the middle of a job, which ultimate goal is saving the Republic and possibly the world. There are evils threatening and the question is who is going to get to the ruling class first - the Ancients or the Shimmering Men... The only hope for the regular folks is our band of inept and clumsy, but smart, bronny and most of all, lucky mismatched miscreants... Absolute pandemonium ensues and .... well, you have to read it, that is the whole point!
However, with no danger to giving anything of the plot away, I can say that this book and the series as a whole is absolutely worth it!!! It is fun, smart and cheeky, and I would recommend it to everyone - now that does not happen often:) Have a fun time reading! -
Jan 2023 re-read: Still a great ending to a great series, still unsure why this hasn't been picked up for a TV series.
~~~
I considered reviewing the first three books in the
Rogues of the Republic individually, but in retrospect these books aren't so much discrete books but parts of one overarching story (and in no way related to the fact I took so long to get around to reviewing them I had forgotten some details of them). While there are distinct heists in each of the books there is one plot line that winds its way through each book. I would recommend anyone reading this series to read them consecutively, I think that method really enhances the experience and helps keep all the many characters fresh in your memory.
So everyone and their mother has described this series as high fantasy meets Oceans Eleven (the
George Clooney one, not the
Frank Sinatra one). And.. well.. they are all right. In classic heist fashion the ring leader along with her (in this case) right hand man spend the first part of the story collecting professionals with very specific skills needed for "The Job". Of course, being high fantasy, the requisite professionals are a bit different. Mainly more magic users needed and each with a special skill. Naturally things don't go as planned, there are some unexpected twists and turns, and things unfold a bit differently from "The Plan".
One aspect of Weekes's writing I liked was the great care he showed in his world building. Magic systems and rules were introduced to advance and explain the plot at appropriate times, avoiding any cumbersome data dumps. Further, the world itself was only shown in so far as it related to the plot. Once again no major data dumps explaining the history of this world or its politics, only things that are applicable to the events at hand. Weekes does drop some little nuggets in one book that are elaborated on in later books. He keeps his narrative powder dry and his plots move along briskly for it.
Probably the most important part of a heist story-line, even more so than "The Job" itself, is the character chemistry. If the characters and/or their motivations are weak the entire story will fall apart. Weekes, in my estimation, hit it out of the park with the characters. I won't go through them (since there are a lot) but I will say they all stood out in their own way. He made the bold (and correct choice) to not try to develop all the characters at once. He had different characters have different prominence throughout the books leaving some backstories unexplained for a while. In this way we didn't suffer any narrative drag by shoehorning in backstories that didn't need to be told yet. It let some characters retain an air of mystery and shine at just the right moment. Also, independent of that, the chemistry between the characters was fantastic and developed naturally over the course of the books.
But this isn't just a heist story, it is also a high fantasy story and in this department Weekes once again does smashingly. Even though this world has all the traditional fixings (humans, ogres, dragons, dwarves, elves, ancient races) Weekes looks beyond the their traditional characteristics and gives them a twist unique to his world. For instance: crystals are an integral part of magic in this world. An ancient race basically engineered elves to be very in tune with crystals to the point that their presence turned elves into extreme savants. Now that elves are free they have completely forbidden crystals from entering their lands and they avoid traveling to human lands because of the widespread use of crystals there. This is neat world building that Weekes is able to fold into the larger narrative. This is but one example of his additions to common high fantasy themes that make his world both recognizable and unique.
I devoured these books. Heck, due to the time change on my flight to Hawaii (yes, it is just as amazing as you have been led to believe) according to Goodreads I finished the second book the day before I started it. They are fast, but engaging reads, with great, intricate plots, an expansive story, and amazing characters (my favorite part of the books). I cannot recommend this highly enough to folks who enjoy fantasy or heist stories (and definitely recommended for people who like both!).
