The Grey Mist Murders by Constance and Gwenyth Little

The Grey Mist Murders
Constance and Gwenyth Little
3/5 stars

The Grey Mist Murders takes place on a cruise ship, and is told in first person by sassy, quick-witted Carla.  Two young women are strangled, and one more (the narrator) nearly murdered as well.

This is the first mystery written by the Little sisters, and it lacks the sparkle of their later works.  As with all their mysteries, this one is a light mystery with humor and a bit of romance, but in other parts it is dry, and there were times when it was a chore to read.  The plot was interesting, but the conclusion not fully believable, and the amount of evidence the hero was able to piece together was far fetched as well.

This is not a good example of the talent of the Little sisters.  If I had read it first, I would probably not have tried another one.  I suggest that this one be skipped by all but the most dedicated of the Little fans, and then read it as an experience to see how much they grew over their career.

(I recommend the Black-Headed Pins, the Black Honeymoon or the Black Coat for first time Little readers.)

Top Five Wednesday: Books You Will Never Read

Top Five Wednesday is a Goodreads group.

Today's topic is: Books You Will Never Read.  I sort of hate to list these, as some will be favorites of fellow bibliophages, but here it goes.


1. The rest of the Hunger Games series
I read the first book, and it just didn't grab me, so I didn't finish the series.  (Please don't throw bricks through my window, folks!)

2.  The rest of the Twilight series
Again, I read the first book, and again it didn't grab me.  Frankly, I found it kind of icky.  (Again, no bricks, please!)

3. Haruki Murakami's novels
I want to like him so much!  He has such a devoted fan base and the books sound so fascinating, but. . . I have tried three different books--I even read the entire first volume of 1Q84--and I just felt lost and bored.  I've finally, after this third attempt, decided we are not fated.

4.  Any more Dickens
First off, let me say, I love Victorian literature.  Wilkie Collins is one of my top-ten favorite authors,  As for his good friend Dickens. . . His plots are great, but his prose is yawn-inducing.  I've read a wide variety of his works in high school and college and have yet to be anything but disappointed by them.  I keep trying, believe it or not.  I just find him dull.  

5.  Any more book about animals
I can not do it!  Animal books make me cry and I honestly have anxiety during the entire book.  Mom used to make me read some of the more famous ones, like Where the Red Fern Grows and Old Yeller, and I hated them as much as I feared them.  As soon as I could make my book choices myself, animal books never crossed my path.

Winter by Marissa Meyer

Winter
Marissa Meyer
4/5 stars

Winter is the final installment in the Lunar Chronicles.  Princess Winter's history, which is revealed in this volume, is a retelling of sorts of the Snow White story.  She joins with Cinder, as Cinder and her friends try to start a revolution on Luna to overthrown Queen Levana.

Winter is a fast-paced novel, with much action and adventure.  At times, it seemed redundant and over long (it is over 800 pages), but overall, both the flow and the storytelling were good.  I had expected a slightly different ending, and was somewhat disappointed with the actual conclusion.  It was good, but I felt that there was one end that could have been tied up much more neatly than it was.  Other than that, it was a worthy end to this enjoyable series.

Cinder, the first in this series, was not well-written.  In an interview, Meyer states that she grew as an author over this series, and that is apparent.  She even admitted that the author she was when she wrote Cinder could not have written the complex Winter.  Cinder was a mediocre novel, but Winter was, while not five star worthy, a good and pleasurable read.  I'm glad I stuck with the series and do recommend it.

Sunday Salon: Book Hangover

Musing for this week's Sunday Salon.


After finishing Kids of Appetite (review), I've been in a book hangover, and can't settle with another book.  First, I tried the library-magazine recommended Security by Gina Wohlsdorf and found it dull.  (If I'd looked it up on Amazon or Goodreads first, I'd never have tried it.)

I picked up StormDancer by Jay Kristoff.  He's co-writer of Illuminae which I loved (review), and I wanted to try his solo works.  It was interesting, but I felt like I needed to know Japanese mythology to appreciate it.  I just floundered in the few chapters I read.

After that, I excitedly picked up Crown of Midnight by Sarah J Maas. This is the high-rated second book in the Throne of Glass series, the first of which I quite enjoyed. (review)  I know it must just be me, but. . . I could not become invested in the same characters that I cared so much about in the first book.  In addition, I had read what the third book was about and the blurb caused a huge spoiler for this book, which didn't help this book become any more interesting.

