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The Divide #2

The Exiled Fleet

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J. S. Dewes continues her fast paced, science fiction action adventure with The Exiled Fleet, where The Expanse meets The Black Company--the survivors of The Last Watch refuse to die.



The Sentinels narrowly escaped the collapsing edge of the Divide.

They have mustered a few other surviving Sentinels, but with no engines they have no way to leave the edge of the universe before they starve.

Adequin Rake has gathered a team to find the materials they'll need to get everyone out.

To do that they're going to need new allies and evade a ruthless enemy. Some of them will not survive.

432 pages, Paperback

First published August 17, 2021

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About the author

J.S. Dewes

5 books973 followers
J.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.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 443 reviews
Profile Image for Bradley.
Author 4 books4,347 followers
January 25, 2022
I barely finished the first before I had to pick up the second. It's that good. Space-opera at its best, with intractable spatial anomalies, inscrutable alien menace, f**king stupid people at home, and a strung-out, starving fleet of misfits (and criminals) being our last line of defense.

I like the formula. A lot. And what's more, I love the character interactions. Also, a lot. :)

The progressions, the backstories that are current plot points, the emotional connections, the sheer BUDDY-MAGIC going on in the tale is really doing it for me. Between both of these books, I actually teared up, and that's not exactly a usual thing for me when I'm reading fluffy space-opera stuff. I'm usually here to be thrilled with competence-porn and low-odds pull-throughs. There IS that, of course, but I'm really surprised to have the character-driven stuff be so strong.

I'm happy. I can't wait for another. :)
Profile Image for La Crosse County Library.
573 reviews171 followers
January 5, 2022
Review originally published September 9, 2021

The Exiled Fleet (2021) picks up right where we left off at the end of The Last Watch and does not let off the gas!

Our crew of Sentinels, led by Excubitor Adequin Rake, are making desperate preparations to return to the galaxy that abandoned them before they all starve. Having stabilized the situation at the Divide, the immediate threat, they're now low on supplies, and there is potential mutiny brewing. 4,000 mouths to feed and their farms and MREs aren't cutting it.



On top of these pressures, Rake is facing an internal crisis of whether she's qualified to run things. She went from overseeing a single ship to thousands of rescued Sentinels. Frankly, she's been through a lot already (let the woman rest!). And more is going to be heaped on her plate. But to get anywhere, they have to get their old rust-bucket ship in shape for long distance travel. It needs a new engine.



That's where snarky cinnamon roll and one of Rake's top engineers, Cavalon, come in. No breaks for him either, or co-engineer, and needed source of common sense, Mesa. Cavalon has to build another star to power the ship and its new jump drive, while not killing them all and destroying the ship. No pressure. (That's where Mesa comes in to do all the needed safety checks.)



Because the Sentinels have largely been flying by the seat of their pants, they are able to make their first big jump successfully, but some important things have been fried, and now they're stuck with precious little fuel (ceronite) to power the warp drive for the rest of their journey.





Rake jumps at the chance to head a risky mission to find more ceronite, which leads to a clash with Cavalon's estranged family, who happen to own one of the last facilities that manufactures the stuff. Chaos ensues.

Naturally, Rake, being Rake, sacrifices herself so the others can get away and bring the ceronite back to the desperate marooned Sentinels. (Every time she does this, Cavalon and Rake's taciturn second, Jackin, gain another gray hair.) It's not only that her team is crucial to the mission, but Rake is loyal and protective to a fault and tends to put others' needs before her own.



An unexpected ally of Jackin's steps in to help, but the odds remain stacked against them. Upping the ante is discovering that Cavalon's dictatorial grandfather, Augustus, is building a weapon that threatens the very survival of humanity, still recovering from a devastating conflict a few generations before. (I have nothing positive to say about that man, so I won't say anything. Read and form your own opinion.)

Full of unexpected twists and turns and relentless action, The Exiled Fleet has me chomping at the bit for the next book. Unfortunately, that may be a while, but I have a feeling it'll be worth the wait! (In the meantime, if you haven't read the first book, The Last Watch, do read it before you try this one. This book will make more sense!)

-Cora

See also:

The Last Watch (2021) by J.S. Dewes

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Profile Image for Tammy.
913 reviews158 followers
August 17, 2021
The nitty-gritty: More action, more danger, more twists and higher stakes, The Exiled Fleet is an enormously fun sequel. Space opera fans will not want to miss this series!

I love when publishers choose to release a sequel only months after the publication of the first book, and now Tor has done that with J.S. Dewes’ debut series The Divide. I just reviewed The Last Watch a mere four months ago, and here we are again, back with Rake and Cavalon and Jack and the rest of the crew. And you should note that this series needs to be read in order, so do not attempt to read The Exiled Fleet first, because I guarantee you’ll be lost. Also, my normal warning about sequel reviews: there may be minor spoilers for the first book.

