Review: The Empress by S.J. Kincaid

The Empress by S.J. Kincaid

Book Two of The Diabolic series

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: October 31, 2017

Rating: 4 stars

Source: Review copy sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

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?

What I Liked:

I. Am. Slain. Vanquished. Defeated. Here lies Alyssa, perished by the hand of S.J. Kincaid due to a particular emotion-evoking book written by said vanquisher. I don't even know how to process what I've just read. I was going along, reading the book very gamely, getting a little more anxious as it went, and then BAM! The ending. I am shooketh. (Is that what the young people say these days? I'm 22. I should know these things. I don't.)

The Empress picks up after The Diabolic left off, with Tyrus ascending the throne as Emperor, and Nemesis by his side. Many are opposed to their upcoming union, but it hasn't stopped them from making appearances together. But being in love might not be enough in the world of politics. One Senator in particular wants to manipulate and maneuver his way up, and Tyrus and Nemesis must figure out a way to stop him without outright killing him. They will fight for each other and die for each other, and this may be their downfall. All Nemesis ever wanted was to be seen as human, and to be happy with Tyrus. But the fate of the galaxy is so much bigger than her and Tyrus's love for each other. Sacrifices must be made, morals must be cast aside, and lines must be drawn. This sequel is sure to bring readers to the edge of their seats and desperate for more.

Well, it definitely had me on the edge of my seat. And I'm definitely begging for more. Where the heck are the rest of the pages?! The ending of this book was so cruel. I guess that's as good a spot as any to start with, in this review. The ending of this book is where all of the shenanigans I'd been expecting occurred. HOW does Kincaid do this to readers?! I was howling as I was reading the ending. I have no idea how the author is going to turn things around in book three (if she is going to turn things around). Do I WANT her to turn things around? Kind of? But also no? But also yes?

The pacing of this book is somewhat fast, though initially, not quite. A lot happens in the book and a lot of time passes (think on the scale of years). The author did an amazing job of making time pass, although it broke my heart a little bit (because of how the passage of time was done). It was so cool - the explanation and whatnot - but it was also sad because lost time. Nobody likes to lose time! But again, the science is really cool.

In fact the science aspect of the story in general is cool, in all parts. The time passage thing is neat but this whole story is sci-fi, set among various planets and starships and among the stars as Tyrus and Nemesis hop into hyperspace to travel across the galaxy. I love YA sci-fi, so I was really happy about how science-heavy this book was. Not enough to be off-putting to non-sci-fi-loving people, I promise!

Another heavy aspect of the book was the politics. There is a lot of politics in this book, from start to finish. A lot of negotiating, a lot of scheming, a lot of betraying, a lot of careful planning, a lot of backstabbing... a lot of everything political. Tyrus is a political mastermind, and I loved seeing his brain work. Seeing him and Senator Pasus try to outsmart and outmaneuver each other was nerve-wracking but also kind of thrilling (at least whenever Tyrus gained the upper hand).

Speaking of Tyrus, I adored him. He is so clever and "Type A", always thinking ahead and planning and overthinking. I connect with him on that level, although he is more masterminded than me. He plays the long game, and suffers as he does it, but he endures. His strength of mind and iron will are so impressive. I'm rooting for him in book three.

Nemesis is such a wonderful protagonist to follow. This book is written entirely from her first-person POV, and while I would have loved to read from Tyrus's first-person POV, it was just fine to have her narrative alone. She grows even more in this book, with having to make so many difficult decisions. She and Tyrus fight alongside each other and really learn their limits. While Tyrus is intelligent and clever, Nemesis is loyal and stubborn. I didn't love a few of her decisions, but at the same time, I put myself in her position and there is a good chance I'd do the same. 

I looooove how Tyrus and Nemesis two would fight and die for each other. They prove this over and over, how willing they are to sacrifice themselves, and the extreme lengths they'd go to protect the other. I really ship this romance and I loved seeing them grow closer and closer in this book. As individuals, they are super cool and I admire them. As a couple, they are wonderful together and I ship them. Sparks really really fly and the pages heat up in this book. And they are actually together for the majority of the book, which is surprising for a second book in a trilogy. You don't ever see that (usually the couple is split up early on). I was happy to see them together with no internal couple drama between them. It's that ending though. 

That. Ending. It changes everrrrrrrything. In a good and bad way. I'm so curious as to how Kincaid is going to go about book three. I'm hoping for one thing, but that thing seems impossible. But knowing our hero, and knowing our heroine, nothing is impossible.

