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Sirantha Jax #3
Doubleblind
It’s not easy to tread lightly wearing steel-toed boots.
Sirantha Jax isn’t known for diplomatic finesse. As a “Jumper” who navigates ships through grimspace, she’s used to kicking ass first and taking names later—much later. Not exactly the obvious choice to sell the Conglomerate to the Ithtorians, a people whose opinions of humans are as hard as their exoskeletons.
And Ithiss-Tor council meetings aren’t the only place where Ambassador Jax needs to maneuver carefully. Her lover, March, is frozen in permanent “kill” mode, and his hair-trigger threatens to sabotage the talks—not to mention their relationship.
But Jax won’t give up on the man or the mission. With the Outskirts beleaguered by raiders, pirates, and the flesh-eating Morgut, an alliance with Ithiss-Tor may be humanity’s only hope.
Which has Jax wondering why a notorious troublemaker like her was given the job.
Sirantha Jax isn’t known for diplomatic finesse. As a “Jumper” who navigates ships through grimspace, she’s used to kicking ass first and taking names later—much later. Not exactly the obvious choice to sell the Conglomerate to the Ithtorians, a people whose opinions of humans are as hard as their exoskeletons.
And Ithiss-Tor council meetings aren’t the only place where Ambassador Jax needs to maneuver carefully. Her lover, March, is frozen in permanent “kill” mode, and his hair-trigger threatens to sabotage the talks—not to mention their relationship.
But Jax won’t give up on the man or the mission. With the Outskirts beleaguered by raiders, pirates, and the flesh-eating Morgut, an alliance with Ithiss-Tor may be humanity’s only hope.
Which has Jax wondering why a notorious troublemaker like her was given the job.
302 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 29, 2009
About the author
Ann Aguirre
77 books6,977 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Ann Aguirre has been a clown, a clerk, a savior of stray kittens, and a voice actress, not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lives in Mexico with her family. She writes all kinds of genre fiction, but she has an eternal soft spot for a happily ever after.
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June 4, 2020
BR with my fellow junkies Shelly & Jaime. Because we're Jax addicts. There's no hope for us at this point.
Holy Fragging Mary of Anabolic Grace.
This book. This series.
Rejoice and get the maracas out of storage because this will be a short review. Yes it will. No empty promises this time. Cross my heart, hope to die and all that.
This review will be short because:
① This book is too A.W.E.S.O.M.E. for words.
② I'd rather be reading Killbox than writing this review.
③ There's no point in trying to explain what this book is about. I mean, I didn't try and summarize books 1 & 2 for you so I'm not about to do it for this one. And even if I did want to ♥ out of the goodness of my heart ♥ there would be little I could say. Because spoilers. So there. You want to know what Doubleblind is about? READ IT. How many times will I have to say this? You need this series in your life. YES YOU DO.
Doubleblind is phenomenal-amazing-oh my God this will be the death of me-fantastic-exhausting-nerve racking-brilliant-exasperating-awesome-oh no you don't-maddening-astonishing-please do something I can't take it anymore-heart stopping-sensational-stressful-oh my God I think I might cry any minute now-thrilling-sad-argh-exciting-you bastard I knew it-phenomenal because:
① Intergalactic politics <-- yes this is really me, the space-setting-and-aliens-no-thank-you-freak, writing this. This series created a monster. Life will never be the same.
② Ithiss-Tor. Because bugs and mandibles have never been so cool <-- yes this is really me, the space-setting-and-aliens-no-thank-you-freak, writing this. This series created a monster. Life will never be the same.
③ Dina & Hit are cool, very cool. And the rest is no comment. Because reasons. <-- See? Told you there wasn't much I could tell you about this book. Why is it that you never believe me? I'm hurt.
④ Jael is no comment. Because REASONS <-- See what I did right there? No? Too bad.
⑤ Vel is the coolest mantis in the known universe. I think I'm in love with his mandibles. Wait. That sounds pretty bad doesn’t it? It's really not what you think you know. Oh well. My reputation was ruined a long time ago anyway. Just add mandibles to the list of my many deviances.
⑥ March. Come on people, do I really have to explain why? March is. That is why. I'm in love. No matter what. And there is a lot of what here. But I'm still in love. And the rest is no comment. Because reasons. Lots of them.
⑦ Jax. Because until now I wanted to be Kate Daniels when I grew up. Now I want to be Jax <-- OMG I did not just write that did I? OMG I think I did. OMG I think I'm hyperventilating.
Why Jax? I can’t believe you’re actually asking this question. But you’re my dear vulture friends so I’ll comply just this once. Why Jax? Because she's too awesome for words. Because she's tough. Because she's weak. Because she speaks mandible fluently. Because she's smart. Because she's no 20-year-old virgin. Because she's falling apart. Because she kicks ass. Because she's the coolest ambassador in the known universe. Because March is her drug of choice. Because Constance. Because she never gives up. Because she navigates the most unexpected seas. Because the bug Gestapo doesn't scare her. And because she shines.
✔ That is all.
✔ Killbox awaits.
✔ Bye now.
• Book 1: Grimspace ★★★★★
• Book 2: Wanderlust ★★★★★
• Book 4:Killbox ★★★★★
• Book 5: Aftermath ★
• Book 6: Endgame ★ (DNF at 20%)
Holy Fragging Mary of Anabolic Grace.
This book. This series.
Rejoice and get the maracas out of storage because this will be a short review. Yes it will. No empty promises this time. Cross my heart, hope to die and all that.
This review will be short because:
① This book is too A.W.E.S.O.M.E. for words.
② I'd rather be reading Killbox than writing this review.
③ There's no point in trying to explain what this book is about. I mean, I didn't try and summarize books 1 & 2 for you so I'm not about to do it for this one. And even if I did want to ♥ out of the goodness of my heart ♥ there would be little I could say. Because spoilers. So there. You want to know what Doubleblind is about? READ IT. How many times will I have to say this? You need this series in your life. YES YOU DO.
Doubleblind is phenomenal-amazing-oh my God this will be the death of me-fantastic-exhausting-nerve racking-brilliant-exasperating-awesome-oh no you don't-maddening-astonishing-please do something I can't take it anymore-heart stopping-sensational-stressful-oh my God I think I might cry any minute now-thrilling-sad-argh-exciting-you bastard I knew it-phenomenal because:
① Intergalactic politics <-- yes this is really me, the space-setting-and-aliens-no-thank-you-freak, writing this. This series created a monster. Life will never be the same.
② Ithiss-Tor. Because bugs and mandibles have never been so cool <-- yes this is really me, the space-setting-and-aliens-no-thank-you-freak, writing this. This series created a monster. Life will never be the same.
③ Dina & Hit are cool, very cool. And the rest is no comment. Because reasons. <-- See? Told you there wasn't much I could tell you about this book. Why is it that you never believe me? I'm hurt.
④ Jael is no comment. Because REASONS <-- See what I did right there? No? Too bad.
⑤ Vel is the coolest mantis in the known universe. I think I'm in love with his mandibles. Wait. That sounds pretty bad doesn’t it? It's really not what you think you know. Oh well. My reputation was ruined a long time ago anyway. Just add mandibles to the list of my many deviances.
⑥ March. Come on people, do I really have to explain why? March is. That is why. I'm in love. No matter what. And there is a lot of what here. But I'm still in love. And the rest is no comment. Because reasons. Lots of them.
⑦ Jax. Because until now I wanted to be Kate Daniels when I grew up. Now I want to be Jax <-- OMG I did not just write that did I? OMG I think I did. OMG I think I'm hyperventilating.
Why Jax? I can’t believe you’re actually asking this question. But you’re my dear vulture friends so I’ll comply just this once. Why Jax? Because she's too awesome for words. Because she's tough. Because she's weak. Because she speaks mandible fluently. Because she's smart. Because she's no 20-year-old virgin. Because she's falling apart. Because she kicks ass. Because she's the coolest ambassador in the known universe. Because March is her drug of choice. Because Constance. Because she never gives up. Because she navigates the most unexpected seas. Because the bug Gestapo doesn't scare her. And because she shines.
“Together, to this kid, we must seem like the stuff from nightmares and legends.”
✔ That is all.
✔ Killbox awaits.
✔ Bye now.
• Book 1: Grimspace ★★★★★
• Book 2: Wanderlust ★★★★★
• Book 4:Killbox ★★★★★
• Book 5: Aftermath ★
• Book 6: Endgame ★ (DNF at 20%)
March 29, 2015
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
The reason why this series was so damn good is because Jax didn't give a rat's ass about anything. She was irreverent, she spoke her mind and never compromised.
In the passive role of Ambassador, we're forced to see her in the middle of plots and political dealings. And let me tell you, the price is too high because Jax is far from being the fun, unapologetic kickass character I've come to love. Instead, we got philosopher brown bird and white wave (?)
The plot seems to be just an excuse for a torturous love story.
March is not my March. This guy is anywhere but here with her in a real relationship. He goes from crazy and violent to angsty and pathetic in the blink of an eye. I loved the Hero gig, but this is getting old too fast and thanks to this nonsense, I realized I know almost nothing about this guy. Why did I love him in the first place? EVEN MORE, WHY DOES SHE LOVE HIM?
I missed Dina, Doc and Hit so much but thanks god, Vel saved the book. This guy is fucking amazing and if he weren't a bug, I'd really ship him with Jax. I know, I'm being xenophobic. Sorry about that.
Let's talk about the twist: Fuck you very much, Culprit. Yeah, I was completely surprised because I don't read spoilers to save my mother's life so I had no idea this was about to happen.
And my final complain: they were looking for someone to negotiate a very important alliance, right? Why sending her? A woman notorious for her partying and irresponsible behavior. Why would this guy put the future of the Conglomerate in her hands? The reasons don't satisfy me.
Plot-wise, this is the best of the three. Unlike previous installments, we know from page one where we are going and what are we doing. Overall, it was a little disappointing and even if I'm willing to keep reading this series, I really need to see some changes here or this won't be a happy journey for me.
The reason why this series was so damn good is because Jax didn't give a rat's ass about anything. She was irreverent, she spoke her mind and never compromised.
In the passive role of Ambassador, we're forced to see her in the middle of plots and political dealings. And let me tell you, the price is too high because Jax is far from being the fun, unapologetic kickass character I've come to love. Instead, we got philosopher brown bird and white wave (?)
The plot seems to be just an excuse for a torturous love story.
March is not my March. This guy is anywhere but here with her in a real relationship. He goes from crazy and violent to angsty and pathetic in the blink of an eye. I loved the Hero gig, but this is getting old too fast and thanks to this nonsense, I realized I know almost nothing about this guy. Why did I love him in the first place? EVEN MORE, WHY DOES SHE LOVE HIM?
I missed Dina, Doc and Hit so much but thanks god, Vel saved the book. This guy is fucking amazing and if he weren't a bug, I'd really ship him with Jax. I know, I'm being xenophobic. Sorry about that.
