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True Grime #1
True Grime
Grime cop and teen fairy Pepper Powder lives for one protecting the human species from magical zealots who seek to eradicate them with Violent Illness of Unusual Resistance and Strength (humans call them “viruses,” but their mistake is understandable. The very young often get their words wrong.). When a terrorist leader releases a necrophage bomb, it not only decimates Grime headquarters, it turns Pepper into the magical world’s first fairy amputee—but she’s not going to let a little thing like a missing leg stop her. To catch her criminal, and prevent him from unleashing a VIURS in one of the human world’s biggest shopping centers, West Edmonton Mall, she goes undercover as a human. But once Pepper's theories of humanity collide with the reality of bullies, cliques, and environmental destruction, will she still believe humanity's worth saving?
276 pages, Paperback
First published August 24, 2011
About the author
Natasha Deen
56 books182 followersNatasha Deen's family moved from Guyana, South America to Canada to escape the country's political & racial violence. She loved growing up in a country of snow & flannel, but often felt out of place. Thank goodness for books that showed her being different could also mean being awesome. Natasha lives in Edmonton, Alberta with her family where she spends A LOT of time arguing with her cats and dogs about who’s the boss of the house. Visit her at www.natashadeen.com.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 17, 2011
My review:
True Grime was definitely a fun book to read. Natasha Deen has created a wonderful world with fairies going undercover in the human world which creates quite funny situations in the book. Natasha Deen has incredible amount of fantasy as a writer and it kept surprising me through the whole book. She has an excellent imagination! I was stunned how creative and fanciful the story was. The gadgets and widgets of the fairy world were almost described like in sci-fi books, the twists and turns in the story were refreshing, the book was really filled with unpredictable changes. I loved it!
Regarding the plot:
Pepper Petunia Powder-Puff is a fairy cop who works as a Grime Cop. She and her partner Harley Hands are sent to the human world as undercover cops to catch the magical criminal Claude. Pepper and Harley end up like sister and brother in a high school as teenagers and while going to school they need to find some information about what Claude is planning.
I really enjoyed the part of the book when Pepper and Harley were in the human world. Since Pepper had no experience with humans, she ends up in so many funny and weird situations, so I had lot of laughs while reading. The narrative of the book and development of the story is fantastically sewed together and makes True Grime very enjoyable read.
Regarding the characters:
I loved the characters! I have to admit, that I did not like Pepper very much in the beginning, I found her annoying and too tough. I like my heroines sassy and feisty, but Pepper was too much of a male fairy. She talked like a male, she walked like a male, and she seemed like a male fairy. Luckily that changed when she was put into strange surroundings – to earth living and studying with the humans. I loved how the author developed Pepper and made her more vulnerable and more girly. Everything Pepper hided while fairy came up during the period she was a human teenager – I really appreciated that and that made Pepper more complex and interesting.
I was surprised about the variety of different characters in the book. Already in the beginning you meet many different types of fairies and other magical creatures. Can you imagine a bat-fairy or a jackal fairy? I could. The characters and the description of them were very good, so I immediately got the pictures of them in front of my eyes. The author was very good at using all senses while describing the characters – you could see them, smell them and hear them. The world of the True Grime was really incredible.
The names of the fairy characters made me laugh –like the main characters full name, who would call the character Pepper Petunia Powder-Puff? Natasha Deen did and the names really suited the characters in my opinion.
Generally:
It was very enjoyable and original fantasy book. The story was great, the characters fascinating and the world of the True Grime was beyond the usual. It was one of the best fantasy worlds I have ever read about, it was not typical, but had a strong touch of originality which I loved.
5 stars
True Grime was definitely a fun book to read. Natasha Deen has created a wonderful world with fairies going undercover in the human world which creates quite funny situations in the book. Natasha Deen has incredible amount of fantasy as a writer and it kept surprising me through the whole book. She has an excellent imagination! I was stunned how creative and fanciful the story was. The gadgets and widgets of the fairy world were almost described like in sci-fi books, the twists and turns in the story were refreshing, the book was really filled with unpredictable changes. I loved it!
Regarding the plot:
Pepper Petunia Powder-Puff is a fairy cop who works as a Grime Cop. She and her partner Harley Hands are sent to the human world as undercover cops to catch the magical criminal Claude. Pepper and Harley end up like sister and brother in a high school as teenagers and while going to school they need to find some information about what Claude is planning.
I really enjoyed the part of the book when Pepper and Harley were in the human world. Since Pepper had no experience with humans, she ends up in so many funny and weird situations, so I had lot of laughs while reading. The narrative of the book and development of the story is fantastically sewed together and makes True Grime very enjoyable read.
Regarding the characters:
I loved the characters! I have to admit, that I did not like Pepper very much in the beginning, I found her annoying and too tough. I like my heroines sassy and feisty, but Pepper was too much of a male fairy. She talked like a male, she walked like a male, and she seemed like a male fairy. Luckily that changed when she was put into strange surroundings – to earth living and studying with the humans. I loved how the author developed Pepper and made her more vulnerable and more girly. Everything Pepper hided while fairy came up during the period she was a human teenager – I really appreciated that and that made Pepper more complex and interesting.
I was surprised about the variety of different characters in the book. Already in the beginning you meet many different types of fairies and other magical creatures. Can you imagine a bat-fairy or a jackal fairy? I could. The characters and the description of them were very good, so I immediately got the pictures of them in front of my eyes. The author was very good at using all senses while describing the characters – you could see them, smell them and hear them. The world of the True Grime was really incredible.
The names of the fairy characters made me laugh –like the main characters full name, who would call the character Pepper Petunia Powder-Puff? Natasha Deen did and the names really suited the characters in my opinion.
Generally:
It was very enjoyable and original fantasy book. The story was great, the characters fascinating and the world of the True Grime was beyond the usual. It was one of the best fantasy worlds I have ever read about, it was not typical, but had a strong touch of originality which I loved.
5 stars
November 29, 2011
Pepper Powder Puff and her partner Harley Hands were fairy cops in training. They were junior members of the True Grime squad. An elite team utilized to keep the evil villains from spreading Violent Illness of Unusual Strength and Resistance (viruses) to humanity. When the biggest and meanest of the baddies breaks out of the Menacer’s Asylum, our dynamic duo are unleashed on Twilight Twinkle aka Claude Von Beulow. Passing as a human high schooler isn’t the easiest transition for our rough and tumble Powder-Puff and she has to tackle some pretty big issues to save humanity, like whether or not humans are worth saving at all.
This was like a fairytale on Red Bull and Ritalin. From the first page, it was full speed ahead with the whimsy and alliterative names. The snot weapons nearly sent me into fits. How absolutely ingenious! I’m not a frequent visitor to the YA genre, and I’m usually not a big fan of the terminally cute, because let’s face it, I’m dark and somewhat skewed. But this was a funny, entertaining read that actually had a pretty decent, tough as nails heroine in Powder. And for all it’s cute and fluffy names and descriptions, Ms. Deen manages to touch on some pretty serious issues, like bullying, poor self-esteem, acceptance, tolerance and even terrorism in a not too scary way.
