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paradoxically's review against another edition
3.0
Amaranthe and her varied group are at it again. This time her POV alternates with Basilard, who has learned some unsavory truths about Sicarius (though it's Sicarius, the man has an entire mountain of unsavory truths heaped on his head) and needs to decide what to do about it. Not to mention Amaranthe getting her team into another crazy situation and somehow convincing Basilard to join the Imperial Games while athletes are being kidnapped.
The books never fail to make me smile, even if they're being absolutely ridiculous. Because they are, in more than one instance. For instance, It doesn't make sense at all, but quite a few things don't and you still end up rolling along right with the characters.
You get more progress on the Sicarius/Amaranthe front, though it's not quite where one may like it to be. But hey, any progress is better than none, right? And the ending, while it ties up the main plotline in the book, presents another new challenge for Amaranthe and company that makes it a bit of a cliffhanger. In any case! 3 stars.
The books never fail to make me smile, even if they're being absolutely ridiculous. Because they are, in more than one instance. For instance,
Spoiler
there is a kraken. A kraken for goodness sakes.You get more progress on the Sicarius/Amaranthe front, though it's not quite where one may like it to be. But hey, any progress is better than none, right? And the ending, while it ties up the main plotline in the book, presents another new challenge for Amaranthe and company that makes it a bit of a cliffhanger. In any case! 3 stars.
_persephone_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
lauralh05's review against another edition
5.0
Still loving this series. I particularly enjoyed this book, and as I started to wrap it up, started thinking "Oh no! I'm almost finished with this book & then after Conspiracy I'll be all caught up and have to wait for another!"
I thought that splitting the team up was interesting, especially the pairing of Basilard & Sicarius as I really like both & was not looking forward to a possibly impending fight between them.
The note from Sespian at the end has me super curious about what comes next.
I can't wait to read Conspiracy!
Spoiler
I thought that splitting the team up was interesting, especially the pairing of Basilard & Sicarius as I really like both & was not looking forward to a possibly impending fight between them.
The note from Sespian at the end has me super curious about what comes next.
I can't wait to read Conspiracy!
metchap's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
marsh_mall0w's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Medical content, Confinement, and Violence
Moderate: Colonisation, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Body horror, and Classism
Minor: Slavery and Alcohol
bea__reads's review against another edition
5.0
[First read November 19-23 2011]
I am now three books into my reread of this series. I have been listening to the audiobooks for the first 3, which are fabulous and you should check them out, but alas, I must now return to regular ebooks. I hope one day Lindsay Buroker will release the rest of the series in audio format, but I think a change of narration might spoil it for me. Starla Huchton offers a superb performance and I found myself laughing out loud, not just at Lindsay Buroker's word choice, but at Ms. Huchton's delivery of the lines. The combination is perfection.
Now, I suppose I could spend my time reading some of the hundreds of books on my TBR list, but the pleasure of entering this universe again is just too much to resist. Amaranthe Lokdon and her band of uniquely skilledmisfits friends are a pleasure to follow across Turgonia and beyond. With humor, drama, and a few crazy plans that are bound to get someone killed (seriously, Amaranthe, what are you thinking?), reading these books makes for some excellent stress relief. Even without the twisting and turning plots this series is so full of, or the humor laden interactions between Amaranthe and literally anyone else, the slow build of a blossoming romance between one notorious blond assassin and the girl who just wants him to be happy (a little smile wouldn't kill him, would it?) would be enough to keep me hooked. Just go read these books. Right now.
In summary, I will gladly enter this magical world again and again in whatever formats are available to me. If I could somehow live inside of a book world, this would be the one I chose, if only so that I can be best friends with Amaranthe...
Next up is to purchase all the paperback versions, so that I may gaze longingly at the collection upon my shelves, and perhaps even force them upon unsuspecting friends and family.
I am now three books into my reread of this series. I have been listening to the audiobooks for the first 3, which are fabulous and you should check them out, but alas, I must now return to regular ebooks. I hope one day Lindsay Buroker will release the rest of the series in audio format, but I think a change of narration might spoil it for me. Starla Huchton offers a superb performance and I found myself laughing out loud, not just at Lindsay Buroker's word choice, but at Ms. Huchton's delivery of the lines. The combination is perfection.
Now, I suppose I could spend my time reading some of the hundreds of books on my TBR list, but the pleasure of entering this universe again is just too much to resist. Amaranthe Lokdon and her band of uniquely skilled
In summary, I will gladly enter this magical world again and again in whatever formats are available to me. If I could somehow live inside of a book world, this would be the one I chose, if only so that I can be best friends with Amaranthe...
