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Paradox #2
Honour's Knight
The rollicking sequel to Fortune's Pawn -- an action packed science fiction novel.
Devi Morris has a lot of problems. And not the fun, easy-to-shoot kind either.
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.
Devi Morris has a lot of problems. And not the fun, easy-to-shoot kind either.
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.
363 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2014
194 people are currently reading
2242 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Bach
4 books951 followersRachel Bach grew up wanting to be an author and a super villain. Unfortunately, super villainy proved surprisingly difficult to break into, so she stuck to writing and everything worked out great. She currently lives in Athens, GA with her perpetual energy toddler, extremely understanding husband, overflowing library, and obese wiener dog. You can find out more about Rachel and all her books at rachelbach.net.
Rachel also writes fantasy under the name Rachel Aaron.
Rachel also writes fantasy under the name Rachel Aaron.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 889 reviews
September 10, 2017
Is it fair to fault a book for where you think the series is going? If it hasn't actually made it there yet?
I don't know. I'm trying not to hold this book accountable for the (maybe?) flaws it seems to be setting book 3 up for, but it's difficult . . .
You see, the thing I loved about Devi in FORTUNE'S PAWN was how she was a soldier first, and everything else was secondary. That kind of single-minded determination is so rare in a female MC. This time . . . Devi was still pretty hardcore, BUT . . .
<-----there's a rant in there, fair warning.
That is all.
I don't know. I'm trying not to hold this book accountable for the (maybe?) flaws it seems to be setting book 3 up for, but it's difficult . . .
You see, the thing I loved about Devi in FORTUNE'S PAWN was how she was a soldier first, and everything else was secondary. That kind of single-minded determination is so rare in a female MC. This time . . . Devi was still pretty hardcore, BUT . . .
<-----there's a rant in there, fair warning.
That is all.
January 21, 2020
I didn't have a plan. My goal at this point was just to get to the hall and play things from there. But when I was nearly to my exit, I caught sight of something huge charging up behind me in my rear camera. That was all the warning I got before a claw grabbed my leg.
The xith'cal yanked me off my feet like a doll, and I went down hard only to find there was no ground to go down to. I was hanging upside down in the grip of the largest lizard I'd ever seen . . .
Just another day in the life of mercenary Devi Morris.
In volume two, which offers less kiss-kiss and more bang-bang than the previous go-round, I lost count of how many times our gal ends up outnumbered and outgunned. A few mysteries from the first book are solved, and once again, it's awfully hard to tell the good guys from the bad. And, it was fun watching the arms-loving Devi finding her own body becoming the ultimate weapon in the fight against the phantoms.
Looks like some other titles are going to get brushed aside as I delve into the last book sooner rather than later.
The xith'cal yanked me off my feet like a doll, and I went down hard only to find there was no ground to go down to. I was hanging upside down in the grip of the largest lizard I'd ever seen . . .
Just another day in the life of mercenary Devi Morris.
In volume two, which offers less kiss-kiss and more bang-bang than the previous go-round, I lost count of how many times our gal ends up outnumbered and outgunned. A few mysteries from the first book are solved, and once again, it's awfully hard to tell the good guys from the bad. And, it was fun watching the arms-loving Devi finding her own body becoming the ultimate weapon in the fight against the phantoms.
Looks like some other titles are going to get brushed aside as I delve into the last book sooner rather than later.
December 25, 2015
Honor’s Knight is the sequel to the fabulous Fortune’s Pawn, which was one of the best books I have read this year. Unfortunately, like many sequels, it didn’t quite match its predecessor in terms of awesomeness.
Devi is back in Honor’s Knight. She has no memories of most of the events that occurred in the previous novel. She is still on the Glorious Fool, and for some reason whenever she looks at the horrible cook, she feels repulsed and physical nauseated. Yet when she is not looking at his face, she is oddly at peace with him. Will she be able to get her memories back in time to save the universe?
I was disappointed with the balance of action/romance/violence/mystery that this book had compared to the first one. And I got a bit annoyed with her constant thought ramblings… “I don’t like Rupert, I like Rupert, I HATE Rupert, I LOVE Rupert”. There was way too much thought dialogue about trivial things too. And the romance? Lame in comparison to the first one, I was waiting for something to happen. Although I did enjoy the fight scene! And that’s all I’m going to spoil about that particular scene! Lots of fun!
Honor’s Knight still possessed some excellent qualities. The violence and action was awesome. The action never stopped. Her suit was as cool as ever, and I enjoyed the addition of some new characters that were not in the first book. Also as far as storyline goes, it really did expand and answer some questions that were lingering at the completion of the first one.
The audio book was awesome like the first with the same narrator. I have looked to see if the third one is on audiobook. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be, so I am going to have to read the third version with my eyes. This is disappointing because Emily Durante and I are in a narrator/listener groove now that I will miss. So that’s a real bummer.
However, looking forward to reading the last instalment because I want to know what happens.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, ONLY if you have read the first one. It wouldn’t go well as a stand alone. There is SO MUCH backstory you need!
For more reviews check out my blog
www.booksbabiesbeing.com
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www.twitter.com/BBB_Mel
Devi is back in Honor’s Knight. She has no memories of most of the events that occurred in the previous novel. She is still on the Glorious Fool, and for some reason whenever she looks at the horrible cook, she feels repulsed and physical nauseated. Yet when she is not looking at his face, she is oddly at peace with him. Will she be able to get her memories back in time to save the universe?
I was disappointed with the balance of action/romance/violence/mystery that this book had compared to the first one. And I got a bit annoyed with her constant thought ramblings… “I don’t like Rupert, I like Rupert, I HATE Rupert, I LOVE Rupert”. There was way too much thought dialogue about trivial things too. And the romance? Lame in comparison to the first one, I was waiting for something to happen. Although I did enjoy the fight scene! And that’s all I’m going to spoil about that particular scene! Lots of fun!
Honor’s Knight still possessed some excellent qualities. The violence and action was awesome. The action never stopped. Her suit was as cool as ever, and I enjoyed the addition of some new characters that were not in the first book. Also as far as storyline goes, it really did expand and answer some questions that were lingering at the completion of the first one.
The audio book was awesome like the first with the same narrator. I have looked to see if the third one is on audiobook. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be, so I am going to have to read the third version with my eyes. This is disappointing because Emily Durante and I are in a narrator/listener groove now that I will miss. So that’s a real bummer.
However, looking forward to reading the last instalment because I want to know what happens.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, ONLY if you have read the first one. It wouldn’t go well as a stand alone. There is SO MUCH backstory you need!
For more reviews check out my blog
www.booksbabiesbeing.com
www.facebook.com/booksbabiesbeing
www.twitter.com/BBB_Mel
May 22, 2015
[4.5 Stars]
February 20, 2014
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...
You know how some books you just don't realize how addicted you were to them until it occurs to you how badly, desperately, severely you're craving the sequel? Yeah well, this is one of those cases! I even broke away from my February reading list to fit this one in as soon as I received it for review, because I knew I couldn't wait any longer.
I'm happy to report Honor's Knight is just as much fun as the first book. In that, it certainly did not disappoint. But speaking of which, before I go further it probably behooves me to warn readers that this review might contain spoilers for Fortune's Pawn. I don't think there's any way around it when talking about this book, since it picks up right after the events of the last one. So if you'd like to skip this and read my review for the first book instead, I'll totally understand. Better yet, you should just pick up Fortune's Pawn! It was the most fun I've had with a sci-fi in a very long time.
As I'd expected, it was a joy and a treat to catch up with Deviana "Devi" Morris. I've always enjoyed courageous and determined women characters in science fiction, and Devi lends her own brand of cool to this spirited space drama, which in my opinion single-handedly makes this whole entire series. Even though she begins this book with her mind tampered with and her memories wiped, she is still the Devi I know and love. She can't remember how her security team partner was killed or why a single glance at the ship's cook now makes her feel physically ill, but none of that's about to stop her from doing her job.
Nevertheless, the wrench thrown into the relationship between her and Rupert Charkov damn near killed me. These two belong together, and to see them apart pains me, especially when I understood the reason for Charkov's tortured reactions but meanwhile Devi can't even hold on to his name. Can you tell that I'm really into this romance? Because I am. I'm not usually so taken with this much drama in romantic subplots, but I think this an exception because of how candid Devi is with the situation. There's no angst or sensationalism; she handles all her problems with the same direct, no-nonsense way -- with her wits and with her guns. I love it.
