The Empress by S. J. Kincaid

Author: S. J. Kincaid

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: October 31, 2017

Pages: 464

Format: Paperback

My Rating: ⭐⭐

Purchase Links: [Chapters/Indigo] [Amazon]

Goodreads Synopsis:

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. One where creatures like Nemesis will be given worth and recognition, where science and information can be shared with everyone and not just the elite. But having power isn’t the same thing as keeping it, and change isn’t always welcome. The ruling class, the Grandiloquy, has held control over planets and systems for centuries—and they are plotting to stop this teenage Emperor and Nemesis, who is considered nothing more than a creature and certainly not worthy of being Empress. Nemesis will protect Tyrus at any cost. He is the love of her life, and they are partners in this new beginning. But she cannot protect him by being the killing machine she once was. 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. But if proving her humanity means that she and Tyrus must do inhuman things, is the fight worth the cost of winning it?

My Review:

* I received a copy of the book from the publisher for an honest review *

Tyrus is the new emperor and wants Nemsis to become his empress. But they’ve come across a resistance with the people. They don’t want a diobolic in power and there are many attacks on both of their lives. So much happens in this book but at the same time there isn’t any movement.

Tyrus and Nemsis relationship gave me whiplash. There was so much back and forth happening with the hope of their relationship proceeding but it just got tiring. Don’t get me wrong I love them together. Tyrus is the sweetest. They constantly show their love for one another but at some points it just gets bland.

The story is mostly politics and science but nothing else. In The Diabolic Tryus was portrayed to be this intellect who’s always thinking ten steps ahead but in The Empress it’s proved that he just wasn't thinking at all! Nemesis too, her actions or lack of had me rolling my eyes so far back I developed small migraines. She could have been portrayed as a problem solver, but instead she came off as unreliable and weak. The characters judgments made no sense and they ended up making childish decisions. Also, there was so many characters that I couldn't keep track of and got confused a lot of the time. So many of the characters added were just unnecessary.

There were some scenes that were hilarious and brightened up my mood a little bit. I do love the universe and I got to learn so much more in this book. Some of the stuff had me thinking what’s wrong with these characters? Why didn’t they question or ask about the things going on around them?

Not spoiling the ending, all I'm going to say is that I was frustrated and disappointed. I wanted another book to The Diabolic. I wanted to see more of the characters and where their lives would be heading. But now I wish that it was only a standalone. The Empress was a disappointment. It goes to a whole different direction and I now believe the story is ruined. The story just kept digging a deeper grave and couldn’t get back up. I expected so much more especially since The Diabolic was one of my favourite reads. Kincaid tried to make a complex deep world with harsh domestic politics, but couldn’t execute.

#SJKincaid #2star #YA #sequel #TheDiabolic #TheEmpress