Heaven's Queen

Loved this series. My reviews for the first two in the series were pretty pedestrian (spoiler-free, as my reviews usually are on here), but I think I'm going to go into some details now, so the rest of this will be behind a spoiler tag.

One of the only things I didn't really care about in the book was the romance angle. It was never a huge deal, it felt plenty plausible, and not horribly done or anything. I guess I just felt like there were a bunch of times (not just once even!) when I felt like the protagonist should definitely not forgive Rupert for all the crap he'd done. He always felt overly possessive, well before he had any right to, and after the scene with her old boyfriend, I really felt she should have just adopted a 10 foot show more pole at that point. I guess the narrative suggests that's what she's trying to do, but her she never communicates with him that anything about those interactions was wrong. (And the author / narrative also never implies anything he did was wrong, but all the times he kissed her possessively in front of someone else felt like big red flags to me.) I also felt like the "sex scenes" (they don't really deserve that title, since there were basically no details) were generally super boring. I feel like a macho male cliché saying this, but they were super detailed and focused on her emotional turmoil and basically just didn't even go into what she was physically feeling at all. I think there was only one time where I was rolling my eyes internally, and it was during the last love scene.

Just about the only thing I didn't like about the series at all was the main character's fanatical devotion to the Paradoxian King. I never understood it. There was never really an adequate explanation for her loyalty, and while, in the first book, it's definitely just a part of her character, and easy to ignore, there are later parts where I began to wonder what event in her past led her down this path of ridiculous patriotism. This was in sharp contrast to pretty much every other motivation in the books which I felt were basically always adequately explained, not just of the main character, but for everyone involved, aliens included! So given this frustration, I found last few pages of the book, while semi-interesting, were totally ruined because I couldn't understand or get into the main character's elation when she meets the King and gets her wish from him. I feel like, given the scale and scope of what has happened to her, she'd be primed to think a little larger than becoming a royal guard, or whatever.

It is interesting that one of the few remaining mysteries in the whole series (that I can remember) are around the King and the history of Paradox, so it's possible that Bach is just saving this for future novels.

All in all, this novel was just as good as the first two, and highly recommended! show less

...game of Queens!

I really enjoyed this series. I loved the way Deviana Morris always sought options that did not neccesitate using others as tools. The evolution of Maat as a live and in person figure, the plague of the phantoms and the mysteries of plasmex, even the involvement of Mabel and Commander Brian Caldswell were resolved at various levels. The lead up to saving the universe is honed with lots of scary action, threats of demise, fear for loved ones, alien mind games, bared honesty, and a closer look at the follow the rules 'eyes', those human symbionts, who are as it ensues, are hampered by their own rules and boundaries, their very real fears, and their loyalty without question expectations of each other.
Along the way we show more renew acquaintances with a few old friends, and old enemies.
The fight against the phantoms reaches new heights. Maat, who wants freedom, even if that freedom is death, is constrained in new ways, imprisoned in the Dark Star Station at the urging of the Lelgis. Standing against the Lelgis, freeing Maat and communicating with the phantoms are all part and parcel of Devi's personal mission.
I certainly don't begrudge Devi a little love in her otherwise hectic 'take them down' for the glory of King and Country sort of life. Particularly as that love embodies the strength of purpose and wilfulness that is Devi, and the haunted ambiguity and strength that is Rupert.
I actually wonder as to whether Rupert Charkov and Devi can be satisfied with the life they've chosen in the end, but who knows?
In the end who can and can't see the phantoms remains moot, but I'm betting more than let on.
I'm still working through the levels of significance with the title Heaven's Queen, as 'Queens' feature as outright autocratic leaders in more than one species. There are the Lelgis Queens, then Maat is the Queen who holds the phantoms in checkmate, and Devi gives the Lelgis back as good as they give, an equal in the game of queens. I must say that the question of Queens leaves the idea of Kings begging. For me there are mysteries attending the ending. I'm hoping some of my questions will be answered in a future novel.
Heaven's Queens is all that I had hoped for.

A NetGalley ARC show less

Absolutely 100% loved this book with every fiber of my being. Glorious, appropriate ending to a glorious crazy ride.



