This was a fun sci fi. Unfortunately, the entire book didn't download, but what I had of it, I enjoyed. It was fast paced and has me interested in picking up the full book.

Wow. An excellent military scifi that’s smartly written and engaging…but watch out for that ending.

I really enjoyed this book and the concepts it included. A snarky AI is always a go for me! I also enjoyed the romance and the growth of the MC.

The team was funny, the tech top-notch, and the plot fast paced!

Also, the audiobook narration was excellent! So well done and engaging.

I think, as many have stated in their reviews, this could have been a 5* for me if the ending hadn’t been what it was. I get it (to an extent) but I think there could have been a more satisfying way seeing as it seems unlikely the author will get to write a sequel.

All in all, I’d still say it’s worth a read!


My rating: 4*
——
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Military sci-fi always takes me a little while to get into, but once I'm there, I'm there. So I will say I enjoyed the second half, or even third third of this book best. As our world is inundated with AI, and we begin to think about the ethics of it, how do we think we will proceed in the future? Will it be the cause of our survival? Or our demise? This book leads to some very interesting questions about sentience, war, and who "deserves" to live.

This book was entirely forgettable unfortunately and I finished it a few days ago and barely remember it. I did like the Rubicon itself but it was severely underutilized during the book. The last 15% or so was really good but not enough to save the book.

Audio was good.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This may have been a long one, and the ending may have pissed me off a bit BUT I still really enjoyed it? I didn't think I would at the start when I wasn't finding myself focusing in that much but at some point it grabbed my attention and didn't let go. I would read more in the world, or other books by this author. The narrator was good as well.

Thank you to netgalley for the advanced listening copy of Rubicon. This was the first time I listened to or even read a space opera. This wasn't bad but not for me.

Unfortunately this book had plot holes big enough to fly a starship through. The choices on how to use different technologies were rather random and nonsensical. For instance the ship they used had a drive that could move anywhere but the population was quarantined. Some of the concepts were interesting but not very novel. The dialogue was blocky and uncomfortable.

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.

The Audio production was awesome, though, with voice modulation for non-human voices, and Eunice Wong is always a great narrator.

Adrianne has resurrected or rezoned ninety six times. She is now equipped with a new VI that knows her every thought and feeling. Her officer wants to use her to aid in the war between machine and humanity.

This was interesting take as to how AI could help or hurt us in the future. I would recommend this to those who enjoy action in their science fiction with little to no romance.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.

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.

the narration was really well done with some of the different effects and AI narration. relly led to an emersive experience

4.5

I loved The Last Watch and its sequel, so when I saw J.S. Dewes was publishing an unrelated book, I immediately jumped to read it. There’s just something about the way that she writes military sci-fi that really clicks with my brain, and while I didn’t connect with this as much as The Divide books, I still really enjoyed this.

I liked Adrienne as a main character a lot, especially watching her battle her PTSD and the way she interacted with her Rubicon. Unfortunately I didn’t buy into her relationships with the rest of the characters as much as I wanted to, which was a shame because the team dynamics are what I loved so much about The Divide. Though some of that lack of connection is likely due to seeing them through Adrienne’s eyes and she is suffering from major apathy and detachment for most of the book.

I thought the plot was fun and after a bit of a slow start picked up and kept a good pace, and I loved the AI/robots and commentary on sentience and humanity. The villain felt a bit predictable but I didn’t hate it, though I’m not sure I love the ending. It was a bold choice and I imagine will be divisive. It also makes me wonder about potential sequels. I believe Dewes wrote and sold the book as a standalone but given the ending…? It works as a standalone but also leaves room to maybe return to this world.

Eunice Wong’s narration was excellent for the most part. My only issue (if you can call it that) is that by the end of the book Adrienne is referring to her Rubicon using masculine pronouns which through me off because the voice I was hearing was fairly feminine. I have a similar issue when people refer to Murderbot using he because of the narrator where I have only ever thought of them as gender neutral. I believe this was my first time listening to Wong’s narration, but I will be keeping an eye out for more of her work, and will always pick up anything J.S. Dewes writes.

Wow! Do yourself a favor and pick this audio book up AQAP! Eunice Wong does an absolutely BRILLIANT job of brining this fast paced story to life.

