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Encrypted #1-2
Forgotten Ages - The Complete Series
The greatest military leader of his time.
The most talented code breaker her people have.
Sworn enemies.
When deadly secrets from the ancient past are unearthed, secrets capable of fracturing the world and destroying all life on the planet, these two enemies will have to work together. They are humanity’s only hope.
The Forgotten Ages series is recommended for fans of epic fantasy, action-adventure, mystery, and romance. This bundle includes:
Encrypted (novel)
Enigma (short story)
Decrypted (novel)
Bonus extras with the author
The most talented code breaker her people have.
Sworn enemies.
When deadly secrets from the ancient past are unearthed, secrets capable of fracturing the world and destroying all life on the planet, these two enemies will have to work together. They are humanity’s only hope.
The Forgotten Ages series is recommended for fans of epic fantasy, action-adventure, mystery, and romance. This bundle includes:
Encrypted (novel)
Enigma (short story)
Decrypted (novel)
Bonus extras with the author
629 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 12, 2015
806 people are currently reading
701 people want to read
About the author
Lindsay Buroker
198 books6,238 followersI'm a full-time indie fantasy and science fiction author. When I'm not writing, I'm ferrying my dogs to hiking trails for adventures.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
August 27, 2016
As a transplant to the fantasy/steampunk genre, dragged in by family members who insisted I WOULD like some of these books no matter how I resisted, this series was such a pleasant surprise and breath of fresh air. It has basically everything I love in a book in it: mystery, intrigue, no slow moments, and a solid romance. It’s also a duology with a short story in the middle (a change from the typical trilogy-or-5-book pattern!) that has an ending that doesn’t leave the reader frustrated when there isn’t a next book.
That said, what does happen to these characters, I love almost more than if there’d been a continued Tikaya and Rias series — they appear twenty years later in the Emperor’s Edge stories, which is actually what I read first. So this felt more like going backward and seeing friends I knew in their fifties-sixties as young people, and I liked that a lot. Which isn’t to say you can’t enjoy this series if you haven’t read the Emperor’s Edge, and in fact, I liked these books a little bit better. But they do appear again, and are *still* being incredible adult characters into their golden years, which says a lot about their appeal and Buroker's ability to write solid, engaging heroes over the age of 25; just enough hints are dropped in that series about their adventures in the intervening decades that you'll know what happened to Rias, Tikaya and their eventual additions and not be left unsatisfied.
The main characters are competent, talented and actually *logical* — while Tikaya Komitopis, one of my top 5 fictional characters overall, is considered something of a prodigy in her field, she’s already thirty. Military hero Rias Starcrest is 43 when the story opens. Seeing the adventures of people over forty being as amazing as your common 20something fiction heroes is a nice thing that doesn’t make their histories, especially Rias’, seem contrived or implausible.
While I’m often one to complain about insta-love, Rias’ almost immediate crush and bumbling awkwardness around Tikaya doesn’t make me twitch — it doesn’t seem so much insta-love as an admiral in his 40s suddenly realizing that he has met someone so amazing to him that he ends up looking silly instead of like the suave commander he has been. It’s actually adorable, and while things do happen quickly, the romance is frequently shoved to the back-burner as the non-stop action doesn’t allow the couple much time to be a couple.
The characters and the adventure are in equal strength in this series, and the development of Tikaya’s home of the capital of the Kyatt Islands, a tropical archipelago inhabited seven centuries ago by settlers cast from their original home (this turns out to be an important plot detail) alongside Buroker’s well-established Turgonia is enjoyable to see. The culture clash is a solid conflict point for Tikaya and Rias as friends and lovers, as well as something a bit more sinister. Rias and Tikaya are both relatively easy to connect to and care about, and seeing a pair of mature nerds (the female of whom isn’t even pretty) getting to save the world and grow and change is incredibly satisfying.
I would call this series more sci-fi in steampunk/fantasy clothing, but that just means there’s something for everyone to appreciate! It really does fall solidly under all three.
That said, what does happen to these characters, I love almost more than if there’d been a continued Tikaya and Rias series — they appear twenty years later in the Emperor’s Edge stories, which is actually what I read first. So this felt more like going backward and seeing friends I knew in their fifties-sixties as young people, and I liked that a lot. Which isn’t to say you can’t enjoy this series if you haven’t read the Emperor’s Edge, and in fact, I liked these books a little bit better. But they do appear again, and are *still* being incredible adult characters into their golden years, which says a lot about their appeal and Buroker's ability to write solid, engaging heroes over the age of 25; just enough hints are dropped in that series about their adventures in the intervening decades that you'll know what happened to Rias, Tikaya and their eventual additions and not be left unsatisfied.
The main characters are competent, talented and actually *logical* — while Tikaya Komitopis, one of my top 5 fictional characters overall, is considered something of a prodigy in her field, she’s already thirty. Military hero Rias Starcrest is 43 when the story opens. Seeing the adventures of people over forty being as amazing as your common 20something fiction heroes is a nice thing that doesn’t make their histories, especially Rias’, seem contrived or implausible.
While I’m often one to complain about insta-love, Rias’ almost immediate crush and bumbling awkwardness around Tikaya doesn’t make me twitch — it doesn’t seem so much insta-love as an admiral in his 40s suddenly realizing that he has met someone so amazing to him that he ends up looking silly instead of like the suave commander he has been. It’s actually adorable, and while things do happen quickly, the romance is frequently shoved to the back-burner as the non-stop action doesn’t allow the couple much time to be a couple.
