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Book Review of The Paladin

The Paladin
The Paladin
Author: C. J. Cherryh
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
wmsuspence avatar reviewed on + 31 more book reviews


I'm normally a great fan of C.J.'s but not on this one. I made it thru only because I knew it would get better. Sadly, not even a little. One of the few times I kept wanting the heroine to leave or get killed.

A young girl comes to the home of the former guard of the Emperor. Her people were killed, home and the entire town destroyed. She wanted revenge and him to teach her how to get it. He insisted it was stupid and no way he'd show her how to fight. About 30 pages later, he gives in. She swears she'll honor all his commands. As he breaks one, he says he's thru. She screams at him, you gave your word. This goes on for another 40-60 pages. Really.

She had also been raped when the rest were killed. He knows this but still wants to get closer. Been on a mtn. for 9 years. As you can imagine, she isn't going for it. Along with the rest, this goes on for maybe 140 pages. Then he wants to marry her, she thinks she's not good enough. Yeah, they do go after the bad guy finally.

This would have made a fair, at best, short story. Neither are really very likeable and the plot is so predictable it's sad. I find it hard to believe, well, enough. Thankfully it's not a series.