I enjoyed the Last Watch and it's sequel so I was interested to see the conclusion of the military science fiction trilogy. This was a solid ending that was very much on par with the last two and fans should be quite pleased. This series isn't a personal favourite of mine but as a solid science fiction series I still enjoyed quite a bit.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

The Relentless Legion is my most anticipated release this year. To say I’m obsessed with this series is an understatement. I’ve been waiting with baited breath for the continuation of Rake and Cavalon’s story.

I was not disappointed.

If you are familiar with the first two books I would highly suggest doing a reread. One, because they're fantastic – the audiobooks are incredible, and two, there's a lot going on and a refresher is never a bad idea.

While the big plot point (the Divide shrinking) seems to get put on the back burner, the Sentinels are once again saving humanity from certain doom. And this time it's personal.

I cannot begin to describe the love I have for the cast of The Divide. They're a family, and this book really brings to light the relationships between the characters. There is a whole space ship’s worth of growth, hard truths, and crying (on my end, I shed many tears).

I’m not positive if this is the final book in the series. Personally, I hope not. I’m extremely excited to listen to The Relentless Legion's audiobook. I’ve listened to the first two books a couple of times and my inner dialogue while reading sounded exactly like the narrators. They're my favorite duo!

My only complaint is that Cavalon was not nearly sweaty enough.

Oh how I’ve waited for this one to be released. I absolutely adore The Divide series, and Dewes does not disappoint with this latest installment. I mean, the book begins with a dedication to Garrus Vakarian – that should explain it all. I began reading the story with my heart full because of it.

Of course you should have read the first two books for things to make sense. The author gives us so so much, so yeah, you should have already been along for the ride to be able to make even more connections. I love an intergallactic space odyssey, but I also do enjoy the politics behind it – which there is more of in this entry.

These characters means something to me. I really, really hope there is more to come.

5

I will admit, I started this book a little disappointed - it felt like Dewes lowered the stakes significantly from "impending collapse of the universe!" down to "human eugenicist must be stopped". Not that the latter isn't important, it just didn't feel as universe-shattering as the former. I was wrong. The book was great (with minor nitpicks, detailed below). Although Cavalon and Adequin spent much of their time apart, their relationship was still very evident and important to both characters, which, let's be real, is the heart of the series. After I got over my disappointment over the lack of "impending collapse!", I enjoyed the politicking and logistics of maneuvering a rebellion to fight Augustus Mercer - actually, I would have liked more detail on that front, but that probably would have made the book too long.

I did feel the last third of the book was a little rushed, and there were definitely some moments that stretched disbelief, some deus ex machina moments with the Viators (or, as the book calls it, caelestis). The ending few lines felt like a combination of blatant fanservice and a sense of "I'm not sure if I'm going to get a chance to publish book 4, so I'm going to write a good stopping point here." (I hope she gets the chance to publish book 4.)

I really enjoy reading about these characters and their relationships, and I'm very curious as to whether we will encounter more alien species!

Highly recommend rereading the first two before tackling this one. There are so many moving parts to this series and a lot to keep track of, and that's not a complaint; it's just that when it all comes together, it's extremely satisfying, way more so if the preceding installments are fresh in your memory! There were several moments near the end where I teared up. I appreciated the addition of Jackin's POV as well. Even though a major conflict was resolved by the end, there is an even bigger one still looming, and plenty of characters whose endings we don't wrap up as Cav's, Rake's, and Jack's do (my girls Emery and Mesa, where did you end up?). I desperately hope that there will be a fourth book in The Divide series!!!

Enjoyable Science Fiction read.

I loved the world building as well as the pacing. Overall a good addition to J.S. Dewes other books.

My thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an advance copy of the third book in a very promiseing science fiction series dealing with the death of the universe, megalomaniacs, killer viruses, and the intricacies of human interaction.

