History Literature / TheEmperorsEdge

* [[spoiler: LukeIAmYourFather: Sespian is Sicarius's son.]]

** ThemeTwinNaming: In ''Deadly Games'', a pair of scientists with {{morally ambiguous doctorate}}s intent on creating cute little {{super soldier}}s to sell in their SuperBreedingProgram are named Litya and Metya.
** FamilyThemeNaming: Early in the same book a Kendorian athlete named Fasha is looking for her missing little sister, Keisha.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Turgonia's warrior caste is a pretty straight example. Families were rewarded with aristocracy and lands for outstanding acts in wartime, and male members almost all attend officer school. Athletes who sweep the Imperial Games are similarly granted land and a title.
** In ''The Emperor's Edge'' we find the Nurians have [[TheMagocracy a wizarding caste]] that serves the same function.

And one novella taking place betwen books 5 and 6:

* '''Amaranthe''', {{the protagonist}}, is {{The Heart}} of the ensemble. As the one with the unwavering moral compass, she usually works as their conscience. As the leader, she usually comes up with {{zany scheme}}s that frequently involves her strolling into the {{villain}}'s hideout to have a chat with him/her. She has the ability to [[TalkingYourWayOut talk herself out]] of almost any given situation.

* Uriah Gambit: Amaranthe and Sicarius first met when Amaranthe was sent by the Commander of the Armies, Hollowcrest, to kill him. Sicarius himself tells her that her mission was a suicidal one, and asks her what she did to anger Hollowcrest.

* '''Sicarius''': works as Amaranthe's {{lancer}}. With the emotional range of a very featureless rock, this very {{badass}} assassin is the epitome of TheStoic and TheSpock.

Buroker had also written two novels and one short story set in the same universe about 20 years before Emperor's Edge:

According to the author, the main story is planned to be told in six novels, featuring each of the main cast as a secondary narrator.

So far there are four books:

Buroker has also written a novel titled ''Encrypted'', set in the same universe about 20 years before the start of the main series, centering around a [[CunningLinguist philologist]] named Tikaya Komitopis as she is kidnapped by enemy marines who need her cryptographic skills to decode mysterious runes. Crossover between the two stories is limited mainly to passing mentions of the two main (and historically significant) characters of ''Encrypted'' and the GreatOffscreenWar that ended just as the book began, though Sicarius appears as a mostly antagonistic secondary character halfway through.

* FullFrontalAssault: In "Deadly Games" [[spoiler: Sicarius and Basilard after freeing themselves from the lab tables. Basilard is uncomfortable nude, though, so he steals a jacket from one of the guards they take out. Sicarius stays naked.]]

* AerithAndBob: Amaranthe, Sicarius, Sespian, Maldynado, Akstyr, Basilard, and...Marl (though he [[InSeriesNickname goes by Books]]

* TheDandy: Maldynado, being (former)warrior caste, has an interest in high fashion.

* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Books' real name is Marl Mugdildor. This fact is rarely mentioned, despite the fact that he says he actually prefers his real name.

** ThemeTwinNaming: In ''Deadly Games'', a pair of scientists with {{morally ambiguous doctorate}}s intent on creating cute little {{super soldier}}s to sell in their Super Breeding Program are named Litya and Metya.

* NeatFreak: Amaranthe is constantly cleaning and/or arranging things, whether the group's hideout, other people's offices or the top of a train car. Her fingers yearn for neatness and order as a way of dealing with stress.

''The Emperor's Edge'' is a series of sword and sorcery/steampunk/crime novels written (and self-published) by Lindsay Buroker. According to the author, the main story is planned to be told in six novels, featuring each of the main cast as a secondary narrator.

* '''Basilard''': the group's mute GentleGiant. Your usual scarred and rather scary BigGuy that happens to be more of a tender soul that prefers peace over violent actions.

* DownInTheDumos: In ''Deadly Games'' the group's hideout is in a locomotive boneyard.

* FunctionalMagic: Referred to as "mental sciences" by those in the know. The Empire says it does not exist, and also considers its use a capital crime.
* SteamPunk: There's no strong focus on gadgets, but it's there, e.g. steam cars, and punchcard-operated robots.

* ThemeNaming: Every warrior caste last name ends in "crest".

* ImprovisedWeapon: In Book 2, Amaranthe and Books get to defend themselves with a fireplace poker and [[MacGyvering home cooked]] smoke bombs.

* ThemeTwinNaming: Litya and Metya, a pair of scientists with {{morally ambiguous doctorate}}s intent in creating cute little {{super soldier}}s to sell.

* ''Ice Cracker II (and other stories''

''The Emperor's Edge'' is a series of sword and sorcery/steampunk/crime novels written (and self-published) by Lindsay Buroker. According to the author, the main story is planned to be told in six novels, featuring each of the main cast as a secondary narrator. Related short stories have also been published.

Book 2: Dark Currents.
* ImprovisedWeapon: Amaranthe and Books get to defend themselves with a fireplace poker and [[MacGyvering home cooked]] smoke bombs.

Book 3: Deadly Games.

The core cast is a valid example of RagtagBunchofMisfits.