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The Language of the Night: 7th inning stretch [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-06-30
Even if T. Kingfisher’s fourth Saint of Steel book, Paladin’s Faith, weren’t 517 pages, I would likely call a break. I know, we’re in sight of the end of the series but … 517 pages! And I’m still juggling many hats. I hadn’t counted on the summer being quite this busy. Let’s call this a 7th inning stretch.
Last night I heard a teaser on NPR for a feature about Romantasy being the hottest thing in publishing right now, which I guess means that we’re ahead of the curve for a change. (Although I have to confess that I haven’t read most of the book series the hosts were discussing, which is not unusual.) Generally, Romantasy requires a balance of fantasy and romance elements, each depending on the other. It’s not fantasy with a few sex scenes added, and it’s not romance with fae cupids abounding, but a mashup of equals. Take one side of the equation away and the other side collapses, and by “collapse” I mean that the plot engine sputters and fails.
By this definition, I wonder if the Temple of the White Rat stories* are Romantasy. Paladin’s Hope certainly would fit the definition, and Swordheart might. The others, though, I’m not sure. Clockwork Boys and The Wonder Engine (really one big novel split in two) would retain its plot rhythms and tensions even if Caliban and Slate weren’t so attracted to each other. Paladin’s Strength with Istvhan and Clara and their parallel quests would not suffer fatally if their relationship were platonic. Stephen and Grace in Paladin’s Grace — that’s one that I think could be considered more in the romantasy column. And Paladin’s Faith — dual quests and the return of Ashes Magnus ... not romantasy???
I haven’t read widely enough in the genre to make assumptions, but it seems to me (in my very limited view) that Kingfisher is doing something different, different at least from most of the Romance and the few other Romantasy novels I’ve read: her women protagonists aren’t looking for love and are, in fact, too damned busy for romance right now thank you very much. (This applies to Piper, too; although he’s very much not a woman, his description is somewhat femme.) Whether they’re too busy not being murdered or forced into marriage or too busy searching for loved ones or avoiding arrest or what have you, none of them are longing for an idealized love; in fact, most have been burned by romance and don’t want to risk their peace of mind again. In every respect, the women are dominant in the relationship and the men, well, they’re the ones who need saving. Or healing. Even Sarkis, the man centuries out of his time and not one of the paladins of the dead god, absolutely needs Halla, who comes to want, but not especially need, him.
It’s refreshing. Also refreshing: male protagonists who ask consent and wait until it’s granted.
If that’s what Romantasy is, I might not read exhaustively in it, but I can get behind the improved role models of decent behavior.
Next time I’ll compile a list of the players and their gods. It’ll come in handy when book five comes out.
*All the books are available at this link.
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