Scan barcode
A review by kimberlybea
Doubleblind by Ann Aguirre
4.0
Please note; this review is likely to contain spoilers for the first two books of the series. So if you haven't read them, you might want to hold off on reading this as well!
Oh, how I love Sirantha Jax. . .and in fact, her companions, too. In the third book in the series, Jax finally begins her diplomatic career on the planet of Ithiss-Tor, whose insectoid inhabitants lead an isolationist existence beneath the surface. The Ithtorians are wary of---and some of them hostile to---"the soft-bodied" humans, but the Conglomerate needs them as allies against the dangerous Morgut. Jax is fortunate enough to have the outcast Ithtorian Vel on her side; but her beloved March, turned into a killing machine by the events that took place on Lachion, is distant and damaged inside. Jax is no diplomat, and recent events don't bode well for a Human-Ithtorian alliance, but for the humans on the Outskirts of the galaxy, the successful completion of her task may be their only hope. . .
I really like where Aguirre is going with this series. Jax is still the narrator, and I love her smart-alecky voice, but Aguirre has added interludes such as news dispatches and interviews to show how desperate things on the Outskirts have become, and how important it is that Jax's mission succeed. It's also really nice to see Jax, not only healthy again, but also maturing as a person, and there are scenes in this book that offer previously unseen glimpses into both Jax's and March's pasts. I really find March and Jax's relationship to be one of the most realistic I've read. These are two people who have flaws and histories, pasts and past lovers, and whose relationship develops and changes as much as they do. There have always been challenges to Jax and March's romance, but the fact they have overcome them reassures the reader that they can do so again, even while s/he is wringing his/her hands over their current struggles. And I really like that, however many obstacles have been thrown in jax and March's past, Aguirre never resorts to jealousy being one of them, or my personal bugaboo, "The Big Misunderstanding." She is much too clever for that.
Another thing I really like about the Jax series (and I've noticed this in general about Aguirre's books) is the fact that the romance, while important, doesn't overshadow Jax's relationships with the other characters. Of course, the emphasis here is on Jax's relationship with Vel, since they are on his home planet (and you also learn a bit about his background as well), but I also really like her prickly banter with the mechanic Dina and her growing friendship with the pilot Hit. Especially fun was the PA (electronic Personal Assistant) newly dubbed Constance, who not only offers Jax her invaluable assistance, but seems to be growing a sense of humor and personality as well.
In sum, I continue to recommend the Sirantha Jax series for anyone who loves character driven science fiction, filled with humor, intrigue, and mystery, and definitely a lot of heart.
Oh, how I love Sirantha Jax. . .and in fact, her companions, too. In the third book in the series, Jax finally begins her diplomatic career on the planet of Ithiss-Tor, whose insectoid inhabitants lead an isolationist existence beneath the surface. The Ithtorians are wary of---and some of them hostile to---"the soft-bodied" humans, but the Conglomerate needs them as allies against the dangerous Morgut. Jax is fortunate enough to have the outcast Ithtorian Vel on her side; but her beloved March, turned into a killing machine by the events that took place on Lachion, is distant and damaged inside. Jax is no diplomat, and recent events don't bode well for a Human-Ithtorian alliance, but for the humans on the Outskirts of the galaxy, the successful completion of her task may be their only hope. . .
I really like where Aguirre is going with this series. Jax is still the narrator, and I love her smart-alecky voice, but Aguirre has added interludes such as news dispatches and interviews to show how desperate things on the Outskirts have become, and how important it is that Jax's mission succeed. It's also really nice to see Jax, not only healthy again, but also maturing as a person, and there are scenes in this book that offer previously unseen glimpses into both Jax's and March's pasts. I really find March and Jax's relationship to be one of the most realistic I've read. These are two people who have flaws and histories, pasts and past lovers, and whose relationship develops and changes as much as they do. There have always been challenges to Jax and March's romance, but the fact they have overcome them reassures the reader that they can do so again, even while s/he is wringing his/her hands over their current struggles. And I really like that, however many obstacles have been thrown in jax and March's past, Aguirre never resorts to jealousy being one of them, or my personal bugaboo, "The Big Misunderstanding." She is much too clever for that.
Another thing I really like about the Jax series (and I've noticed this in general about Aguirre's books) is the fact that the romance, while important, doesn't overshadow Jax's relationships with the other characters. Of course, the emphasis here is on Jax's relationship with Vel, since they are on his home planet (and you also learn a bit about his background as well), but I also really like her prickly banter with the mechanic Dina and her growing friendship with the pilot Hit. Especially fun was the PA (electronic Personal Assistant) newly dubbed Constance, who not only offers Jax her invaluable assistance, but seems to be growing a sense of humor and personality as well.
In sum, I continue to recommend the Sirantha Jax series for anyone who loves character driven science fiction, filled with humor, intrigue, and mystery, and definitely a lot of heart.