Let's talk about the twist: Fuck you very much, Culprit. Yeah, I was completely surprised because I don't read spoilers to save my mother's life so I had no idea this was about to happen.
And my final complain: they were looking for someone to negotiate a very important alliance, right? Why sending her? A woman notorious for her partying and irresponsible behavior. Why would this guy put the future of the Conglomerate in her hands? The reasons don't satisfy me.
Plot-wise, this is the best of the three. Unlike previous installments, we know from page one where we are going and what are we doing. Overall, it was a little disappointing and even if I'm willing to keep reading this series, I really need to see some changes here or this won't be a happy journey for me.
April 24, 2011
This is an incredible addition to the series, probably the best one yet. Even though I loved the action in Wanderlust, the relationship angst really bothered me. That's why I waited a month or so before daring to read Doubleblind. I'm happy to say that it brings a nice equilibrium to everything that's been grating on my nerves. In Grimspace, and especially in Wanderlust, March seemed to suffer from multiple personality disorder. He was a perfect lover, Jax's punching bag/doormat and Universal Soldier, all at once. In Doubleblind he struggles to regain his humanity, but I have a feeling things will be more balanced in the future.
I only cry and beg when Jax is arround. Right now, I'm a killing machine, so let's go annihilate the rival clan!!
Jax is a whole different person this time. She has become this incredible, mature and brave woman. I kind of hated her before, but now she's finally the heroine we want and deserve. She's far from perfect, but at least I don't hate her and/or yell at her on every other page. She finally appreciates March and everything he's done for her. She's not the selfish, spoiled brat she used to be. She actually reminds me a lot of Aguirre's other heroine, Corine Solomon.
However, neither of them is my favorite character – that is most definitely Vel. I have some pretty amazing friends, but I really wish I had a friend like him. And yes, I would totally hug him, at least twice a day.
Aguirre really is my favorite author these days. I love everything about the way she builds a story. Her writing is impecable, and she has this incredible way of changing the pace so suddenly you find yourself going back a few sentences just to be sure you're not reading it wrong.
I only cry and beg when Jax is arround. Right now, I'm a killing machine, so let's go annihilate the rival clan!!
Jax is a whole different person this time. She has become this incredible, mature and brave woman. I kind of hated her before, but now she's finally the heroine we want and deserve. She's far from perfect, but at least I don't hate her and/or yell at her on every other page. She finally appreciates March and everything he's done for her. She's not the selfish, spoiled brat she used to be. She actually reminds me a lot of Aguirre's other heroine, Corine Solomon.
However, neither of them is my favorite character – that is most definitely Vel. I have some pretty amazing friends, but I really wish I had a friend like him. And yes, I would totally hug him, at least twice a day.
Aguirre really is my favorite author these days. I love everything about the way she builds a story. Her writing is impecable, and she has this incredible way of changing the pace so suddenly you find yourself going back a few sentences just to be sure you're not reading it wrong.
April 29, 2016
I’ve read three books in the series and now I experience some different feelings. In some way I liked the series, it had points that kept me hooked, but not quite long enough. So now I have a dilemma: to read or not to read further. I have to admit, Ann Aguirre writes well. The plot in this book is quite good, attractive and quite action packed (maybe less than I expected after reading the first book). This “quite” is killing me! But I can’t escape it because this book is quite good.
At first I want to mention Constance, it was awesome to read about her development and laugh from her jokes. She is a real help to Jax and I just can’t talk about her as a thing. <3*sending love to Constance*<3 Also I really liked Vel. He was a star in this book and his relationship with Jax was a true example of friendship and tolerance. He clearly showed that the most important thing is what we are inside. I have a strange feeling that Vel is going to push March aside, because there is more attention to him and his relationship to Jax, than to March.
Now the fun part! At first take precautions. Some asteroids coming this way.
I had some untasty things with this book. Some were bigger, to hit my reading enjoyment, some smaller to skip without real damage. The romance in this book goes to some desperate self-pity level and the doses are quite big, so it spoiled the true taste for the half of the book to me. I’ve never enjoyed the melodrama. Jax spends a lot of time thinking about how to help March and how great the damage to him is. And here we go, she succeeds in helping him, all too smooth and quick, in a one sneak peak to his inner self.
I liked how Ann Aguirre presented the Ithtorians in the book.
They seemed so bossy and cruel in their behavior with others, who are not like them, while they were so silly with their emotional chill and lack of understanding. Not forgetting that the Ithtorians are true lethal killers.
It’s a pity that the Ithtorians couldn’t change appearance like Vel. I think it could have added some fun and interest to the story. It was an interesting move to settle them in beautiful architecture and lots of flora, with some spices of poetry, expressing their attitude through so called “wa”.
I missed some of the characters: Doc, Hit, and Dina, who can rock the floor. Ands it’s a pity that they didn’t quite do that. I know that they were there, but they had no such fun as earlier.
Also some parts of the story made me impatient and annoyed, because I guessed what Jax and other characters would do or how the situation will enroll. And I just prayed sometimes: “Oh, please make it the other way, it would be more interesting for this and not that person to be the enemy(the real culprit), let the enemies be more cruel and clever (the escape from the mines) and etc.” So I experienced a lack of awesome plot twists.
But nobody’s perfect and as I mentioned before – this book has something inside, that just hooked me up, not fully, but definitely slightly.
At first I want to mention Constance, it was awesome to read about her development and laugh from her jokes. She is a real help to Jax and I just can’t talk about her as a thing. <3*sending love to Constance*<3 Also I really liked Vel. He was a star in this book and his relationship with Jax was a true example of friendship and tolerance. He clearly showed that the most important thing is what we are inside. I have a strange feeling that Vel is going to push March aside, because there is more attention to him and his relationship to Jax, than to March.
Now the fun part! At first take precautions. Some asteroids coming this way.
I had some untasty things with this book. Some were bigger, to hit my reading enjoyment, some smaller to skip without real damage. The romance in this book goes to some desperate self-pity level and the doses are quite big, so it spoiled the true taste for the half of the book to me. I’ve never enjoyed the melodrama. Jax spends a lot of time thinking about how to help March and how great the damage to him is. And here we go, she succeeds in helping him, all too smooth and quick, in a one sneak peak to his inner self.
I liked how Ann Aguirre presented the Ithtorians in the book.
They seemed so bossy and cruel in their behavior with others, who are not like them, while they were so silly with their emotional chill and lack of understanding. Not forgetting that the Ithtorians are true lethal killers.
It’s a pity that the Ithtorians couldn’t change appearance like Vel. I think it could have added some fun and interest to the story. It was an interesting move to settle them in beautiful architecture and lots of flora, with some spices of poetry, expressing their attitude through so called “wa”.
I missed some of the characters: Doc, Hit, and Dina, who can rock the floor. Ands it’s a pity that they didn’t quite do that. I know that they were there, but they had no such fun as earlier.
Also some parts of the story made me impatient and annoyed, because I guessed what Jax and other characters would do or how the situation will enroll. And I just prayed sometimes: “Oh, please make it the other way, it would be more interesting for this and not that person to be the enemy(the real culprit), let the enemies be more cruel and clever (the escape from the mines) and etc.” So I experienced a lack of awesome plot twists.
But nobody’s perfect and as I mentioned before – this book has something inside, that just hooked me up, not fully, but definitely slightly.
March 21, 2015
Wanna know what has been happening in Australian Politics this week?
Seriously, that is Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, eating a raw onion like an apple for absolutely no actual reason.
Tone, pls.
Unlike that idiot, my brand new spirit animal, Ambassador Sirantha Jax, does politics, not by eating raw onions, but with ruthless snark and much badassery.
Holy shit, is that a giant crab? No, that's my foot.
Except for then. Because, drugs.
After book II, I was expecting this book to be action packed, kick-ass, hold on to your seats goodness. But, nope. It was mostly politicking and plotting and . AND IT WAS AWESOME.
This one sees Ambassador Jax, on Ithliss-Tor negotiating an alliance to protect the whole universe from the ever frightening Morgut, hell bent on eating everyone and everything. Obvs, she has her work cut out for her and the Ithtorians are not particularly welcoming. Not to mention some of her own crew threaten to sabotage the mission
What makes this book is the growing relationship between Vel and Jax . It is all light and love and I can't get enough of it. I was going to say even though it wasn't sexual - but, on reflection it might be because it was wasn't sexual. There are no secrets, and no lies between them. It is all purity.
Friendship goals, right there.
Special mentions to Hit and Dina for continuing to be awesome.
Also,
Seriously, that is Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, eating a raw onion like an apple for absolutely no actual reason.
Tone, pls.
Unlike that idiot, my brand new spirit animal, Ambassador Sirantha Jax, does politics, not by eating raw onions, but with ruthless snark and much badassery.
Holy shit, is that a giant crab? No, that's my foot.
Except for then. Because, drugs.
After book II, I was expecting this book to be action packed, kick-ass, hold on to your seats goodness. But, nope. It was mostly politicking and plotting and . AND IT WAS AWESOME.
This one sees Ambassador Jax, on Ithliss-Tor negotiating an alliance to protect the whole universe from the ever frightening Morgut, hell bent on eating everyone and everything. Obvs, she has her work cut out for her and the Ithtorians are not particularly welcoming. Not to mention some of her own crew threaten to sabotage the mission
What makes this book is the growing relationship between Vel and Jax . It is all light and love and I can't get enough of it. I was going to say even though it wasn't sexual - but, on reflection it might be because it was wasn't sexual. There are no secrets, and no lies between them. It is all purity.
Friendship goals, right there.
Special mentions to Hit and Dina for continuing to be awesome.
Also,
May 2, 2010
I really do LOVE the world that has been built here by the author. It very much feels like a Mass Effect game in a book. The key to everything is the relationships, and this author definitely excels in interesting character types and conflicts. Jax is awesome, and this book definitely matured up her impetuousness and self-destruction in a real way I really enjoyed.
I had some issues with the ending and how it wrapped up, because I felt like it came a bit from nowhere, the end culprit of it all, but I LOVE March and Jax and definitely loved to see their arc together. I still really really enjoy the series and am 100% in for the next one!
I had some issues with the ending and how it wrapped up, because I felt like it came a bit from nowhere, the end culprit of it all, but I LOVE March and Jax and definitely loved to see their arc together. I still really really enjoy the series and am 100% in for the next one!
October 29, 2016
3.5 that I'm rounding up. This was a subdued Jax entry, but enjoyable. I like my slightly trashy sci-fi, what can I say? I enjoyed the character development for Vel a great deal in this one. (I wish he was her romantic interest, I must admit. March is getting boring/creepy.)
October 13, 2009
With Morgut attacks on space stations and planetary settlements escalating, the ousted Farwan Corporation's supporters pirating space ships, and the Syndicate coming out in the open to offer protection from the Morgut - for the right price, the success of Sirantha Jax's mission as the Conglomerate's ambassador to Ithiss-Tor has never been more important. She needs to broker an alliance with the one species who successfully drove off the Morguta couple of centuries before, but there's a big problem: the Ithtorians hate and despise humanity, seeing them as smelly carrion-eaters with no manners.