If you enjoyed the story in Fortune's Pawn, then you'll definitely like Honor's Knight as well. The first book alluded to a mystery involving the crew of the Glorious Fool, and rest assured everything is revealed here at last. The story also takes us to new places, including a handful of exotic planets as well as a brief sequence in which Devi returns to Paradoxian territory. In fact, I wish we had been able to see more of the world in those scenes; more details about the culture in which she grew up would have been very interesting. Regardless, it was pure satisfaction to watch all the puzzle pieces finally fit together, but there were still plenty of twists and turns. Alliances will shift and secrets abound as Devi becomes embroiled in something huge, something that puts the safety of the entire galaxy on the line.
When Rachel Bach/Rachel Aaron goes for action and thrills, she's clearly not afraid to go all the way. So far this series has been wildly entertaining, but to me it has also become a lot more than just a sci-fi adventure story about Devi blowing away big bad aliens (though there is also plenty of that). Like I said in my review for Fortune's Pawn, what started off as a popcorn read has gotten me more emotionally invested than I realized, and I find myself caring deeply for the story and characters. Will Devi and Rupert end up together? (I hope so.) Will she achieve her dreams of becoming a Devastator? (I'm guessing probably, but after all that she's been through, a life as a Devastator now seems kind of tame!) I'm very curious and eager to see how all of this will play out.
In short, Honor's Knight picks up the energetic pace set by the first book and runs with it, carrying on with the momentum and revving it up even more. If this trend continues, the third and final book should be outstanding. I can't wait.
You know how some books you just don't realize how addicted you were to them until it occurs to you how badly, desperately, severely you're craving the sequel? Yeah well, this is one of those cases! I even broke away from my February reading list to fit this one in as soon as I received it for review, because I knew I couldn't wait any longer.
I'm happy to report Honor's Knight is just as much fun as the first book. In that, it certainly did not disappoint. But speaking of which, before I go further it probably behooves me to warn readers that this review might contain spoilers for Fortune's Pawn. I don't think there's any way around it when talking about this book, since it picks up right after the events of the last one. So if you'd like to skip this and read my review for the first book instead, I'll totally understand. Better yet, you should just pick up Fortune's Pawn! It was the most fun I've had with a sci-fi in a very long time.
As I'd expected, it was a joy and a treat to catch up with Deviana "Devi" Morris. I've always enjoyed courageous and determined women characters in science fiction, and Devi lends her own brand of cool to this spirited space drama, which in my opinion single-handedly makes this whole entire series. Even though she begins this book with her mind tampered with and her memories wiped, she is still the Devi I know and love. She can't remember how her security team partner was killed or why a single glance at the ship's cook now makes her feel physically ill, but none of that's about to stop her from doing her job.
Nevertheless, the wrench thrown into the relationship between her and Rupert Charkov damn near killed me. These two belong together, and to see them apart pains me, especially when I understood the reason for Charkov's tortured reactions but meanwhile Devi can't even hold on to his name. Can you tell that I'm really into this romance? Because I am. I'm not usually so taken with this much drama in romantic subplots, but I think this an exception because of how candid Devi is with the situation. There's no angst or sensationalism; she handles all her problems with the same direct, no-nonsense way -- with her wits and with her guns. I love it.
If you enjoyed the story in Fortune's Pawn, then you'll definitely like Honor's Knight as well. The first book alluded to a mystery involving the crew of the Glorious Fool, and rest assured everything is revealed here at last. The story also takes us to new places, including a handful of exotic planets as well as a brief sequence in which Devi returns to Paradoxian territory. In fact, I wish we had been able to see more of the world in those scenes; more details about the culture in which she grew up would have been very interesting. Regardless, it was pure satisfaction to watch all the puzzle pieces finally fit together, but there were still plenty of twists and turns. Alliances will shift and secrets abound as Devi becomes embroiled in something huge, something that puts the safety of the entire galaxy on the line.
When Rachel Bach/Rachel Aaron goes for action and thrills, she's clearly not afraid to go all the way. So far this series has been wildly entertaining, but to me it has also become a lot more than just a sci-fi adventure story about Devi blowing away big bad aliens (though there is also plenty of that). Like I said in my review for Fortune's Pawn, what started off as a popcorn read has gotten me more emotionally invested than I realized, and I find myself caring deeply for the story and characters. Will Devi and Rupert end up together? (I hope so.) Will she achieve her dreams of becoming a Devastator? (I'm guessing probably, but after all that she's been through, a life as a Devastator now seems kind of tame!) I'm very curious and eager to see how all of this will play out.
In short, Honor's Knight picks up the energetic pace set by the first book and runs with it, carrying on with the momentum and revving it up even more. If this trend continues, the third and final book should be outstanding. I can't wait.
February 26, 2017
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
In the final moments of Fortune's Pawn, Devi discovers that Caldswell is not all that he appears to be and is actually a leader of the organization known as The Eyes, which are responsible for ridding the solar system of planet destroying phantoms that no one is aware of. Except she doesn't remember anything because Caldswell performed a memory wipe on her and not only does she not know who he truly is but now every time she looks at Rupert she develops an unreasonable repulsion towards him. Intent on moving on from the attack that took her memories, she begins to focus solely on her job again but problems continue to arise. The glowing bugs that no one else can still and the mysterious dark stain that spreads across her body are issues but it's becoming more and more clear that she doesn't have a single person she can trust anymore.
Much of Honor's Knight is spent in a state of confusion as Devi attempts to recall recent memories that constantly evade her. Despite her mental handicap, Devi never fails to be as fearless as we've come to expect from her, even more so when she's struggling for her very own survival. It seemed like there were fewer action scenes than in Fortune's Pawn as there was slightly more focus on world-building but the action we did see was still fierce and explosive making for yet another incredibly intense read. What I touted about Fortune's Pawn being sci-fi lite wasn't exactly the case with Honor's Knight. However, by this point I'm so immersed in this world and completely fascinated by Devi that I really enjoyed the added details and the expansion that went on in this installment.
The revelations are non-stop in this incredibly exciting second installment in the Paradox series. You won't find a hint of middle book syndrome, nor as brutal of a cliffhanger as the one in Fortune's Pawn, but you'll definitely be left antsy for the final installment.
I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
In the final moments of Fortune's Pawn, Devi discovers that Caldswell is not all that he appears to be and is actually a leader of the organization known as The Eyes, which are responsible for ridding the solar system of planet destroying phantoms that no one is aware of. Except she doesn't remember anything because Caldswell performed a memory wipe on her and not only does she not know who he truly is but now every time she looks at Rupert she develops an unreasonable repulsion towards him. Intent on moving on from the attack that took her memories, she begins to focus solely on her job again but problems continue to arise. The glowing bugs that no one else can still and the mysterious dark stain that spreads across her body are issues but it's becoming more and more clear that she doesn't have a single person she can trust anymore.
Much of Honor's Knight is spent in a state of confusion as Devi attempts to recall recent memories that constantly evade her. Despite her mental handicap, Devi never fails to be as fearless as we've come to expect from her, even more so when she's struggling for her very own survival. It seemed like there were fewer action scenes than in Fortune's Pawn as there was slightly more focus on world-building but the action we did see was still fierce and explosive making for yet another incredibly intense read. What I touted about Fortune's Pawn being sci-fi lite wasn't exactly the case with Honor's Knight. However, by this point I'm so immersed in this world and completely fascinated by Devi that I really enjoyed the added details and the expansion that went on in this installment.
The revelations are non-stop in this incredibly exciting second installment in the Paradox series. You won't find a hint of middle book syndrome, nor as brutal of a cliffhanger as the one in Fortune's Pawn, but you'll definitely be left antsy for the final installment.
April 24, 2017
You guys THIS SERIES IS SO GOOD WHY DON'T MORE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT??????
June 7, 2019
A full trilogy review.
The one thing I'll always credit Rachel Bach/Aaron with is her ability to thoroughly entertain me with her stories, and the Paradox trilogy is yet another proof of that.
