At the time I requested this book I was very interested in it. Obviously, it has been a few years since I requested this and I am no longer interested in it now. It doesn't match my current reading tastes and I apologize that I didn't read it and thank you for the kindness you showed offering it to me.

Quick Summary: A secrets and sus YA novel

My Review: The Diminished by Kaitlyn Sage Patterson is associated with The Alskad Empire Chronicles. It is book one of two.

About the Book: Born into a world of have and have nots or of privilege and pain can be life altering. When secrets are weaved into the tapestry of existence, it can be that much harder.

My Final Say: Although this book offered a creative premise and had interesting characters, it was not a read that I cared for. It will appeal to some but not to others. Unfortunately, it gets a thumbs down from me.

Rating: 2/5
Recommend: No
Audience: T (marketed toward)
Status/Level: 💬

Thank you for the opportunity to review this NetGalley title.

DNF at 25%. It's been over five years since I received this ARC. I gave it a go and have decided it is not for me. It interested me then and no longer does now.

This one wasn't really for me, but was still an interesting story that will likely find its fanbase fairly easily. I'll be watching to see what this author does next.

Sadly, I really wanted to love this one. I actually purchased a copy thinking I was going to die hard love it but unfortunately that just wasn't the case. It felt like a jumble of ideas all tossed together without really explaining anything. The writing seemed stilted and confusing at times. And the main plot just never happened. The world really intrigued me but just didn't work. For this one I felt like the characters weren't fully formed and that it just really wasn't for me.

Go Into This One Knowing: Bad Execution

The first 50 pages of this book did not grab my attention, so I only previewed the beginnings of each chapter and read the ending. I think the book's unique worldbuilding and plot will be attractive to my hardcore fantasy readers.

DNF
Unfortunately, The Diminished did not work for me. Though I was intrigued by the world and the creativity, I found that the book was too long, and therefore suffered through some pacing issues. I also struggled with some of the characters here.

This book was such a rich fantasy filled with betrayal, murder, and secrets that could cause the Empire to crumble. The mythology was so intriguing and I love the history behind how the world was created. To say the least, this book had me hooked. There were so many moments that had me shaking the book with my jaw hanging open, and then there were the few spare moments that just made me smile. The Diminished was a total emotional jolt to the system through and through. If I had to sum it up, I would say this book is a serious clash between religion and royalty right down to it’s spine.

In the Alskad Empire, there are the singleborn, the twins, and the diminished. The singleborn rule and the diminished are contained by the Shriven, a group of religious radicals trained to protect the Empire. Bo is one of the few singleborn, and the crown prince of the Empire. The only problem is that he’s not sure he’s the right fit for the job and is plagued with self-doubt. Vi lost her twin when she was a baby and was left at the temple to await the day she succumbs to the violence that comes with being diminished.

Vi is presented with an impossible choice as punishment for breaking the law and she chooses the option that will reunite her with her friends on a distant island. The only problem is, she unknowingly signs a contract with a monster. When Bo suffers a great loss, he begins to question everything and everyone around him. In a twist of fate, Vi and Bo are brought together and discover a plot to overthrow the Empire and make them question everything they’ve been taught to fear. With time running out and the Shriven hunting them, they must figure out a way to save the Empire before it’s too late.

There was such a great cast of characters in this book. I really enjoyed that Bo had a male love interest! It was interesting to see a male protagonist in a position of power so in tune with his emotions. This book definitely played against stereotypes with it’s male protagonist. I loved that it was a dual POV as well, because his character really complimented the stubborn and overly opinionated Vi.

This is a book that will make you really think about what’s going to happen next. I held my breath waiting for my theory to come true and when it did I had to sit there and let it sink in. While I was able to connect hints dropped throughout the book, it was still a shock to see my prediction come true.

Now, the only thing about this book I didn’t enjoy was that it took a while to get into. The plot in the beginning was kind of dry and definitely needed some more action to set the pace. Once things got rolling though, this book stopped for nothing.

By the end of this book, I was holding my breath to see how it would end. It definitely did not take mercy on my poor soul. This book left me reeling and wondering who to trust and how deep the secrets lie within the Alskad Empire. There is rebellion brewing and I can’t wait to see how everything plays out. I’m definitely looking forward to where the next book will go!

First, thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin TEEN for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Second, if you're able to see how long it took me to read this book, do not judge it poorly. I happened to start this book at the busiest time in my life. Not the book's fault, I swear. If it was an audiobook, I would have listened to it in a matter of days.

Now, onto the book!

This is definitely different than anything I've read before. I like that the author took something that we see as so commonplace and completely reversed it. In the world we live in, singleborns are the norm and twins are the rarity. In The Diminished, twins are the norm and singleborns are the rarity. Moreover, those who survive a twin's death are seen as bad omens and cursed. Different, right? I really enjoyed that.

A book is nothing without the relationships between its characters and I felt like this book had those in spades. I felt pain for the characters who passed away that I didn't even get to know well. I LOVED Aphra and I found both Bo's and Vi's journeys compelling. There were so many different personalities in this book that were interwoven well and I also enjoy a YA book that embraces diversity and doesn't pander to the stereotypical gay character trope.

All in all, a solid first book and I look forward to reading the next one.

