I thought this book was spectacular. It's non-stop action, with some really creative and gripping ideas and honestly I couldn't put it down or get it out of my head. It starts off as every good book does, you know when you just know that this book is one you'll love? That rare feeling? Well this did it for me, it grabbed me and didn't let go until it crushed me at the end.

The most important thing you need to know is that a Diabolic is someone who is created specifically to protect someone; usually someone of importance. And Diabolics are engineered in such a way that they are bonded to a single person they would do anything to protect. They're also incredible, bad-ass killing machines with super-human strength. What's not to love?

This story focuses on one such Diabolic, Nemesis. Nemesis is bonded to a Senators daughter, Sidonia. Sidonia is an equally likeable character for a multitude of reasons, most notably that she isn't your typical damsel in distress. But Nemesis must impersonate her and travel to the Emperors domain in her place, in order to protect her.

The story moves quickly and is always interesting, but what I liked the most was the wonderful world-building. The setting is unique, but a few of the concepts within are fun and creative. For example, I loved the idea that people altered their appearance (sometimes in all kinds of gruesome manners) in order to look younger, thinner, more attractive or simply to be like someone else. Whilst this might seem shallow, it's actually really well delivered and had lots of potential to put a few twists and turns in the plot. Equally, the nature of Diabolics is explained well and perfectly fleshed out with background explanation to give you an idea of how it works.

There is a romantic element to the book, which becomes more of a focus towards the latter parts of the story. This didn't really interest me as much as Nemesis did as a character by herself, so to me wasn't particularly needed, but it didn't detract from the plot especially.

A really good book - I can't wait to see if the sequel is as good!

I’d actually already bought this book before I requested it on Netgalley, I just hadn't realised. I’m an idiot. I picked it up on the ‘buy one get one half price’ Waterstones table… not the first time I’d popped in for one book and come out with 2 thanks to this offer. Anyway, the ‘how’ isn't important, it’s the ‘why’ I gave a book (which frankly, I was not looking forward to reading,) five stars. Let me explain.
I freaking loved it: from the characters to the world building, to the plot, which just wouldn't let up and (yep, I live for this stuff,) the romance. I’m a sucker for an imperfect romance. The book was sold to me by the sticker on the front, which, stated shamelessly that the heroine was ‘a character to join Celena and Katniss.’ They weren't wrong. Nemesis was every bit as fierce and well rounded as these two characters. She was never going to topple Feyre, but I wasn't promised that, so I’m happy. However, saying that, I didn't like her as much as Celena but that’s purely personal preference so you can choose to ignore me there!
The novel is set in a dystopian society, which is usually a type of book I tend to shy away from. Yet, here I am again, sucked in just as I have been with many other books in a similar ilk. They’re addictive and wonderful and ‘The Diabolic’ was no exception. I flew through this book and loved every second.
It was this protagonist that drew me in and kept me reading, (occasionally even behind the counter at work, but we’ll keep that between us!) Nemesis is a Diabolic; she's ‘programmed’ to protect another human. She is strong, to a fault. But it is never pretended that she's something other than a means of protection and she's ‘bred’ for such a purpose. It’s in her genetic makeup to harm anything that gets in her ‘charge’s’ way. And that’s what she does, whatever the cost. If anyone tries to harm Sidonia, her charge, Nemesis will neutralise the threat by doing whatever she can eliminate it.
One thing I will point out is that this book it brutal from the off. But, saying that, you do see the heroine’s caring side. She doesn't change, not drastically and not in one chapter, but she develops. Her voice never once fails which is something I enjoyed. I didn’t get the sense that when she met her love interest everything about her changed, which is completely refreshing for YA. There are also Female friendships which were given as much sort and ‘page time’ (!!!) as those romantic ones – again, something YA seems to lack, and I will very much enjoy seeing more of!
I am so freaking excited for the next book it’s unreal. I know some reviewers have criticised the choice of developing this into a trilogy, but I for one am thrilled.

Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy.

All I can say is wow! I've been in a bit of a reading funk lately yet I managed 'Diabolic' in one sitting. Nemesis is a diabolic, a genetically engineered humanoid designed to protect her master at all costs. What she shouldn't feel is human emotions beyond devotion to her master but her thoughts about the world and her place in it are challenged when she is sent to the Emperor as a hostage masquerading as her master. Set in space far in the future in a world reminiscent of ancient Rome, 'Diabolic' is a book that will have you riveted from beginning to end.

The Diabolic is one of my favourite YA novels of the year. Set in a galatic setting with Greco-roman influences and a dystopian flair, Nemesis must travel to the Emperor's court in the guise of a Senator's daughter in order to keep said Senator's daughter safe.

I've heard Nemesis being compared to Katniss Everdeen and Celaena Sardothien but I felt there were more similarities with Lada Dragwyla because they are both vicious and I loved reading about every second of their viciousness. I'm simultaneously kicking myself for not discovering The Diabolic earlier and yearning for The Empress.

I received this book from Netgalley a little while ago and finally got around to reading it this evening.

This is set in a futuristic world where AI is prevalent. Creatures called Diabolics were created by humans to protect and love only one person (those who they are purchased for). Nemesis will protect Sidonia at any cost, even her own life.

