Aftermath

Sirantha Jax #5

by Ann Aguirre

DEAD HEROES GET MONUMENTS. LIVE ONES GET TRIALS.

Sirantha Jax has the right genes—ones that enable her to “jump” faster-than-light ships through grimspace. But it’s also in her genetic makeup to go it alone. It’s a character trait that has gotten her into—and out of—hot water time and time again, but now she’s caused one of the most horrific events in military history…

During the war against murderous, flesh-eating aliens, Sirantha went AWOL and shifted grimspace beacons to keep the enemy from invading humanity’s homeworld. The cost of her actions: the destruction of modern interstellar travel—and the lives of six hundred Conglomerate soldiers.

Accused of dereliction of duty, desertion, mass murder, and high treason, Sirantha is on trial for her life. And only time will tell if she’s one of the Conglomerate’s greatest heroes—or most infamous criminals…

Genres: Science Fiction, Romance, Space Opera, Aliens, Fantasy, Fiction, Space

307 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 30, 2011

About the author

New 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.

Reviews

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 1 out of 5]

► ► Because there's no stopping Shelly, Jaime and I at this point ◄ ◄

✘✘ WELCOME TO MY DESCENT INTO INSANITY COURTESY OF ANN AGUIRRE ✘✘



I'm updating this review as my rage grows. Lots of cursing to be expected.

► March 27, 2015 - 1 AM: I can't do this. I don't know what I'm feeling anymore. I cried. I bloody fishing cried while reading a book. Sirantha Jax, you've done the impossible.

► Updated March 27, 2015 - 8 AM: okay so I've slept on this. I feel hungover. I'm still an emotional wreck. And I'm still rating this 5 stars. Because this book turned me into an emotional wreck and made me cry (yeah I know I'm repeating myself but whatever and stuff). To be honest the actual rating of this book will depend on what happens in Endgame. I could have rated Aftermath 1 star but decided to trust Aguirre and went for 5 instead. There are things I hate in this book. What I dreaded would happen finally did. The Disaster of Epic Proportions. And it's even worse than I expected. I'm not sure how Aguirre is going to fix it all. But she better do it. Otherwise this WILL be a 1-star rating. I'm actually rooting for a HEA here. Well not a HEA exactly (I haven't lost my mind entirely) but something that will mean this wasn't all for nothing. We're too emotionally involved in this series. We love Sirantha Jax too much. You can't do this to us Ann Aguirre. You have to make things right.

► Updated March 27, 2015 - 1 PM: changing my 5-star rating to an I-don't-know-what-the-fuck-just-happened rating aka no rating at all. I'm mentally giving this book a 1-star rating right now. We'll see how it goes if when I manage to start reading book 6.

► Updated March 27, 2015 - 5 PM: yes, I did it. I gave this book a 1-star rating. WTF WTF WTF. What was I thinking when I gave this book a 5-star rating???!!! What were *you* thinking when you wrote this Ann Aguirre???!!! Because you just don't do something like that. You don't ruin one of the best series ever like that. Who are you Ann Aguirre? KMM in disguise? Decided to pull an Iced/Burned on me? Apparently you more or less fix this fucking mess in book 6. But I think the harm is already done. It will take A LOT for me to get over this. A WHOLE FUCKING LOT. So yes, Shelly and I will be reading Endgame after all. I'm expecting the worst.

Now excuse me while I go find myself a punching ball.



► Updated March 27, 2015 - 6.30 PM: just punched someone. Feel slightly better. Just wanted to add: as I said in the comments, this is NOT a bad book. On the contrary, it's a GREAT book, which is probably why I rated it 5 stars to begin with. I read it in less than 24 hours, I just couldn't put it down. The problem is Aguirre ruined it all towards the end of the book. I'm sorry but you don't put your readers through an emotional roller coaster like she has been doing since book 1 to pull out HUGE spoiler ahead a FUCKING LOVE TRIANGLE on them at the last minute. Hell no. And you don't ruin the two main characters by turning them into two of the most selfish human beings that ever existed. Oh they both have very valid excuses for their respective behaviours but it doesn't change the fact that each of them is only concerned about his/her little person. And we're supposed to believe they're madly in love with each other, forever and always? Well fuck that. It looks like I didn't punch hard enough the first time around. I better get back to it.



► Updated March 28, 2015 - 12.00 AM: 13% into book 6. I'm so bummed I have no words. I should be really happy right now seeing how things are turning out. But I feel like I've been played one time too many. Ann Aguirre, you put us through all the stupid drama at the end of this book to have it come to this in book 6? Are you kidding me? So what are we supposed to do now? Wait for the next manufactured drama you have in store for us? Well, you know what? Whatever you have up your sleeve, I don't think I care anymore.



► Updated March 28, 2015 - no idea what time it is anymore: DNFing book 6 at 20%. Ann Aguirre, I can't take anymore of your bullshit.



• Book 1: Grimspace ★★★★★
· Book 2: Wanderlust ★★★★★
• Book 3: Doubleblind ★★★★★
• Book 4:Killbox ★★★★★
• Book 6: Endgame ★ (DNF at 20%)

[Maja (The Nocturnal Library) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Grimspace is a bitch mistress who carries unearthly delight in one hand and a crop in the other. We bear the latter to receive the former.
(From Killbox)

Nobody builds worlds better than Ann Aguirre. Nobody destroys them quite like her either.

At the end of Killbox, Jax did the only thing she thought could save the worlds threatened by the Morgut. In doing so, she betrayed the Conglomerate, the Armada, but most of all March – both as her lover and as her commanding officer. She now has to face consequences for her actions, hoping that she’ll get a chance to keep all the promises she made along the way.

Imprisoned, Jax finally has time to think about everything she’s already lost and the possibility of losing March forever. But being planetbound is hurting her more than anything else and she's slowly starting to realise that she'll have to lose much more because of her inability to resist the siren call of grimspace.

Aftermath is an adventure comparable only to Doubleblind before it. What separates these two books from the rest of Sirantha Jax series is that they focus more on personal growth of the characters and less on action. I’m so happy that Aguirre finally gave us more information about Hit, Adele, Doc and Rose, but most of all Vel. Sirantha’s path from an anti-heroine to a self-aware, courageous woman is nothing if not impressive, and she owes a lot of her newfound dedication and maturity to the strong, loyal bounty hunter.

Impeccable writing style, rich worlds, complex characters and unending excitement are exactly what I expect from my favorite author – a title Aguirre deserved long ago. Nevertheless, Aftermath exceeded my expectations in every way!

I’ve learned to expect disappointment from final installments, but there will be no disappointment coming from Ann Aguirre and Endgame. I am absolutely certain that she will deliver a conclusion worthy of this fabulous series.

Favorite quote:
...I hear footsteps, and it's not mealtime. Hopefully, this means they've come to some decision about what to do with us. If they haven't, Mary help them. Because I'm Sirantha Jax, and I've had enough.

A huge thank you to the author for sending me a signed copy of this book.

[Pamela / SpazP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at WickedLilPixie Reviews
This is a spoiler-free review.

