The Emperor's Edge (The Emperor's Edge #1)

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The Emperor's Edge (The Emperor's Edge #1)

by Lindsay Buroker (Goodreads Author)

4.14 of 5 stars 4.14 · rating details · 2,120 ratings · 379 reviews

Imperial law enforcer Amaranthe Lokdon is good at her job: she can deter thieves and pacify thugs, if not with a blade, then by toppling an eight-foot pile of coffee canisters onto their heads. But when ravaged bodies show up on the waterfront, an arson covers up human sacrifices, and a powerful business coalition plots to kill the emperor, she feels a tad overwhelmed.

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Kindle Edition, 324 pages

Published December 22nd 2010 (first published November 22nd 2010)

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Mar 10, 2013 Willowfaerie added it

Shelves: fantasy, steampunk

The Emperor’s Edge is a fun fantasy book. It’s about intrepid, law enforcer, Amaranthe Lokdon, who manages to get on the wrong side of the law (where she definitely doesn’t want to be) when she uncovers a plot against the Emperor. This turns her world upside-down and brings her into contact with all kinds of shady characters.

I liked Amaranthe. She’s sort of like a female Dudley Do Right only much smarter and more inventive, but with all the same noble intentions. And I liked her band of crimina...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Hannah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: steampunk, fantasy

I can't believe that such a good book is available for free, but there it is! The Emperor's Edge is a ripping good adventure set in a fantasy world that reminds me faintly of Ancient Rome, but with a light steampunk flavour and plenty of action.

Amaranthe Lokdon, female enforcer, is thrust into more adventure than she had ever wanted when she stumbles upon a plot against the young emperor and becomes the target of the plotters. On the run, she slowly forms a team of outcasts and create a plan to...more I can't believe that such a good book is available for free, but there it is! The Emperor's Edge is a ripping good adventure set in a fantasy world that reminds me faintly of Ancient Rome, but with a light steampunk flavour and plenty of action.

Amaranthe Lokdon, female enforcer, is thrust into more adventure than she had ever wanted when she stumbles upon a plot against the young emperor and becomes the target of the plotters. On the run, she slowly forms a team of outcasts and create a plan to thwart the emperor's enemies and save his life. This is a fast-paced, well-written read that balances a great cast of characters and a page-turner of a story. The steampunk element is very light, but the world is a fascinating one and the introduction of a magical midnight prowler amps up the suspense and keeps Amaranthe's team on their feet.

Lindsay Buroker's created a great team of characters who are each intriguing in their own right; there's obviously enormous potential to be explored there and I can't wait to find out more about them. Amaranthe is our female protagonist and leader, who leads with her quick mind, glib tongue and righteous streak. Sicarius is the silent assassin who trusts no one (and it really tickled me pink to see how Amaranthe managed to win him over to her cause with her resourcefulness), Maldynado's the irrepressible, good-looking flirt, Books is... well, the smart, cautious one, and Akstyr is an ex-gang member with an attitude. All with very different skill sets, but it's a lot of fun seeing Amaranthe keep them in line. The only one I don't really like is Akstyr - he's rebellious, selfish and even more difficult than Sicarius; I can't help but think Amaranthe would've been better off without him. Surely she could have found someone else to act as her magic consultant? He was probably the least useful member of the team.

As for Amaranthe, I really liked her sense of humour (even in dangerous situations) and more than admiring the fact that she's kickass, I appreciate her intelligence. The trend towards strong female characters has led to many a "tough woman with a painful past." I am so glad that Amaranthe bucks this trend. She might have had it rough as one of the only female enforcers in the country, but she liked her job and was dedicated to it. More impressive was how self-aware and clear-headed she is. Amaranthe has a righteous streak which matches her job as an enforcer, but she doesn't preach, make silly decisions because of it or put her teammates in danger just to satisfy her morals. Eminently sensible, she might not like the inevitable deaths of people on the opposing side, but as she comments at one point, she can't pick up the sword and then squeal when she gets blood on it. We also get a peek at her slightly girlier side in one or two of her casual musings about Sicarius, but can you blame the girl? Sicarius is awesome. The fact that he is so damn stoic makes each of his reactions more rewarding.

