The Empress

Trigger/content warning: violence, homicide, genocide, psychological abuse using drugs, torture When I started The Empress, I did not really know what I was getting myself into. I did not know how much pain I was subjecting myself to. This book took Nemesis, AND ME, through a tumultuous emotional journey, and I just had to take time to process it, so that I could write this review. The Empress starts off at the end of Diabolic, with a newly crowned Tyrus hoping to start off his reign with two stunning declarations - that he was restoring scientific studies, and that he was taking a Diabolic as his wife. Cut to The Empress, and you realize that wasn't as easy as it seems, even in an authoritarian society as the Empire. Randelvald had it easy I think, even with how he was possible the worst. Tyrus has to start his reign with a beggared treasury, half of his Senators in opposition to him, and being separated from the true power the Emperor wields, because the vicars won't support him. Nemesis, for her part, is growing to suppress her Diabolic instincts and instead act as if she were an Empress. Not easy for a person who until recently, didn't even think of herself as a person. She feels like a liability to him, but they love each other too much. In fact, this book kinda convinced me on their love more than Diabolic ever had. Like, during Diabolic, I was slightly invested in Tyrus, but my main interest was in Nemesis' personal growth. In this - man, I wish I did not have so many feelings. They both try different measures to circumvent the restrictions to their power, even going far and beyond in space to seek certain truths. All the obstacles they faced had me going, "oh come one, give them an effing break!" Senator Pasus was a key figure in their turmoil - he was the father of Elantra, in case you don't remember, and also a big member (I am implying both meanings of the word here) of the Helionic faith. He personally was so responsible for so much of the pain, I was constantly going like - please stop this. But Nemesis' and Tyrus' personal choices, and what those choices mean for each other and the Empire also play an important role. While they are both wily and pragmatic, they also have differing instincts. She has always relied on him to make the plans, because he thinks ten steps ahead (that twist in Diabolic - *kisses fingers like an Italian chef*) but when he is incapacitated, she has to figure out how to hold the power for him. There are so much twists, so much betrayal, I had to regularly put down the book because my heart couldn't take it. This book broke me - like so many before have, but also in a different way. There is inherently nothing noble about their cause, yet I wanted them to have it all. And what did I get? Pain and heartache! Thanks, Kincaid! This has been an amazing sequel, which went way beyond what Diabolic was. We get blackholes, shifting times, some reveals about the Diabolic generation process, and finally some answers to how this Empire came about. About that ending - even if the book had ended at the penultimate chapter (which wreaked so much havoc on my emotions), I would have accepted that as the end of the series. It was seemingly complete in that chapter, and masochistically, I think that would have made a brilliantly unique ending to the series. The next chapter, however, propels us into more pain and maybe a predictable outcome, and of course I am going to waiting eagerly for the next one. Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, via Edelweiss.

This book was much darker than I thought it would be so definitely a warning that this involves mass murder (multiple times), forced drug abuse, and heartbreak. As I was getting deeper into the book I didn't think things could get any worse but I was so wrong. I didn't know what to rate this book but I went with 5 because it made me genuinely worried for nemesis which only a few books were able to accomplish. I'm not even going to go over the last few chapters, only that I felt depressed afterwards, the only cure for my depression is book 3 which I hope will come out mid 2018. If you're deciding whether to buy this book or not let me just say that if you're fine with the warnings I said above then buy it, u won't regret it.

Good