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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
Slow to start and a lot of telling instead of showing in the beginning. It took a few chapters and I almost DNF'd but then it shifted and picked up. This book ended up being much more engaging and adventurous than it initially seemed to be, and it also went to darker places than I expected for a YA sci-fi, which increased my interest due to personal preference.
TW: Rape (attempted) and death/gore.
TW: Rape (attempted) and death/gore.
Nemesis is a Diabolic, an engineering being that looks like a human, but is ruthless and trained to be deadly, predatory, and strong. At a young age, she is bonded (a chemical bond done by linking the brains) to the young daughter and heir of a galactic senator. Years later, Sidonia is summoned to Galactic court, but Nemesis goes in her place, because it is almost certain that the Emperor wants to hurt Sidonia's family through Sidonia. Nemesis goes to the Galactic Court, and discovers that many of the heirs of senators and other nobles have been called. Nemesis must be careful of these heirs, as well as the Emperor himself - but more importantly, the three Diabolics of the Emperor who might discover who (and what) she is. As the Galactic Empire starts to crumble, Nemesis starts to feel more and more, and she realizes that perhaps there is humanity in her. But at what cost?
This is not Red Queen. This is not The Hunger Games. I've read many YA space opera novels, many YA science fiction novels, but I think this one is rather unique. It's not just the concept of a Diabolic, or the Diabolic herself being the protagonist. Everything about this story seemed fresh, unique. This book was incredible, intriguing, and sometimes nail-biting. It was everything I wanted in a space opera/science fiction novel, and then some!
I connected with Nemesis almost immediately, despite the gruesome and heartbreaking opening scene. I really felt for her, and wanted to hug her or something. She didn't deserve to grow up the way she did, or to be bonded (read: chained) to one person, to protect that person or be destroyed doing so. Nemesis is cold and clever and fierce, and in the beginning, she seems incapable of deeper human emotions. But as the story goes on, we see a transformation. When she is sent in Sidonia's place, she is separated from Sidonia. Nemesis begins to feel a variety of human emotions that are totally foreign to her, as a Diabolic. I liked seeing Nemesis change and develop into a stronger version of herself. She's still a Diabolic, but she starts to seem (at least emotionally) more human.
Secondary characters. I liked but didn't love Sidonia. She was sweet but I never really cared for her. When Nemesis leaves to take her place, I was glad for the story not to include her. At the Court, Nemesis makes a new friend, though unwillingly at first. Neveni is somewhat bold but a little timid too. She and Nemesis have similar ways of thinking, though Neveni is totally human. And of course, there is the "Mean Girls"-esque female, Elantra, who is pretty and rich and from a powerful senatorial family. She is Sidonia's (and now Nemesis's) rival. I didn't like her at any point!
And then there is Tyrus, the supposed madman of the Domitrian family (they're the ruling family). He's the nephew of the Emperor, and the Successor Primus (i.e. next Emperor). Unbeknownst to all (except, eventually, Nemesis), he is feigning madness. He is actually the most intelligent and clever Domitrian, and he has created an elaborate scheme to get him revenge as well as the seat of power. I adored Tyrus! He is so smart and so calculating, but he's also warm and flirtatious. It's so interesting to see these qualities collide and mesh to make up Tyrus. He proves himself to be extremely capable and powerful (for a human, especially). We see more of him in the second half of the book, and for good reason.
The world-building is pretty well-written, and totally intense. We're talking about what seems like a Galactic and possibly inter-Galactic world, with senators ruling planets, and Diabolics (engineering beings) in existence. There are rebels (they are the Excess), and there are scheming royals (the Domitrian matriarch is bananas). There is so much to this world, I couldn't possibly explain it in this space. But Kincaid does a really great job of crafting the world and making it her own. It's easy for space operas to get mixed up, but Kincaid's world in this story stands out.
