Wanderlust (Sirantha Jax, #2) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

May 15, 2011 Lisa M rated it it was ok

Shelves: sci-fi

Jax and company have upset the social order of the galaxy, but all that happened in the first book. Now they (and everyone else) has to deal with the backlash. As part of that “dealing,” Jax has been named Ambassador and sent to get a hostile alien species to join the government. Wanderlust covers her attempt to reach them, and all the obstacles thrown in. There were parts I enjoyed, but some of the chemistry was missing in this one.

Pros -

Jax and company can banter like pros. I love the bickerin Jax and company have upset the social order of the galaxy, but all that happened in the first book. Now they (and everyone else) has to deal with the backlash. As part of that “dealing,” Jax has been named Ambassador and sent to get a hostile alien species to join the government. Wanderlust covers her attempt to reach them, and all the obstacles thrown in. There were parts I enjoyed, but some of the chemistry was missing in this one.

Pros -

Jax and company can banter like pros. I love the bickering between them. It made me laugh, and gives a real insight to the characters. The back and forth sounded genuine, like I'd expect from people forced to like and work in close quarters. It was dialog like this that I loved from the first book.

Cons -

Maybe I wasn't in the mood for this type of book, but it seemed to spend way to much time going over Jax's own internal dilemmas. I never felt like she was whining, per se, but I just wanted to move on with the story. About half way through the book, I almost stopped reading it. I grew tired of the internal drama. It picked up again later, but it slowed the story down.

Off the top of my head, I can name two examples of blatant forecasting on the author's part. (I'll try to keep these vague to avoid any possible spoilers. No names, besides Jax's, mentioned.) First, Jax meets a new character who has a duplicate skill to another of her crew, right as they're planning to leave the planet. I had to wonder if the original crew member wasn't leaving with them. After all, why would they need two people with the same skill? Lo and behold, I was right. And the second, Jax kept mentioning wanting to get a certain piece of equipment, which she couldn't afford. She talks about it several times, even stating a brand name. Near the end, she just finds one laying around, which she fixes. Those “coincidences” could have been slid in more carefully. Maybe the extra person gets introduced at the beginning of the book, or doesn't have the exact same skills, but can “wing it.” And with the piece of equipment? Have Jax run into it, then realize its value and fix it, not broadcast how she wants that very thing for several chapters.

I don't know if I'll continue this series. It ended at a spot that promised more emotional drama ahead, and if it's like this book, I don't know if I want to read that. Wanderlust had its moments, but they were both good and bad. If you liked the first one, try this one. But you may want to borrow it before buying, just in case.

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Jul 16, 2010 Steph rated it really liked it

Shelves: year-read-2010, series-ended, author-favorite, series-i-love, author-웃, series-completed

Wanderlust picks up soon after Grimspace and Jax is now broke and jobless. To repay her for her loyalty to the Conglomerate, they wish to make her an ambassador. Although she's flattered by the offer, she has a job to complete and isn't prepared to let anything stand in her way. But, they advise her that her help in that area is no longer needed and they are quick to point out that there is no funding for such trips.

They want to send her on a diplomatic mission to Ithiss-Tor. Velith, the bounty Wanderlust picks up soon after Grimspace and Jax is now broke and jobless. To repay her for her loyalty to the Conglomerate, they wish to make her an ambassador. Although she's flattered by the offer, she has a job to complete and isn't prepared to let anything stand in her way. But, they advise her that her help in that area is no longer needed and they are quick to point out that there is no funding for such trips.

They want to send her on a diplomatic mission to Ithiss-Tor. Velith, the bounty hunter she befriended in the previous book, is willing to travel with her to his homeworld and "help her traverse the obstacles that tripped up other ambassadors." The mission is not without its share of dangers, so they give her time to discuss the offer with her crew. The Conglomerate will pay for the crew and supplies needed for travel, if she accepts the job.

Jax, March, Velith and Dina have a hell of a time on their newest mission. They run into old friends and some wicked baddies along the way. Jax is starting to suffer from the effects of grimspace travel. She continues to be obsessed with two things: "grimspace travel and {her} own death". The latter wears on March through their connection. He can't bear to think about losing Jax, but she can't seem to stop thinking about it.

Things aren't all peaches and cream with Jax and March. March feels a responsibility to assist those struggling at one of their stops. She understands his desire to help, but knows his assistance would be at great cost to his safety and well being. She asks herself, "What good is honor when compassion is lost?" But, they both stick to their guns and do what they feel they must do, causing them to be separated once again.

New characters are introduced along the way and the reader is always left wondering, are they allies or enemies? As Vel observes, "Life in {Jax'} vicinity seldom lacks excitement." This story certainly doesn't. It pushes and pulls you along on a wicked ride, making you question relationships, struggle to do the right thing, protect those you care for and get the job done, right along with Jax.

I look forward to reading Doubleblind. ...more

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Nov 07, 2010 Michelle rated it it was amazing

Loved it. Sirantha Jax is a great character and her relationship with March and the other characters in the book, Vel, Dina, Hit and Jael have a lot of depth and enhance the story beautifully. She seems to run from one crisis to another and I don't think that it is going to end (I have already started DoubleBlind 3rd in the series).
I liked it, and I suggest you read it ...more

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Mar 02, 2011 Valerie ~ Val Hall ~ rated it really liked it

Shelves: space, started-series, behind, col-blue, aliens

The events of Wanderlust picks up right after Grimspace. After the collapse of Farwan there is bound to be a period of unrest. Jax has the dubious honor of becoming an ambassador to visit the Ithiss-Tor and build diplomatic relations with the Conglomerate.

Jax, as a character did grow in this book to become more caring and less selfish. This transformation takes place over the book but is a good start from an uncaring, suicidal jumper.

The downside of a first person narrative bothered me a bit be ...more

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Nov 29, 2010 Caroline rated it really liked it

book 2 of the Sirantha Jax series was a much more rounded book than the first. seemed to have more content and characterisation. Even got to love some of the new characters.

Jax is freed of the responsibilty of the crash from book one and is now poor and jobless due to the breakdown of the corp. She's approached to become an ambassador to Vel's people in the hope of bringing them into the congolerate. Things really don't go according go plan.
We have a war, a kidnap, horrible creatures who just lo ...more

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