The characters and the adventure are in equal strength in this series, and the development of Tikaya’s home of the capital of the Kyatt Islands, a tropical archipelago inhabited seven centuries ago by settlers cast from their original home (this turns out to be an important plot detail) alongside Buroker’s well-established Turgonia is enjoyable to see. The culture clash is a solid conflict point for Tikaya and Rias as friends and lovers, as well as something a bit more sinister. Rias and Tikaya are both relatively easy to connect to and care about, and seeing a pair of mature nerds (the female of whom isn’t even pretty) getting to save the world and grow and change is incredibly satisfying.
I would call this series more sci-fi in steampunk/fantasy clothing, but that just means there’s something for everyone to appreciate! It really does fall solidly under all three.
March 14, 2018
A re-read. And it’s still as amazing as I remember. I loved Rias and I love Takiya. Both brilliant, respectful, nerdy even. A grand epic. A grand romance. I think these two might be my favourite book couple...for a while at least!!
August 4, 2017
Reviewed/Listened on Audible
"So glad I picked this up!"
Where does Forgotten Ages rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
Top 10 for sure. I was such a different story and genre then what I am used to and was so happy to find out how much fun these books were.
What other book might you compare Forgotten Ages to and why?
I have no idea. This is the first in the genre.
Have you listened to any of Tavia Gilbert’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
I have not. Since I am used to men narrating it was a bit jarring to hear a women take a crack at both men and women characters. As the book went on however I grew to love Tavia's work and she did very well at bring the characters to life.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Book 1: This was a far more fast paced action book. Pretty much anytime Tikaya and Rias are together and bantering I was smiling ear to ear. They are and I do not use this word lightly adorable!
Book 2: This one slowed the pace down and I could not have been happier with the subject matter. It follows directly after the first essentially. After all that exploring/longing/adventure what would most people do? Go have another one? NOOOO. They would deal with the fall out and in the case of Tikaya and Rias they are trying to make things work and its not easy. The end of this book was great and I may or may not have teared up out of sheer happiness!
Any additional comments?
Book 1: It was fantastic. The sci-fi listener in me found this book to me some crazy mix of sci-fi/fantasy and it was a lot of fun. Tikaya while nerdy and awkward managed to get caught up in some high level business during the war. After this she tries to go back to normal but the Turgonians have different plans. Things happen and we go on a world crossing journey and boy is it a ride. It is full of action and suspense and some crazy mystery that I bet you would not see coming! Overall this was great and again I am so happy I picked it up and even if it was not on sale I would recommend.
Short Story: This takes place between Book 1 and 2 and is a great little story in its own regard. Nothing particular stands out about it.
Book 2: As I mentioned farther up what would most people do after a life and death adventure where you end up in a perculiar situation due to "Feelings". I will tell you its not jump right into another adventure! It would be to go home and in Tikaya and Rias's case face some serious understandable bias. This book slows it down and deals with more of the day to day stuff. It deals with things a little closer to home and there is not much mention of the discoveries from the previous book which is a little disappointing. I would however say this was probably my favorite book. It really allowed Tavia to expand as our heros were not just surrounded by military men. I cannot say to much about the contents of either book without spoilers however I am sure most fans in this genre will guess the plot points haha.
Really this was just a plain fun book and something I would never normally listen to were it not for the sale a few weeks back. However you can call me a fan of Tikias!!?? lol. I found myself just caught up in these books and just rooting for Tikaya and Rias. The ending was great and ties most everything up. In the end I would recommend this if you are looking to branch out into a fantasy that isn't to "30 Books" in the making. It has Mystery/Adventure. I say romance and do not let it throw you off it is adorable.
TL;DR I am not master of words and cannot give you an in depth and deep review of meanings and such. Try this book if you are remotely interested.
#Agarrick
"So glad I picked this up!"
Where does Forgotten Ages rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
Top 10 for sure. I was such a different story and genre then what I am used to and was so happy to find out how much fun these books were.
What other book might you compare Forgotten Ages to and why?
I have no idea. This is the first in the genre.
Have you listened to any of Tavia Gilbert’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
I have not. Since I am used to men narrating it was a bit jarring to hear a women take a crack at both men and women characters. As the book went on however I grew to love Tavia's work and she did very well at bring the characters to life.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Book 1: This was a far more fast paced action book. Pretty much anytime Tikaya and Rias are together and bantering I was smiling ear to ear. They are and I do not use this word lightly adorable!
Book 2: This one slowed the pace down and I could not have been happier with the subject matter. It follows directly after the first essentially. After all that exploring/longing/adventure what would most people do? Go have another one? NOOOO. They would deal with the fall out and in the case of Tikaya and Rias they are trying to make things work and its not easy. The end of this book was great and I may or may not have teared up out of sheer happiness!
Any additional comments?
Book 1: It was fantastic. The sci-fi listener in me found this book to me some crazy mix of sci-fi/fantasy and it was a lot of fun. Tikaya while nerdy and awkward managed to get caught up in some high level business during the war. After this she tries to go back to normal but the Turgonians have different plans. Things happen and we go on a world crossing journey and boy is it a ride. It is full of action and suspense and some crazy mystery that I bet you would not see coming! Overall this was great and again I am so happy I picked it up and even if it was not on sale I would recommend.
Short Story: This takes place between Book 1 and 2 and is a great little story in its own regard. Nothing particular stands out about it.
Book 2: As I mentioned farther up what would most people do after a life and death adventure where you end up in a perculiar situation due to "Feelings". I will tell you its not jump right into another adventure! It would be to go home and in Tikaya and Rias's case face some serious understandable bias. This book slows it down and deals with more of the day to day stuff. It deals with things a little closer to home and there is not much mention of the discoveries from the previous book which is a little disappointing. I would however say this was probably my favorite book. It really allowed Tavia to expand as our heros were not just surrounded by military men. I cannot say to much about the contents of either book without spoilers however I am sure most fans in this genre will guess the plot points haha.
Really this was just a plain fun book and something I would never normally listen to were it not for the sale a few weeks back. However you can call me a fan of Tikias!!?? lol. I found myself just caught up in these books and just rooting for Tikaya and Rias. The ending was great and ties most everything up. In the end I would recommend this if you are looking to branch out into a fantasy that isn't to "30 Books" in the making. It has Mystery/Adventure. I say romance and do not let it throw you off it is adorable.
TL;DR I am not master of words and cannot give you an in depth and deep review of meanings and such. Try this book if you are remotely interested.
#Agarrick
November 23, 2021
4 stars.
I really enjoyed this. This audiobook is actually 2.5 books including Encrypted, Enigma and Decrypted all in one. I believe that this series is set about 18 years earlier in the same world of the author's Emperor's Edge series.
I liked Takaya and Rias as a couple. They can get really engrossed in their respective fields of expertise but I liked that they respect each other's intelligence and abilities. You can really see Rias as the strategist with the way he is able to manipulate Takaya's people. Takaya's homeland sounds so much like Hawaii that I see why everyone is keen to settle there. :)
I understand the young Assassin we see in the first book has a starring role in the Emperor's Edge series so I will be looking forward to reading more from this world.
I really enjoyed this. This audiobook is actually 2.5 books including Encrypted, Enigma and Decrypted all in one. I believe that this series is set about 18 years earlier in the same world of the author's Emperor's Edge series.
I liked Takaya and Rias as a couple. They can get really engrossed in their respective fields of expertise but I liked that they respect each other's intelligence and abilities. You can really see Rias as the strategist with the way he is able to manipulate Takaya's people. Takaya's homeland sounds so much like Hawaii that I see why everyone is keen to settle there. :)
I understand the young Assassin we see in the first book has a starring role in the Emperor's Edge series so I will be looking forward to reading more from this world.
May 25, 2019
I purchased the “Forgotten Ages” series of three books in March of 2016. Since that time, the first book in the series, “Encrypted”, has been and probably always will be, my favorite book since turning off the TV and reading full time. Most books I read are pretty good, but forgettable. But “Encrypted” is so good from beginning to end, that I find myself going back and reading it again and again. It is the story of woman from Kyatt, (Tikaya) who was the key to turning the tide against Turgonia and ending a war. Unhappy, the Turgonian’s have Tikaya kidnapped to help with a mystery of their own back home, before they plan her demise. During the trip, she meets a fellow prisoner, Rias, that she befriends and along the way to solving the mysteries of an alien culture from the past, they fall in love. From beginning to end, this book never slows down. It’s one adventure after another where they make friends, forge allies, fight off enemies and manage to survive. With the exception of one character, who will be missed, this book was almost perfect.
The series following this, “The Emperor’s Edge” was published first. But since I came upon this author in 2016 and I like to read things in order, I read the “Forgotten Ages” prequel before I purchased “The Emperor’s Edge Collection: books 1-3”. I state this because when reading the “Forgotten Ages” second book “Enigma”, I originally reviewed the book as a “filler” story. Now that I have read all the books and series related to the worlds of Turgonia, Nuria and Kyatt, the short tale of “Enigma” does come up briefly in “The Emperor’s Edge” series and in the “Chains of Honor” series. While “Enigma” is a well written story, it is still (to me) just a cute glimpse into the past of a significant character in other stories later on and describes the trip taken from Turgonia to Kyatt after Tikaya and Rias escape at the end of the first book. If you are going to read all three series that take place over a period of about 20+ years, then it will make sense to a reader later on in the other two series of books. Especially now that the author has finally finished the last book in the “Chains of Honor” series.
The last book in the “Forgotten Ages” series, “Decrypted” is the story of Tikaya and Rias’s return to Kyatt and all the trouble they face as Tikaya realizes that her people are not turning out to be what she believed they were. Hostile towards Rias and determined to drive him away before he solves a mystery they do not want anyone to know, Tikaya and Rias are pursued relentlessly in an attempt to keep their secret to themselves. And while this book will never hold a place in my heart like “Encrypted” does, it is a great story and one that ties up this series nicely.
The series following this, “The Emperor’s Edge” was published first. But since I came upon this author in 2016 and I like to read things in order, I read the “Forgotten Ages” prequel before I purchased “The Emperor’s Edge Collection: books 1-3”. I state this because when reading the “Forgotten Ages” second book “Enigma”, I originally reviewed the book as a “filler” story. Now that I have read all the books and series related to the worlds of Turgonia, Nuria and Kyatt, the short tale of “Enigma” does come up briefly in “The Emperor’s Edge” series and in the “Chains of Honor” series. While “Enigma” is a well written story, it is still (to me) just a cute glimpse into the past of a significant character in other stories later on and describes the trip taken from Turgonia to Kyatt after Tikaya and Rias escape at the end of the first book. If you are going to read all three series that take place over a period of about 20+ years, then it will make sense to a reader later on in the other two series of books. Especially now that the author has finally finished the last book in the “Chains of Honor” series.
The last book in the “Forgotten Ages” series, “Decrypted” is the story of Tikaya and Rias’s return to Kyatt and all the trouble they face as Tikaya realizes that her people are not turning out to be what she believed they were. Hostile towards Rias and determined to drive him away before he solves a mystery they do not want anyone to know, Tikaya and Rias are pursued relentlessly in an attempt to keep their secret to themselves. And while this book will never hold a place in my heart like “Encrypted” does, it is a great story and one that ties up this series nicely.
