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These Treacherous Tides #2
Once Stolen
No one with half a brain would rob the jungle’s most notorious energy cartel. The vibrations of their power-producing stones are the only thing that calms the mer-snake Cacao’s agonizing sensory condition though—and after being banished from his homeland swamps for similar thefts, he’s desperate.
When his attempt fails stunningly, a chaotic escape leaves him chained to a cartel prisoner: a self-proclaimed hero with a hidden stash of power stones so large, Cacao would never need to steal again. He’s determined to get his hands on it, even if it means guiding her home straight through the mist-laden and monster-filled swamp that exiled him, with scheming poachers and a desperate cartel leader on their tail.
But the selfish and the self-righteous can only flee together for so long before something snaps...
Return to Our Bloody Pearl's steampunk-inspired world of merfolk in this fun, fast-paced adventure with a hate-to-love romance, a boat-load of sass, and even more heart. It is the second book to take place in the These Treacherous Tides world and functions as a standalone prequal and a first book for the Aurora Cycle mini-series. (For more information on reading order, please visit D.N. Bryn's website.)
When his attempt fails stunningly, a chaotic escape leaves him chained to a cartel prisoner: a self-proclaimed hero with a hidden stash of power stones so large, Cacao would never need to steal again. He’s determined to get his hands on it, even if it means guiding her home straight through the mist-laden and monster-filled swamp that exiled him, with scheming poachers and a desperate cartel leader on their tail.
But the selfish and the self-righteous can only flee together for so long before something snaps...
Return to Our Bloody Pearl's steampunk-inspired world of merfolk in this fun, fast-paced adventure with a hate-to-love romance, a boat-load of sass, and even more heart. It is the second book to take place in the These Treacherous Tides world and functions as a standalone prequal and a first book for the Aurora Cycle mini-series. (For more information on reading order, please visit D.N. Bryn's website.)
258 pages, Paperback
First published July 27, 2021
35 people are currently reading
941 people want to read
About the author
D.N. Bryn
17 books780 followersD.N. Bryn is a queer, disabled author of speculative fiction and fantasy romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
July 27, 2021
This is the first novel I’ve read by Bryn, and I most definitely will be reading more of their future works.
Bittersweet Earth (he/him, autistic, m-spec, boiuna) only cares about ignits, powerful magical stones that contains energy (think batteries, but cooler). When he saves Thais (she/her, nonbinary, human) from a boat, he only has eyes for Thais’ enormous ignit stash from her mother. But as the pair go through an adventure of reaching the ignits, Bittersweet Earth—or Cacao, as Thais calls him—realizes there is more to the world than precious stone, namely, friendship, trust, home, and maybe even love.
Once Stolen is a fantasy adventure story with a queer romance subplot. The thing I love the most about the book is the complexity of the characters. Bryn managed to make me like the main character who starts out selfish and isn’t very likable. The romance between him and Thais is so sweet and cute and I feel their chemistry as their relationship goes from hate to love. We also get to see Cacao’s personal growth throughout the adventure. The supporting cast is also great, especially the friendly but shy Xera (they/them, Deaf, human) and distrustful Fern (she/her, boiuna).
The main communication method is signing! Boiunas don’t have hearing and hearing beings also mix spoken language with sign language. With Thais being a dancer, music and rhythms were mentioned and present in a few scenes, and we see other characters feeling the thumping and beats to experience music without hearing it. Apart from Deaf reps (Xera and Deaf species), Cacao is autistic and struggles with facial expressions, and I think Xera might be socially anxious. It is always great to see fiction reflecting the world around us even in fantasy settings.
There are a lot of fighting scenes that get slightly confusing sometimes, but the sense of intense action happening is impossible to miss. Cacao and Thais’ adventure is thrilling and exciting, and I enjoy watching the relationships between each character evolve, from distrust to trust, from enemies to allies, etc. Also, the writing is smooth to read. Written in present tense and Cacao’s first-person POV, we experience his emotions and thoughts through the narrative.
In the end, I got rather attached to most of the characters and now I cannot wait for the sequel!
content warnings: blood, death, alcoholism, vomit, poison
I received an e-ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Bittersweet Earth (he/him, autistic, m-spec, boiuna) only cares about ignits, powerful magical stones that contains energy (think batteries, but cooler). When he saves Thais (she/her, nonbinary, human) from a boat, he only has eyes for Thais’ enormous ignit stash from her mother. But as the pair go through an adventure of reaching the ignits, Bittersweet Earth—or Cacao, as Thais calls him—realizes there is more to the world than precious stone, namely, friendship, trust, home, and maybe even love.
Once Stolen is a fantasy adventure story with a queer romance subplot. The thing I love the most about the book is the complexity of the characters. Bryn managed to make me like the main character who starts out selfish and isn’t very likable. The romance between him and Thais is so sweet and cute and I feel their chemistry as their relationship goes from hate to love. We also get to see Cacao’s personal growth throughout the adventure. The supporting cast is also great, especially the friendly but shy Xera (they/them, Deaf, human) and distrustful Fern (she/her, boiuna).
The main communication method is signing! Boiunas don’t have hearing and hearing beings also mix spoken language with sign language. With Thais being a dancer, music and rhythms were mentioned and present in a few scenes, and we see other characters feeling the thumping and beats to experience music without hearing it. Apart from Deaf reps (Xera and Deaf species), Cacao is autistic and struggles with facial expressions, and I think Xera might be socially anxious. It is always great to see fiction reflecting the world around us even in fantasy settings.
There are a lot of fighting scenes that get slightly confusing sometimes, but the sense of intense action happening is impossible to miss. Cacao and Thais’ adventure is thrilling and exciting, and I enjoy watching the relationships between each character evolve, from distrust to trust, from enemies to allies, etc. Also, the writing is smooth to read. Written in present tense and Cacao’s first-person POV, we experience his emotions and thoughts through the narrative.
In the end, I got rather attached to most of the characters and now I cannot wait for the sequel!
content warnings: blood, death, alcoholism, vomit, poison
I received an e-ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 26, 2022
I was very excited to read this sequel. This one, like its predecessor, is very well written. The character and world building do not disappoint and the story moves forward as swiftly as the previous one ended. It has a different setting and characters than Our Bloody Pearl but the story is gripping nonetheless. The prequel had sirens, this one has merpeople. Cacao was a very interesting character because he is who he is, whether good or not, unabashedly. He knows and acknowledges his flaws and is unashamed about them. He knows he's doing wrong but would have done it anyway reminding me of Evelyn Hugo instantly. Again, the main character in this book too is disabled and I really love the representation. This too is filled with action and adventure. Anyone looking forward to adapting this book series to a TV series? Please do because this has a lot of potential. Onto the next book.
It is the first book in the Aurora Cycle series (book 1) and book 2 of These Treacherous Tides series.
It is the first book in the Aurora Cycle series (book 1) and book 2 of These Treacherous Tides series.
August 2, 2021
I received an e-ARC in exchange for a review, so here we go! I had already read and enjoyed one of Bryn's book, Our Blood Pearl, and I was NOT disappointed with Once Stolen.
My eyes have been really dry those past days and that's the only reason I didn't finish this book in two days (and I should have taken off my glasses or used some eyedrops by now but I really wanted to finish reading haha) because the plot, the pacing, the worldbuilding and the characters have kept me wanting more for the entirety of the book. There is a very good balance between character interaction and action-filled scenes, between softer moments and events that kept me at the edge of my seat. I also absolutely adored the writing style: Cacao's voice is very compelling and at the same time super fun. (I come alive whenever he says "motherfucker".)
Cacao himself is an extremely compelling character. Is he morally good? Well, according to his new partner in crime, a self-proclaimed hero, not that much. And it's true that he IS flawed: he's a little selfish and self-centered, a little greedy, and kind of unashamed about that. But a character doesn't have to be morally good to be likeable, and Cacao makes for a fun, compelling, interesting character that is very enjoyable to follow. I loved seeing him develop and grow and start realizing not only that other people are important, but also that he isn't as bad as he initially thinks. Thais' personality, which revolves around helping others and not liking to be helped, counterbalances his perfectly. I really loved their interactions and their bickering and learning to work together and learning more about each other, and the way they rubbed onto each other. I also really liked the secondary characters, the society of the Murk, and the antagonists: the cartel members, and the fishers who hunt down boiunas like Cacao and other creatures from the Murk.
I particularly loved the way I, as a reader, got attached to the Murk's ecosystem through Cacao's begrudging love for it, and the more Cacao and Thais traveled through the Murk, the more I got attached to it and viewed it as home the same way Cacao does. That made for an even wider contrast between this view of the Murk and how the fishers view it: as a hunting grounds, a means to an end. Thinking back on it, a great worldbuilding is good on its own, but making the reader CARE for it the same way the characters do? that's the cherry on the top. Once Stolen introduces not only a very interesting world with a nature-based society where everyone lives in symbiosis, but also gave me a fierce love for it and a strong desire to see it protected. The world is an inherent part of the plot, it doesn't just serve it. I honestly loved that.
