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Rubicon
Sergeant Adrienne Valero wants to die. She can't.
After enduring a traumatic resurrection for the ninety-sixth time, Valero is reassigned to a special forces unit and outfitted with a cutting-edge virtual intelligence aid. They could turn the tide in the war against intelligent machines dedicated to the assimilation, or destruction, of humanity.
When her VI suddenly achieves sentience, Valero is drawn into the machinations of an enigmatic major who’s hell-bent on ending the war—by any means necessary.
After enduring a traumatic resurrection for the ninety-sixth time, Valero is reassigned to a special forces unit and outfitted with a cutting-edge virtual intelligence aid. They could turn the tide in the war against intelligent machines dedicated to the assimilation, or destruction, of humanity.
When her VI suddenly achieves sentience, Valero is drawn into the machinations of an enigmatic major who’s hell-bent on ending the war—by any means necessary.
469 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 2023
About the author
J.S. Dewes
5 books982 followersJ.S. Dewes is an author, cinematographer, and video editor who has written scripts for award-winning feature films and shorts. By day she writes video games for Humanoid Studios, and spends her free time drawing, scrolling ArtStation, cuddling her two sweet dogs and mercurial cat, and occasionally sleeping.
Her debut novel The Last Watch and its sequel The Exiled Fleet are out now from Tor Books. Her third book Rubicon is coming March 28, 2023.
She can be found on social media @jsdewes or her website jsdewes.com, and more stories set in the Divide universe can be found on her Patreon.
Her debut novel The Last Watch and its sequel The Exiled Fleet are out now from Tor Books. Her third book Rubicon is coming March 28, 2023.
She can be found on social media @jsdewes or her website jsdewes.com, and more stories set in the Divide universe can be found on her Patreon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 342 reviews
January 13, 2024
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.
April 10, 2023
This is SUCH a hard book for me to rate. I actually finished it a few days ago, and have just been considering how I feel.
I absolutely loved it right up to the end, when things radically changed for me. I'm usually OK with whatever ending an author chooses, but one thing I need is for the ending to feel earned and satisfying based on the rest of the book, that is, where the story was going and how the characters were developing. This was a 4-5 star read for me right up until the ending, when it dipped down into 2 star territory. I might feel differently if there was going to be a sequel, but as far as I know Rubicon is a standalone.
So, I wouldn't say don't read it, but I caution you that you may feel a bit cheated by the ending.
I absolutely loved it right up to the end, when things radically changed for me. I'm usually OK with whatever ending an author chooses, but one thing I need is for the ending to feel earned and satisfying based on the rest of the book, that is, where the story was going and how the characters were developing. This was a 4-5 star read for me right up until the ending, when it dipped down into 2 star territory. I might feel differently if there was going to be a sequel, but as far as I know Rubicon is a standalone.
So, I wouldn't say don't read it, but I caution you that you may feel a bit cheated by the ending.
March 30, 2023
4.0 Stars
Video Review: https://youtu.be/yJuEtLpNYNw
This was such an engaging new science fiction novel. I enjoyed the premise surrounding a virtual assistant aid who becomes sentient. So often, these kinds of books feel cute, but I much preferred that this story took a more serious tone. Conscious AIs are terrifying, not adorable.
I have previously read the author's debut novel, The Last Watch. I liked that one, but I found this new novel to be even stronger. This author has a talent for writing military science fiction in a way that appeals to readers, like myself, who don't necessarily love the subgenre.
This story was just the right balance between action and character development. The story started out a little slower, but once it got going, I was hooked.
I would recommend this one to readers looking for an exciting new science fiction story.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I review books on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheShadesofOrange
Video Review: https://youtu.be/yJuEtLpNYNw
This was such an engaging new science fiction novel. I enjoyed the premise surrounding a virtual assistant aid who becomes sentient. So often, these kinds of books feel cute, but I much preferred that this story took a more serious tone. Conscious AIs are terrifying, not adorable.
I have previously read the author's debut novel, The Last Watch. I liked that one, but I found this new novel to be even stronger. This author has a talent for writing military science fiction in a way that appeals to readers, like myself, who don't necessarily love the subgenre.
This story was just the right balance between action and character development. The story started out a little slower, but once it got going, I was hooked.
I would recommend this one to readers looking for an exciting new science fiction story.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I review books on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheShadesofOrange
April 8, 2023
Warning: This book has an infuriating ending that makes an otherwise brilliant book feel unsatisfying and leaves the reader (or at least this reader) feeling betrayed. If there was any sign that a follow-up book might redeem it, that would be ok, but at time of writing there's no indication that this book will have a sequel.
On the off chance that you do read it, I can say that the majority of the book is actually a brilliant military SF novel with some cool ideas that explores trauma in all sorts of ways. If it wasn't for the last chapter this would be a 4 or 5 star book.
On the off chance that you do read it, I can say that the majority of the book is actually a brilliant military SF novel with some cool ideas that explores trauma in all sorts of ways. If it wasn't for the last chapter this would be a 4 or 5 star book.