January 14, 2019
A wonderful adventure/romance set in a colorful world. Main character Tikaya is a prisoner for the entire book, but she is neither helpless nor overconfident/overpowered. I found her very believable. Rias is a little too perfect, and I wish that I understood him a bit better. Their relationship was touching.
The technology in this story is totally random and doesn't make much sense, but I don't care. The cultures are fascinating and not at all superficial copies of real world cultures. I wish I knew more about them Books rarely do this well, and it's an aspect of both sci-fi and fantasy I love dearly.
All and all a great book.
Novella:
Didn't do anything for me. It wasn't bad, but it seemed like a part of a much longer story that never gets told. The ending is resolute but not satisfying. I read that this is a sort of prequel to another series, so maybe it gets covered elsewhere.
Book 2:
Upsetting. In this book, Tikaya takes Rias back to her peaceful island nation to meet her family. The police immediately put a shock collar on him and proceed to torture him as he walks around her house chatting with her family. It is such a jarring combination of subtle character moments randomly interrupted by *torture* *torture* *torture.* Tikaya just keeps on chatting about her childhood memories. I would be curled in a corner crying hysterically if my boyfriend was being tortured on my kitchen floor. Tikaya is both useless and helpless here.
There are also some really poorly written caricatures in this book. Everyone on the island hates and fears Rias, and yet Tikaya's one note "slutty" cousin walks up and puts her hand down his pants. Apparently she sleeps with 3-4 farm workers every night? Buroker should be ashamed of writing this kind of one dimensional, nonsensical character into the story. It's offensive and it's cheap.
I loved the first book so much that I am having a hard time abandoning the second, but it's painful to read.
The technology in this story is totally random and doesn't make much sense, but I don't care. The cultures are fascinating and not at all superficial copies of real world cultures. I wish I knew more about them Books rarely do this well, and it's an aspect of both sci-fi and fantasy I love dearly.
All and all a great book.
Novella:
Didn't do anything for me. It wasn't bad, but it seemed like a part of a much longer story that never gets told. The ending is resolute but not satisfying. I read that this is a sort of prequel to another series, so maybe it gets covered elsewhere.
Book 2:
Upsetting. In this book, Tikaya takes Rias back to her peaceful island nation to meet her family. The police immediately put a shock collar on him and proceed to torture him as he walks around her house chatting with her family. It is such a jarring combination of subtle character moments randomly interrupted by *torture* *torture* *torture.* Tikaya just keeps on chatting about her childhood memories. I would be curled in a corner crying hysterically if my boyfriend was being tortured on my kitchen floor. Tikaya is both useless and helpless here.
There are also some really poorly written caricatures in this book. Everyone on the island hates and fears Rias, and yet Tikaya's one note "slutty" cousin walks up and puts her hand down his pants. Apparently she sleeps with 3-4 farm workers every night? Buroker should be ashamed of writing this kind of one dimensional, nonsensical character into the story. It's offensive and it's cheap.
I loved the first book so much that I am having a hard time abandoning the second, but it's painful to read.
July 7, 2018
There's something about Lindsay Buroker's writing that makes me want to read all of her backlist, or at the very least the entire series at a time once I dive into her books. This series, that I had not read before, was no exception.
It's actually one of the shorter works Buroker has written (at least as far as I know), even though connected with The Emperor's Edge series as some of the characters were already familiar to me. Especially one particular assassin whom I've grown to love more every time I read these books. Well, yes, both of the protagonists are familiar from The Emperor's Edge as well, but they were not that memorable to me when I first read The Emperor's Edge so that I could remember the basic stuff but not the details about the soon-to-be couple Tikaya and Rias.
As with each and every Buroker novel, it's packed full of action and witty dialogue that's guaranteed to keep you glued to your Kindle for hours at a time. Well, at least it worked that way for me.
And guess who has been reading The Emperor's Edge all over again? Yep... that would be me. These books simply made me miss all those characters and want to dive back into the world of Amaranthe and Sicarius. While I really, really liked how Tikaya and Rias grew closer, I still prefer Amaranthe and Sicarius as their relationship felt slower to me, and I'm just a sucker like that who likes her romance stories to be excruciatingly slow. :)
It's actually one of the shorter works Buroker has written (at least as far as I know), even though connected with The Emperor's Edge series as some of the characters were already familiar to me. Especially one particular assassin whom I've grown to love more every time I read these books. Well, yes, both of the protagonists are familiar from The Emperor's Edge as well, but they were not that memorable to me when I first read The Emperor's Edge so that I could remember the basic stuff but not the details about the soon-to-be couple Tikaya and Rias.
As with each and every Buroker novel, it's packed full of action and witty dialogue that's guaranteed to keep you glued to your Kindle for hours at a time. Well, at least it worked that way for me.
And guess who has been reading The Emperor's Edge all over again? Yep... that would be me. These books simply made me miss all those characters and want to dive back into the world of Amaranthe and Sicarius. While I really, really liked how Tikaya and Rias grew closer, I still prefer Amaranthe and Sicarius as their relationship felt slower to me, and I'm just a sucker like that who likes her romance stories to be excruciatingly slow. :)
September 11, 2018
This set came up on my recommendations on Amazon and I'm glad I tried it. I really enjoyed it! There is plenty of action and intrigue and mystery in it. Its a mix of fantasy,sci-fi and steampunk with a great romance thrown in for good measure.
