A Paradox of Fates (Prevent the Past, #1) by Rebecca Hefner – Review

Tags

5 stars, Book Review, paradox, Rebecca Hefner, romance, scifi, series, time travel

About A Paradox of Fates by Rebecca Hefner

One woman bred to save the world…

Dr. Elaine “Lainey” Randolph was born with one sole purpose: to prevent the past. With her brilliant mind and unwavering spirit, she works tirelessly to solve the equations that will finally unlock the mystery of time travel. Then, she will leave the post-apocalyptic future her grandfather created and travel back in time to prevent his calamitous actions.

When handsome military captain Hunter Rhodes appears at Lainey’s remote scientific hub, he offers her protection. But there are strings attached to the mysterious soldier’s proffer, and Lainey finds herself wary of the man who stokes unwelcome longing and desire in her unemotional heart. For Lainey is a scientist, obdurate and dispassionate toward the notion of romantic love.

As Lainey’s band of ragtag scientists and loyal soldiers endeavor to escape the dystopian future, the evil New Establishment threatens to destroy them all. In their unpredictable timeline, the nefarious regime has become all-powerful and will stop at nothing to ensure complete world domination…

**********************

Review of A Paradox of Fates

A Paradox of Fates is a sci-fi time travel adventure tempered with romance.  Intense characters, a save the world plot and a seemingly impossible task make this a great read that I found hard to put down.

I appreciated the author’s scientific research that went into making time travel at least a little believable, even if it is still an impossibility – as far as we know.  Scientific detail is minimal though, making the story move along nicely.  Instead, the reader sees the time machine at work and the people that make it work.

Lainey is the extremely focused heroine of the story.  Determined to succeed, she puts all her efforts into her work, shunning Hunter’s attention, even though we (the non-Lainey characters and the readers) know they are meant to be.  The romance between Lainey and Hunter was slow and believable and exactly what it needed to be for these two characters.

A Paradox of Fates is a story of intentional time travel.  That is, time travel for the purpose of causing something to happen or not happen.  Change history, change the how things turn out.  When it comes down to it, this is a very tricky thing to do.  One wrong move and nothing turns out the way you expect.

Time is complicated.  So here I am overthinking this.  So, what if Lainey and Hunter achieve their objective.  Does that mean there is no need for a time machine?  And if so, how do the future Lainey and Hunter go back in time to achieve their objective and if they don’t go back, that means the timeline is not changed.  So there really is a need for a time machine.  You see where this is going?

Paradox is a common theme in the book and not fully resolved by the end of A Paradox of Fates.  The story continues in two more books in this series.  I’m going to have to see where this goes!

Thanks to the author who provided a copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.

**********************

Links

Add A Paradox of Fates to your Goodreads shelf:

Purchase A Paradox of Fates:

**********************

The Shadowed Path (The Fae Files, #3) by Cecilia Dominic – Review

Tags

5 stars, Book Review, Cecilia Dominic, fae, gargoyles, magic, paranormal, series, shifters, urban fantasy

About The Shadowed Path by Cecilia Dominic

Be careful what you wish for…

Exiled princess Reine’s return to Faerie isn’t what she hoped. First, she has to sneak in rather than enter in triumph. Second, she has to figure out what to do with a certain handsome gargoyle, who still hasn’t forgiven her or her brother for a major betrayal.

Third, someone in her grandmother’s court is trying to kill her.

As Reine travels the shadowed paths typically forbidden to those of the Light Court while evading a hidden, yet clever pursuer, she has to navigate her own interpersonal complications and face the truth about who and what she truly is. Otherwise, she’s guaranteed to lose the final battle against the powerful enemy who’s been pulling the strings all along, and Faerie will never be the same.

**********************

Review of The Shadowed Path

Having fulfilled the objective her mother had given her, Reine returns to Faerie.  In this mission to find her place in her homeland, Reine is accompanied by the witch, Kestral, who is looking to define her own powers. Also along for the journey are Ellerin, the mysterious sometimes helpful (sometimes not) gray fae who is the guide and John, Kestral’s father.

