The Last Watch (Divide Series, #1)

by J. S. Dewes

[Quirky Cat]

J.S. Dewes' debut novel, The Last Watch, is ready and primed to blow science fiction fans out o the water (out of the atmosphere?). It's the first novel in The Divide series, and I'm already looking forward to the sequel.

The Divide sits at the edge of the universe. It is the space between the stars – and nothingness. Here, the Sentinels stand guard: the old, the infirm, the rebellious, and the stubborn remainders of the military.

Adequin Rake has made her life here. She's the commander of the Argus, and while the post runs on limited supplies, she makes it work. That is, she did. Right up until something changed in the Divide, and that changed the role she had to play.

“There was something off-putting about utilizing technology created by a species that had all but wiped out your own, even if the war had ended centuries ago.”

The Last Watch is marketed as a novel for fans of Game of Thrones and The Expanse. Having read the novel, I don't think that description does The Last Watch justice. This was simultaneously the most detailed and compelling science fiction novel I've read in quite some time.

I think what really got me was how human each character felt. It wasn't just Rake (though there is that – she was easily my favorite character and perspective). All of the secondary characters felt fleshed out as well, though some more than others. Cavalon's personality (one part humor, one part sardonic pain in the butt) helped to balance out the otherwise strong military feel that many characters brought with them (looking at you, Rake).

Even the reason for being out in the Divide carried with it a certain sense of weight. As did their lack of supplies. All of that added to the complexity of the situation, naturally. But it also made it all feel so much more realistic.

“Sentinel, Sentinel at the black – do not blink or turn your back. You must stand ready to stem the tide, lest Viators come to cross the Divide.”

All of the details in The Last Watch helped to build toward some seriously epic moments. Even that feels like an understatement. If you're a fan of science fiction where everything is on the line (sometimes literally), then this book is going to thrill you.

Amazingly, the next novel, The Exiled Fleet, has already been written. Better yet, it looks like it's expected to publish in August. So sit down and get ready because I just know that it is going to be one hell of a ride.

Thanks to Tor Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks