Honor's Knight

Written by Rachel Bach

Narrated by Emily Durante

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'd 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 this time, trouble keeps finding her. She sees ghostly creatures no one else can, the inexplicable black stain on her hands keeps getting bigger, and she can't seem to stop getting into compromising situations with a man she's supposed to hate. But when a deadly crisis exposes far more of the truth than she bargained for, Devi discovers there are worse fates than being shot, and sometimes the only people you can trust are the ones who want you dead.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Feb 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781452686042

Reviews for Honor's Knight

[schant-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's really 2.5 stars - better than OK, but not good enough for Good. There's a lot of unconvincing stuff, not least the inter-dimensional beings and mystical essence, and the secret mutant heroes who fight them, plus way too many battles that felt more like padding than plot points. Having said that, the central character is quite entertaining if dim (surely a successful mercenary needs to develop some situational awareness) and I'm still vaguely interested in finding out how it all concludes so will pick up the final volume.

[whatsmacksaid · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The story is great, Devi is awesome, and every fight scene is a genuine treat to read, but I am really not a fan of the love interest. He had better undergo some serious personal growth in the next book.

[pdcread · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Devi Morris has a problem. Usually her problems can be solved with a blast from one of her guns, but since her memories have been wiped, she isn’t entirely sure just what her problems are. Time to get her head down, find another security partner, and try and get back to normal. Well as normal as things can be on Caldwell’s ship. The thing is that things are getting stranger, she sees things inside the ship that others can’t see, and the black stain on her hand is starting to spread up her arm.

On top of that she hates the cook, or at least she thinks she does.

When a routine collection of goods from a planet suddenly goes very wrong, she suddenly realises that she is in a lot of danger, and many people and entities are after her, and these things that she can see floating around are a lot more dangerous that she thought. Suddenly she realises that the truth is going to hurt a lot more than she anticipated, and that the concepts of friends and enemies is a lot more complicated than she ever thought possible.

This is another solid military SF book from Bach. The characters are developing nicely (I say nicely, I can’t say that I want to face some of the creatures in here), the plot writhes and curls round with a few good surprises and the tech is superb. Doesn’t quite make four stars though as it does open lots of questions that I don’t think will be answered until the final book, but I enjoyed the fast paced prose, the unbelievable battle sequences and the way that Bach has woven it all together. Great stuff. Bring on the next.

[shrike58 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well that got ugly fast!. While it didn't help that it's taken me awhile to get back to this trilogy, what started out as a romp has morphed into a tense political thriller. Initially, our heroine Devi Morris was just looking for a shortcut to accelerate her military career, but now she finds herself wrapped up in the clutches of an organization that has taken expediency to a new level in terms of fighting an extra-dimensional menace. The threat is legitimate but the means are also genuinely ugly with the question for Morris not being whether she can save her life, that appears to be pretty much forfeit, but whether what time she has left can be made to count for something. In terms of tone think "Babylon 5" at its most grim. If I'm marking this book down for anything there's a plot twist at the end of the first book that Bach used to create suspense but it really didn't work for me; amnesia as a narrative tactic almost always loses me.

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Definitely a book where things are being set up for the conclusion, Devi finds out what's wrong with her and it starts a lot of things that could have interesting ramifications. for her future and the future of the universe. Devi is a pivot point in a lot of what the future will hold.The relationships are complex and everyone seems to have made hard choices to get where they are and much of what is going on is messy and I love this series.

[conalo-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was really looking forward to reading the second installment of this series and this one did not let me down. Devi Morris remains as kick ass as she was in Fortune’s Pawn but we will also learn more about what drives her to be the person she is. We also get lots of back story on other central characters from the first book along with clarification of plot points raised (not to mention plenty of action as well). This edition was everything the first one was and more!!! A really fun read that I gulped in one sitting. Can’t wait for the finale in Heaven’s Queen…

This is a definite must for any sci-fi action/ space opera fan. 5 of 5 stars

[kellswitch_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book, I really LOVED this book, I inhaled it in two days and I hated putting it down for things such as eating and sleeping. The pacing was fast, fast enough you felt pulled along with the story but not so fast you felt like you were missing stuff. There was so much more details about the universe this book is set in, the different cultures and species and I still want to know more, this is such a fun universe to play in. The characters felt stronger and more fleshed out, the plot is beginning to fill out and moved along nicely, actions and motivations felt natural to the characters and situation and not forced or shoehorned in to make the plot move along. I loved how the characters did things and made decisions that I disagreed with as an outside observer but they felt more natural to the characters then they did in the first book, there has been so much growth from the first book to this one and I cannot wait to get my hands on the third book. Since the early 2000's I've become disenchanted and disinterested in most science fiction and Rachel Bach is one of the authors who have brought back the fun and excitement of the genre for me and I am so grateful to have found these books and to have the fun back when reading science fiction.