I have had to allow myself 24 hours to digest Aftermath, the stunning fifth book in Ann Aguirre’s Sirantha Jax series, before writing up my review. I will give my usual disclaimer I provide in my reviews of Jax books: I am not a huge Science Fiction fan nor am I an expert of the genre. I picked this series up at the strong recommendation of Mandi from Smexybooks, and could kiss her for it. What I think makes the series so incredibly appealing is the powerful character development that spans many genres, so please do not let its Sci-Fi label deter you from giving it a try. This latest Sirantha Jax installment made me feel deeply, made me hold my breathe, left me speechless. It grabbed my chest, closed around my lungs and heart and didn’t let go.

Vel fans (claws up!) will be very pleased as we get much more of him than we did in Killbox (bk 4). Previously, my favorite up to this point had been Double Blind (book 3) mostly in part to getting so much time with Vel and learning so much more about him. Vel is one of those characters that you will slowly grow to cherish and adore. Ms. Aguirre has built him subtly yet significantly over the last four books, and it is his time to shine. As a friend. As a partner. As a being of complete worth. What might be surprising to find out if you have not read the series is he is Ithtorian, making him similar in appearance to a tall walking bug, he has a carapace and side-set eyes and claws. The beauty in Ms. Aguirre’s writing is that Jax, and you as the reader, never forget what he looks like… but you find you just don’t care what he looks like. The developments that are made in Jax and Vel’s relationship are resonant.

The Sirantha Jax of now is most definitely not the Jax we met in the first book, Grimspace. She has suffered tremendous loss, endured significant physical and emotional pain. She has found herself in even more trouble by doing her classic authority defying, a fly by the seat of her pants stunt, and it has landed her in some seriously damaging trouble. She also sets out to keep two promises she has made, and cannot allow herself the freedom to live a life as a jumper she so craves until she sees her seemingly-daunting promises followed through to completion. In Aftermath, Jax is hell bound and determined to protect those whom she loves at all costs, and to pay back her debts any way she can. Ms. Aguirre does a superb job with keeping Jax completely true to her character, no matter how we wish some things might be different.

And then we have March. :deep sigh:. March. The deadly cold soldier, who cannot and will not turn his back on his great love, Sirantha Jax. But as we learn through Aftermath, no matter how deeply their love runs, their ways of life at this point are not guaranteed to be compatible. You’ll just have to wait and see on that one, but I will say this: What Ms. Aguirre pulls off is sheer genius and it works in every way. I can think of a million ways this book could have fallen flat, or dived off a horribly executed character cliff. It never did. Not one false line. I was left sitting here with so many parts highlighted throughout the book that deeply shook me up. As a woman, as an emotional creature, and as a socially aware being.

I promise you the Sirantha Jax series will appeal to lovers of all genres. The lavish world building and profound relationship development between all the characters continue to be top-notch. Aftermath is about wandering the road less traveled; doing things to help others outside of yourself; and most importantly… embracing the many shapes love can be given and accepted in. I look forward to everyone reading this and experiencing the supreme storytelling this book provides. In short: Aftermath is a masterpiece and is one of my favorite books of 2011.

This has been a summer of 5 star books but I beg of you, try the Sirantha Jax series if you try nothing else. Don’t let it get lost in your To-Be-Read pile, or at the very least, move the first book Grimspace up higher in the pile. You are really missing out on something so unique and special, and I would love for you to have this adventure. If you are already a Jax fan, then I know you’ll be reading this one on release day and cannot wait to discuss it with you! There is only one Jax book left, Endgame, out next year. I am so very eager to see where Ms. Aguirre takes us with it and how she brings this beautiful series to a bittersweet close. Here is the full Sirantha Jax series reading order:

Grimspace
Wanderlust
Double Blind
Killbox
Aftermath - 8/30/2011, Tuesday!
Endgame - 9/2012

[Jen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am such a complete and utter wretched mess after reading this book, I barely even know where to begin. I feel conflicted. The journey I have taken with these characters has brought me to places I could have never expected… and they are not all places I wanted to go. Things don’t feel the same. But they’re not supposed to. It’s kind of the point. But I loved what it was before and change is hard. Especially if it breaks your heart.

The book is aptly titled. It’s all about the aftermath of Jax’s actions and how she lives in the wake of her own choices. The big one she must face as the book begins: her decision to go rogue and change the beacons of deep space to save the Conglomerate from the Morgut. Obviously, she is a hero in that she saves billions of lives, but it comes with a cost. She kills hundreds of humans by accident. She undermines March. She lands in jail. And while you might think that is her consequence, it’s really just the catalyst for all the changes to come.

I don’t want to spoil too much. I will say that the tone of this book is so different. Gone is the breakneck action and seat of your pants feel. This is all about repercussions, about what can be fixed and what can’t. Even more so, maybe, it’s about Jax taking ownership for all she has done and deciding where to go from here. Unfortunately, there are some consequences that are simply out of her hands, putting at odds who she is with what she wants.

This is a very Vel-centric story. In a lot of ways, when the chips fall, he is the one Jax can count on most. I’ve always loved Vel and I still do, but I missed the other wonderful supporting characters that make up Jax’s world. They’re all scarce and that is part of what makes this so different. I felt like they were more loose ends to tie up while Jax straightens out her karma. And then there is March. Aguirre does not make this easy for us. She gives us this good, honorable man. She shows us the depths of his love. She makes us feel it –and then she makes everything so hard. I ache inside.

I can’t imagine anyone can deny that this is quality storytelling. It couldn’t affect me this way if it weren’t. Aguirre maintains the integrity of these characters to such a point that she even makes me understand it as they do things that grieve me. I can’t fathom where this series will go next. But at this point, I have no doubt it will completely gut me before it’s over. I’m pretty much there now.

[All Things Urban Fantasy]

The Sirantha Jax series feels like it's changed so much from those first, frenetic, action-packed books, but I know that's not wholly accurate . Jax's world is as messy and political and fraught with peril as ever, but my relationship with the characters has deepened to the point where they are almost all I see anymore. Though not in an urban fantasy setting, fans will find the species and technologies in this world are written as accessibly as any magic, and the romance and action portrayed definitely fit the kick-butt heroine bill. AFTERMATH, more than any other book in the series, has the flavors of an epistolary novel. Not in the sense that current events are shown only through letters, but the characters that I've grown to love so much pour their hearts out to each other through the emptiness of space in letters and stories and memories.

Those letters are necessary, as political strife and responsibilities separate lovers Jax and March again and again. Nothing brings home the inexorable movement of life than March searching for his nephew on a far away planet while Jax is on trial for her life. That turns out to be the first of many necessary separations for these two over the course of the book. Of course, while March is physically absent, that doesn’t mean Jax is alone. Vel is there for her, endlessly loyal and supportive and undemanding. Jax and Vel, each so different from others of their own species, have joined together in a singular tribe of two. Aguirre writes the most human of relationships, without ever glossing over the truly alien differences between them. Aguirre has not created anything so common as a love triangle between Jax and March and Vel. Rather, she has written two distinct futures for our heroine, in which Jax’s dreams take on distinctly different, though beautiful, forms.

Maturity feels like too light a word for the transformation Jax has been going through over the last few books. Perhaps Vel has given me a chitinous frame of mind, but I can see Jax breaking free from a brightly colored chrysalis. AFTERMATH is the book where she begins to dry her wings, pulling free of the bonds that have kept her to earth for so long. I would definitely recommend readers start at the beginning for the entire, glorious ride. As for me, my heart is in my throat at the thought of reading the last of this series, ENDGAME. Part of me can’t wait for Aguirre to continue weaving her spell, but the rest of me will always remember Jax at the end of AFTERMATH: poised between the poles of two such beautiful destinies, limitless possibilities laid out at her feet.

Sexual Content: References to and descriptions of sex, sex scenes.

[JAIME LOUISE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely more of a 3.5. But, I'm bumping it up because I'm a nice guy.

There are two very good reasons why I marked this low. But I'm not saying. Yet. Because.

Spoiler free 3 days and counting.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

One thing that I really love about this series is the slow silent triumph of Vel. He's my favourite and I'm not sure Jax deserves his partnership! Um, anyway. Another instalment down, only one left!

[Candace · Rating 2 out of 5]

***WARNING: This is more of a rant than a review, and contains some parts that people might consider SPOILERS.***

I must admit that, as much as I have been relentlessly plowing through this series, I was pretty nervous to start reading Aftermath. Based on the plot summary, I knew that this book was going to be more like Doubleblind (my least favorite book in the series) than the more action-centric books.

I wish I could say that this book proved my fears to be unfounded, but, in truth - it didn't.

I think the worst part about reading Aftermath is that, for the first time, I started actually disliking Sirantha Jax (the character). For the first four books I've been Jax's biggest fangirl, and after reading Grimspace I couldn't even fathom why some fans of the series had such a love/hate relationship with her. But now, I think I get it.

You see, Jax is pretty selfish. And I was more than willing to accept that as part of her character in Grimspace, when she did things like blasting Canton Farr without a thought to the well-being of Baby-Z, or like almost leaving March for dead. But by the time we get to Aftermath, all we hear about is how much Jax has changed since then - and, to be fair, she certainly has in the sense that she's willing to sacrifice herself for the people she loves or for the greater good, which is pretty significant. Yet, she's still emotionally selfish, and what's worse, there seems to be no accountability for it.

In fact, instead of accountability, she finds convenient redemption. Jax feels guilty about having blasted Baby-Z? No worries, we'll make a clone and bring him to Marakeq. Problem solved! She feels guilty about her past with Loras? It's all good, a brilliant doctor can easily make a cure for Loras and his people as long as she pays enough credits! I just feel like she never really earns redemption, but that it's just easily given to her by gracious writing.

And it's not just the convenience of it that makes her guilt sabbaticals so hard to swallow. It's that she also thinks things like:

"I want to do this for Loras to prove I’m not a selfish ass. And there’s some self-serving agenda tangled up in it, but doesn’t it matter more what you do rather than why?"

I don't know - maybe it's just me, but personally, I think the why is pretty damn important.

And, speaking of the cure for the La’hengrin, does she never once stop to think that creating a cure for them might actually be a bad idea? She wants to give a planet with a grudge against humanity the ability to be violent, and can't think of how that might possibly backfire? I have no idea what will happen in Endgame, and I'm sure that Aguirre will prevent the curing of the La’hengrin from having any dirty repercussions for Jax to feel guilty about - and I'm not even saying that wanting to cure an entire race of people is wrong, because it's not - but geez, can Jax for once just think something through, at least? She spent the first third of this book on trial for not thinking about the consequences of her brashness (I mean, even if she was too cowardly to trust March, I don't get why she couldn't have warned Tarn before she started changing the beacons to not let people jump, and why it had to wait until after - it's not like he'd have been able to stop her), and it's like she hasn't learned a damn thing from that. It's perfectly possible that the La’hengrin could use their new-found cure to attack humans as payback for what they did. How many people have to die before she learns her lesson?

In Aftermath, I felt like Jax's only redeemable moments were those she spent with Vel - ah, sweet, wonderful Vel. Somehow, Vel is the only person that Jax isn't completely selfish with, although to be honest, I think it's because he's so willing to bend to her wants. Vel is willing to go where Jax wants to go and do what Jax wants to do, with seemingly no other desires in the world except to act as a companion to Jax, so that makes it easy for her to not be selfish with him. So, I'm not sure that her treatment of Vel really holds much weight when dissecting her character.

Instead, compare her treatment of Vel with her treatment of March. Unlike Vel, March has obligations to keep him "dirtside," which completely clashes with Jax's dreams of adventuring in space. I think it's more than fair that Jax isn't willing to give up her dreams for March. She says:

"I won’t change my dreams to fit his needs, nor do I think he should do so for me. If we can’t find a median that makes us both happy, then— Well."

And, I couldn't agree with her more! Amen, sister. If she feels that strongly that she can't give up her future in space, then she should be selfish about it. My issue, though, is not that she's being selfish, but that once again, there's no accountability for it. Instead, she gets Vel willing to learn how to be a pilot so that he can accompany her, and March willing to wait for her for another 8 years (after his 5 years of previous waiting, making that 13 years waiting for Jax). Talk about having your cake and eating it too. We should all be so lucky.

And ugh, March. I didn't understand why he loved Jax so quickly and fiercely in the first book (aside from her "grit" and the fact that she was honest about her thoughts, I don't think it was every really explained), so I don't understand now why he's so willing to accept her selfish needs. It just makes him seem really pathetic . Jax thinks:

"Maybe it’s cold, but I cherish no attachment to his sister’s child ... Ever since I heard about the kid, I’ve had a bitter, stark feeling, and it’s not getting better."

I mean, how can you think that a woman who has such open disdain for a child of your own flesh and blood is worth your unfaltering love, is worth waiting for for 13 years? How do you not even resent her just the slightest bit for this?

Jax also thinks:

"I don’t doubt March still loves me, but I fear there might not be room for me in the new life he’s built."

And this is why Jax's selfishness annoys me - because not even she can hold herself accountable. There's room for her in the new life he's built, she just doesn't want any part of the new life he's built. It's not wrong that she doesn't want that life, but it's certainly wrong that she has the gall to portray herself as the wronged party in their relationship.

But in truth, I think that the Jax/March relationship has been the weakness of the entire Sirantha Jax series, and I really wish that Aguirre had just never gone down that path in the first place. It just makes both of their characters so unlikable . We are constantly being fed lines telling us how much these two looooooove each other, without much reason as to why, and with their actions completely contradicting this throughout most of the series. If these two end up together by the end of the series I'm sure I'll scream, but I can't imagine that that's not where Aguirre is going.

Vel is the one shining grace of this entire book. I loved reading about his past with Adele, and I just love him in general.

“To my mind, one thing does not lessen another. The heart is not a glass of water, but more like an endlessly pumping spring.”

Sweet, perfect Vel. Sirantha does not deserve you.

