Leah R. CutterBesprekingen

My first thought upon finishing this book: Well, that was fun!

The prologue set me off balance, making me feel like I was reading three stories but very curious as to how they would come together.. and come together they do! This book is gritty and risque. Science, psychic abilities and Norse gods fit together like puzzle pieces with wisps of familial drama snuck in. I was curious about where the story was going and how they would meet and I was not disappointed.

Early on in the story we learn that our main character, Cassie, is a lesbian. As a lady lover myself I appreciated this attribute as well as how it plays out in the book. She’s crass, flirty, stands by her friends and gets things done that need doing. She’s a character that I can get behind, pun absolutely intended. Her situation in life isn't ideal but she doesn't complain about it and is happy for what she does have. I enjoyed how she interacted with the other characters in the book, all of whom I found entertaining.

There’s an element of government/private industry/military involvement with the psychic abilities here that I thought it was well played.

and that concludes all of the POSITIVE things that I have to say about Poisoned Pearls.. Now onto my criticisms!...

*stares at ceiling*looks from one side of ceiling to the other*makes fart noises with mouth*

ah.. Well, it looks as though I have none! Although I do feel that I should warn there are topics here that may make some people uncomfortable, drugs, sex, bad language. If these things are an issue for you then I wouldn't recommend delving into this very entertaining world.


Finally, here are a couple of quotes that I found extra amusing.

"Careful, or you'll lose an eye," I joked.

"I'd finally stopped and looked at the date--December twenty-first, the longest night of the year.
Normally, that was something I'd celebrate. All that extra loving time."

I relished this book and it really drew me in. The story takes place in ancient Japan and involves kitsune, sorcerers, other spiritual beings, and relations between them and humans. Along the way, swords are forged, battles fought, and relationships formed and lost. Characters were well developed and to a certain extent I felt I got to know them as people. Particularly neat is that the characters grew and developed over the course of the novel, recognizing their flaws and addressing them appropriately. Place descriptions were lyrical yet realistic and I felt as if I was there in the places described in the book. Pacing of the story made sense and slowly built to the final resolution with a satisfactory ending. Would recommend to those who enjoy fantasy or Japanese historic novels.

this author always tells a great story with strong character development, enjoyable and easy read but character development was a bit limited and main character immature

this author always tells a great story with strong character development, enjoyable and easy read

good characters and action. writing style was appealing, good story

Another fantastic story of Christine the Changeling, Princess troll. Her powers have all been restored. She rebuilds the Fairy Bridge to Trollville from Seattle. She helps set her father free.

A truly great book!

*I received a copy of this book for free. The review is my ,honest and unsolicited.

Another fantastic story of Christine the Changeling, Princess troll. Her powers have all been restored. She rebuilds the Fairy Bridge to Trollville from Seattle. She helps set her father free.

A truly great book!

*I received a copy of this book for free. The review is my ,honest and unsolicited.

Yet another fantastic read from Leah R Cutter! Christine's story continues. From finding out she's a changeling in book 1 to discovering her royal heritage in this book. The story is absolutely enthralling.

I absolutely love Leah R. Carter's books and this was no exception. A tale expertly woven. The characters were very relatable and well developed. The plot is fantastic. I can't wait to read more of the series!

Another page turner by Leah Cutter. As always though, I finished too quickly. Dwarves have come from the Old Country intending on driving it the Fairies. But like the fairies, they are also not welcome in the Old One's territory.

I’ve always enjoyed my visits to Seattle - good people, good food and drink, and plenty to do, no matter your particular mix of urban or natural interests. And it’s a great setting for my latest read - my introduction to a hidden side, a hidden depth of the Emerald City.

Maybe I should have taken that “Underground Seattle” tour they offer. It might have prepared me for this read ... well ... maybe.

I prefer to start most things - especially books and book or film series - from the beginning, and proceed upward and onward from there. But it doesn’t always work that way ... which was the case for me, when I received a review copy of “The Princess Troll,” the second installment of the “Seattle Trolls Trilogy” by Leah Cutter ... a writer who was unknown to me until I received a copy of this book from LibraryThing.