Jax arrives with new scars, both physical and psychological. Her lover and pilot, March, has become a cold killing machine who can't stand to be touched and only remembers that he loved her. She won't give up on him, but she has no idea how to fix the mind-reading Psi - Mair, a powerful Psi and Chi master, fixed his mind the first time through violent and painful means, ways Jax can't access and honestly doesn't want to. The idea of causing him more pain and nightmares on top of what he's already experiencing is anathema to her.
But at least he hasn't run away to become a mercenary, at least he's here with her on Ithiss-Tor, as unstable as he is. Her best friend, the Ithtorian bounty hunter Vel, is with her to translate and guide her through the intricacies of Ithtorian etiquette, and her PA, Constance (now in her realistic human casing), is also a huge help. Jael, her Bred bodyguard; Dina and the pilot Hit; and Saul the geneticist, are with her as well, but all eyes are on Jax. No one really believes the irresponsible Grimspace Jumper who used to get drunk, dance on tabletops and display her breasts to the news cameras can actually pull this off. At worst, she'll add a new enemy to the Conglomerate's list. At best, she might escape with her life.
I could gush endlessly about how much I love this series. It's superb. Each book just gets better and better, the stakes get higher, the details more complex, the relationships more complicated, the intergalactic world more vivid.
Jax grows within each book, and from book to book, slowly maturing and becoming less and less selfish in the face of more and more demanding and tragic circumstances. A great deal happens in these books, but the characters never become lost amidst the plotting - if anything, they strengthen it and bind it tighter together. While Jax narrates, her growing ability to truly see people, wonder about them, try to empathise and understand them, gives us fully fleshed out supporting characters - and it's testament to Aguirre's skill that even when, in Grimspace, she was selfish and whiny and running from her own feelings and needs, you never tired of her but grew attached to her spunky ways and the characters around her, characters that we saw more clearly than she did.
The plotting is tight in Doubleblind, but I'm still figuring out the connection between the story and the title. A "double blind" is a study, for example a test for a new drug, where the test groups don't know whether they have the drug or a placebo. Taken metaphorically or symbolically, it's not an obvious allusion and the best I can do at this point is take it as a reference to Jax's tenuous diplomatic mission, the inscrutable Bugs and their own scheming, and the "unexpected" traitor. I say that in air quotes only because it wasn't unexpected to me - the only thing predictable was the traitor, and who was behind them. But there was plenty else to keep me guessing.
The way Aguirre handles the alien race, the "bugs" as the humans call them (because they look much like the insect aliens in the movie District 9, though more human in size), is excellent: their alien qualities come across well, and even Vel, who has spent so long amongst humans and is the only Ithtorian who likes humans, is undeniably alien. He doesn't have the same reactions and responses, his clever mind works differently, and you never forget what he is or that he is completely Other. But we do get to know him here, and he's become one of the most vivid characters in the series. I'm very fond of Vel.
I absolutely love the way Aguirre handles Jax and March's relationship. At the end of Wanderlust I was left in despair and had to wait nearly an entire year to get my hands on the third book - that's a year of anxiety and heartbreak. By the end of Wanderlust Jax and March had become so much a part of me that I felt Jax's pain - and March's - like a physical ache. That tension and despair carries through here, and I loved the way she "fixes" him.
Speaking of the year-long wait, if you haven't started this series yet I recommend you read the books close together. Even though Jax does some recapping, there was a lot I'd forgotten, details that are important - not to mention these books build like an ongoing climax, and even though this has one of the more complete endings, it also feels like the story has only just begun.
One thing I noticed that I really have to mention, is the issue of a private company - in this case, the Syndicate - selling their services to the government - in this case, the Conglomerate - for a high price. It's a timely and subtle dig at the way the US government contracted out all its services to private corporations, especially for the Iraq war, based on the idea that they can do it better but at the cost of billions and billions of taxpayer dollars, most of which disappeared into "overheads" and resulted in half-finished, dodgy jobs.
The Syndicate want the job, for a high price, of going to war against the Morgut. There would be a lot of money at stake, and it wouldn't surprise me if they were somehow egging the Morgut on to escalate things. Their use of advertising to gradually connect the idea of the Syndicate=safe and peaceful life in people's subconscious adds to this: visual commercials showing people relaxed and happy while Syndicate employees do the cleaning and cooking and war-faring in the background, seep in and become established fact. As one character puts it, "There will come a point when people just won't care about the truth, and all the exposés in the world won't matter." (234)
This is one of the things I love about Fantasy and Science Fiction: their ability - or potential - to explore our own issues in a "neutral" environment. Doubleblind is a delicious, entertaining read, but it'd be a shame to miss the deeper meanings too.
Jax arrives with new scars, both physical and psychological. Her lover and pilot, March, has become a cold killing machine who can't stand to be touched and only remembers that he loved her. She won't give up on him, but she has no idea how to fix the mind-reading Psi - Mair, a powerful Psi and Chi master, fixed his mind the first time through violent and painful means, ways Jax can't access and honestly doesn't want to. The idea of causing him more pain and nightmares on top of what he's already experiencing is anathema to her.
But at least he hasn't run away to become a mercenary, at least he's here with her on Ithiss-Tor, as unstable as he is. Her best friend, the Ithtorian bounty hunter Vel, is with her to translate and guide her through the intricacies of Ithtorian etiquette, and her PA, Constance (now in her realistic human casing), is also a huge help. Jael, her Bred bodyguard; Dina and the pilot Hit; and Saul the geneticist, are with her as well, but all eyes are on Jax. No one really believes the irresponsible Grimspace Jumper who used to get drunk, dance on tabletops and display her breasts to the news cameras can actually pull this off. At worst, she'll add a new enemy to the Conglomerate's list. At best, she might escape with her life.
I could gush endlessly about how much I love this series. It's superb. Each book just gets better and better, the stakes get higher, the details more complex, the relationships more complicated, the intergalactic world more vivid.
Jax grows within each book, and from book to book, slowly maturing and becoming less and less selfish in the face of more and more demanding and tragic circumstances. A great deal happens in these books, but the characters never become lost amidst the plotting - if anything, they strengthen it and bind it tighter together. While Jax narrates, her growing ability to truly see people, wonder about them, try to empathise and understand them, gives us fully fleshed out supporting characters - and it's testament to Aguirre's skill that even when, in Grimspace, she was selfish and whiny and running from her own feelings and needs, you never tired of her but grew attached to her spunky ways and the characters around her, characters that we saw more clearly than she did.
The plotting is tight in Doubleblind, but I'm still figuring out the connection between the story and the title. A "double blind" is a study, for example a test for a new drug, where the test groups don't know whether they have the drug or a placebo. Taken metaphorically or symbolically, it's not an obvious allusion and the best I can do at this point is take it as a reference to Jax's tenuous diplomatic mission, the inscrutable Bugs and their own scheming, and the "unexpected" traitor. I say that in air quotes only because it wasn't unexpected to me - the only thing predictable was the traitor, and who was behind them. But there was plenty else to keep me guessing.
The way Aguirre handles the alien race, the "bugs" as the humans call them (because they look much like the insect aliens in the movie District 9, though more human in size), is excellent: their alien qualities come across well, and even Vel, who has spent so long amongst humans and is the only Ithtorian who likes humans, is undeniably alien. He doesn't have the same reactions and responses, his clever mind works differently, and you never forget what he is or that he is completely Other. But we do get to know him here, and he's become one of the most vivid characters in the series. I'm very fond of Vel.
I absolutely love the way Aguirre handles Jax and March's relationship. At the end of Wanderlust I was left in despair and had to wait nearly an entire year to get my hands on the third book - that's a year of anxiety and heartbreak. By the end of Wanderlust Jax and March had become so much a part of me that I felt Jax's pain - and March's - like a physical ache. That tension and despair carries through here, and I loved the way she "fixes" him.
Speaking of the year-long wait, if you haven't started this series yet I recommend you read the books close together. Even though Jax does some recapping, there was a lot I'd forgotten, details that are important - not to mention these books build like an ongoing climax, and even though this has one of the more complete endings, it also feels like the story has only just begun.
One thing I noticed that I really have to mention, is the issue of a private company - in this case, the Syndicate - selling their services to the government - in this case, the Conglomerate - for a high price. It's a timely and subtle dig at the way the US government contracted out all its services to private corporations, especially for the Iraq war, based on the idea that they can do it better but at the cost of billions and billions of taxpayer dollars, most of which disappeared into "overheads" and resulted in half-finished, dodgy jobs.
The Syndicate want the job, for a high price, of going to war against the Morgut. There would be a lot of money at stake, and it wouldn't surprise me if they were somehow egging the Morgut on to escalate things. Their use of advertising to gradually connect the idea of the Syndicate=safe and peaceful life in people's subconscious adds to this: visual commercials showing people relaxed and happy while Syndicate employees do the cleaning and cooking and war-faring in the background, seep in and become established fact. As one character puts it, "There will come a point when people just won't care about the truth, and all the exposés in the world won't matter." (234)
This is one of the things I love about Fantasy and Science Fiction: their ability - or potential - to explore our own issues in a "neutral" environment. Doubleblind is a delicious, entertaining read, but it'd be a shame to miss the deeper meanings too.
July 5, 2013
It probably comes as a surprise that prior to picking up this novel, I was very nearly finished with this series. Wanderlust was a sorry companion to the kick-ass series that Grimspace promised and I wasn't quite sure if I wanted to continue - especially when the path ahead seemed to be littered with angst, drama, and unnecessary situations. Thankfully, though, I took a gamble on Doublebind and am so glad I did. Unsurprisingly, this installment will not be a favorite among all readers, mostly because it revolves around space politics - which, I know, seems like a snooze, but believe me, it really isn't. If anything, this is the best of the series so far and I can only hope the future installments continue this level of excellence.
One of the best aspects of this novel is the growth that Sirantha both exhibits and undergoes. Gone is the carefree girl she once may have been and gone is also the insecure girl we've known. Sirantha is still very much chock-full of her flaws and doubts, but she has learned to steel herself to the world. Now, truly, she is pushed and tested to the limits, both diplomatically and personally. In prior novels, we've seen Jax break down and seek comfort from March, who has always been her rock solid wall. Now, however, March is no longer there for her, suffering from his own inner demons and struggling to find his humanity again. Seeing Jax pull up her socks to save both herself, her mission, and her man was a huge turn-around for her - and a hurdle that was necessary, though difficult, to cross. Doublebind exposes a far more delicate and vulnerable relationship between Jax and March than we've seen before, but it is still just as strong, just as durable, and just as lovely.
