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madgee's review
4.0
4 stars
Again, I find myself a little confused as to why I enjoyed reading this. Just like the last two installments in the Emperor's Edge series, the world building is murky and hardly thrilling, the plot is so-so (this plot was an improvement, but still not a strong point), and pace is a little slow.
But Buroker has a gift for dialogue and character interactions which kept me thoroughly immersed throughout this adventure. I'm not a fan of Axstyr, and Books is sometimes irritatingly pedantic and inept, but as a team, the Emperor's Edge is endearing and engaging. I don't really understand where the group is, don't really care very much about what they're doing, but I'm rooting for this ragtag bunch wholeheartedly.
Again, I find myself a little confused as to why I enjoyed reading this. Just like the last two installments in the Emperor's Edge series, the world building is murky and hardly thrilling, the plot is so-so (this plot was an improvement, but still not a strong point), and pace is a little slow.
But Buroker has a gift for dialogue and character interactions which kept me thoroughly immersed throughout this adventure. I'm not a fan of Axstyr, and Books is sometimes irritatingly pedantic and inept, but as a team, the Emperor's Edge is endearing and engaging. I don't really understand where the group is, don't really care very much about what they're doing, but I'm rooting for this ragtag bunch wholeheartedly.
exeidur's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
A very solid part in the series! The romance is a really, really slow burn, but it'd have to be when there's so many parts in the series. And at least there's some actual development here. The character development in book three is amazing anyway, and rereading it I am amazed I didn't rate it higher than 4* after the first read through.
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: Confinement, Death, Violence, Medical content, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Colonisation, 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 skilled misfits 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 misfits 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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Slavery and Blood
Minor: Colonisation