Seriously, Tyrus is wicked smart and plans and accounts for everything. And Nemesis is kickbutt and seemingly indestructible. So. We shall see!

I'm not going to say too much about the plot because a ton of action happens in the book, whether it is flying off into space or being imprisoned or fighting narcotics (yeah, there is a lot going on). This book made me grow more and more anxious but 100% hooked and needing to know what happens next. Once I settled into the first couple of chapters, I was hooked. 

If you couldn't tell, I am sooo looking forward to reading book three. I hope it is on track to be an October 2018 publication (or earlier???). Gimmee.

What I Did Not Like:

THE ENDING OKAY???

I may never recover.

Would I Recommend It:

If you read The Diabolic, you must read The Empress. Not only did it NOT disappoint me, but it is probably the first YA book in a loooong time that actually made me FEEL things like excitement and anxiety and thrill. Well, a lot of those things. I've been feeling very "meh" about YA but this book was given me life. It also drained that same life with the ending, but that's irrelevant (well not really). This sequel is exciting and thrilling and just as good as its predecessor. And it sets up really well for an intense final novel! 

Rating:

4.5 stars. I am so here for this third book. Also I'm terrified of it. I'm so afraid of how things will end because how else are they supposed to end?! Hopefully Kincaid does something that will make readers happy. I really don't want to rage over the final book. Pleaseeeee let me love it. I hate it when you love a series and you support it so much and then the final novel is a huge disappointment that makes you want to set things on fire!

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Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Review: Rosemarked by Livia Blackburne

Rosemarked by Livia Blackburne

Book One of the Rosemarked series

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Publication Date: November 7, 2017

Rating: 4 stars

Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

A healer who cannot be healed . . .

When Zivah falls prey to the deadly rose plague, she knows it’s only a matter of time before she fully succumbs. Now she’s destined to live her last days in isolation, cut off from her people and unable to practice her art—until a threat to her village creates a need that only she can fill.

A soldier shattered by war . . .

Broken by torture at the hands of the Amparan Empire, Dineas thirsts for revenge against his captors. Now escaped and reunited with his tribe, he’ll do anything to free them from Amparan rule—even if it means undertaking a plan that risks not only his life but his very self.

Thrust together on a high-stakes mission to spy on the capital, the two couldn’t be more different: Zivah, deeply committed to her vow of healing, and Dineas, yearning for vengeance. But as they grow closer, they must find common ground to protect those they love. And amidst the constant fear of discovery, the two grapple with a mutual attraction that could break both of their carefully guarded hearts.

This smart, sweeping fantasy with a political edge and a slow-burning romance will capture fans of The Lumatere Chronicles and An Ember in the Ashes.

What I Liked:

Perhaps this is my impression of the book and its marketing, but it seems like this book is flying under the YA radar. Which is a real shame, because it is excellent. I hate to say it but it seems like this book is going to be a seriously underrated publication of 2017 and that is so sad. Hopefully I'm wrong - maybe there are armies of people that are excited about this book, and my tiny corner of the YA blogosphere is the only quiet one. I'm so happy that I enjoyed this book because my favorite book-related thing to do is gush about books. So here I go!

Zivah is a talented healer who has just become the youngest high healer of Dara... only to succumb to the rose plague. Now covered in rosemarks and isolated from the rest of Dara, Zivah lives in a cottage and tends to venomous snakes and scorpions. One of the many people she treated before she became rosemarked was Commander Arxa, one of the most powerful Amparans in the empire. He invites her to live in Sehmar City among the rosemarked, and treat those inflicted with the rose plague. She would no longer be in isolation, but she would have to leave Dara indefinitely. She almost refuses the offer, but fate throws Dineas in her path. Dineas is a warrior of a nomadic tribe caught in the middle of the Amparan wars. Dineas wants nothing more than to cut down every Amaparan who captured and tortured him, and when an opportunity presents itself for him to go to Sehmar City and pose as an Amparan soldier, he doesn't refuse. Dineas and Zivah didn't see eye-to-eye on anything at first, but circumstance and love for their homelands has drawn them together. They sacrifice everything they have to live a lie in Sehmar City, where they could be caught and killed for betrayal. 

I've read Midnight Thief, and Daughter of Dusk, and the short story Poison Dance. But I have to say, Rosemarked is Blackburne's strongest novel yet. I love seeing an author grow as he/she writes and publishes more books. It was so clear to me that Blackburne's craft has gotten better since Midnight Thief. I really enjoyed Midnight Thief, her debut, but Rosemarked outranks the book any day.