March 31, 2023
4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2023/03/30/...
Whew, I have to catch my breath after that! From the first page to the last, Rubicon was a non-stop action-packed and fun-filled thrill ride, and quite honestly, I would have expected nothing less from J.S. Dewes who also authored The Divide series which I loved.
When the story opens, we are introduced to Sergeant Adrienne Valero, who is about to die for the 96th time. The scene is total pandemonium as a bloody battle rages everywhere, and Valero and her squad are losing badly to the Mechans, an army of intelligent machines controlled by a hivemind that humans have been at war with for decades. Despite putting up a valiant fight, at the end of the first chapter, our protagonist is killed…
…Only to resurrect at the beginning of the next chapter, using cutting-edge technology that can restore the dead to life in a new body via a process known as “rezoning.” While being able to cheat death like this has given humanity a huge advantage in the conflict against the tireless Mechan, there’s no question that having been rezoned close to a hundred times has taken its toll on Valero. She no longer bats an eye at new assignments anymore, knowing she’ll sent to yet another battlefield to fight, to die, to be reborn again, and to do it over and over again until the war ends, whenever that may be. It’s hard to care about anything when you’re living a life like this, when everything seems pointless and devoid of hope.
But following her restoration this time, Valero is unexpectedly transferred to an elite special forces unit whose covert operations will require her specialized skills. She is immediately outfitted with a virtual intelligence called Rubicon, an implant that is supposed to aid her in battle by performing enhancing functions like advising on tactics or managing her performance and gear. However, when the VI gradually begins evolving into something more, developing sentience and a will of its own, Valero realizes that this unsettling turn of events might just end up helping them win the war.
Fans of pulse-pounding military sci-fi, look no further, because Rubicon has exactly what you’re looking for. Dynamic action? Check. Heartfelt emotion with lasting impact? Check. Characters that feel genuine and will stay with you for a very long time? Double check. Dewes has clearly been honing her skills because the quality of writing and storytelling here is as topnotch as ever.
First of all, Adrienne Valero is a fantastic protagonist with a robust and sympathetic backstory built around her. Clearly, every death she experiences is indelible in her mind and the only way she can deal with the trauma is by putting up walls around her heart. And yet, the camaraderie she feels with her new squad is gradually getting through to her. In spite of herself, she even finds herself attracted to one of the members on her work team. While I liked how the story explores the psychological impact of multiple deaths and resurrections on Valero, my favorite part was watching her character arc develop and become deeper with every new challenge and interaction.
Then there’s the setting. The threat of danger and violence is practically constant in the world of Rubicon, which the Mechans hold in a death grip. Wartime conditions are bad enough, but on top of that, humanity’s home planet of Estes is dying because of its failing star, and the only escape is prevented by the unrelenting, almost spiteful way the Mechans have put themselves in their path. As a result, all throughout the novel is this crushing and pervasive feeling of a desperate race against time.
But the story is where it’s at. There’s intrigue and mystery worked into the action, lots of opportunities to make you wonder what’s going on and keep you guessing, especially when Valero’s VI starts acting up and new information is revealed about the Mechans. Rubicon is one of the most enjoyable military sci-fi novels I’ve read in a while—probably since Dewes’ The Last Watch, as a matter of fact! That it is also a standalone is a huge plus. True, there’s nothing too deep about the story or the world here, but while you’re not going to get the full-bodied immersion of a longer series, what you do get is the rewarding feeling of a completed and self-contained adventure with a satisfying ending. I highly recommend!
Whew, I have to catch my breath after that! From the first page to the last, Rubicon was a non-stop action-packed and fun-filled thrill ride, and quite honestly, I would have expected nothing less from J.S. Dewes who also authored The Divide series which I loved.
When the story opens, we are introduced to Sergeant Adrienne Valero, who is about to die for the 96th time. The scene is total pandemonium as a bloody battle rages everywhere, and Valero and her squad are losing badly to the Mechans, an army of intelligent machines controlled by a hivemind that humans have been at war with for decades. Despite putting up a valiant fight, at the end of the first chapter, our protagonist is killed…
…Only to resurrect at the beginning of the next chapter, using cutting-edge technology that can restore the dead to life in a new body via a process known as “rezoning.” While being able to cheat death like this has given humanity a huge advantage in the conflict against the tireless Mechan, there’s no question that having been rezoned close to a hundred times has taken its toll on Valero. She no longer bats an eye at new assignments anymore, knowing she’ll sent to yet another battlefield to fight, to die, to be reborn again, and to do it over and over again until the war ends, whenever that may be. It’s hard to care about anything when you’re living a life like this, when everything seems pointless and devoid of hope.
But following her restoration this time, Valero is unexpectedly transferred to an elite special forces unit whose covert operations will require her specialized skills. She is immediately outfitted with a virtual intelligence called Rubicon, an implant that is supposed to aid her in battle by performing enhancing functions like advising on tactics or managing her performance and gear. However, when the VI gradually begins evolving into something more, developing sentience and a will of its own, Valero realizes that this unsettling turn of events might just end up helping them win the war.