And yet, the true show-stealers of this novel are the secondary characters, particularly Vel. Traveling to Vel's home planet, we slowly uncover more and more of Vel's past and come to see him as more than merely Jax's best friend, but as a character in his own right. Vel has endured far more than we could ever imagine and, surely, he has risen to becoming one of my favorite characters in this series, notwithstanding March. Dina and Hit, too, become more fully realized in this novel and as a whole, this group has become one of my favorites. Their loyalty, support for one another, and range of emotions is widespread and real. Aguirre manages to draw you into the lives of her characters, though they're in a distant planet in space. Truly, if that isn't the best you can ask for from a book then I don't know what is.
One of the best aspects of this novel is the growth that Sirantha both exhibits and undergoes. Gone is the carefree girl she once may have been and gone is also the insecure girl we've known. Sirantha is still very much chock-full of her flaws and doubts, but she has learned to steel herself to the world. Now, truly, she is pushed and tested to the limits, both diplomatically and personally. In prior novels, we've seen Jax break down and seek comfort from March, who has always been her rock solid wall. Now, however, March is no longer there for her, suffering from his own inner demons and struggling to find his humanity again. Seeing Jax pull up her socks to save both herself, her mission, and her man was a huge turn-around for her - and a hurdle that was necessary, though difficult, to cross. Doublebind exposes a far more delicate and vulnerable relationship between Jax and March than we've seen before, but it is still just as strong, just as durable, and just as lovely.
And yet, the true show-stealers of this novel are the secondary characters, particularly Vel. Traveling to Vel's home planet, we slowly uncover more and more of Vel's past and come to see him as more than merely Jax's best friend, but as a character in his own right. Vel has endured far more than we could ever imagine and, surely, he has risen to becoming one of my favorite characters in this series, notwithstanding March. Dina and Hit, too, become more fully realized in this novel and as a whole, this group has become one of my favorites. Their loyalty, support for one another, and range of emotions is widespread and real. Aguirre manages to draw you into the lives of her characters, though they're in a distant planet in space. Truly, if that isn't the best you can ask for from a book then I don't know what is.
Shelved as 'reviews-say-no'
July 1, 2015I've seen where this series is going and me no likey. I don't want to put myself through that kind of pain.
January 17, 2016
Life is never easy for Sirantha Jax. With every step forward she takes in her life, comes at least one step back. With every hard-won victory, comes a heartbreaking loss. But what is so undeniable about this character is her resiliency. She is no superwoman. She is vulnerable, breakable, and flawed. But no matter how hard of a hit she takes, she manages to get up again and keep moving. She is also loyal, smart, and so much more than anyone gives her credit for. It’s a combination that makes for a pretty fantastic heroine.
If you haven’t been reading this series from the beginning, I would not advise starting here. Each book grows from the continuing storyline before it. But here it continues in pretty spectacular fashion. The entire installment is set on an alien planet, with a unique culture and a very non-human alien population. My hat is off completely to Ann Aguirre for her spectacular world-building. I was already impressed by her concept of grimspace and Jax’s ability to see through deep space. But I grow even more so as she continues to build outward. I’ve never read anything quite like it, yet I never got lost and fell into it completely.
This book finally takes Jax on the diplomatic mission to Vel’s homeworld she never quite made it to in the last installment. She is trying to get his people to align with the Conglomerate to protect humanity from the flesh eating Morgut who want to enslave them as a foodsource. It’s a tall order, since most of the Ithtorians consider humans little more than savages. But Vel is there to teach her the ins and outs of his people. As he schools Jax on culture and body language, their friendship only grows stronger. Honestly, their relationship is one of my absolute favorite parts of the book. It’s a deep friendship, and I love how profoundly it affects them both.
Meanwhile, Jax has March back, but he is only an echo of the man she fell in love with. His decision to stay behind and fight on Keri’s planet has broken something inside of him. He is detached from any of his softer emotions, including his love for Jax. All that remains is an icy rage, but Jax refuses to give up on him. I love her devotion to him and her stubborn refusal to give up.
I found the Ithiss-Tor world fascinating and even its alien characters are crafted with dimension and care. They are nothing like humans, but they are just as compelling. None more so than Vel, and we learn so much about him here. Outside of Jax and March, he is the best part of the series. But Dina, Hit, Jael, and the Doc all have important roles to play too.
My only small complaint was that I did not like all the cutaways to propaganda and news reports about the Syndicate and attacks on other worlds. They kept taking me away from the story I was so interested in and it took everything in me not to skip them.
Otherwise, the pace is fast, the action and intrigue are pitch perfect –and the emotional elements pack a real punch. A great installment in a fantastic series.
Rating: A
If you haven’t been reading this series from the beginning, I would not advise starting here. Each book grows from the continuing storyline before it. But here it continues in pretty spectacular fashion. The entire installment is set on an alien planet, with a unique culture and a very non-human alien population. My hat is off completely to Ann Aguirre for her spectacular world-building. I was already impressed by her concept of grimspace and Jax’s ability to see through deep space. But I grow even more so as she continues to build outward. I’ve never read anything quite like it, yet I never got lost and fell into it completely.
This book finally takes Jax on the diplomatic mission to Vel’s homeworld she never quite made it to in the last installment. She is trying to get his people to align with the Conglomerate to protect humanity from the flesh eating Morgut who want to enslave them as a foodsource. It’s a tall order, since most of the Ithtorians consider humans little more than savages. But Vel is there to teach her the ins and outs of his people. As he schools Jax on culture and body language, their friendship only grows stronger. Honestly, their relationship is one of my absolute favorite parts of the book. It’s a deep friendship, and I love how profoundly it affects them both.
Meanwhile, Jax has March back, but he is only an echo of the man she fell in love with. His decision to stay behind and fight on Keri’s planet has broken something inside of him. He is detached from any of his softer emotions, including his love for Jax. All that remains is an icy rage, but Jax refuses to give up on him. I love her devotion to him and her stubborn refusal to give up.
I found the Ithiss-Tor world fascinating and even its alien characters are crafted with dimension and care. They are nothing like humans, but they are just as compelling. None more so than Vel, and we learn so much about him here. Outside of Jax and March, he is the best part of the series. But Dina, Hit, Jael, and the Doc all have important roles to play too.
My only small complaint was that I did not like all the cutaways to propaganda and news reports about the Syndicate and attacks on other worlds. They kept taking me away from the story I was so interested in and it took everything in me not to skip them.
Otherwise, the pace is fast, the action and intrigue are pitch perfect –and the emotional elements pack a real punch. A great installment in a fantastic series.
Rating: A
March 29, 2017
Doublebind is quite different to the previous books in the series, there's less action and more politics as Jax and her crew have finally arrived on Ithiss-Tor and she has to put her diplomatic skills to the test. We all know Jax as someone who speaks first and thinks later but she has to completely put her impulsive nature to one side and make nice with the locals if she wants any chance of building an alliance between humans and the Ithtorians. Although some of the Ithtorians are open to the alliance and hoping to profit from new potential trade routes the old guard is dead set against having anything to do with beings as primitive as humans.
In some ways I really like the new side we see to Jax here, I like the fact that she isn't just out for herself like she used to be and I appreciated that she was trying her best to make the alliance work but I have to admit she's more fun when she's being her impulsive normal self and you can't tell what she'll do next. Luckily we see a bit more of that side of her towards the end of the book and it led to a very interesting adventure. I enjoyed learning more about the Ithtorian culture but I think certain things could have been expanded upon. One thing I definitely missed was seeing more of the crew. Jael, Dina, Hit and Doc all have fairly minor appearances but they're fairly absent for much of the story and I missed the usual camaraderie we see between them.
March is like a completely different man to the person we met in the first book, events in Wanderlust have changed him and it's not a change for the better. I spent much of the book wondering why I fell in love with him in the first place and hoping that things wouldn't be dragged out for too long but luckily Jax finds a very clever way to make a breakthrough and that was one of my favourite moments in the story. The character who is on top form throughout is Vel, he's been a favourite of mine for a while now but this book just made me love him even more. I adore the friendship between him and Jax, he always has her back even though they're on his homeworld and he's going against cultural norms.
There was a certain event that completely shocked me and kind of broke my heart a little. I don't want to say too much but I was gutted by the way one character behaved, especially because of the reasoning behind their actions. I really hope that they are given the chance to redeem themselves in the future but it's not going to be easy to trust them again. Things are getting very tense in the outside world too as the Syndicate do their best to undermine the Conglomerate and I think it's going to be interesting how the Conglomerate deals with this and other threats. I'm definitely looking forward to picking up Killbox to see how Jax and her crew deal with the aftermath of this mission.
In some ways I really like the new side we see to Jax here, I like the fact that she isn't just out for herself like she used to be and I appreciated that she was trying her best to make the alliance work but I have to admit she's more fun when she's being her impulsive normal self and you can't tell what she'll do next. Luckily we see a bit more of that side of her towards the end of the book and it led to a very interesting adventure. I enjoyed learning more about the Ithtorian culture but I think certain things could have been expanded upon. One thing I definitely missed was seeing more of the crew. Jael, Dina, Hit and Doc all have fairly minor appearances but they're fairly absent for much of the story and I missed the usual camaraderie we see between them.
March is like a completely different man to the person we met in the first book, events in Wanderlust have changed him and it's not a change for the better. I spent much of the book wondering why I fell in love with him in the first place and hoping that things wouldn't be dragged out for too long but luckily Jax finds a very clever way to make a breakthrough and that was one of my favourite moments in the story. The character who is on top form throughout is Vel, he's been a favourite of mine for a while now but this book just made me love him even more. I adore the friendship between him and Jax, he always has her back even though they're on his homeworld and he's going against cultural norms.
There was a certain event that completely shocked me and kind of broke my heart a little. I don't want to say too much but I was gutted by the way one character behaved, especially because of the reasoning behind their actions. I really hope that they are given the chance to redeem themselves in the future but it's not going to be easy to trust them again. Things are getting very tense in the outside world too as the Syndicate do their best to undermine the Conglomerate and I think it's going to be interesting how the Conglomerate deals with this and other threats. I'm definitely looking forward to picking up Killbox to see how Jax and her crew deal with the aftermath of this mission.
October 7, 2009
I find myself rating this entire series 5 stars, even though there are flaws in the story. But the books are so enjoyable, especially for someone who is not a huge fan of heavy-handed science fiction. These are light, quick reads and a whole lot of fun.
My major complaint - I wish these were longer and I wish Aguirre would go into further detail with her characters, alien worlds, and cultures.
More than anything, I loved reading about the friendship between two of the main characters, one a human and one an alien. The friendship felt very real and I found myself interested more in this storyline than any of the others, even the slight romance. The romance is good, a necessary part of the story, but it is not very romantic, if that makes any sense. I loved the form of PTSD explored in the story, which is all I can say without providing spoilers.
My major complaint - I wish these were longer and I wish Aguirre would go into further detail with her characters, alien worlds, and cultures.
More than anything, I loved reading about the friendship between two of the main characters, one a human and one an alien. The friendship felt very real and I found myself interested more in this storyline than any of the others, even the slight romance. The romance is good, a necessary part of the story, but it is not very romantic, if that makes any sense. I loved the form of PTSD explored in the story, which is all I can say without providing spoilers.