And thanks to Goodreads being part of the Amazon collective I just linked my highlighted passages from the kindle to my Goodreads account for you, gentle reader, to feast upon (though I have no idea what happened with book number two's quotes, I was sure I had more :-/)
One final note: these books had a refreshingly fresh take on sex. Namely no slut shaming, healthy, mutually respectful sexual relations between various characters, and not an eye batted at same sex relationships. -
This book could have read as "Kail, Kail Kail, Kail, Kail, your Mother, UNICORN," and I would have given it five stars. But that's not to say it wasn't great. Can't wait to join in with the MacHalo's Buddy Read in November. Hopefully, this time, the sultry voice of Justine Eyre will be reading it to me.
Full review to come. -
"Archvoyent Cevirt was an Urujar as well. Judging a man by the color of his skin was the mark of a foolish and uneducated mind, and Westteich would certainly have no problem with an Urujar who worked his way into a position of power and then respected the heritage that had come before. That said, Westteich could not help but feel that Cervit had turned the color of his skin into a sort of agenda, and upsetting the delicate balance of the Republic because of what had or had not been done to someone's ancestors was also the mark of a foolish and uneducated mind."
Reading these words within the first few pages of this book made me raise an eyebrow. When I first started this series, one of the first things I had to do was praise Weekes for his inclusivity:
First of all, let me lay down all the praise for Weekes' ability to write people of colour like they are *GASP* people. Not foreign objects. Not magical creatures. Not a unique species that shouldn't really exist in worlds filled with fae and dragons. Weekes isn't afraid to deal with the racial and cultural differences of his various characters, but when race is a factor, it's all within context.
Weekes also answers that troublesome question of "How do you write strong female characters[TM] if you're a guy??" Well, kids, you write women the same way you right everyone else: like they are human beings (cuz we actually are).
In his first two books, this continues to be a thing--women and people of colour and varying sexuality, all getting to hang out with elves and dragons and demons. As far as fantasy goes, this doesn't happen often, so when it does, I'm gonna have to point it out--because representation matters. Seriously. But in the third book, there's a little more going on. Weekes is no longer pulling any punches. He has an agenda and he's not afraid to bare his teeth and shove it down your throat--much to the annoyance of some readers. Interestingly, in my review of other reviews, the people who rated the book low all complained about this social justice aspect that takes over the plot in a rather heavy handed manner. And it most certainly is heavy-handed. Where Weekes previously simply gave representation to marginalized characters, now his Rogues are taking on the MRAs and the 1% to save the world in satire that seeps right into reality, making his
personal views quite clear.
But I don't like reality with my fantasy, you say! I've been tricked into reading this satirical comedy only to find that it has a serious message! Oh you poor, sad puppy. You're just going to have to get over it. If you don't think our society needs to be hit over the head with the fact that this world is not just the stomping ground of rich bigoted white dudes, let me just remind you that Donald Trump is a thing happening right now.
As for the story itself--well, as I said, this does take reality quite seriously this time around, but The Paladin Caper is no less amusing than its predecessors. Loch (whose death was greatly exaggerated) and her team are up to their usual hijinx, but this time, the fate of the world is at stake as they race to stop the ancients from returning to claim the world they once controlled. The struggle is real and they are thwarted at every turn, betrayed by friends and family and lovers alike. It almost seems like this is it for our not-quite-heroes! Pfft. Don't be silly. They got this all under control. As with any good caper, the key isn't so much what they achieve in the end, since we know the good-ish guys are going to win, but how they pull it off. Sometimes, it gets a little crazy, but that too is part of the fun, with the rest of the fun coming from the main characters we've come to know and love.
This book digs a little deeper into those characters, some of whom went through some significant changes in the previous book and are having trouble dealing with it. Ululenia in particular, is struggling with her new dark side, while the death/love priestess, Desidora, is coming to terms with her dichotomy, as well as the loss of her former friend and weapon. Oh and then there's Kail, whose "your mother" jokes take on a whole new meaning this time around.
Finally, I cannot finish this series without bestowing much praise upon the narrator, Justine Eyre. There are some narrators who make it impossible for me to read a series myself because of how damn good they are. Eyre's voice work is stunning, uniquely bringing everyone to life and never missing a comedic beat.