By now, most of you will already know that I swear by Rachel Aaron's books. They are go-to comfort reads; I've never picked up one of her books and not found it enjoyable. Her knack of creating great characters is matched by her ability to create worlds which at first glance seemed familiar but is packed with imagination. It's as if her love of all things geeky brought together some pretty cool influences in her worldbuilding.
For example, Paradox is the name of a planet; named as such because in spite of it's super advanced space-faring people, it runs on a feudal system and the people worship a divine god-king. For this, Aaron mentioned heavy influence from Warhammer 40k. And I believe it's not only in respect of the god-king, but the powered armours worn by the operatives.
There is so much more cool stuff in this universe, which I'll only briefly mention because the fun is in the discovery. Aside from the usual spacey stuff like space stations, battleships, hyperspace travel, and aliens (will come back to this later), there is the existence of a type of 'energy' which is wielded almost like magic. Some humans are more sensitive or powerful at using it, while most are not. The aliens form the best part of the worldbuilding, I kid you not. We have a physically superior yet brutally violent lizard-like race, an avian species who are known as the best space navigators, and alien beings of almost pure energy. Two of these species play a very significant role in the narrative and made it a no-holds-barred intergalactic conflict with truly dire consequences.
Deviana Morris, the main character of this trilogy is a badass, in-your-face female mercenary who loves her powered space armour and weapons so much that she named them and proclaimed that she'll hold a funeral for them when they go out of commission. Aaron mentioned that her inspiration for Devi ranged from Toph Beifong from Avatar: The Last Airbender, to Paksenarrion from Elizabeth Moon's Deed of Paksenarrion, Killashandra from Anne McCaffrey's Crystal Singer series, and Ellen Ripley from the Alien movies.
It may be too easy to classify Devi as a Mary Sue character, but I think she is a bit more complex than that. Yes, she is a badass fighter who got to where she is with a combination of skill, implacable determination and burning ambition. However, with her story told from the first person perspective, her inner voice (which can be quite funny sometimes) gave out a sense of self-awareness and vulnerability underlying all that bravado. Especially when the romance angle started to take shape in the story. While I won't say that the love story dominated the narrative, it was one of the pivotal arcs of Devi's character development. I believed that Devi's choices and motivations are partially influenced by her romantic entanglement. I'm not a fan of romance novels, and as some parts of these books read like one, it became a bit of a distraction. Admittedly, it did make tear up a bit in the end. So I'm not heartless after all.
Once you take away the romance though, these books are filled with high-octane space-faring action that is worthy of a blockbuster movie. The concluding climax was an adrenaline-pumping and breathtaking non-stop action sequence involving aliens and a top-secret government space station armed to the teeth. And what's at stake? Pretty much the whole universe if Devi was wrong.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading these books and tore through them at my usual speed when it comes to one of this author's books. Her writing is so accessible that it is easy to breeze through her books. One more thing I need to mention is the way the story builds up from one title to the next. Rachel Aaron never seemed to let subplots creep in to divert the story away from the main narrative and kept the momentum going all the way. The first book alluded to secrets and started dropping clues. A lot of the answers came in the sequel, but it was left to the concluding volume for the real revelations to come forth. In short, masterful pacing and storytelling which culminated in a satisfactory ending.
You can purchase the books from Amazon | Book Depository (Free shipping worldwide)
You can also find this, and my other reviews at Novel Notions.
The one thing I'll always credit Rachel Bach/Aaron with is her ability to thoroughly entertain me with her stories, and the Paradox trilogy is yet another proof of that.
By now, most of you will already know that I swear by Rachel Aaron's books. They are go-to comfort reads; I've never picked up one of her books and not found it enjoyable. Her knack of creating great characters is matched by her ability to create worlds which at first glance seemed familiar but is packed with imagination. It's as if her love of all things geeky brought together some pretty cool influences in her worldbuilding.
For example, Paradox is the name of a planet; named as such because in spite of it's super advanced space-faring people, it runs on a feudal system and the people worship a divine god-king. For this, Aaron mentioned heavy influence from Warhammer 40k. And I believe it's not only in respect of the god-king, but the powered armours worn by the operatives.
There is so much more cool stuff in this universe, which I'll only briefly mention because the fun is in the discovery. Aside from the usual spacey stuff like space stations, battleships, hyperspace travel, and aliens (will come back to this later), there is the existence of a type of 'energy' which is wielded almost like magic. Some humans are more sensitive or powerful at using it, while most are not. The aliens form the best part of the worldbuilding, I kid you not. We have a physically superior yet brutally violent lizard-like race, an avian species who are known as the best space navigators, and alien beings of almost pure energy. Two of these species play a very significant role in the narrative and made it a no-holds-barred intergalactic conflict with truly dire consequences.
Deviana Morris, the main character of this trilogy is a badass, in-your-face female mercenary who loves her powered space armour and weapons so much that she named them and proclaimed that she'll hold a funeral for them when they go out of commission. Aaron mentioned that her inspiration for Devi ranged from Toph Beifong from Avatar: The Last Airbender, to Paksenarrion from Elizabeth Moon's Deed of Paksenarrion, Killashandra from Anne McCaffrey's Crystal Singer series, and Ellen Ripley from the Alien movies.
It may be too easy to classify Devi as a Mary Sue character, but I think she is a bit more complex than that. Yes, she is a badass fighter who got to where she is with a combination of skill, implacable determination and burning ambition. However, with her story told from the first person perspective, her inner voice (which can be quite funny sometimes) gave out a sense of self-awareness and vulnerability underlying all that bravado. Especially when the romance angle started to take shape in the story. While I won't say that the love story dominated the narrative, it was one of the pivotal arcs of Devi's character development. I believed that Devi's choices and motivations are partially influenced by her romantic entanglement. I'm not a fan of romance novels, and as some parts of these books read like one, it became a bit of a distraction. Admittedly, it did make tear up a bit in the end. So I'm not heartless after all.
Once you take away the romance though, these books are filled with high-octane space-faring action that is worthy of a blockbuster movie. The concluding climax was an adrenaline-pumping and breathtaking non-stop action sequence involving aliens and a top-secret government space station armed to the teeth. And what's at stake? Pretty much the whole universe if Devi was wrong.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading these books and tore through them at my usual speed when it comes to one of this author's books. Her writing is so accessible that it is easy to breeze through her books. One more thing I need to mention is the way the story builds up from one title to the next. Rachel Aaron never seemed to let subplots creep in to divert the story away from the main narrative and kept the momentum going all the way. The first book alluded to secrets and started dropping clues. A lot of the answers came in the sequel, but it was left to the concluding volume for the real revelations to come forth. In short, masterful pacing and storytelling which culminated in a satisfactory ending.
You can purchase the books from Amazon | Book Depository (Free shipping worldwide)
You can also find this, and my other reviews at Novel Notions.
April 23, 2017
It's so refreshing to read a book without any slow or boring patches to get through! There was not one dull moment that I can think of in this book. I enjoyed the first book, but this one is way, way better.
The situation is no longer murky, and lots of new complications come out, making this a really strong middle book in a trilogy. This is not one of those filler novels. It takes what was introduced in Fortune's Pawn and blows it wide open, adding all sorts of new information and conflicts and surprises.
The action wasn't overpowering, either. I still felt like I got plenty of character time. I'm really loving Devi. She's not just kick-butt physically (but her fights are pretty awesome). She's also emotionally strong. I love how her brains don't just turn to mush over Rupert. She doesn't just brush off what he does to her like it doesn't matter. But she doesn't write him off either. She's very - adult. I love that she's not immature, but she is also confused by how love changes her, and she fights to adjust to it and still stay true to herself.
Safe to say, I'm really enjoying this series! With another whopping cliffhanger, I can't wait to see what happens in Heaven's Queen.
The situation is no longer murky, and lots of new complications come out, making this a really strong middle book in a trilogy. This is not one of those filler novels. It takes what was introduced in Fortune's Pawn and blows it wide open, adding all sorts of new information and conflicts and surprises.
The action wasn't overpowering, either. I still felt like I got plenty of character time. I'm really loving Devi. She's not just kick-butt physically (but her fights are pretty awesome). She's also emotionally strong. I love how her brains don't just turn to mush over Rupert. She doesn't just brush off what he does to her like it doesn't matter. But she doesn't write him off either. She's very - adult. I love that she's not immature, but she is also confused by how love changes her, and she fights to adjust to it and still stay true to herself.
