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tattooedlibrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
robynldouglas's review against another edition
4.0
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.)
abkeuser's review against another edition
4.0
This, the third novel in this series is fun, while not as prone to random plot whorls as it's previous two, and has a mix of diplomacy, mystery, romance, and action.
Ms Aguirre manages to create a love story in these novels that is strong enough to get over itself. Nothing in these books have been about the main character's love interest being the thing that defines her or the singular thing that drives her. In fact, it ends up being the first thing she has to sacrifice in many cases. And yet, she and March are mature enough and level headed enough that they can get over themselves and deal with the problems at hand and then find a way to return to what they are/what they had.
To be honest, I was a little worried about this novel's plot. Political intrigue can be and a tricky thing to pull off well, and I wasn't sure what to expect, especially with a main character as vocal about her ineptitude with this sort of thing as Sirantha is. But she did it very well. The amount of help that Sirantha receives seems like the amount she'd need to perform in her task. And overall, this very alien situation came across feeling very real.
Ms Aguirre manages to create a love story in these novels that is strong enough to get over itself. Nothing in these books have been about the main character's love interest being the thing that defines her or the singular thing that drives her. In fact, it ends up being the first thing she has to sacrifice in many cases. And yet, she and March are mature enough and level headed enough that they can get over themselves and deal with the problems at hand and then find a way to return to what they are/what they had.
To be honest, I was a little worried about this novel's plot. Political intrigue can be and a tricky thing to pull off well, and I wasn't sure what to expect, especially with a main character as vocal about her ineptitude with this sort of thing as Sirantha is. But she did it very well. The amount of help that Sirantha receives seems like the amount she'd need to perform in her task. And overall, this very alien situation came across feeling very real.
liz1004's review against another edition
4.0
Despite a soul-wrenching plot twist, I loved this. This series is just awesome!
skateanddonate's review against another edition
3.0
Love the characters. Love the world. But this book just seemed really uneven. My least favorite of the series so far. Although it did pick up toward the end...maybe I was just bored with the political stuff?
veronica87's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't like this installment as much as the first two books. Jax is still a great protagonist and the secondary characters are still varied and interesting so there's no problem there. We finally see Jax arrive at Ithis-Torr to make a stab at forging an alliance between that world and the Conglomerate. This is where the story drags for me as I was just not very interested in the diplomatic shenanigans going on. Jax attending one diplomatic function after another just doesn't hold the same level of attraction for me as a good old fashioned firefight, but that's just a matter of personal preference.
What I did really enjoy was reading about March's battles with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and how that impacts heavily upon his relationship with Jax. Having worked with combat soldiers with PTSD, I found that March's presentation was very true to life. Once again I am very pleased to see that Jax and March are navigating very honest problems in their attempts to be together. I would have preferred to see the PTSD plot thread stretched out over the next book but I will say that the manner in which Jax helps March is inspired. The last third or so of the book yields an unexpected betrayal and a daring rescue so that grabbed my attention again. This is still definitely a series to keep reading.
What I did really enjoy was reading about March's battles with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and how that impacts heavily upon his relationship with Jax. Having worked with combat soldiers with PTSD, I found that March's presentation was very true to life. Once again I am very pleased to see that Jax and March are navigating very honest problems in their attempts to be together. I would have preferred to see the PTSD plot thread stretched out over the next book but I will say that the manner in which Jax helps March is inspired. The last third or so of the book yields an unexpected betrayal and a daring rescue so that grabbed my attention again. This is still definitely a series to keep reading.
errantdreams's review against another edition
5.0
The plot with March having gone cold and hard since the war on Lachion is hard to read, because Jax loves him so much that his distance is painful. It’s worth sticking with the plot, however. She figures out a very novel approach to trying to help him, and it’s fascinating. One worry Jax has is that March always loved her inability to lie to him since he’s a psi and used to feeling people’s deception; but in the name of politics she’s learning to dissemble, and she’s afraid she won’t appeal to him as much that way. It should be noted that things are set up such that there’s a lot riding on Jax’s ability to form an alliance: enough to keep her staying there and working hard no matter how bad things get. The Morgut, the Syndicate, Farwan loyalists, and raiders are wreaking havoc, and having such a strong race for allies–particularly since the Ithtorians are pretty much the only race the Morgut respect as hunters rather than prey–would be invaluable.
