Hello Friends,
Ever try to read a book that you couldn’t get into on the first try? Or the second, or the third? This doesn’t happen often when I read, which makes it most frustrating when it does. Especially when it’s something a friend has recommended, something that they’re positive you’ll enjoy. There’s that feeling of victory then, when you finally get into the groove of the world. In the case of Lindsay Buroker’s The Emperor’s Edge, I’m glad that the fourth time was a charm.
Set in the fictional kingdom of Turgonia, the story focuses on an Enforcer by the name of Amaranthe Lokdon. She is the only female on the Emperor’s task force, and despite the fact that she was admitted to the task force, she’s getting a little weary of the concession. Really, she’s mostly there as a show of equality that no one wants to follow through on, a fact illustrated when her partner (who is late to his shift and whose professional appearance leaves something to be desired) mentions that he is up for a promotion. Things start looking up for her, however, when Amaranthe is asked to complete a special mission by the Commander of the Armies Hollowcrest: kill the most wanted man in the kingdom, Sicarius. The only problem with this mission? Sicarius is well known as the most deadly assassin in the kingdom.
What follows is one of the most interesting stories I have ever had the pleasure of reading. There is far more going on in this kingdom then a simple mission of killing an assassin, as Amaranthe finds out. But instead of turning tail, she comes up with a counter-attack: enlisting several characters (and I do mean CHARACTERS) to form a team of her own with the intent of protecting the Emperor, Sespian. Oddly enough, this team includes Sicarius. He has his own reasons for helping, as do the rest of the company, yet when it comes down to it, all of them follow Amaranthe’s lead. She is finally given the promotion she deserved; just not in the way she expected it.
Buroker has created a world that can be loosely described as steam-punk, but what it truly is, is original and refreshing. There are currently five books in the series, with the sixth due out sometime this spring. The coolest part of this series? It’s following is largely Internet based. The Emperor’s Edge can actually be purchased for free on Amazon Kindle, and Buroker has her own blog, where she posts updates on her current publications as well as additional information on the worlds she’s created that never made it to the hard-copy versions.
I encourage anyone to give The Emperor’s Edge a try. It’s well worth a visit; even it takes you several tries to get there.
Live, Love, Learn,
Beth & The Write Teacher(s)