But Vel alone could not save this book for me, and I'm starting to wish I had just quit the series after Killbox. Now, I have only one book left, and I can't see how I can not read it, but I don't have any hope that I'll end up feeling satisfied by the conclusion of this series. I would love for Aguirre to surprise me and prove me wrong - I suppose we shall see!

[Cheryl La Pa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! Emotional, surprising & heart-breaking.

This book takes a very different turn to the others and I loved it!

Sirantha must deal with the fallout of her actions – both emotionally and judicially. She altered the grimspace beacons to prevent an invasion but it was at the cost of 600 soldier’s lives. As well as being subjected the public’s ire and condemnation, she must face trial for her life and defend her actions.

Dead women get monuments; live ones get trials

She is haunted by their deaths and the guilt is eating her up, so with the help of Vel, Sirantha tries to atone by making good on her promises to others as well as assisting the Conglomerate to get back on their feet.

War is bloody and awful…There are no heroes, only survivors.

And through it all, Vel is by her side. But as with all the best laid plans, things do not go as expected, and Sirantha and Vel end up fighting for their very survival. I loved that I got to see so much of Vel as he is my favourite character in the series, and I love his tight bond with Sirantha. Vel has been Sirantha’s rock from the start and he does not fail her now.

His devotion is not loud or demanding, but quiet and steadfast, a deep tidal pool that never runs dry.

It was refreshing to see his vulnerable side, and to learn about some of his past. March is not around much, though he does correspond with Sirantha, and it was fascinating to learn his true feelings and reflections.

The ending was a surprise, and I am so glad that I can dive straight into the next book to find out how it ends.

In summary, I loved it! The characters have found their way into my heart, and I was spellbound til the end. Sirantha has grown so much through this series and this book is one of reflection, atonement and choosing which path to take in life’s journey.

[Katyana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, this whole series, is so incredibly hard to read. And I mean that in the very best of ways. I just finished Aftermath moments ago, and I am crying my eyes out.

There are so many things to say about this book. This is the book where Jax ties up loose ends. All of the dangling bits from the reckless, selfish person that she used to be, all the promises she made to herself and others, all the things weighting down her soul... that is what is handled here. It feels like.... a ritual cleansing. A step-by-step cleansing, an unbinding of all the things that kept her from being free.

And it is an unbinding of people, too. It hurts to a shocking degree to see the cast of secondary characters come to a fork in the road and go a different direction. Like in the book previous, this one continues with the unmaking of Jax, ... and that necessarily includes the unmaking of her team. And what is illuminated, the person she is when the rest of it is stripped away... it is truly beautiful. The real depth of emotion here is magnificent, and it sets this series apart.

I don't know how to begin talking about the relationship between Jax and Vel, or the relationship between Jax and March. The one is her companion, and the other is her lover. Vel's love for Jax may be the most beautiful, and breathtaking, love I have ever read. And for so much of the book, it occurred to me over and over how right the two of them are together. Whereas nothing about March and Jax feels right.

But then the last 2 chapters... I cried the whole way through. It was beautiful and heartbreaking, just completely devastating.

I can't see how this will end happily, and so I am terrified of Endgame, but I am too entwined in this story to give it up. I better just make sure to have a fresh carton of kleenex on-hand when it comes out next year.

[Brittany McCann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can understand why many lovers of a certain romantic duo may have had issues with this book.

However, in reading the series and following the trials and adventures of the characters, I found that this book traveled in exactly the proper path set for them. This book has been nothing but real emotions and real trials in life and shows that no matter how much you care for another, you can only concede so much of yourself before you lose who you are and find yourself in a place of resentment.

I find that this type of honesty with oneself about the realities of life and soul is extremely brave and hurts immensely.

This book played out exactly as it should, and I cannot wait to conclude the journey with Sirantha, even if I wish for there to be more of it in the future.

4-4.5 Stars

[Rhiannon Frater · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as this book hit my Kindle at 2am in the morning, I was reading. I fell asleep at some point, woke up a few hours later and kept reading until the end. I completely jacked up my sleep schedule, but it was worth it to read the new installment of the Sirantha Jax series. I love this series so much that I actually reread all the books to be ready for this newest installment.

So what do I have to say? This book was perfect. So good in every way. Even the parts with March (I don't like him at all) were well done.

As always, Jax gets herself into trouble and there was plenty of excitement in this novel. I always love the action in this series and this one provides it in spades. I wasn't too sure where this book would head after the ending of the last book and Ann definitely surprised me more than once. She's such a good writer and has a firm grasp on the world and characters she created. Though full of surprises, this book feels the natural progression of the series. In some ways it is very hard to see how much Jax's life changes, but that is the reality of life. Jax has evolved and her decisions have a significant impact on not only her own life and those she loves, but the galaxy. Seeing her cope with the fallout of her choices was hard, but at the same time it showed us how much the character had changed. Honestly, if this had been the last book in the series, I would not have been disappointed.

I'd like to go into specific developments that I enjoyed.

Hit & Dina- It's nice to see a same sex couple make it through some terrible times and remain together. They feel real and their love is touching. I was glad to see how their lives together evolve.

Baby Z - After his terrible death in the first book, it was nice to have the little one back (cloned) and in the mix. I thoroughly enjoyed his reunion with his people and how it affected Jax. I look forward to seeing how he evolves as a character in the next book since he's now a grown up jumper.

March & Jax - It's always been pretty obvious that though Jax and March may love each other (still can't figure out why), they can never quite get it together. A happy ending has never seem to be in their cards. The events in this book make that even more unlikely. March has always had a tendency to put others in front of Jax and he does the same thing in this book. He's just not capable of meeting her on her level. And truth be told, she can't meet him on his. They're very different in what they want out of life and its very clear in this novel how far apart they truly are. I won't lie. I don't like March. I think he's the weaker of the two people and he pulls Jax down and hurts her an awful lot. The progression of their relationship in this book felt very natural and I hope Jax doesn't sacrifice herself in some way in the last book to make him happy.

Vel & Jax - As a huge Vel fan, I loved this book even more because of his presence. Vel has always been very loyal to Jax and once again he is her staunch supporter in everything she does. I love his alien nature and how it evolves in each book. His evolution matches Jax in that they are not quite the same person they started out to be in the first book. Their friendship definitely has deepened into a committed relationship of sorts and in this book the sweetness between them is heart-wrenching. I admit it. I cried. There is a deep love and a lot of honesty between the two characters that surpasses sex and romance. It's really beautiful. The idea of these two flying off together in the last book to chart the beacons makes me smile, but we'll see if that ends up happening in the last book

In closing, this series has not let me down once. Now I have a year to wait for the last installment in this wonderful series.

[Mandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve probably said this in every Sirantha Jax review I’ve written, but I’ll say it again. I don’t read a lot of Sci-Fi. The thought of Sci-Fi just doesn’t appeal to me. It’s like one step too far past paranormal and I don’t have interest. But long ago, someone recommended Grimspace by Ann Aguirre, and I picked it up. And I loved it. I can’t help but to compare Sirantha Jax to Kate Daniels (from Ilona Andrews series). They are both so unselfish, honorable, loyal to their friends individuals. They get crap handed to them, and they keep persevering. At one point in Aftermath, Jax is in a pretty dire situation. But she won’t use the word “if”. It is only “when” she can find her way home. She never gives up on herself, nor the ones she cares about, and for that you can’t help but admire her character.

