Themes and storylines she touched upon in The Diabolic – mythical religious figures, the cosmos, the Domitrian legacy, what it means to be human – are explored with greater depth and significance in this book, making it a richer, more thoughtful reading experience. To say any more about the actual plot would inevitably spoil all the surprises S. And they do, many times, throughout the book. However, where they come undone is their love and devotion for each other, which is the one thing the ruling class know they can exploit. Both Tyrus and Nemesis are mentally sharp and physically strong, and they’re adept at hiding their weaknesses from their enemies, making them a formidable duo. If it were just the throne that Tyrus risked losing the stakes wouldn’t be nearly as high.

With threats, blackmail and betrayal around every corner, Nemesis and Tyrus embark on a battle not just for the Empire but also for their love and their lives. The arrogant and proud ruling class have no intention of sitting by idly whilst their power is taken away by an Emperor who’s still a teenager and his assassin-like Empress, who they don’t even consider to be a person. Tyrus’ complete disregard for the rules, laws and beliefs imposed by his now-dead predecessors left plenty of people angry. It’s this on-going power struggle across the different factions in the Galaxy that The Empress explores with exciting and excruciating results. If the first book taught us anything, it’s that power is fleeting, and having it doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be able to hold on to it. They might have fought for their unconventional relationship and come out the other side relatively unscathed, but the Empire was consequently thrown into chaos by their actions. When The Diabolic ended, the smart and astute Tyrus Domitrian was on the throne with the book’s humanoid protagonist, Nemesis, at his side. The Empress absolutely lives up to the first book and, in many ways, surpasses it too, exploring in greater detail the themes, relationships and characters that made The Diabolic such a memorable read. I hailed it as one of my favourite books of 2016, so it goes without saying that I was looking forward to the book’s surprise sequel.

Kincaid’s The Diabolic, an adventurous YA sci-fi novel about love, loyalty, intergalactic beliefs and political allegiances.

The empress sj kincaid