Rachel Bach - Heaven's Queen

From the moment she took a job on Captain Caldswell's doomed ship, Devi Morris' life has been one disaster after another: government conspiracies, two alien races out for her blood, an incurable virus that's eating her alive.
Now, with the captain missing and everyone -- even her own government -- determined to hunt her down, things are going from bad to impossible. The sensible plan would be to hide and wait for things to blow over, but Devi's never been one to shy from a fight, and she's getting mighty sick of running.
It's time to put this crisis on her terms and do what she knows is right. But with all human life hanging on her actions, the price of taking a stand might be more than she can pay.

Comment: This is the third and final installment in the Paradox trilogy by author Rachel Bach, a story that follows the adventures of Deviana Morris while she tries to defeat a danger to the universe in which she lives. This is a sci-fi space opera that is quite amazing.

In this final installment, Devi and Rupert are teaming up to go find Maat and rescue her so they can end the problems that have been affecting so many innocents.  Devi also has the virus to worry about and knowing the two things, her personal problem and the international issues, are entwined can be too difficult to solve. But having Rupert by her side and understanding she needs to confront certain people can turn out to be her only chance of freeing the innocents in all this. But will the beings responsible for all these problems let Devi be successful?

This story sure has a lot of adventure and situations sometimes difficult to imagine. But I do love having my own ideas about the settings and scenarios...imagining life in space, a routine situation where people simply travel by space ship to other planets can be both alluring and frightening. I think the author is very talented and she does have an eye for detail because she successfully brought to life many ideas and possibilities.

In this final installment, I was certainly hoping to see which explanation would exist for why all the issues Devi has faced existed. It was a lot simpler than I imagined and, sometimes, simplicity can be more difficult to solve. I liked that this wasn't a huge conspiracy by some people, it was all based on a situation originated by one single feeling: the need to be seen as superior by a certain group. It can be scary how many situations are so problematic because of one single detail... I liked how things were solved, although too many people die or suffer. Of course I assume this has drama reasons but in some aspects it didn't have to be so. Still, I understand where the author went by depicting such a harsh situation/world.

The end of the story was interesting. I think I'd have liked a bit more detail in the HEA and in the final scenes but overall, I think it was in line with what we've had int he previous books in terms of consistency and writing.

A significant part of the story is focused on Devi, even more so because this is a first person narrator story. Devi is a true heroine here, but some of her actions aren't always easily understandable. I like her character, her personality, her need to be the best person she can be and her bold confidence even in adverse settings. But I would have liked her to accept more easily she has a vulnerable side and love professions took their time to happen. Yes, this is not primarily a romance but it was certainly a fun part of the story.

Deviana also has an attitude towards one or two situations during the book I wasn't a fan of. I get the author's idea but I didn't always find it agreeable. Despite my minor dislikes, though I still think this was a well done story.

The secondary characters were truly amazing in this trilogy. I liked how the author didn't stick to simple stereotypes we often see in adventure books or sci-fi series and I enjoyed spending time with some characters. I obviously would have enjoyed more ease moments between the characters, especially Rupert and Devi and Devi and some key characters like Nova and even Basil. I can imagine what would happen to them all, but reading about it would have been more fun.

All in all, a great story, a surprisingly interesting conclusion and also some food for thought when it comes to human behavior and not when it comes to survival and pride...

Grade: 8/10

Rachel Bach - Honor's Knight

After a mysterious attack left her short several memories and one partner, she's determined to keep her head down, do her job, and get on with her life. But even though Devi's not actually looking for it -- trouble keeps finding her. She sees things no one else can, the black stain on her hands is growing, and she is entangled with the cook she's supposed to hate.
But when a deadly crisis exposes far more of the truth than she bargained for, Devi discovers there's worse fates than being shot, and sometimes the only people you can trust are the ones who want you dead.

Comment: After reading and enjoying the first book in the Paradox series by author Rachel Bach at the end of last year, I knew I had to keep reading, not only because I really liked that first book but also because something happened at the end - not a traditional cliffhanger, but we could say so - and I needed to see what would happen after.

This second installment follows a confused but apparently back to work Devi after some problems which took place in the previous book. But Devi hears a conversation that makes suspicious and somehow she has to be told the truth about what happened to her and why her memory isn't as normal as she thought. 

Trying to escape a situation she considers too dire to even imagine, Devi learns more truths as time goes by. But when all seems lost, Devi realizes courage and reckless moves can sometimes walk side by side. Will Devi find a way to help those who need and save herself as well?

Reading this book was quite entertaining. It was also engaging because things were happening very quickly and it seemed the action was non stop. Even the quieter moments still advanced something in terms of Devi's choices. It can be slightly frustrating to only have Devi's POV on everything, but as a character she is fascinating and that makes reading very easy and fluid.