The two main characters are geniuses in their fields of language and mathematics and must work together to solve a mystery all while trying to stay alive. Their romance is well written and I found myself rooting for them from the moment they first met. There are also several entertaining and interesting secondary characters within the story also.
All in all this was an entertaining read with great pacing,a romance I really enjoyed and plenty of action to enjoy also. I plan to read more from this author in the future!
The two main characters are geniuses in their fields of language and mathematics and must work together to solve a mystery all while trying to stay alive. Their romance is well written and I found myself rooting for them from the moment they first met. There are also several entertaining and interesting secondary characters within the story also.
All in all this was an entertaining read with great pacing,a romance I really enjoyed and plenty of action to enjoy also. I plan to read more from this author in the future!
May 5, 2018
I enjoy reading this author. I was about 2/3 of the way through the Emperor's Edge series when they started talking about visiting the characters from these books - so I jumped over to this series.
This is a light romantic fantasy/science fiction series. A little heavier on the romance than the EE books but like in that series I found the characters to be very likable and there is plenty of action, suspense to pull the story along.
This is a light romantic fantasy/science fiction series. A little heavier on the romance than the EE books but like in that series I found the characters to be very likable and there is plenty of action, suspense to pull the story along.
October 1, 2018
Great style, but lacks story
I love the style Lindsay Buroker uses for this story. Humor, action, and adventure. However, I found at times her characters could have been more fleshed out. As I read, I had the perpetual feeling like the other shoe was going to drop, as though the story were going to take a clever twist. Alas, no. A straight forward adventure, just not an in depth straight forward adventure.
I love the style Lindsay Buroker uses for this story. Humor, action, and adventure. However, I found at times her characters could have been more fleshed out. As I read, I had the perpetual feeling like the other shoe was going to drop, as though the story were going to take a clever twist. Alas, no. A straight forward adventure, just not an in depth straight forward adventure.
March 26, 2016
Entertaining
Some issues. But a fun relaxed read. It bugs me that running out of air on the submarine is brought up as an issue but then when they are actually on the submarine it's not a concern. And how a society that makes cars out of wood and bamboo has the tools and equipment to build a submarine. Etc.
Some issues. But a fun relaxed read. It bugs me that running out of air on the submarine is brought up as an issue but then when they are actually on the submarine it's not a concern. And how a society that makes cars out of wood and bamboo has the tools and equipment to build a submarine. Etc.
July 5, 2016
Forgotten Ages
Wow this Series really rocked my socks! Arias and Ticia were the the perfect nerd couple, the adventures are edge of the seat types with enough twists and turns to please most. The steampunk elements were great and not too over the top to make me say oh come on.
Wow this Series really rocked my socks! Arias and Ticia were the the perfect nerd couple, the adventures are edge of the seat types with enough twists and turns to please most. The steampunk elements were great and not too over the top to make me say oh come on.
August 12, 2017
A 'Can't put it down' kind of book
Absolutely loved the entire book(s) set. The sexual side was written with class.
I totally fell in love with Rias. He was/is every woman's fantasy. Great endu g to the story as well.
Absolutely loved the entire book(s) set. The sexual side was written with class.
I totally fell in love with Rias. He was/is every woman's fantasy. Great endu g to the story as well.
September 26, 2017
A goodread
This was a good book which kept me reading, wanting to know how it was going to end. I enjoyed the story a lot.
This was a good book which kept me reading, wanting to know how it was going to end. I enjoyed the story a lot.
September 2, 2023
Forgotten Ages is actually two books with a short story forming a sort of a bridge between the first book (Encrypted) and the third (Decrypted).
This box set entails the story of Tikaya, a decryption specialist from the Kyatt islands that was closely involved with the way the war between Kyatt and the Torongan empire ended in somewhat of a draw.
In encrypted, Tikaya gets kidnapped and her subsequent travails is quite the engaging encounter as
Tikaya proves to be a highly intelligent, gutsy woman who simply won't be cowed by her abductors.
Decrypted, the last book in the box set, continues the story of Tikaya as she returns to Kyatt
This time she is accompanied by Rias, an Admiral previously in the Kyatt -Torongan war and object of hatred by any normal Kyattese citizen.
Oh boy. Does he get to know that we'll when putting his feet down on Kyattese soil.
Forgotten Ages is certainly aptly named especially considering the main theme of Decrypted.
Author Lindsay Buroker certainly pulled out all stops with this evocative epic fantasy adventure thriller and I certainly had a couple of late nights enjoying turning the pages.
Highly commended.
This box set entails the story of Tikaya, a decryption specialist from the Kyatt islands that was closely involved with the way the war between Kyatt and the Torongan empire ended in somewhat of a draw.
In encrypted, Tikaya gets kidnapped and her subsequent travails is quite the engaging encounter as
Tikaya proves to be a highly intelligent, gutsy woman who simply won't be cowed by her abductors.
Decrypted, the last book in the box set, continues the story of Tikaya as she returns to Kyatt
This time she is accompanied by Rias, an Admiral previously in the Kyatt -Torongan war and object of hatred by any normal Kyattese citizen.
Oh boy. Does he get to know that we'll when putting his feet down on Kyattese soil.
Forgotten Ages is certainly aptly named especially considering the main theme of Decrypted.
Author Lindsay Buroker certainly pulled out all stops with this evocative epic fantasy adventure thriller and I certainly had a couple of late nights enjoying turning the pages.
Highly commended.
