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Cutlass #2
Flintlock
Barren Reed hopes to protect the Orient from his tyrant uncle, but his plans to make the King’s life a living hell aren’t supported by the Elders of the pirate community. As it stands, Barren has earned the Elders’ disdain for his carelessness, and they threaten him into exile if he makes one more mistake.
Barren’s not the only one feeling the Elders’ wrath—they don’t trust Larkin either. Worse, Barren can’t comprehend Larkin’s wish to have a relationship with her father, and the secrets she’s forced to keep create a tension that may pull them apart forever.
When the Pirates of Silver Crest begin to die, bullets laced with dark magic are to blame. With more and more of these weapons infiltrating the Underground, discovering who’s behind the dissemination is no easy feat. As fear and tension mount among the people of the Orient, Barren and his crew find themselves in a race against time to stop the spread of dark magic before the world of Mariana spirals into collapse.
Barren’s not the only one feeling the Elders’ wrath—they don’t trust Larkin either. Worse, Barren can’t comprehend Larkin’s wish to have a relationship with her father, and the secrets she’s forced to keep create a tension that may pull them apart forever.
When the Pirates of Silver Crest begin to die, bullets laced with dark magic are to blame. With more and more of these weapons infiltrating the Underground, discovering who’s behind the dissemination is no easy feat. As fear and tension mount among the people of the Orient, Barren and his crew find themselves in a race against time to stop the spread of dark magic before the world of Mariana spirals into collapse.
458 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2015
2 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Nixon
15 books181 followersI love books, tea, and Sherlock. I also like sword fights and Loki. How to Train Your Dragon and Frozen are two of my favorite movies.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 24, 2015
My Review:
I don't even know were to start, this book completely took me by surprise and had so much going on but I was never lost or confused but it had me guessing every step of the way. I fell in love with the first book Cutlass and the characters were very well developed. You get that I feel like I know them when you read the book. The story continues in this book and as much as the first book didn't have a lot of physical relations between Larkin and Barren this book showed the relationship between the two build. Ashley did a amazing job building this world and moving the story along in a way that just had me so engrossed that it was hard for me when it got closer to the end. I really just wanted it to keep going.
Barren is still the reckless character from the first book, this book maintains the essence of the characters from the first one so you never get disconnected they are the same character you enjoyed in the first book with all the same voices and tones. Larkin and totally kick ass and she really has grown a lot but you still see her struggle with trying to gain the trust of everyone in the pirate community. You get a lot more of Cove in this book and I loved every minute of it. You get a good sense of his character where in the first book he was there but more of a mystery. I adored him, reading in his point of view just gave this book more reason for me to love it so much. The first book one of my favorite characters was Leaf and he did not disappoint in this book, still even toned and very funny, his short quips just cracked me up but you see a different side of him in this book and I love the build of his character. There are lots of surprises and a few introductions to new characters that you will love to hate. They give you that UGH feel as you read them because you can't wait till they get taken down.
The beginning starts off beautifully giving you a good sense that the characters you love are still the same characters from the last book, I loved the progression of this book, so much going on and found myself talking out loud throughout the book when something I wasn't expecting to happen, happened. The world build and descriptions of rooms, the open sea and even the Autumn ball was fantastic. Ashley did an amazing job telling this story with all the details was just the most amazing part of this book. You can see it in your head it's almost like watching it on TV and when you stop reading it totally sticks with you.
I adore Ashley and I love her writing, she creates these amazing characters that feel real and can tell a story that weaves pirates, magic and mystery. She always had me guessing and I am pretty sure at some points I was having a panic attack. I can't express how much I love this book and this entire series. Ashley has really done such an amazing job and one of my all time FAVORITE authors. She is a phenomenal story teller! Well done, Ashley, Well done! I have grabby hands for the next book. I can't recommend this series enough for Young Adults and Adults, if you want something different with a strong handsome male, kick ass female and an amazing fantasy story, this is totally the book for you.
This review was originally posted on Because reading is better than real life
I don't even know were to start, this book completely took me by surprise and had so much going on but I was never lost or confused but it had me guessing every step of the way. I fell in love with the first book Cutlass and the characters were very well developed. You get that I feel like I know them when you read the book. The story continues in this book and as much as the first book didn't have a lot of physical relations between Larkin and Barren this book showed the relationship between the two build. Ashley did a amazing job building this world and moving the story along in a way that just had me so engrossed that it was hard for me when it got closer to the end. I really just wanted it to keep going.
Barren is still the reckless character from the first book, this book maintains the essence of the characters from the first one so you never get disconnected they are the same character you enjoyed in the first book with all the same voices and tones. Larkin and totally kick ass and she really has grown a lot but you still see her struggle with trying to gain the trust of everyone in the pirate community. You get a lot more of Cove in this book and I loved every minute of it. You get a good sense of his character where in the first book he was there but more of a mystery. I adored him, reading in his point of view just gave this book more reason for me to love it so much. The first book one of my favorite characters was Leaf and he did not disappoint in this book, still even toned and very funny, his short quips just cracked me up but you see a different side of him in this book and I love the build of his character. There are lots of surprises and a few introductions to new characters that you will love to hate. They give you that UGH feel as you read them because you can't wait till they get taken down.