There is romance! Hurray for romance! I love romance. This romance doesn't really appear until the second half of the book... with... you guessed it - Tyrus and Nemesis. I loved this match-up. The two of them are so smart, so competent, so capable, and so strong. They're almost a little competitive with each other, which is cute. I loved their dynamic. I like how each of them are powerful to each other, and each of them hold power over the other (i.e. each of them feel incredibly strongly toward the other, by the end of the book). The romance is slow-burn, and so, so good. It gets somewhat steamy (for YA, anyway), and I liked this progression. But it's incredibly important that Nemesis's development of feelings is well-written, and it was. The romance is so swoony, so sweet, and also very fierce and passionate (just like the pair).
The story involves a growing unrest and a rebellion, a lot of schemes within the royal family and within the Senate as well. Nemesis stirs up a little trouble at Court, but trouble was already set in motion long ago. The plot seemed to take off, once Nemesis was at Court. From then on, it seemed like everyone needed to watch their backs, especially Nemesis.
The book got more and more exciting as it went. I will say that the beginning was a little slow, but things pick up when Nemesis lives Sidonia's family and goes to Court for Sidonia. The story never loses its pacing once Nemesis is at the Court though. I liked the pacing, and the climax of the book crept up on me before I knew it. The ending was intense! So many betrayals, confessions, reveals... I was so worried for our protagonist, and Tyrus too (remember, he has Empire plans).
But, I loved the ending. It was excellent, and wrapped up everything pretty nicely. I would have liked to see an epilogue, but that's okay. The ending is a good one, though it's not cookie-cutter perfect. And the wonderful thing is that this book is standalone! I love standalone novels.
This is not Red Queen. This is not The Hunger Games. I've read many YA space opera novels, many YA science fiction novels, but I think this one is rather unique. It's not just the concept of a Diabolic, or the Diabolic herself being the protagonist. Everything about this story seemed fresh, unique. This book was incredible, intriguing, and sometimes nail-biting. It was everything I wanted in a space opera/science fiction novel, and then some!
I connected with Nemesis almost immediately, despite the gruesome and heartbreaking opening scene. I really felt for her, and wanted to hug her or something. She didn't deserve to grow up the way she did, or to be bonded (read: chained) to one person, to protect that person or be destroyed doing so. Nemesis is cold and clever and fierce, and in the beginning, she seems incapable of deeper human emotions. But as the story goes on, we see a transformation. When she is sent in Sidonia's place, she is separated from Sidonia. Nemesis begins to feel a variety of human emotions that are totally foreign to her, as a Diabolic. I liked seeing Nemesis change and develop into a stronger version of herself. She's still a Diabolic, but she starts to seem (at least emotionally) more human.
Secondary characters. I liked but didn't love Sidonia. She was sweet but I never really cared for her. When Nemesis leaves to take her place, I was glad for the story not to include her. At the Court, Nemesis makes a new friend, though unwillingly at first. Neveni is somewhat bold but a little timid too. She and Nemesis have similar ways of thinking, though Neveni is totally human. And of course, there is the "Mean Girls"-esque female, Elantra, who is pretty and rich and from a powerful senatorial family. She is Sidonia's (and now Nemesis's) rival. I didn't like her at any point!
And then there is Tyrus, the supposed madman of the Domitrian family (they're the ruling family). He's the nephew of the Emperor, and the Successor Primus (i.e. next Emperor). Unbeknownst to all (except, eventually, Nemesis), he is feigning madness. He is actually the most intelligent and clever Domitrian, and he has created an elaborate scheme to get him revenge as well as the seat of power. I adored Tyrus! He is so smart and so calculating, but he's also warm and flirtatious. It's so interesting to see these qualities collide and mesh to make up Tyrus. He proves himself to be extremely capable and powerful (for a human, especially). We see more of him in the second half of the book, and for good reason.
The world-building is pretty well-written, and totally intense. We're talking about what seems like a Galactic and possibly inter-Galactic world, with senators ruling planets, and Diabolics (engineering beings) in existence. There are rebels (they are the Excess), and there are scheming royals (the Domitrian matriarch is bananas). There is so much to this world, I couldn't possibly explain it in this space. But Kincaid does a really great job of crafting the world and making it her own. It's easy for space operas to get mixed up, but Kincaid's world in this story stands out.
