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A review by aprilreads_andwanders
The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid
Synopsis (From Amazon)
Nemesis is a Diabolic, a humanoid teenager created to protect a galactic senator’s daughter, Sidonia. The two have grown up side by side, but are in no way sisters. Nemesis is expected to give her life for Sidonia, and she would do so gladly. She would also take as many lives as necessary to keep Sidonia safe.
When the power-mad Emperor learns Sidonia’s father is participating in a rebellion, he summons Sidonia to the Galactic court. She is to serve as a hostage. Now, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia. She must become her. Nemesis travels to the court disguised as Sidonia—a killing machine masquerading in a world of corrupt politicians and two-faced senators’ children. It’s a nest of vipers with threats on every side, but Nemesis must keep her true abilities a secret or risk everything.
As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns there is something more to her than just deadly force. She finds a humanity truer than what she encounters from most humans. Amidst all the danger, action, and intrigue, her humanity just might be the thing that saves her life—and the empire.
Ok so this was really enjoyable! It had allll the things that just keep me turning the pages!
I loved Nemesis immediately and one of my favorite aspects of the story was her growth. Nemesis is introduced as a child (a thing really) completely unfeeling and ruthless. She is selected to protect a senator’s daughter, and if need be forfeit her life to keep Sidonia safe. Kincaid handles this really well. A character completely devoid of any and all emotion…how they would react, how foreign it would feel, things we take for granted (how to react to someone, how to act in a social situation)…Kincaid paid attention to detail and it felt believable. I loved experiencing that transformation through Nemesis’s perspective…not knowing or understanding emotions, not being able to name or label what your feeling and navigating a world that way and then discovering/learning/acknowledging sparks of connection.
Kincaid also didn’t scrimp on the world-building. The world was complex and fully developed. I loved learning about the history, religious systems, mythology, as well as its social structure and political climate. I would have loved a map!
The story was interesting and I was fully invested in it! I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. There were some moments of obvious foreshadowing but there were still plenty of plot twists, intrigue, and action! It was recently announced that there will be additional installments and I will definitely be reading them!
Nemesis is a Diabolic, a humanoid teenager created to protect a galactic senator’s daughter, Sidonia. The two have grown up side by side, but are in no way sisters. Nemesis is expected to give her life for Sidonia, and she would do so gladly. She would also take as many lives as necessary to keep Sidonia safe.
When the power-mad Emperor learns Sidonia’s father is participating in a rebellion, he summons Sidonia to the Galactic court. She is to serve as a hostage. Now, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia. She must become her. Nemesis travels to the court disguised as Sidonia—a killing machine masquerading in a world of corrupt politicians and two-faced senators’ children. It’s a nest of vipers with threats on every side, but Nemesis must keep her true abilities a secret or risk everything.
As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns there is something more to her than just deadly force. She finds a humanity truer than what she encounters from most humans. Amidst all the danger, action, and intrigue, her humanity just might be the thing that saves her life—and the empire.
Ok so this was really enjoyable! It had allll the things that just keep me turning the pages!
I loved Nemesis immediately and one of my favorite aspects of the story was her growth. Nemesis is introduced as a child (a thing really) completely unfeeling and ruthless. She is selected to protect a senator’s daughter, and if need be forfeit her life to keep Sidonia safe. Kincaid handles this really well. A character completely devoid of any and all emotion…how they would react, how foreign it would feel, things we take for granted (how to react to someone, how to act in a social situation)…Kincaid paid attention to detail and it felt believable. I loved experiencing that transformation through Nemesis’s perspective…not knowing or understanding emotions, not being able to name or label what your feeling and navigating a world that way and then discovering/learning/acknowledging sparks of connection.
Kincaid also didn’t scrimp on the world-building. The world was complex and fully developed. I loved learning about the history, religious systems, mythology, as well as its social structure and political climate. I would have loved a map!
The story was interesting and I was fully invested in it! I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. There were some moments of obvious foreshadowing but there were still plenty of plot twists, intrigue, and action! It was recently announced that there will be additional installments and I will definitely be reading them!