The Empress by S. J. Kincaid

Tyrus and Nemesis are ascending to the recently vacated throne.  It's still touch and go in their life.  The danger seems to have subsided but it's just hidden under the politics.  Life is not going smooth and it isn't going to get better.  They made it this far but it's going to be tough from here on out.

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published October 31st.

While it says it's for young readers, there's so much death and torture I'd recommend they be a mature reader.  Some things that happened offended me.

She and Tyrus go to find their equivalent of God.  He's snug in space on the edges of a black hole and they really find him by accident.  They visit, find that Tyrus' ideas of the future development of the kingdom agree with the long ago leader's ideas and he offers to send help.  But they can only travel during the periods the black hole is open so it will be three years in the future.

They go home, get ready to be married, and go through ugly ceremonies that have become the norm in their world.  Then, before the marriage is complete, everything goes to hell.  Nemesis gets away but Tyrus stays because she wasn't strong enough to take him too.  Then the ruling politicians force him to do drugs.

She escapes to the black hole again.  And can't return for three years.  She has plans, but all of them are thwarted.  She does finally get to marry Tyrus.

The ending in this story disappointed me.  It goes with the overall theme of the story but I just couldn't believe the author would do that.  Let me know what you think about it.  And leave drugs alone!