Fans of pulse-pounding military sci-fi, look no further, because Rubicon has exactly what you’re looking for. Dynamic action? Check. Heartfelt emotion with lasting impact? Check. Characters that feel genuine and will stay with you for a very long time? Double check. Dewes has clearly been honing her skills because the quality of writing and storytelling here is as topnotch as ever.
First of all, Adrienne Valero is a fantastic protagonist with a robust and sympathetic backstory built around her. Clearly, every death she experiences is indelible in her mind and the only way she can deal with the trauma is by putting up walls around her heart. And yet, the camaraderie she feels with her new squad is gradually getting through to her. In spite of herself, she even finds herself attracted to one of the members on her work team. While I liked how the story explores the psychological impact of multiple deaths and resurrections on Valero, my favorite part was watching her character arc develop and become deeper with every new challenge and interaction.
Then there’s the setting. The threat of danger and violence is practically constant in the world of Rubicon, which the Mechans hold in a death grip. Wartime conditions are bad enough, but on top of that, humanity’s home planet of Estes is dying because of its failing star, and the only escape is prevented by the unrelenting, almost spiteful way the Mechans have put themselves in their path. As a result, all throughout the novel is this crushing and pervasive feeling of a desperate race against time.
But the story is where it’s at. There’s intrigue and mystery worked into the action, lots of opportunities to make you wonder what’s going on and keep you guessing, especially when Valero’s VI starts acting up and new information is revealed about the Mechans. Rubicon is one of the most enjoyable military sci-fi novels I’ve read in a while—probably since Dewes’ The Last Watch, as a matter of fact! That it is also a standalone is a huge plus. True, there’s nothing too deep about the story or the world here, but while you’re not going to get the full-bodied immersion of a longer series, what you do get is the rewarding feeling of a completed and self-contained adventure with a satisfying ending. I highly recommend!
March 30, 2023
Rubicon offers the dark intensity of Starship Troopers (the book, not the campy movie) and a cunning rival like The Borg with the refreshingly non-religious and non-misogynistic scenarios best done by John Scalzi. For a sci-fi nerd like me, this was an easy five stars.
My favorite aspect of the book: You know David in Schitt's Creek? His character offers an abundance of uniqueness, but never once does anyone put a label on him or offer any judgment. He is David, and that is all we need to know. Same here with Adriene, our main character. Her character may be female, but this is never treated as "a thing". Her skills, her expertise, her decisions, all of who she is is based upon her humanity and her badassness, never her gender. I can always get behind a character like that.
My favorite aspect of the book: You know David in Schitt's Creek? His character offers an abundance of uniqueness, but never once does anyone put a label on him or offer any judgment. He is David, and that is all we need to know. Same here with Adriene, our main character. Her character may be female, but this is never treated as "a thing". Her skills, her expertise, her decisions, all of who she is is based upon her humanity and her badassness, never her gender. I can always get behind a character like that.
December 16, 2022
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. I do love themes of AI and finding humanity in these genres. 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!
Thanks to Tor Books for the early copy in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own!
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. I do love themes of AI and finding humanity in these genres. 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!
Thanks to Tor Books for the early copy in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own!
March 10, 2023
Third 5 star of the year. I think I am getting soft. Sort of Altered Carbon without the animal brutality, although plenty of violence. Some Star Trek Borg vibes, some Terminator vibes and finally some Kameron Hurley Light Brigade.
AI, robots, consciousness transfer, nuanced characters, a mad scientist and of course for me, space ships.
Loved it.
AI, robots, consciousness transfer, nuanced characters, a mad scientist and of course for me, space ships.
Loved it.
Read
May 30, 2022This is probably the best Mil SF book I've read in...I don't know...a long time. And while it ticks off all of the Mil SF boxes -- great action, cool tech, a unique war -- I think SF fans in general are going to love it, even if they're not specifically Mil SF fans. There are enough twists and turns between the killer action scenes to keep pretty much any SF fan flipping pages right up until the very end. And what an end it is.
August 31, 2023
This was a deeply thought provoking and action packed military SF novel. Yes, a war is raging and there are plenty of fight scenes, but the exact logistics of that war are not what this book is really about. It’s about bodies and who we decide is worthy of being considered human and dis/ability and the sanctity of mortality. A lot of the conversations reminded me of another SF recent favorite, A Half-Built Garden, and I look forward to reading more books from this author!
One really just undeniably clever thing about this book is the title. There are so many boundaries toed, crossed, and pushed up against in Rubicon and well, the title fits so well!
I will say, the ending fell a little flat for me, It drew some conclusions I didn’t exactly agree with and it turned into something I wasn’t expecting, but regardless I think it’s a great book and I’d recommend to anyone who likes SF!
