Cutlass (Cutlass)

by Ashley Nixon

• ISBN10: 0991132300
• ISBN13: 9780991132300
• Publish Date: 7 March 2014
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Starseed Press
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 440
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

Cutlass is a fun adventure with pirates, elves, and pirate elves! Barren may only be eighteen, but he's a feared pirate with a loyal crew. He stalks the shores of Marianna, attacking any ship that comes his way, hoping that one day it'll be his brother so he can exact his revenge! Barren is sick of waiting though, so he kidnaps his brother's fiancee to lure him out to sea! Unfortunately, that doesn't really work, and Larkin isn't some helpless damsel, and is likely more trouble than she's worth.

In addition to the revenge plot, Cutlass also has a lost magic plot. Barren is asked to track down this bloodstone which is very powerful dark magic that makes the holder invincible. This sounded totally fun and exciting, but I was a bit annoyed with it at times. Barren agrees to bring this evil object back way too easily. When a person (especially one in a position of power already) asks you to bring them hidden dark magic, be suspicious! This cannot end well! Barren doesn't even bat an eye, although I suppose if he was more difficult about it, there wouldn't have been any twists and betrayals on that front. I was still annoyed though, because I was highly suspicious! It's so obvious!

Cutlass was still a fun and engaging read though. I loved that pirates weren't the bad guys. Sure, they kill people occasionally, but they live by a code. This code is honored and is honorable. And Barren is fighting for the greater good and doesn't relish killing those who get in his way. I also loved that once he got to know Larkin, he didn't treat her like some girl who needed his protection. He was aware of her ass-kicking abilities, and didn't talk down to her. Of course, there was this sense of protectiveness, because he likes her, but that's okay! Kissing! He treated her like an equal, but she'd probably kick his ass if he didn't.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Berls]

This review appeared first at Fantasy is More Fun.

**I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

For the second time in our friendship, Michelle practically held me at shotgun insisting I read a book. This time, though, she even connected me with the author so I'd have a review copy. How do you say no to that? Well, I didn't say no, but I did stall. I don't know why exactly, but all of a sudden it was December and I hadn't read it yet. So I made a promise to Michelle that I would read Cutlass in 2014, even if I was up all night December 30th reading it. And I kept that promise for the most part (I finished the last little bit in 2015) and thank goodness, because once again Michelle was right. Cutlass was fantastic. I'm going to let her interject periodically in my review, seeing as she's the one who got me to read Cutlass.

Michelle Says:
Always trust my instinct :) but I was a bit nervous also because I hate disappointment. BTW I actually liked the cover, I do like the new one a lot better but I did like the old one also.

So Michelle started talking to me about this book BEFORE she read it. She was enamored by it so much that she reached out to Ashley Nixon and told her she'd requested to be on the tour. And boy do I remember her excitement when she found out she'd be on it. I was nervous for her, because with that kind of excitement I was worried the book couldn't live up. And I'll admit, I was being a total cover snob at the time. I HATED the cover (which has since been re-done to this one, THANK GOD)! It really turned me off on the book. So, like a good friend, I was excited FOR Michelle, but not really WITH her.

Then she read it and holy crap she loved it. I was happy for her and asked her to describe it to me. Could I get over the cover? From what she told me, it sounded kinda like a UF, though she told me it was more high fantasy. I was interested now, but pirates? Cool, but not necessarily my thing. Not NOT my thing, but they didn't pull to me.

Michelle Says:
Seriously WHO doesn't love Pirates?!?! That was what drew me in from the beginning.

Which is pretty funny because one of the things I loved most about Cutlass was the pirate way of life. The way the pirates feel about the freedom life on the water gives them and the relationship they have with the sea is beautifully written and really connected me to them. I've always felt most at home ON the water. I completely understood the connection the pirates felt. And these pirates live by a very honorable code, which made their life against kings so acceptable for me. Easy "bad guys" to root for.

When I say Cutlass was kinda like a UF, I'm wrong though. The main reason I see any connection is that the main female character, Larkin, is kick-ass. She came out of left field for me, because I was expecting a historical Lady - this feels like a historical, with events unfolding in the Mediterranean in lots of ways - and when we meet her she is prim and proper. But she does not need a man to rescue her! Woot! She's bold, says things she shouldn't, and in general made me love her.

Michelle Says:
Loved Larkin and I loved how it wasn't a full love story right in your face like she was a stand alone and not Barren's love interest. She was able to hold her own and really made me love her characters.

So, besides Lady Larkin and the fantasy element, Cutlass has nothing in common with a UF. It's high fantasy, without being so high that it loses you in prophecy and song. High Fantasy with training wheels, maybe? I think high fantasy is typically overwhelming in a way Cutlass wasn't. It did have a section, about 75% in that dragged and that was all about the elves and dreams and visions - less of the nail biting action and intrigue that carried the rest of the story forward. But even that was interesting, just much slower.

