Reviews

The Blade's Memory by Lindsay Buroker

swoerd's review

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted

3.0

vb_94's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

nixwhittaker's review against another edition

5.0

Another enjoyable read in this funny and interesting series. We are back in their country but with a King to find, assassins to avoid and an Empire on the horizon that has just matched them in technology.

mdpenguin's review

adventurous emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

There was a lot less romance and a lot more action in this book. It was also kind of dense, though not in a necessarily bad way: it's just that a lot of plot got crammed into a fairly small novel. Things kept escalating and getting more complicated and things just didn't really work out until the big finish. It worked, though. While some things could have been fleshed out a little more

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such as the Queen's motivations, Apex's story, or Tolemek figuring out how to handle the dragon blood

, I don't feel like splitting it up across another book would have made for as enjoyable a read while still keeping the general tone and feel of the previous books. This would probably be a good place to put down the series since it feels like it wraps up everything that was started in book 3, but it's a holiday weekend and an excellent time to spend adventuring in the world of this series. 

amyiw's review against another edition

4.0

Hmm, I don't love these but I end up really liking the characters and wanting to know more. It isn't my favorite genre, it has a little romance but not much and nothing graphical. It is set on a different world that seems to be in the dark age about some things and ahead in others. Nice to make your own world, no cell phones, radios but no air to air communication until "crystal communicators" which means the radios are very limited, flyers seem to be 40s like fighter. Everything runs on crystal stone power which ends up being created by the mages/witches for lighting from years gone by. Some of the things I roll my eyes, radios yet no aircraft radios until the witch comes along? So, the story sometime is out of my favorites but I'm really liking the characters. Some are not so good in one way but good in others. The author doesn't make flat villains that you hate everything about. The commander that is just horrid is actual a big support of the King. Personalities can clash, or sensibilities get hurt, yet people function. One woman thinking sexual thoughts about another woman's man does not make her evil. In fact she get the next novella. So, I like the roundness she comes out with for her characters. And I end up wanting to see what happens next. I did so went straight to the next story. Not my favorite "world" but some really good characters and a plot that is pretty fast, though it loses me sometime in battle scenes. If you like dog fights, slightly steampunk magic world, and a little, just a little romance (no graphics) then this is for you. I have been plugging along, 2 or 3 stories and then come back a year later for the next. So really good but not a favorite.

bananatricky's review against another edition

3.0

I received a free copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

The book opens with Zirkander and his loyal band of pilots hiding out from soldiers. The King is missing, as are several of the senior Colonels and stories are circulating that Zirkander is AWOL and under the control of a witch. Even worse, Zirkander's loathed adversary Therrik is now in charge of the flier squadrons.

I would categorise this as a book which pushes along the overall story arc. There are fight scenes, spying, intrigue, Ridge's mother, new characters are introduced, there's great tragedy and a great deal of sexual innuendo.

I struggled with this book, maybe because it felt like part two of the previous book? Obviously stopping reading halfway through the book didn't help, but in comparison with the other books (and indeed with Shattered Past which I read recently) this felt a little flat. No (new) romance, lots of different foes, some unresolved conflict.

Anyway, knowing what I know, I am intrigued to read the next one.

slc333's review against another edition

4.0

I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Lindsey. So here are my thoughts:

Another action packed adventure, this one picks up where Patterns in the Dark left of with the gang returning to Iskandia to find things in turmoil with the King and many trusted military advisors missing, Ridge reported as AWOL and Sardelle's face on wanted posters all over the capital. There was the usual action and humor I've come to rely on from this author but this one was a little darker than usual with

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Cas being influenced by the dragon killing blade, Apex's betrayal, and then his death and how it came about. Poor Cas. I think I was particularly upset because I really like Cas and was sorry she had to go through that

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I also felt really sorry for Sardelle and how all she wants to do is help and she is likely never to be accepted by anyone but Ridge. I was delighted that the King seems to appreciate her. I love Ridge & Sardelle together and was so happy that this one was from their POV. I also enjoyed Kaika and meeting Ridge's mother, and the cats.

a_wren_that_reads's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

mardorko's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

velossfaeniel's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0