March 17, 2015
I loved seeing some growth in Sirantha, as she figured out how to navigate the political world, make alliances, and curb her impulsive instincts. But I have to admit that Jax still irritates me with the way she nearly always thinks in cost/benefit ratio to herself. It's not so much just that, but then she tries to say things like "I'd walk through fire for him," and her internal thoughts just don't match. It makes me not believe her when she says stuff like that.
My heart was breaking for March. What he'd gone through to try to repay a debt to a woman that gave him a life, where he ended up because of it - without emotion, care or regard for anyone or anything. But he was still always there for Jax. Without hesitation he went somewhere he knew he'd be intensely uncomfortable to support her. He still wanted to heal, even if his conscious mind didn't think it did. And his love for Jax pushed him where he needed to be. And I LOVED the entire development in this area, between Jax and March.
Vel, what can I say about Vel. He's one of my all-time favorite characters. He's a fantastic friend, intriguingly 'other,' and so incredibly smart (most of the time - I'll get into that later). I loved how he was absolutely there for Jax and everyone that meant anything to her. Regardless of being on his home world, his loyalty was 100% to her, with no questions on his part. Though they say that 'bugs' don't have emotional connections in the same way humans do, I'd have to disagree when it comes to Vel. It's more than obvious that he cares about Sirantha.
There wasn't a lot of secondary characters. Hit, Dina and Doc showed up minimally and just enough to let you know they were still there. Jael was there a bit more as Jax's bodyguard. I really love Hit and Dina - I wish we'd gotten some more time with them, and hope we do in the future.
Several things kept this from being a higher star rating for me. The Syndicate-related bounces that were interspersed throughout the story irritated the hell out of me. After the fifth time or so I stopped reading them and just paged past. I kept thinking 'I got it! Things are getting worse!' I was probably so irritated because it would come at a time when I didn't really want to leave the main story.
Then there was Jax's propensity to repeat information, thoughts, ideas that I already know and have heard before. Not just from previous books but several times in this book. Every time she mentions how she misses grimspace I don't need to hear about how it's addictive, and it's killing her from the inside out, and blah, blah, blah. Seriously. Enough already.
Finally, I couldn't help but think that both Jax and Vel were bordering on stupid towards the end.
But from that point on - Wow, I loved it. I was on the edge of my seat from there to the end. It was beautifully done.
My heart was breaking for March. What he'd gone through to try to repay a debt to a woman that gave him a life, where he ended up because of it - without emotion, care or regard for anyone or anything. But he was still always there for Jax. Without hesitation he went somewhere he knew he'd be intensely uncomfortable to support her. He still wanted to heal, even if his conscious mind didn't think it did. And his love for Jax pushed him where he needed to be. And I LOVED the entire development in this area, between Jax and March.
Vel, what can I say about Vel. He's one of my all-time favorite characters. He's a fantastic friend, intriguingly 'other,' and so incredibly smart (most of the time - I'll get into that later). I loved how he was absolutely there for Jax and everyone that meant anything to her. Regardless of being on his home world, his loyalty was 100% to her, with no questions on his part. Though they say that 'bugs' don't have emotional connections in the same way humans do, I'd have to disagree when it comes to Vel. It's more than obvious that he cares about Sirantha.
There wasn't a lot of secondary characters. Hit, Dina and Doc showed up minimally and just enough to let you know they were still there. Jael was there a bit more as Jax's bodyguard. I really love Hit and Dina - I wish we'd gotten some more time with them, and hope we do in the future.
Several things kept this from being a higher star rating for me. The Syndicate-related bounces that were interspersed throughout the story irritated the hell out of me. After the fifth time or so I stopped reading them and just paged past. I kept thinking 'I got it! Things are getting worse!' I was probably so irritated because it would come at a time when I didn't really want to leave the main story.
Then there was Jax's propensity to repeat information, thoughts, ideas that I already know and have heard before. Not just from previous books but several times in this book. Every time she mentions how she misses grimspace I don't need to hear about how it's addictive, and it's killing her from the inside out, and blah, blah, blah. Seriously. Enough already.
Finally, I couldn't help but think that both Jax and Vel were bordering on stupid towards the end.
But from that point on - Wow, I loved it. I was on the edge of my seat from there to the end. It was beautifully done.
February 16, 2010
OH!!!! Superb! I thought I was going to be a little bored with this because Sirantha acts as an ambassador, and there's a lot of political talk and cultural discussions but I found it to be fascinating. Aguirre created an entire people with all of these customs, and made it so believable. I found Sirantha to be so vulnerable in this book, in the others she was strong and impulsive but she was so sad here. All she wanted was to help create peace, and to ensure that a huge, destructive war wouldn't take place. But she also had so many personal issues to contend with. In the beginning I was heartbroken with her involving the March situation. And I've come to love Vel even more, especially with this book. He's her best friend, and I think he might be my favorite character in this series. I have a few choice words for one particular character in this book, and only hope that this stupid idiot of a character never shows up again!!! Hope he is tortured relentlessly. Evil schmuck. Anyway.
I don't want to wait for the next book to come out... I want to know what happens next, and I want to know right this minute lol!!!
I don't want to wait for the next book to come out... I want to know what happens next, and I want to know right this minute lol!!!
August 5, 2018
Oh, by Mary, where should I start. As a forewarning, these "reviews" are becoming more analyzing/venting than before. And I use a LOT of quotes here and I ramble quite a bit....
First, if you haven't read this series, go to the nearest bookstore or Amazon, and get these books now. Do not wait. These books are too fantastic to pass up.
Second, these are heavy, emotional, dark books. Like the others before, Doubleblind is not easy read. Sirantha Jax's world is dangerous, dark and scary. This book is an emotional roller coaster. While reading this book, I kept telling myself, "Relax, Jamie. This is only a book. These are fictional characters. This is not real." I find myself way too caught up in these characters and the touch choices they make. THere are no easy answers, and things don't warp up nicely in a neat little package.
Okay, so Jax is still the ambassador to Ithiss-Tor. At the beginning of this book, Jax and her crew, including Jael, Vel, Dina, Kit, Doc, Rose and March are just arriving at Ithiss-Tor. This is a very difficult environment. Many of the bugs do not want to open trade with the Conglomerate and and openly hostile to Jax. Jax handles her job with determination and grace and starts winning over high -ranking bugs.
While juggling the political climate on Ithiss-Tor, Jax is also desperately trying to fix March. March is still here, but he is distant and cannot feel any emotions. He is a sociopathic, killing machine. Logically, he knows he loves Jax, but he doesn't feel anything towards her. Jax begins chipping away at his mind, only to be rebuffed time after time.
"As we pass through the doors, I'm not sure I'll ever have a home with March. Sadness washes over me, endless waves crashing against a lonely shore."
But our girl Jax, won't quit. It is evident in the writing that Jax would rather not exist at all if it's in a world without March. One of the most beautiful lines in the entire book is about her feelings for him:
"I'll always want him. Until every sun goes dark in every sky, until I am nothing more than long-forgotten cosmic dust, I will want him. And even then I suspect my particles will long for his."
This is a BIG love. With the upcoming books, Killbox and Aftermath, there is a lot of conversation about the close relationship of Jax and Vel and the suffering relationship between March and Jax, but one thing I know for sure is that these two must find their way back to one another. For three books, I have read on and on about how Jax would rather die than live without March, and March would rather die than live without Jax. These two have sacrificed SOOOO much for one another. Although their loyalties and responsibilities tear then apart, I believe wholeheartedly that these two will end up together. As March so eloquently puts it :
"'Mine,' he repeats, deep and low. 'Sometimes I feel that you're woven into my bones. There's a resonance when I look at you, as if from a part of me that's missing...and it won't let me walk away, not even when I want to.'"
So after being nearly killed, Jax tried one last thing to fix March's mind, and it works. It's a very neat trick the author used. Jax's determination is palpable.
"'So here I am begging -' My voice breaks, so I try again. 'Begging you not to give up. Begging you to keep trying. Because I don't think I'm strong enough to survive losing you. I'm at the wall over this, and I don't have anything left.'"
One thing about this Grimspace world is its darkness. The literal darkness of space, and the figurative darkness of the life these character lead. This is a common theme, but another common theme is how Jax and March act as each other beacons, just as the space beacons light the way through Grimspace. They are the light that draws one another out of whatever darkness they are facing, whether its Jax's paranoia, or March's coldness. There are several instances throughout this series where we read about the characters shining. Here is only one example:
"'Mother Mary,' he breaths. 'How you shine.' I shake my head. 'The light is yours. Right now you can't see it because you sit in shadow, but all I do is reflect you.'"
Not long after we get March back, there is a murder attempt on a high ranking bug. Citric Acid burns bugs from the inside, and citric acid is found hiding in Jax's room. To save Jax, March confesses and takes the blame, and is immediately sentenced to certain doom. Jax spends the rest of the book finding the culprit and hatching a plan to rescue self-sacrificing March. There is a huge betrayal that is uncovered towards the end of Doubleblind. Jax puts the entire alliance with Ithiss-Tor on the line to save March:
"'You're proved once you'd kill the world for me. I may be doing the same thing...I don't know if the alliance will hold, if they notice the switch. They might see it as treachery and call everything off. I don't know, and I don't care, either. See, the world isn't worth saving without you in it.'"
Vel is still awesome and cool, as usual. I really do like him and his dry sense of humor. He is Jax's best friend and he understand her more than anyone else. I like the addition of Constance, but I wish I could have read more about Dina and Hit in this book. They are very interesting characters and I'd like to see them more.
I will be starting Killbox right away. I know it's an emotional mess from here on out. These characters are taking a lot out of me. I will be happy to finish Killbox and Endgame, not because I want to be up-to-date on this series, but because I will welcome a one year break from the tough, emotional roller coaster I've been riding along with these characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2018
I liked it, but I don't know that it's anything I'd ever re-read. These are just short fun books.
February 18, 2017
This third book of the Grimspace series takes place entirely on the xenophobic planet of Ithiss-Tor. Jax has finally arrived to act as Ambassador to the "Bugs" who are desperately needed to strengthen the Conglomerate's position against the Morgut. There is danger every step of the way as Jax navigates the treacherous waters of diplomacy with a mostly hostile species. Intrigue, betrayal, and the nuances of cross-cultural communication make this a fascinating read - a definite change of pace from the previous action-packed installments.
Jax's relationship with March also develops significantly, repairing my dissatisfaction from Wanderlust. I don't want to spoil anything, but I was much happier with their story this time around. I also really enjoyed Jax's growing friendship with Vel, which gets significant attention since they are on Vel's home world and he is Jax's lifeline.
I did find one aspect of the story annoying. In order to keep us informed about what is happening "back home" while Jax is risking everything on Ithiss-Tor, there are news feeds interspersed throughout. I found the switches from first person narrative to news feed or interview transcript jarring. The tone did enhance the feeling that these exchanges take place far in the future, but I felt that they interrupted the flow and made me feel more like a distant observer. Aside from that, this was a strong chapter in the Grimspace series, and I'm looking forward to reading more.