“Princes Troll” is the second novel in “a new-adult, urban fantasy trilogy that turns the ugly duckling story on its head.” And while I did find myself starting in the middle, I did not find myself lost, constantly interrupting the narrative with “wait ... what?” moments. There was enough in this second installment to pique my interest, draw me into the story, and leave me looking ahead - and back! - for more.

Even without any tedious prologues, or digressions to the first novel, it didn’t take me long to realize that Christine is NOT your average girl. The realization of just how ‘not average’ she is grows, page by page, chapter by chapter. And it’s not just Christine, but a cast of supporting characters that are colorful and crazy ... even by Seattle standards!

There is magic, mystery and mayhem in this story. If it were simply a story of Christine dealing with the magic and mystery, the story would be alright. But then there’s that mayhem, and not just the stuff of fantasy. She has identity issues, family issues, relationship issues, and all that ... and so much more. Whatever Christine was and is, and whatever she may become, is not something I would call ‘average.’

There is some resolution to some of these issues, and some progress in Christine’s life and development ... SOME, but nothing FINAL ... well, this IS a trilogy after all. And like all good episodic tales, you sense there are some added, unknown complications, unexpected challenges lurking somewhere in the shadows, ready to spring out at a most-inappropriate moment.

Is Christine up to the challenge? I hope so ... but I’m not certain. Cutter has created a character and crafted a tale that leaves one hopeful but uncertain. I find myself rooting for that character, and wishing her success ... but I’m not sure. And if she does succeed, will it be in a way that she -and the rest of us - imagine? And what of those around her, sharing her life and her quest - or seeking to bring an end to both?

I’m looking forward to answering these question when I read the third installment of Cutter’s “Seattle Trolls Trilogy.” In the meantime, I also plan to get/read the first installment of that trilogy, “The Changeling Troll.”

Also in the meantime ... our ship docks in Seattle in a few days ... and I definitely plan to keep my eyes, my ears, and my imagination open when step ashore and enter the Emerald City.
__________

NOTE: I received a free e-copy of this work through LibraryThing, in exchange for a review.

Even though I had not read the other two books in the series I could understand what was going on for the most part. That being said, it would be a better read if you have read the previous books. When I have the time I might go back and read the other books.

I really enjoyed this book. It is wonderfully written and well developed. I really felt for the Virmal character.

*I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Another amazing book! Just when it feels like the world is going to be safe again, you have another lead in. This is how yup sell books!

The knight is completed and can battle the shadows. Once the shadows are defeated, what else could possibly go wrong? I'm itching to find out!

I know I say it after every one of her books, but Leah Cutter writes amazing stories! They have such explosive imagery that jumps from the pages to play in your mind.

Nice! I like it better than the last book - for one thing, Christine actually develops some self-confidence, and doesn't spend so much time whining about what she can't do or can't imagine herself doing. She actually shakes Tina out of her doldrums, near the end of the book. Building the bridge is very good for her, on a lot of levels - for her magic, for her troll-ness, and for her self-image. Rebuilding it is even better - and the last attack lets her actually deal (more or less, and for now) with the looming threat that's been hanging over her for the entire series. A good solid happy ending for her (sounds like a pretty ideal life, to me!). I really need to find the first book of this series - I read the second, also through Early Reviewers, but not the first one.½

This was a pretty quirky book, but I really liked it. I felt that I could relate to the awkwardness of the main character, and felt that sometimes I was in the story. The ending was a little disappointing, I expected it to be more climatic, but I still really liked the book. I would recommend it to someone if they were looking for a light read.

Conclusion of the trilogy, with a sudden influx of the remaining Dwarven nation. Bret is not too keen and neither are the fairies. Humans are almost irrelevant now.

Clever but not living up to the imagination of the first.½

The next installment of the Cassandra the prophetess, and friends, who save the world from the followers of rogue gods.