There is potential romance here, but it remains potential only. I'm always open to a well-written romance, but I'm actually quite happy at the developments so far; it's a credit to Buroker's writing that I find myself more interested in watching Sicarius' trust and respect for Amaranthe increase slowly rather than any amorous overtures. The dry wit in their exchanges is one of my favourite parts of the book. This is a great fantasy adventure with an awesome cast of characters (not to mention Emperor Sespian, whom I'd like to see more of in the future) that is definitely worth a read. If this is what it's like in book one, I can't wait to see what happens in the rest of the series!(less)

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Sep 25, 2011 Mihir rated it 4 of 5 stars

Liviu Suciu previously reviewed Lindsay Buroker’s novel Encrypted on FBC, which is how I became interested in the author’s work. So when I heard about The Emperor’s Edge, a fantasy-steampunk hybrid, I immediately bought a copy on Amazon.

The Emperor’s Edge is set in the capital city of the Turgonian Empire, which is ruled by science and refutes magic as an unworthy practice. It is also facing tension across its borders from the country of Nuria where magic is given free rein. Into this backdrop,...more
Liviu Suciu previously reviewed Lindsay Buroker’s novel Encrypted on FBC, which is how I became interested in the author’s work. So when I heard about The Emperor’s Edge, a fantasy-steampunk hybrid, I immediately bought a copy on Amazon.

The Emperor’s Edge is set in the capital city of the Turgonian Empire, which is ruled by science and refutes magic as an unworthy practice. It is also facing tension across its borders from the country of Nuria where magic is given free rein. Into this backdrop, reader are immediately introduced to Amaranthe Lokdon, a lowly corporal stuck on patrol duty with her lazy partner Wholt. Readers are also introduced to Emperor Sespian Savarsin, who is trying to get back on his feet, while Commander Hollowcrest helps him rule the empire. During a routine patrol, Amaranthe and Wholt discover a suspicious fire that spirals out of control. Soon after, events occur which pull Amaranthe from her normal duties as an imperial enforcer to hunting down Sicarius, the most dangerous assassin in the world. And thus the plot to this fantastical story begins...

Instead of going for an all-original idea, Lindsay Buroker has taken an oft-used concept and presented it with her own additions. So even though The Emperor’s Edge is described as a “high fantasy novel in the era of steam”, the book comes across as a campy fantasy adventure hybrid . In fact, what I liked most about the novel was its campy feel, which includes characters and situations often cropping up to delude the protagonists of their well thought-out but slightly improper plans. This kept me chuckling constantly as the humor quotient is kept at a remarkably steady level. Granted, the story sometimes takes silly turns, but the plot twists and Lindsay Buroker’s writing make these moments entertaining rather than overtly stupid.

Another important factor for me was the great characterization. Even though there are only two POVs in The Emperor’s Edge, there are several supporting characters involved in the main plot and the author makes sure each one is unique, if not a bit stereotypical, but I think that was more for comedic effect. Amaranthe though is the most well-rounded character in the book, as readers are shown a close look at her down-to-earth, hard working personality; her thoughts; and using her tenacity and gift of persuasion to overcome the challenges in her life. Not only that, but Amaranthe is the emotional core of the book. Be it her interactions with Sicarius, Books, Maldynado, etc.; her calm nature; or her deductive ability; Amaranthe comes across as a heroic persona.

Sicarius is another intriguing character, but not many details are revealed about him. Hopefully the author will rectify this in the sequel. World-building is also very impressive with the world of The Emperor’s Edge brought to life through vivid descriptions. Lastly, there’s no quasi-European feel to this novel. So instead of the usual medieval routine, Lindsay Buroker offers readers a more tropical setting highlighted by racial diversity.

Not everything about The Emperor’s Edge is rosy however. The plot for instance, is very linear, not to mention predictable, while secondary characters possess clear-cut agendas and are pretty much black and white.

CONCLUSION: After reading just one book it becomes noticeable that the author has written a nice fantasy thriller combo story which manages to combine the swift page turning quality of thrillers with the magical nature of fantasy alongwith a nice dollop of humor laced through out the plot to completely surprise the readers. I’ve become a Lindsay Buroker fan and can’t wait to read the rest of her series. For anyone who loves David Eddings, Terry Brooks and Rachel Aaron, The Emperor’s Edge is a book I heartily recommend to you...