(let's continue the trend of how I open these reviews eh?) So you're a kick ass merc who, through no fault of your own find yourself flung through hyperspace unguided with the ship mate you formerly was repulsed by, but found out you share an intense relationship with that he wiped from your memory for your own good just so you wouldn't be chased from one end of universe to the other. Luck being the bitch it is you run into your former lover (who told you about the cursed ship that landed you in this mess), your former captain is part of the detail that is hunting you down and shooting first, asking questions later and oh show more yeah that pesky attraction to Rupert....

What would you do? Well if you're Deviana Morris you threaten EVERYONE within an inch of their lives and then do the reckless thing just because you can.

Please let us take a moment to mourn for Lady Gray, who valiantly and without fear fought with Devi through everything. Never once faltering and always, always being the wind beneath her wings. Even more then Rupert.

As the final book in what was a roller coaster thrill ride of a trilogy, I was hopeful this would live up to all my expectations. Bach has, through this trilogy and her fantasy series (under Rachel Aaron), never given me room to doubt that she will end with a bang. Her characters don't know what "quiet" or "subtle" even means quite frankly. Even the ones who claim they do (looking at you Rupert). And since Devi is hell of a lot more of a ACTION YEAH chick then anyone in the Eli Monpress books ever was, I expected a lot of explosions and fighting.

Bach didn't disappoint.

Let's get this out of the way--awwww Rupert! That man...he's just...there are no words for this man that would do him justice. Not since Valek have I been so enamored of a fictional guy before. He could literally do NO wrong in my (or Devi's apparently) book. Shady past? Big deal. Shady present? Pfft who cares. A way with words that could charm a girl out of her Paradoxian armor quicker then you could say "Sacred King"? Oh my sainted stars.

I liked that Bach had Devi seriously consider every angle about what being Rupert would mean. She doesn't take any of it lightly and doesn't allow Rupert to underestimate her. When Devi wants something nothing in the universe will stop her from having it. Her dream of being a Devestator led her to join a cursed ship with a 100% turn over rate on security personal for crying out loud. The two finally communicating on equal terms did a lot to making me handwave some of their less then smart moments.

The resolution to Devi's problem, as well as the Phantom problem and the Daughter system and Ma'at and even Rupert's issues was so freaking easy I almost laughed. Not that getting it done was easy, but the actual trigger was really easy. At one point Caldswell says that they should have just talked to Rupert and Devi and worked with them instead of fighting with them. Well duh.

And Devi is, as always, marvelous. Whether its when she's fighting to stay calm (her mother always said her anger would be the death of her), struggling to understand the Phantoms or having a truly divine moment Devi is Devi. Her choice is almost always 'hit it until it stops', but you know what? You can't argue with what works. show less

Spoilers clearly marked.




I'm so sad about this one and I so looked forward to it. Why an author would take an unconventional, strong, ballsy, in-your-face heroine from a place of strength and rebellion to a place of constantly fussing and obsessing over some dude is beyond me. This series went from kick-ass, adventurous Sci-fi with a side of romance to Cheesy Generic Romance with a side of Sci-fi.

I read 30% of this and 26% of it was spent focused solely on relationship drama. I had hoped that the focus would shift to more pressing matters from then on, but from what I'm hearing around the way, it doesn't get much better. There's a very big focus on this very flat romance that overpowers all the other elements.

But there's more than show more that. There's also a random "love triangle" thrown in there. Although, I guess I shouldn't call it random, because it wasn't anyone new. I'm also loathe to call it an actual triangle, because Devi wanted nothing to do with the guy. She proved that by being a complete dick to him. So, I'll just call it a three-person sitamation.

When Devi was in a very desperate place in book one and she was in danger with no one to turn to, she called Anthony. It took a while, but now he shows up for her in a big way. He risked his life to come for her. She was involved with this man for years! Does Devi show a lick of gratitude? No. Not even a lick.

Fine, Devi. You don't love Anthony. Fine. But he loves you. He came for you when you called in desperation. He even stood up to Rupert, a symbiont. The very creature that Anthony fears. This guy has big balls and he's got heart. You repay him for his love and loyalty by treating him horribly and mocking him for having his ship confiscated by Rupert? You MOCK him? That wasn't just "petty," as you called it. That was FUCKED UP.