The beginning starts off beautifully giving you a good sense that the characters you love are still the same characters from the last book, I loved the progression of this book, so much going on and found myself talking out loud throughout the book when something I wasn't expecting to happen, happened. The world build and descriptions of rooms, the open sea and even the Autumn ball was fantastic. Ashley did an amazing job telling this story with all the details was just the most amazing part of this book. You can see it in your head it's almost like watching it on TV and when you stop reading it totally sticks with you.
I adore Ashley and I love her writing, she creates these amazing characters that feel real and can tell a story that weaves pirates, magic and mystery. She always had me guessing and I am pretty sure at some points I was having a panic attack. I can't express how much I love this book and this entire series. Ashley has really done such an amazing job and one of my all time FAVORITE authors. She is a phenomenal story teller! Well done, Ashley, Well done! I have grabby hands for the next book. I can't recommend this series enough for Young Adults and Adults, if you want something different with a strong handsome male, kick ass female and an amazing fantasy story, this is totally the book for you.
This review was originally posted on Because reading is better than real life
May 20, 2015
Flintlock begins with action and ends the same. I don't think there was a single "slow" part in the entire book, which is not to say that it didn't sometimes drift away from the fighting to show us a softer side of the characters so we could understand and love them even more. No, Flintlock was the perfect balance of action and romance, of fast-paced adventure and quiet, meaningful moments. There was plenty of emotion weaved into the plot to connect the reader to what was going on.
The best part about Flintlock is that it is not a straight up pirate story, nor is it the kind of story that makes you believe "pirates are heroes and the 'good guys' are the evil ones". No, Ashley Nixon understands that people are not good or evil but made up of shades of grey. People are complex, as are their motives and actions. We get to see darker sides of our 'heroes' as well as more human sides of our 'villains'.
Of course, it is also really cool the way magic exists in the story. I LOVE the concept of Lyrics. The elvish culture, the pirate code, everything is done so perfectly! It's all interesting and engaging!
My ONLY complaint with this book is that occasionally words were overused. You'd see the same word used three or more times in a single paragraph when a synonym could have been substituted to break up the redundancy but that is more personal preference with writing style than an actual "fault" in the book.
What I love the most about Flintlock is the plot twists were, for once, SURPRISING! I've been reading since I was five and have read over a thousand books in my life easily so most of the time I see plot twists coming and I'm rolling my eyes the entire book expecting it and thinking the characters are stupid not to notice what is about to happen, but Flintlock gave me a shock I DID NOT SEE COMING and I'm in love with the feeling of being taken surprise by a clever plot line!
All in all this was an exciting, enchanting book and I loved reading it. I was left begging for more, which is something not very many books can do to me. I can't wait for book 3 and I recommend everyone give this series a try! If nothing else, because Ashley Nixon is quite clever and creative.
The best part about Flintlock is that it is not a straight up pirate story, nor is it the kind of story that makes you believe "pirates are heroes and the 'good guys' are the evil ones". No, Ashley Nixon understands that people are not good or evil but made up of shades of grey. People are complex, as are their motives and actions. We get to see darker sides of our 'heroes' as well as more human sides of our 'villains'.
Of course, it is also really cool the way magic exists in the story. I LOVE the concept of Lyrics. The elvish culture, the pirate code, everything is done so perfectly! It's all interesting and engaging!
My ONLY complaint with this book is that occasionally words were overused. You'd see the same word used three or more times in a single paragraph when a synonym could have been substituted to break up the redundancy but that is more personal preference with writing style than an actual "fault" in the book.
What I love the most about Flintlock is the plot twists were, for once, SURPRISING! I've been reading since I was five and have read over a thousand books in my life easily so most of the time I see plot twists coming and I'm rolling my eyes the entire book expecting it and thinking the characters are stupid not to notice what is about to happen, but Flintlock gave me a shock I DID NOT SEE COMING and I'm in love with the feeling of being taken surprise by a clever plot line!
All in all this was an exciting, enchanting book and I loved reading it. I was left begging for more, which is something not very many books can do to me. I can't wait for book 3 and I recommend everyone give this series a try! If nothing else, because Ashley Nixon is quite clever and creative.
June 15, 2020
I was kindly gifted Flintlock by Lola's Blog Tours in return for an honest review.
When I finished reading Cutlass, I was definitely excited to start Flintlock, I was glad I was able to read them back to back. Just like Cutlass, this one took me by surprise. At no point was I left feeling lost or confused, I really hate books where you don’t know what’s going on or it’s just everywhere. Ashley definitely continued the great job of Cutlass into Flintlock.
The same great characters were there and the locations as well, sometimes sequels can be completely different compared to the first book. The world building continued in this story, the story continued in a great way. I was totally engrossed, also coming back to the world building, because it was so good, Ashley did an amazing job with this. At some parts, it did feel like I was watching it on TV and not reading the book!