August 18, 2018
The Cryptomancer
This complete trilogy is a great fantasy adventure romance. Tikaya Komitopis is a Kyattese philology professor who has become a codebreaker during the war with the Turgonians. After the Turgonian's surrender leads to the end of the war and her fiance is killed when his ship is sunk, she withdraws to her family's plantation to mourn. A year later, she has let down her guard and is stolen by Turgonian marines. When she regains consciousness, she is imprisoned aboard one of their ships.
"Five" is the shackled and chained prisoner who is kept in a cell across from Tikaya's. He is feared by his captors and is hidden in shadows. But when a brute of a sergeant abuses her, Five verbally comes to her defense and the sergeant stops. A tenuous friendship develops between them, but that is before Tikaya learns who the prisoner is. He is Turgonian, 6'5", and the marines seem to either hate or revere him. Both their lives are on the line in a story that leads from one harrowing experience to the next. I highly recommend this saga.
This complete trilogy is a great fantasy adventure romance. Tikaya Komitopis is a Kyattese philology professor who has become a codebreaker during the war with the Turgonians. After the Turgonian's surrender leads to the end of the war and her fiance is killed when his ship is sunk, she withdraws to her family's plantation to mourn. A year later, she has let down her guard and is stolen by Turgonian marines. When she regains consciousness, she is imprisoned aboard one of their ships.
"Five" is the shackled and chained prisoner who is kept in a cell across from Tikaya's. He is feared by his captors and is hidden in shadows. But when a brute of a sergeant abuses her, Five verbally comes to her defense and the sergeant stops. A tenuous friendship develops between them, but that is before Tikaya learns who the prisoner is. He is Turgonian, 6'5", and the marines seem to either hate or revere him. Both their lives are on the line in a story that leads from one harrowing experience to the next. I highly recommend this saga.
September 3, 2023
exciting adventure and romance
Lindsay Buroker knows how to tell an exciting tale. She has written over ninety novels, and I have just discovered her works, much to my delight.
This trilogy concerns Rias Starcrest, a legendary Admiral from a military nation, who stops the assassination of an enemy president and is denounced and exiled for that act of disobedience to his emperor, and Tikaya, a bookish, savant, cryptographer who turned the tide of that war by breaking the enemy’s code. She is kidnapped by his people, and he is pulled off his island of exile, and both meet while they are imprisoned in the jail of the hull of a ship bound for Arctic caves. There, they are tasked to investigate and interpret the language found in tunneled caves that hide highly advanced electronics and weapons of a alien race of a long ago age. Their machines, however, were left to defend their science. These two, whose nations are at war with each other, fall in love, but are faced with several life-threatening adventures as they solve several mysteries throughout this trilogy.
Lindsay Buroker knows how to tell an exciting tale. She has written over ninety novels, and I have just discovered her works, much to my delight.
This trilogy concerns Rias Starcrest, a legendary Admiral from a military nation, who stops the assassination of an enemy president and is denounced and exiled for that act of disobedience to his emperor, and Tikaya, a bookish, savant, cryptographer who turned the tide of that war by breaking the enemy’s code. She is kidnapped by his people, and he is pulled off his island of exile, and both meet while they are imprisoned in the jail of the hull of a ship bound for Arctic caves. There, they are tasked to investigate and interpret the language found in tunneled caves that hide highly advanced electronics and weapons of a alien race of a long ago age. Their machines, however, were left to defend their science. These two, whose nations are at war with each other, fall in love, but are faced with several life-threatening adventures as they solve several mysteries throughout this trilogy.
March 30, 2019
YES! Another hit!
It's been many years since I read the Emperor'sEdge series...and I am not really sure how I missed this series....but I love Lindsay Buroker books and so I jumped on this one when it came up in my recommendation list on Kindle. At first I had no idea it was set in the same world as EE, but as I read, things started to sound familiar- Nations specifically...but with the name Starcrest....that's when I realized this was tied in.
I was enjoying the book, I love the characters, Buroker has a knack for creating quirky, not so perfect, lovable characters! Then who should make a little visit? Only my absolutely most favorite character from any book I have ever read my entire life.... Sicarius! I read hundreds of books a year and I read many that I have loved...but never has one character stuck with me so memorably as Sicarius. Now I want to go back and reread all of the EE series again. Thank you for a great trip back into this world!
It's been many years since I read the Emperor'sEdge series...and I am not really sure how I missed this series....but I love Lindsay Buroker books and so I jumped on this one when it came up in my recommendation list on Kindle. At first I had no idea it was set in the same world as EE, but as I read, things started to sound familiar- Nations specifically...but with the name Starcrest....that's when I realized this was tied in.
I was enjoying the book, I love the characters, Buroker has a knack for creating quirky, not so perfect, lovable characters! Then who should make a little visit? Only my absolutely most favorite character from any book I have ever read my entire life.... Sicarius! I read hundreds of books a year and I read many that I have loved...but never has one character stuck with me so memorably as Sicarius. Now I want to go back and reread all of the EE series again. Thank you for a great trip back into this world!
May 19, 2024
Very cute, as well as exciting, with intriguing, contemplative, nail-biting action.
I enjoyed the harrowing drama and close calls Mikaya gets herself into, once she makes the decidedly spontaneous decision to trust Rias, her fellow prisoner after she's kidnapped by Turgonians, enemies of her island people. She's drawn into a political mess that involved no less than three countries.
The action gets deadly, and the simple involvement of Rias ramps up the pressure and includes complicated engineering technology. Turns out she has teamed up with an engineering master as well as an experienced, gifted naval strategist. Fascinating to see technology mixed with old fashioned ships and other job automated means of travel, gadgets, and technology as a whole. Really enjoyable storyline, fast paced action, and twists and turns that keep getting thrown at our main characters. Four stars.