Content Warnings: death, war, injury/injury detail, gore, body horror, gun violence, suicide, suicidal ideation, untreated mental illness, manipulation, gaslighting, forced confinement, self harm, physical abuse, emesis, kidnapping, grief, ableism, torture, medical trauma.
One really just undeniably clever thing about this book is the title. There are so many boundaries toed, crossed, and pushed up against in Rubicon and well, the title fits so well!
I will say, the ending fell a little flat for me, It drew some conclusions I didn’t exactly agree with and it turned into something I wasn’t expecting, but regardless I think it’s a great book and I’d recommend to anyone who likes SF!
Content Warnings: death, war, injury/injury detail, gore, body horror, gun violence, suicide, suicidal ideation, untreated mental illness, manipulation, gaslighting, forced confinement, self harm, physical abuse, emesis, kidnapping, grief, ableism, torture, medical trauma.
April 9, 2023
Ahoy there me mateys! I love clone novels so I was excited to pick this up. Machines are at war with humans. The humans are not winning but with clone technology they are trying to turn the tide. Adrienne Valero is a sergeant serving in the military's expendable 802nd unit. She has died 96 times and just wants to die for good next time. However, the clone technology makes the user effectively immortal and, frankly, a bit crazy.
When Adrienne is transferred to an elite special forces group, she is grateful for the chance to stay in her current shell for a while. But PTSD is taking its toll. When Adrienne is assigned a new "rubicon" AI interface she doesn't trust it. But as she settles into her new assignment, the AI becomes essential to her survival and humanity. As Adrienne learns what it is like to live again, she is drawn into confrontation with a human menace that might destroy them all for good.
I adored the set-up for the novel and how the 802nd unit worked. I also enjoyed Adrienne's adjustment to her new ship, crew, and AI. While I enjoyed the majority of the characters and how Adrienne combats her PTSD, I found the plot to be the weak part of the novel. I did not like the bad guy at all and thought his motivation was both short sighted and nonsensical. Adrienne should have caught on way sooner. I also did not like the "reveal" of how the machines were created. The novel started to fail for me after the climax when the big bad tries to take over. It was too much drama and action and felt rushed. Also the plot of this whole section didn't work for me. And the ending made me angry. I thought this was a standalone and was very disappointed with the last couple of pages. If there is a sequel, I am not sure how the author can make it work.
This doesn't walk the plank because of how much I enjoyed the beginning and the characters overall. But I hesitate to recommend it to another reader unless I know there is going to be future explanation for the downer of an ending. Arrr!
When Adrienne is transferred to an elite special forces group, she is grateful for the chance to stay in her current shell for a while. But PTSD is taking its toll. When Adrienne is assigned a new "rubicon" AI interface she doesn't trust it. But as she settles into her new assignment, the AI becomes essential to her survival and humanity. As Adrienne learns what it is like to live again, she is drawn into confrontation with a human menace that might destroy them all for good.
I adored the set-up for the novel and how the 802nd unit worked. I also enjoyed Adrienne's adjustment to her new ship, crew, and AI. While I enjoyed the majority of the characters and how Adrienne combats her PTSD, I found the plot to be the weak part of the novel. I did not like the bad guy at all and thought his motivation was both short sighted and nonsensical. Adrienne should have caught on way sooner. I also did not like the "reveal" of how the machines were created. The novel started to fail for me after the climax when the big bad tries to take over. It was too much drama and action and felt rushed. Also the plot of this whole section didn't work for me. And the ending made me angry. I thought this was a standalone and was very disappointed with the last couple of pages. If there is a sequel, I am not sure how the author can make it work.
This doesn't walk the plank because of how much I enjoyed the beginning and the characters overall. But I hesitate to recommend it to another reader unless I know there is going to be future explanation for the downer of an ending. Arrr!
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February 26, 2023
Rubicon was a slow build of a novel. It had a slow start as it worked to establish this new universe and its main character, Adrienne, but it quickly picked up pace with action packed combat scenes and some... tense situations.
J.S. Dewes did a great job with the world-building here. It took me a little time to get the full picture, but I never felt overwhelmed with information at any point. It was great to experience the story through Adrienne's eyes and come to understand how everything worked.
Adrienne was a pretty great main character. I liked her hesitancy at the beginning of the book--she was struggling and dealing with quite a few things--and how she slowly transformed as a person and character. The Rubicon being an integral part of that change was also wonderful to read about!
The plot was pretty straight-forward, though? There weren't many surprises along the way and it was pretty easy to guess where the plot was going. I will that the final chapter caught me a bit off guard if only because I had an inkling it was going to happen? And then Dewes went there and I didn't like it at all lol
But yes! Overall, a solid standalone sci-fi read!
J.S. Dewes did a great job with the world-building here. It took me a little time to get the full picture, but I never felt overwhelmed with information at any point. It was great to experience the story through Adrienne's eyes and come to understand how everything worked.
Adrienne was a pretty great main character. I liked her hesitancy at the beginning of the book--she was struggling and dealing with quite a few things--and how she slowly transformed as a person and character. The Rubicon being an integral part of that change was also wonderful to read about!