Safe to say, I'm really enjoying this series! With another whopping cliffhanger, I can't wait to see what happens in Heaven's Queen.
August 23, 2022
revisiting this one after re-reading the first. I forgot what an asshole Caldswell is!
This is no black and white story... just shades of perpetual grey. Except for Devi of course ; )
Still a 5 star read. It's darker than the first book
I love how strong Devi is. She never lets anyone push her around. The pace is fast and furious, which I don't normally like, but it's gripping and hard to put down.
...........................................................
Another fantastic installation in Devi's adventures. We start off with a prologue that felt like a page out of a Mary Shelley story. Suitably creeped out we then pick up where we left off in book 1. As the story goes, many questions are answered but just as you feel flush with that knowledge new questions emerge. I vacillated from truly despising characters to being glad they were there for Devi. Romance wise, don't lose heart and don't worry, this story is not a downer in any way. The author is very good at balancing all sides of the story and keeping your interest. In fact, I yet again couldn't put my ipod down!
I am disappointed that the publisher never had the third book read by Emily Durante. She did such a fantastic job with this book and the last one!
Guess I'll just have to buy the epub.
This is no black and white story... just shades of perpetual grey. Except for Devi of course ; )
Still a 5 star read. It's darker than the first book
I love how strong Devi is. She never lets anyone push her around. The pace is fast and furious, which I don't normally like, but it's gripping and hard to put down.
...........................................................
Another fantastic installation in Devi's adventures. We start off with a prologue that felt like a page out of a Mary Shelley story. Suitably creeped out we then pick up where we left off in book 1. As the story goes, many questions are answered but just as you feel flush with that knowledge new questions emerge. I vacillated from truly despising characters to being glad they were there for Devi. Romance wise, don't lose heart and don't worry, this story is not a downer in any way. The author is very good at balancing all sides of the story and keeping your interest. In fact, I yet again couldn't put my ipod down!
I am disappointed that the publisher never had the third book read by Emily Durante. She did such a fantastic job with this book and the last one!
Guess I'll just have to buy the epub.
December 27, 2019
Never have I ever so desperately wanted a book series to be turned into a TV show.
Book #2 of the Paradox series was just as good as the first (which is very rare in a sequel). The action scenes are just perfect and once again the series takes you places you did not see coming.
Cannot wait to read the finale in book #3!
Book #2 of the Paradox series was just as good as the first (which is very rare in a sequel). The action scenes are just perfect and once again the series takes you places you did not see coming.
Cannot wait to read the finale in book #3!
October 5, 2014
I liked this one a lot less than the first book. It's one of those books where it felt like there was a lot of necessary running around and back and forth. There IS plot movement in the end and you get a lot of answers, but I feel like that was buried in lots of stuff that didn't really matter.
I did think the (book one spoiler) was handled better than usual (and that's a thing I really don't like).
But the romance . . . well, at one point, I was actively rooting against it. But there were also a lot of moments that made me think, "Wow, I could be really into this if I, uh, liked it." And, really, a lot of it goes back to the relationship not getting enough set up. I can forgive a lot (though certainly not all) if you make me believe they're really in love.
Sooo, if you were on the fence about reading this one, probably it is not worth it! I think I'll go ahead and finish the trilogy, though.
I did think the (book one spoiler) was handled better than usual (and that's a thing I really don't like).
But the romance . . . well, at one point, I was actively rooting against it. But there were also a lot of moments that made me think, "Wow, I could be really into this if I, uh, liked it." And, really, a lot of it goes back to the relationship not getting enough set up. I can forgive a lot (though certainly not all) if you make me believe they're really in love.
Sooo, if you were on the fence about reading this one, probably it is not worth it! I think I'll go ahead and finish the trilogy, though.
March 12, 2014
We pick up right where we left off with nary a backstory to slow us down, and though I’m not rating this as highly as I did the first book, it was still a thrilling ride. If the first book was all action then this book is all intrigue.
First things first- I really dislike the way this book (and the first too while I’m at it) ended. It’s too abrupt to me I feel like I’m being dumped midsentence. It’s not a cliffhanger, but it’s at a moment that is tense and scary, then BAM! It’s over. The prologue for Heaven’s Queen was included, which was nice, but I’d still prefer to end things a little more smoothly.
Now, as far as the story is concerned, it was just as engrossing as the first, and I still love me some Devi and Rupert. There are many reveals to be had in this one (my feelings toward Caldswell are all over the place!), one of which really did make me sputter and drop my jaw, but through it all I think the one thing that might be a hang up for me is the romance. Not to suggest that I didn’t like it, but there were some pretty crazy bad things happening between Devi and Rupert, and I mean bad, but they wrapped it up just a smidge too easy for me.
Now, with all that said, I’ve become quite the fangirl for Rachel Bach. This chick can write!! I know she says this series is a trilogy, but I am begging for more! More Devi, more Rupert, more of this world please!
July 10, 2015
If you haven't read book 1 - stop, go read it, come back. There be spoilers ahead.
Alright, Devi Morris is pretty freaking awesome. She's tough, she's no-nonsense, and, really, she's just an all around bad-ass mo-fo!
That being said, I would just like to say that the whole Devi/Rupert thing is pretty damn irritating. It's not that I mind the little romance thing that they have going on - its just that its so out of character for Devi that it's really difficult for me to buy into it all.
Gimme the aliens, space shoot-outs, and awesomely fantastic decked out to the max battle armors...but Devi being able to love Rupert after all that has happened?
Fuck off.
No way.
So that kinda puts a damper on everything. But still - I'ma try and get passed all that, because, besides that whole (glaringly huge) discrepancy, this book is a heck of a lot of fun to read.
I have a feeling book 3 is probably gonna piss me off though.
Alright, Devi Morris is pretty freaking awesome. She's tough, she's no-nonsense, and, really, she's just an all around bad-ass mo-fo!
That being said, I would just like to say that the whole Devi/Rupert thing is pretty damn irritating. It's not that I mind the little romance thing that they have going on - its just that its so out of character for Devi that it's really difficult for me to buy into it all.
Gimme the aliens, space shoot-outs, and awesomely fantastic decked out to the max battle armors...but Devi being able to love Rupert after all that has happened?
Fuck off.
No way.
So that kinda puts a damper on everything. But still - I'ma try and get passed all that, because, besides that whole (glaringly huge) discrepancy, this book is a heck of a lot of fun to read.
I have a feeling book 3 is probably gonna piss me off though.
July 9, 2020
Seething that I listened to the first two of this series and only now found out, when I went to find the audio of the last of the trilogy, that it was never made into an audiobook.
/sadrant
/sadrant
August 18, 2016
HONOR'S KNIGHT is, literally, a continuation of FORTUNE'S PAWN, the first story in the Paradox series. Like FP, it is told in first person but I never had any issues with this. Be sure and start with the prologue as it contains a very necessary and interesting piece of information.
This time around the stakes are higher and the action takes you up another notch. Devi Morris intends on finding some answers.
The characters are well-developed, the suspense keeps you guessing and the politics of this world....oh, the nasty jungle of government.
~~~~
Now if I can just wait until HEAVEN'S QUEEN is available at our library! >:-(
This time around the stakes are higher and the action takes you up another notch. Devi Morris intends on finding some answers.
The characters are well-developed, the suspense keeps you guessing and the politics of this world....oh, the nasty jungle of government.
~~~~
Now if I can just wait until HEAVEN'S QUEEN is available at our library! >:-(
March 28, 2015
I'm really getting into this series now. So much coolness! Aliens! Super armour! Badass heroine!
MORE!
RTC
MORE!
RTC
February 9, 2017
Who knew I would like space operas?
I am not going to do an extensive review as it will just be full of spoilers but suffice to say Devi is still the kickass, take no names adrenalin junkie of book one, well sort of.
The first half off the novel was stronger for me than the last half and I was a little disappointed in the direction the romance took. To be honest I am not sure if I still like Rupert as a character. But even with that said I still enjoyed Devi and know that the overarching story with Maab, her daughters and the plasmex is the reason I will read book 3.
And thankfully I have finally started seeing Basil as a fully rounded character and not just as Big Bird from Sesame street.