This book is written in dual first-person POV, present tense. I love dual narratives but oftentimes, I don't like one of the characters as much as I like the other. That was not the case with this story. I adored Zivah, and I adored Dineas, and I loved reading from both of their POVs.

Zivah is a dedicated healer, and she is an accomplished scientist (though she wouldn't be called that, in this world). She is so smart and creative, with her experiments and conjectures relating to the rose plague, and her duty to studying the venom of her pets. Zivah is a kind healer with a spine of steel. She isn't a warrior heroine that kicks butt in a physical sense, but she is just as kickbutt. She wields the power of a good brain, and a strong will. She is quietly strong, and one of the most likable YA heroines I've come across in a while.

Dineas is a warrior and a soldier through and through. He is quite a skilled soldier and he also has a talent with commanding crows. Dineas is the physically strong, brave, selfless hero puts lives like he has nothing to lose. He is hardened and stubborn, and he is determined not to like Zivah at first. He puts everything on the line for his people, including letting himself lose his memories while they are at Sehmar City. 

Losing his memories is a huge part of this story. Going through forced amnesia isn't easy, but Dineas does it willingly, to protect himself and Zivah (since he is posing as a rosemarked soldier looking for a place in Arxa's army). It was heartbreaking to see him lose himself as he retained no memories of himself. Zivah gave him temporary antidotes when they communicated with each, which meant that she had to watch him lose himself every time she and him finished their meetings. Blackburne wrote this aspect of the story so well, though it broke my heart every time.

There are a lot of pieces set in motion in this story. It isn't just about Dineas and Zivah going to Sehmar City to spy on the empire and Arxa and the prince. The rose plague is spreading, and no one can figure out how and why... especially when it starts to spread to higher ranks. Meanwhile, Dineas loses parts of himself every time he fights in Arxa's army. The rose plague is such an interesting part of the story - it definitely makes the book even more unique.

This story was exciting and intrigued from page one. I was hooked and didn't stop reading until I was finished - and I was looking for the rest of the story. I so thought this book was a standalone, and I was about to be quite upset! I'm glad there will be a sequel.

There is a subtle romance, as the synopsis implies. Dineas and Zivah fall for each other very slowly, and more visibly on Zivah's side. Well, on Dineas's too, but remember that his memories are taken away and given back and taken away. In any case, the romance is there and it's sweet, and also love-triangle-free. I'm rooting for more of a romantic presence in book two, because it's barely there in this book. It's there though, and a perfect amount, honestly. 

I really enjoyed Rosemarked, possibly even more than I expected. While I liked Midnight Thief a lot, I didn't enjoy Daughter of Dusk. But I'm glad I gave Rosemarked a shot. It is Blackburne's strongest book, and it was an excellent read.

What I Did Not Like:

I'm curious to see if there are repercussions to all of the memory-hopping that Dineas has to go through... he takes a potion to lose his memories, and then takes a temporary antidote for every time he and Zivah communicate in person. But then that wears off and he is back to being amnesiac. Zivah has a permanent antidote so it isn't like he is stuck amnesiac forever, but it seems too clean, to be able to go back and forth between having full memories and being a completely blank slate.

I wouldn't have minded more romance. It's there, and I like it, but I'm hoping the sequel will have more. The romance in this book was sweet but also a little sad.

Would I Recommend It:

YA fantasy fans should definitely pick this book up. I don't usually compare books to other books, but the synopsis of the book is pretty accurate so I will use it - this book definitely compares to An Ember in the Ashes, and in a good way. It features a world just as brutal and hopeless as EMBER's, with a likable cast of protagonists, and villains you aren't sure are completely villainous. There are people on both sides of fight that are fighting for the "right thing" on their side. This book blurs that line and really makes you think about who is "right", in a war.

Rating:

4.5 stars. This book was spectacular and one that I'll be thinking about in the future. It's funny - I love the warrior/healer trope in adult romance novels; it's a trope that really works for me. You don't see it often in YA though, especially not from a romantic sense. But this book features a warrior and a healer and they do slowly fall in love... I love it. And of course there are many parts of this book that I loved, besides the trope. I highly recommend the book!

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Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Stacking the Shelves (#254)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, in which bloggers share the books and swag they've received in the past week!

So, what did I get in the week of Sunday, October 29th to Saturday, November 4th?

(all links to Goodreads are provided!)

In the mail:

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton promo package - including an ARC, macaroons, mask, compact mirror, and pouch

Quite possibly one of the prettiest packages I've ever received! Thank you, Disney and BHM!