One very cool particularity of the book is the fact that all of the dialogue is signed! Mersnakes are deaf (as well as other creatures and people from the Murk) and communicate through scents and signs, and signing is prevalent in and around the Murk, so all the characters sign their dialogue! I found that very original and very cool and honestly I'd love to read more fantasy books that just... remember that sign language is a thing. Once Stolen is also a story of disabilities, as Cacao is autistic and his need for ignits that prompts most of the plot is spurred by his sensory perception issues.
Overall, there is a lot to love in Once Stolen and a lot that makes it stand out from other fantasy books - be it the characters, the worldbuilding, or the themes and issues it tackles. It's an amazing book with a fun voice, a compelling story and great rep all around (did I mention that there are several non-binary characters? I'm going to mention that there are several non-binary characters) and I really recommend it!
My eyes have been really dry those past days and that's the only reason I didn't finish this book in two days (and I should have taken off my glasses or used some eyedrops by now but I really wanted to finish reading haha) because the plot, the pacing, the worldbuilding and the characters have kept me wanting more for the entirety of the book. There is a very good balance between character interaction and action-filled scenes, between softer moments and events that kept me at the edge of my seat. I also absolutely adored the writing style: Cacao's voice is very compelling and at the same time super fun. (I come alive whenever he says "motherfucker".)
Cacao himself is an extremely compelling character. Is he morally good? Well, according to his new partner in crime, a self-proclaimed hero, not that much. And it's true that he IS flawed: he's a little selfish and self-centered, a little greedy, and kind of unashamed about that. But a character doesn't have to be morally good to be likeable, and Cacao makes for a fun, compelling, interesting character that is very enjoyable to follow. I loved seeing him develop and grow and start realizing not only that other people are important, but also that he isn't as bad as he initially thinks. Thais' personality, which revolves around helping others and not liking to be helped, counterbalances his perfectly. I really loved their interactions and their bickering and learning to work together and learning more about each other, and the way they rubbed onto each other. I also really liked the secondary characters, the society of the Murk, and the antagonists: the cartel members, and the fishers who hunt down boiunas like Cacao and other creatures from the Murk.
I particularly loved the way I, as a reader, got attached to the Murk's ecosystem through Cacao's begrudging love for it, and the more Cacao and Thais traveled through the Murk, the more I got attached to it and viewed it as home the same way Cacao does. That made for an even wider contrast between this view of the Murk and how the fishers view it: as a hunting grounds, a means to an end. Thinking back on it, a great worldbuilding is good on its own, but making the reader CARE for it the same way the characters do? that's the cherry on the top. Once Stolen introduces not only a very interesting world with a nature-based society where everyone lives in symbiosis, but also gave me a fierce love for it and a strong desire to see it protected. The world is an inherent part of the plot, it doesn't just serve it. I honestly loved that.
One very cool particularity of the book is the fact that all of the dialogue is signed! Mersnakes are deaf (as well as other creatures and people from the Murk) and communicate through scents and signs, and signing is prevalent in and around the Murk, so all the characters sign their dialogue! I found that very original and very cool and honestly I'd love to read more fantasy books that just... remember that sign language is a thing. Once Stolen is also a story of disabilities, as Cacao is autistic and his need for ignits that prompts most of the plot is spurred by his sensory perception issues.
Overall, there is a lot to love in Once Stolen and a lot that makes it stand out from other fantasy books - be it the characters, the worldbuilding, or the themes and issues it tackles. It's an amazing book with a fun voice, a compelling story and great rep all around (did I mention that there are several non-binary characters? I'm going to mention that there are several non-binary characters) and I really recommend it!
October 4, 2021
My favorite thing about this story were the character dynamics. Specifically our main duo had energy that really reminded me of the dynamics between Kuzco and Pacha in The Emperor's New Groove. Specifically where you have a chaotic, sort of selfish unlikeable main character and a really caring altruistic person team up in order to accomplish a shared goal. Another thing I loved about this story was the setting and the world building. This takes place in a very swampy/forest/jungle setting which I really don't get to read enough of in fantasy and there are several races of people, our main character is a mer-serpent variant and because of this almost all communication is signed which is not something I get to experience a lot when I read. It is obvious that every part of this world was thought out with care and although this reads as a standalone I am excited to read more books in this world to learn more about it, especially the unique gems that both have science based and magic like properties! Highly recommend for people who want stories with trans, neurodivergent and flawed characters in an amazing setting going on a chaotic adventure!
March 29, 2023
Disclaimer: I read this book as a judge for the Indie Ink Awards 2022 and this is my personal rating. It does not reflect the scoring for the contest.
A great premise and a unique, very atmospheric setting. This was the first thing that popped into my mind while setting pen to paper to write this review. Once Stolen delivers. Alongside very intriguing characters and a sweet romance.
All the above considered, it should have been a five star read. And yet, it didn't quite work for me.
While the mer-snake Cacao’s agonizing sensory condition is nicely represented, it is done in a human-like manner. His speech and way of thinking feel more like those of a human than a reptilian creature. This could be, of course, just a personal preference of mine that may not affect other readers out there, but I want my predatory MCs of different races to feel different from the rest. To have that little extra something specific to that race, to make them stand out, not only in physical appearance but also in speech and thought. And Cacao didn't. Despite his reptilian appearance.
I loved the development of the relationship between the characters and the play of emotions. I loved the message of the story, as well as the disability representation. And don't even get me started on the setting. That is absolutely fabulous. The plot and pacing however, fell short. Mainly because of action scenes that needed a bit of extra work as far as execution is concerned. And I am quite sure I won't be the only reader that struggled to keep track or fully understand certain parts. Despite paying attention.
All in all, I genuinely commend this book for the inclusivity, dealt with both care and love.
And yes, I would still recommend it, to all those in search of a good disability rep inclusive fantasy with focus on character growth.
A great premise and a unique, very atmospheric setting. This was the first thing that popped into my mind while setting pen to paper to write this review. Once Stolen delivers. Alongside very intriguing characters and a sweet romance.
All the above considered, it should have been a five star read. And yet, it didn't quite work for me.
While the mer-snake Cacao’s agonizing sensory condition is nicely represented, it is done in a human-like manner. His speech and way of thinking feel more like those of a human than a reptilian creature. This could be, of course, just a personal preference of mine that may not affect other readers out there, but I want my predatory MCs of different races to feel different from the rest. To have that little extra something specific to that race, to make them stand out, not only in physical appearance but also in speech and thought. And Cacao didn't. Despite his reptilian appearance.
I loved the development of the relationship between the characters and the play of emotions. I loved the message of the story, as well as the disability representation. And don't even get me started on the setting. That is absolutely fabulous. The plot and pacing however, fell short. Mainly because of action scenes that needed a bit of extra work as far as execution is concerned. And I am quite sure I won't be the only reader that struggled to keep track or fully understand certain parts. Despite paying attention.
All in all, I genuinely commend this book for the inclusivity, dealt with both care and love.
And yes, I would still recommend it, to all those in search of a good disability rep inclusive fantasy with focus on character growth.
December 15, 2021
Once Stolen was a great read, though it took me a bit to get oriented in the world of Murk. Bryn has created a fascinating world and, though Cacao is a bit snarky, I was rooting for him from the very first page. Thais is a great contrast to him and reading about them both was a delight. A great adventure worth a read!
April 29, 2021
I would give this book a BILLION stars if I could. It’s so unbelievably good. I want to marry this book it’s so good. I already adored Bryn’s writing style from Our Bloody Pearl but this book def makes them one of my top favorite authors. They write non-human characters astonishingly well. I honestly don’t know how they are able to write so believably from a non-human character’s POV. I loved this story. I adored all the characters. I loved Cacao’s and Thais’s relationship development. The expansion of the worldbuilding was fantastic. Like, what creatures lurk in the Arctic of this world? I could read 500 books in this universe and never tire of it. Please read this book!!
May 3, 2021
D. N. Bryn’s done it again, weaving together a delightfully endearing cast of characters and a vivid setting to create a story that stays in your heart long after the book is done.
Just like Our Bloody Pearl, Once Stolen follows a non-human narrator who seems prickly at first but quickly shows more depth. This time, it’s Cacao, a mersnake banished from his homeland due to greed. But he’s more sympathetic than he likes to let on, and watching him work through that was a delight. I quickly came to love him, not to mention his love interest, Thais—stubbornly good characters are a soft spot of mine, so it didn’t take long for this self-proclaimed hero and her reckless independence to endear herself to me.
I don’t want to talk too much about the plot, because I don’t want to reveal spoilers—suffice to say that it held my attention throughout, with a lot of action and twists.