I am not going to do an extensive review as it will just be full of spoilers but suffice to say Devi is still the kickass, take no names adrenalin junkie of book one, well sort of.
The first half off the novel was stronger for me than the last half and I was a little disappointed in the direction the romance took. To be honest I am not sure if I still like Rupert as a character. But even with that said I still enjoyed Devi and know that the overarching story with Maab, her daughters and the plasmex is the reason I will read book 3.
And thankfully I have finally started seeing Basil as a fully rounded character and not just as Big Bird from Sesame street.
January 23, 2016
I loved this one. I was hooked from the very first scene. It was as well written and as entertaining as the first one in the series, but it was also funny. It had me laughing out loud. I love the character of Devi. She, as a soldier/mercenary, was still solid in this one, plus she has been given an additional role that I wasn't sure if it was going to work, but it did. It could have been an eye rolling disaster, but it felt plausible in Rachel Bach's world building. I need to now get my hands on the 3rd one.
Overall, this was a fun read. I gave the first in this series 4 stars, so this one gets a 5 for the humor and the entertainment value.
Overall, this was a fun read. I gave the first in this series 4 stars, so this one gets a 5 for the humor and the entertainment value.
January 16, 2015
Ovog puta knjiga je mnogo bolja. Nema više pripreme i upznavanja nego akcija počinje od samog početka i ne popišta do kraja.
Jedino što me sada ovde nervira je to što nemam osećaj da čitam trilogiju već jednu knjigu koju je neko presekao u tri dela (neko reko Laguna :P ).
Al u svakom slučaju više nego zabavno.
Jedino što me sada ovde nervira je to što nemam osećaj da čitam trilogiju već jednu knjigu koju je neko presekao u tri dela (neko reko Laguna :P ).
Al u svakom slučaju više nego zabavno.
February 24, 2019
Another abrupt ending, but the story is still very engaging and action-packed. Just please don’t remind me again of the features of the Lady Grey, by now I guess I understand what the suit can and cannot do.
I’m very happy I picked this series up. On to book #3.
Before I’d signed on with Caldswell, my life had followed a pattern: obey orders, climb the ladder, keep my eyes on the prize. It was a good gig, dangerous and exciting with glory as my reward.
Most of all, though, it was simple. A path of my own choosing where I did what I loved, knew where I fit, and understood where I was going.
Now, though, I felt like a dollhouse in a tornado. Over the past thirty hours, my entire life had been uprooted and turned on its head, my hopes and ambitions dashed then reshuffled then dashed again.
But now that the storm had quieted, even for a moment, I was determined to pick up the pieces and get myself back on the right track. First, though, I had to figure out what track that was.
I’m very happy I picked this series up. On to book #3.
Before I’d signed on with Caldswell, my life had followed a pattern: obey orders, climb the ladder, keep my eyes on the prize. It was a good gig, dangerous and exciting with glory as my reward.
Most of all, though, it was simple. A path of my own choosing where I did what I loved, knew where I fit, and understood where I was going.
Now, though, I felt like a dollhouse in a tornado. Over the past thirty hours, my entire life had been uprooted and turned on its head, my hopes and ambitions dashed then reshuffled then dashed again.
But now that the storm had quieted, even for a moment, I was determined to pick up the pieces and get myself back on the right track. First, though, I had to figure out what track that was.
September 6, 2016
Every bit as good as book 1, and more; book 2 dazzled me. Every time I thought I knew a character or the situation, the book blasted me with new details and showed me how wrong I was and how little I knew. I know the saying “there are two sides to every story.” I knew it was the message the book was sending. Nevertheless, I still got my ass handed to me.
+ the plot
The book started off slow for me because I didn’t like following memory-wiped Devi. I hate to see beloved main characters in a helpless position. The inexplicable emotions, the strange floating creatures only she could see, the “dreams” she was having. Devi began to doubt her sanity. Who wouldn’t? Thankfully, the torment didn’t last long, and that was when the book really began for me.
Once she quickly regained her memory, she gained some answers from Caldswell. Hurray for answers! I LOVE IT when a series doesn’t make me wait for them. Those answers were the phantoms, those strange floating creatures only plasmex users could see. And somehow she could too, because she was not a plasmex user. The phantoms were invulnerable aliens who traveled around outer space, and occasionally a big one would effortlessly destroy a planet for no discernible reason. The human governments kept it a secret because imagine the panic. The fact that only plasmex users, less than a hundred in existence and very short-lived, could kill these phantoms? Panic.
Devi immediately realized it was the virus she contracted on the alien ghost ship back in book 1 that gave her the special sight. The virus also made her The Most Wanted Person In The Universe. It’s no exaggeration to say she could save the world or bring it to its end. It’s a fucking virus. Book 2 is about what Devi going to do with it as the only carrier. Cue moral choices. Lots of them.
The action was nonstop and BREATHTAKING. My pulse rate and mind was never at rest. I was constantly wondering how the fuck was Devi going to escape her predicament and what was she was going to do next. Every path seemed to be a death trap. One wrong move and BOOM, everyone dies. No do-over.
+ the characters
I loved Devi. Loved her. She was fucking tough as nails. The only time I thought she made a stupid was when she went to a Paradoxian noble for help after everything she had learned about the conspiracy with the phantoms. I swear, her Paradoxian loyalty will be the death of her. Thankfully, things quickly worked out. It was amazing to watch Devi make like a contortionist and pull a Houdini. Go, Devi!
I still don’t really care for Rupert, but I admit he’s growing on me. It helped that Devi immediately stopped being a lovestruck fool when her memory was restored and gave the bastard some deserved asskicking in more than one way.
Mabel being a warrior was a surprise because I should have seen it coming. I knew there was more to that overly cheery, super-competent mechanic. Nevertheless, she still remained an enigma like her cat. In book 1, I learned about Nova and Hyrek. In book 2, I learned about Basil, Ren, Caldswell, and Brenton. Now I understand why Basil is so perpetually cranky. Everything about Ren was tragic all around, and I was grateful the action-packed plot saved me from dwelling on the matter, along with all the other sad matters.
With Caldswell and Brenton, I couldn’t keep from thinking one was the bad guy and one was the good guy. It took me a while to learn that no matter how much I learned about these characters, I wasn’t going to ever get the “full story.” That for all my attempts to judge them and play god, I couldn’t. It didn’t feel right. Matters were so gray. Even loony Maat was sympathetic, and I trust her as far I could throw an elephant.
The only characters that didn’t have my sympathy were the war-loving, man-eating, slave-owning xith’cal race. I cannot imagine in any way they would be misunderstood.
Finally, Anthony. He wasn’t in the book, not even as a passing reference. In book 1, Anthony wanted to help Devi, and she cut him off. During her escape, I would have thought she contact him for help. But no, she went to a Paradoxian noble stranger. Ergh. Kind of a plot hole where Anthony is concerned.
+ the moral choices
Some examples: Is biological warfare ever acceptable? At what point is the cost of saving the world too high and inhumane? Could the cost ever include sacrificing your children? Sacrificing the few for the many, where does the line stop?
That last question was the one I thought about the most. I couldn’t help but feel the characters’ thought process, including lawful Caldswell’s, were distinctly American. To be specific, culturally individualistic. Sacrificing the few for the many, no matter how inhumane, is a no-brainer for some collectivistic cultures. I don’t know how to feel about the lack of representation of that ideology in the book and how the closest thing to such a representation are through the aliens. At any rate, I don’t envy the characters for the responsibilities they’re forced to bear.
Conclusion
I rate Honor’s Knight 4-stars for I really liked it. Book 2 was a thriller science fiction, and I was definitely thrilled. The series got EPIC. Please let the series ends well.
Review of book 1: Fortune's Pawn
+ the plot
The book started off slow for me because I didn’t like following memory-wiped Devi. I hate to see beloved main characters in a helpless position. The inexplicable emotions, the strange floating creatures only she could see, the “dreams” she was having. Devi began to doubt her sanity. Who wouldn’t? Thankfully, the torment didn’t last long, and that was when the book really began for me.