Powder has a lot of guards to get through initially, but when she’s tossed out of her comfort zone and into the vicious cut throat world of high school (and really, is there anything more vicious than a teenage girl?) her vulnerability and insecurities work their way to the surface. She is crushing on her partner Harley, hard. Actually she has for awhile which makes her twice as vulnerable. This book would make a great gift for a young girl, or even an old Cougar like myself. It's very relevant and empowering without the preachy self help format and could give a lift to someone in need of a smile. I definitely consider this as a worthwhile break from my norm and appreciate the beam of fairy dust it brought to a rainy autumn day.
This was like a fairytale on Red Bull and Ritalin. From the first page, it was full speed ahead with the whimsy and alliterative names. The snot weapons nearly sent me into fits. How absolutely ingenious! I’m not a frequent visitor to the YA genre, and I’m usually not a big fan of the terminally cute, because let’s face it, I’m dark and somewhat skewed. But this was a funny, entertaining read that actually had a pretty decent, tough as nails heroine in Powder. And for all it’s cute and fluffy names and descriptions, Ms. Deen manages to touch on some pretty serious issues, like bullying, poor self-esteem, acceptance, tolerance and even terrorism in a not too scary way.
Powder has a lot of guards to get through initially, but when she’s tossed out of her comfort zone and into the vicious cut throat world of high school (and really, is there anything more vicious than a teenage girl?) her vulnerability and insecurities work their way to the surface. She is crushing on her partner Harley, hard. Actually she has for awhile which makes her twice as vulnerable. This book would make a great gift for a young girl, or even an old Cougar like myself. It's very relevant and empowering without the preachy self help format and could give a lift to someone in need of a smile. I definitely consider this as a worthwhile break from my norm and appreciate the beam of fairy dust it brought to a rainy autumn day.
November 25, 2011
My Opinion:
Some of you may know how much I adored What Happens In Vegas by Natasha. I was more then happy when she asked me to review her new book True Grime.
True Grime is about Pepper and her partner Harley and how they have to keep the fairies from harming humans. They are part of a task force called True Grime. They get assigned to find one of them most dangerous criminals Claude and have to stop his evil plan of killing humans. They have to go undercover as teenagers to track down Claude. You will enjoy how Pepper reacts to the human world. She has no experience with them and it creates some laugh out loud funny situations. The book also dives into the world of bulling. I also really enjoyed the faires full names like Pepper Petunia Powder-Puff and Harley Hands. I also loved how Pepper would get with Harley the second she showed any feelings for him. It was cute and well written. Natasha just wraps you into this story and keeps you there. This story had lots of twists and turns that I really enjoyed. I also loved how Harley would tease Pepper and their banter is very enjoyable in the book. The book keeps you hooked and the writing is fantastic. Natasha didn’t let me down and I enjoyed this book very much. This is my first experience with faries in a book and I am more then happy I read it.
I give True Grime by Natasha Deen 5 of 5 stars.
Some of you may know how much I adored What Happens In Vegas by Natasha. I was more then happy when she asked me to review her new book True Grime.
True Grime is about Pepper and her partner Harley and how they have to keep the fairies from harming humans. They are part of a task force called True Grime. They get assigned to find one of them most dangerous criminals Claude and have to stop his evil plan of killing humans. They have to go undercover as teenagers to track down Claude. You will enjoy how Pepper reacts to the human world. She has no experience with them and it creates some laugh out loud funny situations. The book also dives into the world of bulling. I also really enjoyed the faires full names like Pepper Petunia Powder-Puff and Harley Hands. I also loved how Pepper would get with Harley the second she showed any feelings for him. It was cute and well written. Natasha just wraps you into this story and keeps you there. This story had lots of twists and turns that I really enjoyed. I also loved how Harley would tease Pepper and their banter is very enjoyable in the book. The book keeps you hooked and the writing is fantastic. Natasha didn’t let me down and I enjoyed this book very much. This is my first experience with faries in a book and I am more then happy I read it.
I give True Grime by Natasha Deen 5 of 5 stars.
November 27, 2011
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True Grime concerns the duo, Pepper and Harley, as they attempt to prevent the fairies from doing further damage to humans; their task force is called True Grime. Claude is the antagonist. He is portrayed as truly evil-no conscience, no compassion, etc... Pepper and Harley are sent to stop Claude in his murderous tracks. The story takes off from there.
The characters overall were fun to get to know. Pepper's reactions to the human world were amusing as she had never really experienced the human world. She was a different kind of character-inquisitive, intelligent, and idealistic. Harley was amusing as well. Whenever Pepper began to "feel" for him, she would immediately go on the defensive and their little interactions will amuse the reader. The secondary characters were not focused upon overly much, only the antagonist, Clause, was truly a major part of the story.
Overall, this book was fast-paced and interesting. This book is recommended to adult readers.
True Grime concerns the duo, Pepper and Harley, as they attempt to prevent the fairies from doing further damage to humans; their task force is called True Grime. Claude is the antagonist. He is portrayed as truly evil-no conscience, no compassion, etc... Pepper and Harley are sent to stop Claude in his murderous tracks. The story takes off from there.
The characters overall were fun to get to know. Pepper's reactions to the human world were amusing as she had never really experienced the human world. She was a different kind of character-inquisitive, intelligent, and idealistic. Harley was amusing as well. Whenever Pepper began to "feel" for him, she would immediately go on the defensive and their little interactions will amuse the reader. The secondary characters were not focused upon overly much, only the antagonist, Clause, was truly a major part of the story.
Overall, this book was fast-paced and interesting. This book is recommended to adult readers.
July 28, 2015
Review taken from my blog, The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia.
First Sentence:
I tend to either love or hate books with faeries, with no room for a middle ground feeling concerning them. True Grime hit the nail on the head with an original take on faeries, having them be protectors of the human race with the bonus of including some pretty funny bantering between Pepper and Harley (partners as Grime cops).
True Grime is the first book I have read were the faeries are the main focus of the story, and where humans take a very backseat role. Given that, I was definitely impressed with how things played out and with how well the story flowed and the interactions between the characters (like the "relationship" of Pepper and Harley).
One of the things I liked most about True Grime was the build up to the confrontation with Claude, and that the ending of the book was just as good as the beginning and did not fizzle out. By far one of the better fairy books I have read.
I also (really) liked how even the MC weren't spared from being maimed in the line of duty. Why, because it seems like in most books/shows the main characters get hurt but then few minutes later they are all fine-and-dandy again, so I was very impressed with how Ms. Deen added in the very real fact that people (or fairies in the case of True Grime) get hurt. It definitely gave the characters a little more humanity.
Pepper, definitely one interesting and slightly crazy in an orderly way characters I've read about in a while. The one personality trait of hers, that endeared her as a character to me, would have to be that as a Grime cop she did things by the book. I thought that one trait made her interesting since most cop characters in books (or shows) tend to be...unorthodox.