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Devi's life just keeps getting more complicated in this sequel to FORTUNE'S PAWN. The story begins with her lost memories and with her seeing little invisible bugs. She thinks she might be hallucinating which frightens her because the unit she wants to join doesn't take mercs with mental problems. Fortunately for her, the bugs are real. But bigger versions of them kill planets. She learns some secrets about the ship she is on and the captain who commands her. This was an action-packed story which pits Devi against almost everyone. Bach builds an interesting world with all sorts of aliens. The xith'cal are fearsome lizard warriors and scientists. The aeons are birds. The lelgis are sort of jellyfish/squids. And all of them want Devi dead for various reasons. The humans don't want her dead. They want to use her like some sort of lab rat to find out why she can do what she does. She'd rather be dead!Fans of fast paced space opera will enjoy this sequel and will be clamoring for the third book. Luckily, HEAVEN'S QUEEN is already available to satisfy their need.

[superant_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed Honor's Knight somewhat more than the first book in the series. But this book is a bit darker than the first. Devi finds that no one around her can be trusted. This story dwells on important life questions. What compromises should we be willing to make to do the right thing. Surely it is right to save people's lives. But are multiple lives worth ruining one or two lives. Is it right to hurt some people to help others. Can we love people who betray us. And can we understand when others make these decisions differently than we would.Of course a reader could ignore all the big important questions and just enjoy the fight scenes. There are many satisfying violent incidents when people think they have Devi surrounded, disables, outnumbered and helpless. They are usually about to have a big surprise. Devi is the most bad-ass armored infantry solder I have ever come across in years of science fiction writing. Devi often gets into difficult and almost impossible situations. Devi does not seem to be built to give up, give in, or be the sweet weak woman.It is amusing to see people who want to capture Devi keep returning to try again, will more and more men and heavier and heavier equipment. She fights aliens, psychics, super augmented human fighters and even god like aliens. As soon as the 3rd book was available for pre-purchase I logged in and got it.I look forward to finding how Devi's story is resolved. I want to know how the betrayals can be forgiven or overcome. Who can Devi trust and can she keep her promises. It seems like if Devi is true to herself all humankind will die, or if she makes a different decision, people who depend upon her might die. An interesting read. To enjoy this book, I think you need to enjoy military fiction. There is a lot of small ground based and ship based combat. Give it a try.

[kayceel_4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I adore this series! Strong and smart Devi has planned to move up the military ranks to an elite class of soldiers, and the quickest way is aboard Captain Caldswell's Glorious Fool, a spaceship with a deadly reputation. And when Devi wakes from a cinfusing stint in a medbox, her captan thanks her for her devotion, as the fight that landed her in the infirmary (the fight she can't remember) saved the ship and most of its inhabitants. But things are...weird. she has a gaping hole in her memory, Caldswell seems cagey, and her instant revulsion at the sight of the ship's cook is bizarre. And then she begins seeing phantoms again.Fast-paced, intense, and awesome, this scifi with one of the most badass mercenaries is an absolute treat. Series: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! (Start.with Fortune's Pawn)

[eyes92c · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

High 5 for Paradox #2 and kickass Devi!Once again Rachel Bach doesn't disappoint!Honor's Knight is a space opera with heart and Devi is the source of that heart.Devi has lost her memory, but is still seeing glowing bugs that no-one else sees, the tips of her fingers occasionally appear to be stained black, she is pursued by the xith'cal and then the lelgis (or phantoms as Devi calls them).Who is Brian Caldswell really, what is the mystery of the daughters (Ren) and why are there gaps in Devi's memory? Who is the cook and why is Devi gut wrenchingly nauseous every time she looks at him?Not only is Devi is a woman with heart, but that heart leads with fortitude and compassion and garnishes her own brand of glory. Her attachment to her Verdemont suit of armour is a quirky touch, yet at totally understandable. After all this is her survival apparatus. Of course she names her weapons.As her whole world implodes, the one thing she trusts in (as a Paradoxian) is the Sainted King Stephen, Holy Ruler of Paradox. Oh my!Devi is as Rupert says the 'craziest, bravest, loveliest' thing he'd ever seen.A tight writing style, inventive mind, marvellous aliens and tough yet sympathetic situations propels The Paradox series, Bach's gift to us readers, into the upper echelons of space faring adventures.A NetGalley ARC

[stefferoo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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. Speaking of which though, 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 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 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.

[bonniemarjorie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.