A review by annkniggendorf
Blood and Betrayal by Lindsay Buroker

5.0

The fifth installment of [a:Lindsay Buroker|4512224|Lindsay Buroker|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1292869920p2/4512224.jpg]'s [b:The Emperor's Edge|10031259|The Emperor's Edge (The Emperor's Edge #1)|Lindsay Buroker|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327954140s/10031259.jpg|14926833] novel series is as fast-paced, action-filled and character driven as the previous ones. [b:Blood and Betrayal|15847065|Blood and Betrayal (The Emperor's Edge #5)|Lindsay Buroker|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1345845919s/15847065.jpg|21591570] sees a good deal of character development and a holds several crucial moments for the plot, notably a cathartic experience for the main couple and a critical step with the Imperial family conundrum (Note: Amaranthe and Sicarius-shippers do not want to miss any of this!).
However, be warned that some serious dark matters, including violent interrogation, only ever hinted at in previous books are put into the spotlight in this one. Ms. Buroker certainly pulls no punch here. The aftereffects, while shown, are less prominent than I would have liked, given the severity of the experiences described before, making me wonder if they are going to spill over into book 6.
Luckily, [b:Blood and Betrayal|15847065|Blood and Betrayal (The Emperor's Edge #5)|Lindsay Buroker|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1345845919s/15847065.jpg|21591570] does not end with a cliffhanger like the previous book [b:Conspiracy|106646|Doomsday Conspiracy|Sidney Sheldon|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1180837027s/106646.jpg|102794], but it will certainly keep me at the edge of my seat wanting to know what comes next!