Tuesday 1 November 2016

YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION DYSTOPIAN REVIEW: The Diabolic - S J Kincaid

Release Date: 01/11/16
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Childrens

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.


REVIEW:

A YA title that to be honest is a book that took me a little bit to get into as I took a bit of time to adjust to a world where murder is so common that no one seems to care. Its dark, blighted dystopian future where every word has to be carefully guarded as death comes on swift wings for anyone who falls foul of the political machinations of matriarchal society of those in power.

Add to this principle characters who demonstrate how dependent they are upon one another, at times just making up a singular person in some respects and all round with solid dialogue makes this a book that whilst a stand alone could well become a film that will thrill as well as terrify a lot of cinema goers. Read it before the hype hits as to be honest getting ahead of the game is the order of the day especially when I suspect it will be a talking point for quite some time to come. Magic.

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