Last Updated on February 6, 2023 by ThoughtsStained
So, we’re going to skip over the part where I mentioned I need to finish reading series. But instead, I started three new ones in January. š But, after seeing Caitlin @ Realms of My Mind purchase a few books I’ve recced her, it seemed only fair I finally read one overdue on my TBR that she placed there. So, it was finally time to read The Last Watch by J.S. Dewes.
No one warned me how much it would hurt. š
Book Info
Publisher: Tor Books | Release Date: April 2021 | Pages: 481
Age Range: Adult | Genre: Science Fiction | Format: Paperback | Source: Bought
The Expanse meets Game of Thrones in J. S. Dewes’s fast-paced, sci-fi adventure The Last Watch, where a handful of soldiers stand between humanity and annihilation.
The Divide.
Itās the edge of the universe.
Now itās collapsingāand taking everyone and everything with it.
The only ones who can stop it are the Sentinelsāthe recruits, exiles, and court-martialed dregs of the military.
At the Divide, Adequin Rake commands the Argus. She has no resources, no commsānothing, except for the soldiers that no one wanted. Her ace in the hole could be Cavalon Mercerāgenius, asshole, and exiled prince who nuked his grandfather’s genetic facility for āreasons.ā
She knows theyāre humanity’s last chance.
On the Page
- Abandonment
- Banishment
- Beating
- Dead bodies
- Death of a loved one
- Grief and loss depiction
- Gun violence
- Hallucinations
- Imprisonment/incarceration
- Military service and deployment
- PTSD
- Terminal illness
- War themes and military violence
Referenced
- Needles
Minor
Content warnings are written up by me, unless specified. Subject to being an incomplete list, though guided by referencing this list and trying to highlight as many as I can identify.
Review
Likes
- Multi-POV. I absolutely seeing the multiple POV storytelling between Rake and Cavalon’s POVs. It was so absolutely enjoyable and well written!
- I will die for Adequin Rake. She can be my commanding officer any day. I will absolutely follow her to the ends of the universe (literally).
- The plot! Positively blown away by the basic premise of this novel. It was fantastic. And the way it blended humor and heart is honestly my favorite aspect.
Dislikes
- My brain is not made for space. That’s not to say that the tech, jargon and space lingo was impossible to understand. Honestly, for hardcore sci-fi fans, it was probably easy. But as an only occasional sci-fi reader, oof. My brain. It did not compute.
- Yet that didn’t steal from my enjoyment, honestly. I still adored this book.
Rating
So, you know how I said I don’t cry easily in books, when I was reviewing The Helm of Midnight by Marina Lostetter? Well, apparently call me a liar, because I was bawling at the end of The Last Watch. Absolutely bawling. J.S. Dewes, you know what you did. And I know why, but dammit. It hurt my heart so bad.
But seriously, if you enjoy sci-fi that has the heart and humor akin to Becky Chambers, I think you’ll love this book. I am stoked to read the sequel and see just what Rake does next. A reckoning is coming and I am rooting for it on all sides.
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Sure you started a new series, but if you just read just ONE MORE BOOK, you’ll be all caught up on a series, how about that?? And, you know, that book happens to be just as amazingly awesome. But yay, glad you enjoyed it!!
That’s so true (and I may have, um, went and bought said book last week, oops). I’m so glad I did, too!!
Sure you started a new series, Iām so glad I did, too!!
This has been on my TBR for a while! I think the fact that it’s part of a series is the main reason I’ve been holding off on reading it but you renewed my interest so I’ll probably try to pick it up soon!
Ahhh, I hope you read it, Sara, and enjoy it! I think it’s “only” a duology (which the second book out) so hopefully that makes it a little less daunting? But it’s so, so good!!