Jax's relationship with March also develops significantly, repairing my dissatisfaction from Wanderlust. I don't want to spoil anything, but I was much happier with their story this time around. I also really enjoyed Jax's growing friendship with Vel, which gets significant attention since they are on Vel's home world and he is Jax's lifeline.
I did find one aspect of the story annoying. In order to keep us informed about what is happening "back home" while Jax is risking everything on Ithiss-Tor, there are news feeds interspersed throughout. I found the switches from first person narrative to news feed or interview transcript jarring. The tone did enhance the feeling that these exchanges take place far in the future, but I felt that they interrupted the flow and made me feel more like a distant observer. Aside from that, this was a strong chapter in the Grimspace series, and I'm looking forward to reading more.
February 1, 2010
I've just closed the cover on Doubleblind, the third Jax novel, and all I can think is: when will enough be enough?
Ambassador Jax finally arrives on Ithiss-Tor to broker an alliance with the Bugs. It's a mission of paramount importance; success could mean the salvation of humanity. At the very least, having the Ithtorians join the Conglomerate will lessen the threat on one of multitudinous hostile fronts. Or so they hope. But how much of herself will Jax have to relinquish to get the job done?
With Vel as cultural liaison, Jax engages in painfully cautious interactions with the Ithtorians. Between the precarious diplomatic situation, March's post-war emotional detachment, and Jax's junkie cravings for Grimspace, I don't know how she manages.
Yet, for all her overwhelming worry, Sirantha is inspiring. The bald determination of this woman—bound by her promises, urged on by challenge—is staggering. Her stubborn attitude and unwillingness to show weakness serve her damn well as she navigates this foreign world. She's also grown into a woman with such conviction and strength of character. The depth of her feelings makes this a hard read, but also a very compelling one.
Amidst the turmoil, Jax finds herself relying on Vel as never before. Their relationship made this novel for me. He helps her understand the layered nuances of his culture, and even shares his own personal story (heartbreaking and poetic, of course). In the meantime, she uses his lessons not just in her diplomatic capacity, but to show her friend just how worthy and important he is to her. The two characters could not be more different, but they connect beautifully in a mish-mash of human and Ithtorian gestures. They come to share an unerring loyalty and trust. To Vel, race does not determine who his people are or where he belongs. Sirantha is his people, and he’ll follow her to the end. The reassurance that provides is astounding.
As if the scene on Ithiss-Tor weren’t enough to affect us, Aguirre lifts us out of the story to pan across the galaxy. Syndicate propaganda, newsbriefs, editorials, classified documents—we get a little bit of everything. It’s the first time we get a glimpse of the world outside Sirantha’s immediate circle and my, is it enlightening. In one example, detailed descriptions of archived footage show the horror of the Morgut threat. In the tone of a war correspondent, the broadcaster gives an overview of a savage and brutal attack that claimed the lives of over a thousand civilians. Nothing else can so bleakly and efficiently display the importance of Sirantha's mission, and the uncertain future the galaxy faces.
I said this was a hard read, and it is in many ways. Sirantha’s not the type to dissemble. Cautious diplomacy goes against her core. She’s fighting against every instinct in this book but one—her newfound desire to leave the galaxy a better place. Will she succeed? I don’t know, but she’s making a hell of a go at it.
Ambassador Jax finally arrives on Ithiss-Tor to broker an alliance with the Bugs. It's a mission of paramount importance; success could mean the salvation of humanity. At the very least, having the Ithtorians join the Conglomerate will lessen the threat on one of multitudinous hostile fronts. Or so they hope. But how much of herself will Jax have to relinquish to get the job done?
With Vel as cultural liaison, Jax engages in painfully cautious interactions with the Ithtorians. Between the precarious diplomatic situation, March's post-war emotional detachment, and Jax's junkie cravings for Grimspace, I don't know how she manages.
Yet, for all her overwhelming worry, Sirantha is inspiring. The bald determination of this woman—bound by her promises, urged on by challenge—is staggering. Her stubborn attitude and unwillingness to show weakness serve her damn well as she navigates this foreign world. She's also grown into a woman with such conviction and strength of character. The depth of her feelings makes this a hard read, but also a very compelling one.
Amidst the turmoil, Jax finds herself relying on Vel as never before. Their relationship made this novel for me. He helps her understand the layered nuances of his culture, and even shares his own personal story (heartbreaking and poetic, of course). In the meantime, she uses his lessons not just in her diplomatic capacity, but to show her friend just how worthy and important he is to her. The two characters could not be more different, but they connect beautifully in a mish-mash of human and Ithtorian gestures. They come to share an unerring loyalty and trust. To Vel, race does not determine who his people are or where he belongs. Sirantha is his people, and he’ll follow her to the end. The reassurance that provides is astounding.
As if the scene on Ithiss-Tor weren’t enough to affect us, Aguirre lifts us out of the story to pan across the galaxy. Syndicate propaganda, newsbriefs, editorials, classified documents—we get a little bit of everything. It’s the first time we get a glimpse of the world outside Sirantha’s immediate circle and my, is it enlightening. In one example, detailed descriptions of archived footage show the horror of the Morgut threat. In the tone of a war correspondent, the broadcaster gives an overview of a savage and brutal attack that claimed the lives of over a thousand civilians. Nothing else can so bleakly and efficiently display the importance of Sirantha's mission, and the uncertain future the galaxy faces.
I said this was a hard read, and it is in many ways. Sirantha’s not the type to dissemble. Cautious diplomacy goes against her core. She’s fighting against every instinct in this book but one—her newfound desire to leave the galaxy a better place. Will she succeed? I don’t know, but she’s making a hell of a go at it.
January 17, 2016
Yaaay! While this book is certainly an emotional read, it wasn't as dark a book as the previous in the series. At the end of the previous book Sirantha finally made it to the alien planet she was assigned to delegate negotiations for an alliance. The beginning of this book starts right where it left off. Things are much more complicated than they seem and Sirantha has to rely more on her crew than usual. She especially has to rely Vel, whom I love, since March is still in a state from events at the end of the previous book. I don't want to give away much since it seems like more people are finally picking up this series. This series is still awesome though and each book has been just as great as the others. So far it's been my favorite that I've read all year.
July 7, 2010
This series is a lot of fun, and I am really glad that it was so highly recommended by my friends - I haven't read any Ann Aguirre, and she's definitely a great find. I will have to check out several of her other series, too, now.
Let's start with: Things I Enjoyed.
1 - Sci-fi.
2 - World building.
3 - The secondary cast was fantastic.
Then let's go to: Things That Need Resolution.
1 - Keri: will someone please punch that spoiled brat in the face?
2 - Jael: betrayed them for money... really? Really??
And finally: Things That Are Perplexing Me.
1 - There is a serious, and aggravating, lack of Jax using her ability in this series.
2 - strong female leads that are secretly whiners
Anyway, I probably got off on a rant there. Jax isn't that bad. But sometimes she starts to lean that way, and it worries me. I hope Aguirre steers clear.
And I also hope August comes soon, so I can read KILLBOX. Because all things said, this series is scrumptious.
Let's start with: Things I Enjoyed.
1 - Sci-fi.
I used to read a lot more of it, but I have been in the UF cycle for a couple years now, and so it has been awhile. It was a refreshing change of pace to get back to some smart, well-built sci-fi. An awful lot of UF and YA seems to have a similar structure, so this felt even more brand-new by comparison, I think.
2 - World building.
Aguirre created a huge and well-developed world. I really immerse in my stories (let's just say that my imagination likes to play out in IMAX 3D), and I could see it all. Particularly in this book, with all the news bulletins intercutting the story, I really loved the feel of this complicated, interconnected universe.
3 - The secondary cast was fantastic.
In each book, we seem to have had a couple of them get featured particularly, and it has been a wonderful way to round out the secondary characters in this series. This book really featured Vel, and, as a surprise, Constance, who I think is becoming so much more than she seems. At points, it brought memories of Enders Game to me (with the development of his AI into a friend that was something more than just an AI), and I really enjoyed it. I am excited to see where Constance goes. And Vel as well. What a fantastic turn for this character to take - from the bounty hunter tracking her in the first book, to one of her closest, most loyal friends. Vel is a tragic hero in his own right, and I find him to be incredibly endearing.
Then let's go to: Things That Need Resolution.
1 - Keri: will someone please punch that spoiled brat in the face?
I have honestly disliked her from the instant she was introduced. Spoiled, beautiful, whiny princess, who is remarkably gifted at, apparently, everything she tries her hand at. Has the affection of a character we respect very much (that would be March), for no reason that I can fathom. We have actually never seen her do a single praise-worthy thing. In the first book, she blames Jax for all the failures of her own family's ill-advised scheming (and Jax just takes it, something that's really becoming a pet peeve of mine in these ass-kicking heroine books... more on that later). And in this book, we see the devastation she has wrought on March, a man we are led to believe she loves. She used him utterly, left him broken, and then didn't lift a single chi-master finger to help fix what she shattered. She disgusts me. She is utterly self-absorbed, and we need to either see her pay some karmic debt in these coming books, or we need to just never hear from her again. Because I swear to all the gods of publishing, if she "calls on" March again, and he goes, I am putting this series down and never picking it up again. That debt is paid. If he owes anyone now, it is Jax. Certainly not Keri.
2 - Jael: betrayed them for money... really? Really??
I guess I just don't buy it. I talked about that a little in my status updates, but... it feels out of character. Since we met him in book 2, he has been humanized by Jax. He was an outsider, a stray, and he became one of Jax's. And we saw him appreciate it. We saw him throw himself into situations he could have avoided, if he didn't honestly want to prevent harm to the crew. I saw trouble coming from Jael, but I honestly thought it was going to come from his affection for Jax. Aguirre laid down a foundation for it - Jael clearly was developing feelings for her that were something more. And he had begun to interfere in her relationship with March, begun to try and take March's place. So if Jael's betrayal was tied to Jax's reconcile / fixing of March, I would buy it. But that he would betray her for money... no. It is out of character for him. And I am hoping we see more of him later in the series, get more of the story. I don't imagine he will be held in the mines for long.
And finally: Things That Are Perplexing Me.
1 - There is a serious, and aggravating, lack of Jax using her ability in this series.
I swear, as a reader, I was suffering withdrawl pains with her. But since the last quarter of the first book, she has only jumped ONE SINGLE TIME. Yes, in 2+ books, one jump. We have had memories of other jumps. Doesn't count. In stories, we are following around a hero that is gifted in some way. It is a given: the hero/heroine always has a Gift. Ours never uses hers. Granted, her Gift has a backlash effect. But that element of danger only makes it more interesting. And Aguirre has developed the Gift even further - we are led to believe that, of the very few people that have access to this same Gift, our heroine is perhaps the Most Gifted among them. That she is particularly special, in ways that we are only beginning to understand. The Gift can't break her mind, like it does with others. It will still have a backlash effect, but it will manifest differently, and, we are told, can likely be controllable. Further, given that Grimspace is tied into her DNA from her conception, it seems likely that her Gift is going to unfold into something more, that we can't see yet.