Next up is to purchase all the paperback versions, so that I may gaze longingly at the collection upon my shelves, and perhaps even force them upon unsuspecting friends and family.
suflet's review against another edition
5.0
This is a favorite, return-to-multiple-times series. Amaranthe and Sicarius are one of my very favorite couples I've encountered over the years. I love them.
brokenrecord's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. This series continues to be one of my favorite things. I was a little annoyed that Sicarius was captured for like half the book since the Sicarius/Amaranthe interaction is my favorite, and the less we get of that, the less happy I am, but then
The Basilard stuff was good! I was more into it than the Books stuff in the previous book (not that I disliked that plot in the previous book, just that I was more interested in Basilard's backstory from the start, so it helped me be more engaged in his POV). I liked Basilard's arc in the book of
The Amaranthe/Sicarius development was, of course, my favorite thing about this book.
Beyond that last scene (which I'll still never get over), there were a couple other cute moments, like when she tells Basilard that part of the Emperor's Edge thing is to help someone she cares about (aka Sicarius). And how jealous Sicarius is the entire book of Mancrest even though Amaranthe keeps telling herself he only hates Mancrest because he wrote a lot of bad articles about him (like Sicarius would ever care about that!). Also the sweet moment where he carries her bag for her because he realizes she's tried and cranky. And him telling her it'd bother him if she died (which is essentially a love declaration coming from him). And when she's like, "Do you want to fondle my arm here for awhile?" and he's like "If that were my goal, your arm wouldn't be my target." Their interaction is my absolute favorite thing.
Spoiler
that ending happened, so it helped make up for the lengthy separation, and bumped this up half a star for me.The Basilard stuff was good! I was more into it than the Books stuff in the previous book (not that I disliked that plot in the previous book, just that I was more interested in Basilard's backstory from the start, so it helped me be more engaged in his POV). I liked Basilard's arc in the book of
Spoiler
thinking about getting rid of Sicarius and if that's right or not, and the kind of heart-to-heart the two have while captured, and how Sicarius admits that he didn't get rid of Basilard because he knew Amaranthe wouldn't be okay with that, and Basilard admits the same. I love how all the guys love her! Not in a romantic way (well, besides Sicarius), but it's just really sweet. And I love that Amaranthe knew he was planning something but just kind of let Sicarius and Basilard work it out.The Amaranthe/Sicarius development was, of course, my favorite thing about this book.
Spoiler
THE KISS!!!!!!!!!! I was reading this book late on a work night and wasn't intending to finish it, but I kept wanting to read just a little bit further to get to them reuniting, but that doesn't really happen until the end, so I just decided to finish the book, and I was not expecting a kiss yet, but it definitely made it worth staying up to 2 AM to finish the book. And listen, what Sicarius is asking isn't super fair ("I can't be with you because reasons but also I don't want you to be with anyone else," essentially), but I don't even care. I love that in the last book he was like, "Here's a list of reasons we can't be together right now," and Amaranthe isn't convinced he's as into her as she is into him, and then at the end of this book he's like, "Those reasons are still true but also please don't kiss this other dude! We can be together after all this is over!" I also died a little at the fact that he was so offended at her being like, "We haven't even kissed yet, so how do I know if it's even worth it to wait for you?" and then he shows her how worth it it'll be!!!Beyond that last scene (which I'll still never get over), there were a couple other cute moments, like when she tells Basilard that part of the Emperor's Edge thing is to help someone she cares about (aka Sicarius). And how jealous Sicarius is the entire book of Mancrest even though Amaranthe keeps telling herself he only hates Mancrest because he wrote a lot of bad articles about him (like Sicarius would ever care about that!). Also the sweet moment where he carries her bag for her because he realizes she's tried and cranky. And him telling her it'd bother him if she died (which is essentially a love declaration coming from him). And when she's like, "Do you want to fondle my arm here for awhile?" and he's like "If that were my goal, your arm wouldn't be my target." Their interaction is my absolute favorite thing.
miloulou's review against another edition
5.0
This one's for Basilard! So third novel, and wow, if I had any disappointments with the last novel, this one brought up my love for the series again. The conflict here involves not just external issues, but I really liked the way Basilard's history and beliefs made internal strife. There were some very good questions, given the way Sicarius is and my love for him, that even though I never forget, I still do forget that he's an assassin. And if I'm to seriously consider this novel, outside of all the fun it is, than it is a very good question.