This was a well written military sci fi novel, with a rather frustrating ending.
Enjoyable overall.

I already knew I would love this book because it's written by J.S. Dewes and I LOVE her "The Divide" series.

Quick Summary:
In this military space opera, soldiers are equipped with tech that brings them back to life in a new body any time they die. Sergeant Adrienne Valero has experienced 96 traumatic deaths while fighting a war against intelligent machines that are out to assimilate or destroy humans. However, after being reassigned and her new virtual intelligence begins to gain sentience, she begins to discover details of this war and the unsettling methods their major is willing to use to win.

I really liked Valero's character. She's a strong, smart woman that just wants to do her job and follow orders but also struggles with the constant trauma of fighting Mechans, killing her team to avoid assimilation, and dying and resurrecting (rezoning) far too many times. I'm not in the military but I found myself able to connect with some of her struggles.

I also really loved the other characters that were on her newly assigned team. They had varying personalities, worked well together, tried to make Valero feel welcome.

To top everything off, there was the mysterious major giving her secret missions, a bit of team rivalry, and a pinch of romance that was a rather nice little touch.

I can't explain how much I love Dewes' writing style though. It's so cinematic and detailed. I felt like I was playing a video game, making my reading experience so much more fun. I suppose this makes sense because she is also a cinematographer, video editor, AND she's writing for video games now.

Whether or not you're into military SF, I recommend this book. The military aspect is definitely there but the action and characters themselves were highly enjoyable to read about.

Thank you to Tor Books for providing an ARC and also NetGalley for the eARC.

fascinating science fiction premise that was most interesting in premise form than it was in actual execution. DNF

Book Summary:

The face of war changes once resurrection becomes a possibility. Unfortunately, that means soldiers such as Sergeant Adrienne Valero can't earn their peace, no matter how desperately they may crave it.

Valero has been resurrected ninety-six times. But this time, something different is happening – somehow, her Virtual Intelligence aid is sentient. Will this give Valero the edge to finally win the war? Or at least put a stop to it?

My Review:

Another smash-hit science fiction from Tor Books! Rubicon is the space opera I've been looking for. It's beautiful, haunting, and full of action. More importantly, it has AI and strong characters, not to mention an overlying feeling of existential dread. It's the perfect mixture of elements, especially for a science fiction read.

I won't lie; Rubicon can weigh heavy on the heart. Though perhaps that was just the mood I've been in lately. Either way, Valero's struggle feels real, and it hits pretty hard at times. So consider yourself warned.

I'm giving Rubicon a four-star rating instead of a five because I feel like the ending was a bit of a letdown. I won't say more than that - because spoilers. But I do wish things had been handled slightly differently.

Regardless, Rubicon was a deep and fascinating read. It captured me from the first page and held my attention right through to the end. Worth the read.

Highlights:
Science Fiction
Space Opera
Military Science Fiction

Trigger Warnings:
Suicidal Ideation
Life/Death on Repeat

Whew. Rubicon by J.S. Dewes was a captivating military sci-fi read, but one I still struggle to rate. The novel follows Sergeant Adrienne Valero. After her 96th death and subsequent resurrection in service to humanity’s war against artificial lifeforms, she’s reassigned to a special forces unit and given a virtual intelligence aid that turns sentient; drawn into a web of dark political intrigue, Adrienne learns firsthand how far some people will go to end a war.

How you feel about this book will really depend on where the ending lands for you. It is definitely a CHOICE of an ending, and for me, it unfortunately eviscerated the satisfaction I took from the narrative. An argument could be made that evisceration was the point, and I can respect that while recognizing it was not for me. Still, up until that point, Rubicon held me spellbound with its adrenaline-infused and heart-racing pages.

This is a hard one for me to recommend without spoilers. I think fans of heavy, dark military sci-fi would absolutely find value and enjoyment in this novel. I’m definitely curious to check out Dewes’ other work.

Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy of Rubicon by j. S. Dewes. This was my first space opera. I personally am not a fan but I am sure this is for some others.

Adriene Valero has died ninety-six times in service to the human cause, fighting the mechans who keep humanity trapped in their dying system. All she wants is to die and stay dead, but her reassignment to a special forces unit gives her a chance to try something new, something that may end the war - or change humanity beyond repair. An excellent examination of PTSD, depression, and the exhaustion of enduring more trauma every day, Rubicon is an absorbing military scifi novel, good for fans of Old Man's War and The Light Brigade. Valero's depression and apathy is exactingly rendered, evoking the very real struggles of people who suffer from these conditions. The final twist is heartbreaking and adds a horror element to rereads.