The plot was pretty straight-forward, though? There weren't many surprises along the way and it was pretty easy to guess where the plot was going. I will that the final chapter caught me a bit off guard if only because I had an inkling it was going to happen? And then Dewes went there and I didn't like it at all lol
But yes! Overall, a solid standalone sci-fi read!
February 13, 2024
4.3– BUT THAT END!!! It cant be done right? She is going to write a second right? RIGHT???? She better write a second….
If I rated on enjoyment alone, it would b a 5 star. It lacked the depth of critique to make us question the things around us, but it was also just a damn good story.
We follow Adrian as soldier in a war against sentient AI created by a long dead alien race. She and all other soldiers have been given orders to ‘Zero Out’ or die and wake up in a regen pod with a synthetic body but all memories intact and ready to start fighting again. Only Adrian is tired, she has died 96 times and doesnt want to wake up a 97th. But tides The change when she gets assigned to a new crew with a new mission, and discovers reveal after reveal that changes everything!
This books was… dare I say it… perfectly paced. It got me out of a reading slump and i loved loved loved this one. It was just what I needed.
If I rated on enjoyment alone, it would b a 5 star. It lacked the depth of critique to make us question the things around us, but it was also just a damn good story.
We follow Adrian as soldier in a war against sentient AI created by a long dead alien race. She and all other soldiers have been given orders to ‘Zero Out’ or die and wake up in a regen pod with a synthetic body but all memories intact and ready to start fighting again. Only Adrian is tired, she has died 96 times and doesnt want to wake up a 97th. But tides The change when she gets assigned to a new crew with a new mission, and discovers reveal after reveal that changes everything!
This books was… dare I say it… perfectly paced. It got me out of a reading slump and i loved loved loved this one. It was just what I needed.
February 27, 2023
This was a pretty disappointing 2.5 star read for me, as I thought the premise had much more potential to engage me than it ended up doing. It felt a bit under-developed in a lot of ways and kind of cheesy, maybe like the usual B-movie stuff you might see on the SYFY channel. If you're in the right mood for it or just like the cheese this could be just what the doctor ordered, but unfortunately I was not too in the mood for a pulpy new-adult feeling military sci-fi that's mostly about one character's psychological/emotional/social life in the midst of a human-robot war. It has a lot of similarities to the book The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson, which I gave the same rating, but if you loved that book then this one should be right up your alley.
I listened to it fully as an audio ARC, and kudos to the narrator Eunice Wong for doing a great job, as what engagement there was for me I think did stem from the narration. The premise is that a depressed soldier who's undergone 96 deaths and re-spawns named Adriene Valero gets brought into a new unit and implanted with a helpful and sardonic experimental AI assistant in her brain (named Rubicon) with whom she can communicate internally through thinking. This made it like a sci-fi version of Cradle, and I was all about this aspect of the story--but we got WAY TOO LITTLE of it!! Adriene's Rubicon is a fantastic character, and its relationship to Adriene is so much fun to spend time with, but why does the book insist on spending the majority of the pages with the AI in off mode?!
That was a crippling narrative decision for my enjoyment, since the rest of the time we get to spend with 2-dimensional human side characters who either feel cheesy and cliche or barely there on the page at all and interchangeable (the dialogue in particular was often so cringy). And through it all we get the endless internal monologue of Adriene, with every single thought and emotion she's feeling from second to second being spelled out for us, and after a while it just got tiring and repetitive. Her character arc in the book just didn't feel earned, and I think it may be because we didn't spend enough time with her in her previous unit before she got moved, nor did she spend enough time with Rubicon for some of her character growth to really make sense the way it supposedly plays out.
Dewes didn't provide enough description of the various settings to ever immerse me, and I also found the few action scenes to be poorly described and hard to visualize. The little worldbuilding there is gets dripped out bit by bit over the course of the book, and it never felt like enough to contextualize the war we were thrown into or what humanity's current living situation is or how we got there. On top of all that, many of the plot beats felt predictable and not particularly satisfying when they did come to pass. The sci-fi tropes around the re-spawns and the internal AI assistants are ones I love and were handled in an interesting way, but they weren't nearly as important to the narrative as I would've wished. On the plus side, the book ended with a fantastic cliffhanger that set things up for book 2 in a very cool way, but I don't think I mesh with Dewes's writing style and narrative priorities enough to continue on.
I didn't have a particularly bad time with the book and liked parts of it, but it was rather unimpactful and I fear it's going to fall into the immediately-forgettable pile when I usually want something much more out of my reads.
I listened to it fully as an audio ARC, and kudos to the narrator Eunice Wong for doing a great job, as what engagement there was for me I think did stem from the narration. The premise is that a depressed soldier who's undergone 96 deaths and re-spawns named Adriene Valero gets brought into a new unit and implanted with a helpful and sardonic experimental AI assistant in her brain (named Rubicon) with whom she can communicate internally through thinking. This made it like a sci-fi version of Cradle, and I was all about this aspect of the story--but we got WAY TOO LITTLE of it!! Adriene's Rubicon is a fantastic character, and its relationship to Adriene is so much fun to spend time with, but why does the book insist on spending the majority of the pages with the AI in off mode?!