I loved Pepper, she made me laugh and managed to even catch me off guard (see my favorite scene to find out how she shocked me).
Even though his name, Claude, does not exactly strike fear at the ringing of his name I thought that he made for an interesting adversary for Pepper and Harley. While his deeds and how he planned on accomplishing it, trying to wipe out the human population out, was pretty well thought out and realistic. I thought what truly made him a worthy foe for Pepper and Harley was the fact that there was history between them (the deaths of both of their fathers at his hands) made it all the more absorbing because they were both willing to do anything to put an end to his schemes.
Picking my favorite scene for True Grime was definitely one of the easiest ones I've done in a while. The best scene was when Pepper did something extremely out of character, like, go completely against the rules of a Grime, especially since Pepper always does things by the book. What made this the best scene of True Grime was that it was so very convincing and left me completely agog (I was like did she just do that!!!).
The one draw back to True Grime that I came across while reading it was that it was just a tad slow on taking off and pulling me into the story. But once it did get going I was absolutely enthralled by the this book
Final Verdict: True Grime a fascinating spin on fairies.
True Grime earns 4 out of 5 pineapples.
First Sentence:
In The City, crime never slept.
I tend to either love or hate books with faeries, with no room for a middle ground feeling concerning them. True Grime hit the nail on the head with an original take on faeries, having them be protectors of the human race with the bonus of including some pretty funny bantering between Pepper and Harley (partners as Grime cops).
True Grime is the first book I have read were the faeries are the main focus of the story, and where humans take a very backseat role. Given that, I was definitely impressed with how things played out and with how well the story flowed and the interactions between the characters (like the "relationship" of Pepper and Harley).
One of the things I liked most about True Grime was the build up to the confrontation with Claude, and that the ending of the book was just as good as the beginning and did not fizzle out. By far one of the better fairy books I have read.
I also (really) liked how even the MC weren't spared from being maimed in the line of duty. Why, because it seems like in most books/shows the main characters get hurt but then few minutes later they are all fine-and-dandy again, so I was very impressed with how Ms. Deen added in the very real fact that people (or fairies in the case of True Grime) get hurt. It definitely gave the characters a little more humanity.
Pepper, definitely one interesting and slightly crazy in an orderly way characters I've read about in a while. The one personality trait of hers, that endeared her as a character to me, would have to be that as a Grime cop she did things by the book. I thought that one trait made her interesting since most cop characters in books (or shows) tend to be...unorthodox.
I loved Pepper, she made me laugh and managed to even catch me off guard (see my favorite scene to find out how she shocked me).
Even though his name, Claude, does not exactly strike fear at the ringing of his name I thought that he made for an interesting adversary for Pepper and Harley. While his deeds and how he planned on accomplishing it, trying to wipe out the human population out, was pretty well thought out and realistic. I thought what truly made him a worthy foe for Pepper and Harley was the fact that there was history between them (the deaths of both of their fathers at his hands) made it all the more absorbing because they were both willing to do anything to put an end to his schemes.
Picking my favorite scene for True Grime was definitely one of the easiest ones I've done in a while. The best scene was when Pepper did something extremely out of character, like, go completely against the rules of a Grime, especially since Pepper always does things by the book. What made this the best scene of True Grime was that it was so very convincing and left me completely agog (I was like did she just do that!!!).
The one draw back to True Grime that I came across while reading it was that it was just a tad slow on taking off and pulling me into the story. But once it did get going I was absolutely enthralled by the this book
Final Verdict: True Grime a fascinating spin on fairies.
True Grime earns 4 out of 5 pineapples.
October 21, 2011
So this is fantasy book about faeries and all kinds of magical creatures. Usually I don't read those kind of books but at the moment I’m actually reading two. Well technically one because I just finished this one, but it's this one and The Iron King By: Julie Kagawa and I absolutely love it but that is not what this review is about! This review is about the fantabulous book True Grime By: Natasha Deen!
Like I said I didn't know if I was going to like it and the first couple chapters were a bit slow but I think it's because I was reading with a bunch of people around and talking. When I started reading by myself in a quiet place it started getting way better so that’s my theory and I’m keeping it that way. The book was about a Faeries or should I say creature world police force that was trying to recapture a villain who escaped from jail, and they had to go to the human world and be basically apart of the human world to do it. Like they had to go to school make friends things like that. My favorite part about them going to school was how many detentions she got. I loved the way she talked to the teachers and stuff like that. While I was reading I wished I could stand up to teachers like that but I know it would be wrong and disrespectful but I got a kick out of watching well not watching um reading pepper do it.
Now my favorite character's are Pepper and Harley. Yeah, yeah I know those are going to be everybody's favorites but I really like them for many different reasons. I like Pepper because she's strong, I mean come on now if a cop lost their leg? They would be out of work for a lot longer than a couple days am I right? and another reason is because I love how she's so loyal to everybody especially Harley. Usually cops don't get along with their partners and think there annoying but Pepper and Harley? They have a real connection if there's another book in the future I would so suggest there to be a think between the two of them. They would be my favorite couple!! Now on to Harley I love him because he's one of the good guys and I mean good guys with people and relationship wise. When Pepper did things wrong did he freak out yell at her and stop talking to her for awhile? Nope he told her what he thought then said "I'm not mad at you" when he said that I died I don’t know why but I loved it! Also when he was with the Champagne girl I thought oh man he's going to start being a guy and be all over her but he wasn't he was very professional and he stood up for his "little sister" Which I loved!
Overall the book was freaking fantastic and I recommend it to anyone who likes the kind of fantasy stuff, and I recommend it to anyone who doesn't like that too because I didn't like the fantasy stuff until I read this book and now I’m going to start reading more fantasy because this book totally changed my mind! I hope you enjoy my review leave comments below!
Like I said I didn't know if I was going to like it and the first couple chapters were a bit slow but I think it's because I was reading with a bunch of people around and talking. When I started reading by myself in a quiet place it started getting way better so that’s my theory and I’m keeping it that way. The book was about a Faeries or should I say creature world police force that was trying to recapture a villain who escaped from jail, and they had to go to the human world and be basically apart of the human world to do it. Like they had to go to school make friends things like that. My favorite part about them going to school was how many detentions she got. I loved the way she talked to the teachers and stuff like that. While I was reading I wished I could stand up to teachers like that but I know it would be wrong and disrespectful but I got a kick out of watching well not watching um reading pepper do it.