At the end of Killbox, Jax made a big decision. A decision she made on her own, To save the masses, she jumps into grimspace to change the beacons, hoping she can put the ever evil Morgut off track so they can’t continue to eradicate species in the universe and take planets for their own. When Jax changes the beacons, the Morgut can’t navigate. But neither can the Conglomerate.

As a result of her actions, she saves many (the Morgut lose many of their ships), but kills 600 soldiers. She knows deep down what she did was best for the universe, but those death weigh heavy on her. And the Conglomerate can’t let her go unpunished for her actions since she acted on her own. With riots demanding her death, Jax goes to trial for her actions.

This only covers a very small portion of the book but I just don’t want to give anything away. I had NO idea how this trial would turn out and there is so much more to this book. The journey we go on, stunned me. Aftermath starts out so emotional. Jax has no idea where March is, or if he is even alive. She is dealing with the guilt of 600 deaths. She is decompressing from this huge decision she had to make, only to be thrown in jail having no idea what her future holds. From page one, the emotional impact of this book is huge. And I thought to myself that this level of intensity can’t endure throughout the book. And while it doesn’t necessarily, what happens after the trial, just blew me away. And by the end of the book, we reach an entire new emotional high.

For a lot of this book, March and Jax are separated. March is desperate to find his long, lost nephew and having no idea how much time Jax’s trial will last, he takes off to another land to start his search. Through a series of letters that Ann Aguirre includes, Jax and March stay in contact. But Vel – oh Vel. Solid, dependable Vel who has become so close to Jax is the one there for her. What we learn about Vel is so good. How did this bug, this non-human with side-set eyes and a cool, hard chitin body become one of my most favorite characters?

Why do I love this series so much? Ann Aguirre is an amazing story teller. She started with this crazy sci-fi world but what she really has given us are unforgettable characters. She doesn’t give Jax an easy way out, but that is okay because she stays true to her characters. She gives us characters that are flawed. That don’t know if they are making good decisions but that is okay because the consequences are so fascinating to read about. Most importantly, she makes you realize there are different types of love, and a happily ever after doesn’t have to fit into a box. And no matter how dark it gets, Sirantha Jax never gives up on the ones she loves. I have no idea where she will take us in the final book, Endgame, but I. Can’t. Wait.

Rating: A

[Aurialis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not usually a sci-fi fan. So I started the first book in the series with serious doubt. And I enjoyed it. All the books had cliff-hangers... but that was alright. I laughed out loud a few times, there was wit and there was humour.

I liked Jax; there was some serious character development. But this book was neither light nor humorous. There was no use of sarcasm and the funny Jax became gloomy one. March was always miserable, he just became more so in this book.

Honestly, it feels like the author went through some serious personal upheaval in her life. The book was certainly well written, but all the reasons that I was reading the series before, were gone. The tone of the book was vastly different from the first one.

I was also not impressed by the relationship changes that March and Jax and Jax and Vel undergo in this book. I understand making hard choices, and choosing between two worse things.... but this book just takes it too far.

I feel that the element of tragedy introduced was senseless in some ways.

For example, Jax could have simply told someone about her plans and they could have taken precautions. In reality, nobody had to die. The fact that she doesn't, just to introduce an element of dilemma, hard choices and tragedy, is not only out of character but also stupid and senseless. Also, there should be thousands of more deaths due to merchant ships.

Another example is doc and Evie's death. It was not only unnecessary but also not properly explained. How and why did they die? And by whom? And then there is Jax's mother's death (in the previous book). This again was highly unlikely. The people who have figured out space travel, have not figured out unmanned ships to blow stuff up? Oh wait, they do have it figured out, but the people don't have the sense to use it. Or to order one of their underlings to be the suicide bomber. Apparently, being a syndicate boss doesn't make you smart.

The plots were well thought out in earlier books. But in later books, it is more centred around the emotional element.

In all, for me, the books progressively became worse. No doubt, they are amazing to many readers, but I wasn't one of them. They lost me when Jax lost her witty personality.

[Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will say this: The covers of this series are absolutely the best. I love this artist, whoever it is. INSTANTLY makes me want to pick up a book.

So, I LOVE this series so much, I think I feel mixed about it because it doesn't go the way I PERSONALLY would want it to go. It's a really well-done book that ties up a bunch of loose ends in the lead character Sirantha's life. I just am confused about why the path is what it is, considering the arc of the series thus far.

There is a LOT of trauma and drama in this, and it's REALLY well done. I loved the letters between March and Sirantha, but I'm a bit fan of them (and missed March through this A LOT).

I guess this book was just a change of pace from the others, so that's why I'm a bit on the fence. It was extremely well done, I enjoyed it thoroughly as a fan of the series, so definitely looking forward to the next one!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's taken me a long time to write a review of Aftermath, probably because I still can't quite decide what I think of everything that happened in it and I'm kind of torn at this point over whether I even want to read the final book in the series. On one hand I want to know how it ends but on the other I'm pretty nervous because I'm not sure I like where the series is going. Anyway, let's focus on Aftermath for now and leave fears of Endgame until this review is finished!

I knew that the aftermath of Sirantha's actions at the end of the previous book were going to be catastrophic and I wasn't wrong, changing the Grimspace beacons has made interstellar travel practically impossible to anyone but Jax and until she trains a new wave of Jumpers the entire galaxy is going to pay the price for her actions. Even worse is the number of ships that were lost mid-jump due to her actions. So I get why she did what she did but I'm so angry for her that she didn't think things through and at least try to get a warning out, she was so determined to avoid March so that he wouldn't know what she was up to that she didn't bother to warn anyone of the consequences. Just a little more thought and she could have saved hundreds of lives so I'm angry with her reckless behaviour. Yes she did the right thing and yes she feels guilty about the people who died as a result but it wasn't quite enough for me.

Of course now she has to pay the price for her actions so the first part of the book is Sirantha on trial for  dereliction of duty and mass murder. This gives the author a good excuse to send our favourite couple in opposite directions again as March leaves to search for his nephew while Sirantha is stuck in a prison cell. At this point I just don't understand why these two ever became a couple, what was the point of creating this epic romance between them when they spend so much of their lives apart? I had such high hopes for them at the beginning of the series but now it just feels like I'm being emotionally manipulated by the drama that constantly occurs to keep them apart. Events at the end of Aftermath were both heartbreaking and utterly infuriating and I'm honestly not sure that I care about them as a couple anymore. Sirantha is too selfish to ever put March first and March is just wasting his life sitting around waiting for her.

Vel has been one of my favourite characters since he was introduced and he continues to be his awesome self. He's the saving grace of this series and I loved that we saw so much more of him in this book. I've always loved the friendship between him and Sirantha but I have to admit I'm worried at the hints of love-triangle developing here. That's not what I was expecting and I'm not happy about it. I did love the scenes with Baby Z though and events when they visited his planet were really interesting. I really enjoy exploring this world and I love Sirantha when she's on top form exploring new territory. I just hope the next book focuses more on their discovery than on doomed relationships and potential love triangles.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review contains spoilers.