Next on my list was Gail Carringer's Etiquette & Espionage, the supposedly delightful beginning to a supposedly delightful series.  Just like Soulless, it was a silly bit of fluff and, though it made me laugh, I abandoned it after a few chapters.

Then I picked up a Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab.  This Savage Song (review) was so excellent, and I had high hopes for this series.  The premise is interesting, and Schwab's writing is great, but. . . Again, I know it's just me but I couldn't stay focused on it.

I've got about ten more library books checked out, but instead, I'm reading one of my unread Little sisters novels to get me back in the reading saddle.  These sisters wrote slapstick mysteries during the 1940's and 50's.  They plot well and the characters are always bizarre and interesting.  The comedy isn't over done and generally balances the somewhat gruesome crimes that are the center of the story.
If this doesn't cure the hangover, I'm just going to read Kids of Appetite again!

Note all the flagged passages.

Kids of Appetite by David Arnold

Kids of Appetite
David Arnold
projected publication date 9/20/16
5/5 stars


Kids of Appetite is a difficult book to describe without spoiling the book by sharing too much.  The story starts with teenaged Vic still reeling from his dad's death, two years later.  His mom has moved on, and Vic can't accept this, and runs away from home.  Having Moebius syndrome has made him an outcast with his peers, but just when he needs a friend the most, his path crosses that of Mad.  She and her group of fellow outsiders accept and support Vic on his quest to scatter his dad's ashes in special places.  Then, Mad's abusive uncle is murdered, one of their group is arrested for the crime, and Mad and Vic find themselves sharing their story with the Hackensack police.

Kids of Appetite is a stunning book.  The story is deep, exploring love, pain, what it means to be a family, how to listen, simultaneous extreme opposites, and how far one will go for a friend.   It's also amusing, encouraging, and moving.  The prose is breathtaking at times, yet still accessible.  Arnold reveals the plot slowly, in pieces, by skillfully alternating between the past and present, and between Mad and Vic as narrator.  This engaging book will appeal to both the targeted YA audience, and adults as well.

Top Five Wednesday: Books You Want to Read Before the End of the Year

Top Five Wednesday is a Goodreads group.

This week's topic is: Books You Want to Read Before the End of the Year.

I have a monstrous stack of books I'd like to read before the end of the year, due to out-of-control book buying in the past three months.  However, these are five that spring to mind.





Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction  by J. D. Salinger
After rereading Catcher in the Rye, I'd like to immerse myself  in Salinger by reading this and the rest of the Nine Stories I've not yet read.







Circles: Fifty Round Trips Through History by James Burke
I've been in love with Burke's theories, discussions and personality since college.  Bryan got this for me for Christmas two years ago, and I've been slowly reading the stories.  I'd like to finish it this year, not to hurry through it, but so as to go on to another Burke I've got waiting.






The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J. K. Rowling
I know, I know. . . I should've read this years ago.  I didn't though, and didn't own it until this month.  Once I'm done with my Harry Potter audio book reread (currently on book two), I plan to read it.









The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
I've only read a children's abbreviated version of this influential classic.  I got a copy of it today, and intend to read it in the next few months.







To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
This is a reread that's been on my to-be-read pile all year.  I remember not liking it as much as I liked all the other Woolf novels, so I wanted to give it another try.

The Demon in the House by Angela Thirkell

The Demon in the House
Angela Thirkell
4/5 stars

Angela Thirkell,
portrait by John Collier, 1914

Despite sounding like a book about exorcisms, the Demon in the House is actually a delightful story in Thrikell's Barsetshire series.  The "demon" is Tony Morland.  He's a charming, busy, and loving thirteen year old boy with a catchphrase of "I know" and a preternatural ability to get dirty anywhere.  The action takes place during the home-from-school vacations across a year, and we watch Tony grow from knickerbockers to trousers.

His doting widowed mother, Laura, was the focus of the first Barestshire novel, High Rising, which I thoroughly enjoyed.  These novels need to be read in order, to follow what is going on in the neighborhood.  I made a mistake and read this as the second novel instead of the third, and there were a few times that I knew I was missing information.

The Barsetshire novels are gentle and pleasant to read, and, while I've only read the two, this series is becoming a favorite.

The Classics Club: Catcher in the Rye

(about the classics club)

.

