The Diabolic

By Author / Illustrator

S. J. Kincaid

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

11+

Publisher

Simon & Schuster Ltd

ISBN

9781471148385

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

01-11-2016

Synopsis

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 inside her that is true and pure - more so than that of most humans she encounters. Amidst all the danger, action and intrigue, her humanity just might be the thing that saves her life - and the empire.

Reviews

This book contains conflict, romance and murder. Although initially difficult to understand, The Diabolic is an engaging, well thought out book. I could not tell at any point what would be coming next so I just couldn't put it down. I liked how independent and strong minded Nemesis was.

Suggested Reading Age 5+

Nemesis is a Diabolic. She is an engineered humanoid creature designed to kill on command and to protect Sidonia, the girl she is bonded to with her life. Diabolics are fearless, they dont have emotions, they are not humans, they are possessions of their masters. Nemesis grows up with Sidonia, who is the only person who loves her and treats her as a person and an equal, even to the extent that she insists that Nemesis must possess a soul and be capable of love. Sidonias father is part of a faction that is growing increasingly rebellious against the imperial ruling family who have remained in power through ruthlessly murdering anyone who gets in their way and banning scientific education to ensure that they retain control of all technology. So when Sidonia is summoned to the galactic court by the Emperor, they cannot refuse, even though they fear the Emperor will kill her as the familys punishment for speaking against him. The only way to protect Sidonia is to send Nemesis in her place, to pretend to be her. One mistake, and this dangerous secret will be discovered and the whole family be destroyed. Nemesis soon discovers shes not the only one at court with a deadly secret, and she becomes embroiled in court intrigues, plots and counter-plots. Can she fool the emperors mad heir, the Emperor himself and most of all the Emperors mother who has killed many of her own family, including her own children to retain her grip on power? Full of intrigue and plot twists, great characters some romance and loads of action, its rightly billed as the next big thing in YA. Entirely gripping. 403 pages / Ages 13+ / Reviewed by Melanie Chadwick