The story picks up right after the end of The Last Watch. The crew of the Typhos has made a couple of important decisions. First, they’ve sent a small crew to the outer reaches of the Divide to rescue as many ships and people as possible, before the collapse of the Divide can destroy them. Led by Excubitor Adequin Rake, they are also hoping to salvage food and supplies, as they are running dangerously low. Back on the Typhos, Cavalon Mercer is trying to build an actual star on the ship, and if he’s successful, they’ll have enough power to make a jump to the Kharon Gate for much needed supplies.

But when something goes wrong with the jump, the crew must face the fact that in order to fix the problem, they’re going to have to go home—back to the Core, a place they haven’t been in years. Because they are no more than criminals—sent to the Divide as punishment for various reasons—going back could be a suicide mission. With the ruthless Guardians on their tail, the crew will need to forge an alliance with an unlikely source if they have any hope of succeeding in their quest.

This is another case of loving the sequel, but still loving the first book in the series just a little more. Sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint those reasons, but in this case I think The Exiled Fleet was just a touch too “crowded” with new characters, action scenes, detailed worldbuilding elements and even plot twists. It was a lot to take in, to be honest. I felt lost at times as Dewes brings lots of new information to her story, sometimes one surprise right after another. Before I could absorb what had happened, there was yet another shocker just a few pages later. But despite this, Dewes never loses her grip on the story and manages to successfully keep things more or less under control. Never once did I want to put the book down, because the story was just so intense, and I had to find out what was going to happen to these characters I’ve grown to love.

And speaking of characters, I was happy to see even more character development in this book, and I love the way the author puts just as much time into the subtleties of her relationships as she does into her stunning action sequences. At times I felt like this book was a little too long, but I think it’s because she does take a breather now and then to delve into the characters’ backstories. She also isn’t afraid to let her characters indulge in intimate conversations, which may seem counterintuitive for an action-packed story, but these sections ultimately let the reader bond with and root for those characters. I especially enjoyed the shocking things we learn about Cavalon, but we also get new information about Jackin as well, and most of these new revelations raised even more questions and deepened the mysteries surrounding their pasts.

I like the way Rake’s character continues to develop. She’s taken on a huge responsibility—Captain of the Typhus—but she’s not sure she’s ready, or that she’s the best person for the job. Luckily Jackin and the others are there to support her, although I did love that there is a lot of “tough love” between them at times. Rake tends to risk her life in order to make sure the others are safe, and Cavalon and Jackin in particular aren’t too thrilled when she does that.

But you’re here for the action, aren’t you? Dewes does not disappoint in that regard. The Exiled Fleet is even more action-packed than the first book, and that’s saying something. She isn’t afraid to put her characters in danger, and she’s raised the stakes to an unbelievable pitch. There are some very intense scenes in this book, and I felt like I was right there with the characters, in the middle of all the action.

Just when you think the author can’t possibly top her last pulse-pounding action sequence, she raises the bar yet again and gives her readers an unforgettable finale. Get ready for exciting chase scenes through space, explosions, dangerous heists, brushes with death and much much more. I mentioned in my review of The Last Watch that this series could potentially have many, many sequels. Dewes’ world is complex and fascinating, populated with characters who punch through your chest and squeeze your heart, and by the end of The Exiled Fleet, we have more answers than we did before, but not nearly all the answers. The author leaves things on a satisfying note, but the bad guys are still out there. Surely there will be more books at some point, although I haven’t heard anything concrete. Fingers crossed that Dewes is already plotting the course of the next installment!

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
Profile Image for charlotte,.
3,381 reviews1,002 followers
September 6, 2021
On my blog.

Actual rating 2.5

Rep: mc with painkiller addiction & depression, sapphic side characters

Galley provided by publisher

After having read The Last Watch earlier in the year, I thought I would be able to read The Exiled Fleet, knowing just what to expect in terms of enjoyment. I shrugged aside any issues I had with the first (of which… there were a few), and I settled in just to have some fun.

Only. I didn’t.

In the interests of this being spoiler-free, I won’t mention anything of the plot. But. Suffice to say it was… somehow less interesting than the first one? And I didn’t find the first all that special. Even though, in that case, it went by at breakneck pace, keeping you on the edge of your seat with what was happening, and why. Here, it was a lot slower, and dragged a lot too.

I think that was, in part, an effect of the decision to have the first half or so of the book focusing more on the characters’ reactions to the events of book one. Which wouldn’t have been a problem, if it had felt like there was some forward progression in terms of plot. Instead, all of that came in the second half, by which point I’d already found myself quite bored.

Maybe I could have foreseen this: I did, actually, skim a fair bit of book one, in hindsight, and, ultimately, ended up doing the same here. It’s not that the story wasn’t exciting once it got going—it was more that the pacing just didn’t work for me. In all honesty, there didn’t seem to be enough plot to extend the story to two, fairly chunky, books.

The real reason I kept going to the end was, of course, Cavalon. His were the chapters that I enjoyed most, and his was the plotline I was most interested in. The reveals towards the end, I didn’t see coming (although, conversely, I don’t think they were quite telegraphed enough? Or maybe they were and I just missed it from skimming), and the kind of thing that might convince me to read a putative book three.