I've had Holden on my mind for some time, so I decided it was time for another re-read.

Reading Catcher in the Rye in high school was my first experience with an unreliable narrator.  I can still remember how my mind was blown when the teacher explained that not all narrators can be trusted.  I didn't connect with Holden at that time, though, and didn't fully appreciate the book until I reread it as an adult.  Then, the beauty and pain and reality of it hit me.  Hard.

I thought a lot about how amazing Salinger is.  Reading Catcher in the Rye is like having a conversation with Holden.  The flow, the speech patterns, the rambling. . . It's eerily real.  Also, the use of italics to emphasize parts of words ("I'd only written that. .. ") is brilliant.  Why don't more authors use this?

I immediately fell under Salinger's spell, from the first sentence, and I wondered why I don't read him more frequently.  I've not read all of the Nine Stories, nor have I read Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction.  Rereading this made me want to immerse myself in Salinger, and finish them all.


Reading this also made me want to read Ring Lardner and reread Out of Africa and the Return of the Native, since Holden enjoyed them so much.

I also wondered if Holden's voice is so typically American that it is hard for other cultures to relate to him.  

 I want to help Holden so badly.  He is alive to me, and I ache for him.  This time, though, I'm reading it a few years after my own mental health difficulties, and it was nearly painful to read.  I've never connected with Holden in a personal way before, just felt empathy.  This time. . . I understood his motives and actions intimately, and it hurt.

I flagged favorite passages during this reread.  When I was finished, I had 31 pages marked.  Here are a few that really stand out.
Note:  You'll may not get enjoyment out of a few of these passages unless you've read the book.  Some are notable simply because they are typical Holden statements.

"What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.

"New York's terrible at night when somebody laughs on the street very late at night.  You can hear it for miles.  It makes you feel so lonesome and depressed."

"Grand.  There's a word I really hate.  It's a phony."

"That's the whole trouble.  You can't ever find a place that's nice and peaceful, because there isn't any.  You may think there is, but once you get there, when you're not looking, somebody'll sneak up and write 'Fuck you' right under your nose."

"When I really worry about something, I don't just fool around.  I even have to go to the bathroom when I worry about something.  Only I don't go.  I'm too worried to go."

"The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have let them do it. If they fall off, they fall off, but it's bad if you say anything to them."

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

P.S. I Like You
Kasie West
4/5 stars

Lily, bored in Chemistry class, scribbles some Indie song lyrics on her desk.  Coming to class the next day, she is surprised to see that another line has been added.  This begins a written friendship with an unknown fellow student.  They discuss music at first, but gradually begin to share intimate details of their lives, then offer support and friendship to each other.  Lily wants to know who her pen pal is, but will finding out who is he spoil it all?

This is a YA romance, yes, but it's also a book about assumptions, about both the image and walls we create for ourselves, and about letting down our guard so that our true self can show.  It was well-written, the characters were well-rounded, and the story well-plotted.  Overall, while not my preferred genre, I found it a delightful book.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass
Sarah J. Maas
4/5 stars

Celaena is a famous assassin, serving a life sentence in a salt mine.  The King wants a personal assassin, and holds a tournament to choose himself a Champion.  Celaena is pulled from the mines to fight 23 other killers for this title. When some of the participants are found brutally murdered,  a long-dead Queen recruits Celaena to root out the evil stalking the tournament.

What seemed at the beginning to be a predictable, high fantasy with a love triangle, quickly turned into a complex plot, full of mystery, suspense and excitement.   Maas revealed the main characters' personalities and motives slowly, and by the end of the novel, the reader is left knowing them rather well.  Being the first in a series, Maas left just enough pieces dangling to make the reader excited for the next volume, without leaving the reader feeling cheated by a cliffhanger.

Throne of Glass is a well-written and well-plotted fantasy that, though it contains some familiar tropes, is just different enough and exciting enough, to be gripping and thoroughly enjoyable.

Everyone We've Been by Sarah Everett

Everyone We've Been
Sarah Everett
expected publication date: October 4, 2016

• Age Range: 12 and up 
• Grade Level: 7 and up
• 4/5 stars

Addie has met a cute boy, and begins to run into him in various places around town.  The problem is: no one else can see him.  Desperate for help, she goes to the local Overton Clinic, practitioners of "cutting edge neuroscientific procedures that can change your life".  Once there, she discovers that memories can be removed at the Overton Clinic--and that she's been there before.