When I saw that J.S. Dewes had another story coming out, I became super excited. I love scifi/fantasy/military – but I’m especially a sucker when there’s a female protagonist since it’s something that just didn’t really exist when I was growing up. I devoured the first two books in the Divide series and had hoped Rubicon would be something to hold me over until book #3 came out. I think it did/is doing the job!

Adrienne is a force to reckon with. She never stops leaning forward in the straps. She got the short end of the stick on many, many things- but she still puts her best foot forward. It was fun seeing her adapt to her Rubicon, and even more interesting to see how her Rubicon started showing its personality. Adrienne is a badass. Plain and simple. And somewhere along the way, even after all her deaths, she was given a chance with the 505 to start feeling again, and you find yourself cheering for her.

Her squadron are a hoot with very distinct personalities. I found myself caring for them more than I thought I would for a group of side characters. Oh sweet Kato,may he forever find a random place to sleep. But when they all die [not a spoiler, the whole point of the book is about rezoning live/dying/reboot/repeat] I was really sad and couldn’t believe it until a second later when I remembered they all were going to reboot into another body. Big sigh of relief.

Needless to say I’m greedy and want more of this.

First, good things: Dewes nails that special military sci-fi vibe with the bureaucracy that’s more than a little twisted and the interpersonal relationships and how manipulative patriotism/enforced loyalty can be. The structure was also really cool with the repeated deaths and revivals and how that messes with the mental and emotional state of Adrienne and her team (later juxtaposed with people whose lives are actually valued, to create a very nice contrast). The action sequences and missions were also taut and tense and engaging.

Unfortunately, it was too long. Most of the “big twists” were obvious to anyone who had ever read sci-fi before. We didn’t get enough of the “why” for anything. The ending was sudden and left me feeling very unsatisfied (Goodreads doesn’t have this classified as a series, but the ending really makes it feel like this can no longer stand alone); it felt like Dewes was trying to do something kind of subversive but it just sort of… fell short.

J. S. Dewes returns from her ‘Divide’ duology (The Last Watch, The Exiled Fleet) to take you on a more ‘boots on the ground’ military sci-fi thrill ride amidst a galactic war between humans and the robotic ‘Mechan’ for the future colonization of the outer planets.

Rubicon drops you right into the action from the beginning. We’re thrown into a deployment of Specialist Adrienne Valero and the 803rd Ground Assault unit of the Exoplanet Reconnaissance Division. Things get a little hectic and our lead character is met with a task; rather than let her squad-mates get captured by the enemy, she has to take them out herself.

We’re then introduced to more of this world’s military structure. The ‘rezoning’ process and how these militaries work. We learn that currently Adrienne is on her 96th iteration. We’re also introduced to her Rubicon, which is also like a sentient brain chip that allows for communication and overlays and a military-issued HUD.

The rest of the story takes you on a ride where Adrienne is deployed with an unfamiliar squad and into more ‘frontlines’ type missions. She needs to execute prove herself and earn her respect amongst the squad. She shares some of her past experience with the squad and we learn more about her traumatic past. When she encounters some Rubicon ‘glitches’ in the field, she has more questions than answers. This lends to an increase of tension and mystery and places your expectations on shaky ground. This uncertainty of expectations is a strong part of this narrative and Dewes plays it very well.

Rubicon hits hard and solidifies J. S. Dewes a place within the upper mil-sci-fi echelon. This was a great combination of elements of Kameron Hurley, Scalzi’s Old Man’s War, and even Mickey7. An engaging, action-packed adventure with a twist of AI, intelligence, and humanistic themes.

J. S. Dewes tells of people in a star system whose sun will die in three centuries. Technically they could evacuate their population to other stars, but a robot civilization is blocking them. Exploration ships, and no others can leave the system. Their soldiers can be brought back to life in a regrown body. Sergeant Adriene Valero has died ninety-six times, and had her body captured and used by the enemy for two weeks until it died of starvation and she could be reborn. Then she is assigned to a new unit with the latest technology that is looking for the architects of the robots. The battle suits require a brain implant called a Rubicon (paper from Tor). For reasons related to her large number of resurrections, and her capture by the robots, her Rubicon is given illegal artificial intelligence, Mission after mission she uses this device and her bravery to accomplish what is needed , as puzzle after puzzle is exposed to the reader. I couldn’t put the tale down and loved the story until, literally the last page, where I was disappointed by the final reveal.