This book is a good second installment. We get to discover things about Devi and those around her and also about the whole mystery behind the plot. I think the author had the talent to think about a scenario and then putting it on the page. Somehow, it got easy to imagine how things were happening and often the best ideas don't always turn into scenes well played in our heads but the descriptions were enough detailed and presented to make things easy on the reader.

The plot is quite imaginative, yes. The whole sci-fi scenario could be just comic or silly descriptions but there is a whole structure well designed and where each detail has a purpose. It was very interesting to know some hidden truths about Devi's boss, about the big secret everyone is trying to keep, about the reasons why Devi seems to be different... 

Although the pace is quite good, nevertheless some parts weren't as fluid when it came to go from Devi's inner thoughts to the real life action and it kind of showed. But honestly, it wasn't such a big deal in the long haul.

One of my favorite things, despite not being the focus, is the romance we see slowly developing, even with some obstacles. It was nice, and it shows us a side of the characters which is not the main state of being. I liked to see their vulnerable side and how they used what they wee feeling not as an excuse but as a lesson to become better, even if it didn't look as if it would be worth it. I'm looking for to see this relationship be cemented in the final story and - hopefully, it will end well.

It's difficult to write much about the book, it has such complicated situations and details that I couldn't do justice to it, but I just feel very happy to have read this book and anyone who likes the genre would certainly feel the same. I can't wait to see what the author has prepared for the end and I anticipate revelations that can turn this into even more amazing status.

Grade: 8/10

Rachel Bach - Fortune's Pawn

When professional mercenary Deviana Morris took the security guard job aboard the Glorious Fool, all she wanted was a fast route into the Devastators --- the elite league of armored fighters entrusted with the most important duty on her home planet of Paradox. But this security job isn't just twelve-hour patrols, armor-polishing, and whiskey. The supposedly-cursed Captain Caldswell keeps sending Devi and her partner into unimaginably dangerous situations. Ren, the captain's daughter, is a kind of weird that Devi has never experienced before. And to top it off, there's the insufferably sexy cook, Rupert Chekov, who is far more than what he seems -- possibly even far more than human.

Comment: This is the first book I red by this author, it's a sci-fi story with some elements of romance. Some people also describe it as space opera, which I can understand but it feels more like an adventure than just presentations of the lives of space travelers.

In this new adventure, we meet Devi Morris, a mercenary who has worked to the top of her position and leaves her job to try a new career with a renowned but apparently dangerous ship so she can try to get to the best place possible for someone like her, a place with the Devastators. To get her isn't easy or fast, but working for Captain Caldswell will make her get there fast, as a recommendation from him would do wonders. His ship has the ill fame of not holding on staff for long but Devi has what it takes. This novel lets us see what her life is like on board and the strange things that happen to her until she just can't remember it anymore...

Curious? I know I'm not the best writer out there but I couldn't properly convey the idea of how interesting the world building is and how special the story is told, so just try it if you can. 

I had a great time reading this book! Not that it was a comedy - it's not - but the time I spend reading was well spent and now I can't wait to keep reading. This story is mostly the description of what Devi does, who she deals with, her daily tasks, how her personality is like and what happens around her. Sure, it's only her POV we get and every reader knows how limitative first person narrators can be, but there is one help here which is greatly appreciated.

Still, I think this is a great story.

Obviously, it's not perfect.

Devi is a great heroine but I confess certain attitudes of hers were too harsh but one can always say it's just an abundance of confidence... but I still would have liked to see her think more on her vulnerable side too, and not just how great she is or how amazing her suit and weapons are.

The world created here is interesting, it's space, it's planets, it's weird beings out there and the beginning almost seems to have Star Trek vibes because of the different types of people within the ship. But I found it really interesting and the best thing is that it mixes mundane, daily routines with some strange happenings so we are always waiting for something to happen and the anticipation is well done, not too obvious, not subtle but always there...

I also wasn't much of a fan of the constant talk about fights and how Devi would do this or be that when she gained the upper hand nor did I appreciate some of her actions and decisions about certain personal choices. I'd certainly change her a bit to suit my personal preferences but I thinks he was funny and brave and in the end I couldn't wait to see her succeed. Some things happen and she really wants to discover what is going on, why some things are so secret and in the end I was dying to know what happens.

There is a hint of romance here, not too detailed, not too explored because of writing and plot but still meaningful enough for me to want to see Devi and the man she loves, together. There are some crazy drama scenes here, I mean, not melodramas we see in woman's fiction or tragedies but still enough to make us think. The way the book ends...I wouldn't say it's a cliffhanger because we know things Devi doesn't, but still. I'm very eager to get my hands on the next book and see what explains certain things in this book, why those things happen and how and, most important, what will happen to Devi and her romantic life!!

I was sold on the writing style, on the plot, on the secret vibe surrounding some characters and their actions and now I'm very curious to know more.

I know the author writes under other names but those other books don't compel me the way this ne did and how the rest of the trilogy will too. I already bought them, I just need to be patient fo them to arrive and to find the time to devour them.

This one is a great start.

Grade: 8/10