Fucking dick move, Devi. I honestly couldn't believe she behaved this way. I couldn't let it go. I haven't let it go. It's left such a bad taste in my mouth. That one incident managed to shit on everything good I felt about Devi throughout the series. I hate that it's happened this way, but I can't help it. There are things you should do and things you shouldn't do. That was fucked up.

Am I the only one who really liked the other dude? It's very telling that the other dude made a more lasting impression on me in a few pages than wet blanket Rupert does in 3 books. Not to mention that Rupert killed Devi in the last book. FFS.

And then. Lawd, and then, to add insult to injury, we get treated to never ending comparisons between the two dudes. Just ridiculous comparisons made only to try and endear the reader to Rupert who's not that fucking likable, dammit. You know how I know he's not that likable? Because so much frikkin time has to be spent trying to convince you that he's awesome so late in the series. It's the last book. Rather than go on and on in book 3 about how great he really is, why weren't we just shown throughout? Blergh.

Rupert is so romanticized, that he's reduced to this weak-ass, sniveling, crying fool that is the complete opposite of the supposed badass Rupert of the first two books.

I can't begin to tell you how incredibly disappointing all of this is. Specifically, because book #1 was so good. It was unique, interesting, fun, suspenseful and riveting. No exaggeration. It was a really good book. I was really excited to recommend it to everyone, but now, I'm not so sure. Not when disappointment is just over the horizon. =/




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4.5 stars.

The conclusion to the Paradox series. Devi and Rupert come out of jump space (I *may* be thinking of Babylon 5. Light speed? Light space?) a year after they enter it, even though for them, not much time has passed. Not knowing the lay of the land, they head to an outpost farming planet. Once they find out what has been happening in the year since they (and the good ship Glorious Fool) disappeared, they determine a plan of action. Things devolve and evolve from there, including Devi's understanding of the phantoms and Maat.

So, I completely understand reviewers who were put off by all the romance in this one. Because there was quite a bit. And it wasn't really good romance, more of a "well, there wasn't much to speak of in the show more first two books, so let's cram it all into this last one" type of romance. That's not to say that I didn't believe it, or wasn't here for it, but I found it annoying how often it was mentioned, how moony Devi got over Rupert, and how it dictated how she acted in a way that, while it didn't feel foreign to her character (for me, at least), did feel a smidge overdone and a little far-fetched. Other than that quibble, and the fact that I thought everything came together much too neatly in the end, I did enjoy the book.
I did have an issue with Caldswell, though. The fact that, even in the face of evidence and desperation, he stuck to the original plan and wouldn't deviate to the point of hindering Devi and Rupert made me fuming mad. So mad that I had a couple of discourses with myself about stodgy old men who should be put out to pasture if they are not willing to at least try something new. I mean, isn't that what evolution is all about? And invention? If we never try something new, especially if the old thing isn't exactly working, or is working stupidly what is the point? I mean, we aren't still walking everywhere we go, because we haven't tamed horses and oxen yet. Progress is a thing. Change is a thing. And not in the "plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose" way, but actual change. I also had an issue with the willingness to do nothing and sacrifice, because I feel like that is a slippery slope. You're going to lose more and more people and races, and for what? Appeasement? I mean, Donne wrote "every man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind." I do understand that telling everyone would create widespread panic and chaos, but something good might have come out of it, too. I mean, some of those people that were blithely allowed to be exterminated could maybe have come up with a working solution that didn't involve phantom fodder. I think that the biggest thing that I had an issue with was the fact that they didn't even try to find an alternate solution, just kept sacrificing souls. And I didn't like that Caldswell didn't get any comeuppance. Again, I know that he had the backing of everyone, but couldn't he have lost an eye or a limb or crew he didn't want to lose? It just felt anticlimactic in that someone who did great harm to many, many beings, still got to live his life while others didn't. show less

Finding a series where the momentum of the first book carries through to next and beyond is pretty special, and when you find one, you know it’s a keeper. The tone of Heaven’s Queen is in keeping with the fast-paced, and action-filled rollicking good fun of the previous two books in the trilogy, and literally ends things in an explosively spectacular manner. You really don’t want to mess with protagonist Deviana “Devi” Morris; that’s just like an invitation for bodily harm and extensive property damage.