But for the fact that I’m not sure I can really say I enjoyed book two.
Profile Image for julia ☆ [owls reads].
1,755 reviews368 followers
July 25, 2021
#1 The Last Watch: ★★★★★ | 5 stars

*
4 stars!

*

Told you I wouldn't let go.


The Exiled Fleet left me so tense? There was so much at stake and so many things going on at the same time that it was difficult for me to not worry about everyone and everything lol Dewe's writing continued to be excellent, though there was a bit of a tone shift to something more somber and desperate than in the first novel. But I guess that was to be expected?

I really loved how much the world-building continued to expand here. We learned quiiiite a few things about this world, its history, and its people. Some I was not expecting at all! But others made sense with what was presented to us in The Last Watch. It was super fun, personally, to see those pieces coming together.

Cavalon and Rake were going through a really tough time here which was understandable after everything that happened. My one (1) issue with it was Rake's self-sacrificial bs and how many times it came into play throughout the story. I really really didn't appreciate how that was used multiple times to create angst and a sense of danger. I think Dewes could have found a better way to write conflict into the story that didn't rely so heavily on that.

Special mention to one twist regarding Cavalon that I loved! with all of my heart! and I seriously cannot wait to see how it's going to affect the story moving forward and what he's going to do with that information.

Overall, The Exiled Fleet was a solid and entertaining read. I didn't enjoy it as much as The Last Watch, but I did like that it gave us so many important things to consider about this universe going forward.

*

Series: #2 in The Divide series.
POV: Told from Rake and Cavalon's POVs.
Content Warnings:
Cliffhanger: No.
HEA:
Up Next: TBA.

*

Pre-reading:>

I am ready to be consumed by the void \o/

*

ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for M.J. Kuhn.
Author 2 books412 followers
March 17, 2021
ALRIGHT WHERE DO I EVEN START?!

I literally bought a kindle for the express purpose of reading the ARC I got of this book, and it was 100% worth it haha. After reading the first book in the series, THE LAST WATCH, I had high hopes for THE EXILED FLEET, and let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint. If anything, I liked this installment of the series even better than I had liked the first - which is saying something, if you check the records, I also 5*'d the heck out of the first one!

The stakes are still sky-high (or higher, actually. get it? space joke.), the characters nuanced and wonderfully relatable as they continue their journey, both literally and figuratively. Much of the old gang is back, plus some new faces like Owen who were just as delightful to get to know as the original cast.

The science and tech feels believably complex without alienating me (a quite non-technical reader), and the world of the story just gets more fascinating and complex and wonderful the more you get to know about it. Calling it right now, JS Dewes is going to be one of the next masters of sci fi, and I can already tell she's got a long career ahead of her, which is great for all of us, because it means we get to read more of her awesome books.

TL;DR, if I could give this book 6 stars I would, and I am already CHOMPING AT THE BIT for book three in the series.
Profile Image for Mogsy.
2,120 reviews2,681 followers
August 31, 2021
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2021/08/30/...

Another fantastic installment in The Divide series! In this second book The Exiled Fleet, we join Rake and the rest of her crew following the exhilarating (and heartbreaking) events at the end of The Last Watch. I will begin by reiterating what I said for my review of the first novel: this series would be great for fans of The Expanse, and perfect for tiding you over if you’re like me and waiting impatiently for Leviathan Falls.

As The Exiled Fleet opens, we’re catching up with our characters shortly after they’ve narrowly escaped being swallowed up by the crumbling edge of the Divide, or the boundary of the universe beyond which nothing exists. Be aware that the books of this series are meant to be read in order and that this review may reveal possible spoilers for the previous novel if you’re not caught up. Adequin Rake and her ragtag group of Sentinels, formerly assigned to patrol the Divide to guard against any known and unknown threats, are focused on a new directive now that the edge of the universe has started to collapse. Having sustained losses, their current numbers are fewer, but Rake knows she has to put aside her grief in order to do her job and save as many lives as possible. The Sentinels need supplies to survive, and as food and other vital resources begin to dwindle, a new plan is needed—and swiftly—before they all starve to death out here in the middle of nowhere.

But of course, that’s not where their troubles end. Upon getting the jump drives back online, the crew discover another problem, one that will require them to venture back into the densely populated Core from which many of the Sentinels—made up of mostly criminals, court martialed ex-soldiers, and other societal misfits—have been exiled. They have been away from home for so long that no one is really sure what to expect, but soon, being hunted makes it necessary to seek an alliance from an unlikely source.

Like The Last Watch, this sequel also left me with such an adrenaline rush when I finished. Granted, I thought the journey to that point was a little bit more meandering and jumbled this time around, due to there being so much more at stake and all this other stuff happening at once. And despite all the action and high energy, I also felt the overall tone of this novel was more subdued, possibly because of the main character’s mindset. It’s true that everyone has been through so much, but given that there are only a few months between the release dates of the first and second book, it’s also entirely possible that I was still feeling the effects of the events at the end of The Last Watch, which were pretty fresh on my mind. Rake feels like she’s barely holding herself together, and though I could sympathize with her situation, I think her emotions and impulsiveness might have also led to a more pervasive melodramatic vibe.

But heck, there was so much more in this novel that was done fantastically. I continue to enjoy the found family dynamic, for one. Even as Rake, Cavalon, and Jackin take on more prominent roles, the other characters are there to support them. Author J.S. Dewes also uses this sequel as an opportunity to develop some backstories, and some of these major revelations may shock and surprise you. Not only do these new twists make me wonder where things will go from here, they also make me feel a lot more invested in the characters and how they will deal with the fallout.

As well, I was thrilled with the robust expansion of the world-building and lore. For instance, there was plenty of insight gained into the history and motivations of the Viators, adding more intrigue to what we already know about this hostile alien race. Everything about this world just grow more fascinating the more I learn about it. The action sequences also helped keep me on the edge of my seat, and even though these high-tension scenes were pretty spread out and uneven in the first half of the book, the second half kept them rolling in steadily, providing plenty of excitement that carried me through to the end.

The conclusion definitely sets us up for more possibilities, and if indeed there’s another installment in the works, I hope it won’t be too long of a wait. Needless to say, I would highly recommend this series for sci-fi fans who enjoy character-oriented stories and lots of action.
Profile Image for Brent.
469 reviews63 followers
October 5, 2021
I feel pretty let down by this follow-up to a book I really liked. When it comes to sequels in series I always want them to keep the bones of what I enjoyed about book 1, but expand the story, the world, the scope, the complexity. I'm not really sure how much this book really even tries to do any of that let alone succeeds.

It's true that all of the bones about the series that I loved in book 1 are here. Rake, Cavalon, the crew side characters, the tech, the scrappy can-do-underdog story. However, when I felt things really got moving at the end of the book 1 I was ready for book 2 to take off and really expand the story. Instead this book feels like it is spinning its wheels. Just when I thought things were really going to kick into gear nope X problem keeps our team from doing all that much. Then comes some sort of heist plot that doesn't end up mattering and pretty much only exists to introduce us to the main series villain and some revelations about why they are said villain. The problem is everything about it is completely underwhelming and not at all what I wanted from the series. After that I found myself just becoming bored with the rest as it all felt like retreading the same ground.

It will be some time before book 3 in this series is published so I'm not sure if I will continue or not at that point. Also, I'm not sure if book 3 is supposed to be the final book, or if there will be more. If it is supposed to be the end of the story there is a lot of ground to cover to have a satisfying conclusion.
Profile Image for Clare.
46 reviews36 followers
August 27, 2021
This brilliant author keeps making me cry, and keeping me up into the small hours thinking about her characters and all the things that happen to them.

If I'd thought the first book was intense, the second had me gaping and stopping reading for a moment just to absorb the new developments. And the signs were there, I just hadn't spotted Dewes' carefully placed clues!

But for all the lows, there were also incredible highs, and I was laughing along with Cavalon, Adequin and the rest of the crew as they both fought and schemed their way out of tricky situations (and back into them again!)

Unfortunately, I probably now have to wait aeons for the third book. My mind's going crazy theorising all the new directions the sequel could go in. There is so much more at stake now, and I really can't wait to see how it all pans out.

This has become one of my all-time favourite series, with my all-time favourite characters.

(I'm now gonna push this book into as many friends' and family's hands as I can, just so we can suffer together.)
Profile Image for Leather.
439 reviews10 followers
February 7, 2022
Good ideas, certainly, but the writing is not at the level of the story. It's very rough and very melodramatic.
The avalanches of introspection of the characters, based on doubts, guilt and useless little summaries, are very painful to read.
From a scientific point of view, it's nonsense.
And, as usual, it's too long...
Profile Image for Bee.
432 reviews3 followers
March 13, 2023
AAAAAAARRRRGGGGHHH! Bloody HELL I WISH I knew this was not the last book in the series. I really hate starting to read something if it's not all published. The chance of remembering enough of the story to finish the series without rereading the whole damn thing is so small that i probably wont finish this. Which sucks, because it has no right being as enjoyable as it is!

Profile Image for S.M..
18 reviews
August 28, 2021
The Exiled Fleet, the sophomore effort of author J.S. Dewes, is not a simple action-packed, mind-bending sci-fi space opera. Yes, it has all of that, but these descriptions leave out the most critical element of Dewes's Divide series: the human connection. I know, I know, it sounds cliché, and I make it a point to avoid platitudes about character-centric stories that dissect the human experience...but I'm making something of an exception here.

Since that discussion will involve some mild spoilers, I will come back to that at the end of the review and get all the other great stuff out of the way. The Exiled Fleet is the follow-up to Dewes's The Last Watch, released earlier this year. It is damn hard to strike gold twice, and while I see no need to compare the two novels to say which is better, I will say The Exiled Fleet did not disappoint after the amazing read that was The Last Watch.

Like its predecessor, The Exiled Fleet features some interesting astrophysics and more standard science fiction elements that will not let down fans of that subject matter. These are used with particular exception in the action sequences, which is the one aspect of this novel I will say feels more polished than The Last Watch. It is always a delight when an author can integrate world-building to help propel the plot and drive the action, and Dewes delivers that in spades here.

The plot itself expands upon the building blocks set in place by The Last Watch. For those who enjoyed the immediate threat of the Divide itself, you might be a touch disappointed that much of this novel takes place away from that danger. However, it remains an almost spectral presence lingering over the events, and it was a constant itch in the back of my mind, no matter what else was occurring. Expect more exploration of a certain royal family that controls the galaxy, run by a seemingly amoral autocrat. (Readers of The Last Watch should instantly know who we're talking about here.) This enhances the scope of an already (literally) universal story in ways that I hope (and wholeheartedly expect) we will read more of in the future.

Now, about those characters... (Mild spoilers will follow)

Dewes blew me away in her debut novel by really fleshing out two archetypes (Rake and Cavalon) into real characters with charm, flaws, ambitions, insecurities, et cetera, and she has done it yet again, this time in how these characters have formed bonds and how their relationships have and continue to develop.

If you have not read The Last Watch, I highly recommend checking that out before diving into The Exiled Fleet if you enjoy explorations of deep characters, fast-paced action, and space/sci-fi. If you have read The Last Watch, The Exiled Fleet should leave a similar impression. For me, that impression is some of the best science fiction I've ever read.
Profile Image for Steve Koppel.
68 reviews
August 20, 2021
While it captivated me as quickly as Last Watch did, it did take me more than a few pages to reacquainted with the crew. The book begins in medias res, and approx. 6 months after TLW. Names and ranks tossed about jarred me momentarily – readers who skipped LTW will be lost (WHY WOULD YOU SKIP LTW?!), but I got comfortable quickly. If I have one brief complaint, it’s that I wish we had a Divide wiki or appendix that explained rank and some of the history. A galaxy map would be a dream. I had the same critique with LTW as well. I absolutely kills me I can’t research the history of this universe! My OCD for backstory is putting the hairs on the back of my neck on edge!

But I guess if my one minor criticism for the book is just wanting more of it, it’s not a terrible thing.

We’re in an whole new world of shit as TEF picks up. The old crew joined by new members, as Rake has spent the last 5 months saving as many Sentinels from the Divide as she could and taking every loss just as hard. Meanwhile Cav is working to jumpstart the Typhos’ engines (which happens to be a miniature star). Supplies are dwindling and a decision has to be made – a team has to jump back home, back to the Core. A Core that views the group as, at best criminals, at worst traitors. And a Core that is home to Cav’s grandfather, a wannabe dictator of the known universe.

Dewes Introduces new characters and a much larger look into the politics of this universe. We are given a deeper look into the characters we grew to love in TLW, with some surprising reveals that are spoiler heavy to even hint at. Many new questions are raised. The ever collapsing universe is still a threat, but is put on the backburner here, at least for now. But the implications of it emerge again by the time we reach the final chapters, and I’ll just leave it at that.

Thankfully, again, we aren’t left with a cliffhanger by the time we reach the final page. But that doesn’t mean the story is over. I feel as though Dewes has created such a deep and complex universe that the story can go anywhere, at any time. Questions are raised in the final chapters that made me audibly gasp – a more than one I said out loud, “oh, shit.”

Do not wait to read this. If you enjoyed TLW, don't hesitate. And if you haven't read TLW, do it. Do it now.

It hard to want more from an author who gave us 2 amazing books in a single year, but readers are a greedy bunch. I can't wait for another!
Profile Image for Geonn Cannon.
Author 105 books184 followers
August 19, 2021
Dear God, everybody stop chewing on your damn lip. I know food rations are scarce but you're going to eat the bottom half of your face at this rate. I actually did a search and counted over twenty instances of someone chewing their lip or the inside of their cheek. I didn't dock a star for it, because I know how easy it can be to drop these tics into a book as space fillers/giving the character action so they're not just standing there reciting dialogue, but it DOUBLED from the last book (because yep, the first one also had a slew of "chewed her/his lip" moments). Hopefully the next book gets it under control because yikes.

I'm sorry to spend so much of the review on this. I really did enjoy the book (even if the male narrator had an annoying Rod Serling-esque accent that got on my nerves) and I'm absolutely looking forward to the next one. Just... if it takes longer than four months to do an extra editing pass to catch all the lip-chewing, I wouldn't be too upset.
Profile Image for Mendhak.
269 reviews4 followers
October 10, 2021
The author does a good job of building an interesting universe, but the story is brought down by a set of characters who can only interact with each other using a limited, repetitive set of facial animations, and for some reason it's mostly centered around the jaw.

---

"Void, Rake, not again!" Cavalon ground his teeth.

Mesa quirked an eyebrow.

Rake clenches her jaw, "This is the only way."

Jackin quirks an eyebrow "Only to do what?"

Cavalon, jaws flexing, "She's martyring herself for the 2nd time in this book!"

"Void, Rake, this is getting tiresome" Jackin glowered.

"See?" Cavalon retorted, cheeks ablaze.

Mesa quirked her eyebrow above her overlarge eyes, "Excubitor, considering that I am the Spock of this story, may I make a logical statement for no reason?"

