ARC Review: Outpost

Outpost
Ann Aguirre
Young Adult/Dystopian
Razorland Trilogy/Book 2
Feiwel & Friends/September 4, 2012

*Spoilers for Book 1

SALVATION ISN’T AS SAFE AS IT SEEMS.

Deuce’s whole world has changed. Now living topside in a community called Salvation, she has a whole new set of problems. Down below, she was considered an adult, and she contributed to the whole. Now, topside, the people of Salvation think she’s a brat in need of training. She hates school, and she doesn’t fit in with the other girls. They’ve spent their lives learning to cook and sew–suitable woman’s work. Deuce only knows how to fight. To make matters worse, Fade keeps her at a distance, and the band of four has broken into fragments.

Stalker presses for a closer relationship, but Deuce sees him as a training partner, and she’s busy trying to find her place in Salvation. She refuses to accept that she’s wrong for being who she is, but tensions rise as she struggles against the status quo. Her feelings for Fade haven’t changed, but he seems not to want her around anymore. Confused and lonely, she starts looking for a way out.

Once she’s free from school for the year, Deuce pursues a chance to serve in the summer patrols–those responsible for making sure the growers and planters can work the fields without danger of Freak attack. It should have been routine, little fighting, but things have been changing on surface, just as they did below ground. The Freaks are smarter. They’re watching. Waiting. Planning. The monsters don’t intend to let Salvation survive, and it will take a girl like Deuce to turn the tide.

Ann Aguirre's second book in her Razorland trilogy starts out slow but picks up the pace as the increasing danger from the Freaks escalates.  Deuce, Fade, Stalker and Tegan are all adjusting to life in Salvation, some better than others.  For Deuce, it's a world trying to change her identity, and while Deuce tries to fit, in she realizes she can't give up who she really is. 

Salvation is a world unlike anything Deuce has experienced before.  She is out of her element, forced to wear dresses and suppress her hunter instincts.  She tries to do as she told but fitting in doesn't come to her, instead she remain on the periphery of the community, maintaining her outsider status.  It's not long before Deuce finds a way to put her skills to work.  Deuce's struggle is easy to identify with.  We've all felt at one time and outsider.  Out of our element.  Even with Deuce's fierce survival skills, she must learn new skills to survive in Salvation.  I enjoyed Deuce's point of view on what the citizens of Salvation placed importance on and Deuce's lack of understanding how some skills could possibly translate to survival.  It's a stark contrast to the world she comes from where survival is the only thing of importance.

The  group of four who made it out of the ruins and into Salvation have split up, trying to move on with their lives in Salvation.  It's Deuce and Stalker that have the most trouble fitting in, neither wanting to give up their fighting skills but instead want to continue fighting the Freaks.  The people of Salvation believe the wall will keep them safe and their trust in that wall shows how very different their lives have been compared to Deuce and her friends.  Again, Aguirre does well in showing the contrast of beliefs based on the experiences of the characters.  As the Freaks aggression and cunning increases, Deuce's skills become even more valued but she still must deal with prejudices from the community. 

Where Enclave (Book 1), grabbed me from the get-go, Outpost had a much slower start, making it difficult to become consumed by the story from the start.  This is a new setting so even though it is the second book in the series, the world building must start from nearly the ground up.  After the elements have been established the plot begins to take off,  picking up the pace and the intensity, and giving the reader more to look forward to in this dystopian world.   

Rating:  B

Razorland Trilogy

Enclave
Outpost
Horde

TBR Challenge Review: Doubleblind

Doubleblind
Ann Aguirre
Romantic Science Fiction
Sirantha Jax/Book 3
ACE/September 29, 2009

*Spoilers for Previous Books
*Highly recommend reading in order

From the back cover ~

Sirantha Jax isn’t known for diplomatic finesse. As a “Jumper” who navigates ships through grimspace, she’s used to kicking ass first and taking names later—much later. Not exactly the obvious choice to sell the Conglomerate to the Ithtorians, a people whose opinions of humans are as hard as their exoskeletons.