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Sep 09, 2012 Shelli rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, buddy-read, kindle

I really liked this book. I love that this was a freebie for the Kindle and I was so pleasantly surprised. I will definitely read the next book as I have already purchased it! I had no problem paying for the next installment and it was still very reasonable. While reading this book, I wasn't quite sure what the genre is. Doing a bit of review reading, I've found everything from fantasy to sci-fi to hybrid steam punk! I don't really care! I enjoyed this world that was created....with the steam po...more

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Feb 03, 2013 cEe beE rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-star-reads, kick-ass-heroine, book-series, fab-faves

Not only is this a FREE book on Amazon, it's an EXCELLENT first installment of a new series!!! Review to follow

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May 17, 2013 Brenna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Is it a perfect book? No. Is it a fantastic read anyway? Hells to the yes.

Amaranthe is an immediately likeable and compelling character, but part of Buroker's strength in this book - and the series as a whole - is her focus on the Action (yes, with a capital A). Are there plot holes? Probably. Is some of the dialogue too obviously expository? Perhaps. But do you want to keep reading and find out what happens next? Absolutely.

You wouldn't be wrong to call this Steampunk, I guess, nor Fantasy......more

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May 10, 2013 Roshani Hingorani rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Emperor’s Edge is a steampunk fantasy novel finely served with the combination of great ingredients. The story is balanced with a creative and delightful plot and lively characters which keep the reader enthralled from the first page till the last. It has the right mix of optimism, trust, loyalty, courage, surprise, fear, anger and danger along with humour and drama.

Amaranthe Lokdon, one of the few female enforcer and loyal to the empire, is investigating the cause of a sudden fire in a b...more

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Apr 25, 2013 Nicolas Wilson rated it 3 of 5 stars

review from the wife.

Decently edited, entertaining characters, but a very nonsensical story.

This was a fun read, so long as she focused on the immediate happenings, and not the overall plot. She had a bit of a pet peeve with the beginning, as Amaranthe's character loses a substantial portion of her demeanor very soon in, and it felt too abrupt to her.

Most of her issues, though, were with the consistency of the story. She never felt the overall plot was anything less than ludicrous, and she felt...more review from the wife.

Decently edited, entertaining characters, but a very nonsensical story.

This was a fun read, so long as she focused on the immediate happenings, and not the overall plot. She had a bit of a pet peeve with the beginning, as Amaranthe's character loses a substantial portion of her demeanor very soon in, and it felt too abrupt to her.

Most of her issues, though, were with the consistency of the story. She never felt the overall plot was anything less than ludicrous, and she felt that the subterfuge was not very subtle at all, especially given how devious it's supposed to be in context. She said she kept wanting to smack every character upside the head for being so very very inept at hiding their intentions, even when they're the controlling political/economic interests in the land.

The one thing she did mention she loved about it was the fact that Amaranthe's romantic subplot is not automatically attached to one character, and limited artificially. She hates it when she picks up a book, and the first thought out of the character is "Oh he's so handsome. Oh, it makes no sense, but I'm totally going to ONLY flirt with him the rest of the book, even when it makes no sense in context". She is VERY particular about her romances, and she liked that side characters were attracted to Amaranthe without it being a major plot point, and that Amaranthe's attraction to a central character was never the focus of the story. She liked the balance.

She enjoyed the humorous dialogue, and is hoping to see if book 2 makes more sense, now that the themes and conflicts are set up. She skimmed a few reviews for the rest of the series, and was a bit dubious about the focus of each book shifting from characters in the group. I'm sure she'll read it eventually, but she just didn't fully feel that the long-term story was well set up enough for her to want to spend time away from the character she got used to in book 1. She seemed to enjoy reading it well enough, but the characters didn't really stick with her too long afterwards, so she may not have the focus to make it through all 4-5 books (how many is Buroker at now?)
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Apr 20, 2013 Elizabeth Barone rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I listened to the free audiobook version on iTunes. I like Lindsay Buroker's podcasts and blog posts, but wanted to check her out as a reader. I also needed something I could listen to at night to help me unwind. I downloaded the ebook—also free—in tandem for iBooks.

I immediately liked Amaranthe's character, and liked how the world is a hybrid of steampunk and fantasy. It reminded me, in a way, of the video game Final Fantasy IX, without the monkey tails and mages, but with the same textures, if...more

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Mar 24, 2013 Marlene rated it 5 of 5 stars

Originally published at Reading Reality

I dove into The Emperor's Edge because I was hungry for a good fantasy, and it was the first title that jumped out from my Kindle app screen.

