Deadly Games by Lindsay Buroker [Review]

Deadly Games (The Emperor's Edge #3) by Lindsay Buroker
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: August 17, 2017

The Emperor's Edge
0.5. Shadows Over Innocence
1. The Emperor's Edge
1.5. Ice Cracker II
2. Dark Currents
2.5. The Assassin's Curse
3. Deadly Games - Paperback | Kindle
4. Conspiracy
5. Blood and Betrayal
5.5. Beneath the Surface
6. Forged in Blood I
7. Forged in Blood II
7.5. Solstice Day Gifts
8. Republic
9. Diplomats and Fugitives

Lindsay Buroker
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Synopsis (Goodreads):

When you’ve been accused of kidnapping an emperor, and every enforcer in the city wants your head, it’s hard to prove yourself an honorable person and even harder to earn an imperial pardon.

That doesn’t keep Amaranthe Lokdon and her team of outlaws from trying. When athletes start disappearing from the Imperial Games, they may finally have an opportunity to show the emperor that they’re on his side. If she and her comrades can get to the bottom of such a public mystery, they’re sure to get the credit.

But plans go awry when Amaranthe’s own men start plotting against each other, the new ally she’d hoped to acquire tries to turn her in, and her best fighter—and closest friend—disappears.

Maybe getting involved wasn’t such a good idea after all…

Thoughts on Deadly Games: Hoo-boy. Things are heating up for Amaranthe and her crew in more ways than one. There's the usual dodging of the soldiers and enforcers, plus...actually, most of the danger they end up in is because Amaranthe is unable to let injustices lie. If she sees something, she does something. Usually to the detriment of her herself.

Seriously, the woman is fantastically good at finding dangerous situations and throwing herself straight into the fire as she attempts to fight wrongs. You have to think that *eventually* the emperor will hear of some of their good deeds. Eventually.

Until that happens, though, they have to keep doing what they're doing. This time, Amaranthe takes a job trying to figure out who's abducting athletes from the Games. To keep things interesting, Maldynado tries to set her up with one of her old buddies to help her relax. Sicarius gets tense. I think. He's sort of stoic and unreadable. But he does telegraph that he's not thrilled about Amaranthe's dates. (Weirdly, the fact they mostly end badly has nothing to do with him for once.)

The threats against the Empire are still hanging around. The various members of the crew are working through a few issues. Amaranthe and Sicarius are getting closer.

Yessssss.