I enjoyed the harrowing drama and close calls Mikaya gets herself into, once she makes the decidedly spontaneous decision to trust Rias, her fellow prisoner after she's kidnapped by Turgonians, enemies of her island people. She's drawn into a political mess that involved no less than three countries.
The action gets deadly, and the simple involvement of Rias ramps up the pressure and includes complicated engineering technology. Turns out she has teamed up with an engineering master as well as an experienced, gifted naval strategist. Fascinating to see technology mixed with old fashioned ships and other job automated means of travel, gadgets, and technology as a whole. Really enjoyable storyline, fast paced action, and twists and turns that keep getting thrown at our main characters. Four stars.
September 24, 2021
Loved seeing Rias and Tikaya!
It was great for me to get into these books. I’ve read many Lindsay Buroker books including The Emperor’s Edge series and was delighted to see Sicarious as a young man here. Also, seeing Rias and Tikaya when they first met. We see them at the end of The Emperor’s Edge series with their two children. I love Ms Buroker’s style of writing. It’s never boring as she has a great sense of humor and incorporates it often in her stories. Her characters are well described and I feel a sense of familiarity with each one of them. Each one has their own unique personality that is well fleshed out. All the scenery she describes is easy to envision which could be a little complicated because these are unique places, but Ms Buroker pulls it off well. I’m now motivated to return to reading The Emperor’s Edge now having gotten this new perspective on the background.
It was great for me to get into these books. I’ve read many Lindsay Buroker books including The Emperor’s Edge series and was delighted to see Sicarious as a young man here. Also, seeing Rias and Tikaya when they first met. We see them at the end of The Emperor’s Edge series with their two children. I love Ms Buroker’s style of writing. It’s never boring as she has a great sense of humor and incorporates it often in her stories. Her characters are well described and I feel a sense of familiarity with each one of them. Each one has their own unique personality that is well fleshed out. All the scenery she describes is easy to envision which could be a little complicated because these are unique places, but Ms Buroker pulls it off well. I’m now motivated to return to reading The Emperor’s Edge now having gotten this new perspective on the background.
February 26, 2024
This is the second time I have read this book series. I think it has been a few years so, while I remembered much about the book, I also forgot a few things that happened. I think this series is geared towards young adults but I still enjoyed it. Lindsay has so many books I really enjoy reading; that after I finished this series, I remembered another book series that stars one of the characters in this book series. He doesn't play a big part in this series but in The Emperors’ Edge collection, he is the main character. I have already started rereading that series and I think I might just read all of the books in that collection. In The Emperors Edge series of books, Starcrest shows up again towards the end, I think as the hero he is.
July 24, 2025
now I have read all of the series…
I have really enjoyed these books. I have neglected my chores at home to delve into them for hours on end… sometimes even skipping meals so I could keep on reading. There is a plethora of action, mystery, intrigue and even romance in this set of books. I fell in love with the characters when I was reading the emperor’s edge series. I was/am disappointed now that I am at the end of the series, as I really enjoyed these books snuggling in with a good book. But I will take heart in the fact that Lindsay Buroker has written many books, and I have only read about two-thirds of them! I encourage anyone who enjoys epic fantasy to search her books for these and other excellent stories!
I have really enjoyed these books. I have neglected my chores at home to delve into them for hours on end… sometimes even skipping meals so I could keep on reading. There is a plethora of action, mystery, intrigue and even romance in this set of books. I fell in love with the characters when I was reading the emperor’s edge series. I was/am disappointed now that I am at the end of the series, as I really enjoyed these books snuggling in with a good book. But I will take heart in the fact that Lindsay Buroker has written many books, and I have only read about two-thirds of them! I encourage anyone who enjoys epic fantasy to search her books for these and other excellent stories!
October 1, 2021
As usual, I really enjoy the style, characters and plots produced by this author. Forgotten Ages was enjoyable, until the last volume. The first two volumes met and as usual, often exceeded my expectations and easily deserved a five. The last volume came across to me, as a lecture, intended to make a statement about prejudice, etc. Was not only not enjoyable, but rather, seemed forced and out of character. If I wanted this kind of material, I'd definitely go elsewhere. Usually, she does an excellent job of getting her points across without hitting me over the head with a sledgehammer. Not this time.
April 2, 2023
Short story was the best, then Decrypted. Didn’t like Encrypted at all. Making Rias wear a shock bracelet and torturing him with it multiple times was barbaric and not enjoyable. Tikaya having to protect herself from rape and nasty sexual comments from the soldiers in the first book was not enjoyable either. And did we have to have the trope of killing off the one nice soldier so she could escape? Seriously?! I was really hoping he could escape with them and find a nice island man to settle down with. The family dynamic of almost everyone angry at her (except surfer dude cousin and the kids) got old. Rias was the most likeable character in the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2023
When I began reading this tale, names and countries started to become familiar. It wasn't until the hero's name was introduced that it really hit me at what I suspected. Forgotten Ages is the prequal to Emporer's Edge. I must be living in a cave to not realize it. The story was great from the beginning, action, intrigues, average heroine uses her smarts and skill at the bow to become the one who gets herself out of trouble and saves the others. It was great to see her at a young age and now I have to read Emporer's Edge again, even if she doesn't show up until the end of the series. This is Lindsay at her finest.
