jacey | Book Log 17/2016 - Ann Aguirre: Endgame

I almost didn't want to start reading this because I knew it was the final Jax novel and I've loved the series so much I didn't really want it to end. Jax started off in the first book as a bit of a wild child, blessed (or cursed) with the talent to navigate a ship through Grimspace - a talent that is not only addictive, but likely to cause burnout at an early age. Jax was living it up while she could. Now, six books later, she's developed a sense of responsibility, had the early death sentence removed, courtesy of nanites, and paired up with March, telepathic pilot and seasoned mercenary - though they've been separated by circumstances as March tries to raise his dead sister's child in relative peace.

Now at last it all comes together. Jax promised that she'd try and end the slavery on La'hengrin, occupied by foreign conquerors - humans - and that means liberating the whole planet together with La'hengrin native Loras, formerly of March's crew, and Vel, insectoid bounty hunter who started out as Jax's enemy and has become her friend. More than a friend if Jax is honest. Vel has been there for her when March has not, and they have developed a special bond, one that March has difficulty getting his head around.

Jax is in the middle of a revolution. One person's freedom fighter is another person's terrorist and Jax, Vel and Loras wage a revolutionary war against the planet's oppressors. March and his nephew are dragged into it, much against March's will. Though this is a blow by blow account of a terrorist civil war it's also a study of changing relationships as Jax, Vel and March dance a three-step with a satisfactory conclusion.

As I said at the beginning, I almost didn't want to start this book, but I'm so glad that I did. It provides a fitting end to Jax's story arc.