Michelle Says:
I will agree with it being a little slow or wordy at one point but it didn't really bother me that much like you I found the story interesting. I agree with this being not a full High Fantasy but something different like a cross between High Fantasy and Fantasy.

There's surprisingly little magic, considering that you've got elves and half elves running around and that was disappointing for me, but I enjoyed the sword fighting that replaced it. Cutlass kinda defies an exact classification and its definitely a case where you'll be sorry if you judge the book by it's cover. It was a thrilling ride with great characters and I'm only sorry it took me so long and so much pushing to read!

Michelle Says:
See I told you so ;)

[limabean74]

Have you ever read a synopsis and got the chills then got a flip flop feeling in your stomach and you think to yourself…OMG this book is going to be fantastic. I will tell you that when I got the email for this tour and after reading the synopsis, I never wanted to be on a tour as badly as I wanted on this one. I even tweeted Ashley to tell her I signed up not that she knew me but I just had to tell her. When I got a tweet from Ashley saying I made the tour not only was I shocked she remembered me but I don’t think I stopped dancing all day and now that I am done it was totally worth the dance and I could scream out the window to the neighbors, I also want to stop people on the street and tell them to read this book. I honestly think it was that good.

If you read my updates on Goodreads you might have guessed I loved this book and if you don’t follow me on goodreads you missed all my status updates about how much I loved this book.

Barren Reed has only one thing on his mind and that revenge, revenge against his brother William who killed their father. Barren has made his brother’s life miserable and now he’s about to get his revenge by kidnapping Williams finance Larkin Lee and forcing his brother to fight him to the death but Larkin didn’t turn out to be the prisoner he expected and when the king asks him to go on a mission to find the bloodstone before his brother does things take a turn and those he trusted turn into enemies and revenge doesn’t really seem like the answer anymore. With so many twists and turns this is one adventure you will not be able to put down.

I was expecting a book about revenge, pirates and a bit of love, what I got was SOOOO much more. This book was non stop and I can’t even explain how many time I thought I might know what was going to happen only to realize that wasn’t it at all. I had trust issues after a while, I was scared to turn the page but needs to find out what happened next. Sword fights, betrayals (left and right), Magic (yes magic) Elves (yes elves), romance (not over powering it was awesome) and a story that kept me on my toes this book is unbelievably AWESOME and packed with so much it’s hard to believe it was all in just one book.

Did you want strong characters? You get a whole boat full of them. Some of the most amazing characters I ever read and I will be honest that I was a nervous wreck for all of them. Barren Reed was a stubborn, passionate and so very sure of himself, almost thinking he was invincible. His act not and think later cause more trouble then it should have. His need for revenge clouded his judgment but his chemistry with his crew, Larkin and open sea made me just fall in love with him. He is a very believable character, he is fantastically written and one I want to read more about. Larkin was FRUSTRATING at times she had a very closed mind but I understood, since she only had the word of her father and she had no reason not to believe him. She is raised to believe one thing only to have it all fall apart. She is a very strong character and you watch her open her mind to new possibilities. As frustrating as I found her to be at times she was fantastic and I loved reading about her and in her POV. Both Larkin and Barren together was amazing I loved there chemistry and I love how the romance of them wasn’t pushed in my face I really felt the story was more the main focus and budding romance was subtle in the background. You can tell they have a passion for each other but it wasn’t the main story. I was also very fond of Leaf Tavrini, he is an elf and I really have a thing for elves, he is strong, mysterious and has a fantastic sense of humor that it was hard not to love him. The entire crew was written so well I honestly loved them all. I was asked who my favorite character was by Ashley and I really had a very hard time answering her since love them all. It’s like asking me which one of my kids I like better I just can’t pick one. Like I tell my kids I love them both the same for different reasons. So Ashley that’s my answer, I love them all the same for different reasons ;)

Like I said already the story is a character in itself and is so strong that it’s just an amazing feeling reading this book. The details and knowledge of Pirates is noticeable and to throw in Elves and Magic you are in for a read that you are not expecting. The characters go through so much in this book and really keep you reading. I have never read a story quite like this and I am not sure if I ever have. I am not sure I can find the words that will do this book justice because I don’t know if I can say how amazing this book is. Fantasy, Pirates and Magic make for a unique read, I loved the twists and turn and I loved the outcome each time. I loved that things may or may not have worked out and that the good guy didn’t always come out on time. I loved how it ended and it made me just wants more. I want to say I can see where this is going to do but since so many times I have been wrong I just don’t know but I can’t wait :)

I gave Cutlass by Ashley Nixon 5/5 stars. Swashbuckling Pirates, Elves, Magic, Swordfights, revenge, trust issues and just when you think you know you don’t makes for an amazing read. Ashley has done an amazing job on her debut novel and I can’t wait to read more from her. She is a phenomenal storyteller with a unique story. I recommend this as a must read, one that will keep you guessing and wanting more. I look am looking forward to the next book in the series I already miss them all. :)

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