Now my favorite character's are Pepper and Harley. Yeah, yeah I know those are going to be everybody's favorites but I really like them for many different reasons. I like Pepper because she's strong, I mean come on now if a cop lost their leg? They would be out of work for a lot longer than a couple days am I right? and another reason is because I love how she's so loyal to everybody especially Harley. Usually cops don't get along with their partners and think there annoying but Pepper and Harley? They have a real connection if there's another book in the future I would so suggest there to be a think between the two of them. They would be my favorite couple!! Now on to Harley I love him because he's one of the good guys and I mean good guys with people and relationship wise. When Pepper did things wrong did he freak out yell at her and stop talking to her for awhile? Nope he told her what he thought then said "I'm not mad at you" when he said that I died I don’t know why but I loved it! Also when he was with the Champagne girl I thought oh man he's going to start being a guy and be all over her but he wasn't he was very professional and he stood up for his "little sister" Which I loved!
Overall the book was freaking fantastic and I recommend it to anyone who likes the kind of fantasy stuff, and I recommend it to anyone who doesn't like that too because I didn't like the fantasy stuff until I read this book and now I’m going to start reading more fantasy because this book totally changed my mind! I hope you enjoy my review leave comments below!
December 2, 2011
Fairy-cops, universe straddlers, and necrophages are just a few of the fantastical creations you'll run into in this unique and gritty detective story. Natasha Deen introduces a very unique world at a great pace as the plot pulls you in. She manages to strike the right balance between pulling rabbits out of a hat (with magical elements) and info-dumping (with too much ranting about the rules of magic). She tells you enough that your curiosity is sated but you still want to turn the page.
I was thoroughly impressed with the plausible breadth the book covered. Going from high-school drama to epic clashes with dragons and chemical crime lords, the relevance of both is unquestioned in the setting Deen establishes. As a Young Adult novel I believe this book has tremendous potential to reach and connect with its target audience. The clashes and struggles, however, will be universal to other readers as well, or, as it was for me, a reminder of some of the trials of going through high school. Deen's sense of humour is wonderful when fairies describe some of the idiosyncrasies of school and the human race. The sense of alienation that Pepper Powder feels is one that many readers can relate to, and the fact that Pepper is an adult fairy going to high school speaks to the novel's ability to reach a wide audience.
There were a few magical elements that left me a bit puzzled at first, but never enough to pull me out of the story. A few turns of phrase were a bit strange or took me a few times to completely get. That said, the characters were real, flawed, with a lot of heart, and much of the action took me by surprise. The villain truly was a diabolical genius that kindled fear in me, and there were many moments where I would think, "Oh cool!" (I won't spoil them for you). The blend of fantasy with police work is pretty new to me, and I found the ways that magic was used in, for example, interrogation, fascinating.
The end of the book doesn't quite seem like the first in a trilogy, which can be good or bad depending on your perspective. I can definitely see where it can go, and am excited to read the next books, but the story finishes well and you're not left wanting. I think it's a good thing, because the story is finished and now as a reader I will pick up the next one because of the super-cool world Deen has created, and witty characters I want to spend time with.
One minor gripe is that there is a bad guy named Hal in the novel. I disapprove of this. Unless it's HAL-9000, the name Hal is reserved for epic heroes. I hope Deen will redeem Hal in subsequent novels, and not leave him... well, I won't spoil it. Okay, fine, so that's the only bad thing I have to say about this novel, which is another way of saying that I highly recommend it.
I was thoroughly impressed with the plausible breadth the book covered. Going from high-school drama to epic clashes with dragons and chemical crime lords, the relevance of both is unquestioned in the setting Deen establishes. As a Young Adult novel I believe this book has tremendous potential to reach and connect with its target audience. The clashes and struggles, however, will be universal to other readers as well, or, as it was for me, a reminder of some of the trials of going through high school. Deen's sense of humour is wonderful when fairies describe some of the idiosyncrasies of school and the human race. The sense of alienation that Pepper Powder feels is one that many readers can relate to, and the fact that Pepper is an adult fairy going to high school speaks to the novel's ability to reach a wide audience.
There were a few magical elements that left me a bit puzzled at first, but never enough to pull me out of the story. A few turns of phrase were a bit strange or took me a few times to completely get. That said, the characters were real, flawed, with a lot of heart, and much of the action took me by surprise. The villain truly was a diabolical genius that kindled fear in me, and there were many moments where I would think, "Oh cool!" (I won't spoil them for you). The blend of fantasy with police work is pretty new to me, and I found the ways that magic was used in, for example, interrogation, fascinating.
The end of the book doesn't quite seem like the first in a trilogy, which can be good or bad depending on your perspective. I can definitely see where it can go, and am excited to read the next books, but the story finishes well and you're not left wanting. I think it's a good thing, because the story is finished and now as a reader I will pick up the next one because of the super-cool world Deen has created, and witty characters I want to spend time with.
One minor gripe is that there is a bad guy named Hal in the novel. I disapprove of this. Unless it's HAL-9000, the name Hal is reserved for epic heroes. I hope Deen will redeem Hal in subsequent novels, and not leave him... well, I won't spoil it. Okay, fine, so that's the only bad thing I have to say about this novel, which is another way of saying that I highly recommend it.
October 11, 2011
I seriously have to talk about this book. Have you ever read a book and thought to yourself,
"Wow, the things that go on in this authors mind must be insane?"
OR maybe you find yourself thinking,
"Do they know something we don't know?"
Well, those are just a few thoughts that crossed my mind while reading this book. However, after I finished I think I had even more questions in my head than were there when I began.
Like, what is the ocean made up of?
Do you think thunderstorms are a product of us pissing off a fairy somewhere?
What if a tornado is really just a fairy fart?
Or a hurricane is the product a fairy bubble bath?
Maybe . . just maybe, a rainbow is something we get to see when the fairy people are happy with us?
Well, no matter the questions I have . . one thing is for certain, this book totally rocks! If I'm going to 100% honest, I'll tell ya this. The blurb for this book grabbed my attention. So, I was excited to get started on it. Once I started I found myself wondering if it was the right book for me. That question was wiped away fairly quickly and I couldn't put the book down. (Trust me, there were times I should have put it down . . . school work should come first, I promise you!) Then by the end of the book, I was so happy that I didn't give up on it.
Wanna read the blurb?
Grime cop and teen fairy Pepper Powder lives for one thing: protecting the human species from magical zealots who seek to eradicate them with Violent Illness of Unusual Resistance and Strength (humans call them “viruses,” but their mistake is understandable. The very young often get their words wrong.). When a terrorist leader releases a necrophage bomb, it not only decimates Grime headquarters, it turns Pepper into the magical world’s first fairy amputee—but she’s not going to let a little thing like a missing leg stop her. To catch her criminal, and prevent him from unleashing a VIURS in one of the human world’s biggest shopping centers, West Edmonton Mall, she goes undercover as a human. But once Pepper's theories of humanity collide with the reality of bullies, cliques, and environmental destruction, will she still believe humanity's worth saving? - Goodreads
So, now that you have read the blurb, what are you waiting for?!?! I totally promise you, you won't be disappointed.
"Wow, the things that go on in this authors mind must be insane?"
OR maybe you find yourself thinking,
"Do they know something we don't know?"
Well, those are just a few thoughts that crossed my mind while reading this book. However, after I finished I think I had even more questions in my head than were there when I began.
