Ordination: The Paladin Trilogy, Book 1

Faith and tradition collide in Ford’s promising series debut, set in a cod-medieval fantasy world where “the only place kings and barons give a damn about farmers and laborers is in legends.” Landless and lordless knight Allystaire is skilled at sizing up people and situations, but no amount of hard-won experience can prepare him for being chosen as a paladin of the Mother, an ancient goddess hardly anyone remembers. Granted the gifts of strength, healing, and compelling others to speak the truth, Allystaire and his companions set out to bring justice to the world, starting with the lands ruled by greedy barons. Priests of well-established religions are suspicious of this new faith and its determined crusaders, who are rapidly gaining attention—and support—from the downtrodden. Ford’s debut offers compelling characters and sharp dialogue, with just enough wry humor to keep this story of unlikely faith from becoming pompous or overwrought. Allystaire is a believable hero with an interesting past, and a future that promises plenty of action and adventure. (June)