Sirantha Jax may have saved New Earth and its allied planets from a war they cannot win against the flesh-eating Morgut, but it came at the cost of six hundred Conglomerate soldiers. Returning to Venice Minor after changing the beacons in grimspace to prevent most of the vast Morgut fleet from jumping to their part of the universe, Jax quietly lets herself be taken into custody by her best friend and commander of the Ithtorian fleet, Vel, and taken to New Earth for her trial. Fully expecting to be executed or, at best, imprisoned for life, her amazing barrister gets her off all charges.

But Jax can't forget the six hundred soldiers she accidentally killed, even if her actions saved the lives of everyone else in the Conglomerate. And her time spent alone in a cell has given her time to reflect and decide on her next course of action: to make amends. While the vast fortune she inherited from her mother can help appease the families of the soldiers who died, and she's spent six months planet-side, teaching jumpers how to read the new beacons in grimspace, Jax has more personal promises to keep.

First she needs to clone the baby Mareq that died in her care, and return it to its mother. Her other promise is to Loras and his people, the La'heng, to free them of their genetic servitude. But her journey with Vel to right old wrongs leads them to make a momentous discovery that could change everything.

I seem to be the lone Jax fan whose love is waning. I absolutely loved the first three books, but I found Killbox to be disappointing and Jax became, well there's no nice way of putting it: annoying. That hasn't changed with Aftermath, even though it's much more eventful and takes some very interesting turns. Plotwise, I have no complaints.

So what's my problem? It's Jax herself. As Jax learns to be more thoughtful, considerate and less selfish, she's also lost her sense of humour. She narrates - in PRESENT TENSE no less, a tense that DOES NOT FIT the narrative style and adds nothing extra to the tension, adventure and suspense of the story - and we are stuck inside her head, a place I've become more disgruntled with as she matures and supposedly becomes less selfish. I say "supposedly" because it's still all about her, and that's no longer an interesting character flaw or trait, it's just a whole lot of self-indulgent whinging. And therein lies my issue: Jax is self-indulgent to the point of making me want to slap her. I can't stand self-indulgent stories, or self-indulgent people. Jax internalises EVERYTHING, it all becomes about her, in a really whiny, repetitive way. I still like her as a character, but I like her less than I did in the first book, when she was a wild, thoughtless party girl who spoke without thinking and put herself first. Then, she had the potential to grow. Now, she's "grown" but the result - which does fit her character - is more annoying rather than less. She is definitely more self-aware, but I think I'd rather she weren't. She spells out everything for us, and leaves us nothing to infer. We can't have an opinion about Jax because her voice is so loud, there's no room for anything else.

The idea that my impetuous behavior might have hurt my best friend makes me ill. Big-picture thinking has never been my strong suit, but I've never been quite so sick over it before. I still stand by my decision, but I am beginning to believe I didn't consider it from all angles. Instead, I led with my heart and just jumped, which is my greatest strength and my biggest flaw. [p.33]

There are countless such paragraphs, plus it feels like every second sentence is a "self thought": Jax thinking about herself, her reaction to something, how something affects her. Like I said, it's not an interesting or quirky flaw, it's just boring. On the other hand, March really has changed. By the end of Aftermath, he's like a whole new person. I'm no longer sure what he sees in Jax - or what Vel likes in Jax, either, to be honest - but matters of the heart aren't all that easy to explain. I always loved the fierce, intense chemistry between them, and there's a touch of that at the beginning, but it seems clear to me that for as long as Jax needs to travel the stars - and that is an inherent part of her, not something she can just give up - they can't be together in a happily-ever-after way. (That makes me think: we associate "happily ever after" with settling down, staying put, being content with where life is at - that's merely a social construct. There's nothing to stop Jax and March, hypothetically, being "happily ever after" AND travelling the stars together.) The problem is that March seems happy to live planet-side and raise his nephew, while Jax goes stir-crazy if she's on land too long and can't relate to a child. So who knows how that'll work out.

To be honest, I read this as the last book in the series (there's one more, Endgame, due out in 2012). It felt final, at the end, with Jax and Vel going off to tie up unfinished business, Jax leaving March behind - "he'll wait for me" she reminds us again, it's a given; she'd be sad if he didn't but wouldn't try to hold him if he wanted to move on: a sign of her narcissism, truth be told, because if someone doesn't have time for her anymore, she simply moves on, keeping those who do. (Yes I know she fought to save March from his demons in Doubleblind, but if I remember correctly, even that was partly for herself. I will say, though, that that I can understand; I'd probably feel the same way. It's not that I'm being extra-hard on Jax, or that we don't all put ourselves first at the end of the day. It's that we don't go on and on about it!) She is trying to be more thoughtful and considerate and caring of others, but her world is and always will be Jax herself. I'm not saying she doesn't have moments of really thinking of others, or that she's fake, or her emotions are false - all I mean is that she thinks of everything in terms of herself, and is rather slow on the pick-up if something doesn't immediately involve her. And I'm not a big fan of people who are only interested in themselves.

Mary, but I'm dying to jump. It feels like I've been grounded forever, and I am losing my mind slowly. It was bad in prison, but there, I knew I had no choice. So I sublimated my need in constant exercise. Here, I function as the school administrator, and I have no outlet for the junkie cravings boiling in my brain. I long to travel to Marakeq and try to make right the damage I've done. Perhaps I never can, but I will think less of myself if I don't try, and I need every scrap of self-esteem these days. [pp.114-5]

I think the story would have been better told in third person past tense, I really do. I wouldn't feel at all annoyed with Jax if the above paragraph was written in third person; I would have felt sympathetic. Also, it seemed like they rushed the publication: it was riddled with typos and missing articles and more, which was very distracting.

I did like the book, though, I want to be clear on that. While I wanted to skip over most of Jax's internal monologues, I did find the story interesting. I thought at first it might turn into a courtroom drama story, which would be an interesting turn, but that only takes up a small portion at the beginning. Once Jax was freed, it became clear that this was going to be a story you couldn't predict: a free agent now, Jax has her own plans and even those go off the rails. It was also great to have more Vel - he's so clearly alien, and I love that Aguirre is faithful to that. He doesn't think or feel like a human, so he remains something of an unknown quantity, unpredictable yet faithful.

It was a bit of an anti-climax, truth be told (I found their discovery a bit of a quiet "Oh. Is that all."), and things seemed to come easily to Jax this time around - part of the science fiction genre, where technology is so "easy" (not only does Jax have nanos in her body mending everything, and translation chips and vocalisers so she can talk in foreign languages, but she gets a baby Mareq cloned in about a day, and Vel, for example, is conveniently an expert in almost everything - very handy) - but it was still an adventure and different from the other books. I won't speak more of it because I don't want to spoil everything.