I recommend this book just as highly as I did OBP, and I can’t wait to see where Bryn takes the series next. Thank you, Bryn, for the chance to read an ARC copy of this book!
Just like Our Bloody Pearl, Once Stolen follows a non-human narrator who seems prickly at first but quickly shows more depth. This time, it’s Cacao, a mersnake banished from his homeland due to greed. But he’s more sympathetic than he likes to let on, and watching him work through that was a delight. I quickly came to love him, not to mention his love interest, Thais—stubbornly good characters are a soft spot of mine, so it didn’t take long for this self-proclaimed hero and her reckless independence to endear herself to me.
I don’t want to talk too much about the plot, because I don’t want to reveal spoilers—suffice to say that it held my attention throughout, with a lot of action and twists.
I recommend this book just as highly as I did OBP, and I can’t wait to see where Bryn takes the series next. Thank you, Bryn, for the chance to read an ARC copy of this book!
May 4, 2021
Once Stolen is a fantastic journey through the mists of the Murk!
Cacao has a delightful voice to him from the first moment he peaks out of the water on the first page. The way he interacts with the world is so vivid I sometimes found myself shuddering along with him. As a reader, his journey and growth from the (relatively) selfish thief and loner he started out as is beautifully done and honestly heartfelt.
The Murk as a setting was fascinating and almost a character in and of itself. I loved each glimpse we got of the animals and people that call it home. The symbiotic nature of the culture there was fascinating because I haven't seen anything like it. From the use of sign language(100% of the dialogue is signed!) and scent to communicate to the ignit economy and fishers that drive the major conflict, each aspect of this world is well-developed and presented in a way that makes sense.
Once Stolen is a fantastic addition to the world Bryn started building in Our Blood Pearl and I highly recommend it!
Cacao has a delightful voice to him from the first moment he peaks out of the water on the first page. The way he interacts with the world is so vivid I sometimes found myself shuddering along with him. As a reader, his journey and growth from the (relatively) selfish thief and loner he started out as is beautifully done and honestly heartfelt.
The Murk as a setting was fascinating and almost a character in and of itself. I loved each glimpse we got of the animals and people that call it home. The symbiotic nature of the culture there was fascinating because I haven't seen anything like it. From the use of sign language(100% of the dialogue is signed!) and scent to communicate to the ignit economy and fishers that drive the major conflict, each aspect of this world is well-developed and presented in a way that makes sense.
Once Stolen is a fantastic addition to the world Bryn started building in Our Blood Pearl and I highly recommend it!
July 18, 2021
I was thrilled when the author approached me with an e-ARC of this companion novel to Our Bloody Pearl, which I read years ago and thoroughly enjoyed.
Although I love this world filled with gender and disability representation, I had trouble picturing each scene. What did this world look like? The action was so quick that I had trouble following who was in each scene and how they got there.
That being said, the interactions between characters were, at times, intriguing and fun to see unfold.
I'm interested to see where the third volume of this series takes us.
I discussed my thoughts on this book in this BookTube wrap up video.
Although I love this world filled with gender and disability representation, I had trouble picturing each scene. What did this world look like? The action was so quick that I had trouble following who was in each scene and how they got there.
That being said, the interactions between characters were, at times, intriguing and fun to see unfold.
I'm interested to see where the third volume of this series takes us.
I discussed my thoughts on this book in this BookTube wrap up video.
May 12, 2021
Thanks to the author for this advanced review copy. In finals hell so I can't do my full review now, so I'll just say I love the characters and worldbuilding but the plot was messy to me.
Want to read
January 13, 2025OV Autistic MMC
June 24, 2022
I just love them all. Read this all in a day and enjoyed it so so much!
March 31, 2023
Chaotic is the best way to describe this book by my opninion..
July 19, 2021
I knew I'd enjoy this book as soon as I found out it featured an autistic, Deaf lizard-man. The representation in Once Stolen is excellent. Although the plot was a little bit messy at times, I fell in love with the characters. I especially loved the discussion about how Cacao's actions were selfish, but he should have been given support when he first expressed his needs, instead of having to fight for them. I'll be posting a full review of this book in the next week over at my blog!
Thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.M
Follow me on my Blog, Twitter, and Instagram.
Thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.M
Follow me on my Blog, Twitter, and Instagram.
August 20, 2021
The official write-up:
"Return to Our Bloody Pearl's steampunk-inspired world of merfolk in this fun, fast-paced adventure with a hate-to-love romance, a boat-load of sass, and even more heart.
No one with half a brain would rob the jungle's most notorious energy cartel. The vibrations of their power-producing stones are the only thing that calms the mer-snake Cacao's agonizing sensory condition though-and after being banished from his homeland swamps for similar thefts, he's desperate.
When his attempt fails stunningly, a chaotic escape leaves him chained to a cartel prisoner: a self-proclaimed hero with a hidden stash of power stones so large, Cacao would never need to steal again. He's determined to get his hands on it, even if it means guiding her home straight through the mist-laden and monster-filled swamp that exhaled him, with scheming poachers and a desperate cartel leader on their tail.
But the selfish and the self-righteous can only flee together for so long before something snaps..."
My opinion:
I was given a review copy of this novel with the understanding that I would give it a fair and unbiased review.
"Once Stolen" is a phenomenal read, which I cannot recommend enough. The characters are interesting and I enjoyed finding out their personality quirks and roles in their civilization and individual cultures. There are a variety of diverse beings in this amazing world D. N. Bryn has created, and even a couple returning characters from Bryn's previous book "Our Bloody Pearl", which was definitely a little squee moment for me upon realizing they were.
Of course the world building was awesome, but the story crafting was equally so, with a very interesting blend of cultures and customs — including a trade language that is signed not spoken, due to the fact that some of the characters have no ability to speak aloud by nature — and a rich background of legends and lore that is referenced here and there in a way that makes the world even more realistic and the characters even more interesting. I also immensely enjoyed the fact that genders and orientations were as varied as the races in this intriguing world, and were represented believably and sympathetically. Just as when I read the previous book, I wanted to go to this place and see it for myself, meet these fascinating people and learn about their various lives and experiences — preferably without running afoul of anything dangerous. Because, the world in which this story is set has many hazards and conflicts which the main character and his companions have to navigate.
I don't want to be too spoilery, so I'm trying not to squee about specific things in the plot, but as the official write-up mentions, there is a hate to love relationship, but there are also families being parted and then coming together again, and the formation of friendships and necessary alliances along the way that keep you guessing while thoroughly entertained. Again, I highly recommend this book!
"Return to Our Bloody Pearl's steampunk-inspired world of merfolk in this fun, fast-paced adventure with a hate-to-love romance, a boat-load of sass, and even more heart.
No one with half a brain would rob the jungle's most notorious energy cartel. The vibrations of their power-producing stones are the only thing that calms the mer-snake Cacao's agonizing sensory condition though-and after being banished from his homeland swamps for similar thefts, he's desperate.
When his attempt fails stunningly, a chaotic escape leaves him chained to a cartel prisoner: a self-proclaimed hero with a hidden stash of power stones so large, Cacao would never need to steal again. He's determined to get his hands on it, even if it means guiding her home straight through the mist-laden and monster-filled swamp that exhaled him, with scheming poachers and a desperate cartel leader on their tail.
But the selfish and the self-righteous can only flee together for so long before something snaps..."
My opinion:
I was given a review copy of this novel with the understanding that I would give it a fair and unbiased review.
"Once Stolen" is a phenomenal read, which I cannot recommend enough. The characters are interesting and I enjoyed finding out their personality quirks and roles in their civilization and individual cultures. There are a variety of diverse beings in this amazing world D. N. Bryn has created, and even a couple returning characters from Bryn's previous book "Our Bloody Pearl", which was definitely a little squee moment for me upon realizing they were.
Of course the world building was awesome, but the story crafting was equally so, with a very interesting blend of cultures and customs — including a trade language that is signed not spoken, due to the fact that some of the characters have no ability to speak aloud by nature — and a rich background of legends and lore that is referenced here and there in a way that makes the world even more realistic and the characters even more interesting. I also immensely enjoyed the fact that genders and orientations were as varied as the races in this intriguing world, and were represented believably and sympathetically. Just as when I read the previous book, I wanted to go to this place and see it for myself, meet these fascinating people and learn about their various lives and experiences — preferably without running afoul of anything dangerous. Because, the world in which this story is set has many hazards and conflicts which the main character and his companions have to navigate.
I don't want to be too spoilery, so I'm trying not to squee about specific things in the plot, but as the official write-up mentions, there is a hate to love relationship, but there are also families being parted and then coming together again, and the formation of friendships and necessary alliances along the way that keep you guessing while thoroughly entertained. Again, I highly recommend this book!
July 17, 2021
This is a fun book with a little bit of everything. It has adventure and a fast pace. It has a most amusing idiot x idiot spite-to-lovers slowburn. The characters are great, both complex and lovable--and through them, the story also touches on a few moral, social, and colonial issues that aren’t just fantasy.