Once she quickly regained her memory, she gained some answers from Caldswell. Hurray for answers! I LOVE IT when a series doesn’t make me wait for them. Those answers were the phantoms, those strange floating creatures only plasmex users could see. And somehow she could too, because she was not a plasmex user. The phantoms were invulnerable aliens who traveled around outer space, and occasionally a big one would effortlessly destroy a planet for no discernible reason. The human governments kept it a secret because imagine the panic. The fact that only plasmex users, less than a hundred in existence and very short-lived, could kill these phantoms? Panic.
Devi immediately realized it was the virus she contracted on the alien ghost ship back in book 1 that gave her the special sight. The virus also made her The Most Wanted Person In The Universe. It’s no exaggeration to say she could save the world or bring it to its end. It’s a fucking virus. Book 2 is about what Devi going to do with it as the only carrier. Cue moral choices. Lots of them.
The action was nonstop and BREATHTAKING. My pulse rate and mind was never at rest. I was constantly wondering how the fuck was Devi going to escape her predicament and what was she was going to do next. Every path seemed to be a death trap. One wrong move and BOOM, everyone dies. No do-over.
+ the characters
I loved Devi. Loved her. She was fucking tough as nails. The only time I thought she made a stupid was when she went to a Paradoxian noble for help after everything she had learned about the conspiracy with the phantoms. I swear, her Paradoxian loyalty will be the death of her. Thankfully, things quickly worked out. It was amazing to watch Devi make like a contortionist and pull a Houdini. Go, Devi!
I still don’t really care for Rupert, but I admit he’s growing on me. It helped that Devi immediately stopped being a lovestruck fool when her memory was restored and gave the bastard some deserved asskicking in more than one way.
Mabel being a warrior was a surprise because I should have seen it coming. I knew there was more to that overly cheery, super-competent mechanic. Nevertheless, she still remained an enigma like her cat. In book 1, I learned about Nova and Hyrek. In book 2, I learned about Basil, Ren, Caldswell, and Brenton. Now I understand why Basil is so perpetually cranky. Everything about Ren was tragic all around, and I was grateful the action-packed plot saved me from dwelling on the matter, along with all the other sad matters.
With Caldswell and Brenton, I couldn’t keep from thinking one was the bad guy and one was the good guy. It took me a while to learn that no matter how much I learned about these characters, I wasn’t going to ever get the “full story.” That for all my attempts to judge them and play god, I couldn’t. It didn’t feel right. Matters were so gray. Even loony Maat was sympathetic, and I trust her as far I could throw an elephant.
The only characters that didn’t have my sympathy were the war-loving, man-eating, slave-owning xith’cal race. I cannot imagine in any way they would be misunderstood.
Finally, Anthony. He wasn’t in the book, not even as a passing reference. In book 1, Anthony wanted to help Devi, and she cut him off. During her escape, I would have thought she contact him for help. But no, she went to a Paradoxian noble stranger. Ergh. Kind of a plot hole where Anthony is concerned.
+ the moral choices
Some examples: Is biological warfare ever acceptable? At what point is the cost of saving the world too high and inhumane? Could the cost ever include sacrificing your children? Sacrificing the few for the many, where does the line stop?
That last question was the one I thought about the most. I couldn’t help but feel the characters’ thought process, including lawful Caldswell’s, were distinctly American. To be specific, culturally individualistic. Sacrificing the few for the many, no matter how inhumane, is a no-brainer for some collectivistic cultures. I don’t know how to feel about the lack of representation of that ideology in the book and how the closest thing to such a representation are through the aliens. At any rate, I don’t envy the characters for the responsibilities they’re forced to bear.
Conclusion
I rate Honor’s Knight 4-stars for I really liked it. Book 2 was a thriller science fiction, and I was definitely thrilled. The series got EPIC. Please let the series ends well.
Review of book 1: Fortune's Pawn
August 31, 2016
5 Stars
Honours Knight, Paradox #2 by Rachel Bach the pseudonym for Rachel Aaron is a fantastic middle book and I am giving it full marks because this one is not a let down after the amazing start to the series. These are action packed, science fiction, space opera, fantasy, and romance filled stories. This series is made and carried by the larger than life kick everyone's ass, heroine named Devi Morris. I enjoyed this one for very different reasons than I did book one.
Devi is a breath of fresh air at a time when the strong female lead is the center of just about every book out there. Devi is simply so much more than every other heroine out there. Of course she is in awesome shape, is an underrated beauty, and simply fearless. She is also incredibly self driven, egotistc, and unrelenting. Devi is a Paradoxian and an ex-Blackbird(an elite group of mercenary soldiers). She moved up the ranks quicker than everyone and has her heart set at becoming a Devastator, the pinnacle soldiers. They are Knights, Mercenarys, and Soldiers who work and report to the King himself.
The Paradox series is a light space opera in the vain of my favorite on going series, The Expanse by James S A Corey. Filled with likable characters and a cool sci-fi future.
https://www.goodreads.com/series/5639...
This book would surely appeal to those fans. It also has a great similarity to a favorite movie of mine, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0173840/.
It blends some fantasy in a far future science fiction world. Bach does a great job at world building in an action first novel. It is very difficult to put down. The armor and weaponry of this book are worth your read alone. Bach gives us the main story line that of course will carry through out the series and of course nothing less than the fate of the universe is at stake. The story is driven by Devi's drive to become a Devastator. The Captain she joins on the spaceship called the Glorious Fool leads a bunch of very interesting characters for Devi to guard. The adventure begins...
At the end of book one it was clear that Devi's future was in question. Honour's Knight is the continuation and is a real gut check for our heroine. Betrayal is a central theme as is honour and morality. Nearly all of the main characters have a bout with one or both of the main themes. Devi has to prove to herself that she is just as tough on the inside as she is on the outside.
Devi is forced to confront her dirty hands...They are the major player in book two.
“You should not be here, death bringer of the mad queen.”
Bach takes us on a space adventure and fills the pages with action and cool as weaponry. Love still is the true heart of the story but things are not all prices puppies and roses. Finally, Bach fleshes out the world even more...I love it.
“Oh, you shouldn’t worry about that,” Nic said cheerfully. “Any sense of control is merely illusion. We are all just tiny specks in a cosmic system larger than we can possibly comprehend. You are no more out of control now than you have ever been.”
Paradox by Rachel Bach is simply fantastic!
Go get it.
Honours Knight, Paradox #2 by Rachel Bach the pseudonym for Rachel Aaron is a fantastic middle book and I am giving it full marks because this one is not a let down after the amazing start to the series. These are action packed, science fiction, space opera, fantasy, and romance filled stories. This series is made and carried by the larger than life kick everyone's ass, heroine named Devi Morris. I enjoyed this one for very different reasons than I did book one.
Devi is a breath of fresh air at a time when the strong female lead is the center of just about every book out there. Devi is simply so much more than every other heroine out there. Of course she is in awesome shape, is an underrated beauty, and simply fearless. She is also incredibly self driven, egotistc, and unrelenting. Devi is a Paradoxian and an ex-Blackbird(an elite group of mercenary soldiers). She moved up the ranks quicker than everyone and has her heart set at becoming a Devastator, the pinnacle soldiers. They are Knights, Mercenarys, and Soldiers who work and report to the King himself.
The Paradox series is a light space opera in the vain of my favorite on going series, The Expanse by James S A Corey. Filled with likable characters and a cool sci-fi future.
https://www.goodreads.com/series/5639...
This book would surely appeal to those fans. It also has a great similarity to a favorite movie of mine, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0173840/.
It blends some fantasy in a far future science fiction world. Bach does a great job at world building in an action first novel. It is very difficult to put down. The armor and weaponry of this book are worth your read alone. Bach gives us the main story line that of course will carry through out the series and of course nothing less than the fate of the universe is at stake. The story is driven by Devi's drive to become a Devastator. The Captain she joins on the spaceship called the Glorious Fool leads a bunch of very interesting characters for Devi to guard. The adventure begins...
At the end of book one it was clear that Devi's future was in question. Honour's Knight is the continuation and is a real gut check for our heroine. Betrayal is a central theme as is honour and morality. Nearly all of the main characters have a bout with one or both of the main themes. Devi has to prove to herself that she is just as tough on the inside as she is on the outside.
Devi is forced to confront her dirty hands...They are the major player in book two.
“You should not be here, death bringer of the mad queen.”