And that reminds me: it's important to say that, while I have my complaints, I would still recommend this series. The first book is amazing and I gushed stupidly about it; likewise the following two. I don't know why but somehow, between Doubleblind and Killbox, something changed. Aguirre has created a fleshed-out futuristic world and, yes, a strong heroine to lead us through it. There's always something new to learn about, and the characters - the supporting cast - are also well worth the trip. I will definitely read the last book, even though I felt like the story ended here; I must see it through, and for all my whinging, I have a soft spot for Jax, still.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I have waited for this book all year and it was worth it. I set my alarm for 3 am, to go to bed, so I would not remain awake all night reading. I snuck the book into work and though I was never able to crack it open, I thought about it all day and continued reading the second I arrived home.

Aguirre is such an amazing writer. I am in awe of the world she has built, how skillfully she sucked me in, how deeply I care for her characters. This book was beautiful and had everything I could possibly want. The relationships are heartbreaking and wonderfully sincere. The ending was perfect and though I hate having to wait another year until the final book is released, I am eager to see how Jax's story ends. I have high hopes for the ending, which I dare not mention without a spoiler protecting it.

I hope, hope, hope Vel and Jax end up together as they discuss towards the end of this book. I hope Jax realizes that March may love her but he will never love her as Vel does, completely and unconditionally. Vel is loyal in a way that March is incapable of being. I truly disliked March in this book. Regardless of his legitimate and noble reasons, he did abandon Jax. And he does not understand what truly drives her. I'm surprised he thought for even a second that Jax would live with him planetside. Both of these characters need to let eachother go.

More than anything else, Aguirre has developed my favorite relationship in any of the series I have read. I love how Jax and Vel work together, how they read, care for, protect, and support eachother. I hope that the final book is about Jax letting March go, and realizing that Vel can be everything to her, maybe even more than her love of grimspace.

Besides the relationships, I love the variety of life in this series. The aliens are captivating (Baby Z) and terrifying (the Morgut), with everything in between.

Jax is just shy of her true potential by the end of this book. I am eager to finish the series but at the same time dreading it, as very few things are as perfect as reading new adventures involving these characters.

If you have not yet started this series, please remedy the problem.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's really hard for me to even put thoughts down about this book.

I feel like all the growth I saw in Sirantha in the previous book was nullified here. I hated her decision at the end of Killbox, and though - with more thought - I would have agreed with it, she didn't give it that thought. She made it rashly, without concern for all the consequences, and thought to die there. Only coming back because she didn't have the forethought to warn March that no one should jump.

I didn't think about the consequences beforehand because, honestly, I didn't imagine I'd be around to face them. Then, afterward, I realized I had to come back to warn everyone - that my farewell message to March wasn't specific enough to explain the danger.

So here I am. It sucks when your blaze of glory turns into a small sputter.

But the thing that made me the maddest was when she though this of Vel:

I ascend first. Vel says it's so he can catch me, but if it were me, I'd want someone else to test the integrity of the structure. He's like me in that respect.

Vel is NOTHING like that. He never has been. Vel has only ever been constant, supportive, and solid. Caring and loving. How dare she think something so little of him. If he says it is so he can catch her, then that is the reason. Period. Ugh. I was so disgusted with Sirantha at this point.

March and Sirantha spend most of this book separated. We get communications between them, as he searches for his nephew, and then for her when she's lost.

This series is hard for me. Emotionally draining. I hate a lot of the choices these characters make, and yet I can make myself understand them. Usually. They are who they are, and sometimes there just aren't easy answers.

There was a lot I loved about this book. The flow was really nicely done, a good story, told exceptionally well.

The flashbacks (which would be handy when having extended breaks between books) were annoying as hell reading them back to back.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep, 5 stars. I love where this is going. I've got to sit on it for a bit longer, but hell, I cried like a damn baby. But Sirantha has been through A LOT! Direct jumping, arrest, trial, Baby Z, tons more. And March has his own agenda. They are both self starters. Its no surprise that he can't wait around for her while she's in prison.

I don't think this is a love triangle. I think she has enough room in her heart to love multiple people (I have a backstory that aligns with this, so sue me). She states that she and March have always had to enjoy stolen moments. Vel has been with her most consistently. Where do you go when you need outside strength? She says that Dina is her best friend, but now, Vel is. They have just gone through an experience that sets them both off balance and Vel is not able to fix it for either of them. And as she states in Book 6, this isn't a love story. I don't need a HEA. I just want Jax to find some sort of peace. I hope to learn March's first name. And I hope their universe finds some sort of balance.

Gah! Guys, it's just a book after all!

I'll try to write more. Later. Life is life and it's taking up far too much of my time :)

[Ivie dan Glokta · Rating 2 out of 5]

It must have been love, but it's over now....

I wanted to punch Jax in the face during this novel, repeatedly. This series was so damn good when it started. Now i see it should have ended a long time ago. One thing I have to ask is this; why does Jax, a jumper, a rebel, a fighter, and over all such a badass constantly find problems when it comes to something so simple as her relationship with March? Seriously, just why even bother? It's not like the sex is any good.

And him? This woman repeatedly fucks him over and he just surrenders his bleeding heart because....she's so speshul. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

This was a band of misfits, not a band any longer(dick move Aguirre BTW) that carried themselves trough some hard times with a general idea of a moral code. I mean, apart from March, people were really looking after their own interests. And that is why the series was brilliant. All of this random sacrifices out of the blue, or should i say black, are completely out of character and unbelievable.

The series should have ended a book ago. :/

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me forever but I really enjoyed it. Vel is probably one of my favorite characters, honestly I don't really care that much about March.

[Brandi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'll write up my review later on or tomorrow. 1.5 Stars.

This is already not starting out good! I'm 5% into it right now, and I have highlighted several things already that annoy me. We're brought in where the last one left off, which is Jax going into Grimspace to change the frequency of the jump beacons. Then she'll say she has no idea how long she was out for, followed by a little later referring to her long time in Grimspace. The planet is being attacked, and she sends a message to Tarn about not letting any ships jump there since they will be lost, and then says how there hasn't been enough time for her message to reach Tarn or for him to respond. Which logically means that people were probably called to help and got lost! All she needed to do was leave a note for March telling him her plan and then he wouldn't need to call for backup and nobody would end up eating it because of Jax. And she has already said that the Morgut no longer eat them?! But are just trying to kill off the living things on the surface...and I have no doubt that in a little bit she will make a comment about how people are delicacies to the Morgut. Oh, and one last thing, she says she has to get her pilot back from this Grimspace mission she put herself on, and then says something about how that suicide mission should have killed her. Snort. What the hell do you think a suicide mission IS Jax ol' girl?!



7% into it now. Hit managed to bounce a message to the Dauntless telling them that her and Jax were on the surface and would await orders as to what to do, but not to have them jump since Jax changed everything and told no one. THEN Jax says this line: Rescue will come,I tell myself. We're not simply waiting for the Morgut to finish conquering Venice Minor.

