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Title | The Diabolic
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Author | S.J. Kincaid
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Cover Art | ---
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Publisher | Simon & Shuster - 2016
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First Printing | Simon & Shuster - 2016
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Title | The Empress
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Author | S.J. Kincaid
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Cover Art | ---
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Publisher | ---
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First Printing | ---
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Title | The Nemesis
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Author | S.J. Kincaid
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Cover Art | ---
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Publisher | ---
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First Printing | ---
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Category | Science Fiction
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Warnings | None
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Main Characters | Nemesis, Tyrus
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Main Elements | Genetic engineering, galactic empires
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Website | ---
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 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.
If you create a killing machine, don't be surprised if it turns on you.
I was able to read this book on the rivetedlit.com site. I'm not usually impressed with the books I read there but every now and then there is a gem and this is one of them. There is something unusual about reading a story from the point of view of a creature designed to kill, whose only emotion is unquestionable devotion to the person they are programmed to serve. But even tigers play with each other, and sharks can be curious, so its very hard to have a near human being, genetic modified and conditioned to be the perfect guardian, but still keeping some intelligence to be able to do their job, and not have more than the sum of their parts come through. Its maybe a bit like Asimov's three rules, that seem to cover all the cases...except they don't and can lead to some interesting situations.
And in this case, it's the Diabolic called Nemesis whom I find facinating. I mean she's not the strong heroine that young girls should look up to, after all, she's genetically modified and questionably human...though the humans in this world are so depraved the diabolics might be more human then them. But still, she's a female lead that doesn't get all gushy when a guy looks at her, for the most part its an inconvenience, especially as love for anyone other than her master was bred out of her.
But then there is Tyrus, the mad son of the Emperor, another fascinating character I enjoyed. Well skilled at the game of Imperial politics, he must balance the needs of the Empire with the needs of those he cares about, and sometimes one has to make harsh choices for the greater good. So also not your normal leading man who often abandons everyone else for the sake of his one true love. And as a fan of Dune, the political machinations were great fun. I wouldn't want to live like that, always looking over your shoulder, and everything you say has to mean three different things, but its enjoyable to read and see who outmaneuvers who.
I still need to read the next two books in the trilogy, and I definitely will be doing so, this series has me hooked.
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