Adequin flexed her jaw as she leveled a look at them, "As I've explained before, the plot armor will ensure my survival. Now, leave me behind, that is an order!"

Profile Image for Avdotja.
319 reviews30 followers
October 1, 2021
I love misfits, reluctant heroes, strong characters (gender doesn't matter).
The story is simple but gripping. What makes it work are the insecurities of characters, their self-doubt, their determination to not quit.
Cavalon is a wise-ass who is only now figuring out that who you are is so much more than who you were born as.
Rake is, at heart, a lost child. Always giving everything just so she can prove to herself that she belongs.
Viators are an interesting species and we are only now beginning to understand their motivations.
But the real danger comes from within. The human arrogance and complete disregard for human lives. We are our own worse enemies.
And the universe? The universe does not give a damn about either us or them.

Really, really looking forward to the next book(s).
Profile Image for Chip.
858 reviews52 followers
September 22, 2021
If I were (much) younger and/or less demanding of what I read, I would have thought more of this book. However, the vast number of ridiculous coincidences for the sake of the author’s desired plot have become absurd, as is the ease with which the various heroic protagonists readily solve and utilize vastly powerful alien technologies. Just too much (waves hands) plot magic.
Profile Image for Crowinator.
824 reviews366 followers
September 23, 2022
Don't sleep on this thrilling space opera series. Great characters with a found-family, underdogs-coming-together vibe, fascinating world-building, and a great mix of exciting action, suspense, and character-building moments that make you care about what happens to them. This sequel delivered and then some, and I really, really, really need a third book STAT. Hope it's coming in 2023!
Profile Image for Rachana Hegde.
Author 5 books53 followers
August 30, 2021
Yeah. This book made me cry. But the two weeks I spent listening to this audiobook and the Last Watch were pretty incredible.

The narrators were amazing - the way they captured each character's personality in the tone and cadence of their voice. I expected nothing less after the first book blew my mind but hearing Cavalon’s familiar grumbling felt like coming home. There’s such a good balance in POV and the switches always felt so natural too. Nailing that balance and the pacing while still having lots of A+ dialogue and character development is not easy. And we always have a sense of the larger and smaller stakes that are motivating the characters to risk their lives (while bantering with each other of course). I think I was craving a book like this without knowing it - misfit cast who clearly care about each other and would do anything to save each other, world ending stakes, and lots of sci fi stuff that I barely understand but mostly makes sense.

This series is such an escape. A massively relatable escape what with Cavalon’s anxiety attacks. He struggles so much with feelings of uselessness - with this desire to prove his worth and live up to Rake’s expectations - and it really made me want to hug him. Also he can be inordinately dumb sometimes for such a clever guy and it’s hilarious. Plus his whole not cool under pressure thing is relatable as hell. Anxiety can make it hard to stay calm or emotionally stable and I can't even explain how comforting it was to see myself in a character this way.

I love that Cavalon and Adequin’s friendship solidifies even more in this book. It feels a little more like they’re equals now. One of my favorite scenes is when they’re in uh [redacted] and Cavalon hugs Rake and then says he knows you’re not supposed to hug superior officers. There are so many funny sweet moments sprinkled like this throughout the book and even his sarcastic humour is a refreshing contrast to their tension filled race to save the Sentinels. I love that Cavalon and Rake open up to each other more but also that they'll do whatever it takes to save each other. Cavalon looks up to her so much, he may as well be wearing a “What Would Rake Do?” T shirt. In fact, Adequin inspired me too. Despite her uncertainty and sometimes questionable decisions - she has so much compassion and strength and courage to pull off everything that she does.

The rest of the cast is just as vivid and full of personality. Even minor characters - like Emery with her signature gum chewing - make an impression. It’s impossible not to want to get to know the Sentinels, secrets and all. Other favorites include Owen the computer genius (“code monkey” as she calls herself). (It was funny how Cavalon can inspire so much loyalty in a friend without even knowing it!) And Mesa the Savant - seriously brilliant and she knows it.

I really missed Griffith. I didn’t expect to get so invested in his friendship/romance with Adequin in such a short time but his death in the previous book made me cry. Their bond was so real and I was disappointed I wouldn’t get to see him in action some more. He and Rake are true equals and one of the best literary pairs I’ve ever read about.

Finally, I could kiss Jackin for being a level headed cynical thorn in Rake’s side. He knows what she needs to hear and he always has her back even when she tries to push him away. It’s not an easy friendship but it’s such a refreshing dynamic where he’s not just a grovelling second in command or the unconditionally supportive best friend. He sees the best in her but he also challenges her and questions her while still respecting Adequin and believing in her.

For the first time, I actually paused the audiobook a bunch to note down quotes that really struck me so..ta da!
Quotes
"Confidence forges competence."

"It’s hard when friends leave, regardless of why."

"I need you to not need me."

"Sometimes the decision you want to make isn’t the one you can."

“Nothing and no one was holding me back but myself. If you accept who you really are, you can use it to start fresh. Let it fuel your purpose, not drag you down. ”

“You don’t have to be proud of your past, Cav,” she said. “But you should be proud of your present.”