As a Brazilian, I’m also partial to the fantasy setting, which is heavily inspired by Amazonia as a place and a little by its folklore too. The prose was so vivid I felt I was actually there, slithering and swimming through the rainforest like Cacao does as a half-snake person.
I couldn’t get into the story right away: it starts with an action scene, but there’s a lot of worldbuilding being introduced at the same time, so one thing kept interrupting the other, and I found it hard to focus on either. The characters and the humor kept me entertained, though, until the plot about getting to Thais’s ignit hoard started and carried me away with its stakes. Then I loved the packed action of the story, because it reminded me at every turn of how easily the characters could fail, and how much I wanted them to arrive safely at a happy ending.
Cacao and Thais were extraordinary characters, and it was wonderful to watch the progress of their relationship through the story. They feel like they are in their late teens, but still a bit immature (besides being both very stubborn), and they come from completely different backgrounds, so they can’t stop bickering at first, even though they have a lot of (spiteful) chemistry. Then, gradually throughout the book, you notice they start learning more about each other and learning to interact with each other in the right ways to express their growing liking for the other. I found this amazing because they’re both round characters with striking differences in personality, besides flaws that contradict the other’s, but they could still overcome this.
Thais was a refreshing subversion of the idea that all young and nice (and even a bit naïve) characters have to be useless. She’s proactive about being a hero and tries so hard that, realistically, she succeeds sometimes… though you also see how the effort she puts into helping others takes a heavy toll on her.
And Cacao is her opposite. He thinks of himself as selfish, greedy, and incapable of doing anything good—and he acts like it in the beginning, though he’s never unlikable as a character. He’s funny in a petty, sassy way, and it’s easy to see his negative behavior and view of himself are also mingled with a hurt that made me curious to know more about his past. Not to say he isn’t a greedy little silt-breather, because he is. Cacao is greedy: this is his major character flaw, he does bad things because of it, and it makes him the main source of conflict and problems for him and Thais along their journey. Through all the story, until the end, there’s always the question if he’ll manage to take control of his greed or fall prey to it and ruin everything. On the other hand, this also made Cacao my favorite character, because the situation is more complex than just him being a “bad person”. The questions he introduces in the story were the most compelling for me.
I don't want to spoil the book, but the end is sweet and funny. It was satisfying in all the major points I wanted to see resolved.
On an end note about the setting, I could spend all day discussing how intriguing the Murk felt to me. It’s set in fantasy Amazonia, but with clear Mesoamerican influence (the penajuar and the description of the warriors’ clothing); then the architecture looks like a modern tree-house hotel, and one character has European objects in their house. It made me want to know what history led this world to this mixing of cultural influences. I don’t mind this in fantasy worlds, but I know it’s a pet peeve for some people. The only detail that felt culturally off to me as a Brazilian was the book's overreliance on skin tone to show race when describing people from the Murk, since it’s practically impossible to distinguish race based on that alone if you live in a mixed country.
As a Brazilian, I’m also partial to the fantasy setting, which is heavily inspired by Amazonia as a place and a little by its folklore too. The prose was so vivid I felt I was actually there, slithering and swimming through the rainforest like Cacao does as a half-snake person.
I couldn’t get into the story right away: it starts with an action scene, but there’s a lot of worldbuilding being introduced at the same time, so one thing kept interrupting the other, and I found it hard to focus on either. The characters and the humor kept me entertained, though, until the plot about getting to Thais’s ignit hoard started and carried me away with its stakes. Then I loved the packed action of the story, because it reminded me at every turn of how easily the characters could fail, and how much I wanted them to arrive safely at a happy ending.
Cacao and Thais were extraordinary characters, and it was wonderful to watch the progress of their relationship through the story. They feel like they are in their late teens, but still a bit immature (besides being both very stubborn), and they come from completely different backgrounds, so they can’t stop bickering at first, even though they have a lot of (spiteful) chemistry. Then, gradually throughout the book, you notice they start learning more about each other and learning to interact with each other in the right ways to express their growing liking for the other. I found this amazing because they’re both round characters with striking differences in personality, besides flaws that contradict the other’s, but they could still overcome this.
Thais was a refreshing subversion of the idea that all young and nice (and even a bit naïve) characters have to be useless. She’s proactive about being a hero and tries so hard that, realistically, she succeeds sometimes… though you also see how the effort she puts into helping others takes a heavy toll on her.
And Cacao is her opposite. He thinks of himself as selfish, greedy, and incapable of doing anything good—and he acts like it in the beginning, though he’s never unlikable as a character. He’s funny in a petty, sassy way, and it’s easy to see his negative behavior and view of himself are also mingled with a hurt that made me curious to know more about his past. Not to say he isn’t a greedy little silt-breather, because he is. Cacao is greedy: this is his major character flaw, he does bad things because of it, and it makes him the main source of conflict and problems for him and Thais along their journey. Through all the story, until the end, there’s always the question if he’ll manage to take control of his greed or fall prey to it and ruin everything. On the other hand, this also made Cacao my favorite character, because the situation is more complex than just him being a “bad person”. The questions he introduces in the story were the most compelling for me.
I don't want to spoil the book, but the end is sweet and funny. It was satisfying in all the major points I wanted to see resolved.
On an end note about the setting, I could spend all day discussing how intriguing the Murk felt to me. It’s set in fantasy Amazonia, but with clear Mesoamerican influence (the penajuar and the description of the warriors’ clothing); then the architecture looks like a modern tree-house hotel, and one character has European objects in their house. It made me want to know what history led this world to this mixing of cultural influences. I don’t mind this in fantasy worlds, but I know it’s a pet peeve for some people. The only detail that felt culturally off to me as a Brazilian was the book's overreliance on skin tone to show race when describing people from the Murk, since it’s practically impossible to distinguish race based on that alone if you live in a mixed country.
July 28, 2021
I have to start off the review by saying I absolutely adore the cover. I love the simplicity of it, and yet it represents the story so well – and green is my favourite colour so it really ticks all the boxes for me.
Once Stolen is a short read, and fast-paced so you find yourself devouring it in one go, but it packs one hell of a punch for its length.
It is the characters that are the stars of this book. Cacao is our main character, and right from the beginning, he was a fascinating character – firstly because he is a mer-snake (one of the reasons why I wanted to read this book at the start), and then because he is not a heroic figure, nor would I say that he falls completely into the morally grey category – although there are certainly points when he skirts the edges or even steps into that grey, and I think that’s why he was such a compelling character. He was flawed. He was human (well, as much as a mer-snake can be) and that plays into his decisions and interactions with others. What I also enjoyed is that he’s never a static character, he’s always learning and growing, whether from positive or negative experiences, and Bryn does a fantastic job of bringing that out throughout the story. Cacao is also autistic and struggles with sensory perception disorder, and what I liked here was that Bryn looks at both sides – from how it influences his interactions, and how it feeds his need and obsession with ignits to the point of conflict, but also looking at how his own people did not understand him and how that, in turn, shaped him, and how both sides grow and learn to confront those failings.
Thais is our other main character and is a wonderful foil to Cacao’s character. This was a partnership of chance, becoming something more under duress, and yet time is taken to see that relationship develop – from two people at almost polar opposites, bound by need and nothing else, through bickering and learning to become a team. It was wonderful to see it unfold and to see that it was a two-way street, with each opening the other’s eyes and helping to shape their choices and path forwards.
This characterisation certainly wasn’t limited to the main characters, and Bryn created a rich, varied cast of secondary characters – from the antagonistic forces of those making a livelihood from the Murk and hunting down Cacao and his people, to the those living within the Murk themselves, and the people caught between the Murk and the cartel.
The Murk itself was almost a character in and of itself, and that is down to the careful world-building, and how it is integrated into the story and the characters themselves. In a short book like this, there is always the danger of the worldbuilding being either too info-dump based, or too light, but Bryn has created a living, breathing world that is brought to life through the characters. Cacao is our gateway to the true depths of the Murk, and it’s through him that we get to explore the ecosystem and society, and he also helps us to forge an emotional connection with the setting – because we get to experience his almost begrudging connection and affection to the Murk, and journey along with him and Thais as they travel deep into the Murk, and Cacao reforges connections and comes to understand the Murk and his place within it in a different way. It is that emotional depth that really makes this world shine, because you care for the world, you live and breathe it in with the characters, and the natural way we are exposed to the Murk is very fitting for such a nature-based world.
