https://onereadingnurse.com/2022/12/16/rubicon-by-js-dewes-arc-review/

Well... I finally finished Rubicon even if it took me a month. I don't know why it was so hard to sit down and read this book. The long chapters didn't help and I really only got enthusiastic about Rubicon in the final 150 pages, and then couldn't put it down.  I think it just has a LOT going on. It's a  character driven space opera, there's military involvement, there's a discourse on AI and ethics (my favorite), aliens, and just so much else happening.

Dewes did a lot of things well, like the characters and their trauma, coping and new relationships and team bonding. The military operations would go from zero to 100 real quick as did Adrienne's relationship with the Rubicon.

I generally wanted more from the science in a lot of places. Dewes dedicated the book to a Warcraft character (also a great name for a dog) and turned the game's resurrection protocol into chips and rezone areas. I think the overall concept was great and we did eventually get some of the "how" behind it. There are weapons and advanced tech, contact with alien vessels, and the terrible truth that in order to avoid becoming part of the hive mind, it's best to just "wipe" or kill yourself in order to rezone instead of being captured. I liked learning about the alien history too and just wish she had connected it personally to... The big boss guy. I'm pretty sure there were a few more WoW things in the book but I could also be projecting.

After some thought, I've decided that I love the ending. Oh those poor characters LOL but I'm here for it. I'm afraid I won't remember what happened when the sequel comes out (oh hey, publishers - make it clear when a book is going to be a series, yeah)? But man, oh man, that was an ending for you. 100% the ending bumped her rating up.

Overall: I can't say any one thing that the book did wrong (although hopefully they edit out how many times someone's lock of curly hair is mentioned) but I also can't latch onto anything that grabbed me until the final plot line emerged. It was a solid military sci-fi adventure with good characters and many different elements. I'd recommend for space opera fans if you aren't squeamish about suicide and I will definitely read the sequel!

OMG Adriene is like Harrorhark meets someone more sinister. The angst! The world building! I loved it, what a journey.

I requested a digital copy in order to sample the prose on my phone (since I don't have a eReader) before requesting a physical copy for review. My review will be based on the physical ARC I read (if I qualify)

What an unputdownable military scifi novel! Dewes has a talent for melding the action you'd expect from military sf with strong characterizations of the lead characters, protagonists and antagonists alike. Although some of the tropes being used are old hat for veteran scifi readers, Dewes puts her own spin on them to create something new for her readers. I honestly don't know if I'm more excited for a sequel to this book, or for book 3 in her The Divide series. (Why not both?)