The Paladin Caper wraps up this series perfectly, complete with a proverbial walk into the sunset. It's been a really, really fun ride.
www.bibliosanctum.com -
I had a bit of a rocky start with The Palace Job. Disjointed writing, thirty billion view points, and the fact that you never ever ever got to see into Loch’s mind. She had all the cards and needed to be 15 steps ahead of everyone so you couldn’t even collect bread crumbs to put together her plan. I gave it 3 sure-whatever stars and decided it was entertaining, but probably not something amazing.
Per some encouragement from other readers and a really good sale, I decided to pick up Prophecy Con and At least if I didn’t enjoy them then I didn’t pay full price for them since my library (and my friend’s library) has no idea these books exist. Book 2 was fast paced, smoother, and a lot more fun than book 1, and you know what else there was? BREAD CRUMBS!! I got to occasionally find little bits and pieces of Loch’s plans and try to fit them together. Plainly stated, it was a lot of fun!
Then… Well then I blindly plowed ahead into Paladin Caper figuring that I was in for same amazing adventure Book 2 had been, but apparently somewhere between those books Loch lost all of her trust in me and I was back to just being dragged along and not having a trail to follow. Even worse, this time it was punctuated with anxiety-inducing scenes suddenly being cut short specifically so the author could go back to them at the end of the book and say “hey guys, this is what I didn’t tell you! Isn’t it so totally cool how all of this lack of information comes together!?”
And so, somehow, I’m back to square 1 where the book was entertaining but not amazing. Honestly, I almost feel a little betrayed. And yes, if there’s a fourth book then I’ll probably read it and try to rekindle the love from Book 2, but otherwise I feel a little let down with the way this all turned out.
There’s a lot happening in this book. A lot of strings that need to be pulled together into a bow and I wanted to see that happen. I wanted to see Loch’s conversation with her sister, I wanted to see Desidora confront Ghylsipher, I wanted Dairy and Ululenia to actually have some sort of conversation about what happened, and I wanted to see how Irrethelathlialann would operate without someone pulling his strings, but instead while all of that went on, I was left on the other side of the door because it all needed to come together at the last minute as part of Loch’s amazing plan. Instead of getting a journey I got Point A and Point Z and then a brief recap of everything in between rather than actually getting to see any of it happen.
In the end, Paladin Caper was fun and entertaining, but I feel like there was a lot missing from it and I wanted more than what I got from it. Prophecy Con made me feel like part of the team and then this book tossed me right back in with the spectators. -
ooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhh myyyyyyyyyyyyyy gooooooooooodddddddddd.
The Paladin Caper was a pretty good book. Had endless twists and turns.. some you might see and some you wont. My love for Loch and her gang just grew so much while listening to this book - which is something that I didn't think was possible. I will admit though that I had no idea how this heist was going to go.. so the ending was something I didn't see coming.
Other than that, the character development in this book was amazing. I really enjoyed getting to know more about everyone in this book - I might have a favorite but you will never know. Everyone in this crew is kind of like the gang in Ocean 11. They just work so well together and it's probably why I enjoyed it so much. It also doesn't hurt that I kept comparing it to a movie that I've watch countless times.
Overall, I loved this book. The entire book just gave answers to so many of my questions that I'm completely okay/fine with how it all ended. Do I wish there was another book? Of course I do! I wouldn't be a reader at heart if I didn't.. but I will gladly accept this ending for the trilogy. -
Did you like the first two?
Good. Me too.
This one won't disappoint you either.
This was a great end to the trilogy. It didn't stray far from the formula that made the first two books popular, and it didn't really have to either, the books were just straight up fun to read.
Funny, imaginative, and a collection of characters that go as good together as peanut butter and chocolate. And who in their right minds dislike peanut butter and chocolate?
Would love to see more of this world and the people that live within it - but at the same time - the three books were just enough for me to be left satisfied with the overall story.