Another aspect, and the reason I included Once Stolen on the Six Recs: Diversity is more than a buzzword post last week, is that there is a wonderful amount of representation in this book that is built into the very fabric of the world. Building onto the worldbuilding, is the fact that communication is done through signing as Mersnakes such as Cacao are deaf – although it is not limited to them, and is part of many who live in the murk – and therefore signing, vibrations and scent are all key parts of dialogue and interaction in general, and that immediately set this book apart, as well as the fact that Bryn just launches us into this world and way communicating, unapologetic and accepting, and honestly I want more books like this. The LGBTQIA+ representation is also strong within this book, and I am honestly so delighted to see it not only so naturally part of the world, but also to see non-binary characters featured so prominently – and honestly, that has made this book special in ways that I really can’t put into words.
Once Stolen is a fantastic book, and my only complaint is that I would have liked it to be longer because I want to spend more time in the Murk and with Cacao and Thais. There is honestly so much to love within this book, from the characters to the worldbuilding and representation, and also just the sheer sassiness -which had me laughing at more than one point. I will be keeping an eager eye out for what D.N. Bryn does in the future – and I will be picking up Our Bloody Pearl as soon as I can.
Once Stolen is a short read, and fast-paced so you find yourself devouring it in one go, but it packs one hell of a punch for its length.
It is the characters that are the stars of this book. Cacao is our main character, and right from the beginning, he was a fascinating character – firstly because he is a mer-snake (one of the reasons why I wanted to read this book at the start), and then because he is not a heroic figure, nor would I say that he falls completely into the morally grey category – although there are certainly points when he skirts the edges or even steps into that grey, and I think that’s why he was such a compelling character. He was flawed. He was human (well, as much as a mer-snake can be) and that plays into his decisions and interactions with others. What I also enjoyed is that he’s never a static character, he’s always learning and growing, whether from positive or negative experiences, and Bryn does a fantastic job of bringing that out throughout the story. Cacao is also autistic and struggles with sensory perception disorder, and what I liked here was that Bryn looks at both sides – from how it influences his interactions, and how it feeds his need and obsession with ignits to the point of conflict, but also looking at how his own people did not understand him and how that, in turn, shaped him, and how both sides grow and learn to confront those failings.
Thais is our other main character and is a wonderful foil to Cacao’s character. This was a partnership of chance, becoming something more under duress, and yet time is taken to see that relationship develop – from two people at almost polar opposites, bound by need and nothing else, through bickering and learning to become a team. It was wonderful to see it unfold and to see that it was a two-way street, with each opening the other’s eyes and helping to shape their choices and path forwards.
This characterisation certainly wasn’t limited to the main characters, and Bryn created a rich, varied cast of secondary characters – from the antagonistic forces of those making a livelihood from the Murk and hunting down Cacao and his people, to the those living within the Murk themselves, and the people caught between the Murk and the cartel.
The Murk itself was almost a character in and of itself, and that is down to the careful world-building, and how it is integrated into the story and the characters themselves. In a short book like this, there is always the danger of the worldbuilding being either too info-dump based, or too light, but Bryn has created a living, breathing world that is brought to life through the characters. Cacao is our gateway to the true depths of the Murk, and it’s through him that we get to explore the ecosystem and society, and he also helps us to forge an emotional connection with the setting – because we get to experience his almost begrudging connection and affection to the Murk, and journey along with him and Thais as they travel deep into the Murk, and Cacao reforges connections and comes to understand the Murk and his place within it in a different way. It is that emotional depth that really makes this world shine, because you care for the world, you live and breathe it in with the characters, and the natural way we are exposed to the Murk is very fitting for such a nature-based world.
Another aspect, and the reason I included Once Stolen on the Six Recs: Diversity is more than a buzzword post last week, is that there is a wonderful amount of representation in this book that is built into the very fabric of the world. Building onto the worldbuilding, is the fact that communication is done through signing as Mersnakes such as Cacao are deaf – although it is not limited to them, and is part of many who live in the murk – and therefore signing, vibrations and scent are all key parts of dialogue and interaction in general, and that immediately set this book apart, as well as the fact that Bryn just launches us into this world and way communicating, unapologetic and accepting, and honestly I want more books like this. The LGBTQIA+ representation is also strong within this book, and I am honestly so delighted to see it not only so naturally part of the world, but also to see non-binary characters featured so prominently – and honestly, that has made this book special in ways that I really can’t put into words.
Once Stolen is a fantastic book, and my only complaint is that I would have liked it to be longer because I want to spend more time in the Murk and with Cacao and Thais. There is honestly so much to love within this book, from the characters to the worldbuilding and representation, and also just the sheer sassiness -which had me laughing at more than one point. I will be keeping an eager eye out for what D.N. Bryn does in the future – and I will be picking up Our Bloody Pearl as soon as I can.
November 15, 2021
I was a huge fan of DN Bryn’s Our Bloody Pearl (as you can see from my review!), so when I saw they were returning to the world of These Treacherous Tides for the start of a new series, I was delighted!
Content warnings (from the author): Cultural ableism, adolescent abandonment, two instances of animal injury and death, accidental house fire, kidnapping, secondary character drinking alcohol including non-violent drunkenness.
You don’t need to have read Our Bloody Pearl to jump into this – while there are references (and it was lovely to see cameos from a couple of OBP characters!), this is an entirely new story, so it doesn’t matter if you start here or there. Once Stolen is way more action-packed than Our Bloody Pearl, which surprised me at first as I was expecting another quiet book. While there are plenty of lovely character moments (as I’ll discuss in a bit), this is much more of an adventure tale, as Cacao, a boiuna, and his reluctant ally Thais, a human, race towards a cache of treasure while being chased by a vicious cartel. The pace and the energy are high, and the story drags you along at a rollicking speed – I read this pretty much in one sitting, as I just kept thinking ‘one more chapter’! The jungle setting is unusual and intriguing, and so well-described; there’s a real sense of motion as the characters travel, and you feel like you’re right there with them.
As I’ve come to expect from DN Bryn, this is a joyfully diverse book in terms of gender, sexuality, and disability. The world is queernorm, and I loved seeing characters deliberately, but casually, introduce themselves with their pronouns. There are multiple nonbinary characters (each of them with a different identity, from ‘all genders’ to ‘no thanks’, which is something I’ve not seen depicted with such nuance before), including Thais, Cacao’s eventual love interest. There’s also excellent representation of Deaf (again, with different depictions across multiple characters!) and autistic characters – these are facets of people, and not their only qualities, but they’re seamlessly and realistically woven into their characters and into the worldbuilding in a way that is wonderful to read. I loved that pretty much all of the book’s conversations took place in sign language, with the world just being set up that way. There is a major subplot I won’t spoil about Cacao’s experiences with a lack of accommodation for his sensory needs, so all I’ll say is that I thought this was depicted sensitively and extremely well. I could rave for ages about just how beautifully this world is constructed to include these things, but I want to let you discover it for yourself!
Cacao’s character development in this book is so beautifully drawn. At the beginning of the book, he’s selfish and aggressive, and although it’s clear that this is the result of trauma and rejection, he’s honestly not very likeable! But his voice is utterly compelling from the get-go, and I loved him, even if he wasn’t always very nice. There’s a great blog post on the author’s site where they discuss how important it is to have an autistic character be allowed to have these flaws and how they’re tied into trauma (and eventual healing), which is a really interesting read. But even if you go into this book cold, one of my favourite things is seeing prickly characters warm up when they’re shown kindness and love, and it’s Cacao’s friendships with Thais and other characters that show him that maybe he doesn’t have to be an island any more. I found myself grinning every time Cacao realised he was doing something unselfish, to his horror! The rest of the cast is brilliant, too – I loved boiuna Fern in particular, with her combination of creepy hobbies and sweet personality, and the budding romance between Cacao and Thais is so cute and fun (if you like affectionate insults, you’ll be in heaven!) It sounds twee to use the term ‘the power of friendship’, but this is such a gorgeous depiction of how much belonging matters. As in Our Bloody Pearl, Once Stolen excels at showing how ‘people’ and ‘home’ have only a blurry line between them.
I’m going to be good and stop writing, or I’ll end up spoiling everything in my haste to tell you everything I loved about this! But if you like your fantasy fun, adventurous, and fundamentally inclusive, this is a must read. The main plot is satisfyingly tied up, but I cannot wait to read the next book in the series and find out what happens to the threads left dangling – this is such a lovely world. Five out of five cats!
Content warnings (from the author): Cultural ableism, adolescent abandonment, two instances of animal injury and death, accidental house fire, kidnapping, secondary character drinking alcohol including non-violent drunkenness.
You don’t need to have read Our Bloody Pearl to jump into this – while there are references (and it was lovely to see cameos from a couple of OBP characters!), this is an entirely new story, so it doesn’t matter if you start here or there. Once Stolen is way more action-packed than Our Bloody Pearl, which surprised me at first as I was expecting another quiet book. While there are plenty of lovely character moments (as I’ll discuss in a bit), this is much more of an adventure tale, as Cacao, a boiuna, and his reluctant ally Thais, a human, race towards a cache of treasure while being chased by a vicious cartel. The pace and the energy are high, and the story drags you along at a rollicking speed – I read this pretty much in one sitting, as I just kept thinking ‘one more chapter’! The jungle setting is unusual and intriguing, and so well-described; there’s a real sense of motion as the characters travel, and you feel like you’re right there with them.