“You see his past as a collection of the things that made him who he is,” Ford continued, “so you think understanding that will help you understand him. But he doesn’t see them as what’s formed him, he sees them as the hurdles he’s gotten past to end up here.”

“Jackin survived the past by not living in it. She’d always feared if she forgot her past, she’d be doomed to make the same mistakes again and again. But if he didn’t forget his, he might drown in it.”

“I’d promised myself I’d stop sacrificing for people, but … that’s not how it works, is it? When you love someone, it’s not sacrifice, it’s just the thing you’re going to do.”

“Earlier,” Jackin continued, voice low and scratchy, “when I said you’d been leaning on me so much … honestly, I relished it. That you felt like I could offer you even a shred of advice. That’s the kind of difference I’d always wanted to make.”

“There’s something you said to me,” she began, voice soft, “back when we restarted that first dark energy generator. After my harness ripped, and I fell, and you came after me. You said that if we didn’t have a good hold on each other, you might lose me…After what happened with Griffith, it stuck with me,” she went on. “With every generator I restarted, I couldn’t stop thinking about it … how easy it is to get complacent. To let go of people and not realize you’ve even lost your grip...I think I did that with Jackin. I never meant to. I was so focused on what I needed from him, I lost sight of what he needed from me. I feel like I let go.…I don’t intend to make that mistake again,” she said, tone wavering. “I won’t let you go.”
Profile Image for Jessica Willis.
219 reviews
July 27, 2023
3.5⭐

This book honestly dragged for me the first half. I picked up this series bc I was told there'd be a found family trope. And while there is a good group, Cal and Rake are the best duo in this and the main reason I'm continuing the series. They play off each other well and I love how emotional their relationship can get. So the fact they didn't have many interactions in the beginning made the book suffer. As soon as they went on their own misadventure, I was a lot more invested. And learning more about their pasts was very 👀👀 overall an entertaining, action filled series!
Profile Image for Susanna.
Author 49 books73 followers
August 22, 2021
The Exiled Fleet is the second book in The Divide sci-fi series by J. S. Dewes. It starts six months after The Last Watch ended for Cavalon, and five weeks after it for Adequin Rake, thanks to time distortions created by faster than light travel and the void at the edge of the universe where the Sentinels have been posted.

At the end of the first book, the crew of discarded soldiers stopped the shrinking of the universe by activating the devices created by the alien race that humans have tried to wipe out of existence. Not that anyone knows they’ve saved the universe, because they have been deliberately abandoned to their fates at the Divide, the edge of the void.

Rake has been busy saving what was left of the Sentinels and activating the rest of the devices. It’s been only five weeks for her, and she’s still reeling from everything and mourning the death of her lover. Returning to the ancient ship that is the only thing that survived the void is difficult for her, and being greeted as a heroic leader by people who have had months to recover is a bit too much for her.

Meanwhile, Cavalon, the disowned prince of the ruling family of the universe, has been busy building a genius engine that will allow them to make warp jumps with the engineless star ship. But the first jump burns all their fuel, stranding four thousand Sentinels to starve to death unless they can find more. Rake instantly seizes the chance to head on to another adventure. Anything to escape the people she’s made herself responsible of.

The quest isn’t easy. Cavalon’s grandfather has destroyed all but one factory that makes the fuel to control the FTL travel. The small crew must venture deep into the core of the galaxy, a perilous journey that’ll take them straight to the heart of the empire, the palace of the emperor Cavalon has made his best to escape all his life. There he learns some truths about himself that nearly make him destroy himself again. And Rake has to make yet another sacrifice to save the people she’s responsible for.

This book was slower to start than the first. Events were constantly in motion, yet it felt like nothing happened. Once the quest got underway, the pace picked up and kept me in its grips. The character dynamics, especially the friendship between Rake and Cavalon, were as odd as they were in the first book. Partly that’s because apart from those two, I didn’t remember any of the characters. There were no introductions or reminders about who they were to the story and other characters, so I never quite understood what the characters went through (looking at you, Jackin). But we learned a lot about Rake’s and Cavalon’s pasts, which gave depth to them.

In a way, this felt like a smaller book too. The first book took mostly place in a large star ship with constant buzz and random characters creating havoc. Most of this one took place in a small cruiser with a compact cast, and even though they travelled long distances to achieve the impossible, the focus was always within the group.

I liked how the universe expanded though, with new peoples and places added to it. The alien technology was a good way to achieve the impossible tasks the crew had to accomplish without quite feeling like deus ex machina solutions (apart from the ending). However, the addition of the mystical element that brings the universe and the fates of the people where they need to be, felt a bit too much.

I like where the crew ended at. It offered a conclusion while setting the adventures of the next book. I’m looking forward to reading that.

I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Elena Linville.
Author 1 book76 followers
December 19, 2021
Stars: 5 out of 5.