Like, what is the ocean made up of?
Do you think thunderstorms are a product of us pissing off a fairy somewhere?
What if a tornado is really just a fairy fart?
Or a hurricane is the product a fairy bubble bath?
Maybe . . just maybe, a rainbow is something we get to see when the fairy people are happy with us?
Well, no matter the questions I have . . one thing is for certain, this book totally rocks! If I'm going to 100% honest, I'll tell ya this. The blurb for this book grabbed my attention. So, I was excited to get started on it. Once I started I found myself wondering if it was the right book for me. That question was wiped away fairly quickly and I couldn't put the book down. (Trust me, there were times I should have put it down . . . school work should come first, I promise you!) Then by the end of the book, I was so happy that I didn't give up on it.
Wanna read the blurb?
Grime cop and teen fairy Pepper Powder lives for one thing: protecting the human species from magical zealots who seek to eradicate them with Violent Illness of Unusual Resistance and Strength (humans call them “viruses,” but their mistake is understandable. The very young often get their words wrong.). When a terrorist leader releases a necrophage bomb, it not only decimates Grime headquarters, it turns Pepper into the magical world’s first fairy amputee—but she’s not going to let a little thing like a missing leg stop her. To catch her criminal, and prevent him from unleashing a VIURS in one of the human world’s biggest shopping centers, West Edmonton Mall, she goes undercover as a human. But once Pepper's theories of humanity collide with the reality of bullies, cliques, and environmental destruction, will she still believe humanity's worth saving? - Goodreads
So, now that you have read the blurb, what are you waiting for?!?! I totally promise you, you won't be disappointed.
October 18, 2011
Where do I even start? This book was so much fun to read! The first best part was the setting. Not only is the book set in Canada (so much easier for a Canadian reader to visualize) but it is set in Edmonton, Alberta!! Yay!! For those of you not in the know, I live in Sherwood Park, Alberta which is about a two minute drive to the outskirts of Edmonton. I loved reading about places I know so well. West Edmonton Mall - I go there (when I have to). Hawrelak Park, Terwillegar: I know them. How Edmonton looks in the snow, how it feels, sounds, smells: got that. Those of you from places like New York, Boston, London, Paris, etc., get to read about places you know all the time but not so much for me. It was a treat and perfectly described.
Knowing that most of you don't live in or near Edmonton, I am anticipating your question: so what's in it for me? Well, good question. Can I answer it with a few questions of my own? Do you like smart, fast paced, fun, dialog? Well developed characters? Action and a little romance? You will find them all in 'True Grime'. I especially laughed at the magical worlds use of acronyms. They didn't have to make a lot of sense as long as they sounded good. Those are acronyms I can get behind!
The part that worried me before I started to read was that I am not a huge fantasy fan. The fact of fairies as main characters and a whole magical world living parallel to ours, didn't sound like my kind of thing. I was wrong. I loved Pepper and Harley - even if they were fairies. And their take on the human world made me laugh and also think about how we see ourselves - and things we should see but sometimes refuse to see. I wish I were a straddler! (read the book, you'll wish you were one, too)
Natasha Deen has done an amazing job of intertwining the mystery and action plot with a message of environmental responsibility. I may not agree with all of her ideology but there was not one time I felt like I was being preached at or lectured. She managed to subtly make her points while entertaining me at the same time.
I know the teenage group will enjoy this novel but I enjoyed it just as much! As a reader I connected so strongly with the characters and the story that I am already missing both. Hopefully there will be more Grime adventures in the future!
Knowing that most of you don't live in or near Edmonton, I am anticipating your question: so what's in it for me? Well, good question. Can I answer it with a few questions of my own? Do you like smart, fast paced, fun, dialog? Well developed characters? Action and a little romance? You will find them all in 'True Grime'. I especially laughed at the magical worlds use of acronyms. They didn't have to make a lot of sense as long as they sounded good. Those are acronyms I can get behind!
The part that worried me before I started to read was that I am not a huge fantasy fan. The fact of fairies as main characters and a whole magical world living parallel to ours, didn't sound like my kind of thing. I was wrong. I loved Pepper and Harley - even if they were fairies. And their take on the human world made me laugh and also think about how we see ourselves - and things we should see but sometimes refuse to see. I wish I were a straddler! (read the book, you'll wish you were one, too)
Natasha Deen has done an amazing job of intertwining the mystery and action plot with a message of environmental responsibility. I may not agree with all of her ideology but there was not one time I felt like I was being preached at or lectured. She managed to subtly make her points while entertaining me at the same time.
I know the teenage group will enjoy this novel but I enjoyed it just as much! As a reader I connected so strongly with the characters and the story that I am already missing both. Hopefully there will be more Grime adventures in the future!
November 6, 2011
True Grime is such an original read with colorful, smart and truly out of this world characters. You'll meet Pepper Powder, fairy, Grime cop and everyday superhero whose mission is to protect the vulnerable and save humanity, even though she's not even human. Don't let her fluffy name fool you, underneath she's all steel and sass. Pepper is the kind of superhero I admire most because despite her extraordinary work, she is vulnerable. Having lost her father to violence at a young age, Pepper has made a personal pledge to ensure that the culprit, Claude and others like him are captured. Nothing will stop her, not even losing part of a leg. She's a go-getter. She's a trooper. She's plain Pepper who likes nail polish and has a crush on her partner, Harley Hands. That is, utterly endearing and a fairy worth rooting for.
Cleverly woven into the interesting storyline, are familiar self-esteem issues that many teenagers can relate to. If Pepper is to take down Claude, her mission will take her to Earth in the guise of a human female teenager. Not an easy thing to be especially since she will have to navigate her way through the perils of high school. There she will try to fit in and gather intelligence for the Grime crew. She meets and bonds with Aponi who is a lot like Pepper. They have both experienced loss, resulting in an unconventional family. Whereas Aponi longs for a family to call her own, Pepper has adopted Grime and her work as a Grime cop as her family. Grime is her world, as is her partner. Two things she doesn't want to envision a world without.
Pepper gets to prove her worth when the bad guys gains the upper hand and with it, her partner. She will have to use her wits and courage to save him and face Claude. She's not alone with her unique Grime family having her back.
This story recalls the days of The Magic School Bus, a show I watched daily because it was entertaining and educational. I can easily see True Grime as a series with Pepper, Harley and their Grime group embarking on more adventures to save the human race. It's a story for everyone not just teenagers. It's a story that opened my eyes to a unique but believable world and addresses important issues in a fun way. Pepper is definitely a superhero in my eyes.
Cleverly woven into the interesting storyline, are familiar self-esteem issues that many teenagers can relate to. If Pepper is to take down Claude, her mission will take her to Earth in the guise of a human female teenager. Not an easy thing to be especially since she will have to navigate her way through the perils of high school. There she will try to fit in and gather intelligence for the Grime crew. She meets and bonds with Aponi who is a lot like Pepper. They have both experienced loss, resulting in an unconventional family. Whereas Aponi longs for a family to call her own, Pepper has adopted Grime and her work as a Grime cop as her family. Grime is her world, as is her partner. Two things she doesn't want to envision a world without.