I am always on the lookout for a Unicorn while reading YA. You know what I’m talking about that rare YA novel that has all of the elements to make it completely magical! From fantastic characters to upper-level world building kills and storylines to ignite the flames in the imagination! I have read almost 100 books this year and I have to say I found a favorite! My 2018 Unicorn is The Diminished by Kaitlyn Sage Patterson!
I cannot believe that this a debut novel! Patterson has found her calling and I need more! The way she writes is effortless and the scenes transition gracefully. The way that she pokes fun at today’s political issues is masterful! You do not even realize that you are reading about politics and current world issues until you are finished and by then you are just like “Ah-ha”! I see what you did there Patterson! Also, can we talk about that cover?!? The moment I saw it, I knew I had to check it out further! I was NOT disappointed!

The Breakdown!
Very rarely are we bestowed with YA stories about siblings or LGBT arcs where the entire story does not revolve entirely around their relationships! Patterson does a phenomenal job of assimilating this aspect into the plotline without stealing from the rest of the design!
In this book, we are introduced to a British Empire modeled realm known as Alskad, where war is threatening to lay waste to the populous at any moment. The protagonists have no clue that they are the key to stopping the onslaught, so they go about their lives in an everyday manner. There are subversions and intrigue running amuck right under the noses of the bewildered citizens. This aspect thickens the plot and drives the reader to read furiously onward to discover what will happen next!

The Characters That I Adored!
Bo is your sequential spoiled rich kid who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Doted on for nothing more than the fact that he was born at the right time into the right family name. Bo is one of the many in the royal succession line that COULD be selected as heir to rule the Alskad Empire one day. But this is most unlikely because poor Bo is not a schemer or crowd pleaser. He is the complete opposite of the ruthless heirs and seems to have it in him to do what is necessary to clinch the throne in the game the heirs play to be named next ruler. Bo is sincere and sweet, credulous and trustworthy. Everything a “good” little politician running for office should not be! What I loved most was that Bo is gay and that does not define his character or put him in any box of character tropes. Bo is gay and that is A-Okay with the world around him and by my standards too! Love is love and everyone should be happy!
Vi is probably my most favored female MC of 2018! She is who she is and the fact that she is super strong does not seem to get in her way or define who she is as a person. Vi does not let anyone put her on a Pedestal for being insanely strong; she just is strong and that is the end of the discussion. I loved that she as not described as overly beautiful or even Manish because she has a robust built. Most female MCs are always portrayed as masculine if they harbor any remote hint of traditionally mainly traits. Vi is one of the unfortunate souls who has lost their twin but instead of losing the will to live she endures this loss and takes it in stride thus adding to her mental strength as well. That is most endearing quality!

Conclusion:
I hope everyone loves my unicorn as much as I do! I will recommend this book to all YA lovers as well as those I am trying to sway over to this grand genre! This book is packed with adventure, love, and hidden messages! Also, I have to say that I have never been as hungry while reading a book as was with Diminished… read it and you will see why!

A huge resounding THANK YOU to Harlequin Teen and NetGalley for allowing me access to this title in exchange for an honest review! Please keep them coming, Kaitlyn Sage Patterson! I will buy every book you produce!

I really enjoyed this! I think fans of Leigh Bardugo will enjoy this fast paced tale of intrigue and action.

The premise is really interesting and so wasnt the setting but I found the writing style did not work for me at all

Although this book was a really unique story and had world building, I felt the plot was lacking, it was a bit of a slower read, at least for me. And this is somewhat of a personal preference but I prefer faster paced books, and just have a hard time getting into slower building plots. Otherwise I would have enjoyed this book more

I didn't know what to expect from this book and I was pleasantly surprised. The story moved well (a little slow in a couple of spots at the beginning but overall good), the characters were diverse and likable and it was an easy enough read.

I was left with quite a few questions throughout the story and at the end which I hope will be addressed in the next book!

I struggled to get through this one and I'm not sure why. It sounds like it would be a good book but it just didn't work for me I wasn't as drawn into the characters and the plot as I usually am. I feel like there was a little bit of confusion for me as well so I did not finish.

Ehhh. It was okay, but I was never really into it? The whole twin thing, while interesting, was a bit confusing and I wasn't really... GETTING it. I never really felt connected with the book so it just felt flat.

I was surprised at how much I liked this book and it’s enthralling story. I was incredibly intrigued by the concept of people living their lives intertwined with that of their twins, and their fates aligned with one another. The story-telling was unique, and the details throughout the book were well-executed. I found the themes and nature of relationships explored in this book to be a great element of the story as well.

THE DIMINISHED presents an interesting and entirely unique premise centered around twins. From the start, I was intrigued by the central question of the novel- in a world of twins, what would it be like to face the world alone?

In working to answer that question, Patterson skillfully developed the world of THE DIMINISHED. In fact, the strongest part of the novel is the worldbuilding, and it's also the reason why I kept reading. Information dumps are avoided and the reader is provided with an excellent overview of society almost immediately.

While the novel is well-written and the two points-of-view are engaging, THE DIMINISHED starts slow and never picks up the pace. I was disappointed that, halfway through the book, the narrative hadn't gotten any closer to the big reveal. While strong in many areas, THE DIMINISHED is weighed down by an extra padding of scenes that don't progress the plot.

"As their sixteenth birthdays approach, Bo and Vi face very different futures—one a life of luxury as the heir to the throne, the other years of backbreaking work as a temple servant. But a long-held secret and the fate of the empire are destined to bring them together in a way they never could have imagined."

Such an interesting premise. I definitely went in thinking they were going to be destined in love, but that's not the case since Bo is gay. This is another book with a diverse cast of characters.

A very unique idea. Kept me interested, and urning the pages. Unfortunately it did fall a little flat for me however I expect to see more from this author in the future.