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lisaliest's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I love this ragtag crew and their adventures. Amaranthe especially, she’s not the typical ya heroine, which is so refreshing. I’m having a good time reading.
shu_long's review
4.0
I read the first book in the series in a matter of days and immediately bought Dark Currents. Was not disappointed. I’d be reading the next one already, but I was breaking my personal monthly limit on the Kindle. :)
The first book focused, Emperor’s Edge, focused on Amaranthe and Sespian, the emperor. In this second book, the focus is more toward Amaranthe and her growing relationship with Sicarius, the assassin who keeps saving her life and Marl “Books” and his own uncertainties and challenges as he finds his own role in the band of outlaws led by Amaranthe. I found this book slightly less humorous than the first, but no less enjoyable. Lindsey Broker dug into her characters hearts and minds and pulled the story out into the open in ways that were probably more honest than her characters would ever forgive her for if they were suddenly to show up on the street. She also expanded her world and left plenty to work with as the series continues. I’ll be back to see what happens.
The first book focused, Emperor’s Edge, focused on Amaranthe and Sespian, the emperor. In this second book, the focus is more toward Amaranthe and her growing relationship with Sicarius, the assassin who keeps saving her life and Marl “Books” and his own uncertainties and challenges as he finds his own role in the band of outlaws led by Amaranthe. I found this book slightly less humorous than the first, but no less enjoyable. Lindsey Broker dug into her characters hearts and minds and pulled the story out into the open in ways that were probably more honest than her characters would ever forgive her for if they were suddenly to show up on the street. She also expanded her world and left plenty to work with as the series continues. I’ll be back to see what happens.
annkniggendorf's review
5.0
I've read [b:Dark Currents|11672438|Dark Currents (The Emperor's Edge #2)|Lindsay Buroker|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51hrgEN9L%2BL._SL75_.jpg|16617961] together with its direct prequel [b:The Emperor's Edge|10031259|The Emperor's Edge (The Emperor's Edge #1)|Lindsay Buroker|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51jpNjpFc%2BL._SL75_.jpg|14926833] and a related short story collection [b:Ice Cracker II|10184854|Ice Cracker II (The Emperor's Edge #2.5)|Lindsay Buroker|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1297478986s/10184854.jpg|15083889] in one go this weekend. This series is a fast-paced, character-driven page-turner one shouldn't start reading with major deadlines within the next three days, because it will grab you and not let go until you drop off its (hopefully current) end.
The imaginative - and neatly anal-retentive - female (former) police officer Amaranthe and the taciturn, mono-if not no-syllabic (not-quite-former) assassin Sicarius (yes, the one from [b:Encrypted|10218438|Encrypted|Lindsay Buroker|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51qhA-qntaL._SL75_.jpg|15118057], but as a grown man now!) are an irresistible composition.
The setting is a refreshing genre mix with elements of steampunk, cop story, military and fantasy rolled into one to form an utterly compelling, self-carrying world that reminds as much of 19th Century London as of 19th Century Moscow.
Language and the style of the story-telling remind me of [a:Lois McMaster-Bujold|16094|Lois McMaster Bujold|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1298076542p2/16094.jpg]'s early [b:Barrayar|61905|Barrayar (Vorkosigan Saga, #2)|Lois McMaster Bujold|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170597854s/61905.jpg|3036422] books (most notably [b:Shards of Honor|6249462|Test of Honor (Omnibus Shards of Honor \ The Warrior's Apprentice) (Vorkosigan Saga)|Lois McMaster Bujold|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1304092378s/6249462.jpg|6432279]), but the dry wit & humor shown by the well-defined characters are utterly unique and not to be missed.
I hope this series continues soon (though I would love seeing [b:Encrypted|10218438|Encrypted|Lindsay Buroker|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51qhA-qntaL._SL75_.jpg|15118057], playing in the same universe but 20 years before the events in [b:Emperor's Edge|10031259|The Emperor's Edge (The Emperor's Edge #1)|Lindsay Buroker|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51jpNjpFc%2BL._SL75_.jpg|14926833], continued as well).