Pepper gets to prove her worth when the bad guys gains the upper hand and with it, her partner. She will have to use her wits and courage to save him and face Claude. She's not alone with her unique Grime family having her back.
This story recalls the days of The Magic School Bus, a show I watched daily because it was entertaining and educational. I can easily see True Grime as a series with Pepper, Harley and their Grime group embarking on more adventures to save the human race. It's a story for everyone not just teenagers. It's a story that opened my eyes to a unique but believable world and addresses important issues in a fun way. Pepper is definitely a superhero in my eyes.
October 16, 2011
Short synopsis:
Pepper Powder and Harley Hands, two hard-boiled magical cops, live for the chance to put the fairy terrorists intent on wiping out humanity behind bars. But when a particularly evil fairy named von Beulow (aka Twilight Twinkle) busts out of jail intent on unleashing a deadly virus upon the world, Pepper faces her toughest assignment yet – going undercover as a human teenager and coming to terms with her feelings for Harley.
The long version:
From the synopsis above, you can get a sense of Deen’s satirical (and hilarious) sense of humor as well as her interest in genre fusion. (Full disclosure – I know the author personally, having met her at a writing conference several years ago.) “True Grime” is her YA debut, and while it isn’t perfect, it’s an enjoyable read that will likely appeal to tweens, teens, and even adults that can appreciate a young-at-heart sense of humor. In addition to the humor and hi-jinks, it features two strong female characters (Pepper and a Native American teenager) and explores serious issues such as disability and bullying. The main plot line involving the anti-human terrorists also leads to a larger thematic exploration of tolerance in general. The book is set in Edmonton, Canada (the huge West Edmonton Mall features prominently!), so it also offers the chance for readers to explore a setting outside of America.
My main criticism of the book is that there are a handful of minor typos sprinkled throughout. Another point is that the disability theme is not explored as thoroughly as bullying is. However, despite that, there are many high points, including the very touching scene in which Harley comforts Pepper after her main confrontation with the bully and perhaps the most imaginative magical interrogation and show-down scene I’ve ever read. Additionally, the science geek in me loves the fusion of magic and technology. It’s a little Harry Potter-esque, but with a more futuristic, James Bond edge and a way cooler (in my opinion) version of Q (two twin brother and sister bat fairies)! I'd recommend it for public or school libraries and booklists dealing with empathy, strong female characters, etc.
Pepper Powder and Harley Hands, two hard-boiled magical cops, live for the chance to put the fairy terrorists intent on wiping out humanity behind bars. But when a particularly evil fairy named von Beulow (aka Twilight Twinkle) busts out of jail intent on unleashing a deadly virus upon the world, Pepper faces her toughest assignment yet – going undercover as a human teenager and coming to terms with her feelings for Harley.
The long version:
From the synopsis above, you can get a sense of Deen’s satirical (and hilarious) sense of humor as well as her interest in genre fusion. (Full disclosure – I know the author personally, having met her at a writing conference several years ago.) “True Grime” is her YA debut, and while it isn’t perfect, it’s an enjoyable read that will likely appeal to tweens, teens, and even adults that can appreciate a young-at-heart sense of humor. In addition to the humor and hi-jinks, it features two strong female characters (Pepper and a Native American teenager) and explores serious issues such as disability and bullying. The main plot line involving the anti-human terrorists also leads to a larger thematic exploration of tolerance in general. The book is set in Edmonton, Canada (the huge West Edmonton Mall features prominently!), so it also offers the chance for readers to explore a setting outside of America.
My main criticism of the book is that there are a handful of minor typos sprinkled throughout. Another point is that the disability theme is not explored as thoroughly as bullying is. However, despite that, there are many high points, including the very touching scene in which Harley comforts Pepper after her main confrontation with the bully and perhaps the most imaginative magical interrogation and show-down scene I’ve ever read. Additionally, the science geek in me loves the fusion of magic and technology. It’s a little Harry Potter-esque, but with a more futuristic, James Bond edge and a way cooler (in my opinion) version of Q (two twin brother and sister bat fairies)! I'd recommend it for public or school libraries and booklists dealing with empathy, strong female characters, etc.
November 23, 2011
True Grime by Natasha Deen finds teen fairy Pepper Powder sent undercover in the human world. And what might have happened to cause this? Well, she's a good Grime cop, that's for sure. She and her senior partner Harley Hands make a great team, which is another plus. But what really sets it all in motion is when terrorist leader Claude Von Beulow escapes and releases a necrophage bomb that not only decimates Grime headquarters, it leaves Pepper as the first fairy amputee. Pepper, Harley, and the Grime team race against the clock to prevent Von Beulow from unleashing a VIURS in one of the human world's biggest shopping centers, West Edmonton Mall.
Deen's strength definitely resides in her development of characters. We have the impulsive, sarcastic Pepper who can be a bit of a lone wolf, running off and doing what she shouldn't if she thinks it will accomplish the job. She's never been undercover in the human world. She sure didn't know it would be filled with bullies and cliques. Then there's Harley, much older, much wiser. He knows humans almost as well as he knows himself. He's the one who keeps a cool head about him, and he's fiercely protective of Pepper. Then there are the supplemental characters: Lou, the Grime Lieutenant, Loca the technology guru, and Dr. Bentley, who helps get Pepper back up and running again after her leg is amputated.
In addition to her fabulous characters, you have a unique plot that engages the reader right away. From the opening line, you're drawn in: "In The City, crime never slept. It didn't eat or exercise, either, but I wished it would shower." Pepper makes an excellent narrator for this story. She's strong, funny, quick with the wit, and you can see she means well when she flubs.
What I feel Deen portrayed so well in True Grime is the commitment cops have to stomping out crime, and their devotion to their partners and fellow crime fighters. There were moments when it became very intense and the stakes were as high as they could get, but none of these people ever gave up.
If you're looking for a witty, engaging fairy story, you'll find it in True Grime by Natasha Deen.
Deen's strength definitely resides in her development of characters. We have the impulsive, sarcastic Pepper who can be a bit of a lone wolf, running off and doing what she shouldn't if she thinks it will accomplish the job. She's never been undercover in the human world. She sure didn't know it would be filled with bullies and cliques. Then there's Harley, much older, much wiser. He knows humans almost as well as he knows himself. He's the one who keeps a cool head about him, and he's fiercely protective of Pepper. Then there are the supplemental characters: Lou, the Grime Lieutenant, Loca the technology guru, and Dr. Bentley, who helps get Pepper back up and running again after her leg is amputated.
In addition to her fabulous characters, you have a unique plot that engages the reader right away. From the opening line, you're drawn in: "In The City, crime never slept. It didn't eat or exercise, either, but I wished it would shower." Pepper makes an excellent narrator for this story. She's strong, funny, quick with the wit, and you can see she means well when she flubs.