This book started with action and ended exactly the same, just beautiful. Thinking back, I don’t think there was a single slow part in the entire book. It was the perfect combination of action and romance, I really love when these two genres work together and this one definitely does that. Also there’s some fast-paced adventure moments chucked in there as well!
To read more about Flintlock, head here: https://anoceanglimmer.wordpress.com/...
When I finished reading Cutlass, I was definitely excited to start Flintlock, I was glad I was able to read them back to back. Just like Cutlass, this one took me by surprise. At no point was I left feeling lost or confused, I really hate books where you don’t know what’s going on or it’s just everywhere. Ashley definitely continued the great job of Cutlass into Flintlock.
The same great characters were there and the locations as well, sometimes sequels can be completely different compared to the first book. The world building continued in this story, the story continued in a great way. I was totally engrossed, also coming back to the world building, because it was so good, Ashley did an amazing job with this. At some parts, it did feel like I was watching it on TV and not reading the book!
This book started with action and ended exactly the same, just beautiful. Thinking back, I don’t think there was a single slow part in the entire book. It was the perfect combination of action and romance, I really love when these two genres work together and this one definitely does that. Also there’s some fast-paced adventure moments chucked in there as well!
To read more about Flintlock, head here: https://anoceanglimmer.wordpress.com/...
March 12, 2018
Read my review here:https://thehufflepuffnerdette.wordpre...
July 1, 2015
This review and more can be found at The A P Book Club!
*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
I loved Cutlass, and have been waiting for Flintlock for what seems like forever! I've been dying to jump back into Ashley's incredible world full of pirates, elves, magic and romance. From the first sentence, this book comes to life and jumps off of the page! There's no "second-book syndrome" here, which was a nice breath of fresh air.
Since this book takes place a few months after the end of Cutlass, things are still pretty much a mess. Barren wants to get rid of his crazy uncle (who happens to also be the king) or at least make his life miserable, Larkin and Barren are in a weird place in their relationship because of all the secrets they're keeping, Cove's position as the Albatross might be at risk, and basically everything is in shambles. Oh, and pirates are dying in mysterious ways. Because obviously the rest of that wasn't enough!
I loved that all of my favorite characters are back and that we get to learn more about them. I mean, I thought I knew Barren pretty well at the end of Cutlass, but he still has more secrets that are revealed in Flintlock and I'm sure more that will revealed in the next book. I enjoyed getting to know Larkin and Cove better too, and their blossoming friendship was probably one of my favorite things about this book. I also really enjoyed that the characters remained consistent from Cutlass to Flintlock, so it was easy to jump right back in. Especially since it felt like reuniting with old friends!
Speaking of characters, can I take a second here to say how much I love Cove? Watching him in action and seeing him with Sarah made me love him all the more, and I really hope he plays an even bigger role in the last book. There were several places where I almost lost it because of things that happen to Cove, and I'm still very concerned about what will happen in the next book. Please don't let anything horrible happen to Cove!
Ashley has this wonderful way with words that makes the story move along at a really great pace while continuing to establish this crazy, complicated, fascinating world filled with characters who are just as complex. I never felt like the plot was dragging or that the characters were stagnant - even the minor characters go through quite a bit of development. Everything about Flintlock is dynamic, and I was shocked when I went to turn the page and the book was over. Also a little upset, because how can you do that to us?! This was one of those books where I took to social media as soon as it was over to tell Ashley how much I loved it and how much I need her to finish the next book ASAP!
If you enjoy YA fantasy, you definitely need this series in your hands right now. Especially if you like Ya fantasy with well-rounded characters, gorgeous writing, some of the best world-building I've read, and an exciting plot. Even if you don't typically read YA fantasy, this is a series that could really appeal to anyone who loves books in general. If you've read Cutlass, you NEED to drop whatever you're doing and read Flintlock right this second! A 5/5!
*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
I loved Cutlass, and have been waiting for Flintlock for what seems like forever! I've been dying to jump back into Ashley's incredible world full of pirates, elves, magic and romance. From the first sentence, this book comes to life and jumps off of the page! There's no "second-book syndrome" here, which was a nice breath of fresh air.
Since this book takes place a few months after the end of Cutlass, things are still pretty much a mess. Barren wants to get rid of his crazy uncle (who happens to also be the king) or at least make his life miserable, Larkin and Barren are in a weird place in their relationship because of all the secrets they're keeping, Cove's position as the Albatross might be at risk, and basically everything is in shambles. Oh, and pirates are dying in mysterious ways. Because obviously the rest of that wasn't enough!
I loved that all of my favorite characters are back and that we get to learn more about them. I mean, I thought I knew Barren pretty well at the end of Cutlass, but he still has more secrets that are revealed in Flintlock and I'm sure more that will revealed in the next book. I enjoyed getting to know Larkin and Cove better too, and their blossoming friendship was probably one of my favorite things about this book. I also really enjoyed that the characters remained consistent from Cutlass to Flintlock, so it was easy to jump right back in. Especially since it felt like reuniting with old friends!