The imaginative - and neatly anal-retentive - female (former) police officer Amaranthe and the taciturn, mono-if not no-syllabic (not-quite-former) assassin Sicarius (yes, the one from [b:Encrypted|10218438|Encrypted|Lindsay Buroker|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51qhA-qntaL._SL75_.jpg|15118057], but as a grown man now!) are an irresistible composition.
The setting is a refreshing genre mix with elements of steampunk, cop story, military and fantasy rolled into one to form an utterly compelling, self-carrying world that reminds as much of 19th Century London as of 19th Century Moscow.
Language and the style of the story-telling remind me of [a:Lois McMaster-Bujold|16094|Lois McMaster Bujold|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1298076542p2/16094.jpg]'s early [b:Barrayar|61905|Barrayar (Vorkosigan Saga, #2)|Lois McMaster Bujold|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170597854s/61905.jpg|3036422] books (most notably [b:Shards of Honor|6249462|Test of Honor (Omnibus Shards of Honor \ The Warrior's Apprentice) (Vorkosigan Saga)|Lois McMaster Bujold|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1304092378s/6249462.jpg|6432279]), but the dry wit & humor shown by the well-defined characters are utterly unique and not to be missed.
I hope this series continues soon (though I would love seeing [b:Encrypted|10218438|Encrypted|Lindsay Buroker|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51qhA-qntaL._SL75_.jpg|15118057], playing in the same universe but 20 years before the events in [b:Emperor's Edge|10031259|The Emperor's Edge (The Emperor's Edge #1)|Lindsay Buroker|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51jpNjpFc%2BL._SL75_.jpg|14926833], continued as well).
kblackmon's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
ktaylor1164's review against another edition
3.0
I love this series, but the first couple of books weren't as strong as the rest. I found a lot of the plot points a bit convenient and the conflict contrived--but it's turned into some of my favorite brain candy. I'd give it 3.5 if I could.
kim_chelf's review against another edition
3.0
I was curious to see what the second book would offer after reading the first. This one was not quite as good as that first one, but it was still and interesting book. I'm not sure I will read any more--unless they come up as a free ebook or a Kindle Daily Deal--but I'm not sorry I read the first two.
exeidur's review against another edition
4.0
A pretty solid sequel to a great first part! I like the romancer development, even though it's slow going, and there were some exciting events here as well. The stakes didn't seem as high as in the first part, but you can't be saving the emperor in every book of course.
So 8/10, really enjoyed this.
So 8/10, really enjoyed this.
paradoxically's review against another edition
3.0
Dark Currents is along the same line as the previous book. Amaranthe and her motley group scamper around the empire trying to do good. This book features both Amaranthe, as the staple character, and Books, who is pretty much what you expect from his name. It's a solid book--pretty light on the details (like the setting)--but it's fun regardless. It's basically one action scene to the next, one crazy idea to another, and Amaranthe and her team carry everything off with aplomb (along with a few wrecks along the way).
It's a light hearted fantasy mixed steam punk book. You never expect anything terrible to happen to any of the characters, and there's no deep plot to go with it. There are a lot of things going on (it's basically a wild ride from start to finish), and I wouldn't have minded if it had slowed down in parts, but it's enjoyable. Granted, the setting still jars me at times, and sometimes events/technologies make me squint, but, eh, I can gloss over such things pretty well. 3 stars.
It's a light hearted fantasy mixed steam punk book. You never expect anything terrible to happen to any of the characters, and there's no deep plot to go with it. There are a lot of things going on (it's basically a wild ride from start to finish), and I wouldn't have minded if it had slowed down in parts, but it's enjoyable. Granted, the setting still jars me at times, and sometimes events/technologies make me squint, but, eh, I can gloss over such things pretty well. 3 stars.