Everyone We've Been alternates between Addie's past and present.  Everett does this skillfully, letting the reader into the backstory slowly and effectively.  I did feel that telling the past in the first person point of view wasn't appropriate; given how she learns about that past, I think a third person point of view would have been more suitable.

This novel is both a high school romance/drama, and a book about mistakes, the past, depression, and how to deal with these three.  At times obviously didactic, Everett gives a positive message that will most likely be beneficial to the targeted audience.

  While not outstanding, Everyone We've Been is a well written, solidly good debut, with a bit of mystery, a lot of heartbreak, and a fine conclusion.  

I was given this book by Amazon Vine in return for an honest review.

The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

The Paper Magician
Charlie N. Holmberg
3/5 stars

After graduating from the Tagis Praff School for the Magically Inclined, Ceony expects to become a Smelter, a magician bonded to metals.  To her disappointment, she is apprenticed to Magician Thane, a Folder.  Ceony is now bonded to paper forever, with no hopes of practicing more exciting magic.  Just as she is beginning to accept the new direction her life has taken, a dark magician rips Thane's heart out, and Ceony must try to use her fledgling magic skills to save him.

This book began excellently and with great potential.  I enjoyed the alternate universe, and learning about the magic. I was drawn to Ceony and Thane, and looked forward to discovering more about them.  The build-up to the action was enjoyable and interesting, full of details about Folding, the world, and Ceony's daily life.

When the action came, though, it happened too early in Ceony's training. I was not able to believe that she could beat such a powerful enemy with the few skills she had.  That entire adventure, while it fleshed out the backstories of our three main characters (who up to then had been rather one dimensional), seemed forced and even silly.  Then there was the big question: why did our villain imprison Ceony, then chase her around that prison trying to kill her, when Ceony could have been eliminated when first captured? 

The bottom line is that, after a good start, the Paper Magician didn't fulfill it's promise and was a disappointing read.  It must be considered, though, that it was Holmberg's first novel.  I'm tempted to read the next in this series to see if it improves on this one, because I genuinely enjoyed the world, the magic, and the characters.

An Autobiography by Agatha Christie

An Autobiography
Agatha Christie

1977
5/5 stars

Agatha Christie was born at the end of the Victorian era, and lived until 1976.  Her experiences as a child, in both World Wars, and helping her archaeologist husband  make for fascinating reading.  The details she remembers make her world come alive.


She wrote this autobiography as if she were conducting a conversation with the reader.  She fills it with memories, opinions, and chit chat.  At one point, she states, "I was severely criticized for not keeping to the subject" by her composition teacher, and her autobiography shows that she never grew out of this.  She rambles from one topic to another, then back again, with honesty and excitement.  As she unapologetically says, "one thing does so lead to another but why shouldn't it?"  The charm of the book is this wandering about, giving the reader such a vibrant picture of the woman behind the novels.

Despite it's length, I was never bored with her autobiography, as Christie's wit and warm personality make it a delight to read.

Cress by Marissa Meyer

Cress 
Marissa Meyer
4/5 stars

The Lunar Chronicles continue with Cress, a Rapunzel retelling of a sort. Cinder, Thorne, Wolf, and Scarlet attempt to rescue Cress from her satellite prison, and find a way to stop Queen Levana from becoming Empress of the Commonwealth. Naturally, things don't go as planned.

As has been the trend with the Lunar Chronicles, this third book is better than the one before. This is partly because more backstories are revealed, making the characters less of a stereotype and more multi-faceted and real.

The action is also well written, with several tense and exciting scenes. The plot itself is gripping, believable, and, at times, stirs the emotions.

I'm thoroughly enjoying this series and am glad that I continued with it, despite not being enthralled with the first book.

Replica by Lauren Oliver

Replica
Lauren Oliver
2/5 stars

I really don't like giving a negative review, because I know that the author has put her all into her novel and loves it.  It feels disrespectful to talk bad about someone's hard work.  That said, I can not give this book any higher than two stars.

It's the story of two girls, Lyra and Gemma.  Lyra is a "replica" and has been raised in seclusion in the Haven Institute, where she and the other replicas are referred to as "it", suffer from mystery illnesses, and experience no affection or compassion.  Gemma is an unhappy teen with overly protective parents and only one friend.  When a stranger, who knows her name, asks what she knows about Haven, Gemma begins to research it and finds ties to her father.  Eventually, Gemma's and Lyra's stories converge and more questions need answers.

