The Diabolic Series by S.J. Kincaid - Restarting April 3rd 2018

[Abi]

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Reading from the 22nd of October 2017

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[Dannii]

About time I get to this one, before I get my hands on the Empress :)

[✨Skye✨]

Still reading from the September BR :) 24% (view spoiler)[ This is better than I expected. Nemesis' mind is so different from other heroines, she's ruthless and it's honestly refreshing. I find Sidonia irritating. Devinee and Salivar are obviously going to do something horrible, they have a bad vibe. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

@Skye I'm starting this one now. Better late than never!

[Jenn]

Prologue: I probably should have read the book cover because I completely forgot what this book was supposed to be about lol. (view spoiler)[Nemesis seems brutal. It was crazy how she dispatched those three criminals. It will be interesting to see how she grows. (hide spoiler)]

[✨Skye✨]

49% (view spoiler)[ That was such an unexpected twist! To remove Sidonia, Nemesis' reason for being, is huge. I am glad to see Nemesis is viewing it as an opportunity to become her own person now, and I do like her. She's brutal and different but shows kindness where it matters, like saving the beast and training it. As a big dog lover, that resonated with me a lot. Tyrus is an interesting addition, although I do wish he was really 'insane' rather than faking it, that would make for a very different relationship between him and Nemesis. That's not to say that mental illness should be a plot point or plot device, but it feels like an opportunity for positive representation of mental illness and how people who are mentally ill can still have good relationships was missed. Neveni is sweet, but she isn't my favourite. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Chapters 1-3: interesting premise so far. (view spoiler)[ not quite sure how they think they're going to fool the emperor by sending Nemesis instead of Sidonia. The girl doesn't have one shred of humanity. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Chapters 4-10: (view spoiler)[ it's creepy to me how these people change their outward appearance. Like how the emperor looks 20 something but he's obviously a lot older. He's also a cruel SOB (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Chapters 11-15: (view spoiler)[ these people are messed up. Not sure how nemesis is going to get herself out of this. I'm intrigued by Tyrus. I don't think he's quite as mad as they make him out to be. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Skye wrote: "Still reading from the September BR :) 24% [spoilers removed]"

I agree. Nemesis is refreshing. It's nice to read someone who's not confined by the norms we've come to expect. She's unpredictable

[✨Skye✨]

77% (view spoiler)[ Sidonia isn't dead, oh my god! More unexpected plot twists. Also, Tyrus is super hot and I need more kiss scenes between him and Nemesis like the one on the ship. My heart is broken over Deadly 3 I like the development of Tyrus and how he's now gaining credibility over his uncle by showing himself to be a good Emperor. I have a feeling Tyrus will go along with the Elantra thing and it makes me so angry! (hide spoiler)]

[✨Skye✨]

Finished. (view spoiler)[ What a dramatic ending! Tyrus prevailed over Cygna at the last minute and proved himself, and the plots and twists kept me reading obsessively. The plot Cygna laid out with Sidonia's murder was so clever and well planned, even if it didn't work and I an satisfied Elantra is dead. I wasn't too upset about Sidonia's death but I saw a hint of lesbian romance there when Sidonia said she loved Nemesis just like Tyrus did and it seems a bit of a wasted opportunity. Overall, a satisfying ending and one I'm not sure needs a sequel, though I probably will still read it. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Chapter 18: (view spoiler)[ the emperor is a dick. I can't believe he just killed all those people! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

1/4: (view spoiler)[Not super keen on the start of this. I already have the feeling that this will be somewhat predictable but am holding out hope. The diabolics are an interesting concept but I feel we keep being told about their lack of emotions and so emotions will clearly arrive, later in the book, which will be shocking to all the characters but expected by the reader. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

2/4: (view spoiler)[There are some truly brutal scenes in this, which are gory and yet making for intriguing reading. The evil duo in the baths and the skin-stripping scenes were both horrific and yet made for some interesting points of discussion, concerning this fictional society, These are the only spots of interest in a pretty predictable narrative, so far, though. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

3/4: (view spoiler)[Sidonia's death was so unexpected that I still don't believe it. I saw Nemesis' relationship with Tyrus developing from the very start, though. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

4/4: (view spoiler)[Fast-paced ending but I found I couldn't really care enough anymore. Some shocks and some interesting topical subjects broached but the actual story-line was standard dystopian. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Going to join in after I finish a couple more Morganville books :D

[Dr. Andy]

26% (view spoiler)[ I like the sci-fi experience so far. I like Nemesis, but I'm not sure what will happen at the Chrysanthemum. Sedona was stupid when she told that etiquette lady the plan. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Dannii wrote: "1/4: [spoilers removed]"

That would make sense. I'm still kind of confused as to what the actual plot is right now.

[Dr. Andy]

50% (view spoiler)[ It's too bad Tyrus isn't insane, that would've been way more interesting. And he would've reminded me of Myrnin from Morganville vamps and I love him. I wonder what's going to happen now. I'm not super involved in this story, but it's not bad. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

75% (view spoiler)[ I'm so not surprised that Sidonia isn't dead, I had a feeling she wouldn't be. And I wonder what the Resolving mist actually does it sounded interesting. I'm glad Tyrus has Nevenni's planet as an ally. And I hate his grandmother, stupid old bat. Also kind of irritated with Nemesis and how her reaction is to kill people all the time. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Jenn wrote: "Skye wrote: "Still reading from the September BR :) 24% [spoilers removed]"

I agree. Nemesis is refreshing. It's nice to read someone who's not confined by the norms we've come to expect. She's un..."

