I am really torn about this one. I really like the mc and her crew and the dynamics in it.
I usually dislike the obligatory crew building because it feels forced and formulaic most of the time but not in this case. I am not really sure what makes the difference. Maybe it even is just my current mood but I think the way the different members are introduced is so natural that it avoided the formulaic feel.
Anyway, I connected very well with the protagonists and was much more invested than I expected.

Throughout the story but especially, in the end, a pretty big problem became apparent.
Security around the King is laughable. There are so many completely uncontrolled single points of failure everyone and their mothers could plot any kind of manipulation/assassination of anything or anyone they want. Furthermore, this lack is repeatedly used as a plot device to perpetuate deception, deceit, and betrayal. This badly hurts believability.
An even worse related ridiculous plot convenience is the communication of information to protagonists. There are filters that conveniently make anything vanish that could resolve conflict everywhere.
It feels very much like these stories in which from the first page on, a single conversation could solve the entire conflict on the spot but in this case, information just doesn't reach people that really should but instead it is conveniently forgotten or lost or interrupted before it can be said or some other cheap excuse. You know what I speak of.
Even tho these flaws are there throughout the entire book, at first, it could've just been coincidence. I couldn't be sure but it kept on happening and every time was another nail in the coffin of my willing suspension of disbelief.

I am sad to say these flaws very much ruined my enjoyment of the book.
For the first 2/3ds of the book, I was sure I would want to read the second one immediately and already made sure I had it on hand but now I really lost interest in continuing even tho I still very much like the characters.
I'd rather keep the memories I have of them than risk them getting spoiled further by another cheap plot like that.
This really baffles me because apparently the author spent quite some time researching a lot of obscure details and made sure she had the facts right. The printing press and forged money are good examples of that.
There clearly went a lot of effort in getting things right and the author deftly avoided a lot of clichée traps and other opportunities for mistakes that presented themselves but ultimately the entire plot is built on a variation of the miscommunication trope which is generally considered to be very lazy and cheap.
This was incredibly frustrating to me because I really started to care. ( )

Lovely. The author has a really good writing style. The characters are fleshed out enough, I assume we'll get more answers in the next books. The story was fast paced with some slower moments in it, it had a nice rhythm. The only thing that bothered me a bit was how weak Amaranthe is, it got a bit better near the end but here and there she was a damsel in distress a bit to0 much. Hopefully she'll train a bit more, because the moments where she is kicking ass are great. I'm excited to read the next book. ( )

This book is really hard to review.

First off, it's deceptively long. Maybe because I've never seen it in print (since she's indie, it costs more), but it just feels like the book never ends.

Second, despite the length, plot actions feel naive and simplistic. It's an interesting idea to counterfeit the currency, and Amaranthe takes some of the problems into consideration, but the problems feel too perfunctory. They're there just to be dismissed so that she can't be called out on it. It's a weird compromise. I feel like the author could do something with the setting so that the obstacles would actually be problems.

Characters don't feel real enough. There are some obviously hidden backstory points, but everybody agrees with Amaranthe too easily.

I appreciate what the author is trying to do. It feels like a conscious effort to do epic urban fantasy that isn't too dark. It's also an attempt to make a fast-thinking quick-talking main character seem believable in a just-a-little-different fantasy universe. It just doesn't quite reach. ( )

Series Info/Source: This is the first book in The Emperor’s Edge series. Right now there are 9 books released in this series. It looks like book 9 was published in 2015; so I assume the series is finished for now. However, it doesn’t sound like the story was ever really “finished” but more just stopped.

Thoughts: This was well done and I enjoyed it. I would call this a military steampunk series, at least in the beginning. Amaranthe is an Imperial Enforcer in a land where women have just recently been allowed to take Enforcer jobs. She is frustrated at being constantly passed up for promotion. However, when an arson incident has her accidentally crossing paths with the emperor she gets drawn into a game of power she wasn’t expecting. Suddenly she’s on the wanted lists and linked with the notorious assassin Sicarius. Together the two of them will have to work in the shadows to stop the Emperor from being assassinated.

This had solid world-building and well done characters. The “crew” that Amaranthe assembles is filled with unlikely heroes and is highly entertaining to read about. I enjoyed both Amaranthe and Sicarius; they both gravitate to a more morally grey area as the story continues. The emperor was very well done as well. The plot is fairly fast-paced and full of some fun twists and turns. The plot is very much a political and intrigue driven one; not my favorite but here it was done in a way that is fun and entertaining.

The steampunk elements in this book are more just a part of the story and world rather than main drivers for the plot; which is fine. It is definitely a steampunk world but feels more like an investigative urban fantasy in tone and pace.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this. It is a solid world, with wonderful characters, and a fun fast-paced plot. I am not a huge fan of politically driven plots but I liked the characters here enough that I might continue with the series. This is more of a fantasy world with steampunk elements than an “in your face” steampunk read. It’s well done though and if you enjoy politically driven fantasy with an urban fantasy pace and some steampunk elements this might be the series for you. ( )

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The setting is unique (other-world/steam technology/magic elements), the characters engaging, and the story flowed along at a perfect pace. The female main character is nicely competent and very likeable, while the supporting males, if a bit typecast, are still well-rounded and interesting. If you like fantasy/adventure with a contemporary but other-worldly feel, I think you'll enjoy this book! ( )