Wanderlust

Wanderlust is the second Sirantha Jax novel, and Ann Aguirre uses the sequel to widen the political picture in useful ways. Jax has been pulled into ambassadorial work for the Conglomerate, a role she is constitutionally unsuited for and that the political class has assigned her precisely because of that unsuitability. The trip she takes carries serious consequences for the Sazi-and-Conglomerate setup the first book established.

Aguirre has more confidence in the second outing. Jax's first-person voice continues to do most of the heavy lifting. The supporting cast gets more individual texture. The romance with March is given room to be complicated rather than perfect.

Four stars. The series gets stronger from here. Read after Grimspace.