What I feel Deen portrayed so well in True Grime is the commitment cops have to stomping out crime, and their devotion to their partners and fellow crime fighters. There were moments when it became very intense and the stakes were as high as they could get, but none of these people ever gave up.
If you're looking for a witty, engaging fairy story, you'll find it in True Grime by Natasha Deen.
September 25, 2011
True Grime, by Natasha Deen
The human world is in peril. Fairy-gone-bad Claude Von Beulow, a crack chemist and convicted killer, has escaped from the magical world’s Menacres Asylum for the Criminally Insane. A cold-blooded human-hater, Von Beulow is bent on revenge. He wants to wipe out humanity and start a war in the magical world. Von Beulow already has an impressive track record – he was responsible for creating and unleashing the polio and small pox viruses. What will he do this time?
Pepper Powder-Puff and Harley Hands are Grime Cops in training. Both fairies have a personal stake in Von Beulow’s recapture – he killed their fathers. When the Grime Cops are called into action, Officers Powder and Hands unfurl their wings and take to the air. A tip leads them to the home of a prominent humanologist. The cops quickly determine Von Beulow had ransacked the fairy’s library of books on Canadian social rituals and customs. But the crime scene is a trap, and Pepper is infected with a necrophage virus and loses part of her leg. Undaunted, she and Harley go undercover and slip into the human world to pursue their quarry.
Armed with the knowledge that Von Beulow is using teenagers to spread his newest plague, Pepper and Harley disguise themselves as high school students. The hunt starts in Edmonton, but Von Beulow is onto them and Harley is abducted by a dragon fairy. Now, Pepper must stop Von Beulow and rescue her partner, all before the necrophage virus kills her. Fortified with an impressive array of magical powers and devices, Pepper relies on her wits and her stubborn resolve to find Harley and outsmart the terrorists. The action rips through space-time as Pepper discovers a dark part of her own heart, and she experiences emotions that push her to the edge of ethical behaviour.
This richly-imagined novel is packed with action and written with wit and skill. Deen’s characters come alive on every page as they learn about loyalty and love, the necessity of sacrifice, and what it means to be human.
The human world is in peril. Fairy-gone-bad Claude Von Beulow, a crack chemist and convicted killer, has escaped from the magical world’s Menacres Asylum for the Criminally Insane. A cold-blooded human-hater, Von Beulow is bent on revenge. He wants to wipe out humanity and start a war in the magical world. Von Beulow already has an impressive track record – he was responsible for creating and unleashing the polio and small pox viruses. What will he do this time?
Pepper Powder-Puff and Harley Hands are Grime Cops in training. Both fairies have a personal stake in Von Beulow’s recapture – he killed their fathers. When the Grime Cops are called into action, Officers Powder and Hands unfurl their wings and take to the air. A tip leads them to the home of a prominent humanologist. The cops quickly determine Von Beulow had ransacked the fairy’s library of books on Canadian social rituals and customs. But the crime scene is a trap, and Pepper is infected with a necrophage virus and loses part of her leg. Undaunted, she and Harley go undercover and slip into the human world to pursue their quarry.
Armed with the knowledge that Von Beulow is using teenagers to spread his newest plague, Pepper and Harley disguise themselves as high school students. The hunt starts in Edmonton, but Von Beulow is onto them and Harley is abducted by a dragon fairy. Now, Pepper must stop Von Beulow and rescue her partner, all before the necrophage virus kills her. Fortified with an impressive array of magical powers and devices, Pepper relies on her wits and her stubborn resolve to find Harley and outsmart the terrorists. The action rips through space-time as Pepper discovers a dark part of her own heart, and she experiences emotions that push her to the edge of ethical behaviour.
This richly-imagined novel is packed with action and written with wit and skill. Deen’s characters come alive on every page as they learn about loyalty and love, the necessity of sacrifice, and what it means to be human.
November 9, 2011
Review by Stephanie O: What do you get when you take Crime add some Fairies? True Grime, that’s what. Pepper Polly Pebble Petunia Power-Puff, yep that’s her name . . and fighting Grime, well that’s what she was born to do. By the book type of gal and always uptight. Secretly crushing on her partner, she wouldn’t know how to flirt with him to save her life . . honestly.
This book is packed full with imagination.
True Grime is the task force of fairies, put together to protect us silly little humans. See, we are too young to know what is best for us. In fact, did you know we have wiped ourselves out almost completely about 8 times? Once it was so bad, that we almost put the entire universe in harm’s way. Also, did you know that 30 mins human time is equal to 5 hrs of fairy time!!!!
True Grime partners Harley and Pepper have worked well together for a long time. Lou their boss wants them together on this mission. However, an accident with Pepper may have put that option in jeopardy. With Dr. Benny and Echo on the job, hopefully this won’t be the case.
This mission to the human realm has Pepper seeing humans in a whole new light. From meeting Malcolm, who seems such a bully . . until she gets a good look at his life and understands why he acts the way he does. To meeting Champagne and getting that tummy turning feeling of jealousy, and finally, meeting Aponi and understanding what it’s like to be human and to be different and to still be able to walk with your head held high.
Pepper aka Powder-Puff is a fairy on a mission, and nothing . . . I mean NOTHING is going to stand in her way. Claude Von Beulow will be back in custody and behind the walls of the Menacres Asylum. With the help of her team and new found friends can they see the job to its end?
I dare you to read this book and:
Look at a mountain the same.
View a volcano as “just” spewing hot lava.
The size of a tree as “small”.
Wonderful book that really makes you think.
Favorite Quote: “You’re lucky I’d never hit a girl.” I leaned in close to him. “Yeah, you too.”
This book is packed full with imagination.
True Grime is the task force of fairies, put together to protect us silly little humans. See, we are too young to know what is best for us. In fact, did you know we have wiped ourselves out almost completely about 8 times? Once it was so bad, that we almost put the entire universe in harm’s way. Also, did you know that 30 mins human time is equal to 5 hrs of fairy time!!!!
True Grime partners Harley and Pepper have worked well together for a long time. Lou their boss wants them together on this mission. However, an accident with Pepper may have put that option in jeopardy. With Dr. Benny and Echo on the job, hopefully this won’t be the case.
This mission to the human realm has Pepper seeing humans in a whole new light. From meeting Malcolm, who seems such a bully . . until she gets a good look at his life and understands why he acts the way he does. To meeting Champagne and getting that tummy turning feeling of jealousy, and finally, meeting Aponi and understanding what it’s like to be human and to be different and to still be able to walk with your head held high.
Pepper aka Powder-Puff is a fairy on a mission, and nothing . . . I mean NOTHING is going to stand in her way. Claude Von Beulow will be back in custody and behind the walls of the Menacres Asylum. With the help of her team and new found friends can they see the job to its end?
I dare you to read this book and:
Look at a mountain the same.
View a volcano as “just” spewing hot lava.