Hot-headed and not one to hide the fact, Devi is an even bigger force to be reckoned with when she’s angry -- especially with a deadly alien virus in her system. Through no fault of her own, she has gotten herself tangled show more up in multiple government conspiracies, had her private memories screwed with, and on top of that she’s on the run with what feels like practically everyone in the universe on her heels. In other words, just another average day in the life of our main character. Thing is, stubborn and reckless as she may be, Devi just wants to do the right thing. And that’s just a little tough to do when everyone is standing in the way and you have no idea who to trust.

But actually, there is one person Devi can count on, and that is Rupert Charkov, the man she once thought of as only the Glorious Fool’s cook, but now knows is a lot more than he appears. Those who have been interested in following the progression of the Devi-Rupert relationship (and I include myself in this group) will be happy to see their romance resolved in here, after a fashion. In any case, there’s no more ambiguity when it comes to where they stand, not like there was in the last book. In fact, I would say this one lays on the romance more thickly than either of the two novels that came before. That in itself isn’t a surprise; the romantic side-plot has been growing steadily in importance over the course of the series, so it’s only natural to see it come to fruition. What I hadn’t expected to see though was so much romantic drama in the first half of the novel.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. If there’s one thing to take away from these books it is that Rachel Bach/Rachel Aaron never does things by halves. That’s the beauty of the trilogy. Everything about it is larger than life, from the in-your-face main character and her sexy and suave love interest to the amazing planets and exotic aliens, the twisty plot and the danger and thrills. It’s pure candy for the mind, and perhaps it’s fitting for the romance to be a little over-the-top as well, though definitely not overbearing.

A positive side effect of this is that Devi’s feelings for Rupert has added a layer of complexity to her character (it wouldn’t be love if it didn’t at least alter her perspective of herself of the world a little bit!) and to me that makes her more than just a trigger-happy merc. There are many ways for a woman to be strong and Devi prides herself on her independence, physical strength and military expertise, and while she is aware of her own faults she is also not ashamed of them. It’s true she’s not always agreeable or makes the best choices, but that’s Devi for you. She knows what she wants and won’t let anyone get in the way…not even herself. I love the fact that the foundation of who she doesn’t actually change all that much throughout the course of the story, and instead she adapts to changes in order to make the best out of a situation.

But what I guess readers really want to know is if this was a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, and I would say absolutely. If you’ve enjoyed the spirit and high-energy pacing of the previous books, you’ll likely enjoy Heaven’s Queen as well. The author pulls out all the stops for this one, with action scenes worthy of a summer Hollywood blockbuster as the line between friend and foe continues to be blurred and the last few chapters of this book are absolutely insane.

Not only are these books entertaining, they’re also super accessible and you definitely do not need to be a card-carrying reader of the sci-fi genre to appreciate the story. If you’re looking for an invigorating and adventurous read with plenty of excitement and some humor thrown in, I highly recommend these Paradox books. show less

Rachel Bach (Rachel Aaron) has done it again: brought a fantastic series to a completely satisfying conclusion.

I'm kind of disappointed the series is over (as I usually am when a great series ends), but the end here successfully wraps up the story. Other adventures in the this universe could be told, but Devi's story is at a good place to leave her; happily ever after, as it were.

Devi's story starts out in Fortune's Pawn and seems pretty straight-forward and simple: mercenary on a new ship making her way. But things quickly escalate and by the end of that first book we know there's much more going on than that. The second book finds her on the run from people who think they're saving the universe and want to make a weapon out of Devi. show more This third book finds her quickly captured and she struggles to convince all the players she knows what needs to be done.

This series has space combat, powered armor, lots of gruesome hand-to-hand combat and gunfights, crazy-interesting aliens. It even has some romance, which becomes a crucial part of the story and Devi's character development as the series ends.

Good stuff! show less