From NetGalley:

Once Upon a Christmas Eve by Elizabeth Hoyt

This is the final installment in the series! I might cry. I love the series so much. 💚💗

For Review:

The Forbidden Heir by M.J. Scott

This book publishes on TUESDAY! I beta-read it earlier in the year and really enjoyed it. I'm excited to see how the final version came along!

Reviews from this week:

    

(Click on the covers to go to my reviews!)

Giveaways from this week:

(Click on the images to go to the posts!)

Favorite Instagram post from this week:

A post shared by Alyssa Susanna (@theeaterofbooks) on Oct 31, 2017 at 5:37pm PDT

(My Halloween outfit!)

This week flew by! I dressed up as Minnie Mouse for Halloween, and everyone at work looooved my outfit. I loved it too! My mom sewed the skirt. =) Happy November!

November 2017 New Release Giveaway!

Welcome to the November New Release Giveaway Hop! The November New Release Giveaway hop is hosted by It Starts At Midnight\. 

This month, I'm giving a November '17 book that I read! Your choices are: 

Young Adult

    

    

(Click on the covers for more information!)

Adult

    

(Click on the covers for more information!)

The Giveaway:

Win a November '17 book pictured above! Print or ebook (print = The Book Depository only).  It must be one pictured above. Winner has 48 hours to respond. The usual Giveaways rules apply.

Open INTERNATIONALLY! Good luck!

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Swoon Thursday (#249): The Empress by S.J. Kincaid

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from The Empress by S.J. Kincaid!

Tyrus pulled me to him, his lips hot and intent, parting mine. His hand cupped the back of my neck. The stroke of his thumb at my nape sent delightful chills skittering down my spine.

His hand slid downward, and his eyes met mine before his touch traced up the expanse of my leg. He searched my face, and I realized he was gauging my response. Wanting to force him out of his head, I shoved him onto his back. Tyrus gave a startled sound, but his lips blazed into a grin as I tasted the skin of his throat... And then his legs were tangled with mine, rolling us over again, his face flickering in the warm glow of the firelight.

"I love you," he told me simply.

- ARC, page 55

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My review should be posted shortly! You must check out The Diabolic and The Empress if you have not already. The series is a great one!

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Retribution Rails by Erin Bowman

Welcome to the blog tour for Retribution Rails by Erin Bowman! This is the companion sequel to Vengeance Road, an excellent YA historical fiction novel set during the Wild West. I had the opportunity to pick Erin's brain about writing a companion series vs. writing a continuous series! Check it out, and don't miss out on the opportunity to win a copy of the book!

The Guest Post:

Writing a companion series vs. writing a continuous series

Retribution Rails is a companion to Vengeance Road, my ‘Wild West’ historical fiction novel that released in 2015, and in writing it, I discovered that crafting a companion novel poses unique challenges. Much like a continuous series, companion novels exist within the same world, but the main characters and plot are new. If it weren’t for the world connecting all the books, companions are basically stand-alones. (Kristin Cashore’s Graceling Realm is a great example of a companion series.)

I’ve also written a continuous series—my debut Taken trilogy was one—and what I missed most from that experience while writing Retribution Rails was the familiarity of my cast. RR follows two protagonists: Reece Murphy (an outlaw) and Charlotte Vaughn (an aspiring journalist). When I wrote the sequels to Taken, I already knew my main characters. I knew what made them tick, what they wanted most in life, their greatest fears, etc. While writing a companion, I had to discover this all over again. The protagonists from VR have cameos in RR, but they take a back seat. It’s Reece and Charlotte who drive the narrative, and so their voices needed to be crystal clear for me to bring them to life. Charlotte proved to be the trickier of the two. Until I really dug into her history (and until I understood what motivated her), she fell flat on the page.  It took many drafts to flesh her out.

There’s also the issue of plot while writing a companion. While characters and subplots from VR appear in RR, I wanted RR to stand on its own. This was quite a change for me after my Taken trilogy, in which each book directly built off the plot of the prior, raising the stakes each time. But once I warmed up to the idea that I was basically writing a stand-alone with RR, things fell into place. I weaved in subtle nods to the first book, but a reader doesn’t have to read VR to enjoy RR. This is one of the best things about companion novels. Publishing order doesn’t dictate reading order, and readers can enter the series with any book.

