The Nemesis

June 15, 2020
After narrowly surviving The Empress (2017), Nemesis is pulled back into imperial intrigue to stop a madman. Rather than a traditional start (either a recap or where the previous left off), the book opens with Tyrus' boyhood, when he makes a personally painful decision for the greater good, with ramifications that set him on the path that finds him, 15 years later, a mad tyrant declared to be a God-Emperor. Meanwhile, Nemesis, left by Neveni after Nemesis botched an assassination attempt on Tyrus, lives in hiding in a desolate mining colony with the only other surviving Diabolic, Anguish, who's dying. As "Nemesis lives" has been taken up as a rallying cry by those opposing the tyrant, she loses anonymity and returns to Tyrus, who finds he misses her, in exchange for medical care for Anguish. But, unable to go along with Tyrus' cruelty, Nemesis and Anguish must leverage every connection they have to enable Tyrus' opponents to take him down. In doing so, they uncover some of the empire's deepest secrets. The intrigue- and betrayal-packed plot never feels like twists for the sake of twists because character decisions are rooted in their complex, often contradictory, emotions. Nuanced social commentary and philosophical musings give thematic weight to a story grounded in a passionate, tragically antagonistic relationship. As appearance is easily and routinely altered via technology, the diversity focus is firmly on classism. Intense and captivating; a pitch-perfect ending for a strong trilogy. (Science fiction. 13-adult)

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 17, 2020

Gr 9 Up-In this book, Nemesis lives. That's what the Excess cries when they are mistreated by the Empire. Nemesis, the Diabolic and former Empress, is still alive, but she doesn't want to be a rallying point for the mistreated and downtrodden in the Empire. She simply wants to hide from her husband, the mad Emperor Tyrus, and heal fellow Diabolic Anguish. However, when Tyrus declares himself a god-the Divine Emperor-she has no choice but to stop him. She failed to kill him once; she won't fail this time. Joining forces with the Partisans, the same ones who tried to kill Nemesis in the past, she creates a plan to finally overthrow the Empire, if her love for her husband doesn't get in the way. The riveting conclusion to "The Diabolic" trilogy is action-packed and full of twists and turns. Kincaid continues to build a world blending the political intrigue of ancient Roman history with futuristic space, science, and technology. The characters are well developed, and even the most villainous are engaging and sympathetic. Some readers may feel the last third of the narrative drags as the plot shifts from relentless action to political power games, but the conclusion is satisfying and worthwhile. Readers should read The Diabolic and The Empress to fully enjoy the trilogy. VERDICT An excellent conclusion to "The Diabolic" series. Perfect for fans of Ally Condie's "Matched" series and Marissa Meyer's "Lunar Chronicles."-Kaetlyn Phillips, Yorkton, Sask.

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.