This book is sadly predictable and is not engrossing.  Lyra's background story is so similar to many I've read that, to begin with, I wondered if I'd previously read an extract.  There is no surprise to Gemma's story, either; the "mystery" is obvious from the beginning.  Both characters are cardboard cliches, and the story is full of familiar tropes.

Replica is presented in "flip book" format.  One side has Lyra's story; turn it upside down and you have Gemma's side.  This is just an unnecessary gimmick and adds nothing to the reading experience.  Chapters alternating point-of-view would have been much better, and would have created more suspense.

To be frank, I dreaded returning to it.  I nearly went into a reading slump, trying to avoid it.

At the time I am writing there are two other reviews, one four star and one five star, so I know that there are people who will enjoy this novel.  It is marketed toward teens (which I am not), and those readers may have less experience reading this same kind of plot, and therefore will find it more exciting.  However, I was given the ARC in exchange for an honest review, and my candid opinion is that this is a lifeless, uninteresting story.

Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Gemina
Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
expected publication date: October 2016
5/5 stars

Gemina is the second book in the projected three-book series,"the Illuminae Files".  It is the year 2575;   one mining company has destroyed the planet of a rival mining company, attacked the rescue ships, and has sent an audit team to destroy the one remaining group of people that may know what has been done: the Jump Station Heimdall.  Hanna, the station captain's spoiled daughter, and Nik, member of the notorious House of Knives crime family who supplies Hanna with recreational drugs, find themselves fighting for the lives of the entire station against a deadly, professional strike team.

Like Illuminae, Gemina is told in an nontraditional way, using surveillance footage summaries, instant message transcriptions, Hanna's journal, and more.  Again, Kaufman and Kristoff do an amazing job using this ambitious presentation.  It moves quickly, tugging the reader along a nonstop roller coaster. The story is moving, funny, and intense. There were times I gasped as new information was made available, and once I said out loud, "I didn't see THAT coming!".

As excellent as this book is, I don't recommend it to anyone who has not already read Illuminae.  Though the two stories feature different locations and characters, one must be familiar with the information gathered in Illuminae to appreciate Gemina.

This is an amazing book, and a worthy sequel to the first.  I give a universal recommendation to read Illuminae, and then to immediately put Gemina on pre-order!

I was given the ARC by Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor & Park
Rainbow Rowell

2012
5/5 stars

Eleanor is the new girl at school, larger than most girls and with masses of vibrant red hair.  Park, handsome and smart, has made a niche for himself at school, and stays just out of sight of the bullies.  When Eleanor needs a seat on the bus, against his better judgement, he takes a risk and lets her sit beside him.  This starts an unlooked-for friendship, which blooms into an even more unexpected romance.

Eleanor and Park is a surprisingly serious novel.  Eleanor's home life is dire, almost dangerous.  She won't let herself sully Park's idea of her by sharing just how bad her life is.  As a result, Eleanor plays a balancing act, trying to keep Park unknown at home, and trying to keep her reality hidden from Park.  This creates misunderstandings and a high amount of stress for both teenagers.

Eleanor and Park is also a sweet novel.  Rowell has written first love with a tenderness and authenticity that will tug at the hearts--and memories--of most readers.  She captures the way that first love just overwhelms, takes over every aspect of living, and seems the only important thing in the world.

Rowell writes well, making the story engaging and emotional, without becoming banal or mawkish,  The characters were fleshed out, real, and not stereotypical.  The plot, while sometimes being predictable, still held surprises, and the ending was phenomenal.

I was not expecting to be as moved as I was, nor to like this novel as much as I did.  While I doubt that I'll read more of Rowell's novels, this just not being my usual genre, I understand now why she has such a devoted fan base.

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet
Marissa Meyer
4/5 stars

Scarlet, a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, introduces three new characters to the Luna Chronicles: Thorne, Scarlet and Wolf.  The story alternates between Scarlet, as she tries to rescue her grandmother from some psychopaths with Wolf's help, and Cinder, as she tries to escape from prison with Thorne's help.  This book will only make sense to someone who has already read the first book in the series, Cinder.