I was so glad it did.

It's not just that it's the opening of a mostly fantasy series (although there's more than a touch of steampunk), it's that Amaranthe Lokdon and her crew are a bunch that make you itch to get to know them better.

Amaranthe starts out as an imperial enforcer who is way too good for the job. But she'l...more

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Feb 24, 2013 B. rated it 3 of 5 stars

The full title ("Lindsay Buroker's The Emperor's Edge") is awkward and a bit pretentious (perhaps a shared universe in formation?), but don't hold that against the book.

Title aside, The Emperor's Edge is actually a pretty smooth piece of writing. It's straightforward fantasy, lightly steamed. Amaranthe, an enforcer (police), learns of a dangerous threat to the empire, and very quickly is left to her own devices to save it.

The writing is good, with setting quickly established, and likeable, diffe...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Snarktastic Sonja rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, reviewed

I really struggled with the rating for this book. I have my own little criteria for how many stars I give to books, but I wanted to add 1 to this book - because it was free. But, in the end, I had to be true to my system. I was able to put down this book - the action frequently lulled - but I sure wanted to return to spend time with this little band of characters.

The heroine, Amaranthe, is quite unlike your typical heroine. She is not snarky. She does not kick butt. She is just honorable. And t...more

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Dec 23, 2012 Tura Satana rated it 2 of 5 stars

Good news first, for a free and I expect self-published book it surprisingly well written, with good dialogue and characters which are, lets face it, no worse than usual for fantasy books, if not especially deep. The setting is nicely non-cliched, a sort of steampunk setting instead of the "normal" sword and sorcery one. There is one hilarious mistake where "yelling workers and grinding machinery come through wall" - rather than perhaps the noise they make? But all in all the language is good an...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Coral rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, steampunk

I picked The Emperor's Edge up free a few months ago and have been bouncing it back and forth on my to be read list since then. I'm so glad I decided to finally move it up to spot number one, because I enjoyed this story heaps. More than heaps, oodles even!

Amaranthe is a great main character. Strong without any baggage and willing to admit where she needs help, which is a quality most real women have, but most fictional do not. Her gang of misanthropes was a great source of laughs. Sicarius was...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

One of the pleasure's of having a partner who is an avid reader is that books appear in my life without any effort on my part. This book started slowly for me, and I nearly set it aside before the end of the first chapter. The plot, the characters from central casting (mysterious super-skilled assasin--check; older scholarly type full of just the right piece of information when needed--check; vain and shallow stud with heart of gold beneath--check; kickass woman with gift of gab--check; sullen t...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Tim rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was recommended by my wife, and it's easy to see why. The Emperor's Edge is clearly written for women, not so much because of its strong female protagonist, but because the details that are embellished upon cater to (heterosexual) women. Having just finished the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson, I am in a good position to elaborate on what I mean, before continuing with my mostly positive review.

In Mistborn, a street urchin named Vin is recruited for a caper and trained to play the...more This book was recommended by my wife, and it's easy to see why. The Emperor's Edge is clearly written for women, not so much because of its strong female protagonist, but because the details that are embellished upon cater to (heterosexual) women. Having just finished the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson, I am in a good position to elaborate on what I mean, before continuing with my mostly positive review.

In Mistborn, a street urchin named Vin is recruited for a caper and trained to play the part of a noblewoman. Much is made of her difficulty with dresses, her growing love of being feminine, and her self-doubts about her ability to play her role.

In The Emperor's Edge, one of the only female enforcers (like town guards or police), named Amaranthe, recruits a gang of misfits (all men) for a caper. Much is made of her difficulty with getting them to work together, her self-denial of femininity and, most of all, how the guys smell, look and arch their eyebrows at her comfortableness with their varying states of undress.

Both are good stories and both are worth reading, I think it's just important to point out a writer's audience often determines what elements of a story get focused.

This is not to suggest that The Emperor's Edge is a thinly veiled romance novel; far from it, this first entry into the series takes great pains to have the protagonist deny that any such feelings may develop. No, this story is primarily about Amaranthe's quest to save the emperor of her kingdom from an assassination attempt. Her methods are a little mundane, but that actually made me more interested, not less. Too often, a fantasy trope involves what I call the Howitzer Effect: Using far too much fantastic force for what is required. It would have been easy, within the context a steampunk fantasy setting, to use deus ex machina in the form of steam science and magic to propel the plot forward and upward, to such lofty and fantastic heights that only an equally epic resolution would be required. The auther avoids that by keeping the plot grounded in semi-reality, only bringing forth the steampunk and fantasy elements where they make sense. Unfortunately, there is one element that is fantastic and does too often serve as deus ex machina.

