Rordan has spent his entire life training in the Temple to be a Paladin. He is sent to the court of the king to serve as a personal guard. While there, he falls in love with the king's daughter. Their sin is uncovered, and the two lovers will have to face the consequences.
Will breaking his sworn oath be worth true love? Can he manage to outwit and survive both a vengeful king and the wrath of the Temple, or will he face the ultimate punishment?
Called by some a multi-tasking ninja, Jessica Kemery lives in Crystal Lake, Illinois, where she works a day job so that her dog, Rocky, can live a life of pampered luxury. The Hobbit is the first book she read, and she has been searching for dragons ever since. She has two teenagers who firmly believe their mother is slightly unhinged and roll their eyes every time she starts playing the greatest hits of the '80s. She also has a husband who dreams of becoming her business manager one day when she "makes it big." Powered by caffeine and the bare minimum of sleep on a nightly basis, she thinks the world's greatest invention is meal delivery services.
Let me start off this review by first saying that I thoroughly enjoyed the story as a whole. I loved the simplistic writing style of the author because it was straight to the point with the plot instead of being bogged down with flowery prose or overly descriptive. This is more an epic fantasy that's my speed (sorry, Tolkien).
The story flowed smoothly and had a linear plotline, making it easier to follow. However, with that being said, it wasn't exactly surprising when tension occurred because you could see it right around the corner. For some, like myself, that was nice but for others who want to gasp at major plot twists, you may want to take a backseat.
The story follows the disgraced Paladin, Rordan, and the princess, Viola. The two fall in love and have a daughter out of wedlock which is against the vows of the Paladins. The two are banished from their kingdom and head on a journey to find their place in the world.
When I bought this book, I was thinking it was going to be more on the romantic side, but it appears most of Rordan's and Viola's romance occurred before the story began. This is more of an epic fantasy dealing with their hardships and struggles together and within the different kingdoms. It's a tale of two people having to find themselves and figure out how to survive together for the sake of their child, Lise.
I loved the fact that the author had a map of the kingdoms in the story that was easy to read and follow and I didn't even have to squint. The characters weren't exactly complex, but they did drive the plot forward. Overall, it was a nice read and it did exactly what I wanted it to do - let me escape into a fantastical world of magic, battles, and triumph. It's one of those stories that reminds me of old fairy tales, nostalgic in a sense. And I think that's pretty cool.
Paladin’s Sin: A Sword and Sorcery Romance Fantasy (The Paladin's Sin Series Book 1) by Jessica Kemery takes us into a fantastic world where knights still defend the crown and do whatever it takes to ensure the survival of the Kingdom. Rordan is a Paladin knight, and he has sworn an oath to the Temple Knights to never marry and to serve the king until his last moment alive. But things suddenly take a twist when he meets an amazing woman and falls in love. To make it even worse, the woman is the daughter of the king that he has sworn an oath to. Rordan then makes the choice to follow love over honor and runs away with her. Now, not only does he have an angry king to deal with, but the Temple Knights are also after him to make him fulfil his promise of service. If you are a fan of knights and swords, you will enjoy this read. If you are a fan of romance and magic, then you will also enjoy this read. Want some epic world building and interesting characters, look no further. This book and the series that it sets up does a good job of checking lots of boxes. The author has done a great job of giving us the start of a great series that is packed with action and adventure. The narrative moves a little slow at times, but it is worth the slow parts to see where the story takes you.
The story is exciting and gets you from the beginning. We have our hero and renegade, Rordan Armond who has been enrolled in the Palladin Knight Temple. Of course, one of the requirements is celibacy and never own property. Since this is our hero, Rordan excels in the skills he is taught and master the magical arts.
Being so strong and invincible, he is entrusted with the protection of Princess Viola. They fall in love and I don't want to spoil it any further but you can see how everything just gets exciting from that point on. Now, I was honestly expecting the story to build up on this romance, but there was less than I was hoping.
The main focus of the tale is how this new family, after being banished, try to find a new world. The author really puts it into simple words and easy reading. I really enjoyed this exciting and magical adventure.