World-building in a companion novel felt very similar to me as in a continuous series. In both situations the world is the same between installments, and in both types of series, the world should feel bigger with each new book. If anything, I found this to be even easier with a companion than with a continuous series. Because RR gives readers new characters, we’re already seeing the world through new eyes, naturally allowing it to feel fresh. I also set RR ten years after the events of VR. Arizona Territory has changed. Trains now crisscross much of the land, connecting towns and cities. With an altered landscape, the world feels more complex to readers, and I didn’t even have to do that much legwork. It was just history at work!

At the end of the day, though, it’s all just story-telling. Whether you’re writing a continuous series or a companion series, one thing remains the same: each book needs to have a beginning, middle, and end; and the protagonist(s) must face a challenge, emerging irrevocably changed by the end of the story, whether they’ve succeeded in their goals or not.

Thank you, Erin!

About Retribution Rails:

Retribution Rails by Erin Bowman

Book Two of the Vengeance Road series

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: November 7, 2017

Official Summary:

When Reece Murphy is forcibly dragged into the Rose Riders gang because of a mysterious gold coin in his possession, he vows to find the man who gave him the piece and turn him over to the gang in exchange for freedom. Never does he expect a lead to come from an aspiring female journalist. But when Reece's path crosses with Charlotte Vaughn after a botched train robbery and she mentions a promising rumor about a gunslinger from Prescott, it becomes apparent that she will be his ticket to freedom—or a noose. As the two manipulate each other for their own ends, past secrets are unearthed, reviving a decade-old quest for revenge that may be impossible to settle.

In this thrilling companion to Vengeance Road, dangerous alliances are formed, old friends meet new enemies, and the West is wilder than ever.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository | The Ivy Bookshop

Check out Vengeance Road:

(Click on the cover for more information!)

About the Author:

Erin grew up in rural Connecticut, where she spent most of her childhood telling stories. It is rumored that her first words were not "Mama" or "Dada," but "Once upon a time." In middle school, when kids were going off to sleep-away camp for the summer, Erin was attending writing camp and penning short stories.

She studied web design (and minored in Creative Writing because she couldn’t stay away from stories) at the Rochester Institute of Technology in upstate New York. After several years working in advertising and designing websites for various brands, she moved from Boston to New Hampshire, where she now lives with her family and writes full-time.

When not writing, Erin can often be found hiking, geeking out over good typography, and obsessing over all things Harry Potter. She drinks a lot of coffee, buys far too many books, and is not terribly skilled at writing about herself in the third person.

She is represented by Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger, and is the author of the Taken Trilogy (available from HarperTeen) and Vengeance Road (HMH Books for Young Readers).

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

The Giveaway:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of Retribution Rails. US Only.

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Follow the Tour:

Week One:
10/30/2017- Tales of the Ravenous Reader- Interview
10/31/2017- Novel Novice- Review
11/1/2017- The Eater of Books!- Guest Post
11/2/2017- YA and Wine- Review
11/3/2017- Adventures of a Book Junkie- Interview

Week Two:
11/6/2017- Fiction Fare- Review
11/7/2017- BookHounds YA- Guest Post
11/8/2017- The Book Cellar- Review
11/9/2017- YA Books Central- Interview
11/10/2017- Mundie Moms- Review

Waiting on Wednesday (#253): Legendary by Stephanie Garber

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

Legendary by Stephanie Garber

Book Two of the Caraval series

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Publication Date: May 29, 2018

Summary (from Goodreads):

The sequel to the New York Times bestselling and #1 IndieNext Pick Caraval, following Scarlett’s younger sister, Tella, on a journey to the empire’s capital to fulfill a dangerous bargain.

Stephanie Garber’s limitless imagination takes flight once more in the colorful, mesmerizing, and immersive sequel to her New York Times bestselling debut novel Caraval. 

This year’s Caraval has concluded. Tella is alive—and safe, to her older sister’s relief. But Tella has secrets she has been keeping from Scarlett. Secrets like what Tella promised in exchange for the sisters’ invitations to Caraval in the first place. Secrets about the person to whom these promises were made. And secrets about Julian, the Caraval player who won Scarlett’s heart. 

Afraid of revealing the truth to the person who loves her most, Tella runs away to Valenda, the capital of the Empire, to find the mysterious correspondent whom Tella owes. But in the nights leading up to Elantine’s Day, a cross between a masquerade ball, a jubilee, and Caraval, no one is to be trusted . . .

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

Caraval review | Caraval Swoon Thursday

I loved Caraval and I can't wait to read this book. It's a companion sequel which makes me a little sad because I adored Julian and Scarlett, but I'm excited to read Tella's story! I have no doubt it will be amazing.