If I had to describe The Emperor's Edge in one sentence, it would be, "An episode of the A-Team, played in reverse, if they were all strangers and the plucky woman client hired them individually." I'd probably have to use two sentences, though, because, "Oh, and instead of Mr. T, there's a godlike inhuman assassin with a troubled past for all the ladies" is kind of an important detail.

I don't much care for Sicarius. He is a little too much the 'troubled superman anti-hero' cliche for my tastes. I realize this is a fantasy series and he is a fantastic character, but so much time is spent on showing how dark, brooding and superhuman he is that it's hard to consider him more than walking, (sometimes) talking fan service, there to rescue our damsel in distress and be mysterious.

It wasn't until the last chapter or two of the book that I saw any character development, and grudgingly at that. I hope that he continues to develop further, but I also understand that he is probably a big draw for many of the readers. I never read Twilight, but I imagine that Sicarius reads very much like Edward Cullen. Dark, mysterious, brooding, and superhuman. Every woman's dream....(?)

All in all, I would recommend this book to male and female readers alike, because despite what I've said about it being geared towards women, it also has plenty of things that all readers can appreciate: humor, well-written dialogue, and a well-paced plot.(less)

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Jul 03, 2012 Phillip rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the first novel of the series. I'd like to give it more stars, but I can't quite do it.

The book was a solid effort, I liked the world, I like the opportunities that are now available in the world. I love the mix of magic and steam, I grin/wince at the A-Team-ness of the group a little.

I listened to the podiobook and felt that the reading still need a bit of something - not that it was bad, but there was a slow over pronounced feel to it. Of course, that might have been what the reade...more

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Jun 13, 2012 Douglas Meeks rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Emperor's Edge by Lindsay Buroker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I finished The Emperor's Edge and it was great! I love being surprised by a book (especially a free one). The story is a good cross of UF/steampunk and fantasy. Unfortunately, it seems that any romance will be teased along until one of the later book but this one ended with a decent resolution with a touch left over to hook you into the next book, this is a pretty solid 4.5 Star read if you love the wizard/warrior fantasy type books. T...more

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May 14, 2012 Tiffany rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi-and-fantasy

I picked this up as a bargain recommendation from Amazon for my Kindle, and OMG what an amazing recommendation it turned out to be. I was instantly entranced with Amaranthe and her mercenaries, and smitten with Sicarius in particular. I enjoyed book 1 so much that I have purchased and read the entire 4 books in the series over the last 5 days, and am eagerly and impatiently awaiting the publication of book 5. I have even downloaded the Goblin Brothers book and am reading it to my son. Ms. Buroke...more I picked this up as a bargain recommendation from Amazon for my Kindle, and OMG what an amazing recommendation it turned out to be. I was instantly entranced with Amaranthe and her mercenaries, and smitten with Sicarius in particular. I enjoyed book 1 so much that I have purchased and read the entire 4 books in the series over the last 5 days, and am eagerly and impatiently awaiting the publication of book 5. I have even downloaded the Goblin Brothers book and am reading it to my son. Ms. Buroker is a truly talented author and I look forward to reading other work from her!

The series reminds me a bit of Serenity/Firefly in that it is a group of outlaws trying to live their lives in a society that makes lawful existence difficult. It has a steampunk flair, and characters that are infinitely relateable. Amaranthe is the leader of the group. An ex- enforcer, she is nonetheless the heart of the group, giving the unrelated men cohesion. Books is an ex-history professor. The oldest member of the group, he acts as their moral compass. Muldynado is a dis-owned dis-graced nobleman's son who most recently worked in a brothel. He provides comic relief and muscle, much like Jane in Firefly. Basilard is a mute ex-slave whose use of sign language forces the other group members to slow down and think about their words and actions. Though he is also a deadly fighter, I think Basilard's main role is as a sounding board for the rest of the group. Arksyth is a former street rat gang member who is delving into illegal Mind Sciences (magic). He is the youngest member of the group and the least reliably cohesive. I think his dissent represents a struggle to maintain individuality. Then there is the assassin Sicarius. He was trained from childhood by the government to be a deadly weapon. Only when their purpose crossed his own, he went rogue. For the group, Sicarius is the ultimate end of law and order; the anti- authority.