And Ithiss-Tor council meetings aren’t the only place where Ambassador Jax needs to maneuver carefully. Her lover, March, is frozen in permanent “kill” mode, and his hair-trigger threatens to sabotage the talks—not to mention their relationship.

But Jax won’t give up on the man or the mission. With the Outskirts beleaguered by raiders, pirates, and the flesh-eating Morgut, an alliance with Ithiss-Tor may be humanity’s only hope.

Which has Jax wondering why a notorious troublemaker like her was given the job…

I've had this book since its release nearly two years ago. I do remember starting it then putting it down. It had to do with the slower pace and lack of fight scenes. I had become accustomed to Jax, March and the gang getting into some serious trouble and fighting their way out of it. I'm thankful I gave Doubleblind another try because it was certainly worth it. This time, the fighting is there but on a mental level that tests Jax's abilities just as much, if not more, than jumping through grimspace and kicking ass.

Time for another road trip, this time to Bugland, home of the creatures of Ithiss-Tor. Bugs. But these are not bugs from our world. These bugs are highly intelligent, dangerous and real snobs when it comes to humans. They think humans are savages, beneath them. So it's up to Jax to form an alliance which is odd in itself since Jax isn't what you would call diplomatic. She's really out of her element which I think made her try that much harder. I loved seeing this side of Jax. Not only her ability to think quickly but she was also dealing with the fallout of March's breakdown and subsequently emotional shut down. Jax is walking a thin line between the two, giving the story the tension I craved.

The relationships in Jax's world are complex. None more so than her's and Vel's. Vel is one of the Bugs but he left Ithiss-Tor in disgrace many turns ago. He's different than others from his home planet. He doesn't look down on humans, not choosing to limit his small circle of associates. Vel is one of the very few Jax trusts and that's saying a lot since they first met when he was a bounty hunter and she was his prey. They've come a long way and I'm glad Aguirre didn't limit Jax to only the one important male relationship with March but gave her this deep friendship with Vel.

As the story progressed, I became quite interested in the outcome of Jax's diplomatic mission. You couldn't tell which way it would turn out since someone was committed to sabotaging the mission and it would go from looking positive to possible imprisonment for the gang. The relationship of Jax and March mirrored the diplomatic mission, with Jax making progress with March only to suffer a setback. I loved how Jax refused to give up on March. If their roles had been reversed, he would have done the same.

The ending of Doublind I will say left me relieved that Killbox, the next book in the series is sitting on my TBR pile. I have a feeling there will be more than enough action waiting for me in the next installment of this uniquely entertaining series.

Rating: B+

Books in this series ~

Grimspace
Wanderlust
Doubleblind
Killbox
Aftermath
Endgame (September 2012)

Review: Enclave

Enclave
Ann Aguirre
Young Adult/Dystopian
Razorland/Book 1
Feiwel & Friends/April 12, 2011

From the inside cover ~

In Deuce’s world, an enclave deep underground, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained to join one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first she thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.

Once again, another well known author of adult fiction has branched out into Young Adult territory. Ann Aguirre has made a name for herself, first with her Sirantha Jax series, then her Corine Solomon series. If that wasn't enough, she also writes under the pen names Ava Grey and Ellen Connor (with Carrie Lofty). Yet, Ms. Aguirre has managed to find time to write her first YA novel and how lucky we are that she has!

Brutal, harsh, creepy, suspenseful, gruesome - all could be used to describe the world of Razorland. It's a place where survival is a daily gamble, never knowing who will fall victim to the Freaks that prowl the tunnels. But it's not just the Freaks that might get you. The laws ruling the enclave of survivors are made to eliminate the weak, going so far as to breed them out. If you don't follow the rules, you are banished from the enclave to take your chances in the tunnels with the Freaks. The story opens with Deuce's birthday, which brings her pride because it is her naming day. She is also aware that it brings her that much closer to her death.

[Deuce] Today was my birthday. Each one added a layer of fear, and this year, it was worse. I lived in an enclave in which our oldest had seen twenty-five years. His face was withered, and his fingers shook when he attempted the smallest tasks. Some whispered it would be a kindness to kill him, but they meant they didn't want to see their futures written in his skin.

