Grimspace (Sirantha Jax, Book 1)

Sirantha Jax is a jumper, an individual with a rare gene that allows her to access GRIMSPACE and therefore speed up space travel. She finds herself trapped in a psych unit cell, accused of somehow killing the entire crew of her last assigned ship. Everyone... including her pilot, lover, and friend, Kai. The bond between pilot and jumper is sacrosanct and Sirantha can't fathom how or why she would have caused such a crash. Unfortunately, she can't remember what went wrong. A man named March enters her cell and offers to rescue her. But what does he want in return? What will be the costs of this rescue? Sirantha Jax is a great leading character. Her heart and motivations are fully bared for the reader to see her, faults and all. Who can't help but love her prickly attitude, her unwillingness to give up even when all common sense says it's over? Only a woman like Sirantha Jax could have survived that initial crash and the resulting imprisonment afterwards. It is a pleasure to read about such a strong female heroine. GRIMSPACE is written entirely in the present tense. I had thought this would be distracting but instead it drew me further into the story. It was as if I was right there in the moment as each event occurred. Bravo, Ms. Aguirre for such a daring move! Ann Aguirre does a phenomenal job at world building, creating several different worlds as Sirantha and March jump through GRIMSPACE. GRIMSPACE itself is well described as is each world they encounter. The details aren't so descriptive as to lose the momentum of the story but instead enhance the fast pace. Who didn't shiver when reading about the Teras or want to meet and cuddle with Baby Z? Ann Aguirre made the various worlds and their inhabitants spring to life. GRIMSPACE is a fantastic entry into the science fiction genre. Ann Aguirre captures the nobleness of sacrifice beautifully. GRIMSPACE is highly recommended, even for those who aren't as thrilled by the science fiction genre as Ann Aguirre writes a story in which the emotional impact transcends the genre. COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

I'm more of an urban fantasy or just plain fantasy reader myself. I can litterally count how many sci-fi books I've read on one hand (with a digit to spare), but this one was amazing. I loved how easy it is to get caught up in the story and really connect. I'm a picky reader and if I don't feel a connection after a very short while I don't finish the book. Ann Aguirre created engaging characters and an exciting story. I can't wait to read what else she puts out. She's managed to convert a person who's never really felt much of a draw to sci-fi into a (I hope), life long fan.

I finished this book last week and I had to let it settle before I wrote a review. This book is intense to say the least and exceptionally well written. Sirantha Jax is one tough cookie, but you almost instantly like her. I don't give a lot away in my reviews - I will say this, if you liked Firefly you will enjoy Grimspace, you might even like it more as I do. Pick this book up - you won't be disappointed.

Ann Aguirre has taken a book like Grimspace and made it a masterpiece of Sci-fi literature. If you are a fan of space travel, Star Wars like action and a heroine who is very original and simply an amazing character overall, I urge you to pick up Grimspace. It might just be one of the best reads of 2008 and the character for Jax, Aguirre's heroine will be talked about for a long time. Sirantha Jax has a special gene that lets her jump thought space and time. The first page introduces us to her as she is in jail responsible for killing her captain and all the passengers on her ship. She has no clue what has happened and thinks she has no way out and will probably be dead in a few days. But a savior comes to her. His name is March and he needs her help. She has no other option and goes off with him even though he may want to kill her after he is done with her. Jax is now on another perilous journey where she is to out of the loop, on the run from the law and no one to trust. As she jumps, she puts her total trust in March who is not what he seems. Linnea Sinclair fans will also want to jump on the Ann Aguirre bandwagon. And if you have read Sinclair's books in the past, well you know what Aguirre's Grimspace will be like. It is everything you want in a book in general. I found myself on the edge of my seat wondering if Jax will come out alive. Plus, there is a nice romance between her and March that shouldn't disappoint. This is the first book in this new on-going series. Hands down a most excellent book and once of the best for the year 2008. Welcome to a new author who has written an edgy and exciting space travel book, and of course a great unfinished romance. Katiebabs

Up front, lest I be accused of hiding it, I know Ann Aguirre. I happen to think she's fabulous and I talk to her pretty much daily via IM. I also happen to think she's a really gifted writer and I've thought so before I IM'd her all the time. Anyway - Ann kindly sent me an early peek at Grimspace some months back and when I read it, it blew me away. It's one of those books what you look at and think, first person? Present tense? But it works. It conveys a sense of urgency, of breathlessness but every once in while it slows, tensing, making that pause sort of delicious before speeding up again. Aguirre's words are sharp and tensile and some of the passages are so gorgeous in their description that even alone they'd make Grimspace an above average read. But there's more of course by way of a story well matched to the breathless manner in which Aguirre delivers it to the reader. The first time in the book when Jax sits in her chair and she's describing how grimspace is indescrible? I was there. Aguirre leads me through as Jax prepares and then jumps. I'm now jumped into the book and the journey begins. I love science fiction and futuristics and I read across sub genres and authors but I tend toward the edgy sort of delivery you see with Gibson and Morgan and Grimspace has that. It's lush in places but the pace keeps it stark at the same time. I loved the action element as well as the romantic storyline. March is as well drawn as Jax, even through Jax's eyes and they're well matched on the page. There's a lot to March but he's like an iceburg character - much of what he is is below the surface and so we learn it slowly but surely. There's something deliciously flawed in Sirantha Jax. Deeply wounded. Prickly, bitchy at times, defensive and guilt ridden. But you know why. You're in her head, no one holds her more accountable than she does herself. But there's a resilience in her. She tells herself she doesn't need anyone else but she does. She tells herself not to take a risk in reaching out but she does. I just really liked her. Anyway, as you can tell, I dug Grimspace. I think it's a great mixture of action, emotion, romance with some startlingly wonderful and memorable characters.