For the first book in a series this one wasn't lacking. It was interesting, fast paced, characters where fun to get to know and the situations the characters found themselves in in this story were dark and sad at times but it made the story work so much better. The author did an amazing job. Not overly descriptive to where it took away from the moment or story. I enjoyed all the characters in this story that I don't have one favorite. I'm excited to dive into the sequel once I get through a few others on my list. Forbidden love at its most enjoyable. Danger, secrets, magic and loss around every corner. This book had it all. 4 and 5 star ratings for me are hard but earned when given. Good job.
Paladins swore an oath of celibacy and poverty. When Rordan fell in love with Princess Viola and got her with child, it was the worst sort of violation of his vows. The book opens as Rordan is released from prison, and the king exiles him and his daughter. They are to leave on the pain of death and never return. But the kingdom of Duval is quite different. The king there is a kindly person, who is glad to receive a knight with paladin’s training. Of course, a Knight Commander who is wanted by a king and the Temple is difficult to conceal. The plot is excellent, the characters are a trifle wooden, although they develop as the book goes along. The writing style is a trifle naïve, but still engaging. The language is a bit modern if you are a high fantasy purist. Overall, a good read, and a good first book.
While I found the story to be a bit wordy, it was a great story line, I definitely plan to read more of this series, the ending wasn't exactly a cliffhanger, there is much more that one will want to follow with these characters. I definitely recommend this book. I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway, but I believe it is worth purchasing!
“The Paladin's Sin: A Sword and Sorcery Fantasy Romance,” is the first book in the “Paladin's Sin Series” by Jessica Kemery. This book is incredibly well-written and the character development is simply a cut above the rest. The plotline in and of itself is exceptionally well crafted. This is something that can often be a bit difficult to do when it comes to fantasy stories. All too often you find as if you have found something new, only to find that the tale is just like something else you have read in the past. Jessica Kemery is an incredibly good writer, and her work unfolds into something truly magical.
The Paladin’s sin is a romantic action-adventure filled with sword and sorcery fantasy elements that will really keep you reading the book till the end. Rordan, the sworn temple knight ventures into the world with nothing much and takes his lover with him escaping and finding peace, rebuilding his life elsewhere. The struggles and ups and downs were thrilling to read. The added romance was a bonus and the battles were descriptive and engaging. I recommend this book to those who like fantasy stories.
I love fantasy romance books that do not follow stereotypes. This book, The Paladin's Sin, written by Jessica Kemery is a proof that you do not need happy plots to make up a great fantasy romance book. I enjoyed how the plot went in this story. The main character Rordan Armond is such a strong-willed character and I loved how he was able to fight for what he wants and was so determined to get out of his mischiefs.
There were lots of conflicts in this book which I found really interesting. Jessica Kemery's storywriting skills are also on point. If you are a fan of fantasy romance with actions, I am recommending you to dive into the Paladin's world!
Paladin’s Sin by Jessica Kemery is not my usual book, but I was drawn in by the cover and the description, and I loved the fact that not only were Rordan and Viola young lovers who had to undertake a dangerous journey, but they had to undertake the dangerous journey with a newborn in tow. This made the book different in my eyes as it promised the reader real strife and growth in the characters, far more so than in a regular romance, and this is something that Kemery delivered brilliantly.
I liked the characters in this book, with Rordan playing the main role. I thought he was an excellent example of a hero who puts everything on the line for the sake of his beliefs and the welfare of his family. We see his true colours, for example, when his daughter gets sick, and in the way he looks for work and defends them from bandits. Viola played a more passive role early on, but I enjoyed the way she grew on the journey and was instrumental for the family's survival. The narrative is sharp and crisp, moving the reader along seamlessly with good explanations and suitable detail. This is a key part to the early part of what I hope will be a riveting series.