When I first began reading science fiction, militarized sci-fi and it's older brother space opera were popular, but were stuck in a rut of vrooming space ships, rock jawed heroes, fetishized weapons, women who acted like men or aliens, and space invaders that wanted to steal these same women, resources, or just kill everything. There were a few exceptions and some good writers, but most of these books all came from the same publishers, looked alike, and were plotted alike. I drifted away from science fiction as it seemed for awhile it was stuck in the past, and being gatekeeped by people who were afraid of the future. Thankfully the genre has seemed to have changed, grudgingly and with much whining, but their seems to be more to what is considered space opera today. Better plots, more diversity, bigger ideas, and a want to see a future that might not be the one of today. In the case of the books by J. S. Dewes this also includes very good writing. The Relentless Legion is the third book in The Divide Series, with the story expanding to include more characters and more dangers from a contracting universe, and a biological war that could end everything.

Adequin Rake and the Sentinels that Rake leads finally get a chance to take a breath, though those breaths might be quick gasps as things are still going very bad. Revelations that the universe might be growing smaller, leading to large groups of other species coming into Earth space are a problem, but they are problems for another day. Humanity is still recovering from a large scale war, a war that has left humanity with a genetic virus that might destroy them all. One man has a plan, but it might mean the end of half of humanity. Rake and her trusted partner Cavalon Mercer, a clone of the madman in power, have to find a cure for the bioweapon, or aim bigger and halt the growth of the original virus. This will lead to some weird places, weird times, unleash long buried weapons. All while dealing with traitors who are closer than they think.

There is a lot going on in this book. Characters have been added and lots of interactions are going on which really fill out the world building in this series. I was a huge fan of the first book, and enjoyed the second, but found that this one really set the story going, and solved some long standing subplots. There are more aliens, more big ideas, and a lot of action. However what this book does well is that it gives the characters a chance to change, and grow. To find and deal with the numerous, numerous traumas that many of them have. They are not a happy bunch. The narrative is split between three characters, Rake, Mercer, and a third, which allows the story to expand, unlike the universe they live in which is not. There is humor, moments that will upset, and moments that will make a person go, hmm that character has really grown, or wow was that a shocker.

This being the third book, I really recommend starting with the first. There is a lot going on, and coming in blind would be a lot to ask. That said I do wish publisher would have cast of characters or just a one page or two to tell what has happened. I read a lot, enjoy Dewes books and was a little lost in the beginning. That is a minor quibble. This is a really good series, one that I enjoy, as I have the stand alone books that Dewes has written. I eagerly await more in this series.

The final book in the divide trilogy takes place six months after the end of book two. It is told from the viewpoints of Adequin, Jackin, and Cavalon. It is a little bit more political than the previous books but still had lots of space action which is what I really enjoy. I love that the characters don't just do things but take the time to talk about why they are doing it and what is their reasoning behind it. I also feel that the relationships between the characters are well thought out and realistically represented. While this third book did sum all of the plot points. The world building is good enough that there could easily be more books in the series.

Very fun sci-fi book, but nothing to think about after it was done. Still, I read it really quickly and was highly entertained.

This was a very good read. It builds on the prior books in the series, without being to predictable. I enjoyed the continued character development and the new characters introduced. If you liked the earlier books in the series you'll want to read this.

I have really enjoyed the Divide series by J. S. Dewes. A story about loss, recovery, found family, and of course the end of the universe.

This being the third in the series I hope that anyone reading this is already familiar with the first two books. We join our band of forgotten soldiers in a position they haven't faced in a long time, relative safety. Having found a refuge in the storm Rake, Cavalon, and their rebellion finally have some room to breathe, but it's short lived. Augustus Mercer has not been sitting idly as they muster their forces. If he has his way many more worlds may die to satisfy his need to eradicate the Viator curse.

There is so much going on by this point in the story, and I was not disappointed with how all the threads came together. Dewes has a fun and unique world with character, depth, and lots of space ships. I am a fan of space hopping adventures with a lot of heart and The Divide definitely fits that bill.