The Empress

By Author / Illustrator

S. J. Kincaid

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

11+

Publisher

Simon & Schuster Ltd

ISBN

9781471169144

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

02-11-2017

Synopsis

Get ready for the breath-taking sequel to The Diabolic - the novel that got everyone talking!

'Nemesis is my kind of strong female character - she fights ruthlessly, she loves to the max and she even dances brilliantly. But is she human?' Sally Green, author of Half Bad
'A thrilling, pacy, addictive YA read' Amy Alward, author of The Potion Diaries
'Epic and electrifying' Maximum Pop
'With an adventurous, high-concept plot and emotionally complex characters, The Diabolic is definitely one of the best YA books of the year' Culturefly

It's a new day in the Empire. Tyrus has ascended to the throne with Nemesis by his side and now they can find a new way forward - one where they don't have to hide or scheme or kill.

But having power isn't the same thing as keeping it, and change isn't always welcome. The ruling class has held control over planets and systems for centuries and they are not going to give up their power willingly, especially not to a teenage Emperor and Nemesis, who they consider nothing more than a creature and certainly not worthy of being Empress.

Nemesis knows she will protect Tyrus at any cost; he is the love of her life and they are partners in this new beginning. But she also knows she can't protect him by being the killing machine she once was. Instead she will have to prove the humanity that she's found inside herself to the whole Empire - or she and Tyrus may lose more than just the throne... they might lose their lives.

Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Victoria Aveyard and George R.R. Martin, The Empress will take you on a thrilling ride, not letting go until the very last page.

Reviews

I'd just finished the earlier instalment, The Diabolic so I was lucky to jump straight in and pick up the story. With Nemesis to help him, Tyrus has taken control of the Empire. An idealistic and noble future lays ahead. But for those who have read the first book will know, there are plenty of foes to fill the spaces left by those already beaten. With plenty of double-crossing and strategic manoeuvring, there are many surprises in store for this young couple. If you love plenty of action, this book will have you on the edge of your seat. Although there were plenty of plot twists in Diabolic, this instalment is where the real action happens. There were times I wished the story unfolded differently but it was a tremendously powerful piece. A merciless, full-throttle plot, with plenty of surprises. 378 pages / Ages 12+ / Reviewed by Victoria Long, school librarian.

Suggested Reading Age 5+

The Empress is the sequel to the thrilling, fast-paced Diabolic and does not disappoint as a second book. From the very beginning, the story is fast-paced with twists and turns at every corner. Nemesis is still struggling to adapt to a life where she hopes one day she will be accepted as a human. Her partner and love, the Emperor Tyrus, is also finding it difficult to maintain power over the Grandiloquy and together they must seek confirmation of their status, perhaps from a higher power. Unable to trust anyone but each other they set off on a dangerous mission, with the outcome uncertain. I loved this sequel and each time I thought I had worked out the plot another twist shocked me. I cannot wait for the next book to find out Nemesis's ultimate fate and think students will be gripped by the fast pace and harsh reality of this universe. 378 pages / Ages 12+ / Reviewed by Lorraine Ansell, school librarian.