Speaking of characters, can I take a second here to say how much I love Cove? Watching him in action and seeing him with Sarah made me love him all the more, and I really hope he plays an even bigger role in the last book. There were several places where I almost lost it because of things that happen to Cove, and I'm still very concerned about what will happen in the next book. Please don't let anything horrible happen to Cove!
Ashley has this wonderful way with words that makes the story move along at a really great pace while continuing to establish this crazy, complicated, fascinating world filled with characters who are just as complex. I never felt like the plot was dragging or that the characters were stagnant - even the minor characters go through quite a bit of development. Everything about Flintlock is dynamic, and I was shocked when I went to turn the page and the book was over. Also a little upset, because how can you do that to us?! This was one of those books where I took to social media as soon as it was over to tell Ashley how much I loved it and how much I need her to finish the next book ASAP!
If you enjoy YA fantasy, you definitely need this series in your hands right now. Especially if you like Ya fantasy with well-rounded characters, gorgeous writing, some of the best world-building I've read, and an exciting plot. Even if you don't typically read YA fantasy, this is a series that could really appeal to anyone who loves books in general. If you've read Cutlass, you NEED to drop whatever you're doing and read Flintlock right this second! A 5/5!
May 28, 2015
My review is also available here: https://fangirlsreaditfirst.wordpress...
Barren, Larkin, and the rest of Barren’s pirate crew are still reeling from the aftermath of so many betrayals. But before Barren can seek his uncle and cousin’s out for retribution, he is summoned before the council of pirate elders to answer for his crimes, including kidnapping Larkin. Cove once again proves himself a great alley and swears to guide Barren, but if Barren commits more havoc against their community the elders will exile both of them.
Quite a bit more magic appeared in this book. Barren and Larkin individually find themselves struggling with magic. Larkin struggles to come to terms with new abilities while Barren deals with the repercussions of the bloodstone. It was interesting that neither character would confide in each other about their struggles. This showed how strong these two characters are and how they are very much their own separate persons. Also how they are able trust each other with their lives, and though they might love each other, they still have a long way to go in trusting each other fully with their hearts.The romance between Larkin and Barren took some giant leaps only to repeatedly fall flat on it’s face. As I had mentioned they both are keeping big secrets from each other. And neither is terribly sure how the other feels. But it was nice to see both individually come to true terms about how they felt, even if they haven’t admitted it yet.Leap started to get more character development this time. When he wasn’t busy comically foiling Larkin and Barren’s romantic alone moments, that is. He spent a great deal of time, as usual, being Barren’s voice of restraint and reason, as he doesn’t want to see his best friend exiled. He was a shoulder for Barren to lean on many times. He also continued to deal with being away from his elven people and struggled now that Barren’s become aware of Leap’s lost love. As much as Leap brings the comic relief to this story, he also is a strong character in his own right as friend, protector, and warrior. He endures struggles of his own in this book, which add to his depth.Cove became a main character as well in this book. He is such an interesting character because while he is secretly loyal and an ally to the pirates, he is also a member of the government and polite society. He could stand to lose everything, even his life, if this association were brought to light. But he continues to be unwavering in his support and friendship with Barren. Cove also got a bit of romance this time around. His rival became engaged to Cove’s long love. So Cove became a little more human and approachable while he endured his forbidden affections.
Flintlock was more focused on the characters and developing them and their ties to each other, rather than the action or pirate life. There were real stakes and trials for every character in this book and I can’t wait to see where this series goes!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. It is appropriate for young adult and adult readers.
Barren, Larkin, and the rest of Barren’s pirate crew are still reeling from the aftermath of so many betrayals. But before Barren can seek his uncle and cousin’s out for retribution, he is summoned before the council of pirate elders to answer for his crimes, including kidnapping Larkin. Cove once again proves himself a great alley and swears to guide Barren, but if Barren commits more havoc against their community the elders will exile both of them.
Quite a bit more magic appeared in this book. Barren and Larkin individually find themselves struggling with magic. Larkin struggles to come to terms with new abilities while Barren deals with the repercussions of the bloodstone. It was interesting that neither character would confide in each other about their struggles. This showed how strong these two characters are and how they are very much their own separate persons. Also how they are able trust each other with their lives, and though they might love each other, they still have a long way to go in trusting each other fully with their hearts.The romance between Larkin and Barren took some giant leaps only to repeatedly fall flat on it’s face. As I had mentioned they both are keeping big secrets from each other. And neither is terribly sure how the other feels. But it was nice to see both individually come to true terms about how they felt, even if they haven’t admitted it yet.Leap started to get more character development this time. When he wasn’t busy comically foiling Larkin and Barren’s romantic alone moments, that is. He spent a great deal of time, as usual, being Barren’s voice of restraint and reason, as he doesn’t want to see his best friend exiled. He was a shoulder for Barren to lean on many times. He also continued to deal with being away from his elven people and struggled now that Barren’s become aware of Leap’s lost love. As much as Leap brings the comic relief to this story, he also is a strong character in his own right as friend, protector, and warrior. He endures struggles of his own in this book, which add to his depth.Cove became a main character as well in this book. He is such an interesting character because while he is secretly loyal and an ally to the pirates, he is also a member of the government and polite society. He could stand to lose everything, even his life, if this association were brought to light. But he continues to be unwavering in his support and friendship with Barren. Cove also got a bit of romance this time around. His rival became engaged to Cove’s long love. So Cove became a little more human and approachable while he endured his forbidden affections.
Flintlock was more focused on the characters and developing them and their ties to each other, rather than the action or pirate life. There were real stakes and trials for every character in this book and I can’t wait to see where this series goes!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. It is appropriate for young adult and adult readers.
May 11, 2015
This review and more on So Bookalicious
Cutlass was one of my favorite reads of 2014. Ever since reading it I have been anxiously awaiting the sequel, Flintlock. So when the Ashley Nixon approached me to ask if I wanted an early review copy of it I did not have to think twice.
Again I was swept away to the wonderful world of the Cutlass series. The book picked up a few weeks or months after the events in Cutlass. Barren finds himself once again in trouble but as usual his crew and Larkin have his back. It is easy to say that he is still the same reckless character from the first book. Barren always first acts before he thinks. In some ways Larkin is the same but there are other moments were she overthinks everything. Larkin is a great heroin, she is total kick ass; I would not want to mess with her. And she has grown a lot since the first book; she is strong both physically and mentally. But at the same time she is still struggling to get fully accepted in the new life she has chosen for herself. I really love seeing Barren and Larkin together, they keep each other on their toes and they bring up the best in each other. And that is exactly what I am looking for in a couple. I loved that Ashley also showed that every relationship has its ups and downs. Not everything is rainbows and unicorns in Barren’s and Larkin’s relationship but that is what makes them stronger in the end.
The secondary characters were also well-developed. We got to see a lot more of Cover and I have to say that I really like his character. I believe that he has grown into one of my favorite characters of this book. Besides the old characters, and I loved seeing them all again, a lot of new characters were introduced. Some were created to despise or even hate but others were loveable like Sarah. I have a feeling that she can grow into something really amazing in the next book and I hope that I am right.
The world building of this book is wonderful. I cannot get enough of the world that Barren and his crew live in. If it was possible I would want to sail the sea of the Octent and the Orient myself. Ashley describes all the details really vividly. One of my favorite scenes was the one of the Autumn ball, she described all the different dresses and mask in such a detail that it took my breath away.
I enjoyed Flintlock immensely. Everything Ashley wrote fitted perfectly together, the characters, the world… Everything was just perfect. To top it all of Ashley her writing style is really addictive and I found it impossible to put this book down. She wrote an amazing sequel to a great first novel and I cannot wait until the next book comes out. I would highly recommend this book and it’s prequel to everyone. Especially if you are a fan of Young Adult fantasy than this is a series that you have to read.
Cutlass was one of my favorite reads of 2014. Ever since reading it I have been anxiously awaiting the sequel, Flintlock. So when the Ashley Nixon approached me to ask if I wanted an early review copy of it I did not have to think twice.
Again I was swept away to the wonderful world of the Cutlass series. The book picked up a few weeks or months after the events in Cutlass. Barren finds himself once again in trouble but as usual his crew and Larkin have his back. It is easy to say that he is still the same reckless character from the first book. Barren always first acts before he thinks. In some ways Larkin is the same but there are other moments were she overthinks everything. Larkin is a great heroin, she is total kick ass; I would not want to mess with her. And she has grown a lot since the first book; she is strong both physically and mentally. But at the same time she is still struggling to get fully accepted in the new life she has chosen for herself. I really love seeing Barren and Larkin together, they keep each other on their toes and they bring up the best in each other. And that is exactly what I am looking for in a couple. I loved that Ashley also showed that every relationship has its ups and downs. Not everything is rainbows and unicorns in Barren’s and Larkin’s relationship but that is what makes them stronger in the end.
The secondary characters were also well-developed. We got to see a lot more of Cover and I have to say that I really like his character. I believe that he has grown into one of my favorite characters of this book. Besides the old characters, and I loved seeing them all again, a lot of new characters were introduced. Some were created to despise or even hate but others were loveable like Sarah. I have a feeling that she can grow into something really amazing in the next book and I hope that I am right.
The world building of this book is wonderful. I cannot get enough of the world that Barren and his crew live in. If it was possible I would want to sail the sea of the Octent and the Orient myself. Ashley describes all the details really vividly. One of my favorite scenes was the one of the Autumn ball, she described all the different dresses and mask in such a detail that it took my breath away.
I enjoyed Flintlock immensely. Everything Ashley wrote fitted perfectly together, the characters, the world… Everything was just perfect. To top it all of Ashley her writing style is really addictive and I found it impossible to put this book down. She wrote an amazing sequel to a great first novel and I cannot wait until the next book comes out. I would highly recommend this book and it’s prequel to everyone. Especially if you are a fan of Young Adult fantasy than this is a series that you have to read.
July 31, 2015
ORIGINALLY POSTED AT DJ'S BOOK CORNER
This book was bloody awesome. I really liked Cutlass, but Flintlock was Cutlass on crystal meth. AMPED UP and CRAZY!