But she never uses it! Jax gets through by the virtue of her personality. And while that isn't terrible, it devalues the Gift. Is it even necessary? Is it pointless? How does it impact her lift, her story? Thus far... not at all. So... what is going on here?
2 - strong female leads that are secretly whiners
Okay, that's not EXACTLY correct. And Jax isn't there YET. But she has tendencies that are setting off alarm bells for me. Firstly, I greatly dislike it when we have a plucky, no holds barred heroine who allows other people to treat her like dirt. There are a couple series where this has REALLY pissed me off lately, and it feels like it is becoming a theme... and as a result, I guess this is becoming a new pet peeve. It is a fine line. I want my heroine to be sensitive. I don't want her to be callous, happily trampling people and leaving corpses / smoking ruins in her wake. She can take criticism. If it is a first person story, we can see her stewing over criticism. But when someone gets in her face and blames her for a great big pile of shit that isn't 100% her fault (I'm looking at you, Keri. Also you, Dina. And a few other too.), I expect her to defend herself. Throw THEIR mistakes back in THEIR faces. When you develop a balls-out, brutally honest, speaks-before-she-thinks heroine, having her react like a kicked puppy when she is unfairly criticized really ticks me off. You are supposed to be a fighter! Defend your damn self! I feel like the authors are being uncreative, stumped by trying to portray a compassionate yet aggressive heroine. Well let me tell you, you can do it without giving them a martyr complex. Every error isn't THEIR error. I am just tired of this personality type. It isn't self-sacrificing. It is more like an utter lack of self-respect.
Anyway, I probably got off on a rant there. Jax isn't that bad. But sometimes she starts to lean that way, and it worries me. I hope Aguirre steers clear.
And I also hope August comes soon, so I can read KILLBOX. Because all things said, this series is scrumptious.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2019
This book. Probably my favourite in the series.
Holy shit, you guys!
It really hit me hard.
I was definitely crying with Jax. It was so real.
Right in the feels. All of it.
3.5 stars
June 30, 2022
Loved reading this book, loved all the developments, and I'm so excited to continue the series!
March 7, 2017
I am still thoroughly enjoying this series though this one was not my favourite. I missed the snarky, impulsive Sirantha, her deep connection with March and the team dynamics.
Sirantha is on a delicate diplomatic mission on Ithiss-Tor, which is inhabited by bug like aliens and she must fight her impulses to remain calm, collected and focused, while remembering to abide by the proper customs and protocol. She is assisted mainly by Vel (my favourite character and a bug to boot) and Constance (her AI bot), while the other team members play minor support roles. Poor March is in a bad place emotionally after fighting a vicious battle which has left in permanent kill-mode. But Sirantha refuses to give up on him and desperately tries to find a way to bring the old March back.
The first 60% of the book focused on the politics and bug culture, but it really picks up after that. Sirantha is caught in a near impossible situation and one bad move can be catastrophic. She is so determined, focused and resourceful, and with the help of her invaluable assistants, she does her darnest to achieve her goals.
The last part has adrenaline-pumping action, heart-stopping suspense and a brutal betrayal. Can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
Sirantha is on a delicate diplomatic mission on Ithiss-Tor, which is inhabited by bug like aliens and she must fight her impulses to remain calm, collected and focused, while remembering to abide by the proper customs and protocol. She is assisted mainly by Vel (my favourite character and a bug to boot) and Constance (her AI bot), while the other team members play minor support roles. Poor March is in a bad place emotionally after fighting a vicious battle which has left in permanent kill-mode. But Sirantha refuses to give up on him and desperately tries to find a way to bring the old March back.
The first 60% of the book focused on the politics and bug culture, but it really picks up after that. Sirantha is caught in a near impossible situation and one bad move can be catastrophic. She is so determined, focused and resourceful, and with the help of her invaluable assistants, she does her darnest to achieve her goals.
The last part has adrenaline-pumping action, heart-stopping suspense and a brutal betrayal. Can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
October 8, 2009
Let me just put it out there that I am an Ann Aguirre fan girl. I have only recently discovered the Sirantha Jax series and have been quite spoiled that I have gotten to read all three quite close together. The latest installment, Doubleblind, only furthers my enjoyment of this series.
Sirantha Jax is an ambassador on a mission to try to get Ithiss-Tor to join the Conglomerate. The Morgut, hideous almost unstoppable creatures are on the rise, literally eating their way through space. The Ithtorian people have built somewhat of defense against the Morgut, and the Conglomerate really needs them on their side. Jax is there to answer questions and convince them the humans, which Ithtorians look upon with disgust and lower class, are worthy of this alliance. Jax is not one to normally hold her tongue and you would never describe her as diplomatic. Yet, Tarn has deemed her with this job and she really wants to take it seriously. Vel, an Ithtorian who has been by her side and who is from Ithiss-Tor but no longer considers it his home planet, schools Jax in all of the customs, politics, and nuances she needs so she does not inadvertently give offense to the Ithtorians. It is going to be hard to convince them to join, and any little offense will give them cause to back away from the agreement.
Her personal life is also in chaos. At the end of Wanderlust, March had to go on a killing spree, and he has reverted back into a shell of a man. Even the gentlest of touches triggers an extreme violence response from him. The person that brought him out of the darkness last time is now dead, and Jax is left navigating unknown terrain. If she can not find a way to bring him around, the consequences will be deadly. And although he is lost and she has no idea what will happen in the future, somewhere deep inside of him, there is hope. One of my favorite scenes from Grimspace, which I happened to quote in that review, comes full circle in Doubleblind - as Jax says:
"Do you remember what you said to me when I was screaming my head off over things other people couldn't see?" I ask at last.
He's a few paces behind me and to the left. I can't see his face, but I know the silence means he's thinking. "I'll always come for you, Jax."
I smile.
One of my favorite aspects of this series is Jax. I love her as a heroine and this book really allows Jax to shine. It shows that she has reached a certain maturity. She finds herself on a critical mission and having the man she loves literally a shell of what he used to be. There are many times she wants to throw in the towel - if she has to bow or pretend she enjoys mingling for one more second she wants to scream. But she reigns it in, knowing what she is doing is for the greater good. She is stubborn but she also listens and follows the advice of her peers. She is not too proud to rely on her friends. I can't count how many times I have read a heroine who is too stubborn or proud to follow a friend's advice and ends up getting herself in trouble. That scenario drives me nuts. Yes, Jax still gets in trouble and finds herself in danger - but she relies on her crew and friends while still holding on to her independence.
I also adored Vel in this book. His patience, understanding and devotion to Jax continues to show what an ally he is to her and the crew. You really come to understand how the "outside world" has affected him and almost abandoned him within his home planet. As Jax learns the customs of the Ithtorians, she starts to see how different Vel has come to be and realizes she truly has a remarkable friendship with him.
If you are a fan of this series, you know the ending will have you flipping through the calendar to see when the it is time for the next in the series. This book puts things into motion that I can not wait to see where they go from here.
Sirantha Jax is an ambassador on a mission to try to get Ithiss-Tor to join the Conglomerate. The Morgut, hideous almost unstoppable creatures are on the rise, literally eating their way through space. The Ithtorian people have built somewhat of defense against the Morgut, and the Conglomerate really needs them on their side. Jax is there to answer questions and convince them the humans, which Ithtorians look upon with disgust and lower class, are worthy of this alliance. Jax is not one to normally hold her tongue and you would never describe her as diplomatic. Yet, Tarn has deemed her with this job and she really wants to take it seriously. Vel, an Ithtorian who has been by her side and who is from Ithiss-Tor but no longer considers it his home planet, schools Jax in all of the customs, politics, and nuances she needs so she does not inadvertently give offense to the Ithtorians. It is going to be hard to convince them to join, and any little offense will give them cause to back away from the agreement.
Her personal life is also in chaos. At the end of Wanderlust, March had to go on a killing spree, and he has reverted back into a shell of a man. Even the gentlest of touches triggers an extreme violence response from him. The person that brought him out of the darkness last time is now dead, and Jax is left navigating unknown terrain. If she can not find a way to bring him around, the consequences will be deadly. And although he is lost and she has no idea what will happen in the future, somewhere deep inside of him, there is hope. One of my favorite scenes from Grimspace, which I happened to quote in that review, comes full circle in Doubleblind - as Jax says:
"Do you remember what you said to me when I was screaming my head off over things other people couldn't see?" I ask at last.
He's a few paces behind me and to the left. I can't see his face, but I know the silence means he's thinking. "I'll always come for you, Jax."
I smile.
One of my favorite aspects of this series is Jax. I love her as a heroine and this book really allows Jax to shine. It shows that she has reached a certain maturity. She finds herself on a critical mission and having the man she loves literally a shell of what he used to be. There are many times she wants to throw in the towel - if she has to bow or pretend she enjoys mingling for one more second she wants to scream. But she reigns it in, knowing what she is doing is for the greater good. She is stubborn but she also listens and follows the advice of her peers. She is not too proud to rely on her friends. I can't count how many times I have read a heroine who is too stubborn or proud to follow a friend's advice and ends up getting herself in trouble. That scenario drives me nuts. Yes, Jax still gets in trouble and finds herself in danger - but she relies on her crew and friends while still holding on to her independence.
I also adored Vel in this book. His patience, understanding and devotion to Jax continues to show what an ally he is to her and the crew. You really come to understand how the "outside world" has affected him and almost abandoned him within his home planet. As Jax learns the customs of the Ithtorians, she starts to see how different Vel has come to be and realizes she truly has a remarkable friendship with him.
If you are a fan of this series, you know the ending will have you flipping through the calendar to see when the it is time for the next in the series. This book puts things into motion that I can not wait to see where they go from here.
February 18, 2010
I know what you're gonna say. "Um, Angie? DOUBLEBLIND came out like five months ago. What are you doing reviewing it in February? And you call yourself a fan..." Before you judge me too harshly, I thought I'd lost it. I've been ransacking my house for months trying to find it and hadn't replaced it because I knew it just had to be there somewhere. But it was starting to get a bit ridiculous and just when I was about to go buy another copy, I found it! I won't tell you where because it's embarrassing. But it and I were supremely happy to see each other again and I immediately dove into the Adventures of Jax 3.0 and it was like I was right at home again, as though we hadn't been apart for months on end.
Jax is growing up. Despite herself. As the ambassador to Vel's home planet of Ithiss-Tor, she finds herself forced to play a part. A part she feels supremely unsuited for. It doesn't help that she's accompanied by her particularly ragtag group of rebels, each of whom seems to have a reason to distrust her at this point. And none of them more than her former lover March. Destroyed by another war, the tough-as-nails pilot has completely withdrawn so as not to pose a quite literal threat to Jax and her mission. Now that he's just a ticking time bomb, Jax is unsure what (if anything) she can or should do bring him back. And knowing March the way she does, he wouldn't want her to. More and more it seems Vel is the only one she can count on and, now that they're both in enemy territory, so to speak, they will have to combine their not inconsiderable personal arsenals in order to forge the alliance the Conglomerate needs to mount a defense against the encroaching threat of the Morgut.
DOUBLEBLIND is a much quieter book than the previous two in the series. But it wouldn't do to underestimate it because it doesn't flash and bang quite as spectacularly as its comrades. If you're a Vel fan, this book is for you. My favorite thing about it was the scenes Jax and Vel shared as he teaches her about the world he abandoned years ago and she teaches him about friendship between outsiders. There's so much political maneuvering going on that the few quiet interpersonal scenes are quite relieving to read. As always, the charged interactions between Jax and March pack such a punch. At this point, three books in, their history is one gorgeous, messy roller coaster and all I could do was hope they made it through without killing each other. I love how tightly coiled March was and how Vel seemed to always be there when Jax was in more danger than she realized. Which is often with Jax. Usually I'm the one holding my breath while reading. In this case it seemed as though each of the characters were holding their breaths, consciously restraining themselves for fear of what horror they might unleash with one wrong move. DOUBLEBLIND did have the feel of a transition book to me and I found myself turning the pages quickly, wanting to get to the end already, my mind looking ahead to what Ann Aguirre has in store for us next with Killbox, which is due out in September.
Jax is growing up. Despite herself. As the ambassador to Vel's home planet of Ithiss-Tor, she finds herself forced to play a part. A part she feels supremely unsuited for. It doesn't help that she's accompanied by her particularly ragtag group of rebels, each of whom seems to have a reason to distrust her at this point. And none of them more than her former lover March. Destroyed by another war, the tough-as-nails pilot has completely withdrawn so as not to pose a quite literal threat to Jax and her mission. Now that he's just a ticking time bomb, Jax is unsure what (if anything) she can or should do bring him back. And knowing March the way she does, he wouldn't want her to. More and more it seems Vel is the only one she can count on and, now that they're both in enemy territory, so to speak, they will have to combine their not inconsiderable personal arsenals in order to forge the alliance the Conglomerate needs to mount a defense against the encroaching threat of the Morgut.
DOUBLEBLIND is a much quieter book than the previous two in the series. But it wouldn't do to underestimate it because it doesn't flash and bang quite as spectacularly as its comrades. If you're a Vel fan, this book is for you. My favorite thing about it was the scenes Jax and Vel shared as he teaches her about the world he abandoned years ago and she teaches him about friendship between outsiders. There's so much political maneuvering going on that the few quiet interpersonal scenes are quite relieving to read. As always, the charged interactions between Jax and March pack such a punch. At this point, three books in, their history is one gorgeous, messy roller coaster and all I could do was hope they made it through without killing each other. I love how tightly coiled March was and how Vel seemed to always be there when Jax was in more danger than she realized. Which is often with Jax. Usually I'm the one holding my breath while reading. In this case it seemed as though each of the characters were holding their breaths, consciously restraining themselves for fear of what horror they might unleash with one wrong move. DOUBLEBLIND did have the feel of a transition book to me and I found myself turning the pages quickly, wanting to get to the end already, my mind looking ahead to what Ann Aguirre has in store for us next with Killbox, which is due out in September.
July 8, 2012
Posted on Under the Covers
If you’re looking for a great read that has action, politics, relationship issues and some angst, then the Sirantha Jax series is for you. All of the things I just listed are present in spades and the combination makes for a really entertaining read.
Ann Aguirre doesn’t straw away from the politics in this one. When Jax and her crew arrive at Ithiss-Tor, there is a lot of tension because the Bugs don’t want anything to do with them. In fact, such open hostility makes for a lot of the action we see in this book.
As if that wasn’t enough for Jax to worry about, she also must deal with the pressing issue of March. Since we saw him in the last book, March has turned into a liability – his constant trigger happy temper has landed him in a few fights that have been more gnarly than usual. And this standoffish behaviour has been pointed in Jax’s direction as well. Sometimes, she deals with it well. Othertimes, it simply hurts.
I love this dynamic between March and Jax because although there are sparks of how they once were in GRIMSPACE, we don’t see them as much as I would like. There is nothing that would make me happier if these two were back together, however seeing them this way only makes me believe that they do belong together.
Another character worthy of mention is Vel. There’s just something about him that you can’t help but love. He’s such a solid guy that is reliable and I love his sarcastic quips here and there. It sort of lightened up the tone and I can always appreciated that because a lot of this book is dark and heavy.
I’ve got KILLBOX up next but I wonder if other people feel as emotionally drained as I do whenever I read this series. It seems to take a lot out of me because of its emotional rollercoaster ride. There’s still three more books and I don’t know where Aguirre will take me. But that’s just the beauty of it all too.
If you’re looking for a great read that has action, politics, relationship issues and some angst, then the Sirantha Jax series is for you. All of the things I just listed are present in spades and the combination makes for a really entertaining read.
Ann Aguirre doesn’t straw away from the politics in this one. When Jax and her crew arrive at Ithiss-Tor, there is a lot of tension because the Bugs don’t want anything to do with them. In fact, such open hostility makes for a lot of the action we see in this book.
As if that wasn’t enough for Jax to worry about, she also must deal with the pressing issue of March. Since we saw him in the last book, March has turned into a liability – his constant trigger happy temper has landed him in a few fights that have been more gnarly than usual. And this standoffish behaviour has been pointed in Jax’s direction as well. Sometimes, she deals with it well. Othertimes, it simply hurts.
I love this dynamic between March and Jax because although there are sparks of how they once were in GRIMSPACE, we don’t see them as much as I would like. There is nothing that would make me happier if these two were back together, however seeing them this way only makes me believe that they do belong together.
Another character worthy of mention is Vel. There’s just something about him that you can’t help but love. He’s such a solid guy that is reliable and I love his sarcastic quips here and there. It sort of lightened up the tone and I can always appreciated that because a lot of this book is dark and heavy.
I’ve got KILLBOX up next but I wonder if other people feel as emotionally drained as I do whenever I read this series. It seems to take a lot out of me because of its emotional rollercoaster ride. There’s still three more books and I don’t know where Aguirre will take me. But that’s just the beauty of it all too.
April 22, 2010
This is a 4.75 simply because I feel that there was a step that could've been elongated.
I really want to go into details but I won't. Instead I will focus on a few things.
My heart broke so many times during this book. So. many. times. Between the breakdown of men, the breakdown and shattering courage to rebuild relationships, dangers, plots and betrayals this book did a number on me. I would almost call it toxic but I enjoyed it way too much!
The action was a little slower as this book focused more on interpersonal relationships. Ambassador Jax has to bring in the 'Bugs', a feat that can only be mastered by the complete understanding of another culture as well as the ability to shut one's trap when one would rather punch a hole through someone's throat. Interspersed with Jax's gutwrenching responsibilities and happenings are the editorials from off-world detailing what is going on and what can happen if Jax doesn't get the 'Bugs' to join the Conglomerate. Until the news feeds stop caring about how she's doing and start telling the story of the Morgut's rapid destruction of worlds.
The very title pretty much says it all. In a world in which Jax isn't sure who or what she can trust, with her lover no longer the man she knew, with her friends close but oh so far away and her sanity tested, Jax is in for a world of trouble.
Oh. And the war? It's just begun.
I really want to go into details but I won't. Instead I will focus on a few things.
My heart broke so many times during this book. So. many. times. Between the breakdown of men, the breakdown and shattering courage to rebuild relationships, dangers, plots and betrayals this book did a number on me. I would almost call it toxic but I enjoyed it way too much!
The action was a little slower as this book focused more on interpersonal relationships. Ambassador Jax has to bring in the 'Bugs', a feat that can only be mastered by the complete understanding of another culture as well as the ability to shut one's trap when one would rather punch a hole through someone's throat. Interspersed with Jax's gutwrenching responsibilities and happenings are the editorials from off-world detailing what is going on and what can happen if Jax doesn't get the 'Bugs' to join the Conglomerate. Until the news feeds stop caring about how she's doing and start telling the story of the Morgut's rapid destruction of worlds.
The very title pretty much says it all. In a world in which Jax isn't sure who or what she can trust, with her lover no longer the man she knew, with her friends close but oh so far away and her sanity tested, Jax is in for a world of trouble.
Oh. And the war? It's just begun.
April 14, 2010
I commented to someone that I should have given Wanderlust 4.5 stars. This one should get 4.75 stars. I hold off from 5 merely because I am very stingy with my 5 star reads. This one falls just slightly short.
All in all Doublebind is greatly better than Grimspace in quality of writing and action and character development. I LOVE Vel in this one even more than in the others. Sirantha really grows up and there are fewer of her self justifying inner soliloquies than in #1 and 2. The drama and portrayal of the Bug planet and race was masterful. The drama with March was masterful. The emergence of Jael as the villain took me very much by surprise, as did his motive. I truly thought maybe he was falling in love with Sirantha and wanted to get rid of March. The whole thing with Constance disappearance was driving me nuts and I wanted to shake Jax for not focusing on it a little earlier.
The ending was a bit of a letdown and I'm not sure why. Still it was a great book and I will be happy when #4 comes out.
So in the next book, I assume we will be fighting a war with the Morguts and eventually Sirantha will have a face off with her mother, Ramona, the evil dead!
All in all Doublebind is greatly better than Grimspace in quality of writing and action and character development. I LOVE Vel in this one even more than in the others. Sirantha really grows up and there are fewer of her self justifying inner soliloquies than in #1 and 2. The drama and portrayal of the Bug planet and race was masterful. The drama with March was masterful. The emergence of Jael as the villain took me very much by surprise, as did his motive. I truly thought maybe he was falling in love with Sirantha and wanted to get rid of March. The whole thing with Constance disappearance was driving me nuts and I wanted to shake Jax for not focusing on it a little earlier.
The ending was a bit of a letdown and I'm not sure why. Still it was a great book and I will be happy when #4 comes out.
So in the next book, I assume we will be fighting a war with the Morguts and eventually Sirantha will have a face off with her mother, Ramona, the evil dead!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2010
Doubleblind is the 3rd book in the Sirantha Jax series and my favorite so far. At this point, we're familiar with all the people in Sirantha's life, cheering her and March on and sympathize with her new position as Ambassador.
I don't want to give anything away, so I'll keep this short. I was fascinated by Vel's world. Trouble seems to follow Jax, no matter how hard she tries. This is no exception.
I'll definitely be continuing on and looking forward to Killbox.
I don't want to give anything away, so I'll keep this short. I was fascinated by Vel's world. Trouble seems to follow Jax, no matter how hard she tries. This is no exception.
I'll definitely be continuing on and looking forward to Killbox.
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