The Last Watch, a novel which I can scarcely believe is a debut, was marketed as "Game of Thrones meets The Expanse." That comparison does not do this novel a fraction of the justice it deserves—but we'll come back to that. In The Last Watch, author J.S. Dewes tells the story of a reluctant ship captain riddled with guilt and a newcomer to her crew, a member of the royal family who has screwed up royally (my only pun, I swear!), as they face a threat of literally universal proportions. Along the way, both characters are taken on a journey that results in some of the strongest character development I have come across in sci-fi, and unlike other sci-fi stories I will opt not to call out by name, it does not feature a generic, boring protagonist surrounded by infinitely more interesting characters.
That is perhaps what surprised me most about the novel. In the beginning, we are introduced to Cavalon Mercer, a smartass, aloof, disobedient man who seems to enjoy getting under the skin of authority figures. Opposite him is Adequin Rake, commander of the ship Cavalon has been dumped on, and she is no-nonsense, tough as nails, and humorless. You know the types, because you have seen them countless times...except Dewes is not content with cookie-cutter archetypes, and what on the surface seems to be a story about cut-and-paste characters very quickly turns into a surprisingly heartfelt (and heart-pumping) tale about two deep, fleshed-out characters that repeatedly defy the stereotypes you initially think these characters are going to adhere to.
Cavalon and Adequin, accompanied by a satisfyingly well-rounded cast of supporting characters, operate within an equally compelling narrative that features some of the most intense, jaw-dropping space sci-fi I have ever read. If this were ever turned into a film (and god, does it deserve a film adaptation), I can just imagine all the visual flair and mind-blowing effects that would easily rival Christopher Nolan's Interstellar. Aside from that, the novel's pacing never wavers, slowing for deeper character moments at all the right beats while never lingering too long before thrusting the characters (and readers) into another fast-paced, high-stakes string of scenarios.
Whether your preference when reading sci-fi is nerding out over the scope of the plot, the science-oriented aspects that get our characters out of danger with clever problem-solving and applying the rules of the universe (whether real or fabricated for the novel), or exploring the depth of human characters in all their flaws, failings, and enduring spirit, this is one of those novels that I believe has something for just about everybody. For me personally, the novel was at its best when it subverted expectations for how either of the protagonists would be expected to behave. There is a specific chapter involving a spacewalk that really gripped me and made me realize these characters were could never be relied upon to act how I expected.
To close, I will circle back to my first point. The Last Watch is sort of Game of Thrones meets The Expanse—though I feel neither comparison captures the essence of the story. The premise of individuals being punished by being sent to the edge of civilization to stand guard is about all I got from Game of Thrones, and while the next novel (due out in August, which somehow still seems too far away) could potentially get into a little more politicking, this novel has very little of that. The Expanse comparison may be a little more fair, though I feel there are other space epics that Dewes may have drawn more inspiration from. Chief among them is the video game series, Mass Effect, of which I have no doubt Dewes is a fan. Adequin Rake would fit nicely as a parallel to FemShep, and genetic engineering comes into play in The Last Watch, in one instance in a near identical plot point that occurs in Mass Effect. I have also heard comparisons to Stargate and Battlestar Galactica, but as I have never seen either, I could not say. Interstellar would be another fair comparison, primarily for the time-distortion elements and what I imagine would be colossal visuals were The Last Watch a film. (Dewes certainly paints compelling pictures with her prose.) Really, though, this novel does not need to be reduced to comparisons. It is one of the best space sci-fi novels I have ever read and, if subsequent books are as good as this one, will go down as one of my favorite sci-fi series of any storytelling medium.
If you are a fan of space operas, sci-fi, or just fascinating characters who will keep you on your toes, I cannot recommend this novel enough. I just wish the sequel, The Exiled Fleet, was already out!
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Reviews with images
Loved it and ready for 2nd book.
I’m I thought this was an amazing book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It does take a bit to amp up but there’s lots going on and it’s worth it. I enjoyed the characters, loved the fact that the captain is female, and thought the interactions felt real. I’d recommend this book to SF fans. I can’t wait to read the second book in the series! This is the second J. S. Dewes book I’ve read, and enjoy her writing style and reading her epic tales.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2021
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Top reviews from other countries
Аmazon Customer
Good first book. Needed a space sci that ticked many boxes for me
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 4, 2022
Leather DeBoeuf
De très bonnes idées, mais avec des défauts
Reviewed in France on January 30, 2022John jackson
Sci-fi conspiracy with good physics
Reviewed in Germany on August 11, 2021