If you want to read about another unpredictable female lead I'd suggest And I Darken- Lada is ruthless

[Dr. Andy]

Dannii wrote: "4/4: [spoilers removed]"

I feel kind of the same, but I'm enjoying the end so far.

[Dr. Andy]

Finished (view spoiler)[ This was blah for me. Just didn't feel this. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting April 3rd 2018. Happy Reading ☺

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[Amanda]

Chapters 1-5 (view spoiler)[ such devotion that Nemesis has for Sidonia. It is admirable. Parts of her humanity peek through. I went into this book blind, without reading a blurb. Just picked it up based on reputation and the cover. It is actually quite interesting. Started off very cool. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

End of chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ Wow, Sidonia really loves her. To force her hand like that. She knows Nemesis will now do everything in her power to stay alive herself. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

End of chapter 10(view spoiler)[ wow okay. This might become hard for her to just blend in. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

10-15 (view spoiler)[ wow okay so court has rapists and what sounds like dog fighting. I could never watch that sort of thing and be entertained. Nerveni is so nice and I think Tyrus isn't as crazy as they make him out to be. He seems to have the most humanity, I think he truly cared for the Exalted. And now Nemesis seems to be showing some humanity as well. Although I have no clue how she will get out of this one. Maybe keep Deadly as a pet? I don't want to read about a creature that is mostly dog genetically die. I love dogs, so I'm glad Nemesis is defending it in a way. Although she might have to kill it. Ahhhh. And now the rapists woke up... damn this book is way more interesting than I expected. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

15-20(view spoiler)[Holy shit. They just killed Sidonia and her whole family! I didn't see that coming! I knew Tyrus wasn't mad. Or maybe he is, but he certainly has more humanity than the rest of them. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

End of 35 (view spoiler)[ Awh I can't believe Deadly died and got sick. Some times the kindest thing you can do is put them to sleep when they're suffering like that. I'd be in a mood too if my dog got sick and died. She's reminded that loving someone is extremely painful when you lose them. I understand her grief. It's easier to shut everyone out rather than feel all that pain. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

End of 40 (view spoiler)[ wow. Donia is alive. And nemesis should tell tyrus she wants to be with him!! (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

End of 45(view spoiler)[ I don't really trust Tyrus. I think he will let something happen to Donia. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

End of 45(view spoiler)[ I don't really trust Tyrus. I think he will let something happen to Donia. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

End of 47 (view spoiler)[ OH THAT FUCKING BASTARD! That's why he wanted her to do the annointing. This is madness. (hide spoiler)]

[Klancy]

Hi! I just saw that there was a BR for this that started yesterday. I hope I'm not too late to join :)

[Klancy]

Pg 146 (view spoiler)[I wasn't surprised that Nemesis jumped into the arena to help Deadly. I'm waiting for Enmity to find out who Nemesis actually is, though. (hide spoiler)]

[Klancy]

Amanda wrote: "End of chapter 7 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I know! Their relationship is so genuine. Sidonia really does care for Nemesis. (hide spoiler)]

[Klancy]

Pg 194 (view spoiler)[I can't believe that the Emperor killed Sidonia and fed Enmity to his beast. I'm excited that Nemesis and Tyrus are teaming up, though (hide spoiler)]

[Klancy]

Pg 293 (view spoiler)[I knew Sidonia wasn't dead! (hide spoiler)]

[Ryn]

Weird, I could have sworn this one was supposed to start the fourth. That's okay though, I'm excited to get to read it. (view spoiler)[ Okay, the Diabolics are just ... weird. I can't really figure out if they're REALLY not human, like a really dangerous pet.. I thought it was more that they were human, just everyone was prejudiced against them but from the first few chapters it doesn't quite seem that way. Or they are human but they're just missing the parts of their brains that allow them to have certain emotions and conscience. I don't know... I feel like I want a lot more information about how the Diabolics came into being. (hide spoiler)]

[Klancy]

Ryn wrote: "Weird, I could have sworn this one was supposed to start the fourth. That's okay though, I'm excited to get to read it. [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I feel like that's something that should be discussed more in the beginning because I was confused about this too. (hide spoiler)]

Finished the book (view spoiler)[That ending. I figured Sidonia would have to die to progress the story, but I was not expecting her to be poisoned during Elantra's ceremony (hide spoiler)]

[Ryn]

Okay so I have a feeling here that (view spoiler)[ Tyrus is not mad. He's only playing. He reminds me of Ilya Ivanovitch in Mercedes Lackey's Firebird, playing the fool to keep his brothers from beating him up and killing him. But the Emperor is using him to keep himself alive; are they in it together or is Tyrus fooling the Emperor as well? (hide spoiler)]

[Ryn]

I knew it!
(view spoiler)[ not insane. Wow, I thought this book was a little bit of a slow starter... which is almost a given in any sci-fi because of all the worldbuilding you have to do, but once it took off, it has been fabulous so far. I keep expecting them to find Sidonia alive, although if that happens, I'm sure it won't be until the end, but... married? Was not expecting that from Nemesis and Tyrus. So much cruelty to these less-than-humans. I don't think they actually are less than human, I think they're just genetically engineered humans, who aren't allowed access to their higher functions. But both Nemesis and Enmity had feelings beyond what they were "supposed" to have, so still hoping for an exposition dump about diabolics and how they came to be. (hide spoiler)]

[Ryn]

Fin
So excited for the next one. But did they really (view spoiler)[ have to kill Sidonia AGAIN? Poor girl. And I'm still really hoping they explain why Nemesis can feel so much more than the other diabolics. I've really enjoyed reading about Nemesis because she's not precisely human and her reactions are often so new to her. (hide spoiler)] Great story, and a good addition to the dystopian genre.