Stephanie S. (skywriter319) - , reviewed on 3/25/2013 + 784 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

To give credit where credits due, I kept on returning to this book after every time I decided to put it down because I found problems with the writing. So as far as self-published books go, this is a real nice free find. It has some of the problems that Ive experienced in other self-published booksnotably in pacing, world-building, and plotbut at its heart is a very delightfully strong protagonist and some chuckle-inducing dialogue.

Amaranthe Lokdon is one of the few female enforcers working for her emperor, but when she gets in the middle of a sinister plot that threatens the emperors life, shes forced to drop everything from her old life in order to save herselfand possibly save the emperor. Amaranthe amasses a ragtag team, including Sicarius, a lethal assassin, to execute her crazy plan. But what if she cant trust even her own team to have her back?

Amaranthe is the type of woman that many protagonists think they are but arent really. With her enforcer training, shes more than physically and intellectually competent. Shes also capable of getting herself out of sticky predicaments with creative thinking. Instead of saying all the time that shes resourceful and smart and badass, she actually IS. Whenever I thought I was done with this because of some writing weaknesses, Amaranthe comes out with something that impresses me.

About those writing weaknesses Well, its just the stuff that Ive generally found to appear in self-published books. As in, the world makes sense in the authors mind, but somewhere down the line, the authors intended world doesnt align with the words that actually end up on the page. THE EMPERORS EDGE claims to be a fantasy with steampunk elements, but besides for a few mentions of engines and mages and whatnot, it was difficult to distinguish what made this world so different than a medieval/contemporary mashup of our own. (At one point one of the characters calls out, Yo! I facepalmed like it was the end of the world.)

I also havent warmed up to the Amaranthe-Sicarius romance yet, primarily because Sicarius himself doesnt demonstrate even a HINT of romantic gestures throughout the whole novel. Amaranthe, girl, you are really deluded if youve spotted anything even remotely resembling him caring for you in this episode of your life. However, I believe that the potential for romance is there, and it can pay off in the end, if thats something that motivates your reading.

Nevertheless, THE EMPERORS EDGE exceeded my expectations for a free self-published novel. Its got its flaws, but theyre not deal-breakers, not with great characters and an admirable female protagonist leading the charge. I may even consider reading on in the series sometime in the future. Snap up this free e-book and be prepared to be impressed with how much heart its got.

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