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Jenson_AKA_DL: Both of these books are slow to build urban fantasy stories with strong female leads and very light romantic UST. Fans of one would probably enjoy the other as well.
Vierran: Lindsay Buroker's Emperor's Edge series is set in a semi-steampunkish fantasy world, and has fast-paced adventure with well-drawn characters, a hint of romance, and plenty of humour.
One of my favorite series and probably the number one urban fantasy series. I am definitely very biased toward it.
The first thing that stood out to me immediately when I first picked up this book was the word building. The world is in the middle of a magical apocalypse, switching between waves of magic and technology. When the magic wave hits, technology fails and complex structures crumble. While the magic is up, well, then basically anything supernatural can happen. That includes a wide range of beasts, humanoids, and other forms of life from a variety of mythologies. Some people can wield different kinds of magic that help them survive in this new world. Those who don't just hope the technology wave will hit soon and hopefully make the monster disappear, or at least make the guns work. This whole setup just feels so original and allows exploration of a big variety of magical mishaps.
Then we have Kate, our main character. She has a problem guarding her mouth sometimes, which gets her into trouble. She is a kind of badass but with a big heart and a very self-sacrificing personality. She just can't help herself but protect those in danger. Also, the mystery of her origins and powers adds some intrigue to the mix. But while her monologues are great, it's her interactions with other characters that are just legendary. Especially with the romantic interest. Expect some head-butting and wordplay.
The first book is probably the worst of the series and contains a plot hole/illogical moment that was likely caused by some need for cutting. The characterization is not at its best, either. I would encourage anyone to continue forward to at least book two if book one piqued your interest at all. By book three, you should know for certain if it's worth going forth. Although, personally for me, the series blows up in book four when the main connecting storyline gets properly established. ( )
Really probably 3.5 stars. Not my favorite of the series. Hate that Curran and Jim blame Kate for the mess with Crest when it was their idea in the first place. And for them thinking she’s a glory hound when that’s farthest from what she wants ( )
Definitely a dark read. Very graphic details and not for the faint of heart, but an interesting perspective for the fantasy genre. The view on vamps was definitely interesting and im both glad and disturbed that they are a lot more demony/gargolye creepy something than the suave brooding bastard like most others. The times were magic was in power and tech was not was a little difficult to follow, but from what ive been told by a friend it only gets better from here. So im definitely looking forward to book two. ( )
I sat at a table in my shadowy kitchen, staring down a bottle of Boone's Farm Hard Lemonade, when a magic fluctuation hit.
Quotations
Every city has one of those neighborhoods -- dangerous, sinister places -- so treacherous that even the criminals who prey on other criminals shun them. Unicorn Lane was such a place. Thirty city blocks long and eight blocks deep, it cut through what used to be Midtown like a dagger. Half-crumbled skyscrapers stood there, mute witness to the past technology, the husks of GLG Grand, Promenade II, and One Atlantic Center, gnawed down to the bones by magic. Rubble choked the streets and sewage overflowed from the busted pipes in foul-smelling streams. Magic pooled there, lingering even in the strongest of tech waves, and hideous things that shun the light found refuge there, among the dark carcasses of gutted high rises. Lunatic mages, vicious, perverted loups who feared a death at the hand of unforgiving Pack, Satanists, and rogue necromancers all ran to Unicorn, for if they could make it there and survive, no lawman on this earth would force them out. Unicorn Lane held on to its own.
Hell of a place for a rendezvous. (chapter 3)
Artists emanate a great deal. They agonize over their looks, over their age, over the competition. A very minute detail can become a matter of great gravity. The building in which they perform soaks in their failures, their jealousy, their disappointments like a sponge and holds all that misery in. It's why empaths don't go to anything about the level of spring faire performances, the atmosphere overwhelms them.
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(3.85)
Wikipedia in English
3
One of my favorite series and probably the number one urban fantasy series. I am definitely very biased toward it.
The first thing that stood out to me immediately when I first picked up this book was the word building. The world is in the middle of a magical apocalypse, switching between waves of magic and technology. When the magic wave hits, technology fails and complex structures crumble. While the magic is up, well, then basically anything supernatural can happen. That includes a wide range of beasts, humanoids, and other forms of life from a variety of mythologies. Some people can wield different kinds of magic that help them survive in this new world. Those who don't just hope the technology wave will hit soon and hopefully make the monster disappear, or at least make the guns work. This whole setup just feels so original and allows exploration of a big variety of magical mishaps.
Then we have Kate, our main character. She has a problem guarding her mouth sometimes, which gets her into trouble. She is a kind of badass but with a big heart and a very self-sacrificing personality. She just can't help herself but protect those in danger. Also, the mystery of her origins and powers adds some intrigue to the mix. But while her monologues are great, it's her interactions with other characters that are just legendary. Especially with the romantic interest. Expect some head-butting and wordplay.
The first book is probably the worst of the series and contains a plot hole/illogical moment that was likely caused by some need for cutting. The characterization is not at its best, either. I would encourage anyone to continue forward to at least book two if book one piqued your interest at all. By book three, you should know for certain if it's worth going forth. Although, personally for me, the series blows up in book four when the main connecting storyline gets properly established. (