Rubicon is a perfect fit for folks like me who love a good AI story that focuses both on the mindless, driven AI seeking intergalactic domination and an AI gaining empathy and individuality. As a kid who grew up obsessed with Data and his cat, this scratched that particular AI itch for me for sure. Valero's Rubicon stole my heart and made me laugh in equal measure.

J.S. Dewes perfectly balances the fast paced military action with quiet character growth that left my eyes welling up at the end of this story. Plus the world building was beautifully done in a way that left me feeling established in this universe where humans are trapped by Mechan forces, orbiting a dying star. I simply could not get enough!

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 was an interesting futuristic type novel. the concept behind it was absolutely fantastic, the world building was solid and the technology was very well thought out and applied.

My problem is the length. It’s so long that I was constantly finding my mind drifting. Basically it was longer than it needed to be.

I got the audiobook through NetGalley and this likely contributed to my wandering mind - I find it easier to wander with an audio vs digital or physical, but it usually isn’t a problem. It definitely was in this case.

3.5⭐️ - great story, less than great execution.

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.

Dewes' background in cinematography can be seen clearly in the exceptional atmospheric descriptors of Rubicon. The more emotionally charged scenes are not as strong. Much of the dialogue in those situations lacks authenticity.
Plot wise there is quite a bit of originality here that I respect and appreciate. I was continuously invested and I didn't feel like there were any slow points. The conclusion is brilliant.
Rubicon is highly plot driven, sometimes at the sacrifice of the character dimensions. I also feel that the motivations behind the antagonist's actions are murky.
The audio and narration are splendid. There is just enough variance in tone to keep me plugged in without being overstimulating. My only complaint is that there is a weird clicking sound in the last couple chapters.

Thank you J. S. Dewes, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for my audio advanced review copy. My opinions are my own.

Plot -5
Writing and Editing - 4
Character Development -3
Narration -4
Personal Bias -3
Final Score - 3.8 (rounded up to 4 on Goodreads)

Rubicon is a thrilling story of that wrenches the heart in unexpected ways. Adrienne is on her 96th life fighting machines in space, doing her best to ensure humanity lives on. But dying so many times is draining, and she's grown apathetic and numb, almost erasing her own humanity. It's so easy to feel Adrienne's exhaustion and unwillingness to let herself truly feel, knowing everything can all be stripped away again. It's equally easy to feel drawn and connected to her squad mates and her Rubicon despite all of her misgivings.

The plot was everything a good sci-fi should be, and the history and new tech was presented in a digestible way that's easy to catch on and follow along with. And that ending ... So much stress and all the emotions!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a big fan of Edge of Tomorrow (also known as Live Die Repeat), Rubicon’s tagline of Live. Die. Reboot. instantly grabbed my attention, and then when I read that it melds elements of John Scalzi’s classic Old Man’s War and Edge of Tomorrow I was all in. This is the story of soldier Adriene Valero, one small cog in the war against the machines. And she can’t die. Well no that’s not completely true. She can and unfortunately frequently does die. But she can’t stay dead. Instead every time she’s killed she ‘reboots’, waking up in a fresh husk. (In fact the book opens with her 96th ‘resurrection’.) Being able to live forever sounds like a dream come true, right? Guess again. Seeing the world through Adriene’s eyes we get a sense of how this ‘scientific immortality’ can be a real nightmare. I enjoyed the heck out of this book. The story is an excellent, smart, action-packed sci-fi adventure with well developed characters. Every time I’d stop listening I’d find myself still thinking about the story and in wouldn’t be long before I found myself slipping my earbuds in again. Speaking of the audio, Eunice Wong does an excellent job with narration. I’d like to thank Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of the audio version of J. S. Dewes’s Rubicon.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1D6O54AF3N60E/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

I consumed this audiobook in 2 days. It was absolutely fantastic - well-paced, great characters, tons of action and a visceral, thoughtful tone that truly sets it apart. Aaand a sarcastic AI to scratch the Murderbot itch. Highly recommend.

I have read the Last Watch by Dewes and enjoyed it. This is not part of that series so we are introduced to a whole new cast of characters and a bleak new setting. This is military sci fi so expect a lot of action. It seems like this is a standalone but if Dewes continues in this world I will read the next book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me an audiobook arc of this title.