I could remember very little about the prior two volumes although it wasn't that long ago that I read them. But this is of a similar format. Cassie tries to get on with her life - running a PI firm, getting over her ex, rehabilitaging Hunter (fat chance, but at least he's out of jail now) - when one of her cases spirals much more seriously than it seems and suddenly she's got to speak to the gods again. This time it's a completely new to me (made up?) sect of some semi-christian methodology, where the priests have free will to choose between the One True god and the Deceiver. It quickly becomes apparnet that one of the True God's followers has become subverted and created a plan to burn the world through the medium of corrupted roses.

Although in some ways this is classic urban fantasy, it is also very reminiscent of the 'normal' Leah Cutter playing fast and loose with fantasy motifs, and very free with sequential logic, it's not about the details it's all in the grand and wonderful gestalt. I'm not sure Leah has a grand design for the series, but there is continuity throughout the books, with the presence of Cassie's mum and the political machinations of the Foundation an ever present distracting background to the investigation. It's not quite clear why Cassie's ex - Sam - gets a few chapters of her own, other than to keep the political sideplot turning over, presumably for another installment in the series.

Fun though - Cassie's very straight forward knows what she wants and doesn't take no for answer. However she is slowly learning that she also has responsibilities, and her constant fight against these is something that we can all appreciate!

The book started where the Fairy Princess left off. The book showed the difference between good and il. I will recommend the book to middle school students.

I was given this book complimentary from LibraryThing.com in e-book form in return for my honest review. Everything stated in this review is of my own opinion and I was not compensated monetarily for providing this review.
I didn't realize that this is the third book in a series but enough information was given through the course of the book to figure out what went before.
Not a bad book although not one that lingers in the mind. A nice book for a long journey. Couldn't get really attached to the m/c - her sister was more likable. She has only just found out she is a Troll and now she MUST have a Troll boyfriend, no one else is good enough - wtf.
Interesting non traditional trolls.
So so.

I received a copy of this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers group in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I read the first in this series several years ago and remember being utterly delighted in the story telling and world building. I somehow missed out on the second in the trilogy but just finished the third and final book. To my huge pleasure, it is just as delightful as I remember the first book being. Although it ties up all the threads from the first book and clearly references the second book, it is so well written that it can be read as a standalone book as everything the reader needs to know is economically included in the story. This is a feature I particularly liked as it felt organic and wasn't at all obtrusive so that the world was well sketched out without there being paragraphs (or chapters) of back story. The ending is a tiered affair with a bit of come-uppance and a happy-ever-after that completely fits the character which was deliciously satisfying. The book felt very short (always a good sign) and is written with a conciseness, exactness and brevity that I wish more authors (of all genres) would emulate. I think reading both previous books in the trilogy would only add to the pleasure of this novel but it is written so well that it works as a standalone, although I should imagine most readers will want to go back and follow Christine's previous adventures. I loved it.½

An collection of short stories - a year's worth of magazines collected into one anthology. The editors acknowledge the contradiction of the title, and blithely try to explain it away by being unfettered from traditional constraints. It doesn't wash.

Presumably quarterly as there are four themes. Basically female heavy leads, but nothing particularly struck me as being innovative or by an author worthy of further attention. I'd read a few of Leah's (fine) stories before which didn't help spark any novelty or inventiveness. Her slightly twisted worlds don't quite hold up to re-reads when the surprise has worn off. In a slightly positive vein there were no clunkers either.½

Another one that Leah Cutter knocks out of the park!

In this one, Franklin's ghosts are coming back after finding their peace. He thinks that maybe using Eddie's blade on them might set them to rest but a crazy doctor comes and steals it from him. Franklin has to stop the doctor before he misuses the blade's power.

*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review

I am in stupid love with Leah Cutter as an author. She weaves fantastic stories that are capable of pulling you right in.

In this series, Franklin can see ghosts. He helps them resolve what they need to so they can cross over and move on. While trying to help one, he discovers his cousin has been murdered by... something. Now it's his responsibility to figure it out and stop it before more people get killed.

I purchased this book to read prior to The Soul Thief which I received in order to review.