Going into The Shadowed Path, I was leery of the change of location.  I mean, the previous stories had taken place in a perfectly good location on earth – Atlanta.  Now, in book 3, Reine is in Fae land.  Turns out, this is just what Reine’s story needed.  Being in a magical land means anything is possible.

Faerie is dark, gray and light.  It is full of danger, adventure, magic and beauty.  The same might be said of Reine, whose Fae-ness will become increasingly apparent as the story moves on.

Gargoyle Lawrence is also back in the story, having followed Reine’s troop, ostensibly to protect his goddaughter, Kestral, and John.  In reality, he has not forgotten Reine, even though he feels betrayed by her (see the events of Shadows of the Heart).  In the first two books, I found it difficult to see how Lawrence would fit into Reine’s story.  But now I can say with certainty that he does.

A new character, the dark Fae Troubadour, adds mystery and possibilities to the story.

I can’t forget Sir Raleigh, the gimalkin/cat is a delightful character/pet.  He is usually just where he needs to be and can communicate with just a look (like most cats I know).  He is superior to humans (like most cats I know) and is not afraid to show it.

Before The Shadowed Path, I was concerned about Reine fulfilling her Fae destiny while still having a soft spot for earth and earth-bound people.  Lets just say that this part of the story has just begun and there is so much potential there. Now, more than ever, I am looking forward to the next part of the story!

Thanks to the author who provided a copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.

**********************

Links

Add The Shadowed Path to your Goodreads shelf:

Purchase The Shadowed Path (Currently on sale for $2.99.  After Wednesday the price goes up to $4.99):

**********************

Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell – Review

Tags

5 stars, Book Review, Everina Maxwell, lgbtq, romance, scifi, space opera

About Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwall

While the Iskat Empire has long dominated the system through treaties and political alliances, several planets, including Thea, have begun to chafe under Iskat’s rule. When tragedy befalls Imperial Prince Taam, his Thean widower, Jainan, is rushed into an arranged marriage with Taam’s cousin, the disreputable Kiem, in a bid to keep the rising hostilities between the two worlds under control.

But when it comes to light that Prince Taam’s death may not have been an accident, and that Jainan himself may be a suspect, the unlikely pair must overcome their misgivings and learn to trust one another as they navigate the perils of the Iskat court, try to solve a murder, and prevent an interplanetary war… all while dealing with their growing feelings for each other.

**********************

Review of Winter’s Orbit

Winter’s Orbit is a captivating blend of scifi romance, political intrigue and mystery.

Mystery first.  Who killed Prince Taam?  What really happened?  Why?  Lots of questions.  Originally deemed an accident, troubles for our heroes seem to point to something more.

Iskat (Kiem’s world) is the ruling world in an alliance of several worlds that includes Jainan’s world Thea.  The Resolution that binds the worlds is about to be renewed and the Auditor is present to make sure that everything is in order.  When he points out that things may not be in order, things get complicated.  As part of the Resolution process, the Auditor is also collecting remnants (ancient alien artifacts).  This is not a casual bit of the Resolution process – the remnants will play a role in the story, giving the story a part of its scifi aspect.

Of all the characters, Prince Kiem seems the least devious.  He is charming, sometime playboyish, and really prefers to stay away from it all.  But when he ends up in an arranged marriage with Prince Jainan, he will not be able to avoid all the plotting.  Jainan appears, at first, to be extremely serious and timid.  Not at all the type to get involved in intrigue.  But both are swept up in the scheming and cannot avoid the intrigue, plotting and maybe even an assassination attempt.

Winter’s Orbit is as much romance as mystery.  Maybe more.  Kiem and Jainan both think the other does not want the marriage.  At he same time, they are attracted to each other.  As they become more acquainted, misunderstandings will continue to get in the way of the romance, while at the same time they start to fall for each other.  Ultimately, their relationship will be integral to solving the mysteries, overcoming the intrigue and making everything right in the universe.

I really liked that the story placed no emphasis on gender or race or sexuality.  Everything was accepted.

What I also really liked is the hopeful, happy ending.

Thanks to the publisher who provided an advance copy of this book.

**********************

Links

Add Winter’s Orbit to your Goodreads shelf:

Purchase Winter’s Orbit:

**********************