As I’ve come to expect from DN Bryn, this is a joyfully diverse book in terms of gender, sexuality, and disability. The world is queernorm, and I loved seeing characters deliberately, but casually, introduce themselves with their pronouns. There are multiple nonbinary characters (each of them with a different identity, from ‘all genders’ to ‘no thanks’, which is something I’ve not seen depicted with such nuance before), including Thais, Cacao’s eventual love interest. There’s also excellent representation of Deaf (again, with different depictions across multiple characters!) and autistic characters – these are facets of people, and not their only qualities, but they’re seamlessly and realistically woven into their characters and into the worldbuilding in a way that is wonderful to read. I loved that pretty much all of the book’s conversations took place in sign language, with the world just being set up that way. There is a major subplot I won’t spoil about Cacao’s experiences with a lack of accommodation for his sensory needs, so all I’ll say is that I thought this was depicted sensitively and extremely well. I could rave for ages about just how beautifully this world is constructed to include these things, but I want to let you discover it for yourself!
Cacao’s character development in this book is so beautifully drawn. At the beginning of the book, he’s selfish and aggressive, and although it’s clear that this is the result of trauma and rejection, he’s honestly not very likeable! But his voice is utterly compelling from the get-go, and I loved him, even if he wasn’t always very nice. There’s a great blog post on the author’s site where they discuss how important it is to have an autistic character be allowed to have these flaws and how they’re tied into trauma (and eventual healing), which is a really interesting read. But even if you go into this book cold, one of my favourite things is seeing prickly characters warm up when they’re shown kindness and love, and it’s Cacao’s friendships with Thais and other characters that show him that maybe he doesn’t have to be an island any more. I found myself grinning every time Cacao realised he was doing something unselfish, to his horror! The rest of the cast is brilliant, too – I loved boiuna Fern in particular, with her combination of creepy hobbies and sweet personality, and the budding romance between Cacao and Thais is so cute and fun (if you like affectionate insults, you’ll be in heaven!) It sounds twee to use the term ‘the power of friendship’, but this is such a gorgeous depiction of how much belonging matters. As in Our Bloody Pearl, Once Stolen excels at showing how ‘people’ and ‘home’ have only a blurry line between them.
I’m going to be good and stop writing, or I’ll end up spoiling everything in my haste to tell you everything I loved about this! But if you like your fantasy fun, adventurous, and fundamentally inclusive, this is a must read. The main plot is satisfyingly tied up, but I cannot wait to read the next book in the series and find out what happens to the threads left dangling – this is such a lovely world. Five out of five cats!
August 8, 2021
I was thrilled to see a new book in this world. I fell in love with Perle in Our bloody Pearl and was very excited to return to their world.
Cacao’s love of the colorful stones, called Ignits (which are used as a power-source for various things) is almost like an addiction. The compulsion to have them near and the lengths he has gone to make sure he always has some at hand, has gotten him into trouble more often than not- to the point of being kicked out of his home.
Thais is Cacao’s ticket to an easier life. One that will give him enough Ignits to last a lifetime and he will never worry again about being without one. Unfortunately there are others that feel the same way about Thais’s mothers stash of Ignits and they will stop at nothing to retrieve them for themselves.
I honestly never thought I could be so into interspecies relationships but I guess I just needed to meet the residents of the Murk.
Cacao wasn’t as easy for me to love as Perle. Cacao is prickly and angry and he pushes everyone away. He is also greedy and self-centered and it requires some time to warm to him. But as we get to know Cacao and see how his family and the other Bouina’s have let him down, it’s easier to understand his bad attitude. He just kind of worms into your heart after awhile and you just want someone to care for him and give him the opportunity to be a good Bouina.
Thais is everything Cacao isn’t- open, trusting and sweet. She isn’t interested in her mother’s Ignits or the greed behind them. She is just the kind of person a prickly pear like Cacao needs to break down the walls he has around his heart.
**
Bryn has created a wonderful world in the Murk. Their stories are about characters overcoming the feelings that rest of the world doesn’t get them, or even want to try. They’re about feeling wrong in your skin and or different, but their stories are also about learning along the way that it doesn’t matter what’s on the outside, if you are true to yourself.
I love the message. I love the friendships, and the healing that comes along with finding themselves, the learning that they don’t have to change their core-being to belong, and that it’s not an easy thing being yourself and being accepted for it, but it is doable.
Once Stolen is a charming new stand-alone story, in the These Treacherous Tides series with lots of action, a great setting, characters to steal your heart, all with a heartwarming underlying story message of learning to love yourself.
Other notes that I just couldn’t figure out how to fit in-
Murielle cameo- yay!
The Murk - I love this name because it says everything about the world, they inhabit in four short letters.
I love the naming conventions – names are chosen by the scent they exude. I thought that was so cool and also communication between most characters is in sign language.
Huge thank you to D.N. Bryn for the ARC/review copy
Cacao’s love of the colorful stones, called Ignits (which are used as a power-source for various things) is almost like an addiction. The compulsion to have them near and the lengths he has gone to make sure he always has some at hand, has gotten him into trouble more often than not- to the point of being kicked out of his home.
Thais is Cacao’s ticket to an easier life. One that will give him enough Ignits to last a lifetime and he will never worry again about being without one. Unfortunately there are others that feel the same way about Thais’s mothers stash of Ignits and they will stop at nothing to retrieve them for themselves.
I honestly never thought I could be so into interspecies relationships but I guess I just needed to meet the residents of the Murk.
Cacao wasn’t as easy for me to love as Perle. Cacao is prickly and angry and he pushes everyone away. He is also greedy and self-centered and it requires some time to warm to him. But as we get to know Cacao and see how his family and the other Bouina’s have let him down, it’s easier to understand his bad attitude. He just kind of worms into your heart after awhile and you just want someone to care for him and give him the opportunity to be a good Bouina.
Thais is everything Cacao isn’t- open, trusting and sweet. She isn’t interested in her mother’s Ignits or the greed behind them. She is just the kind of person a prickly pear like Cacao needs to break down the walls he has around his heart.
**
Bryn has created a wonderful world in the Murk. Their stories are about characters overcoming the feelings that rest of the world doesn’t get them, or even want to try. They’re about feeling wrong in your skin and or different, but their stories are also about learning along the way that it doesn’t matter what’s on the outside, if you are true to yourself.
I love the message. I love the friendships, and the healing that comes along with finding themselves, the learning that they don’t have to change their core-being to belong, and that it’s not an easy thing being yourself and being accepted for it, but it is doable.
Once Stolen is a charming new stand-alone story, in the These Treacherous Tides series with lots of action, a great setting, characters to steal your heart, all with a heartwarming underlying story message of learning to love yourself.
Other notes that I just couldn’t figure out how to fit in-
Murielle cameo- yay!
The Murk - I love this name because it says everything about the world, they inhabit in four short letters.
I love the naming conventions – names are chosen by the scent they exude. I thought that was so cool and also communication between most characters is in sign language.
Huge thank you to D.N. Bryn for the ARC/review copy
June 17, 2021
I received an ARC copy of "Once Stolen" and wow!!
Typically in the spring months, I'm busy enough that I don't have the time to sit down and read a single extended work. However, this one kept me coming back. My reading habits tend to be more casual, and I'll read when I have time to. With "Once Stolen," I was motivated to make time to read a chapter or two during time that would have otherwise been spent partaking in other hobbies. I found myself reading at work, during my breaks, in bed... you name it, I was there.
The character work in this novel is gorgeous. I love that Cacao tends towards a more pessimistic point of view, something that tends to be uncommon for point-of-view protagonists. Reading through his perspective, I felt a lot of the same emotions he did, and I felt a lot of the same tumult. His descriptions of how ignits felt so important to him on a personal level, while to others they were more like rocks, really resonated with me.
Each character in this book is well-developed and consistent, which is something I look for and often highlight in the works I read. Thais' selflessness created an interesting dynamic with Cacao, and I enjoyed the interactions between Xera and Fern. Everyone seemed to have a motivation that worked both for and against the story's main goal. (Overall, in case you couldn't tell, I adore Bryn's character work.)
The Murk made for a richly developed setting, between descriptions, predators, and the general ambience of the environment. I loved the world-building.
Mentions of sirens created a strong continuity with the series' first book, "Our Bloody Pearl." You don't need to have any background knowledge of the previous book to read this one, which was also something I had appreciated. I read OBP a few years back, and initially I was afraid that I would have forgotten some vital details needed for this story. The difference in the settings and characters ensured that I was in good hands!