I thought the first book was excellent (and you can read my review if you are interested), because it introduced us to an unusual world full of flawed but engaging characters who were faced with an impossible situation. It was literally life or death. The book was fast-paced and very readable. I'm happy to say that the second book lives up the expectations set up by the first. Rake and the Sentinels have stopped the progression of the Divide and saved the galaxy, but the fact remains that the Legion abandoned them at the edge of nowhere. Their reserves are dwindling, morale is low, and Cav is once again faced with an impossible task - invent a warp drive from scratch to move the giant derelict ship towards the only existing warp gate and into the galaxy proper. If he can't succeed, all the remaining Sentinels (that's four thousand people) starve to death. No pressure.

I thought the stakes were high in the first book. Well, they are even higher here. Especially for Rake and Cav. Because it doesn't matter that you managed to save as many Sentinels as you could from the collapsing Divide. If you can't get them back into the inhabited part of the universe and find a base of operations.

As I had mentioned in the first book, the author has a talent for creating very relatable characters. And I'm not just talking about the main protagonists, but also about most of the supporting characters. Some of them are only introduced for a couple pages, and I'm already in love with them. Like all the Corsairs and grumpy Gideon.

In this book, most of your characters will have to face the consequences of their past actions and inactions. Rake will call on a life debt she'd never planned to have. Cav will discover an earth shattering truth about his past. and Jackin... let's just say that we learn a lot more about who he was, and how he ended up with the Sentinels.

All of them will have to deal with the past and also find a new purpose and a way to move on. Because no matter how monumental a task escaping the Divide was, what awaits them is even bigger. Because the universe is about to get a lot smaller, and a lot of races will fight over the available real estate. Humanity has to present a united front or be wiped out. And right now, humanity is anything but united. Rake and Cav have their job cut out for them. But at least now they have a lot more allies and resources. 

I can't wait to see where this story will go from here. I really hope a certain character is still alive, and that our heroes will mount a successful rescue in the next book.

PS: I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Bunny the Reader.
213 reviews10 followers
August 22, 2023
První díl nasadil laťku velmi vysoko a druhý díl nepolevil, naopak ještě přidal. Série je od začátku nabitá akcí, skoro každá kapitola obsahuje střípek, který postupně složí obrovský obraz, kterým je promyšlená zápletka a věřte mi, že ta je fakt mistrovská. To, co na úvodu byly jen nepodstatné informace, dostaly v pokračování větší formu a já se nestačila divit, jak to má autorka promyšlené. Postav je zde trošku více, ale neskutečně mě baví interakce se všemi a nemůžu říct, že bych si k někomu nenašla cestu. Postupně se dozvídáme i jejich backstory, což je můj oblíbený detail, jelikož odbalujeme skryté minulosti a můžeme postavám ještě více porozumět.
Nechybí zde ani originální zpracování světa, ke kterému se pojí třeba mimozemské rasy a samotná politika. S tím souvisí také intriky a pasti, se kterými se naši hrdinové setkají. Tyto části byly upřímně asi moje nejoblíbenější, jelikož jsem si pořád říkala, s čím ještě autorka přijde a jak jim může víc podkopávat nohy proboha? Nebojí se pořádně zavařit a hnát postavy až na samotný okraj jejich sil. Druhý díl jsem si každopádně užila snad ještě víc, než první, jelikož napětí stoupá a já se nemůžu dočkat, k čemu celé vyústění povede. Pokud vás odrazuje délka, tak věřte, že budete milovat každou stránku a zaručuji vám, že stejně tak se nebudete nudit. Myslíte si, že už se chytáte a nic vás nepřekvapí? Jo, tak ve výsledku to ale bude úplně jinak. Tato série si mě instantně získala a já nevím, jak sakra vydržím čekat na finále, které ještě ani není dopsané v aj, takže jak se řeší podobná krize, prosím?
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kniha v rámci spolupráce s Knihy Dobrovský
Profile Image for Nina.
1,035 reviews14 followers
October 19, 2021
I'm still loving this series, and I think the main reason is that the characters are SO well developed and feel fully human, and their relationships with each other grow realistically. I especially love the relationship between Rake and Cavalon, and I love it BECAUSE you can really feel the chemistry between them, but it's not at all romantic. They just grow together and support each other and trust each other in all the most important ways, and I loved it. And then there's Jackin, who is awesome and slowly revealed, and Mesa and Owen and Emery and even Puck. There are just so many people doing their best to do their best, ya know? And some really good stuff about holding on and letting go and grudges and mistakes.

And then also, yeah, there's like a bunch of science and action and a bit of politics and twists and turns that are really fun to read.

So if you love character studies and deepening relationships but in the setting of SPACE BATTLES and shit, this book is for you.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
277 reviews18 followers
June 24, 2023
[4.5 stars]

I was fooled into thinking this was just a duology because the story is definitely not finished at its end (there isn't necessarily a cliffhanger, though).

Once again, reading the adventures of the Sentinels played with my emotions and I fell in love with the characters all over again. And the pacing and way the action scenes are written just made me feel so tense and anxious and yeah I just love when books are able to make me feel that way.
Profile Image for Helen.
912 reviews2 followers
September 23, 2021
My favourite part is still the exchanges between Cav and Rake.
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