I really need book 5 to come out. I love this series.(less)

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Jan 20, 2012 Ann rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, steampunk, ebooks, assassin

The Emperor's Edge is a fast-paced, character-driven page-turner which -- together with the related short story collection Ice Cracker II and EEs just published sequel Dark Currents -- literally gobbled up my last weekend, including the nights.

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 Encrypted, but as a grown man now!) are an irresistible composition.

The...more

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Jul 01, 2011 K. Gorman rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book made me late for class. It kept up most of the night, too, but a lot of books do that. It takes a good book to make me miss my bus.

I first read Lindsay Buroker’s writing in her short story, Ice Cracker II (Free! Check it out!). It takes place after the events in The Emperor’s Edge, but does nothing to spoil the story. I was hooked. It was like getting a really good cookie, and then wanting the rest of the package. At only $2.99, The Emporer’s Edge was well within my starving-student bu...more

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Mar 21, 2011 Bianca rated it 4 of 5 stars

Well, I must say this novel surprised me: there're maybe too many elements (fantasy, magic, steam-punk, assassins, conspiracies and a bit of thriller thrown in for good measure) but the author actually managed to make it a successful blend. All of the components create a seamless plot that captured my whole attention from the first to the last page.
I liked Amaranthe's growth, and Sespian's struggle, which were very realistic, not the forced changes you find in some novels, but a fluid, difficult...more

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Feb 08, 2011 Mary Grace rated it 5 of 5 stars

I wanted a book that is different from the paranormal novels I have been reading lately, something that isn't too dark yet isn't boring. I decided to read The Emperor's Edge and was expecting an okay book but it exceeded my expectations! I might deduce that The Emperor's Edge is a sequel to Encrypted but it far from that although it contains the same elements and a character as the later but it is solely independent.

What was fascinating for me while reading this book was how funny it was. That w...more

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Mar 01, 2013 Maqluba rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: badboy-with-goodgirl, deep-emotional-scars, deserves-higher-ratings, favorite-author, favorite-heroine, first-time-reading-author, favorites, funny, hero-with-trust-issues, heroine-saves-hero, kickass-heroine, majorly-epic-story, wish-more-people-knew-about, fantasy-world, re-read-multiple-times

WOW What have I been missing??!! I swear if all urban fantasy/steampunk/paranormal books are like this then I feel like I have been missing out for a really long time. Although I can say even though I haven't read into this genre before this book (and subsequent series) is still an amazing read.

I don't like it when the hero/heroine are non-human so I have stayed away from this genre mainly because of that. I don't mind if they live in another world or they deal with non-human things, as long as...more

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Jan 17, 2013 Nathan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: author-female, rated-4-star, read-2013, read-on-kindle, self-published, steam-punk, wwe-2013-challenge

Fantasy Review Barn

Steampunk in a good way; it is much more concerned with the characters and the plot than it is about coming up with lots of gadgets. Amaranthe Lokdon is one of the few female enforcers on the, um, force. Until recently the job wasn’t available to women, and Amaranthe is finding the glass ceiling is holding strong against any future promotion. But after singlehandedly busting up a robbery attempt she catches the eye of the Emperor Sespian, and things may start going her way. Th...more Fantasy Review Barn

Steampunk in a good way; it is much more concerned with the characters and the plot than it is about coming up with lots of gadgets. Amaranthe Lokdon is one of the few female enforcers on the, um, force. Until recently the job wasn’t available to women, and Amaranthe is finding the glass ceiling is holding strong against any future promotion. But after singlehandedly busting up a robbery attempt she catches the eye of the Emperor Sespian, and things may start going her way. The emperor’s chief advisor gives her a personal mission, to kill famous assassin Sicarius. Of course things are going to spiral out of control, and after finding out she has been sold out, she turns to criminal endeavors in an attempt to foil plots against the emperor she is still loyal to.

The pacing is lighting fast. By keeping the story fairly simple the fast pace should never lose the reader. The smart plan Amaranthe comes up with has a lot of loose ends that she needs to tie up, and the group she puts together cleverly finds their way through many of them, while avoiding the dangers coming from both enforcers and criminal gangs. Lots of fun adventures, and there was a good amount of humor (mostly from banter between Amaranthe’s group).

