Review: A masterful transition novel between the old empire and the new Republic!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 21, 2014
I received a few copy of this book for a honest review - one I'm more than happy to provide!I just finished reading Republic and I simply enjoyed every page of it. Republic takes place after the events in Emperor’s Edge series (EE 1 available FREE on Amazon). While you can certainly pick this book up and enjoy it – I believe you would enjoy it far more if you have read all the works up to this point (You could read the Swords and Salt books after this one, in fact that would likely be best time line wise). This includes the books from the Encrypted Series. Both series blend so naturally together in the same world, spanning 20 or so years.For Republic, the story is told from six different viewpoints. This is a break from Buroker’s normal style of one or two but given the characters she selected it works extremely well. Given the characters, it does help to have their earlier background already percolating through your thoughts when you get to this tale. Not required, but it does make it that much more amazing. For those interested, the story is told from the following viewpoints: Amaranthe, Sicarius (still love his POV), Sespian, Maldynado, Tikaya, and Mailiki.The story centers around the troubles that could only ever show up in this fantastic world Buroker created where a struggling new Republic is attempting to deal with the aftermath of… What to say that won’t be a spoiler for the EE books or this one.There is plenty of action, intrigue and explosions (lots and lots of explosions). New President Rais is under attack from a number of fronts. Sircarius and Amaranthe are called back to the capital from their extended vacation to help deal with matters. Tikaya (Rais wife) has to deal with the polities of being a foreigner married to the most famous historically figure in the former Empire that was until recently thought dead by many.  Sespian is adjusting to no longer being the Emperor and having to actually afford things and clean up after himself. Maldynado is struggling with life after the "gang" - And so much more!We have an invasive man eating plant taking over the harbor, a new assassin in town, an ancient cult resurfacing in the face of new religious freedoms, young love, old problems resurfacing, realistic interaction between established couples, and let us not forget plenty of things exploding!Like all the books in this world, there is romance but it is not the central story. The stories revolve around mysteries, action and adventure in such a delightful mix that I was hooked on this world from the first book and this book just sparked even more interested in the world that will be opening up with the new Republic.