Line #3 Literature/TheEmperorsEdge


1	''The Emperor's Edge'' is a series of sword and sorcery/steampunk/crime novels written (and self-published) by Lindsay Buroker.
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4	The core cast is a valid example of RagtagBunchOfMisfits.
5	* '''Amaranthe''', the protagonist, is TheHeart 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.
6	* '''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.
7	* '''Books''': starts as TheAlcoholic lying to waste in a forsaken inn. But in reality he was just [[DrowningMySorrows drowning his sorrows]] and as the series progresses the drink stops being an issue. As his nickname states, he is a through-and-through MrExposition, often getting into long explanations of things to the chagrin of the others. The oldest of the group, Books is usually awkward and often gets to be played for comic relief.
8	* '''Maldynado''': serves as the HandsomeLech. Arrogant and crude but charming to a fault, Maldynado has the ability to endear himself to any female that crosses his path. A very useful talent in a society where most business owners are women.
9	* '''Akstyr''': a very surly teenager that, while his abilities fill a very important gap in the group's skills, his personality marks him as the {{Token Evil Teammate}}.
10	* '''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.
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12	According to the author, the main story was planned to be told in six novels, featuring each of the main cast as a secondary narrator. However, the sixth book proved to be too long and she split it in half for a total of seven books.
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14	The books are:
15	* Book One: ''The Emperor's Edge''
16	* Book Two: ''Dark Currents''
17	* Book Three: ''Deadly Games''
18	* Book Four: ''Conspiracy''
19	* Book Five: ''Blood and Betrayal''
20	* Book Six: ''Forged in Blood I''
21	* Book Seven: ''Forged in Blood II''
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23	Though the main story ended in Book Seven, two more novels have been added to the series-
24	* ''Republic''
25	* ''Diplomats and Fugitives''
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27	There are also two short story compendiums:
28	* ''Ice Cracker II (and other stories)''
29	* ''The Assassin's Curse''
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31	And one novella taking place between books 5 and 6:
32	* ''Beneath the Surface''
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35	Buroker has also written two novels and one short story set in the same universe about 20 years before Emperor's Edge:
36	* ''Encrypted''
37	* ''Enigma'' - Short story
38	* ''Decrypted''
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40	They contain the back story of [[CunningLinguist philologist]] Tikaya Komitopis and her husband, who play a part in Forged in Blood I & II. In Encrypted Tikaya is kidnapped by enemy marines who need her cryptographic skills to decode mysterious runes. Sicarius appears as a mostly antagonistic secondary character halfway through. Decrypted concerns her return to Kyatt and ensuing trouble. Although Encrypted/Decrypted can be read as a standalone series; it does fill in small details that were unexplained, or glossed over in the main series.
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44	!!This series shows examples of the following tropes:
45	* AerithAndBob: Amaranthe, Sicarius, Sespian, Maldynado, Akstyr, Basilard, and...Marl. [[InSeriesNickname Everyone calls him Books]], though.
46	* AsskickingLeadsToLeadership: 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.
47	* TheAtoner: This is how Amaranthe sells continued cooperation to work for the good of the Empire to the others, particularly Sicarius.
48	* TheDandy: Maldynado, being (former) warrior caste, has an interest in high fashion.
49	* DownInTheDumps: In ''Deadly Games'' the group's hideout is in a locomotive boneyard.
50	* FamilyThemeNaming: Early in the same book a Kendorian athlete named Fasha is looking for her missing little sister, Keisha.
51	* FullFrontalAssault: In "Deadly Games" [[spoiler: Sicarius and Basilard do this 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.]]
52	* 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.
53	* ImprovisedWeapon: In Book 2, Amaranthe and Books get to defend themselves with a fireplace poker and [[MacGyvering home cooked]] smoke bombs.
54	* LukeIAmYourFather: [[spoiler: Sespian is Sicarius's son.]]
55	* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Both in-universe and out. "Sicarius" is [[GratuitousLatin Latin]] for "assassin," and his reputation certainly makes running seem the safest option. His [[WantedPoster wanted poster]] says "Shoot on Sight."
56	* 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 cleaning as a way of dealing with stress.
57	* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Books's real name is Marl Mugdildor. This fact is rarely mentioned, despite the fact that he says he actually prefers his real name.
58	* SteamPunk: There's no strong focus on gadgets, but it's there, e.g. steam cars, and punchcard-operated robots.
59	* ThemeNaming: Every warrior caste family's last name ends in "crest".
60	* 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.
61	* UriahGambit: 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.
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Context Literature / TheEmperorsEdge