Bach takes us on a space adventure and fills the pages with action and cool as weaponry. Love still is the true heart of the story but things are not all prices puppies and roses. Finally, Bach fleshes out the world even more...I love it.
“Oh, you shouldn’t worry about that,” Nic said cheerfully. “Any sense of control is merely illusion. We are all just tiny specks in a cosmic system larger than we can possibly comprehend. You are no more out of control now than you have ever been.”
Paradox by Rachel Bach is simply fantastic!
Go get it.
September 28, 2014
Still enjoying this series. We got answers to some questions from the first book, and it was pretty cool. Still lots of action, lots of adventure, and lots of fun!
I have to say though, I don’t remember Devi being quite so stupid in the first book as she was here. She was often so slow on the uptake - it was a little irritating how long it took her to figure things out
Another thing I wasn’t too fond of in this book was Rupert. It got to the point where I knew I’d be in for an eye roll moment whenever I saw his name on the page. Dude does not add ANYTHING of value to this story if you ask me . But again, eh, whatever. I can overlook him -- he’s not the main attraction by any means, there were so many other things going on in this story that effectively distracted me from all the lameness that is Rupert Charkov. Like Brian Caldswell for example -- now THAT guy interests me a lot.
The last quarter of this book was really exciting (the action was SO AWESOME!), and I’m looking forward to reading the final book and seeing how everything gets wrapped up.
I have to say though, I don’t remember Devi being quite so stupid in the first book as she was here. She was often so slow on the uptake - it was a little irritating how long it took her to figure things out
Another thing I wasn’t too fond of in this book was Rupert. It got to the point where I knew I’d be in for an eye roll moment whenever I saw his name on the page. Dude does not add ANYTHING of value to this story if you ask me . But again, eh, whatever. I can overlook him -- he’s not the main attraction by any means, there were so many other things going on in this story that effectively distracted me from all the lameness that is Rupert Charkov. Like Brian Caldswell for example -- now THAT guy interests me a lot.
The last quarter of this book was really exciting (the action was SO AWESOME!), and I’m looking forward to reading the final book and seeing how everything gets wrapped up.
August 19, 2014
Honor's Knight is the second book in the Paradox trilogy by Rachel Bach.
The entire time I was reading Honor's Knight all I could think was Holy shit I love this book. I'm devastated there is only one book left in the series. If you haven't read Fortune's Pawn, I cannot recommend enough that you jump on to this trilogy.
You can read my review of Fortune's Pawn here.
I mentioned in my review of Fortune's Pawn that it was more of a "space fantasy" than a science fiction novel. Honor's Knight can definitely be classified more as science fiction but this is an awesome thing. I'm loving the way this trilogy is progressing.
The Paradox series centers around Devi Morris - a totally badass mercenary chick on track to join an elite league of armored fighters. It's difficult to review Honor's Knight without spoiling the first book so I'm just going to say I loved this second book even more than the first. And I really loved the first.
There's so much action and mystery, so many twists and turns, and such awesome characters. There's also no cliffhanger at the end of this one! Just an intense longing for more... I highly, highly recommend this series.
The entire time I was reading Honor's Knight all I could think was Holy shit I love this book. I'm devastated there is only one book left in the series. If you haven't read Fortune's Pawn, I cannot recommend enough that you jump on to this trilogy.
You can read my review of Fortune's Pawn here.
I mentioned in my review of Fortune's Pawn that it was more of a "space fantasy" than a science fiction novel. Honor's Knight can definitely be classified more as science fiction but this is an awesome thing. I'm loving the way this trilogy is progressing.
The Paradox series centers around Devi Morris - a totally badass mercenary chick on track to join an elite league of armored fighters. It's difficult to review Honor's Knight without spoiling the first book so I'm just going to say I loved this second book even more than the first. And I really loved the first.
There's so much action and mystery, so many twists and turns, and such awesome characters. There's also no cliffhanger at the end of this one! Just an intense longing for more... I highly, highly recommend this series.
January 4, 2015
Rating: 2 out of 5.
I am so disgusted. I don't even know what to say.
So the protagonist's love interest, Rupert, is involved in an operation that abducts girls from their parents and that changes them into these clones and after the girls burn out (3 -5 years from their change) these girls are murdered. Rupert says he has killed 22 girls, I believe. 22 girls. He does this in hopes of saving humanity. But murdering of innocent girls is not acceptable. If we sacrifice the lives of some innocents in the hopes of saving humanity, then we are no better than the criminals.
EVERY.
SINGLE.
LIFE.
IS.
PRECIOUS.
--------------------------------------------
He is a murderer of innocents.
He is a goddam liar.
He deceives as easily as he breathes.
He fights with the protagonist in hopes of subduing her and making her a lab rat for the rest of her foreseeable future, if not eternity.
AND STILL, the protagonist is all breathless when she is around him.
The only reason I am giving this book two stars is because I enjoyed the action and adventure aspects of this book.
I am so disgusted. I don't even know what to say.
So the protagonist's love interest, Rupert, is involved in an operation that abducts girls from their parents and that changes them into these clones and after the girls burn out (3 -5 years from their change) these girls are murdered. Rupert says he has killed 22 girls, I believe. 22 girls. He does this in hopes of saving humanity. But murdering of innocent girls is not acceptable. If we sacrifice the lives of some innocents in the hopes of saving humanity, then we are no better than the criminals.
EVERY.
SINGLE.
LIFE.
IS.
PRECIOUS.
--------------------------------------------
He is a murderer of innocents.
He is a goddam liar.
He deceives as easily as he breathes.
He fights with the protagonist in hopes of subduing her and making her a lab rat for the rest of her foreseeable future, if not eternity.
AND STILL, the protagonist is all breathless when she is around him.
The only reason I am giving this book two stars is because I enjoyed the action and adventure aspects of this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2016
Sci-Fi Romance Definitely a page turner!
I'm just a tiny bit disappointed, this one didn't engage my emotions as much as the first in the series.
I think part of that is because of the nature of the dreaded book two in any trilogy. This was no exception with the sense of impending doom, no viable escape, and a shocking betrayal.
But the bigger part of my disappointment is that I never became the heroine in this book. Instead, I was reading Devi's story. I can't help comparing that to Linnea Sinclair's Gabriel's Ghost where I was Chas, making this one come up short.
That said, these are minor disappointments. I still think Bach is a wonderfully entertaining author, and, compared to most books, this one rocks. I am looking forward to starting the last one tomorrow.
The novel is clean in terms of intimacy, but there are a handful of bad words in it.
I'm just a tiny bit disappointed, this one didn't engage my emotions as much as the first in the series.
I think part of that is because of the nature of the dreaded book two in any trilogy. This was no exception with the sense of impending doom, no viable escape, and a shocking betrayal.
But the bigger part of my disappointment is that I never became the heroine in this book. Instead, I was reading Devi's story. I can't help comparing that to Linnea Sinclair's Gabriel's Ghost where I was Chas, making this one come up short.
That said, these are minor disappointments. I still think Bach is a wonderfully entertaining author, and, compared to most books, this one rocks. I am looking forward to starting the last one tomorrow.
The novel is clean in terms of intimacy, but there are a handful of bad words in it.
June 14, 2014
Rating: having trouble deciding between three and four stars. I did like it, a lot, but probably overall a little less than the first book (Fortune's Pawn). Still, I'm leaning towards a conditional four for now. We'll see how the final book goes (and I may readjust the rating retroactively).
Things that I liked.
It's been a few months since I read Fortune's Pawn. As sadly tends to happen with me, a break of over a couple of months after the first book in a new series almost always tends to mean that while I remember my overall impression of the book, I rarely remember actual plot or details.
Fortunately Honour's Knight (or Honor's Knight, but I had the UK release) does well in bringing the reader - this reader in any case - back up to speed, and it even manages it without overly long infodumps or retreads of book one. It probably helps that for the first part of this book, Devi has no memory of the more recent events that happened to her, so she's just as lost over some things as I was. :p
Anyway, once I was back up to speed again, things turned very interesting indeed. The first book was - and I think it's why I liked it a bit better - a more straightforward action/adventure story; in this one however the overall trilogy plot, the one that has to do with just who Caldswell and his crew are and just what is threatening the universe, takes over. And it's a good plot, no question about that, even if it features what is some of my not-so-favourite plot device (mental/mind powers, hearing voices, out-of-body experiences).