Note: I received a free advanced copy of Rubicon from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Extra Note: Upon starting to read the ebook of Rubicon I quickly realized that it was going to be the type of science fiction book that lends itself well to audiobook narration so I also requested the audiobook. I listened more than I read the ebook so this review is more on the story that I heard narrated.

I've really started to get into science fiction more and more in the past half a dozen years or so and Rubicon had a pretty unique premise. The book opens up with a group of scientists and soldiers doing research on a new planet only to be attacked. Within the first chapter the main character, Sergeant Adrienne Valero, chooses to kill all of her fellow soldiers and then herself so that they can't be taken by the bad guys. Only then she wakes up in a new body. Her ninety-sixth body.

The reader is introduced to a world that seems to be fighting a losing body. The humans are trying to find a new planet, given that theirs is dying, but a group of intelligent machines are fighting them every step of the way.

It was an interesting book and I truly did like the narration. (This is definitely a good book to listen to rather than read since the narration adds a certain computery element to the voices of the AI and the robotic characters). It did get a little technical and a little sciency around the middle but I kind of just ignored some of the more complicated verbage.

Overall it was a fun read and the characters worked. It just may have been a bit too sciency for me.

This book blew my mind. Easily the best sci-fi book I've read in a long time. Maybe years. Probably months at least. I mean, it's fantastic.

For fans of Old Man's War and Murderbot Diaries.

Only it's better. And the ending destroyed me. Just something from out of this world. Jenny killed it.

This book will grab you by the face and drag you through a universe filled with evil alien robots, corrupt militaries and (possibly) sentient AI and you won't take another full breath until you hit the end. It is perfect for people who loved Battlestar Galactica and who have always wondered what The Phantom of the Opera would be like set in space and populated by soldiers who can't die... even if they might want to. It's filled with questions about the nature of mortality, and whether or not emotion is a biological function or if it's possible for AI to achieve. Cannot recommend more!

I was excited to pick this up having rather enjoyed The Last Watch (although I have yet to read the sequel...). Admittedly, I went into this without re-reading the synopsis so I had no clue what this was about. Giving vibes similar to Altered Carbon and All You Need Is Kill (also known as Edge of Tomorrow), the story did manage to successfully capture my attention from the get-go. It was a pretty smooth ride from there as well, with an explosive climax to boot, but I can't say this was great either though. It was a good way to pass the time though and lands on a solid 3.5 rating.

Thank you, NetGalley and Tor, for giving me the opportunity to review this in advance (even though I am posting this review after it has been released...).

J.S. Dewes starts off the novel fast paced and right into the action with Sergeant Adrienne Valero. Though I had trouble getting into the story because it was fast paced, I enjoyed the serious tone and writing style. This book was very easy to envision while reading and listening to the audiobook.

J.S. Dewes’ latest science fiction novel, Rubicon, opens with a bang as our protagonist is forced to kill her three squad mates and then herself. Specialist Adriene Valero wakes up almost immediately afterward, her consciousness having been automatically downloaded into a new body back at headquarters.

Rezoning, as the process is called, has been standard procedure for soldiers fighting on the front lines against the Mechan forces. It allows humanity to avoid being captured and utilized as a host for a Mechan unit, a process called hybridization. If you’re under imminent threat of capture, zone out. Better to die by your own hand (or a fellow soldier’s) than to play host to an alien robot consciousness until your body gives out.

After rezoning into her 96th “husk” since the beginning of her service, Adriene is ready for it to all end. Anything for a chance to be mortal again. But instead of being sent back to the front lines with the rest of her squad, she’s pulled out of her company, promoted, and shipped off to a new unit. She’s been deemed a good fit for an elite crew of soldiers outfitted with special Virtual Intelligence implants called Rubicons, and assigned to be the pathfinder of one of their advance recon squads.

After a quick training on the use of the Rubicon implant in her brain, Adriene has to adjust to the idea of someone else sharing her head, privy to her thoughts whenever the unit is active. On the squad’s first mission out together, they’re ambushed by Mechan drones. With yet another rezone on the line, Adriene taps into an unknown function of her Rubicon implant, accessing functions that shouldn’t be possible.