There is an excellent example of world-building within this book. I really liked reading about the life of a paladin, and what they are expected to do, which worked well in the context of Rordan’s ‘sin’ (although in our modern-day eyes, his action and that of Viola are not sinful in any way, so it was easy to root for them). I did find some of the conversation a little contrived in parts, as some of the explanations of the world seemed to be written forced, like they were trying to explain something to the audience through character dialogue. It felt to me that the characters would have known this already and didn’t need the explanation, but, regardless, this is minor and I still found it interesting. (An example is Viola acting shocked when she learns that her father, the king, is not known for military foresight - I felt like that would be a common thing in the castle).
Paladin’s Sin has all you need for a fantasy romance. A loving, devoted couple, powerful magic, betrayal, a fearsome king and solid action scenes. All these things fill the pages as we read about a couple who are simply searching for their happy ever after. I look forward to picking up other works by Jessica Kemery soon.
At a very young age, Rordan Armond’s parents enrolled him in the Paladin Knight Temple training program. As a part of the job, he would have to take an oath to dedicate his entire life to serving King Corcoran, never own property and he would also have to take a vow of celibacy. Although Rordan did not choose this life, he wholly embraced it and excelled in it. He masterfully honed his skills as a valiant and fearless swordsman, tactician and fighter. Moreover, he was also taught about the magical arts by his instructors. The combination of these skills made him a warrior who to some extent was unbeatable. He was so good that he was selected to be a special guard for Princess Viola, the king’s youngest daughter. However, it didn’t take long before Rordan and Viola fall in love. Subsequently, Viola became pregnant and that was when their entire world fell apart. When Rordan reports this to the commander of the knights, he is immediately arrested and taken to prison. Several months later, he is brought before the king. After being whipped and beaten by the other knights, Rordan, Viola, and their newborn child Lise are banished from the kingdom forever. To avoid any spoilers, I’ll just say that the story really takes off from here as they venture to a new kingdom to build a new life together as a family. I really connected with Rordan from the beginning of the book. He is an excellent hero/main character that was well developed. I really felt like I understood his motivations and character. This is a very well written, concise and fast paced read. I read the entire book in the span of only two days (it was that good). The author did a great job in detailing events and bringing in new characters to the story. I also appreciated how she avoided the graphic sexual content and unnecessary swearing that is sometimes found in this genre. The characters seemed very real, the conversations between them were entertaining and plausible. I enjoyed the values and integrity held by most of the characters as well. To summarize, this is a very good novel that would be enjoyed by anyone who loves a great story. I’m looking forward to reading more books by this fabulous and talented author.
3.5 stars (rounded up to 4 stars for story originality and creativity). This is a clean fantasy romance with an original storyline. The author clearly put thought into her world building and it shows. There is an order of magic-weilding knights (paladins), and a quick-tempered king who is as cold and twisted as his neighbouring kingdom is warm and progressive.
We follow the story of Rordan and Viola - a disgraced paladin and a disowned princess - as they make a life for themselves after being banished from Eastmere Kingdom for their forbidden love affair.
Although the author's narrative and writing style is somewhat dry, I certainly applaud her storyline. The story began in a compelling way, with Rordan, bloodied and beaten, being thrown at the King's feet. That got my attention. The author then gave a synopsis of what occurred to bring the characters to that point, as well as a bit of an explanation about the paladins and the kingdom they inhabited. I would have really enjoyed reading of Rordan and Princess Viola's romance as it developed, rather than being told it had happened. It felt like a missed opportunity and probably would have helped me connect to the characters and their plight a little more strongly. I also would have loved it if Viola was a bit stronger. I agree that their plight was a difficult one, and being banished with a newborn would be unbearable, but it seemed like that princess always had tears in her eyes.
That being said, I was interested by the characters and this strange order of paladins. I was eager to learn more about them. There was deeper meaning there as well, which I enjoyed. We see how time and power has twisted the order of paladins over time, and how good intentions and a pious foundation can be subject to rot as well. It had interesting depth there and a plot that kept me reading.
I found Rordan to be a nicely layered character, with strength and intelligence. He was my favourite part of this story and I kept hoping he would find those paladins, train them, and show King Corcoran what's what. The character Gretchen was fantastic as well.
An interesting fantasy story following a paladin who breaks his holy oath and pursues a relationship with the king’s daughter.
