Book Review: The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid

Title: The Diabolic

Author: S.J. Kincaid
Series:  The Diabolic, #1
Pages:  403
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children's Books
Date of Publication: 1st November, 2016
Source: For review from publisher*
Synopsis from Goodreads: Nemesis is a Diabolic. Created to protect a galactic Senator's daughter, Sidonia. The girl who has grown up by her side and who is as much as sister as a master. There's no one Nemesis wouldn't kill to keep her safe. But when the power-mad Emperor summons Sidonia to the galactic court as a hostage, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia.

She must become her.

Now one of the galaxy's most dangerous weapons is masquerading in a world of corruption and Nemesis has to hide her true abilities or risk everything. As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns that there is something stronger than her deadly force: the one thing she's been told she doesn't have - humanity. And, amidst all the danger, action and intrigue, her humanity might be the only thing that can save her, Sidonia and the entire Empire...

My Thoughts:
The Diabolic is one of the best books I've read this year (and also has one of my favourite covers!). I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting into when I started, but once I was in I was flying through the pages and even though it's quite a beefy book, it didn't take me that long at all. Different aspects of it reminded me of other YA books, such as Illuminae and Divergent, but it truly holds its own and is a really enjoyable read.

Nemesis was a really great protagonist. She's a Diabolic, a genetically engineered human, built to fiercely protect Sidonia, rather than have her own life and feelings as a human of her own.  But as the book progresses, through an unlikely match and having to face constant battles her character develops and she becomes fiercer and stronger and much more human, which was really great to see. She never loses her fierceness though and there are frequent reminders of her Diabolic-ness, for example when she gets mad she imagines killing them and although it's morbid, you never can forget that she is a badass that will rip you to shreds, and that's actually a pretty cool perspective to read from.

The world of The Diabolic is really interesting and has the potential to be awesome in the coming books (I think it's gonna be a series?). For the first fifty pages or so it was quite difficult to keep track of everything due to the world-specific language: there's Senators, Servitors, Diabolics, etc, and then all the families to keep track of - it's not that complicated it just takes a little getting used to, like any fantasy/futuristic world. There's also an established religion throughout which I really liked, and I've found that faith isn't a huge aspect of much YA so top points for that. As it's all set in space as well, at moments this was really well done in that they visited other planets and then for a ball they literally moved the ballroom through the sky to get a pretty star/nebula view through the windows which was super cool, but I think there's potential to make even more use of the setting. The only thing I'd say is that maybe a bit of history about how the world ended up like this would be handy, as well as interesting!

The plot was *really* good. Once the plot thickens and the real story gets started, it packs the punches and leaves nothing to the imagination.  No character is safe - S.J. Kincaid isn't afraid to do the unexpected! I loved this aspect, I was completely shocked on many occasions and the ending is just twist after twist - pow pow pow bam bam bam did that really just happen?! The ending ties up very neatly (maybe just a little too neatly?) but there's a lot of room for sequels which I think are coming, so that's very exciting! The relationship between Tyrus and Nemesis also was really great, even though it was totally unlikely I think they fit together really well and I ended up rooting for them quickly.

Overall The Diabolic is really not one to be missed! It's got a little bit of everything to suit everyone, and it's just a really great romp through space that I absolutely loved. I can't wait to read more of the series, and I'll definitely be checking out Insignia, the first book of S.J. Kincaid's first series.



*Huge thanks to Simon and Schuster for sending me this in exchange for an honest review! In no way has this affected my opinion of the book.