I have most? all? of Ngaio Marsh's stuff in paperback and can't decide if I want to keep it, or if I just want to get ebook copies of the ones I really like.

I pre-ordered so it just showed up on my reader. I love when that happens

Except two more books I forgot I had pre-ordered have showed up on my reader this morning and I still have the new Mag of F&SF to read - the pressure of the TBR pile, electronic version, mounts!

Always a difficult question with paperbacks, Dana. They (murder mysteries in general, although my mom did have a shelf full of Agatha Christies for a long time) were always fodder for the used book stores for me, which is where I usually got them in the first place so that made sense. I now have shiny matching covers in a folder on my reader, though, which is weirdly satisfying.

I whipped through Paladin's Strength in pretty much record time; it was enjoyable - and brought in more of the paladins from the earlier book. I still prefer Swordheart and the Clockwork Boys to the paladin books in that world, but it's T. Kingfisher, so an auto-buy (still not enough gnoles, though).

The gnoles are the best. A gnole is the best? You know what I mean.

I only realized a chapter or two in that what I thought I remembered being in the Saint of Steel series was actually Swordheart, but I figure actually remembering anything from the first book was not necessary for this one. I do want to go back and read Paladin's Grace, now, though - I remember liking it although very little else. And reread Swordheart. And maybe the whole Clocktaurs series. It's a shared universe, right? But separated in time, although I forget what is earlier and what is later. Or maybe I am wrong about that entirely. Is Defensive Baking in that universe or is it separate?

Anyway, this was a good one. Many fine qualities. T. Kingfisher is an autobuy for me as well.

They are in the same universe; I have little idea what the timeline is ... I just sort of go along for the ride. Paladin's Strength has some bit that I found amusing ... YMMV.

I feel like I figured some of the timeline out at some point but I don't remember how or why.

The description of the city on the shore with the Sealords and no government seemed to be some not-very-disguised political commentary. Well done for all that.

I am almost finished but started nodding off last night just at the point where they were going into the coliseum to rescue the nuns.

Agreed on the political commentary. Specific and yet will not, I suspect, seem dated if we can ever get past that particular political unreasonableness irl

I really like the Temple of the White Rat. All the religions are interesting but that one I kinda wish we had in our world.

I do like the White Rat - they're very practical people and don't seem to be wound up in dogma (would it be rat-ma for them?).