Home Culture Books The Obsessive Bookseller Reviews: The “Paradox” Trilogy by Rachel Bach

The Obsessive Bookseller Reviews: The “Paradox” Trilogy by Rachel Bach

May 11, 2016

Book Review: The “Paradox” Trilogy by Rachel Bach

Orbit, 2013. 320 pages.

I loved this series. It solidified Rachel Bach (a.k.a. Rachel Aaron) as one of my go-to authors for a guaranteed good read. Seriously, there’s nothing this woman can’t do! The “Paradox” Trilogy is her only sci-fi/space opera series thus far, but she also wrote the “Eli Monpress” fantasy series (which has amazing world-building, humor, and characters you’ll never forget) and the “Heartstrikers” series (which is an urban fantasy about a clan of badass dragons and one nice dragon who doesn’t quite fit in). The bottom line is that I have yet to be anything short of completely dazzled by everything Rachel Bach has written, and the “Paradox” Trilogy might be my favorite yet!

It starts off with an excellent character — Devi, a young woman mercenary who has one goal: to join the King’s elite Devastators. To show her worth, she applies for the most dangerous job she can find — a security position on Captain Caldwell’s “Golden Fool” trading ship, guaranteed to test her limits. And it only gets more exciting from there.

Bach presents a universe with dynamic and beautifully imagined aliens who make the entire structure of the story memorable. I like sci-fi novels and television shows that focus on technology and human advancement, but it’s the ones with expansive world-building and creature creation that I really love. The “Paradox” Trilogy had, in my opinion, excellent aliens with totally different compositions, motives, and impacts on the story. It’s by far my favorite element to this series.

Another thing I loved is the story’s great pacing. It’s definitely a page-turner with loads of action and excitement. I found it difficult to put down, even in the wee hours of the night. And yet, amongst all the conflicts, the author still managed to include a compelling love story. It occasionally got a little eye-rolling for my tastes but overall provided a great balance to the heavier fight scenes.

Basically, the “Paradox” Trilogy is now one of my all-time favorites, and I can’t help but feel like nothing I write will do it justice short of totally gushing. I’ll spare you, but take my word for it — this series is well worth a try! Fair warning: sexual content and mild violence.