Good times! Thanks, Patrick Weekes. -
It took me awhile to finish this but that's only because of my lack of reading time getting ready for the holidays. This book was just as good as the first two in the series. I love the pace, non-stop action, world building, and witty banter.
Writing positive reviews are so much harder than negative. I feel like I'm going to use the same adjectives over and over. What really sold this book for me are the characters. Their friendships with each other, the way their lives evolve, and each individual hurdle they have to overcome.
Love this series. -
The Paladin Caper is, as far as I'm aware, the last book in the Rouges of the Republic Series. And what a book it was!
Honestly, I had so much fun with this series. And this book gives everything I enjoyed about the first two books. Fast paced action, witty banter, funny dialogues, subtle and less subtle social criticism, weird turns and twist coming out of nowhere (in truth, and above all else, amazing characters.
I was obviously correct about the cliffhanger of the last book and it's resolution (duh!) and the story continues from there. Our heros are trying to save the world from the ancients who unfortunately managed to infiltrate the highest ranks of government so … they have to save the world while running away form their own government. What's new? XD
I really can't decide what I liked best about this book/series. It was witty, it was funny, it was exciting, it has great action scenes, it was political and full of social criticism (honestly, I have no idea how certain parts of the internet have not yet found these books with all the depiction of racism and sexism – calm down! It all comes from the bad guys!). The characters and their developments deserve a special applause. For a series with so many central characters that's quite an accomplishment! I especially enjoyed Ululenia's development ('I'm a nice unicorn! I'm a pretty unicorn!' xD). I honestly laughed so much through out this series mostly thanks to the characters.
If there are any downsides I can think of, it's the world building. I feel like I still only know a tiny little part of that world and I still don't understand all the connections. Also, I gave up trying to understand and follow all the twists and turns by book two. But who cares?! It was so much fun!!!
This series absolutely deserves more fame and praise. It has absolutely anything you could ask for. Excitement, fun, great dialogues, romance, politics, twists and turns, diversity, and an amazing cast of characters. I'd love for the author to write more books in this world and for these characters, but until then, I'll probably reread these books every once in a while. -
In preparation for reading this, since I recall the series being a bit "Arc-y" and self-referential, I re-read the first 2 books just prior to reading this new book (I had previously rated the first 2 books as 3.5 stars [rounded down to 3].)
This third book definitely continues the trends of the first 2 books, with a pleasing mix of action, humor and snappy dialogue against fun set-pieces, coupled with well-developed characters and a crisp style of prose.
And, though you defintely need to read this series in sequential order to comprehend both the enormity and intricacies of the plot, this volume is thankfully not quite as reliant on the previous books, telling more of it's own story.
All that said, while I did like this book, given the theme, the plot, and the writing style, and the likable characters, I felt like I should love this book (and this series) way more than I actually did. There's nothing I can point at that I specifically disliked, but this series just doesn't "Speak" to me as some of my favorite series have over the years.
A hand-wringing 3.5 stars (rounded down to 3.)
Many thanks to NetGalley for offering this ARC in exchange for an honest review. -
It was a race going in: what was I going to get sick of first? Was the nonstop Marvel-movie style banter going to grate? Was the undercurrent of racial tension in the series going to explode in an unexpected and possibly unwelcome direction? Was the layers of heist and sleight-of-hand plotting going to make me throw up my hands in despair?
The surprise winner turned out to be magical iPhones. The crystal magic had been skirting the edge for two books (Is it magic? Is it technology?) and had sort of convinced me it was both and despite some treknobabble MacGuffin excuses to drive the plot, that I should sit back and relax. But the Paladin Band business with talk of applications and multifunction use and system updates, despite it being a logical extension of everything previously demonstrated, just pulled me out and dragged me down the street. There's obviously some intentional satire and real-world-parallel messages, but that doesn't mean I have to enjoy it.
The entertaining character of the moment was the villain Westteich, a human Quisling who was impressively oily and opportunistic in equal measure, and the reader has the pleasure of being in his head as he plays his careful and greedy game. The only regret is that he was not nearly given enough time to develop. -
So proud of my ragtag team of idiots, they did good, real good.
Maybe the real con was the friends we made along the way. -
Come check out my Book Blog for more fun stuff and reviews!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an Honest Review
Alright, before I even get to the blurb I need to warn you. This review will HAVE SPOILERS for the first two books, The Palace Job and The Prophecy Con, in it. And some minor ones for the Paladin Caper. I have to do this because I need to explain why I am going to give it the rating I intend to give it. If all you want to know is if I recommend this book, then the answer is no, and its going to get a 2/5. If you want to know the WHY then read on. The cut will come after the blurb.
The Book Blurb: "A thief’s good deeds are never done.
Loch and her crew are determined to stop the ancients from returning to reclaim the world they once ruled, but a kidnapped friend throws their plans awry. When a desperate rescue turns into a shocking reunion, the ancients return and seize power. Determined to stop them, Loch and the crew look for a way to close the gate to the ancients’ world, but this time, they find themselves up against an enemy that has insinuated itself into the highest ranks of the Republic. Cruel, cunning, and connected, the ancients target the crew’s families and histories, threatening to tear friendships apart.
If that weren’t bad enough, Loch must deal with her treacherous assassin sister, her turncoat ancient friend, and a daemon who has sworn to hunt her to the ends of the earth. In order to save the Republic and pull off her largest con ever, Loch will need her friends…and maybe her enemies too." -
I'm torn on this one. I loved it, but there were a few things that also didn't like.
Just as much fun as the first two books. Better even, because I know all of the characters by now and I am invested in them.
The crew is going up against the Ancients. And the Ancients aren't what everyone is expecting. Loch and her team seemingly fly from the seat of their pants from one daring mission after another. Several characters fall to the wayside and die. Although, with a story like this you keep expecting them to turn back up later with some story of how they all but survived.
My nit-picking begins with the racial issues in the latter part of the book. Too much. Over cooked. I also rolled my eyes at the last stand-off with the baddies, in which, both sides cross and double cross. Each thinking they are the winner, until we get a flash back showing how wrong they were.
Fun and engaging. I didn't experience a dull moment. Well put-together jaunt into this wild world. The characters are fantastic with a few surprises left.
I had the pleasure of listening to the story read by Justine Eyre. Fantastic. Brought all the characters to life with her different portrayals and accents.. Such a sultry voice.
Recommended! -
At the end of book 2, it was clear that the "ancient's" were returning to Loch's dimension, but they aren't as nice as the old stories claim. They want to enslave everyone and it turns out they have plenty of help from the nobility.
This series was so much fun! I never knew what was going to happen next and the plot is action-packed. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen or where the plot was going to turn, it changed in some unexpected way. I love being kept on my toes. I loved the characters too; their quick thinking and adaptability to the situation made me root for them. Even the bad guys were good characters. I'm almost sad that it is over, I want another adventure! -
I just full-on screamed for the last quarter of this book.
I am going to edit this to add: I could absolutely hear Immigrant Song playing in background of that final fight. -
I loved this series and am going to miss this crazy band of underdog heroes. It's going on my favorite shelves and i already want to listen to these books again.
-
After discovering the Ancients are planning to come back and take over, Loch and the gang has to band up again to save the Republic and the lives of everyone living in the world.
Devastated to finish this series, but what a conclusion! This series has definitely become one of my favourites and I cannot believe it's not more well-known. The characters have got a special place in my heart and I definitely look forward to re-reading these books in the future.
There were a few moments that kept me on my toes, especially .
Overall, a great conclusion to a brilliant funny well-written series! -
Did not finish at 32%
I enjoyed the first book of this series but, as the series continued, I'm just not feeling it anymore. I couldn't correctly tell you what was going on in this book because I lacked any interest in it and I most of it has slipped out of my head.
I'll be real: this series is a very generic fantasy series that does a lot of stereotypes and mixes them in with weird modern-sounding humor. It was alright in the first book but it simply doesn't work. It wasn't good. Like bad direct to dvd wasn't good.
