Book: The Diabolic
Author: S.J. Kincaid
Series: Book #1 of The Diabolic series
First published November 1, 2016
The Diabolic
Red Queen meets The Hunger Games in this epic novel about what happens when a senator’s daughter is summoned to the galactic court as a hostage, but she’s really the galaxy’s most dangerous weapon in disguise.
A Diabolic is ruthless. A Diabolic is powerful. A Diabolic has a single task: Kill in order to protect the person you’ve been created for.
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.
What drew me to this book was the sentence, “Red Queen meets The Hunger Games in this epic novel about what happens when a senator’s daughter is summoned to the galactic court as a hostage, but she’s really the galaxy’s most dangerous weapon in disguise.” After The Red Queen, I definitely wanted to read something different, more complicated.
Generally, I do not like books whose plots remind me of ones I have already read, but in “The Diabolic”, everything was presented in a very original way. Once again we are dealing with a society divided into the superior – the highly valued – and the involuntary slaves – the excessive, but in revealing the details I did not feel at all that I had read this somewhere before.
The Plot
The plot Kincaid describes to us takes place in off-planet space. Each of the Highborn families lives in a different galaxy, which they dominate. The characters live on space stations and travel through hyperspace. They use high technology to maintain their lifestyle and control over excess.
The Diabolic
In this world live genetically engineered humans, manufactured for the needs of their owners. Nemesis is a freak – a weapon. She was created to kill, has no feelings and feels no fear. So she lives to protect her Sidonia and is ready to die to protect her. So she ends up in the Imperial Court and is sent as a double to the daughter of Senator Imperian.
Nemesis
This is a dangerous game. Nemesis is forced to contain her rage and strive to fit in with the group of highborn. This is no easy task for a creature that is supposed to be “non-human.” But Nemesis is different. She knows how to feel. That scares her, and it’s definitely not something that benefits a creature. All her life she has been treated only as a weapon, but she is beginning to realize that part of a human lives inside her.
Imperial Court
Life in the Imperial Court is full of intrigue in the palace. At first, her goal is to win over the powerful supporters of Sidonia who would help her father restore his reputation. But her world comes apart at the seams after the emperor takes away her purpose in life.
What happens to a freak when there is nothing left to live for?
The path of revenge…
To her great surprise, Nemesis allies herself with the heir to the throne, Tyrus. Both have a common goal – the death of the emperor. But Nemesis is no fool at the game. She gets into a world unknown to her and becomes an easy target for manipulations.
What is the truth about Sidonia’s fate and is it Nemesis who leads her into an even worse trap?
Is Tyrus a truth or a lie? Crazy or not?
Many, many questions and doubts that you will ask yourself along with the heroine. For me, some remained unanswered, but I hope that the second book will be my salvation.
The Empress Book #2 of the seriers
You can order the book on Amazon
