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.
She’s got a book coming out next week (although I’ve heard it’s on shelves already!) called Grimspace.
Cool cover huh? Penguin/Ace/Berkley does a fabulous job with covers I gotta say.
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.
The basics: As the carrier of a rare gene, Jax has the ability to jump ships through grimspace—a talent which cuts into her life expectancy, but makes her a highly prized navigator for the Corp. But then the ship she’s navigating crash-lands, and she’s accused of killing everyone on board. It’s hard for Jax to defend herself: she has no memory of the crash.
Now imprisoned and the subject of a ruthless interrogation, Jax is on the verge of madness. Then a mysterious man breaks into her cell, offering her freedom—for a price. March needs Jax to help his small band of rogue fighters break the Corp monopoly on interstellar travel—and establish a new breed of jumper.
Jax is only good at one thing—grimspace—and it will eventually kill her. So she may as well have some fun in the meantime…
Okay so because I think Grimspace is such a fabulous book – I’m going to give one away via Amazon.com. All you need to do is comment and I’ll draw at random on Friday afternoon and order it to send it your way as soon as Amazon ships!
Sounds really interesting and intriguing. The cover really grabs you.
by Christine February 19th, 2008 at 8:10 amI swear, everyone but me has read this book. Do you know how many freaking blogs have had this book featured recently? Hmph. ;)
by Angela James February 19th, 2008 at 8:43 amWhat a fantastic review. Thanks so much for featuring Grimspace, Lauren. And I think you’re totally awesome too.
PS — Angela, all the cool people are reading it. You’re gonna lose your I’m Cool ID badge, if you don’t get your hands on a copy. :D
by Ann Aguirre February 19th, 2008 at 8:49 amPS — Angela, all the cool people are reading it. You’re gonna lose your I’m Cool ID badge, if you don’t get your hands on a copy. :D
*gasp* they have badges for that? I never got a badge. What does that mean? *worries*
Oh noes!
by Angela James February 19th, 2008 at 9:02 amI cannot wait for this one! I thoguht it came out last weekend and I was trollign the local book stores before I gave up and checked the release date. Ima dork!
by lys February 19th, 2008 at 1:17 pmOh, I’ve been looking forward to this one. It sounds so cool!
by Kimberly B. February 19th, 2008 at 1:29 pmI have been waiting for Grimspace with bated breath! I love the way Ann writes.
by Susan February 19th, 2008 at 1:36 pmI’ve been waiting for this book!
by Amber February 19th, 2008 at 1:47 pmI love the cover and I’m also looking forward to the read. Thanks for the opportunity!
by Teresa W. February 19th, 2008 at 2:56 pmI can’t wait for this book to come out. I love this kind of fiction and have enjoyed all of Ann’s other work. Very exciting to have a new addition to my TBR pile.
7 Days until February 26th!
by Jennifer February 19th, 2008 at 3:04 pmthis sounds like an interesting book….and any character with the name “JAX” has my interest
And I love flawed characters…because they are believable . Thanks for being such an awesome book to our attention. 
by april symes February 19th, 2008 at 4:39 pmOh new book, new author looks like another one to look into.
by jessi February 19th, 2008 at 4:43 pmHow intriguing! I’m always looking for new authors and books. Sci-fi is a big weakness of mine. This book will be coming home soon.
by Lisa T February 19th, 2008 at 5:20 pmI don’t read a lot of sci-fi but your review has really piqued my interested.
by Greta Wheeler February 19th, 2008 at 5:48 pmOh, goody, a new to me author! It looks really interesting, i will have to keep an eye out for it.
by kris February 19th, 2008 at 6:08 pmAnn Aguirre has a very good excerpt posted on her website. I think it’s going to be a fun read. I enjoyed the teaser.
(She has a little quiz about your career on a spaceship–I am a pilot.)
by Janet H February 19th, 2008 at 6:22 pmThe cover is great. I’ve been waiting for the reviews of this one.
by penny February 19th, 2008 at 6:45 pmI’ve not had the pleasure of reading any of her books. But lots of people I know whose judgement about books I trust have said she rocks. So I guess I need to get off my duff and buy this book. unless I am lucky enough to win it. lol
by Pamk February 19th, 2008 at 7:50 pmI keep hearing good things about Grimspace. I want to read it too.
by danette February 19th, 2008 at 10:14 pmEvery Author you recommend I find myself buying and you’ve never ever steered me wrong. Case in point, Nalini Singh–man, she’s now one of auto-buy authors and I have less than ten of those.
So, I really want this and if I don’t win, that’s ok. I’ll just buy it.
by Bonnie Rose Leigh February 19th, 2008 at 11:02 pmI’ve heard great things about this book and cannot wait to read it! The cover is what drew my eye and then the spiffy title. I love the originality of the premise and hope it’s as great as people are saying.
by Wicked Writes February 20th, 2008 at 12:04 aminteresting review, sounds like my kind of book. Another book to add to my stack of books I want to read
by Margrete February 20th, 2008 at 12:23 amGrimspace sounds great. I love the cover. I would love to read it.
by Crystal B. February 20th, 2008 at 7:15 amSounds like a great book! Enjoyed your review.
by Cherie J February 20th, 2008 at 10:11 amI am looking forward to Grimspace. Sounds wonderful. Thanks for this great giveaway.
by ruth February 20th, 2008 at 7:55 pmThis sounds absolutely delightful. Please enter me in!
by Maria V February 20th, 2008 at 11:27 pmI love that cover. After seeing it all over recently, I went to her site and liked what I read, definitely going to add her to my author list.
by Pam P February 21st, 2008 at 2:45 pmOoh, I’ve already got this one on my Amazon wish list. But now I’m already tempted with the next one!
by Collette February 21st, 2008 at 11:10 pm