Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach

February 5, 2022 5:04 AM

"Devi Morris isn't your average mercenary. She has plans. Big. And a ton of ambition. It's a combination that's going to get her killed one day - but not just yet." Science Fiction, Book 1 in the "Paradox" series.

This book is fun. Entertaining Science Fiction with a lot of Romance. Reminds me of Elizabeth Moon but more gritty and violent.

The main character, Demi, is a mercenary who is basically in love with her own armour. She's not a typical "kick ass" heroine though. She's tough and vulnerable, emotionally perceptive, curious about others people, and I love that she tends to burst into tears when frustrated.
It's not hard scifi at all. There's lots of hand wavy tech and hard to believe things like no language barrier between humans and aliens. Also a Extremely Attractive Love Intrest with some classic capital R romance tropes.
First of a trilogy, and very much NOT a stand alone book.

posted by Zumbador (5 comments total)

I read this a few years ago and really enjoyed it. While I was reading this trilogy I started joking that my favorite genre was lady space mercenaries who fall in love with aliens (I don't actually remember if the love interest is an alien). I feel like Murderbot has some of this feel (stone cold killing machine but with anxiety and misgivings), as does the character Bobbie in The Expanse (especially regarding her feelings about her armor), although without the romance stuff.

These ARE fun, and I recommend for people who like science fiction and aren't weird about HARD SCIFI.
posted by jeoc at 3:30 PM on February 5, 2022 [2 favorites]

That's right! I hadn't made the murderbot connection. Good point.
posted by Zumbador at 8:23 PM on February 5, 2022

Hadn't heard of this; thank you for the recommendations. Just borrowed from the library, because lady space mercenaries forever!
posted by minsies at 1:06 PM on February 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

I ... didn't like this one. Just didn't work for me.
posted by kyrademon at 3:09 PM on February 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

I enjoyed this right up until the ending, which I hated. I didn't hate the romance but didn't love it, either.


I listened to it on audio and the narrator was great.
posted by small_ruminant at 9:41 PM on May 19, 2022 [1 favorite]