There is romance! Hurray for romance! I love romance. This romance doesn't really appear until the second half of the book... with... you guessed it - Tyrus and Nemesis. I loved this match-up. The two of them are so smart, so competent, so capable, and so strong. They're almost a little competitive with each other, which is cute. I loved their dynamic. I like how each of them are powerful to each other, and each of them hold power over the other (i.e. each of them feel incredibly strongly toward the other, by the end of the book). The romance is slow-burn, and so, so good. It gets somewhat steamy (for YA, anyway), and I liked this progression. But it's incredibly important that Nemesis's development of feelings is well-written, and it was. The romance is so swoony, so sweet, and also very fierce and passionate (just like the pair).
The story involves a growing unrest and a rebellion, a lot of schemes within the royal family and within the Senate as well. Nemesis stirs up a little trouble at Court, but trouble was already set in motion long ago. The plot seemed to take off, once Nemesis was at Court. From then on, it seemed like everyone needed to watch their backs, especially Nemesis.
The book got more and more exciting as it went. I will say that the beginning was a little slow, but things pick up when Nemesis lives Sidonia's family and goes to Court for Sidonia. The story never loses its pacing once Nemesis is at the Court though. I liked the pacing, and the climax of the book crept up on me before I knew it. The ending was intense! So many betrayals, confessions, reveals... I was so worried for our protagonist, and Tyrus too (remember, he has Empire plans).
But, I loved the ending. It was excellent, and wrapped up everything pretty nicely. I would have liked to see an epilogue, but that's okay. The ending is a good one, though it's not cookie-cutter perfect. And the wonderful thing is that this book is standalone! I love standalone novels.
This book wants to be royal huger games in space but the most gruesome murder is that of the English language.
IT WAS SO BAD, so unreadably baaaaad /presses the heels of hands into eyeballs.
It didn’t take more than chapter 1 to convince me to DNF, though to be fair I got the message from the prologue alone. Intensely pretentious in a juvenile manner, it insults your intelligence -- among other things, by repeating on page 11 the information you have just learnt on page 5 -- and I have it up on page 14, because my eyebrows were hurting my hairline.
IT WAS SO BAD, so unreadably baaaaad /presses the heels of hands into eyeballs.
It didn’t take more than chapter 1 to convince me to DNF, though to be fair I got the message from the prologue alone. Intensely pretentious in a juvenile manner, it insults your intelligence -- among other things, by repeating on page 11 the information you have just learnt on page 5 -- and I have it up on page 14, because my eyebrows were hurting my hairline.
I thought at first that I actually had a decent tik tok recommendation, I had everything I liked. A kickass morally grey woman who climbs her way up in a nasty vipor filled court all while secretly beating up mean bitches with her badassery and finding herself in the midst of it all. We had this until the twist came in then it all derailed and turned into a cliche train wreck. Characters I liked turned bland, predictable plot points, forced romance with zero chemistry between the leads not to mention even bigger ICK was the insta love. Like what? Why? Tyrus was everything I wanted in the beginning too. A madman. But then he became some saint wanting peace which is cool but takes the appeal and intrigue away because now he's some saintly goody two shoes. I say it's mad to be weaponless in the face of enemies for peace but that's all he was. He was so boring. There's a charm to madmen with a half wholesome heart and other black and I thought we had that in the beginning. So disappointing!! Then Donia dying for real the second time was so dull and overdone for the “twist” and the dumbass “betrayal” that Nemesis suffers to push the plot and heighten tension. Also Donia just came out of the closet and then was killed off like wtf?
*4.5/5 stars*
“Everyone believed Diabolics were fearless, but in my earliest years, all I knew was fear.”
