“Sirantha Jax is a ‘jumper,’ a woman who possesses the unique genetic makeup needed to navigate faster-than-light ships through grimspace. With no tolerance for political diplomacy, she quits her ambassador post so she can get back to saving the universe the way she does best – by mouthing off and kicking butt.
And her tactics are needed more than ever. Flesh-eating aliens are attacking stations on the outskirts of space, and for many people, the Conglomerate’s forces are arriving too late to serve and protect them.
No Jax must take matters into her own hands by recruiting a militia to defend the frontiers – out of the worst criminals, mercenaries, and raiders who ever traveled through grimspace…” [Publisher's Summary]
Oh, Jax. How you make me hurt.
I thought I had learned something from reading the last three books in this series: prepare for the worst, knowing it will do me no good. That I’ve become so emotionally invested in these characters is a good thing; it’s indicative of Ann Aguirre’s stellar ability to create nuanced, painfully real and vital individuals. What’s more, Aguirre crafts situations so tense and fraught with palpable danger that you can’t help but squirm with worry while you read. Her stories aren’t safe; good people die, things go wrong, and hope is interchangeable with despair. And her books are all the better for it.
In Killbox more is at stake then ever before. War is imminent, the threat all too real and being acted on with speed, and everything Jax holds fast to is splintering around her. In danger of losing her friends, her sanity and her life, Jax does what she does best: She fights back without a thought for surrender.
This installment in the series delves more deeply into scientific breakthroughs that could aid their war efforts, but it also has a full complement of action, a bit of politics, and enough heartbreak to spare. In other words, everything that made the previous books so wonderful is fully accounted for here.
If you’ve not read the book, you may want to stop reading at this point. Spoilers ahead.
You may have noticed – if you read and can recall my reviews of books one and three – that I am a Vel fangirl. And that I adore, cherish, can’t get enough of the relationship that’s developed between the former bounty hunter and Jax. Their scenes together are always, inevitably my favorites; I look for his name on the page and wait for their next encounter. This book made me want to scream. Or maybe cry. I don’t know which. But I definitely said at one point, out loud, “Stop leaving him, Jax. Don’t let him go.” And every time these two were together it hurt, but in a good way because Jax recognized just how much he meant to her, and Vel plainly, eloquently spoke of his loneliness without her, his dedication to her. The first three pages of chapter 48 just about did me in. I pray that they find their way back to each other. With March tagging along, of course.
And speaking of March…Wow. Just…wow. He ticked me off and made me care in one breath. The tension I felt while reading stemmed from their relationship, the not knowing, the what are they doing, and this needs to be fixed now. They can’t go on that way. I’ve seriously questioned whether I’ve ever read a couple engaged in such an agonizing, unconditional relationship before. Again, it’s all realistic to the plot and these characters, but…that doesn’t make it any easier to watch unfold.
A few other sidenotes: I like that Hon is back. I really liked the scene in which Jax realized she could converse on some level with the Morgut. And that thing with her mother? Whoa.
I can’t even imagine where things are going to go from here. But I can’t wait to find out.
Another outstanding book from Ann Aguirre.
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I’ve had this series on my radar ever since Angie reviewed GRIMSPACE. Still haven’t gotten around to it but your remarks about the nuanced characters and the palpable situations gives me a sense of urgency to get to it soon.
Holly – Oh, do read them! They are amazing.
I am playing catch up on your posts today and you are KILLING me with all the fantastic reviews! This looks like another one that must be added to my pile.
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I’m a hug Vel fan too!! I really hope Jax and Vel reunite in the next book. I’m getting a little tired of March always having some issue tho. this was such a great book!!
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