That was a crippling narrative decision for my enjoyment, since the rest of the time we get to spend with 2-dimensional human side characters who either feel cheesy and cliche or barely there on the page at all and interchangeable (the dialogue in particular was often so cringy). And through it all we get the endless internal monologue of Adriene, with every single thought and emotion she's feeling from second to second being spelled out for us, and after a while it just got tiring and repetitive. Her character arc in the book just didn't feel earned, and I think it may be because we didn't spend enough time with her in her previous unit before she got moved, nor did she spend enough time with Rubicon for some of her character growth to really make sense the way it supposedly plays out.
Dewes didn't provide enough description of the various settings to ever immerse me, and I also found the few action scenes to be poorly described and hard to visualize. The little worldbuilding there is gets dripped out bit by bit over the course of the book, and it never felt like enough to contextualize the war we were thrown into or what humanity's current living situation is or how we got there. On top of all that, many of the plot beats felt predictable and not particularly satisfying when they did come to pass. The sci-fi tropes around the re-spawns and the internal AI assistants are ones I love and were handled in an interesting way, but they weren't nearly as important to the narrative as I would've wished. On the plus side, the book ended with a fantastic cliffhanger that set things up for book 2 in a very cool way, but I don't think I mesh with Dewes's writing style and narrative priorities enough to continue on.
I didn't have a particularly bad time with the book and liked parts of it, but it was rather unimpactful and I fear it's going to fall into the immediately-forgettable pile when I usually want something much more out of my reads.
February 25, 2023
Whoa! I don't think I've read a book with so much action. Kudos to JS Dewes for writing compelling action scenes!
If you're a fan of military sci-fi, then this is a must-read. You've got alien mechs vs. humanity. (It screamed Mass Effect, which I loved.) There's a snarky AI companion. (Always a plus.) There's a well-rounded team with different quirks and personality types. It also dips slightly into philosophy and the concept of death, since the practice of rezoning means that you can't technically die.
I loved that the MC, Adrienne Valero, is a fully-fleshed character that is currently dealing with trauma while being assigned to a special forces unit. As the reader, you're able to truly understand all of her facets.
While I wanted to know more about the alien mechs, this novel turned out to be more about humanity's failings and fallacies. This was actually a pleasant surprise. It turned a bit tropey with the introduction of the main villain but! I'll totally forgive the author because there were already hints earlier on in the novel that I should've caught.
The audiobook narrator though... She was great with voices but when it came to narrating the story, she sounded really robotic so it was difficult for me to pay attention at times.
Anyway, I can't wait to read the author's first novel and future ones. It's always exciting to find a new sci-fi author that's a talented storyteller.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this audio arc.
If you're a fan of military sci-fi, then this is a must-read. You've got alien mechs vs. humanity. (It screamed Mass Effect, which I loved.) There's a snarky AI companion. (Always a plus.) There's a well-rounded team with different quirks and personality types. It also dips slightly into philosophy and the concept of death, since the practice of rezoning means that you can't technically die.
I loved that the MC, Adrienne Valero, is a fully-fleshed character that is currently dealing with trauma while being assigned to a special forces unit. As the reader, you're able to truly understand all of her facets.
While I wanted to know more about the alien mechs, this novel turned out to be more about humanity's failings and fallacies. This was actually a pleasant surprise. It turned a bit tropey with the introduction of the main villain but! I'll totally forgive the author because there were already hints earlier on in the novel that I should've caught.
The audiobook narrator though... She was great with voices but when it came to narrating the story, she sounded really robotic so it was difficult for me to pay attention at times.
Anyway, I can't wait to read the author's first novel and future ones. It's always exciting to find a new sci-fi author that's a talented storyteller.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this audio arc.
March 27, 2023
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.
January 27, 2023
So grateful for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book, and I can confidently say... Dewes has done it again!
Rubicon is a well-crafted, character-driven military sci-fi tale with heart-pounding action, nail-biting tension, and one of the most fascinating premises I've seen in a while.
Even though the entire point of the premise is that characters can't "truly" die (given the nature of "rezoning," where people who die are essentially respawned in a new cloned form), Dewes manages to create incredibly high stakes on both a personal and a galaxy-wide level. And she does it all with the accessible, conversational, and highly entertaining voice that I loved so much from her in THE DIVIDE series.
Rubicon is a well-crafted, character-driven military sci-fi tale with heart-pounding action, nail-biting tension, and one of the most fascinating premises I've seen in a while.
Even though the entire point of the premise is that characters can't "truly" die (given the nature of "rezoning," where people who die are essentially respawned in a new cloned form), Dewes manages to create incredibly high stakes on both a personal and a galaxy-wide level. And she does it all with the accessible, conversational, and highly entertaining voice that I loved so much from her in THE DIVIDE series.