With the knowledge that her Rubicon implant may be unique, Adriene is soon forced to face a choice. On the line: her chance to finally end her rezone cycle and the fate of all that remains of humanity under the unsleeping eye of the Mechans. Then again, Adriene may have more in common with the Mechans than anyone has ever realized.

Rubicon is a phenomenal piece of military science fiction that’s perfect for fans of Halo, Starship Troopers (Robert Heinlein), Old Man’s War (John Scalzi), The Light Brigade (Kameron Hurley), or Edge of Tomorrow. It’s out on shelves today, and you should most definitely check it out. Dewes has done a great job of hooking me with her writing, and I’m eager for more.

My utmost thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for providing an eARC in exchange for a fair review.

This review originally appeared here: https://swordsoftheancients.com/2023/03/28/rubicon-a-review/

TL;DR

Rubicon by J.S. Dewes shows the horrors of immortality. This military science fiction novel is fast-paced balancing action with a look at how finding human connection can ease trauma. Highly recommended.

Trigger Warning: Suicidal thoughts and longing are expressed by the main character. Suicidal actions.

Disclaimer: The publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Any and all opinions that follow are mine alone.

Review: Rubicon by J.S. Dewes

Ever since finishing The Last Watch and The Exiled Fleet, I’ve been a J.S. Dewes fan. When the opportunity came to pick up her newest book, I did so without reading the description. I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew it would be good. Well, Dewes proved me right. Rubicon by J.S. Dewes is a departure from her other books. This is still a science fiction and military adventure, but Rubicon dips more into horror this time. Dewes explores trauma and human connection. She puts her characters through the horrors of dying repeatedly. In Rubicon Dewes has created a book that I’ll be thinking about for a while to come.

Adriene Valero is a grunt in the military. She’s a recon soldier, whose job is to survey planet’s for habitability. Her home system, the current system for all humans, is being threatened by a star turning into a red giant. In a few centuries, the habitable zone will have shifted out past the system’s habitable planets. Humanity needs new places to live, but there’s an external threat stopping them from leaving the system, the Mechan. The Mechan are an advanced robot, hive mind civilization bent on preventing humans from settling any planet outside their dying system. Valero and her squad sneak past the blockade of Mechan to search out new worlds. Unfortunately, the Mechan are often there to kill the humans, or worse. And in Valero’s world, there are things worse than death. Because when Valero dies, her consciousness is transferred to a new body, or ‘husk.’ This process has a sanitized, PR friendly name of ‘rezoning.’ But it’s a horrific process. Val and any other soldier emerges from the vat where their new husk is grown with memories of their death fresh in their mind. The trauma of death and rebirth begin the new husk’s life. And our friend Valero? She’s died ninety-six times. She’s endured the trauma of ninety-six deaths, and she retains the memories of those fatal moments.

Luckily for her, Valero gets called up to an elite unit dedicated to intelligence gathering. While there, Valero gets outfitted with a new technology that awakens into full artificial intelligence in her own brain. Because they’re fighting artificial intelligence, it’s illegal for a human to possess an artificial intelligence. With the help of the reclusive Major West, Valero adapts to her new AI and uses it accomplish high value intelligence gathering missions. It’s possible that humanity has a new tool to turn the tide against the Mechan. Or what resides in Valero’s head could be the key to humanity being wiped out by the Mechan.

Rubicon by J.S. Dewes is a third person science fiction horror novel. Valero narrates the whole, fast moving novel. Dewes deftly balances action with an exploration of withdrawing from connection with others as a coping mechanism for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Dewes explores the horror of a perpetual existence dominated by trauma in a readable adventure. I flew through this book, and you will, too.

Horror Disguised as Military Fiction

When I began reading the book, it had the trappings of military science fiction. Quickly, I came to understand that this is really a horror novel with military SF set dressing. And I say that with love. It’s a psychological horror despite the looming existential threats of genocide or environmental destruction that will take the human race with it. Readers learn very quickly that for Valero and her first squad, there is no such thing as retreat. When a mission goes south, they have to die, and the last survivor must kill themself. Yes, death is the only exit, but it’s not a permanent one. The soldiers will awake in a new body with the trauma of dying fresh on their mind because that is the least bad of their options. If the Mechans capture a live soldier, they use technology to hijack that soldiers body while leaving their consciousness intact. That’s right, the Mechans turn the soldier’s body into a prison. This is enough to drive anyone insane.