Amaranthe is a great character, confident and resourceful. At times she has to be rescued, but usually she finds her own way out of problems, and at times she does the rescuing. Her motley band of misfits is an engaging bunch as well. The male escort turned bodyguard was constantly entertaining, and almost always funny, but proved to be more than comic relief. He was easily my favorite supporting character. The main villain throughout the book is no doubt evil, but still is doing what he feels is best for the empire. Even emotionless assassin Sicarius proves to have a little more to him than killing.

Oftentimes authors think they are smarter than the reader and try to sneak in clues that are more obvious than they realize. Buroker does the opposite, to a really neat affect. I rolled my eyes at how obvious it was the emperor was being poisoned (minor spoiler sorry, but this happens very early in the book). But to my surprise, Amaranthe figures this out almost immediately, I didn’t sit on this as a reader wondering when she would figure it out. Another time a character gives a James Bond villain type speech, with all the motives and plans spelled out. But rather than buy the speech, our protagonist wonders if he was instead trying to influence her or her cohorts.

There are a few plot lines that were a little too simple for my tastes. Every building had a secret passage or two, people acted the way Amaranthe hoped a little too often, and her group followed Amaranthe loyally almost immediately, with no real reason.

4 stars.
(less)

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May 20, 2012 Tom rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, science-fiction, magic

This book came to me by recommendation through kindle because i had purchased a similar book. What could be considered "similar" is beyond me. This was by all descriptions unique by comparison to what i've been reading lately. Yes, there was a strong female character forced out of her comfort zone, and yes there were strong male characters that went out of their comfort zone because of said female. That's where the similarities end. Amaranthe is a police officer who does her job to the book and...more

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May 05, 2012 Jefferson Smith rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-fantasy

At the start, this one felt a lot like Tamora Pierce's Bekka Cooper series (Terrier). But that similarity soon fades as Amaranthe wanders down an alley that Bekka never took. On the surface, this new direction has it's own excitement and promise, but The Emperor's Edge is something of a conundrum for me. I enjoyed the writing - the use of language, the dialogue, etc. - but there were some gaps. I never got a really clear view of what the world was like. In fact, the cover tells me more about the...more

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Jan 14, 2012 Illium rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

The one thing I like about e-readers are the fact you can get books that are free - however, you always take the chance the books are not always that great or well-written. This is not the case with Lindsay Buroker's "The Emperor's Edge". Basic synopsis is Amaranthe Lokdon, an Imperial Law Enforcer, has a lot to prove in a man's world and when given the opportunity to serve her country, she takes it knowing the danger and possible death she faces especially when she is given the task to hunt dow...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Arref Mak rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This is a solid character driven alt urban fantasy with some dash of steampunk laced about the edges.

Warrior society on the cusp of changing mores into industrial society with the added complication of an old conquest empire that is poised to be overrun by its own several centuries of success. But most of that is the flavor background, intriguing as it is. The world building feels tight but has plenty of wiggle room.

Money, wit, swords, honor, class, and style count for a lot in the City... and t...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Steph rated it 4 of 5 stars

This self-published Steampunk/Fantasy series isn't bad by any stretch, but it lacks the necessary amount of romantic tension for me. I enjoyed the prequel, Encrypted, a bit more because of this and because the pace and story was a bit more exciting.
***
Imperial law enforcer Amaranthe Lokdon is good at her job: she can deter thieves and pacify thugs. But when ravaged bodies show up on the waterfront, an arson covers up human sacrifices, and a powerful business coalition plots to kill the emperor,...more

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About Lindsay Buroker

I'm a professional blogger by day and an indie fantasy author by night. Evenings belong to the dogs, tennis, and books.

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Blood and Betrayal (The Emperor's Edge #5)

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“Trust me, I never underestimate my charm or any of my other magnificent attributes. They work great on women. Alas, men tend to see me as an unwelcome rival. You, he might listen to. You're good at talking people into things."

"What makes you say that?"

"Because I'm perched in the rafters of a cannery, at risk from a man-slaying magical creature, and spending time with a drunk, a gangster, and an assassin at . . . what time is it?” — 16 people liked it

“I didn’t faint, I passed out in a manly way,” Sespian muttered.” — 4 people liked it

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