Overall, this book is a fantastic second volume of the "These Treacherous Tides" series. Every part had me sneaking in reads where I could and in absolute admiration of the character development. A fantastic and highly recommended read!
Typically in the spring months, I'm busy enough that I don't have the time to sit down and read a single extended work. However, this one kept me coming back. My reading habits tend to be more casual, and I'll read when I have time to. With "Once Stolen," I was motivated to make time to read a chapter or two during time that would have otherwise been spent partaking in other hobbies. I found myself reading at work, during my breaks, in bed... you name it, I was there.
The character work in this novel is gorgeous. I love that Cacao tends towards a more pessimistic point of view, something that tends to be uncommon for point-of-view protagonists. Reading through his perspective, I felt a lot of the same emotions he did, and I felt a lot of the same tumult. His descriptions of how ignits felt so important to him on a personal level, while to others they were more like rocks, really resonated with me.
Each character in this book is well-developed and consistent, which is something I look for and often highlight in the works I read. Thais' selflessness created an interesting dynamic with Cacao, and I enjoyed the interactions between Xera and Fern. Everyone seemed to have a motivation that worked both for and against the story's main goal. (Overall, in case you couldn't tell, I adore Bryn's character work.)
The Murk made for a richly developed setting, between descriptions, predators, and the general ambience of the environment. I loved the world-building.
Mentions of sirens created a strong continuity with the series' first book, "Our Bloody Pearl." You don't need to have any background knowledge of the previous book to read this one, which was also something I had appreciated. I read OBP a few years back, and initially I was afraid that I would have forgotten some vital details needed for this story. The difference in the settings and characters ensured that I was in good hands!
Overall, this book is a fantastic second volume of the "These Treacherous Tides" series. Every part had me sneaking in reads where I could and in absolute admiration of the character development. A fantastic and highly recommended read!
July 9, 2021
I loved the first book I read in the These Treacherous Tides world, so when the author offered me a review copy of this one, I jumped at the chance.
The world-building in this one was admittedly slightly more confusing than the previous book. It took me a little bit to understand just how the ignits work. I did like how different it felt, like you were uncovering a different part of the world. It just makes for some slow reading when you're getting off the ground.
I particularly enjoyed how the ignits contrasted with the protagonist's autism (the book never uses the word directly, but the author has stated that's what it is). Rather than being some fantasy "cure" it was a way for him to manage sensory issues that came with it and gave him a very genuine motive for his morally gray behavior. The moral grayness was also excellently handled, as he genuinely did both good and bad (and good things for bad reasons) throughout the majority of the book.
I also enjoyed the use of sign language throughout the book. In this world, deafness is so common that literally everyone can sign and there are multiple different dialects of signing. And while there were certain challenges raised occasionally because of the need for signing, it never felt like I was missing something because the entire book was from the POV of a deaf character.
The romance itself was adorable. I don't usually go for enemies to lovers, but Cacao's constant inner dialogue of "I DON'T LIKE HER THESE FEELINGS ARE... SOMETHING ELSE" was absolutely adorable. And Thais being both a self-sacrificing hero and also coming up with new, worse insults to call Cacao was delightful. The chemistry between them felt genuine, and the ending declarations earned. Makes me wish there was a boiuna that would wrap their tail around me.
In general, if you enjoyed Our Bloody Pearl, you'll love this one. A couple characters from OBP make a cameo. There's a ton of queer characters and disability rep woven in to make for a dynamic fantasy you won't find often.
The world-building in this one was admittedly slightly more confusing than the previous book. It took me a little bit to understand just how the ignits work. I did like how different it felt, like you were uncovering a different part of the world. It just makes for some slow reading when you're getting off the ground.
I particularly enjoyed how the ignits contrasted with the protagonist's autism (the book never uses the word directly, but the author has stated that's what it is). Rather than being some fantasy "cure" it was a way for him to manage sensory issues that came with it and gave him a very genuine motive for his morally gray behavior. The moral grayness was also excellently handled, as he genuinely did both good and bad (and good things for bad reasons) throughout the majority of the book.
I also enjoyed the use of sign language throughout the book. In this world, deafness is so common that literally everyone can sign and there are multiple different dialects of signing. And while there were certain challenges raised occasionally because of the need for signing, it never felt like I was missing something because the entire book was from the POV of a deaf character.
The romance itself was adorable. I don't usually go for enemies to lovers, but Cacao's constant inner dialogue of "I DON'T LIKE HER THESE FEELINGS ARE... SOMETHING ELSE" was absolutely adorable. And Thais being both a self-sacrificing hero and also coming up with new, worse insults to call Cacao was delightful. The chemistry between them felt genuine, and the ending declarations earned. Makes me wish there was a boiuna that would wrap their tail around me.
In general, if you enjoyed Our Bloody Pearl, you'll love this one. A couple characters from OBP make a cameo. There's a ton of queer characters and disability rep woven in to make for a dynamic fantasy you won't find often.
July 29, 2021
"Say that to my face why don't you!"
"You," She pokes my chest, "are a scaly hurricane."
3.5/5 stars
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
When I found out DN was writing another book diving back into the world of Our Bloody Pearl I was super excited, and even more so to get an ARC!
This book follows Cacao, a mer-snake who has a unquenchable desire for ignits, powerful stones that can do many wonderful and terrible things. When a robbery gone wrong leaves him chained to a good-doer "hero" who has access to more ignits then he can fathom he's ready to do anything to get them. But a trek back into his home and new friends along the way may change everything.
So DN.Bryn did it again. They managed to continue to build and expand the world I was already fascinated by in Our Bloody Pearl, and add aspects to it that I never would have considered. I can easily say that their world building is my favourite part of their mind and writing, and will leave me coming back to their future books. This is a world so different then our own, with many, many non-human characters (include our MC), and I was enraptured by it all.
Similarly, the diversity of their characters is wonderfully done. I loved the use of sign language in the previous book, and it's used even more and (in my opinion) in an even better way in this book. We have canonically queer, deaf, and autistic characters, and the perspective of these characters is masterfully crafted. These characters are also loveable and interesting. The way I would fight anyone for Xera is slightly worrying., but I've decided not to question how much I love them.
This book did take me more time then I would have liked to get into. The beginning isn't necessarily slow, but we delve into the enemies side of this enemies-to-lovers a little quickly. The dislike between them came off a little forced at first, quick and sudden. Some of the descriptions were harder to follow, and it took me some time to really grasp where we were and what was happening. But the growth of the relationship and the writing from that point really made up for it. I sped through the middle and end of this book, and I fell for the interactions our two main characters have.
So did I go into this expecting to fall for a selfish, scaly, hurricane and this brave to a fault hero dancer? No. But I absolutely did.
"You," She pokes my chest, "are a scaly hurricane."
3.5/5 stars
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
When I found out DN was writing another book diving back into the world of Our Bloody Pearl I was super excited, and even more so to get an ARC!
This book follows Cacao, a mer-snake who has a unquenchable desire for ignits, powerful stones that can do many wonderful and terrible things. When a robbery gone wrong leaves him chained to a good-doer "hero" who has access to more ignits then he can fathom he's ready to do anything to get them. But a trek back into his home and new friends along the way may change everything.
So DN.Bryn did it again. They managed to continue to build and expand the world I was already fascinated by in Our Bloody Pearl, and add aspects to it that I never would have considered. I can easily say that their world building is my favourite part of their mind and writing, and will leave me coming back to their future books. This is a world so different then our own, with many, many non-human characters (include our MC), and I was enraptured by it all.
Similarly, the diversity of their characters is wonderfully done. I loved the use of sign language in the previous book, and it's used even more and (in my opinion) in an even better way in this book. We have canonically queer, deaf, and autistic characters, and the perspective of these characters is masterfully crafted. These characters are also loveable and interesting. The way I would fight anyone for Xera is slightly worrying., but I've decided not to question how much I love them.
This book did take me more time then I would have liked to get into. The beginning isn't necessarily slow, but we delve into the enemies side of this enemies-to-lovers a little quickly. The dislike between them came off a little forced at first, quick and sudden. Some of the descriptions were harder to follow, and it took me some time to really grasp where we were and what was happening. But the growth of the relationship and the writing from that point really made up for it. I sped through the middle and end of this book, and I fell for the interactions our two main characters have.
So did I go into this expecting to fall for a selfish, scaly, hurricane and this brave to a fault hero dancer? No. But I absolutely did.
May 30, 2021
“The selfish and the self-righteous, chained together by pure stupid fate”
Once Stolen is a companion novel to Our Bloody Pearl, a book I read recently and really enjoyed. I was thoroughly excited to jump into this one, and though I didn't end up loving it as much as the first one, I would still recommend it.
I think one of the strongest aspect of the book is its atmosphere. The setting of the story was truly original, it felt alive and seemed to almost have a mind of its own. The flowery writing and lush descriptions gave it a sort of richness that went along with the vibe of the book, and I thought it was a really clever way to build up its enviroment.