Valero’s life isn’t much of a life. She’s an alcoholic despite the fact that she’s not in any husk long enough to form a chemical addiction. She’s withdrawn from human connection. She’s numb to emotion, to life itself. She’s died so many times that she knows exactly what answers to provide the automated therapy bot in order to avoid more in-depth treatment, which she desperately needs. Her immediate objectives are to lessen the trauma of rezoning. With her promotion, she begins to connect with other members of her new squad. She finds a budding romantic attraction. Her life improves; yet, she still wants to die. Permanently. As Valero begins to get her shit together, Dewes has more horror in store for her.

Still Thinking About that Ending

For the second review in a row, I loved this book for every chapter until the final one. Whereas in my last review, the final chapter didn’t work for me; here, I go back and forth. Rubicon’s ending is one that I think will divide audiences. And that’s okay. It’s a bold choice, and part of me likes it for just that reason. The other part of me feels that it wasn’t an ending. That the book just stopped there.

This ending, sadly, makes me feel like an old man, set in his ways. The ending was unexpected yet natural, and normally I love that. But I spent literally every other chapter expecting a different outcome. I’m sad that I couldn’t pivot to what I think is a very interesting ending. In short, this is all to say that the effect this ending has will be quite subjective. I look forward to reading what others have to say about it. If you’ve read the book, please, let me know in the comments if you liked the ending. Or let me know if you think I’m just an old man.

Conclusion

J.S. Dewes Rubicon is a science fiction horror novel that got me thinking about larger questions of morality, the military, and brain chemistry. There’s so much I could write about this book because it’s fun; it’s horrifying; it’s an example of how immortality could be awful; it’s a sharp look into coming back from trauma. It’s all this and so much more. Valero and her squad were great characters that you can’t help but root for, even if that means they get their wish of permanent death. It’s an odd feeling rooting for someone to become mortal but J.S. Dewes found a way. Rubicon is a multi-layered book, and one that you should definitely read. Highly recommended.

A rip-roaring adventure that gives me Sanderson's SKYWARD series vibes- but this time with adults and adult problems. Though it starts slow, Dewes builds a fascinating world and leaves just enough questions each moment to keep you hanging on, and from the first chapter I was hooked by the Mechan- where did they come from? How do they work? Can they be evaded- or defeated? The slow reveals keep you guessing, and each recon mission into a new alien world brings nonstop changes to the settings, and the action keeps getting more and more intense as we slide deeper into Adriene's mind- and her new VI friend. Dewes has a great way of turning military sci-fi into something more impactful, and the eerie way they pose questions about artificial intelligence and what it means to be alive- all while engaging you with extraterrestrial beings and settings- will stick with me for a while. Another stellar book from an author who hasn't missed.

In Rubicon, we meet Adrienne, who has died a lot- but never permanently. She and her squad have been brought back a lot-- 97 times, in Adrienne's case. After her most recent "death", she's shipped off to a new squad, where people seem to die less, and they're kind of in awe of Adrienne's many reincarnations. You know who isn't super keen on them? Adrienne. It isn't pleasant, dying over and over, first of all. Not just the death, but the rezoning, as it's called, is painful and scary.

But as Adrienne meets her new crew, she can't really be sure if this will be any better. Or, more importantly, who can be trusted. The story starts out slower, which was my only minor qualm. It takes a minute to get into the real action. But there is a lot at stake in this world, in that basically all of humankind could be taken out very soon. While all of Adrienne's squadmates have a Rubicon, Adrienne's seems... better, for lack of a better word. And Adrienne needs to figure out what the heck is going on, before it is too late.

I can't say much about the actual story, because there are so many secrets to uncover, and that is the fun! Adrienne is a great character, she's a bit grumpy, but lovable, and you can certainly empathize with what she's gone through. I also really enjoyed getting to meet her crewmates, even though much like Adrienne herself, I was suspicious of nearly everyone at one point or another. As the book goes on, the action ramps up more and more, and so does the tension. By the end I was absolutely flying through the pages, eager to read what comes next. It seems like it will be a series, and I certainly hope so, as I will be here for it!

Bottom Line: Loved the high stakes excitement, loved Adrienne and her crew, and can't wait for more!