The story is told in Deuce's POV and she gives it a unique view as her limited knowledge of the world outside her enclave grows. Deuce is smart, compassionate, a loyal friend, a fierce fighter and most of all a survivor. It was easy to slip inside her head and see this bleak world through her eyes. I liked how Aguirre didn't keep Deuce from absorbing the darker side of this world. As Deuce's knowledge grows, her innocence fades. She realizes that everything and everyone are not as they seem and she must change her perceptions if she is to survive.

Fade becomes Deuces partner when she becomes a Huntress. Not much is known about Fade. He keeps to himself so the little knowledge that Deuce does have is supplied mostly from rumors. She does know that he is the best fighter and there is a lot she can learn from him. Their relationship has to grow quickly because they must rely on each other when hunting. Alone, they would have little chance of defeating a band of Freaks so they must work together.

The story progresses quickly, with Deuce and Fade patrolling and hunting. The fight scenes against the Freaks are ferocious, it's always a fight to the death. As the Freaks' tactics begin to change, becoming more coordinated, Deuce and Fade also face trouble within their enclave. The emotions Aguirre evokes are savage in their honesty. It is a brutal world but it's the only one Deuce knows - it is her home. Which makes her loyalty to her enclave hard to witness as they don't hold that same degree of loyalty for her.

As Deuce and Fade are forced to make desperate choices, they also expose themselves to the truth and must trust in those truths if they are to survive. As the story progresses, Deuce and Fade strike out on their own, now completely dependent on each other. We see how they must adjust to this new world and how it tests their fragile bond. I did expect that bond to be stronger than it was and not become stretched so tight. The ending was more a beginning and will leave the reader wishing for the next chapter in this conflicted world of survival.

Enclave is truly an intense world filled with compelling characters you won't soon forget. I can not wait to read Outpost!

Rating: A-

Books in this series ~

Enclave
Outpost (Tentative ~ Fall 2012)

Review: The Mystery of Grace

Title: The Mystery of Grace
Author: Charles de Lint
Genre: Fantasy
Published: March 2009

From the inside cover ~

Altagracia—her friends call her Grace—has a tattoo of Nuestra Señora de Altagracia on her shoulder; she's got a Ford Motor Company tattoo running down her leg; and she has grease worked so deep into her hands that'll never wash out.

Grace works at Sanchez Motor Works, customizing hot rods. A few blocks around her small apartment building is all her world—from the grocery store where she buys beans, tamales and cigarettes to the library, the little record shop, and the Solona Music Hall. Which is where she meets John Burns, just two weeks too late.

Grace and John fall for one another, and that would be wonderful, except that they're both haunted by unfinished business. Before their relationship can be resolved, they're both going to have to learn things they don't know about the world of the living and the world beyond. About why it's necessary to let some things go.

My very first Charles de Lint. What a reading experience this was. For the mind and the senses. Not at all what I was expecting but exactly what I wanted. I truly had a "WTF - Oh No" moment with this story but after I recovered I had to know where de Lint was going and how he was getting there. I didn't read any spoilers before picking up this book and I am thankful for that.

Why did I read Charles de Lint? I blame author Ann Aguirre. :) During her recent blog tour promoting her latest release, Blue Diablo, I read a interview she did on a blog (sorry, don't remember the blog) where Charles de Lint was mentioned and others also agreed as to what a gifted author he was. That got my attention because I'm always curious as to who my favorite authors enjoy reading. So I looked up de Lint and saw that he had a new book coming out. Requested it from the library, it's hardcover, then waited for it to come in.

Once I started reading I was completely sucked into Grace's world. If you are looking for a romance with a traditional HEA ~ you won't find that here. What you will find is a fascinatingly different story with such distinctly written characters that the phrase "leaps off the page" could certainly be applied. The secondary characters and Grace's relationships with them were authentic and well developed. Yes, there is a romance between Grace and John, it's far from traditional but still had me wanting them to somehow be together in the end.

The scenes with Grace and John getting to know each other, learning each others' likes and dislikes, etc. Those scenes generated such strong emotions because I didn't know how they could possibly have anything close to a HEA. John was an easy character to like. He was this mellow, kind hearted gentleman that was attracted to Grace in spite of her different appearance. I got the impression that Grace was not his type and he wasn't a player either, picking up women in bars was not his style. Even though Grace and John had very little in common de Lint made them seem like they were meant to be together. They just clicked.

Grace is not at all what I would call a mainstream heroine. She does have the tats that seems to be popular with the UF heroines but that's about it. She's Hispanic, lives in a lower middle class neighborhood, has a high school education, doesn't have any special powers, i.e. no shape shifting or fangs. :) She does know how to take care of her self and is not the type of woman to depend on anyone. She tries to do the best she can. That's one of the things that I liked about Grace. She's certainly no saint but she does try to do the best she can and treat people with kindness.

This is definitely Grace's story, her journey. It's a journey that neither Grace or I was expecting but sometimes it's good to get the unexpected. For Grace it was the best she could have hoped for given the circumstances. This story is very different from my usual reads but I'm glad I got out of my comfort zone and explored new ideas. The Mystery of Grace is not the type of story for everyone and it's possible I might not have liked it as much had I been in a different reading mood.

One of the odd things about this book is that it's only 269 pages. I find it odd because it felt much longer. Not that it took me a long time to read it but because it felt so complete. Like there was nothing left out of this story that should have been there. It was written as it should have been with the end coming precisely when it should. Would I like to read more about Grace? Find out what happens after "The End"? Yes and no. :)

So, for Charles de Lint fans, lucky you. For me ~ I'm thankful he has a back list that I can dig into and explore. Mr. de Lint and his writings can be found here.

Rating: A

The Phade One Year Anniversary Party!

The amazing mods at The Phade have put together a fantastic month long party to celebrate the 1 year anniversary.

On September 4, 2007 The Phade was born. It is a wonderful site made up of a great group of readers who were brought together by their love of paranormal romance.

There will be Author chats with Nalini Singh (Today!), Sherry Thomas, Katrina Strauss, Ann Aguirre and Larissa Ione.

There are also tons of other threads on the forum from politics to Eye Candy. Yes, Phaders are a generous group with their support, opinions and kindness towards each other. It's a fun place to hang out. Stop by and join in the celebration at The Phade

Review: Wanderlust

Title: Wanderlust
Author: Ann Aguirre
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Jax series/Book Two

I had the great fortune of winning an ARC of Ann Aguirre’s Wanderlust. This is her second novel in the Jax series. In the first novel, Grimspace, we met Sirantha Jax who is what is known as a jumper. She has the unique genetics needed to navigate or "jump" through grimspace.

Now Jax and crew are back and the amazing ride Aguirre took readers on in Grimspace continues in Wanderlust. The story picks up where Grimspace left off with hearings concerning the Farwan trial. Jax is without a job and the corporation is gone so there’s no one to pay her to jump. So she makes a career change becoming an ambassador for New Terra. She does this more out of desperation than confidence in her abilities. She and her crew are to travel to Ithiss-Tor, homeworld of Velith Il-Nok. Vel is the bounty hunter who was after Jax in Grimspace and is now part of the crew. Vel is to help with diplomatic relations between the inhabitants of his homeworld and the new ambassador.

We also learn more about Jax’s family life and her early years. The part her parents played in her decisions, what shaped her into who she has become and the why of the decisions that she has made.

As the crew gets ready to travel to with their new ambassador aboard they make a few detours along the way. Of course everything doesn’t go smoothly and they get involved in a war on Lachion. Things are not going well for the Gunner-Dahlgren clan and March's feelings of responsibility towards Keri Dahlgren come between him and Jax. Their relationship comes to a head and Jax discovers just how strong she is and how much she is willing to give up.

Some old faces and a few new ones are introduced. Along for the ride with Jax are March, Dina, Doc and Vel. We also meet some new crew members, Hit and Jael. Aguirre stays true to her world building. She expands on it with the new characters and exploring how those characters fit into Jax’s ever changing world.

This is an amazing series for anyone who likes strong world building, interesting characters and plenty of action.

Rating: A+