There are too many characters to break down each one so let's just go with what we know, shall we? I really liked Barren in this book. In Cutlass, he was very immature and only guided by one thing–revenge. By Flintlock, he's had his revenge but encountered a whole new world of problems that make his problems seem small-time. But in all, he's smarter and dare I say, a bit sexier? He doesn't always make the right decision, but you see him at least try in this book and base his decisions on what's best for his crew and the whole of Mariana and not just for himself.
Not gonna lie, Larkin got on my damn nerves. I understand her actions throughout this book, but they still annoy me because they were still stupid decisions. I'm very interested to see how things progress for her and Barren and how she emerges from the situation she landed herself in by the end of this book. The next book is going to rock our socks off, I'm sure!
Another notable relationship I think is just adorable is the one between Cove and Sara. Just so cute. I had to say that.
The magic element was on super nova in Flintlock. In Cutlass, magic was this shadow of a thing that no one really knew much about or wanted to. In Flintlock, all of that has changed and magic is everywhere. I loved it. I can't speak too much on it without giving the plot away, but the way the author twisted this story around and gave it so much depth is fantastic. Not to mention the world-building which was amazing. Ashley writes really really great action scenes and those suckers are hard to write! So thumbs up there. I found my heart racing during each one and my eyes were glued to my Kindle because you seriously never knew what was going to happen next! Love, love!
Another great thing about this book is that there is more than one bad guy. I love when books give us competing antagonists...and secret heroes (hint, hint). But there is a "Game of Thrones" vibe in Flintlock (without the incest) which is really awesome. I loved that there was plenty of pirate action and no lack of murder and mayhem. Ah yes, just what the doctor ordered.
So if you were wondering whether you should get into this series, you most definitely should. From beginning to end, the fun never ends, and though the book ended kind of suddenly, I didn't feel as though I was cheated in any way. This is still a great sequel and I highly recommend it!
This book was bloody awesome. I really liked Cutlass, but Flintlock was Cutlass on crystal meth. AMPED UP and CRAZY!
There are too many characters to break down each one so let's just go with what we know, shall we? I really liked Barren in this book. In Cutlass, he was very immature and only guided by one thing–revenge. By Flintlock, he's had his revenge but encountered a whole new world of problems that make his problems seem small-time. But in all, he's smarter and dare I say, a bit sexier? He doesn't always make the right decision, but you see him at least try in this book and base his decisions on what's best for his crew and the whole of Mariana and not just for himself.
Not gonna lie, Larkin got on my damn nerves. I understand her actions throughout this book, but they still annoy me because they were still stupid decisions. I'm very interested to see how things progress for her and Barren and how she emerges from the situation she landed herself in by the end of this book. The next book is going to rock our socks off, I'm sure!
Another notable relationship I think is just adorable is the one between Cove and Sara. Just so cute. I had to say that.
The magic element was on super nova in Flintlock. In Cutlass, magic was this shadow of a thing that no one really knew much about or wanted to. In Flintlock, all of that has changed and magic is everywhere. I loved it. I can't speak too much on it without giving the plot away, but the way the author twisted this story around and gave it so much depth is fantastic. Not to mention the world-building which was amazing. Ashley writes really really great action scenes and those suckers are hard to write! So thumbs up there. I found my heart racing during each one and my eyes were glued to my Kindle because you seriously never knew what was going to happen next! Love, love!
Another great thing about this book is that there is more than one bad guy. I love when books give us competing antagonists...and secret heroes (hint, hint). But there is a "Game of Thrones" vibe in Flintlock (without the incest) which is really awesome. I loved that there was plenty of pirate action and no lack of murder and mayhem. Ah yes, just what the doctor ordered.
So if you were wondering whether you should get into this series, you most definitely should. From beginning to end, the fun never ends, and though the book ended kind of suddenly, I didn't feel as though I was cheated in any way. This is still a great sequel and I highly recommend it!
June 6, 2015
Flintlock is outstanding! This book has adventure, romance and suspense all wrapped up together. Since this is the second book of the series, the story begins with Barren, the ship captain, and his crew being warned by the Elders for careless crimes. They threaten Barren with potential exile if another mistake is made. The ambassador takes them in since someone has made a threat against the king’s life and Barren and his crew have been asked to stop it from being carried out. During Ambassador Cove’s gala, he is shot in the chest by a mysterious bullet before problems start to arise tenfold as the crew discovers the bullets are laced with black magic. Barren is now faced with losing his crew, his friends and his life when he makes the final decision to investigate the Underground for the creator of these bullets. He captures the assassin and goes to Mariana where Larkin must return as a disgraced Lady in order to protect the pirates from further anguish. Will Barren’s carelessness get in the way of Larkin’s return to her father? What will the pirates find with their investigation…and could it be more than they originally bargained for?