It's a fun book, with much action and some drama.  Meyer's writing was noticeably better in this book than it was in Cinder: the conversations are less stilted, the action better described, and the characters more well-rounded.  I enjoyed it, and am looking forward to reading the next in the series.

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Illuminae
Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
5/5 stars

In 2575, a mining company destroys the planet of a rival mining company.  Three ships hear and respond to the distress cry, picking up survivors, and being pursued by the one attacking ship that is left.  Illuminae tells the story of two of the survivors, Kady and her ex-boyfriend Ezra; by sharing their story, the fate of the three ships is shared as well.

Illuminae is one of those books that nearly defies description.  The plot is told in a variety of ways such as interview transcriptions, emails, documents, and security camera footage.  This is an ambitious format, but Kaufman and Kristoff do an amazing job.  The story flows quickly, makes perfect sense, and all the pieces fall into place just when they should.  It is funny--I laughed out loud often and had to read parts to my husband--and touching (yes, I cried).  It is also heart-poundingly exciting and nerve-wracking.  I was completely invested in the characters and engrossed in the plot.

Due to the format and the length (nearly 600 pages),  Illuminae may look intimidating.  Don't be put off; this is an accessible book that is easy to follow.  I give it the highest recommendation.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One & Two by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One & Two 
J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany
4/5 stars

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One & Two is a play written by Thorne and Tiffany, based on a story by Rowling.  In it, Harry and his youngest son, Albus, have a difficult relationship.  The legacy of "Harry Potter" doesn't sit well on Albus's young shoulders; he feels exceptionally different from his father, and even perceives that Harry doesn't love him.

Albus and his best friend find themselves in an adventure that ultimately shows Albus's brave spirit and caring heart, yet nearly destroys the hard won peace of the wizarding world.

Many of the beloved characters from the Harry Potter past are in the Cursed Child in some form or another, from the Golden Trio to the Trolley Witch.  Some familiar scenes were revisited, which was poignant.  An iconic scene was recreated under slightly different circumstances; I'm convinced it was done just to make the fans blubber--and I'm not ashamed to say that I did.  The new plot itself is fun, serious, exciting--just like the original stories.

My difficulties with the Cursed Child were few, but definite.  I think that one of the adult characters had changed more than was believable.  I think that one of the child characters was a little too good to be true.  As for the mystery/secret/whatever it should be called, it was entirely too easy to figure out very early on in the plot.  Also, some of the scenes felt forced, as if the writers were trying too hard to wring out emotion.  For these reasons, I have to say that I "liked" rather than "loved" it.

Overall, the Cursed Child--while flawed--is a pleasant, nostalgic trip back to the Potterverse, and introduces new and endearing characters to the fans.

The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid

The Diabolic
S. J. Kincaid
projected publication date: November 2016
3/5 stars

A Diabolic is a genetically engineered assassin, bonded to only one person; to protect that person, the Diabolic will kill or be killed.  Nemesis is a Diabolic, bonded to Sidonia, the daughter of a heretical senator.   Sidonia is summoned to the Emperor's court as a hostage. Nemesis, masquerading as Sidonia, goes in her place.  She becomes the center of court intrigue and involved in an adventure that will test who and what she is.

The Diabolic takes place in a future where the human race has expanded into an unnamed solar system. Here, the elite rule the majority and all "learning" is banned.  A dystopia needs to make sense if it's to be believed, and the banning of education in general, and science in particular, just doesn't seem viable in a culture where genetic modification is the norm.  The fact that their many technological machines  need to be repaired is addressed by saying that some machines have been programmed in the past to service other machines, and that eventually they will all break down.  With this accepted, it is odd that the people ignore the fact that without the various technologies, their culture, if not their entire race, will be unable to stand.  This sort of self-imposed ignorance and blindness is beyond comprehension.  As the foundation for the entire story rests on the dystopia being credible, the entire novel is weak from the start.

The story is from the first-person point of view of Nemesis.  It is told in a very static and stilted way, which I suppose is intended to show that Nemesis is non-human.  However, this makes the story drag and feel forced.  I also felt that the characters weren't fleshed out enough; I never felt invested in any of them

Despite having to make myself finish it, I didn't hate this book.  I'm giving it a generous three stars, because it had an interesting plot, which could have been extremely good if the world had been more credible and the characters more alive.

Note: I was given the ARC of this book by Amazon Vine in return for an honest review.