March 5, 2025
Codebreaker and linguist Tikaya helped her peaceful islands stave off an invasion by a warlike empire across the sea. Then she’s kidnapped by their agents who mean to make her pay for her efforts. Their ship is attacked by the Nurians, but not before Tikaya befriends another prisoner named Rias. Together they’re forced to trek through a frozen wasteland to see if Tikaya can translate the language on some ancient, dangerous artifacts. But when Tikaya learns Rias’s true identity, she’s even more wary of him… that is, until they fall for each other. This enemies-to-lovers story will keep you enthralled as you share their adventures. Three books in one, this box set is pure escapist fun.
January 15, 2017
I have recently developed the habit of reading at least one physical book and one digital book at any given time. I blame my digital habits on the great deals found through Bookbub, which introduces me to authors I might not otherwise encounter. I purchased Forgotten Ages as a complete set; I would suggest reading all three books together as the second and third follow on the heels of the events in the first book.
Tikaya Komitopis is a philology professor turned cryptanalyst, who helps decode messages intercepted from the Turgonian military forces. In doing so, she assists the Kyattese is preventing their island from being captured by the Turgonians. A year later, Tikaya is kidnapped by a group of Turgonians, who demand her help in decoding an ancient language. Thrown together with presumed-dead, former Fleet Admiral Rias Starcrest, the two develop and relationship, and work together to solve the mystery and keep powerful weapons out of the wrong hands.
There are elements of fantasy in these novels, especially "Encrypted", but it's not an overwhelming part of the story. The Kyattese are technologically immature, yet otherwise peaceful, educated and sophisticated. The Turgonians are more technologically advanced, but their culture seems to be focused on conflict and power.
The first book in this series, "Encrypted", was a quick, fun read and held my interest enough that I finished it in a little over a day. As a stand-alone, I would give it 5 stars. The second book, "Enigma", is a novella, and is the story of Tikaya and Rias's attempt to return to Kyatt Islands. The third book, "Decrypted", involves the two dealing with secrets, and issues of trust as the Kyattese now view Tikaya as a traitor and Rias as the enemy. All three are well written, but the last two lack the excitement and danger encountered in the first book.
I have enjoyed my introduction to Ms. Buroker's writing, and look forward to reading more of her work.
Tikaya Komitopis is a philology professor turned cryptanalyst, who helps decode messages intercepted from the Turgonian military forces. In doing so, she assists the Kyattese is preventing their island from being captured by the Turgonians. A year later, Tikaya is kidnapped by a group of Turgonians, who demand her help in decoding an ancient language. Thrown together with presumed-dead, former Fleet Admiral Rias Starcrest, the two develop and relationship, and work together to solve the mystery and keep powerful weapons out of the wrong hands.
There are elements of fantasy in these novels, especially "Encrypted", but it's not an overwhelming part of the story. The Kyattese are technologically immature, yet otherwise peaceful, educated and sophisticated. The Turgonians are more technologically advanced, but their culture seems to be focused on conflict and power.
The first book in this series, "Encrypted", was a quick, fun read and held my interest enough that I finished it in a little over a day. As a stand-alone, I would give it 5 stars. The second book, "Enigma", is a novella, and is the story of Tikaya and Rias's attempt to return to Kyatt Islands. The third book, "Decrypted", involves the two dealing with secrets, and issues of trust as the Kyattese now view Tikaya as a traitor and Rias as the enemy. All three are well written, but the last two lack the excitement and danger encountered in the first book.
I have enjoyed my introduction to Ms. Buroker's writing, and look forward to reading more of her work.
September 6, 2018
Fun story but got a little redundant
Apparently I read the 1st book a long time ago and I forgot. I still enjoyed reading it the 2nd time. The short story was enjoyable as well. As for the actual 2nd book I was definitely itching to finish it. The suspense got me. However the cute bantering that the main characters developed became rather annoying and unbelievable given the situation they were in. I get it, they are in love and what not but I wish I could have seen a little more depth as their relationship progressed. Overall good read and interesting characters.
Apparently I read the 1st book a long time ago and I forgot. I still enjoyed reading it the 2nd time. The short story was enjoyable as well. As for the actual 2nd book I was definitely itching to finish it. The suspense got me. However the cute bantering that the main characters developed became rather annoying and unbelievable given the situation they were in. I get it, they are in love and what not but I wish I could have seen a little more depth as their relationship progressed. Overall good read and interesting characters.
September 26, 2019
Exce!!ent action with romance a pinnacle in the series.
Intriguing story with exciting action. Characters are developed as one might find in norma! life of a truly exciting hero and heroine with rather fun sideline geeks. I enjoyed the ease of reading the story while sometimes sitting on the edge of my chair with the excitement of the moment. There were times of emotion with the moments of sadness, romance, entanglements of the characters. I highly recommend the series for those who enjoy action-packed fantasy books!!!
Intriguing story with exciting action. Characters are developed as one might find in norma! life of a truly exciting hero and heroine with rather fun sideline geeks. I enjoyed the ease of reading the story while sometimes sitting on the edge of my chair with the excitement of the moment. There were times of emotion with the moments of sadness, romance, entanglements of the characters. I highly recommend the series for those who enjoy action-packed fantasy books!!!
March 5, 2017
If you loved Emperor's Edge, you'll love this series. As someone said, these three books focus on the lives of the "grown ups" from the Emperor's Edge...a battle hardened Admiral and a genius alien linguist.
Buroker does such a great job of characterization -- adding humor when you're so tense you can't relax and then making you not want to put the books down. Not going to tell you the plots as it will ruin the story but take the time to read all three one after another. Worth it.
Buroker does such a great job of characterization -- adding humor when you're so tense you can't relax and then making you not want to put the books down. Not going to tell you the plots as it will ruin the story but take the time to read all three one after another. Worth it.
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