The size of a tree as “small”.
Wonderful book that really makes you think.
Favorite Quote: “You’re lucky I’d never hit a girl.” I leaned in close to him. “Yeah, you too.”
October 28, 2011
I have had the good fortune to have interviewed Natasha Deen on a few different occasions on The-GZONE, my blogtalk radio show. She is a blast; please go back to the interviews and get a feel for this fun, energetic author. She infuses this story with plenty of eye wink-wink fun, merriment and tongue in cheek craziness. Her plotline is unique, the narrative right on the mark, and the prose is just too much. If you have not yet had the chance to read one of her stories, please take the time and get one; the return in smiles is worth it. The link to my blogtalk show is:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gelatiss...
Here is the synopsis:
“Grime cop and teen fairy Pepper Powder lives for one thing: protecting the human species from magical zealots who seek to eradicate them with Violent Illness of Unusual Resistance and Strength (humans call them “viruses,” but their mistake is understandable. The very young often get their words wrong.). When a terrorist leader releases a necrophage bomb, it not only decimates Grime headquarters, it turns Pepper into the magical world’s first fairy amputee—but she’s not going to let a little thing like a missing leg stop her. To catch her criminal, and prevent him from unleashing a VIRUS in one of the human world’s biggest shopping centers, West Edmonton Mall, she goes undercover as a human. But once Pepper's theories of humanity collide with the reality of bullies, cliques, and environmental destruction, will she still believe humanity's worth saving?”
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gelatiss...
Here is the synopsis:
“Grime cop and teen fairy Pepper Powder lives for one thing: protecting the human species from magical zealots who seek to eradicate them with Violent Illness of Unusual Resistance and Strength (humans call them “viruses,” but their mistake is understandable. The very young often get their words wrong.). When a terrorist leader releases a necrophage bomb, it not only decimates Grime headquarters, it turns Pepper into the magical world’s first fairy amputee—but she’s not going to let a little thing like a missing leg stop her. To catch her criminal, and prevent him from unleashing a VIRUS in one of the human world’s biggest shopping centers, West Edmonton Mall, she goes undercover as a human. But once Pepper's theories of humanity collide with the reality of bullies, cliques, and environmental destruction, will she still believe humanity's worth saving?”
October 25, 2011
I completely enjoyed this book! Pepper is a Grime officer. She has one goal in her ferry existence, to protect humans. She and her partner go undercover to stop an escaped convict from dooming the human race. They become teenagers in a Canadian high school and learn a lot about human adolescence. Will they be able to stop the attack or just become pawns in a bigger strategy?
I loved Pepper! She is a strong, no nonsense type of girl and very caring at the same time. The fact that they had to integrate into a human high school made a lot of human problems come into a different light. It makes you think about some of the things we just accept and how wrong it would seem to someone unused to it. Her partner, the lab workers, doctor and even her boss were wonderful characters that just added to a great story!
I rate this a 5/5. It is a great and original story!
Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
I loved Pepper! She is a strong, no nonsense type of girl and very caring at the same time. The fact that they had to integrate into a human high school made a lot of human problems come into a different light. It makes you think about some of the things we just accept and how wrong it would seem to someone unused to it. Her partner, the lab workers, doctor and even her boss were wonderful characters that just added to a great story!
I rate this a 5/5. It is a great and original story!
Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
November 28, 2011
True Grime is a YA fantasy story of Grime cop and fairy Pepper and her partner Harley who's assignments are to protect humans from terrorists out to destroy them. Pepper is a feisty fairy who does not always conform to the rules but her priority is to her job and her partner and she will do what it takes to protect the humans. A blend of fantasy and mystery which makes the book interesting to read. In the story, the author has interjected a lot of truths to the 'human personality' and how the humans are 'young' as opposed to the fairy world and have a lot to learn. Pepper and Harley are assigned to live as human teenagers to find the terrorists who want to infect and control the teenage population. What follows is a story filled with interesting and often scary situations. I recommend this for the teen reader as there are some violent situations that are not appropriate for the younger reader. I can definitely see this as a series. I really enjoyed this story even though I do not normally read a lot of fantasy or YA.
February 15, 2013
True Grime is a really fun read. Natasha Deen has created a giggle inducing romp, written in her own quirky style. Pepper is a teen fairy cop and along with her partner Harley, she goes undercover to stop a dangerous escapee criminal from destroying humanity with Violent Illnesses of Unusual Resistance and Strength or as we humans call them viruses. Deen plays with fairy lore, alliteration and even acronyms in a way that will make you just grin and shake your head. I think my favorite part was all the different crossover species she came up with! True Grime was unlike anything I’ve ever read and I really hope that we get to see Pepper and Harley again!
Thank you to Natasha Deen and Partners in Crime Book Tours for the review copy. It in no way influenced my review.
Thank you to Natasha Deen and Partners in Crime Book Tours for the review copy. It in no way influenced my review.
November 11, 2011
Since I have read ALL of Natasha's work and I am a big fan I have to tell you this was a another well written book. I have never been to into Fantasy type books but this one had me from the beginning and I could not put it down. I think what I loved so much about this book was I like Faeries and the way Natasha describes each kind of them in this book really had me drawn in wanting to know more. I felt soo bad when Pepper lost her leg , you will have to read to find out what happened that made her loose a leg. The Ending of this book was sooo good, I want to read the next one like NOW! There is sooo much going on in this book I think this is a fantastic book for all ages! I rate this book a 4 out of 5~! now what are you waiting for go get this book and read it now!
November 9, 2011
This book was a humorous blend of both fantasy and mystery. The character of Pepper was one easy to love, and the comedy based off of our humanity was spot on. The storyline was interesting, and kept me compelled, and it fit with all the characters.
The book seemed to, beneath the surface, make a lot of statements about us as humans, and I felt that was one of the writer's strengths.
There was some strong language and adult situations such as violence so I'd recommend it for older teens, but even the old fogies among us can enjoy the story, and it was an enjoyable story.
If you get the chance, pick up this book, I think you'll love every minute of it. I did.
The book seemed to, beneath the surface, make a lot of statements about us as humans, and I felt that was one of the writer's strengths.
There was some strong language and adult situations such as violence so I'd recommend it for older teens, but even the old fogies among us can enjoy the story, and it was an enjoyable story.
If you get the chance, pick up this book, I think you'll love every minute of it. I did.
November 13, 2014
cute... really interesting and unique ... can't really think of much else to say about it. worth the read if you're ya geared.
October 23, 2012
This book was so much fun to read, it was witty and so funny. Another great think about this book is that it takes place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
I received this book thanks to GoodReads and Deen. Thank you.
I received this book thanks to GoodReads and Deen. Thank you.
November 17, 2012
Pepper was a very interesting character. She was fiesty, funny, and strong with great chemistry with her partner Harley. This book is very creative and has a lot of real messages in it. I will be watching for the next in this series.
November 30, 2014
Engaging, Fun Read!
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