What I liked: The world building was well thought out and very detailed. The author has spent a lot of time perfecting the lore and the history of the world. The story was engaging and entertaining enough for me to want to keep reading. The settings had just the right amount of detail that helped me to imagine it, but without overdoing it and taking away from the story. The character Rordan was portrayed really well, as was king Corcoran.
What I think needs improving: The beginning of the book was a huge info dump and the history of the two main characters was given to the reader in the first few pages. I found the writing to be simplistic in places and without much feeling, and during the first half, I thought things happened far to easily for the characters. There was no rooting for them to overcome their obstacles, because as soon as a problem arose, it seemed to be resolved very easily. I also found mistakes throughout the book. I think it would benefit from a more thorough edit.
Overall, an entertaining read and a pleasant story. I thought the author ended it at the perfect time to keep the reader hooked. I look forward to finding out what happens next.
The story starts with a young magical knight (paladin) falls in love with the princess he is meant to look after. It is forbidden and when the princess becomes pregnant the king finds out and throws both of them in jail until she gives birth. Usually the king would execute someone for such a treasonous act but instead he exiles the knight and his daughter who travel to a distant land and make a new life for themselves. And so starts a rollercoaster of events that sees Rordan the paladin and Viola the princess with their baby daughter Lise coming to terms with their new lives and the people they meet. I loved the world building. It was very easy to follow and very imaginative. The ending sets up the second book very well and I can’t wait to read that one too.
The story starts with a young magical knight (paladin) falls in love with the princess he is meant to look after. It is forbidden and when the princess becomes pregnant the king finds out and throws both of them in jail until she gives birth. Usually the king would execute someone for such a treasonous act but instead he exiles the knight and his daughter who travel to a distant land and make a new life for themselves. And so starts a rollercoaster of events that sees Rordan the paladin and Viola the princess with their baby daughter Lise coming to terms with their new lives and the people they meet. I loved the world building. It was very easy to follow and very imaginative. The ending sets up the second book very well and I can’t wait to read that one too.
Really good fantasy book. I won't go into details about the plot here, you have the summary for that, but I will just say that it is a classic fantasy/medieval type of story with a little magic thrown into the mix, some fighting, some love scenes, everything that the fans of the genre love. Maybe I missed something novel, some twist, but that is just me. The book is perfectly good as it is, as a classic representation of the genre. The writing is pacy, interesting, characters are really good, believable and easy to root for and the world is not overly complex so I think anybody would be able to follow easily. What is there more to say, check it out if you are a fantasy fan.
Spelling errors, even character name misspelling is rampant throughout. But that’s easily overlooked, for me at least. I went into this book with some expectation of a fantasy romance and I suppose technically it is. I guess I was expecting more of an adult, steamy romance but instead it reads like the very tame pre-teen romances I read as a kid. The plot is good but if you’re looking for a romance with actual romantic scenes, this is not the book for you.
Jessica Kemery delivers a great and very entertaining book in the first book in her series The Paladin’s Sin. In A Sword and Sorcery Fantasy Romance we are introduced to the story and its characters. I appreciate that the love story is not front and center, but a side story. It is actually very well-written and it made me curious to see where the author is going after this.
The Paladin's Sin is a clean and engaging fantasy novel for young adults. The focus is on the story rather than on the violence or sensuality. The progress of the story is natural and makes the reader eagerly turn the pages. It has moral value and good sense. The magic adds the much-needed spice.
Great beginning to this series, but it is only v the beginning! You will have to rad on to discover what happens. My only complaint! It is a great story and a great read!
This is a very well done book, with a good plot with interesting characters. The story moves at a steady pace. The premise of the storyline is different and interesting. The series starter book shows good promise for a new fantasy.
A smooth flowing and gritty story. Loved all the good guys and hated the bad guys. I think some of the bad guys may not be so bad after a chance to reflect on how they were trained. Looking forward to reading more of Jessica Kemery.
DNF- The story is alright. The concept is there. But the reading feels very middle-grade and simple. It feels more like reading something from fanfiction.