I gave it a whirl but there's too much left in it and, checking some spoilers, I know I'll be disappointed and it isn't worth the effort. That being said, I'll see myself out.
Patrick Weekes can still write though.
The Masked Empire is amazing and should not be compared to this series, thanks. -
What a brilliant book to finish a brilliant series. :)
I never imagined that I would enjoy this series so much but I would seriously recommend it too everyone.
The twists in this book kept me guessing, the pace was great, the mix of seriously, adventure and humour was fantastic. (Kail talking to his lockpick has to be one of the most memorable moments to be in this book lol)
I loved learning more about the characters and their past's and how they dealt with the things that came up.
I just finish there was more to this series because it was fantastic <3
A big thank you to my friend on here that recommended me it to me. :) I never would have tried it without your suggestion, and I'm so happy I did. :D -
I received a free advanced e-book copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Paladin Caper is the final book in the series (at least I think so).
I really enjoyed reading this one, compared to the previous 2 books. There were many twists, most of which I wasn't really expecting. I liked how things turned out for all the characters, although not for some of the characters for whom things did not turn out very well.
Overall, a great series and I would love to watch a movie based on it! -
Quite a lot of sneaky fun, though I think the second book was superior. Ending was a taaaaad deus-ex-machina-y for my tastes, enough to annoy but not enough to really hurt the book.
I'll say that for a seemingly straight fantasy series, there's some quality world-building here, especially the Glimmering Folk and the Ancients. -
What a ride this series was. I can't remember a trilogy that I have enjoyed as thoroughly as this one. My unholy love for heist stories definitely helped. The writing is very casual and a lot of stuff has very blunt nods to our society. But it's not annoying, it's just fun. These books would work very well as movies or a TV show and maybe one day we'll see it happen.
-
I rarely give books five stars but this one gets that rating because of two things:
1. character arcs tied up with lovely bows
2. Bisexual unicorns ending up with ladies!! -
As the third book in the Rogues of the Republic series, we finally come to the point where all the other plot threads from the other two books tie together. We start off seeing how the promise of the ancients returning has become something the nobility in this world were prepared for - even raised to be hosts for, if not work for the ancients directly.
There's a lot of action, sacrifice, and wit, wrapped up in a plot that doesn't involve a heist this time. Instead, it's solely about the protection of their world.
What kept me reading?:
Well, per usual for Patrick's reading, the characters kept me going for a lot of it. Particularly because I wanted to see a favorite of mine who was absent save for the beginning and end of the book. I read more and more because I want to see more and more of these characters. I loved learning about their pasts, which you get a lot more of for Icy, Kail, and Tern in this book.
The action was always page-turning. It flowed incredibly well and made a clear picture of where people were at any given moment. It felt suitably gruesome when someone broke a bone or got cracked in the head, and it was always satisfying to see a bad guy get smack just as someone on Loch's crew was telling them exactly how they were going to lose.
Also, I really do love how this feels like a modern fantasy with a sprinkling of sci-fi. The way everyone talks feels very modern, and it's full of modern day societal issues, right down to the slavery of the Urujar and how the ancients (compromised of various degrees of attractive white nobleman) don't feel like they're worthy of being hosts. It's a little heavy handed at times, and knowing Patrick is a white guy, some of the jokes were hit and miss, but overall, I enjoyed it.
What made me put the book down?:
The entire first fourth of the book, honestly. I know it seems odd given my rating, but the three-fourths after the beginning was great. Once the ancients actually come into play and people are *doing* stuff, it's awesome. I've found that Patrick often has this problem - his beginnings are a little weak. Spends too much time on set up.
Also, I'm mad the gay couple only got a hug at the beginning and hand holds at the end. I'll say it.
Other than that I never felt like I was forcing myself to read. Once the first bit of the book was out of the way, it was easy to read, exciting, and it felt like a good end for everyone, even the character I thought was going to be taken out of the picture.
