Helpful Score: 9
Basics: Science Fiction Romance told in first person present tense (as other reviewers noted, that tense WORKED with this book). Sirantha Jax has the ability to navigate her ship through the galaxy utitlizing hyperspace jumps (grimspace). She has been framed for a crime she did not commit, she must grieve the lover she lost, she must stay a step ahead of those who hunt her, and despite all this, she makes friends, falls in love again, and... changes the world (this is FANTASY after all!)
Main Characters: Heroine: Sirantha Jax: VERY likable. Imperfect but good-hearted and honest; very good sense of humor; very competent and capable heroine. Liked the way she evolved throughout the book. Definitely not a stagnant character!
Hero: March: Strong, but not described as good looking; brave but practical (with a few exceptions); not a typical romance hero (alpha, but doesn't always or even OFTEN save the day); great sense of humor. REALLY likable guy!
Best About this Book: The characters were really well drawn, the dialogue between them was VERY entertaining, the world building was very good, the writing was descriptive and intense (NOT YA!). VERY funny dialogue between characters.
Worst About this Book: I was surprised not to see this mentioned before... this book dances on-- but doesn't quite cross-- into the realm of preachiness. There is a section where the author's views on abortion are VERY clear and at the end of the book there is such a strong endorsement of free- market capitalism that I could practically HEAR the National Anthem playing. Not necessarily a bad thing but I found it jarring... as if the author's agenda was spilling out and threatening BUT not ever ruining the story.
Summary: I really enjoyed this book. It is Definitely worth a credit, and I paid full price for the second book in the series "Wanderlust" although I have not read it yet, I have high hopes.
Main Characters: Heroine: Sirantha Jax: VERY likable. Imperfect but good-hearted and honest; very good sense of humor; very competent and capable heroine. Liked the way she evolved throughout the book. Definitely not a stagnant character!
Hero: March: Strong, but not described as good looking; brave but practical (with a few exceptions); not a typical romance hero (alpha, but doesn't always or even OFTEN save the day); great sense of humor. REALLY likable guy!
Best About this Book: The characters were really well drawn, the dialogue between them was VERY entertaining, the world building was very good, the writing was descriptive and intense (NOT YA!). VERY funny dialogue between characters.
Worst About this Book: I was surprised not to see this mentioned before... this book dances on-- but doesn't quite cross-- into the realm of preachiness. There is a section where the author's views on abortion are VERY clear and at the end of the book there is such a strong endorsement of free- market capitalism that I could practically HEAR the National Anthem playing. Not necessarily a bad thing but I found it jarring... as if the author's agenda was spilling out and threatening BUT not ever ruining the story.
Summary: I really enjoyed this book. It is Definitely worth a credit, and I paid full price for the second book in the series "Wanderlust" although I have not read it yet, I have high hopes.
Helpful Score: 5
I discovered Grimspace through reading the author's e-published romances. I really liked her voice in those stories, so I thought I'd give this a try, though sci-fi isn't usually my first choice. While not perfect, I still found myself sucked in, and devoured this book in record time.
The 1st person/present tense is a risky choice, and for me, works. It creates an urgency within the action that propels it forward even more than the short, clipping chapters do. It puts us into Jax's head, and makes it impossible to see her as anything but a very damaged woman. She's had a lot of trouble heaped on top of her, and the only way to deal with it is to compartmentalize it away. It makes her brittle and caustic, but getting to see her own insecurities, her fallibility, helped me sympathize with her. Though she makes less than heroic choices during the course of the story, they're true to who she is, and make her far more human than if she suddenly always did the most honorable thing. I was on her side, almost the entire way.
There's a very large cast of characters, as people and creatures come and go in her life. Some of their characterizations suffer for their short time on the pages; others thrive. March and Vel are the best drawn of the supporting cast, and falling for the relationships they have with Jax was easy.
Another criticism I have with the book - even as much as I like the author - is the one-liner endings she put on each chapter. It was fine in the beginning, but grew wearisome halfway through. I didn't need the reminder of Jax's quippy nature. I already had that through the rest of the text.
But I thoroughly enjoyed myself. And I'm going out tomorrow to get the second book. I like Jax and March enough to follow them, mostly because they are so flawed. It just makes them human.
The 1st person/present tense is a risky choice, and for me, works. It creates an urgency within the action that propels it forward even more than the short, clipping chapters do. It puts us into Jax's head, and makes it impossible to see her as anything but a very damaged woman. She's had a lot of trouble heaped on top of her, and the only way to deal with it is to compartmentalize it away. It makes her brittle and caustic, but getting to see her own insecurities, her fallibility, helped me sympathize with her. Though she makes less than heroic choices during the course of the story, they're true to who she is, and make her far more human than if she suddenly always did the most honorable thing. I was on her side, almost the entire way.
There's a very large cast of characters, as people and creatures come and go in her life. Some of their characterizations suffer for their short time on the pages; others thrive. March and Vel are the best drawn of the supporting cast, and falling for the relationships they have with Jax was easy.
Another criticism I have with the book - even as much as I like the author - is the one-liner endings she put on each chapter. It was fine in the beginning, but grew wearisome halfway through. I didn't need the reminder of Jax's quippy nature. I already had that through the rest of the text.
But I thoroughly enjoyed myself. And I'm going out tomorrow to get the second book. I like Jax and March enough to follow them, mostly because they are so flawed. It just makes them human.
A good new author. This book is written in the first person, present tense, which the author does a good job with. Enough adult content, I wouldn't label it YA. Lots of angst and adventure, and some romance too.
There are several sequels.
There are several sequels.
Helpful Score: 2
Science Fiction adventure by Ann Aguirre, first in series. Sirantha Jax is a Grimspace jumper. Jumpers have a limited life expectancy, and she's been doing longer than anybody else. The story begins with Jax detained, and interrogated about a crash that killed everyone else on the ship. Jax is being made a scapegoat. Then an unknown man enters her cell, and offers to get her out. Thus begins Jax's adventure. This is a great tale. The characters are interesting, lots of action, a love story, great storyline, complete with twists. Worth a credit. I can't wait to get a hold on #2. Worth a credit.
Helpful Score: 2
I really enjoyed this book and the whole world Aguirre has created. It took me a few chapters to become full enmeshed, but it sucks you in and won't let go! It channels a little Firefly feel and Farscape ideas and is great fun. Urban fantasy in space, don't miss out.