I really enjoyed reading this story. My favorite characters in this book are Barren, Larkin and Leaf. Leaf is the Elf prince that befriends Barren in the first book. He is wise and/or skilled in several things like fighting, healing and compassion. While Barren may be careless, Leaf is Barren’s savior in many ways. The Elf prince protects his friend from many mistakes along the way. There is loss in this book which tore at my heart upon reading it, but it is understandable and somewhat of a necessity for change in certain aspects. Larkin is a constant reminder to Barren of his inability to trust. He cares deeply for her; however, he struggles with trusting her to follow through with orders that will keep her safe and away from danger.
I give Flintlock a five star review because the author created an entirely new world, new ideas, originality in plot and several intermingled and emotionally complex characters that all have a part to play in this adventure. The kings, the pirates, the Elves and the Underground are all describes vividly enough to where I was able to see what the author wanted me to see. This book is geared toward a young adult audience; however, it is not gender specific. It would be preferable to read the first book in the series and then this one since it is in a sequential order of events; however, it can be read as a standalone.
I really enjoyed reading this story. My favorite characters in this book are Barren, Larkin and Leaf. Leaf is the Elf prince that befriends Barren in the first book. He is wise and/or skilled in several things like fighting, healing and compassion. While Barren may be careless, Leaf is Barren’s savior in many ways. The Elf prince protects his friend from many mistakes along the way. There is loss in this book which tore at my heart upon reading it, but it is understandable and somewhat of a necessity for change in certain aspects. Larkin is a constant reminder to Barren of his inability to trust. He cares deeply for her; however, he struggles with trusting her to follow through with orders that will keep her safe and away from danger.
I give Flintlock a five star review because the author created an entirely new world, new ideas, originality in plot and several intermingled and emotionally complex characters that all have a part to play in this adventure. The kings, the pirates, the Elves and the Underground are all describes vividly enough to where I was able to see what the author wanted me to see. This book is geared toward a young adult audience; however, it is not gender specific. It would be preferable to read the first book in the series and then this one since it is in a sequential order of events; however, it can be read as a standalone.
September 3, 2015
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian I Dig Good Books.
*I received a copy of this book from Xpresso Reads in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
I have to admit that this book shocked me. I didn’t have extremely high hopes (I’m not entirely sure why either) but the idea intrigued me. Wow! I was seriously blown away. The story is absolutely incredible! The characters will keep you reading and wanting to read more. The plot is incredible and kept my attention throughout the book.
Okay, so the pirates in this book were different to me, but not in a bad way! I think this is the first book I’ve read that had pirates in the story and this was a great start for me. They aren’t “good” guys but they aren’t the “terrible” guys that you sometimes hear them to be. There is always the exception to the story but I really liked the angle she took with them.
I think the detail and description that this author used in her story were out of the world. I was amazed by how easy it was to picture the scenery and the characters. I view this book, if made into a movie, as one that is extremely heavy into detail to help tell the proper story. There wasn’t anything I wasn’t sure about as to how the author wanted it to be or the characters looks.
Now, to admit that I haven’t read book one! GASP! I didn’t feel like I was necessarily missing anything or wasn’t left confused while reading. However, now that I have read the blurb I will be reading book one! I love how the author wrote the second book to flow along from the first book but in a way that you weren’t lost starting the second one. That’s not an easy task to be done when it is the same story continued on.
Go pick yourself up a copy of book one (Cutlass) and book two (Flintlock). I think you will be intrigued and blown away. What a great story!
*I received a copy of this book from Xpresso Reads in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
I have to admit that this book shocked me. I didn’t have extremely high hopes (I’m not entirely sure why either) but the idea intrigued me. Wow! I was seriously blown away. The story is absolutely incredible! The characters will keep you reading and wanting to read more. The plot is incredible and kept my attention throughout the book.
Okay, so the pirates in this book were different to me, but not in a bad way! I think this is the first book I’ve read that had pirates in the story and this was a great start for me. They aren’t “good” guys but they aren’t the “terrible” guys that you sometimes hear them to be. There is always the exception to the story but I really liked the angle she took with them.
I think the detail and description that this author used in her story were out of the world. I was amazed by how easy it was to picture the scenery and the characters. I view this book, if made into a movie, as one that is extremely heavy into detail to help tell the proper story. There wasn’t anything I wasn’t sure about as to how the author wanted it to be or the characters looks.
Now, to admit that I haven’t read book one! GASP! I didn’t feel like I was necessarily missing anything or wasn’t left confused while reading. However, now that I have read the blurb I will be reading book one! I love how the author wrote the second book to flow along from the first book but in a way that you weren’t lost starting the second one. That’s not an easy task to be done when it is the same story continued on.
Go pick yourself up a copy of book one (Cutlass) and book two (Flintlock). I think you will be intrigued and blown away. What a great story!
June 2, 2015
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I thought the authors' skill set significantly improved or she fell victim to 'first book in a series' syndrome, because Flintlock was so much better than the first! The author definitely showed instead of tell in this book so you were able to fall into the story. The plot was much more developed and had a lot of unsuspecting turns that I really appreciated as the reader. The characters from the first book that kept me reading are back in this book and kicking ass! The characters grow more in this book because they have to deal with magic more. There is a lot more magic in this book then the first one and instead of creating big plot wholes in story, like magic can do, the magic helps cause drama and propel the story along. I really liked this book and feel like everyone who reads YA or fantasy will also enjoy this book! I believe that most can read the second without having to read the first but some might feel like they are missing something and might want to read them in order. I would recommend this book series to everyone!
