Beneath the Surface (The Emperor's Edge 5.5)

An excellent interlude between the Blood and Betrayal and the grand finale double books Forged in Blood I & II. Even though this is more of a novella, it is well rounded, sort of like a mini-me of the novels in the Emperor's Edge series. And it stands quite well on it's own, although it should be read after Blood and Betrayal (book 5).

Lindsay's writing style is fantastic, and the story draws you in right from the first page. I love the inclusion of SGT Yara as a new principal character. If anyone is this far in the series to be reading book 5.5, then they don't need a synopsis from me. Just know it's a fantastic continuation of the series, and well worth the time to read. Don't skip it.

Love love love. I am an utterly MISERABLE reviewer in terms of being sure of what to say when, but I wanted to toss up the stars for this one especially as it didn't seem to have as many as some of the others and I adored it. :) Not actually an optional short story, this bridges the gap between 5 and 6 in a way that shouldn't be missed -- this tells a story of a smaller mission amidst the larger one and also contains a lot of important character and relationship development. A *lot* of important character and relationship development.

Seriously, don't skip Beneath the Surface! The adventure itself is a fantastic "bottle episode" for the Emperor's Edge team and their two latest additions, Sespian and Yara (who carries the second POV in this piece -- her voice is fantastic, and while her character holds some similarity to both Amaranthe and Tikaya, it's in unique ways that never makes her less than excellently her own person) and shows them solving a major problem with highly limited resources in a small space. While I don't like including much in the way of plot elements or spoilers in reviews I also have to say this novella had some incredibly hilarious moments, such as crew members of a boat wanting to avoid Sicarius so much they pull a "look over there!" and actually jump overboard.

Hopefully future editions will enhance the fact that Beneath the Surface is a piece of the Emperor's Edge that isn't an optional read (you will be confused about a few things when you pick up Forged in Blood if you miss this one), though its cover is so lovely I actually hope it isn't changed to match. Another excellently fun romp from Ms Buroker -- my only complaint is that it wasn't a full-length novel!

Ii really liked Maldynado, and if you want to see if or how he can win Yara's heart, this is it. Even funnier than the rest of the series, this book is an extra in between part that was left out of the Emperor's Edge books, but is is a superb read. Don't skip it just because it's not available in paperback. It will make you laugh out loud and keep you at the edge of your seat at the same time. It's impressive how ms Buroker manages to make you both support Maldynado and his attempts to seduce Yara, as well as her resistance to the famous womanizer.

Every book by Lindsay Buroker has been great entertainment. I've laughed out loud with the characters antics, and enjoyed the story line. There's not one time that I've found it dull or boring, on the contrary I've been captivated by the characters and how well they are developed. You learn to love them and feel their emotions, and each book leaves you wanting to read more about their adventures. This is an author I would definitely recommend.

Another highly enjoyable read in this series - I can't wait for the next one! One thing I love about the Emperor's Edge series is the optimism and stick-to-it-ness displayed by the characters, who maintain a love of life and never give up, even during the craziest the-odds-are-waaayyy-against-them adventures.

I have greatly enjoyed the series. Although it is not "high literature", the characters are engaging and the story line and adventures move along quickly, resolving one crisis after another. The plot lines are somewhat formulatic but are also inventive and enjoyable.

Lindsay Buroker has quickly risen to the top of my favorite author list. Her masterful blend of humor and all around steampunk action has me buying her books left and right haha. Beneath the surface is no exception even being a novella, it has the high level of diction and syntax I've come to expect from Mrs. Buroker and I devoured it in one sitting. Before spoilers ensue im going to cut my review short and just recommend this highly to anyone who's hungry waiting for EE6, its a good tide over and you won't be disappointed.

Once again had a great time reading this wild ride. Characters having more personality come through, more explosions, the insane and impossible situations, and the ever enticing Amaranthe/Sicarius relationship getting depth. It's almost like trying to remove a BandAid, do you want them to just get it together already or keep slowly and painfully teasing it while waiting for the (hopefully) inevitable. Seeing Yara learn how quick one goes from noble and employed to an outlaw was pleasant. And once again, the banter makes me laugh all throughout, the teases and jokes quirky and rounding out the story, making this an enjoyable addition to the series from start to finish.

The EE's books just keep getting better and better. Buroker herself said she wonders now if she should have just called this "book 6" in the series. If you're a fan and you skip this because it isn't one of the big titles, you're doing yourself a disservice. It's essential to character development, and the series is character-driven. Another great read.