April 19, 2023
This went down from like a 4.5 star to 3.5 star simply because the ending has killed me I really hope there's a sequel because I cannot live with this ending
April 25, 2023
Me through this whole book as I consumed it in one sitting:
This book packed such a hard punch and had me so invested in the characters that I felt like I was losing my mind. I listened to the audiobook and I'm super happy I did. While the author used male pronouns it was being read by a female narrator and it honestly felt like I was having my own gender-fluid AI guide through the shenanigans. Truly this book was utterly amazing!!
Now for the publishing gods to smile down upon us plebeians and give us the dualogy that this book desperately needs!!!
This book packed such a hard punch and had me so invested in the characters that I felt like I was losing my mind. I listened to the audiobook and I'm super happy I did. While the author used male pronouns it was being read by a female narrator and it honestly felt like I was having my own gender-fluid AI guide through the shenanigans. Truly this book was utterly amazing!!
Now for the publishing gods to smile down upon us plebeians and give us the dualogy that this book desperately needs!!!
Read
November 16, 2022Oh.
I am reeling from that ending. Genuinely.
---
On a pathfinding mission with the 803rd, Specialist Adriene Valero dies. Again.
She rezones into her new husk - a synthetically-grown copy of her original body - for the 96th time, feeling even further separated from her own humanity. But not from her addictions, or from the physical and mental trauma she's endured. To Adriene, rezoning isn't a blessing, but a curse - something she will do anything to never experience again.
Without explanation, she finds herself suddenly reassigned to forward reconnaissance in a special forces unit. Her new squad is shocked by her number of rezones; in the 505th, "zeroing out" is rare. It's in this comparatively safe environment that Adriene is finally able to adjust to her new body and begin to form genuine connections with the people around her.
At the same time, she's chosen for a secret, specialist assignment under the command of a mysterious Major who worries that humanity is about to meet its sudden end. This role warrants an upgrade for her Rubicon, the 505th's standard virtual intelligence implant...an upgrade that allows her Rubicon to become a fully sentient being inside her brain. Together, they're tasked with increasingly dangerous missions that expose the commander's ruthless dedication to his cause.
Like Dewes's earlier novels, The Last Watch and The Exiled Fleet, Rubicon is fantastically character-focused military sci-fi. Adriene is flawed but brave, anxious but giving her all. It's so rewarding to witness her developing relationships with her squad members, with the awkward but friendly chief systems engineer, with her Rubicon, and with herself. Readers who, like me, loved Rake and Cav (and all the supporting characters) will also love Adriene, Daroga, et al.
But for that very reason, this book left me feeling haunted. The raw trauma the characters endure is brightened by moments of healing, of friendship, and of empathy; brightened, but not overshadowed. This book is as much about grief as it is about loyalty. There is pain, disillusionment, and bitter regret. And the ending will stick with you.
I am reeling from that ending. Genuinely.
---
On a pathfinding mission with the 803rd, Specialist Adriene Valero dies. Again.
She rezones into her new husk - a synthetically-grown copy of her original body - for the 96th time, feeling even further separated from her own humanity. But not from her addictions, or from the physical and mental trauma she's endured. To Adriene, rezoning isn't a blessing, but a curse - something she will do anything to never experience again.
Without explanation, she finds herself suddenly reassigned to forward reconnaissance in a special forces unit. Her new squad is shocked by her number of rezones; in the 505th, "zeroing out" is rare. It's in this comparatively safe environment that Adriene is finally able to adjust to her new body and begin to form genuine connections with the people around her.
At the same time, she's chosen for a secret, specialist assignment under the command of a mysterious Major who worries that humanity is about to meet its sudden end. This role warrants an upgrade for her Rubicon, the 505th's standard virtual intelligence implant...an upgrade that allows her Rubicon to become a fully sentient being inside her brain. Together, they're tasked with increasingly dangerous missions that expose the commander's ruthless dedication to his cause.
Like Dewes's earlier novels, The Last Watch and The Exiled Fleet, Rubicon is fantastically character-focused military sci-fi. Adriene is flawed but brave, anxious but giving her all. It's so rewarding to witness her developing relationships with her squad members, with the awkward but friendly chief systems engineer, with her Rubicon, and with herself. Readers who, like me, loved Rake and Cav (and all the supporting characters) will also love Adriene, Daroga, et al.
But for that very reason, this book left me feeling haunted. The raw trauma the characters endure is brightened by moments of healing, of friendship, and of empathy; brightened, but not overshadowed. This book is as much about grief as it is about loyalty. There is pain, disillusionment, and bitter regret. And the ending will stick with you.
May 28, 2023
Super torn about how to rate this. I haven't read a ton of military SF, so I got bogged down in some of the military/tech jargon a bit, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the story. In fact I was enjoying it right up until the very end--literally the last chapter. I don't always mind a non-happy ending, but this was just...aggravating. Maybe that could change if there's supposed to be a sequel, but it doesn't look like that's the case. I don't feel satisfied at having finished this book, I'm actually just bummed out.
