Killbox by A. Aguirre

Ann Aguirre completely outdoes herself, yet again, and had me crying and getting so emotionally involved with Sirantha Jax in Killbox, that I don’t know how I’m going to wait a year to see what happens next.

TALK IS CHEAP WHEN LIVES ARE IN JEOPARDY

Sirantha Jax is a “Jumper,” a woman who possesses the unique genetic makeup needed to navigate faster than light ships through grimspace. With no tolerance for political diplomacy, she quits her ambassador post so she can get back to saving the universe the way she does best—by mouthing off and kicking butt.

And her tactics are needed more than ever. Flesh-eating aliens are attacking stations on the outskirts of space, and for many people, the Conglomerate’s forces are arriving too late to serve and protect them.

Now, Jax must take matters into her own hands by recruiting a militia to defend the frontiers—out of the worst criminals, mercenaries, and raiders that ever traveled through grimspace…

First off, I have to say that you would think that with everything Jax has gone through in the first three novels, that the fourth would hold back just a little or at least give Jax something to hold onto. Right?  Yeah, Killbox doesn’t do that.  Not only is Jax preparing and heading to war, but she has to do all of this while her world is being ripped apart as well.  After everything that went down in Doubleblind, Jax is still left standing on the edge and she’s not sure who will be waiting for her at the bottom.  I so want to go into more detail, but I hate spoiler reviews and I’m not going to do that to anyone.

Seriously, reading Killbox while having trigger happy emotions was totally a bad idea.  I can not count how many times Aguirre had tears running down my face.  It’s already hard enough not to get emotional involved in Jax’s life, but all the heartstrings will get pulled.  Especially the ending.  Not only did Jax not see it coming, but neither did I.  Then having that influence Jax’s decision and then Killbox ends…so not fair.  I totally want to read Aftermath now!  I want to know what happens.  I can’t tell you what occurs, obviously, but all I’m going to say is that I am so thankful that I know there are two more novels in this series.  It means I don’t have to assume the worse.

Speaking of which, in a round about way, Jax is going to war and I have to say that I love the way Aguirre wrote it.  Yes, the entire novel is both the start and middle of the war with the Morgut, but it doesn’t read that way.  I’ve seen some war sequences that seemed a bit too unrealistic to me (There’s that much action, really?  That consistently?), but Aguirre definitely gives it a more logical spin.  War is a long and drawn out affair, there’s not always something going on at every moment and Aguirre shows that. While this may seem at odds with Jax’s character, it’s not.  We can really see the changes in her character during this time period.  She’s no longer the girl who will jump into the middle of a fray and have fun; instead, she’s looking for ways to avoid one.

Overall, I have to say that Killbox is another fantastic story by Ann Aguirre and if you haven’t started the Sirantha Jax series yet, you really need to.  I’m not a typical fan of science fiction, but this is one series that has me running to the bookstore whenever a new story is out.  It is so easy to get lost in the world Aguirre has envisioned, to become so attached to the characters, that when I have to say goodbye at the end of the book, I don’t do so willingly.  I’m already wishing and wanting for Aftermath to be out sooner than next fall.

Read Order:
Renegade – free online story told by March
Exile’s Lament – free online story told by Vel
Grimspace – excerpt
Wanderlust – excerpt
Doublebind – excerpt
Killbox – excerpt
Aftermath (2011)
Endgame (2012)

Also Reviewed by:
Lurv a la Mode
Dreams and Speculation
Smexy Books
The Book Pushers

About Jackie 3282 Articles
I am a 30-something SAHM with two adorable boys and a supportive husband who is very tolerant of my reading addiction. I love to read and easily go through about a dozen books a month – well I did before I had kids. Now, not so much. After my first son was born, I began to take my hobby of reviewing a little more serious and started Literary Escapism to help with my sanity. I love to discuss the fabulous novels I’ve read and meeting all the wonderful people in the book blogging community has been amazing.

4 Comments

  1. I am an Ann fan. I have really enjoyed her books that I’ve gotten to get my hands on. I’m looking forward to Killbox. Thanks for the great review!!

  2. Like you, I cried my way through Killbox. It just broke my heart to have the gang go through so much and each have a different path to follow.

    I can’t wait for Aftermath either!

    Thanks!
    Katie

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