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distantplanet's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mapboy's review against another edition
3.0
Decent intrigue and adaptation of tech and environment and twist with death and rebirth playing an interesting roll.
crispycritter's review
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
reachersaid_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
3.0
I have tried and failed to get into military sci-fi as it seems the genre is plagued with surface level world building and character work. So how did I come to read Rubicon?
This book has a synopsis that promised a match-up of some exciting elements; military sci-fi, AI, space opera and terminator-like machines. Like I said... exciting!
Actual reading of the story produced a mixed bag of good and bad. Unfortunately, the bad outweighed the good.
The first quarter was slow and it made me consider quitting, because after a firery start that pulled you in with some decent action, what followed was a not so engaging spell on a spaceship. My interest was aroused again when the protagonist was deployed back into planetary missions, a region were the aforementioned excitement was brought to life.
The mid-portion of the book developed the characters, focusing mainly on the protagonist and her AI, as well as the supporting cast who were just a level above average. The main conflict was well established though, I have to admit, the stakes were weighty and that was made possible by some good world building.
Going into the final quarter, I was fascinated enough with the book, the writing was simple although it rarely flowed smoothly in my mind, the action and scenery outside the spaceship were not memorable but okay, and I was intrigued by the plot. I thought it was heading for a soft four stars, but the ending left a sour taste in my mind, I expected a good action set-piece at the end to at least salvage things but the whole thing felt rushed and amateurish.
While it seems likely that the author may turn this into a series, with such an open ending, there was nothing that truly amazed me to seek her out again.
This book has a synopsis that promised a match-up of some exciting elements; military sci-fi, AI, space opera and terminator-like machines. Like I said... exciting!
Actual reading of the story produced a mixed bag of good and bad. Unfortunately, the bad outweighed the good.
The first quarter was slow and it made me consider quitting, because after a firery start that pulled you in with some decent action, what followed was a not so engaging spell on a spaceship. My interest was aroused again when the protagonist was deployed back into planetary missions, a region were the aforementioned excitement was brought to life.
The mid-portion of the book developed the characters, focusing mainly on the protagonist and her AI, as well as the supporting cast who were just a level above average. The main conflict was well established though, I have to admit, the stakes were weighty and that was made possible by some good world building.
Going into the final quarter, I was fascinated enough with the book, the writing was simple although it rarely flowed smoothly in my mind, the action and scenery outside the spaceship were not memorable but okay, and I was intrigued by the plot. I thought it was heading for a soft four stars, but the ending left a sour taste in my mind, I expected a good action set-piece at the end to at least salvage things but the whole thing felt rushed and amateurish.
While it seems likely that the author may turn this into a series, with such an open ending, there was nothing that truly amazed me to seek her out again.
riley_rose's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
allusory's review
4.0
3.5 stars
Really interesting world building, but the prose gets a little overwrought at times.
Really interesting world building, but the prose gets a little overwrought at times.
lrn22's review
The ending was spoiled for me and it used one of my least favorite tropes so I didn’t finish it
ju_shi's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nicholassoileau's review against another edition
5.0
Slow starter but well worth sticking out
The first third of the book had me wanting. I wasn’t interested, nothing was clicking, and I just couldn’t care about anyone. That quickly changed once I passed that point and Rubicon became a book I could not put down.
The first third of the book had me wanting. I wasn’t interested, nothing was clicking, and I just couldn’t care about anyone. That quickly changed once I passed that point and Rubicon became a book I could not put down.