I’ve heard good things about Ann Aguirre’s Grimspace, so I was thrilled to pick it up at RWA. Ms. Aguirre may remember me as the woman who nearly ran over someone with a cart to get the last copy. Or what appeared to be the last copy. However, she (and you) can be assured that no one was harmed (by me or the cart) in the securing of this book.

As the carrier of a rare gene, Jax has the ability to jump ships through grimspace—a talent that 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.

Imprisoned and subjected to 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 . . .

Grimspace features a fantastic heroine and solid world-building. It’s told in first-person, present tense, which adds immediacy to the action and ensures that the reader is right with Jax all along the way.

Aguirre’s writing has a nice, fast-paced writing style. I loved many of the opening lines of the chapters; they are so wry and understated. A few examples: “The inevitable argument’s postponed when Keri passes out again.” And, “So I’m up on Doc’s exam table once again.”

I loved March as well, and it’s a true delight to see his relationship change so completely. At the beginning, he is angry with and wary about Jax; by the end, she’s as important to him as air. It’s incredibly sweet. I just wanted to see more, especially at the end.

One development at the end seemed a little too simple. My question (spoiler ahead; scroll over to read) Surely the recording would have been challenged as media tampering? It was nice that the recording turned things on the Corp, but again, I found this resolution a little too easy. /End spoiler.

Grimspace is a strong book, with a character I enjoyed spending time with: 4 out of 5.