I really enjoyed this book! It was so dark and stabby and vicious. I was interested in the storyline from the beginning till the end, there were few plot twists thrown in the mix, and while I can't say every one of them was really shocking, few menaged to surprise me. The MC, Nemesis, was also likeable. She was quite ruthless at times as fits her nature of a Diabolic. She was also kick ass, morally grey and I liked her character progression.
“The stars say . . . They say I am particularly handsome today.”
Tyrus was also such a very fascinating character and I have a feeling we will see more of his moral greyness in the second book. The world building was also interesting - a futuristic Empire set in space slowly regressing to be but a shadow of what it once was because of a shortsighted backwards ruler.
“We are all of us bust stardust shaped into conscious being.”
Basically, I enjoyed every aspect of the book and am excited about the - hopefully morally ambiguous!! - potential of the sequel!
“Love betrays you, Nemesis dan Impyrean, and if you’re wise, you will never forget that.”
“Everyone believed Diabolics were fearless, but in my earliest years, all I knew was fear.”
I really enjoyed this book! It was so dark and stabby and vicious. I was interested in the storyline from the beginning till the end, there were few plot twists thrown in the mix, and while I can't say every one of them was really shocking, few menaged to surprise me. The MC, Nemesis, was also likeable. She was quite ruthless at times as fits her nature of a Diabolic. She was also kick ass, morally grey and I liked her character progression.
“The stars say . . . They say I am particularly handsome today.”
Tyrus was also such a very fascinating character and I have a feeling we will see more of his moral greyness in the second book. The world building was also interesting - a futuristic Empire set in space slowly regressing to be but a shadow of what it once was because of a shortsighted backwards ruler.
“We are all of us bust stardust shaped into conscious being.”
Basically, I enjoyed every aspect of the book and am excited about the - hopefully morally ambiguous!! - potential of the sequel!
“Love betrays you, Nemesis dan Impyrean, and if you’re wise, you will never forget that.”
Определено ме грабна. Много обичам заплетени истории. Интригата беше на ниво. Харесва ми идеята за изчадията и това как тя разкрива малко по малко частицата човек в себе си.
https://readingtrolls.com/sazdadena-da-ubiva-s-dzh-kinkeyd/
https://readingtrolls.com/sazdadena-da-ubiva-s-dzh-kinkeyd/
This was such a fascinating book. It was original, unique, and different. I really enjoyed reading this book.
Nemesis is bred for one thing. To protect the girl she's been chemically altered to devote her entire existence to. As a Diabolic, Nemesis has no ties to the world. She is not human. She has no rights. No life beyond Sidonia. And she will do anything to make sure the Senator's daughter is safe. Even if it means taking her place completely.
Now, as Nemesis enters the world of Emperial magistrates, political subterfuge, and secrets worth killing for--Nemesis begins to realize that she is becoming more than just a Diabolic meant to kill.
Nemesis is bred for one thing. To protect the girl she's been chemically altered to devote her entire existence to. As a Diabolic, Nemesis has no ties to the world. She is not human. She has no rights. No life beyond Sidonia. And she will do anything to make sure the Senator's daughter is safe. Even if it means taking her place completely.
Now, as Nemesis enters the world of Emperial magistrates, political subterfuge, and secrets worth killing for--Nemesis begins to realize that she is becoming more than just a Diabolic meant to kill.
I got this book from Illumicrate and I came whilst I was off sick from work. I honestly couldn't put it down I absolutely loved it. Nemesis was such a relatable and powerful character. As soon as I'd finished it I researched to find out more and sadly this is the first in a series so I had to wait for the rest.... I'm not good at waiting. Cannot wait to read more about Nemesis and her life. Absolutely brilliant read.
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I initially read this book when I was 10, now I'm coming back 6 years later and remember why I liked this so much. The first time I consumed the audio in a few days, this time it was 2 XP. I thoroughly enjoy the worldbuilding and politics, Nemisis is awesome... my mom just read the first book too(for the fisrt time), she said Nemisis reminds her of me because of how she talks :o. I loved the part where she adopts Deadly >:3 he is such a dog.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Violence, Murder
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content