I'm still really fond of Devi. She's a great heroine: she's kick-ass, and at the same time both pragmatic to the core (she's not the kind of over-the-top "strong" heroine who comes off as too stubborn for her own good and with a chip the size of a mountain on her shoulder - no, Devi's angry and stubborn and independent, but she's also a team player when she has to be and she knows that some things are too big for her, a solitary mercenary, to take on herself. At the same time she's honest, loyal (to an extent - at least to her king and country, if not always to her boss), and while not overly likely to give in to her softer side, she does have one. Mercenary or not, there are limits to how comfortable she feels about killing things (or people).
Also, I really liked Rashid. I only wish we could have seen more of him.
Things that I'm not yet sure how I feel about.
And here's where we're getting to real spoiler territory, so... spoiler cuts ahead, ahoy.
Rupert. I liked Rupert in the first book. It's not often that I like the designated love interests in books, but Rupert's up there among the very few men whom I didn't dislike and even felt positive towards.
However.
Also, in non-Rupert matters but in things I'm not so sure how I feel about...
Anyway. In spite of my few misgivings, I'm looking forward to seeing how all this is wrapped up in the final book.
Things that I liked.
It's been a few months since I read Fortune's Pawn. As sadly tends to happen with me, a break of over a couple of months after the first book in a new series almost always tends to mean that while I remember my overall impression of the book, I rarely remember actual plot or details.
Fortunately Honour's Knight (or Honor's Knight, but I had the UK release) does well in bringing the reader - this reader in any case - back up to speed, and it even manages it without overly long infodumps or retreads of book one. It probably helps that for the first part of this book, Devi has no memory of the more recent events that happened to her, so she's just as lost over some things as I was. :p
Anyway, once I was back up to speed again, things turned very interesting indeed. The first book was - and I think it's why I liked it a bit better - a more straightforward action/adventure story; in this one however the overall trilogy plot, the one that has to do with just who Caldswell and his crew are and just what is threatening the universe, takes over. And it's a good plot, no question about that, even if it features what is some of my not-so-favourite plot device (mental/mind powers, hearing voices, out-of-body experiences).
I'm still really fond of Devi. She's a great heroine: she's kick-ass, and at the same time both pragmatic to the core (she's not the kind of over-the-top "strong" heroine who comes off as too stubborn for her own good and with a chip the size of a mountain on her shoulder - no, Devi's angry and stubborn and independent, but she's also a team player when she has to be and she knows that some things are too big for her, a solitary mercenary, to take on herself. At the same time she's honest, loyal (to an extent - at least to her king and country, if not always to her boss), and while not overly likely to give in to her softer side, she does have one. Mercenary or not, there are limits to how comfortable she feels about killing things (or people).
Also, I really liked Rashid. I only wish we could have seen more of him.
Things that I'm not yet sure how I feel about.
And here's where we're getting to real spoiler territory, so... spoiler cuts ahead, ahoy.
Rupert. I liked Rupert in the first book. It's not often that I like the designated love interests in books, but Rupert's up there among the very few men whom I didn't dislike and even felt positive towards.
However.
Also, in non-Rupert matters but in things I'm not so sure how I feel about...
Anyway. In spite of my few misgivings, I'm looking forward to seeing how all this is wrapped up in the final book.
May 13, 2018
If you caught my review of book one in this series, you know how much I adored it. You would also know that installment ended on a gnarly cliffhanger. The events of that book are going to be spoiled in this review, so if you haven’t read Fortune’s Pawn, stop now and check it out before you go any further.
Still with me? OK. This book kicks off right on the heels of that one, where Rupert has wiped Devi’s memory of what he is, their relationship, and the truth about their captain. Not only that, he did something to her mind to make her feel revulsion just from looking at him. It was the only way to protect her from knowledge that could endanger her life. It was a great holy crap moment, but it made for a frustrating first third of this book. Devi is still Devi… she is still brash and bold with great instincts and even greater ambition. But there is a hole in her memories which has her stumbling around in the dark.
As good as the writing and the characterization and the world-building were, I found myself wanting to skim. I wanted—I needed—to get to the part where Devi got back to where she was before. And more importantly, with WHO. What was even more frustrating was that these two things didn’t happen at quite the same time. Yes, she got back her memories, but that didn’t put her back in Rupert’s arms.
In fact, for the vast majority of the book, Rupert made me crazy. Yes, I know he is dedicated to his captain and his cause, but he makes some choices that I was not ok with. So not ok that I almost put down the book. Thankfully, after some venting on Twitter, I was promised it would get better so I soldiered on, and she was right, it did. Still, it was a rocky road and I was irritated for a lot of my reading time while the characters made their way to the point where I needed them to be.
Does that mean this book wasn’t as good as the first? Not at all. The author is quite gifted. I felt like I knew these characters. I cared what happened to them (maybe too much.) The world-building is phenomenal—I bought in completely to worlds that made home to alien races who took after giant chickens, lizards, and jellyfish. I know it sounds stupid when I say it, but I swear, in this book, it’s anything but. The concepts are so original and consistent, the series feels fresh and immersive.
It was just the romance reader in me who was ready to set something on fire for a long time. The rest of it was awesome. Like the creepy, silent girls whose minds were nearly obliterated to fight for a cause… and the insane woman prisoner who longs for death. Captivating. So is Devi and her unparalleled survival instincts. Still, for all her toughness, she has her own morals, which grow and develop along with her over the course of the book.
There is no big cliffhanger here like the last one, but the story is clearly not over. All the pins are set up for Devi to knock down. I can’t wait to see her do it
Rating: B+
Still with me? OK. This book kicks off right on the heels of that one, where Rupert has wiped Devi’s memory of what he is, their relationship, and the truth about their captain. Not only that, he did something to her mind to make her feel revulsion just from looking at him. It was the only way to protect her from knowledge that could endanger her life. It was a great holy crap moment, but it made for a frustrating first third of this book. Devi is still Devi… she is still brash and bold with great instincts and even greater ambition. But there is a hole in her memories which has her stumbling around in the dark.
As good as the writing and the characterization and the world-building were, I found myself wanting to skim. I wanted—I needed—to get to the part where Devi got back to where she was before. And more importantly, with WHO. What was even more frustrating was that these two things didn’t happen at quite the same time. Yes, she got back her memories, but that didn’t put her back in Rupert’s arms.
In fact, for the vast majority of the book, Rupert made me crazy. Yes, I know he is dedicated to his captain and his cause, but he makes some choices that I was not ok with. So not ok that I almost put down the book. Thankfully, after some venting on Twitter, I was promised it would get better so I soldiered on, and she was right, it did. Still, it was a rocky road and I was irritated for a lot of my reading time while the characters made their way to the point where I needed them to be.
Does that mean this book wasn’t as good as the first? Not at all. The author is quite gifted. I felt like I knew these characters. I cared what happened to them (maybe too much.) The world-building is phenomenal—I bought in completely to worlds that made home to alien races who took after giant chickens, lizards, and jellyfish. I know it sounds stupid when I say it, but I swear, in this book, it’s anything but. The concepts are so original and consistent, the series feels fresh and immersive.
It was just the romance reader in me who was ready to set something on fire for a long time. The rest of it was awesome. Like the creepy, silent girls whose minds were nearly obliterated to fight for a cause… and the insane woman prisoner who longs for death. Captivating. So is Devi and her unparalleled survival instincts. Still, for all her toughness, she has her own morals, which grow and develop along with her over the course of the book.
There is no big cliffhanger here like the last one, but the story is clearly not over. All the pins are set up for Devi to knock down. I can’t wait to see her do it
Rating: B+
September 6, 2016
This second installment in the Paradox trilogy was a real roller coaster. honor's Knight is full of action and revelations, and you're never sure who can be trusted. I will say some of the characterizations seemed uneven. Especially in the case of Rupert and Caldswell.
I am eager to read the third book, but I was actually sad to find out this is only a trilogy, because I think there are quite a few good characters in this series that we could dig deeper into if we had the time.
I am eager to read the third book, but I was actually sad to find out this is only a trilogy, because I think there are quite a few good characters in this series that we could dig deeper into if we had the time.
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