April 28, 2023
Another great female lead in a military science fiction story... I don't know if this book will have a sequel - so far there isn't any indication - but the ending is horrible. If there is a sequel - I am not sure I will read it.... a lot depends on when it comes out and if the story is about the war or about Valero.
March 30, 2023
WHAT
A
TWIST
FORGET WHAT I SAID ABOUT NOT WANTING A SERIES
I
NEED
MORE
A
TWIST
FORGET WHAT I SAID ABOUT NOT WANTING A SERIES
I
NEED
MORE
June 6, 2023
The ending will piss you off. Make no bones about it.
However, I appreciate an effed up ending. It makes my villainess heart happy.
However, I appreciate an effed up ending. It makes my villainess heart happy.
April 7, 2023
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.
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.
March 27, 2023
4.5*
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!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
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!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
April 18, 2023
After reading J.S Dewes other two books from the Divide series I was really excited to read this one. Recommended if you enjoy fast paced action , military style sci Fi . It also explores trauma from war and death, which was interesting. The AI concept was a very fun read .
My biggest complaint is that it was very heavy handed with the sarcasm and need for characters to joke and make quips even when everyone around is dying. It breaks you out of the mood and feel and happens far too often.
The fast paced action made it easy to get through the story and kept me wanting more. But the sarcasm was just too much and really brings the overall rating down.
My biggest complaint is that it was very heavy handed with the sarcasm and need for characters to joke and make quips even when everyone around is dying. It breaks you out of the mood and feel and happens far too often.
The fast paced action made it easy to get through the story and kept me wanting more. But the sarcasm was just too much and really brings the overall rating down.
January 5, 2024
Waiting for the sequel!
March 26, 2023
*Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the eARC.*
Rubicon is a compelling and propulsive military sci-fi headed by a complex/conflicted MC. As expected after The Divide series, Dewes offers cinematic writing with lots of action but stays grounded by themes of mortality, artificial intelligence, ethics, and nature vs technology.
I really appreciate the depth given to Sargeant Valero to provide a lens through which to view the world of Rubicon. Someone who has been rezoned (aka "reborn") 96 times after combat would most definitely have a different outlook on life. Standout secondary characters Kato and Daroga, as well as the rest of her squadmates, breathed life back into Valero and I enjoyed seeing her reconnect both with herself and others. Valero's Rubicon (her Virtual Intelligence turned Artificial Intelligence) is sarcastic and precious - wish there would've been more page time between the two of them!
The fast pace kept me flipping those pages and I had quite a few feels even after remembering that death isn't a regular concept in this military world. I yelled at the ending. I yelled and would've slammed the book shut if I hadn't been reading off my Kindle.
Something to note, there is one character with a physical disability that falls into a stereotype. While I am not part of the disabled community, it did stand out to me. The amputee does experience phantom limb pain and has made the choice to keep their amputated limbs rather than rezoning. There is more involved to this character and plot point, but I can't say more because spoilers.
CW: death, violence, blood, suicide, alcoholism, genocide, medical content, grief
Rubicon is a compelling and propulsive military sci-fi headed by a complex/conflicted MC. As expected after The Divide series, Dewes offers cinematic writing with lots of action but stays grounded by themes of mortality, artificial intelligence, ethics, and nature vs technology.
I really appreciate the depth given to Sargeant Valero to provide a lens through which to view the world of Rubicon. Someone who has been rezoned (aka "reborn") 96 times after combat would most definitely have a different outlook on life. Standout secondary characters Kato and Daroga, as well as the rest of her squadmates, breathed life back into Valero and I enjoyed seeing her reconnect both with herself and others. Valero's Rubicon (her Virtual Intelligence turned Artificial Intelligence) is sarcastic and precious - wish there would've been more page time between the two of them!
The fast pace kept me flipping those pages and I had quite a few feels even after remembering that death isn't a regular concept in this military world. I yelled at the ending. I yelled and would've slammed the book shut if I hadn't been reading off my Kindle.
Something to note, there is one character with a physical disability that falls into a stereotype. While I am not part of the disabled community, it did stand out to me. The amputee does experience phantom limb pain and has made the choice to keep their amputated limbs rather than rezoning. There is more involved to this character and plot point, but I can't say more because spoilers.
CW: death, violence, blood, suicide, alcoholism, genocide, medical content, grief
March 5, 2024
I loved so much of this book, but the ending was a real let down. At 70% I was ready to tell everybody to read it, at 90% I was starting to worry there weren't going to be any good explanations for some of the central concepts and motivations, and at 100% it just felt like a bummer I invested all that energy into it. If it was a series maybe, but as a stand alone it fell flat right at the end. It's not even the lack of a happy ending but just that a lot of the stuff doesn't make SENSE internally and I thought there would be more discovered about why things were happening the way they were. Instead it's just left with some pretty lackluster explanations I was sure were going to turn out later to be wrong.
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