I loved the writing in this book and I thought the plot and overall idea was really good too, very original for the most part.

Kincaid crafts the plot beautifully in order to toy with the reader. My initial thoughts were that the book would develop into a love story as soon as Nemesis met Tyrus. Which in part was an accurate prediction, however a lot more happened.

I truly believed Tyrus was guilty when the electrodes happened but hadn't been convinced before that. Also the plot twist with Sidonia I didn't see coming at all!!

I feel like there should have been more build up between Tyrus and Nemesis because all of a sudden they seemed to be in love. I also think that we're lacking some answers in terms of Nemesis' ability to love - was it there all along or is she special?

Definitely worth a read and I believe there is another book in this series!

This is one of those novels where, within about ten pages you know exactly what you're getting. That is by no means a bad thing in this case, there's a certain comfort to predictability. I could tell from the off that I was getting a pretty standard YA main character, even if Nemesis is by definition not a standard young adult.

Having said that, I can see why this concept has grabbed people. The idea of someone designed not to feel (or to only feel for one person) becoming something so much more than they were originally intended is one of those stories that captures the imaginations of quite a lot of people. There's something almost Beauty and the Beast about the transformation. A 'well who'd've thought they had it in them?' shall we say.

The writing in this book was, as I say, pretty standard YA. There are some incredibly cool concepts within though. My personal favourite was the idea of a ball held in zero gravity, clearly the author had thought about what that meant and all the things it would entail, right down to the shoes you would wear in that scenario. There's an attention to detail in this book that surprised and delighted me. You all know I like a well thought out world.

The plot of this was, in my opinion, not particularly surprising, but that didn't make it bad. It was interesting seeing how the things I had predicted played out.

Finishing this book reminded me of the feeling I got when I finished The Hunger Games way back when I was a teenager. There's that release of emotion as you get to the finish but also a huge sense of anticipation for the sequel, which thankfully releases pretty soon!

All in all, this is a really strong YA sci fi novel. It's got a great concept and it has something very reminiscent of other great YA books I have read in the past.

My rating: 4/5 stars

By the way, I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

An amazing read, one I couldn't put down once I started it. It's a fascinating look into the future. I loved that it was all from inside Nemisis' head, all from her point of view. I always enjoy seeing what not quite humans think of us. I was very upset by poor Donia...not the first time, I was fairly sure she was still alive then, but the second time. I liked the ending, too, Tyrus' clever plan. I'd love to know what happened next, how they reshaped the world.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to read this book.

Fantastic start to a new series! The Diabolic is brutal and violent with political intrigue, action, romance, and twists mind games. The characters are incredible - full of complexity and just so compelling. The world-building is outstanding and vivid. You can imagine this galactic empire perfectly. There is no dispute that this would make a blockbuster movie. It perfectly blends the fantasy, sci-fi, and dystopian genres. The description "Game of Thrones in space" is more than accurate. If you've been looking for the next great YA series, this is it. Be sure to check out The Diabolic today!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Despite a slightly clunky start, the Diabolic moves swiftly into a fast paced and twisting tale of what makes us human? what makes us humane? with all the trappings of a far future sci-fi society. The Empire is corrupt - most are - but this one is rotting from the inside, the Grandiloquy (the aristocracy) are refusing to see that they are heading for a societal collapse, instead amusing themselves with fashions, intrigues, narcotics, blood sports and other dissipations both petty and cruel. In that aspect there is a hint of Capitol from the Hunger Games but this book really is a different animal.

Our viewpoint MC is Nemesis, a diabolic bred and reared in the corrals to be stronger, faster and many hundreds of times more deadly than a human, but not to actually be human. Conditioned to fight and kill but not to feel by genetecists who have, like most scientists of the empire, lost touch with the progress of science and instead rely on past discoveries without seeking to fully understand or improve on them. In part this is due to a repressive and Empire sanctioned religion based on unthinking worship of the great cosmos. Diabolics are conditioned to love and protect just one person and Nemesus is bonded to the heir of the Impyrean senatorship, Sidonia. But when Nemesis is ordered to take the place of her master at court, the story really kicks into gear and we follow her journey as she struggles to reconcile herself with the conditioning she us being forced to break.

This is a fascinating and somewhat snarky look at our most privileged section of society today and also shines an unforgiving light on the idea of people as possessions. If you've always been taught to think you're owned and then suddenly you're treated as if you are autonomous is that what makes you free? Or do you need to reclaim that freedom and the responsibility that goes with it from within?

I really don't want to spoil this for anyone. Suffice to say that while there are examples of extreme brutality and cruelty in this story, there are also small shining moments of unconditional kindness as well. There are few likeable characters at court which really is a nest of scorpians, but it serves to make the few truly decent (notice I say decent not good - this book has a serious body count) stand out even more. I found the romance believable and painful - it was never going to be without doubt. The friendships were engaging. My only gripes were that one particular death cleared the way a bit too conveniently (it might just be me) and the ending happened so fast. It wasn't rushed but it was sudden. Most of all I enjoyed the way that in the end this book was about celebrating intelligence and compassion, wanting a better future and reaching for it. I'm glad it was a stand alone novel but I could have easily read more.

This is YA that pulls no punches with its themes and is still an engaging story.