I thought the authors' skill set significantly improved or she fell victim to 'first book in a series' syndrome, because Flintlock was so much better than the first! The author definitely showed instead of tell in this book so you were able to fall into the story. The plot was much more developed and had a lot of unsuspecting turns that I really appreciated as the reader. The characters from the first book that kept me reading are back in this book and kicking ass! The characters grow more in this book because they have to deal with magic more. There is a lot more magic in this book then the first one and instead of creating big plot wholes in story, like magic can do, the magic helps cause drama and propel the story along. I really liked this book and feel like everyone who reads YA or fantasy will also enjoy this book! I believe that most can read the second without having to read the first but some might feel like they are missing something and might want to read them in order. I would recommend this book series to everyone!
June 1, 2015
When you have Elfen Pirates you need nothing more Although Flintlock is Book Two in The Cutlass Series Author Ashley Nixon has done a superb job building this story to stand on its own. I have not read Cutlass which is Book One but am now intrigued to go back and read the beginning of Barren’s adventures. I’m certain I could do so and be pleased and not experience overpowering duplication.
Flintlock has dashing pirates, enlightened Elves hateful scoundrels, sword fights, near death experiences, magic and unfortunate love. The story has a nice cutthroat tempo. There is an engaging balance between edge of your seat action and plot building to allow you to catch your breath. The originality of Elf Pirates deserves two thumbs up for Author Ashley Nixon.
I enjoyed this story and it’s uniqueness. I looked forward to quickly removing Cutlass Book One from my TBR pile and will try to patiently :-) wait for Book Three.
**** 4 of 5 stars ****
FTC guidelines require me to disclose that I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an unbiased review. All review comments are honest and my own.
Flintlock has dashing pirates, enlightened Elves hateful scoundrels, sword fights, near death experiences, magic and unfortunate love. The story has a nice cutthroat tempo. There is an engaging balance between edge of your seat action and plot building to allow you to catch your breath. The originality of Elf Pirates deserves two thumbs up for Author Ashley Nixon.
I enjoyed this story and it’s uniqueness. I looked forward to quickly removing Cutlass Book One from my TBR pile and will try to patiently :-) wait for Book Three.
**** 4 of 5 stars ****
FTC guidelines require me to disclose that I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an unbiased review. All review comments are honest and my own.
June 1, 2015
Although Flintlock is Book Two in The Cutlass Series Author Ashley Nixon has done a superb job building this story to stand on its own. I have not read Cutlass which is Book One but am now intrigued to go back and read the beginning of Barren’s adventures. I’m certain I could do so and be pleased and not experience overpowering duplication.
Flintlock has dashing pirates, enlightened Elves hateful scoundrels, sword fights, near death experiences, magic and unfortunate love. The story has a nice cutthroat tempo. There is an engaging balance between edge of your seat action and plot building to allow you to catch your breath. The originality of Elf Pirates deserves two thumbs up for Author Ashley Nixon.
I enjoyed this story and it’s uniqueness. I looked forward to quickly removing Cutlass Book One from my TBR pile and will try to patiently :-) wait for Book Three.
**** 4 of 5 stars ****
FTC guidelines require me to disclose that I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an unbiased review. All review comments are honest and my own.
June 24, 2016
Originally posted on Brit's Book Nook
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for my honest review.
I wasn’t a fan of this one. The plot seemed to be disorganized and all over the place. Characters were making decisions that really didn’t make sense to me and I found myself not really caring about what happened to any of them.
The writing was alright. Nothing fantastic or outstanding about the writing. If I’m being honest here, I believe I was actually missing a few pages in my copy, a few VERY important pages that left me totally confused for the majority of the book. It didn’t all start coming together until the very end.
I knew this book would end in a cliffhanger because the plot didn’t get serious until the 85% mark. Before that everyone was just running around trying to gather information. Even though there was action it was pretty boring.
I don’t think I would recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for my honest review.
I wasn’t a fan of this one. The plot seemed to be disorganized and all over the place. Characters were making decisions that really didn’t make sense to me and I found myself not really caring about what happened to any of them.
The writing was alright. Nothing fantastic or outstanding about the writing. If I’m being honest here, I believe I was actually missing a few pages in my copy, a few VERY important pages that left me totally confused for the majority of the book. It didn’t all start coming together until the very end.
I knew this book would end in a cliffhanger because the plot didn’t get serious until the 85% mark. Before that everyone was just running around trying to gather information. Even though there was action it was pretty boring.
I don’t think I would recommend this book.
December 22, 2015
Adventure on the high seas! Pirates and ships and revenge... Flintlock is the second in a series with the first book, Cutlass, starting the adventure, With characters like the handsome vengeance filled Barren and the beautiful witty Larkin, this book is perfect for lovers of Pirates of the Caribbean or Black Sails, A winning high seas adventure...
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