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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
"You're the only one whose ever wanted to bring me happiness..."
Oh my stars. I can't review this properly because those last 15 pages got me like:
I'M JUST SO HAPPY I CAN'T STOP SMILING.
Oh my stars. I can't review this properly because those last 15 pages got me like:
I'M JUST SO HAPPY I CAN'T STOP SMILING.
This series continues to impress and amuse. The plots are fairly straightforward heist style scenarios, with few subplot embellishments. This does not detract, however, as it allows for the pace to be in constant build. The character dynamics are still excellent, and the interactions are priceless.
Sadly a few aspects weren't tied up or followed through. That and the fact that the main cast is now 1 female and 5 males were what made it only 4 stars for me.
Sadly a few aspects weren't tied up or followed through. That and the fact that the main cast is now 1 female and 5 males were what made it only 4 stars for me.
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
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
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I enjoy the books in this series so much! Every time I finish one, I just want to start the next, which is surely the sign of a successful series. I'm so invested in these characters now, I just want to know how everything works out for them! (And of course, their ongoing adventures are always intriguing.) It's no wonder Buroker is so successful!
Once again, Lindsay Buroker excites and enthralls with her third book in the Emperor's Edge series. Deadly Games returns to Amaranthe and her merry gang of ruffians as the Turgonian version of the Olympics looms ahead. Athletes are vanishing from their bunkers, snoopy reporters are getting their flirt on, krakens are hanging out in freshwater lakes, sexy assassins are getting jealous -- what's going on? It's up to Amaranthe and the Emperor's Edge to get to the bottom of things -- and they do, almost literally.
I think it was a wise decision on Buroker's part to remove Sicarius from a greater portion of the events in this story. Delightful as he is to have around (more for the readers and less for Maldynado and the others), he does tend to be a crutch Amaranthe often leans on. His almost inhuman skill and strength almost function as a deus ex machina in certain situations, so it was great to see Amaranthe get on without him. And seeing him again --
Well. Thank you for tossing us that bone, Ms. Buroker. And keeping that bone, err, bare until the very end. So to speak. Yes. Ahem.
It was also great to get inside Basilard's head. He seems to be the most easygoing of the group, but still waters run deep, as the saying goes. His alienation from his fellow Mangdorians and his discovery of Sicarius's mission in his country sets him down the path make him a ripe character to delve into. I liked the way he and Sicarius came to an understanding -- it seems to me that he is the character in the group most likely to become something of a friend to Sicarius, and not just because he'll never talk the man's ear off.
Deret Mancrest is a new character, and one I hope we'll be seeing further down the line. He runs the Empire's newspaper and proves to be an excellent source of information. Most importantly, though (at least, for us romantics), his interest in Amaranthe finally causes Sicarius to get off his butt and do something. That part was almost as exciting as the kraken fight.
There are a few lose ends that remain, though. The book never really answers who the masterminds of the nefarious baby-making plot are (or, on a minor note, says what happens to the garbagemen who were tied up in the back of the cab Amaranthe crashed into a steam carriage. Did they die?). There's no real villain in this story, only a gaggle of magic practitioners and Taloncrest, who is so easily dispatched he hardly seems like much of an antagonist. And what happens to the babies they were growing, or the athletes they must have impregnated? The military had control of the laboratory and yet they let it slip back to the bottom of the lake, so what became of the experiments? And where did that Kraken come from?
So many questions, but it's difficult to say anything bad about this book. It's fun, it's shocking, it's thrillingly romantic.
I think it was a wise decision on Buroker's part to remove Sicarius from a greater portion of the events in this story. Delightful as he is to have around (more for the readers and less for Maldynado and the others), he does tend to be a crutch Amaranthe often leans on. His almost inhuman skill and strength almost function as a deus ex machina in certain situations, so it was great to see Amaranthe get on without him. And seeing him again --
Well. Thank you for tossing us that bone, Ms. Buroker. And keeping that bone, err, bare until the very end. So to speak. Yes. Ahem.
It was also great to get inside Basilard's head. He seems to be the most easygoing of the group, but still waters run deep, as the saying goes. His alienation from his fellow Mangdorians and his discovery of Sicarius's mission in his country sets him down the path make him a ripe character to delve into. I liked the way he and Sicarius came to an understanding -- it seems to me that he is the character in the group most likely to become something of a friend to Sicarius, and not just because he'll never talk the man's ear off.
Deret Mancrest is a new character, and one I hope we'll be seeing further down the line. He runs the Empire's newspaper and proves to be an excellent source of information. Most importantly, though (at least, for us romantics), his interest in Amaranthe finally causes Sicarius to get off his butt and do something. That part was almost as exciting as the kraken fight.
There are a few lose ends that remain, though. The book never really answers who the masterminds of the nefarious baby-making plot are (or, on a minor note, says what happens to the garbagemen who were tied up in the back of the cab Amaranthe crashed into a steam carriage. Did they die?). There's no real villain in this story, only a gaggle of magic practitioners and Taloncrest, who is so easily dispatched he hardly seems like much of an antagonist. And what happens to the babies they were growing, or the athletes they must have impregnated? The military had control of the laboratory and yet they let it slip back to the bottom of the lake, so what became of the experiments? And where did that Kraken come from?
So many questions, but it's difficult to say anything bad about this book. It's fun, it's shocking, it's thrillingly romantic.
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.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes