A review by amberdlewis
Paladin by Onley James

dark emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I was bored through most of this book. Not much really happened and when things did happen it felt repeated and overused. As much as I loved Arsen and Ever, I didn't really feel super invested in their romantic/sexual relationship. Despite the insistance that Ever was old enough to make his own decisions regarding sex, he was constantly and consistently infantilized. He was constantly called "the baby," "little one," and other terms that made him seem young and innocent. He also acted childish, constantly pouting and acting with a general obliviousness. The way he acted made sense given his trauma and history, which is why it felt off that the only truly adult thing about him was when it came to sex.