There are plenty of sub-plots to make everyone else’s lives interesting too. Dina and Hit seem to be getting closer. Jael seems to waver oddly between being super-intense about bodyguarding Jax, yet going off on his own whenever he gets bored or wants to gamble. Doc is trying to find a way to help the poisoned Ithtorian. Constance is being invaluable as an assistant, but when she disappears no one knows if she’s off researching or what. Jax gets to learn a lot more about Vel now that she’s seeing him in his native surrounds. And there’s plenty of action and adventure to keep things exciting.
There was one thread where I just wanted to shake Jax for not noticing a repeated clue, and not finally putting two and two together when given additional clues.
We really go through the emotional wringer in this installment of the series. Content note for a brief and not-too-detailed sex scene. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2019/12/review-doubleblind-ann-aguirre/
There are plenty of sub-plots to make everyone else’s lives interesting too. Dina and Hit seem to be getting closer. Jael seems to waver oddly between being super-intense about bodyguarding Jax, yet going off on his own whenever he gets bored or wants to gamble. Doc is trying to find a way to help the poisoned Ithtorian. Constance is being invaluable as an assistant, but when she disappears no one knows if she’s off researching or what. Jax gets to learn a lot more about Vel now that she’s seeing him in his native surrounds. And there’s plenty of action and adventure to keep things exciting.
There was one thread where I just wanted to shake Jax for not noticing a repeated clue, and not finally putting two and two together when given additional clues.
We really go through the emotional wringer in this installment of the series. Content note for a brief and not-too-detailed sex scene. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2019/12/review-doubleblind-ann-aguirre/
meghan_t's review against another edition
3.0
This book centred on Jax and Vel, the Bug bounty hunter.
And despite how much I liked March in books 1 and 2, I shipped VEL and JAX so much!! He’s so intelligent and courteous and helpful. His backstory is tragic—exiled from his planet for being different. And he’s had human lovers?!?!
I know we’re supposed to see that Jax can’t live without March, but I honestly I think the author herself was torn. This whole book seems to be an argument as to why Jax should be with Vel. There’s no doubt in my mind he loves her and would do anything for her.
I guess his personality lacks the passion and thrill-seeking that Jax craves. Sigh. But Vel is a bounty hunter and with the war starting, I’m sure she’ll get lots of near death experiences in the fourth book.
I hope there’s more of the rest of the crew in book 4. They were rather incidental in this book.
Also I suspect Jax will keep the tattoo Vel made for her. She respects him too much to get rid of it.
March is not going to like that lol.
And despite how much I liked March in books 1 and 2, I shipped VEL and JAX so much!! He’s so intelligent and courteous and helpful. His backstory is tragic—exiled from his planet for being different. And he’s had human lovers?!?!
I know we’re supposed to see that Jax can’t live without March, but I honestly I think the author herself was torn. This whole book seems to be an argument as to why Jax should be with Vel. There’s no doubt in my mind he loves her and would do anything for her.
I guess his personality lacks the passion and thrill-seeking that Jax craves. Sigh. But Vel is a bounty hunter and with the war starting, I’m sure she’ll get lots of near death experiences in the fourth book.
I hope there’s more of the rest of the crew in book 4. They were rather incidental in this book.
Also I suspect Jax will keep the tattoo Vel made for her. She respects him too much to get rid of it.
March is not going to like that lol.
mcummings's review against another edition
3.0
I did not enjoy this as much as the last two, because there was less action, but there were aspects that I did enjoy. I liked learning about Vel's race, and thought the world building was very unique. I was a little taken aback by what seemed to me to be an abrupt shift in Jael's character from the way he was presented in the previous book. I know it fit the plot of this story, but it was almost like the author didn't remember how she'd presented him previously, which annoyed me!
jkh107's review against another edition
3.0
I love this series! As ambassador to the planet of bug-like Ithtorians, Sirantha Jax must forge an alliance with this skeptical and ruthless race of aliens while humanity lives under threat of war both within and from the cannibal Morgut aliens. Also she must solve a mystery and attempt to heal her war-damaged lover March. Lots of adventure here, and an interesting alien world and engaging characters also.