How in the holy fuck are people supposed to come to the rescue when they've been told by Jax herself not to jump!! She told them to meet at specific coordinates so that they could be trained--while the war is at it's fucking peak no less, lets stop what the fuck they're doing to RELEARN something and slow EVERYONE down--and then expects anyone to come to rescue her and Hit, while being TOTALLY outnumbered by the Morgut. And now she gets to blame herself for Doc and "Evie" even though that wasn't her fault. They ran out there, it wasn't Jax saying "hey guys come out come out wherever you are so I can blow you up!!!"

[ᑭIᑭEᖇ⒤ᗩᗰ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Regrettably I just can't finish this book, I am utterly heartbroken at what has become of one of my favorite series of all times. I went ahead and read Sarah and Shelly's reviews for Aftermath and Engame A fucking love triangle with Vel, and she moves in with him, I mean c'mon and because of that, decided I needed to remember Sirantha and March as they were and not what they do or become in the last two books of this series. I am so saddened at the direction Mrs. Aguirre went in these books, but my freyed nerves can handle no more.

[Sandy Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably 3.5 stars because I missed March. I have to say, though, Ann Aguirre knows how to make her characters (and readers!) suffer. This was a painful book from the first chapter.

This remains one of my favorite series. I hope Jax gets her happy ending in the next book, but I hope it doesn't come after eight more years! I want to hook March up with some nanites so they can slowly grow old together!

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am speechless. Ann Aguirre is a very brave writer. 5 stars for the last 40%, 3 stars for the first 40%. I may adjust later, I need to think about this book and review.

[MISS VAIN · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frag you Sirantha Jax, and I have had enough Of You!!!!

I Love March <3 <3

[S.J. Higbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad that I picked up with this series, again! I recalled the last book and the desperate strategy that Jax uses to prevent the terrible, flesh-eating Morgut aliens from invading the whole of human-space. And so this one starts with Jax in a lot of trouble, and at a very low point in her life. Whatever you do – in the event of encountering this book without having read at least Killbox – put it down and backtrack. I make a hobby of crashing midway into series, and it won’t work with this one. You will simply have missed too much of Jax’s amazing journey to fully appreciate who she is and where she’s come from.

I found this book immensely moving. Sirantha Jax was a real hell-raiser in the earlier books and has been through all sorts of life-changing experiences. I’m delighted to see that they have, indeed, changed her, which isn’t always the case with our kick-ass heroines. I was on tenterhooks throughout her trial – as I know only too well Aguirre isn’t necessarily kind to our gutsy protagonist. And then the resultant adventure that she’s embroiled in also originates by her trying to put right a wrong that she inflicted earlier. I’m conscious that I’ve managed to make this sound as if it’s a rather dreary read – it isn’t. There is plenty of danger and action. But I love the relationship between her and Vel, her Ithtorian companion (think of a large, upright cockroach) as it goes on deepening and they appreciate each other as firm friends. Friendship isn’t always fully explored in space opera – but this one is beautifully portrayed.

I came away with a real sense of loss on leaving this world. With the current upsurge of popularity in space opera adventure, I hope readers will consider picking up this fabulous series. Highly recommended for fans of character-led, high-octane space opera.
9/10

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly it was great. I really like the woman Jax has grown up the be, that part of the long story arc is terrific. What she did should have consequences, even if it was justified, and I agree that it was. If she was the type of person who could do that and not care then she wouldn't be the type of person that we've all fallen in love with, so exploring that was interesting. And I've always loved Aguirre's storytelling. And Vel, this book is full of Vel, which is wonderful. Everything Vel is wonderful. Vel is always there for Jax is every way that a true partner and companion should be, and she understands that, which is surprisingly mature for the girl she once was. Really, this one is Vel's story, again. And again, March is out in the cold. Which least to my issues.

And I did have 2 issues. One is that once again, as with every book since the first, Aguirre had to come up with a reason to keep Jax and March apart. One of the problems in writing a romance series can be what to do with the characters once you've gotten them together, and these two got together in the very beginning of the first book. So she's found one dumb reason after another to keep them apart and it's made me nuts, they just haven't felt like justified reasons. And again the reason at the beginning of this book made March look really bad. He left on a journey that, although for a very good reason, would probably take years, before even finding out how soon she might need him, and it turned out to be only weeks before she did. And it was dumb because she could have gotten him where he was going right away when she was released, too. I get that he was impatient, for good reason, but it made him look really immature that he couldn't sit still and wait for a little while longer; once again he left her when he needed her while Vel was there for her. How am I supposed to root for this guy? At least at the end of the book it made sense and I got a tear in my eye. By then he was clearly doing the right thing.

My other issue is how much stuff Jax gets into. I liked when her story arc kept growing throughout the books until she ended up majorly influencing galactic politics. Sure, it's a bit much that one woman has so much responsibility, but it also made sense as things developed. But it was too much for me in this one when they discovered this gate and the Makers world. The book had so much running around and "Aftermath" wrap-up already that made it feel scattered, and the gates and Makers stuff was too generic, I've read it in so many other sci-fi series. It's bad enough that they have the beacons and some ancient race that no one knows who programmed them, a standard in sci-fi, but that this girl suddenly stumbles on them after upsetting galactic politics twice (being the cause of setting up the Conglomeration and then resetting the beacons) is really too much coincidence for one woman. It didn't feel up to Aguirre's usually creative standards.

But honestly, those things are small compared to the honest, lovely story that happens here, especially the exploration of love and companionship between Jax and Vel. Love has many different aspects. This love story is one of my favorites in any series I've ever read. It's so genuine and heartfelt. And yet somehow Aguirre says that Jax is going to get her happily every after in the last book that's coming up and that seems clearly to indicate some sort of resolution with March. I'm very interested to see how this one works out!

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posted on Under the Covers

Opening line: Dying isn’t like living; it requires no effort at all.

Ann Aguirre started this series with a heroine who was strong and kickass, but in the fifth book, AFTERMATH readers come to realize just how much growth Sirantha Jax has done since the first book. Jax makes a decision that results in the death of 600 soldiers. In life, that’s an obscenely large amount of souls lost. But in war, that’s a lot of manpower gone. As people burst out in outrage, Jax must do what she must and face the consequences of her actions. Didn’t matter that she thought she was acting in the best interest of her people. People died because of her, and she feels the weight of that burden on her shoulders.

As she awaits trail, March goes on a personal hunt to find his nephew. It’s not in March’s ability to sit idle while the rest of the world waits on Jax’s trial. They communicate through touching letters to one another that display the amount of heartache and love they have for one another. It’s because of their relationship that I continue reading this series. It’s the one bright spot amid the darkness that war causes.

This entire series reminds me of THE HUNGER GAMES where everything wrong occurs and yet, you have these strong characters that are able to bear the weight of such a suffocating journey. Be warned that when you read this series, it’s a dark and gloomy one where people unnecessarily die in the face of war and there are few bright spots at the end of all this. But similarly, the Sirantha Jax series is just as addicting and easy to read as THE HUNGER GAMES. Ann Aguirre grips you in this tautly written novel and releases you at the most inopportune parts, until you’re begging to be drawn into this fantastic sci-fi world again. This series is simply one of the best, regardless of genre.