I thought the characters had some depth and were flawed, which is something I always appreciate in books. I enjoyed Cacao's character, he was really passive-agressive, which made me laugh. May I also mention that it was the first time I saw someone in a book sharing the name Thais with me ?? That was pretty awesome :)
However, though I did for the most part enjoy the setting, characters and writing of the book, the thing that prevented me from truly getting invested in the story was the plot. I couldn’t seem to get a full grasp of it, and just ended up confused most of the time. I also had a few problems with the pacing, because I couldn’t decipher when one scene ended and the next began. For me, that impacted my overall enjoyment of the book, as I had trouble really investing myself in a story I didn’t fully understand.
With that being said, I would still overall recommend this book and support this author. I think they are very creative and I look forward to what they do next !
I would like to thank the author D.N. Bryn for the e-ARC copy I was given in exchange for this review :)
February 19, 2022
Once Stolen by D. N. Bryn
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
I had absolutely adored Our Bloody Pearl, and the fantasy world built around it, so I was ecstatic to receive am ARC from the author of a book that’s not exactly a continuation, but is part of the same universe. Once Stolen takes us back to this world of fantastical creatures, full of diversity. I admittedly took my time with this one, and I apologise as life got in the way, but I can’t wait to also read Odder Still and review that as well.
We have what appears to be a selfish non human (boiuna) protagonist who has only one goal in mind. However, an encounter with a human alters his course, and we have this mixture of enemies to lovers with a LOT of action. Of course, one of the most notable and praiseworthy aspects of this book is the diversity, including queer, PoC, and disabled characters, all with different personalities and agendas of their own.
What had me removing a star from the book unfortunately was that the tons of action in the book sometimes got very disorienting, and the description of fight/chase scenes was not clear to me one hundred percent, but that could also be a matter of comprehension on my part.
The main form of communication between characters is signing which I find to be very cool! Also, the romance between the protagonists is very endearing, though it didn’t manage to convince me entirely. I was more invested in the characters individually, since they were so complex and interesting.
I definitely recommend you get into this world that D. N. Bryn has created! There’s more of it to come and I can’t wait to dive into the next book right away.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
I had absolutely adored Our Bloody Pearl, and the fantasy world built around it, so I was ecstatic to receive am ARC from the author of a book that’s not exactly a continuation, but is part of the same universe. Once Stolen takes us back to this world of fantastical creatures, full of diversity. I admittedly took my time with this one, and I apologise as life got in the way, but I can’t wait to also read Odder Still and review that as well.
We have what appears to be a selfish non human (boiuna) protagonist who has only one goal in mind. However, an encounter with a human alters his course, and we have this mixture of enemies to lovers with a LOT of action. Of course, one of the most notable and praiseworthy aspects of this book is the diversity, including queer, PoC, and disabled characters, all with different personalities and agendas of their own.
What had me removing a star from the book unfortunately was that the tons of action in the book sometimes got very disorienting, and the description of fight/chase scenes was not clear to me one hundred percent, but that could also be a matter of comprehension on my part.
The main form of communication between characters is signing which I find to be very cool! Also, the romance between the protagonists is very endearing, though it didn’t manage to convince me entirely. I was more invested in the characters individually, since they were so complex and interesting.
I definitely recommend you get into this world that D. N. Bryn has created! There’s more of it to come and I can’t wait to dive into the next book right away.
August 6, 2021
I received a digital ARC of this book from its author in exchange for an honest review.
D.N. Bryn never fails to cheer me up with their beautiful writing, diverse and snarky characters and the sparkling world of merfolks. You don’t have to read Our Bloody Pearl before you start Once Stolen, however, I highly recommend that you do. This is because characters from the previous book make a short appearance in this book and it feels like reconnecting with an old friend. Set in a steampunk world, Our Bloody Pearl and Once Stolen is filled with beautiful and luscious scenes, from the ocean to the river, from a mechanic’s shop to a dark jungle.
In Once Stolen, we follow a boiuna named Cacao who pretty much just wants to live in peace with his shiny ignits which is a type of energy producing stone. But when along stumbles Thais who knows the location of a horde of ignits, Cacao risks the anger of cartel leaders and his home elders, for a chance to possess those stones. Once Stolen is an adventure story of reluctant allies covering themes of community equity and its lack of disability support, friendship and found family, the need of a support group and environmental aggressors.
WRITING AUTISTIC CHARACTERS IN FANTASY
Once Stolen is a beautiful world where being queer is normalised. Cacao is very aggressive and reckless; for his whole life he had been called “selfish” that he now believes it, even acting on instincts that aren’t right. Because if people think of him as selfish and worthless, why not behave that way, right? For some readers, this makes Cacao unlikable, however, I would ask you to be patient. Cacao’s character arc is an important narrative, not only in this fantasy book but also in reality. Cacao is flawed, yes, and he is held accountable for the actions he takes. Part of his character development is the effort he puts into the friendships he has formed. D.N. Bryn has written an article on this: Autism in Relation to Character Flaws.
Thais is quite the opposite of Cacao, a self-righteous musician. Her relationship with Cacao – their banter, their pettiness and the eventual affection that comes from being very reluctant allies was fun to read. Being the exact opposite of Cacao, Thais is a character study on how sacrificing too much of yourself or prioritising others before yourself can poison you.
I not only love Cacao and Thais but also Fern and Xera. Xera is a warrior of the Murk who is deaf and has a huge crush on Fern. Fern is a bouina who loves collecting skulls and gardening. The bond these four characters form is so warm. Xera is so accepting and Fern is loyal. They show Thais and Cacao that family do not have to be related by blood. They showed up and fought for Cacao and Thais, even risking their lives and home. Another aspect I loved is that the characters communicated using sign language.
TACKLING ENVIRONMENTAL EXPLOITATION IN FANTASY
The world is constructed so beautifully with its swamps and the homes of Murk dwellers. There are also several other creatures like the Hoatzi’s and Botos. Once Stolen also explores the consequences of environmental exploitation such as the Murk’s dwindling population and the destruction the cartel leaders wrecked on the Murk. I love books where the environment is just as alive as its character. Also, I really appreciate that D.N. Bryn implemented this theme in their book as it portrays how exploitation destroys the symbiotic relationship between people and the land.
You can find me at Camillea Reads || Twitter || Instagram || Tumblr
Listen to bookish discussions and stay updated on the upcoming author interviews on my podcast Totes and Tales
D.N. Bryn never fails to cheer me up with their beautiful writing, diverse and snarky characters and the sparkling world of merfolks. You don’t have to read Our Bloody Pearl before you start Once Stolen, however, I highly recommend that you do. This is because characters from the previous book make a short appearance in this book and it feels like reconnecting with an old friend. Set in a steampunk world, Our Bloody Pearl and Once Stolen is filled with beautiful and luscious scenes, from the ocean to the river, from a mechanic’s shop to a dark jungle.
In Once Stolen, we follow a boiuna named Cacao who pretty much just wants to live in peace with his shiny ignits which is a type of energy producing stone. But when along stumbles Thais who knows the location of a horde of ignits, Cacao risks the anger of cartel leaders and his home elders, for a chance to possess those stones. Once Stolen is an adventure story of reluctant allies covering themes of community equity and its lack of disability support, friendship and found family, the need of a support group and environmental aggressors.
WRITING AUTISTIC CHARACTERS IN FANTASY
Once Stolen is a beautiful world where being queer is normalised. Cacao is very aggressive and reckless; for his whole life he had been called “selfish” that he now believes it, even acting on instincts that aren’t right. Because if people think of him as selfish and worthless, why not behave that way, right? For some readers, this makes Cacao unlikable, however, I would ask you to be patient. Cacao’s character arc is an important narrative, not only in this fantasy book but also in reality. Cacao is flawed, yes, and he is held accountable for the actions he takes. Part of his character development is the effort he puts into the friendships he has formed. D.N. Bryn has written an article on this: Autism in Relation to Character Flaws.
Thais is quite the opposite of Cacao, a self-righteous musician. Her relationship with Cacao – their banter, their pettiness and the eventual affection that comes from being very reluctant allies was fun to read. Being the exact opposite of Cacao, Thais is a character study on how sacrificing too much of yourself or prioritising others before yourself can poison you.
I not only love Cacao and Thais but also Fern and Xera. Xera is a warrior of the Murk who is deaf and has a huge crush on Fern. Fern is a bouina who loves collecting skulls and gardening. The bond these four characters form is so warm. Xera is so accepting and Fern is loyal. They show Thais and Cacao that family do not have to be related by blood. They showed up and fought for Cacao and Thais, even risking their lives and home. Another aspect I loved is that the characters communicated using sign language.
TACKLING ENVIRONMENTAL EXPLOITATION IN FANTASY
The world is constructed so beautifully with its swamps and the homes of Murk dwellers. There are also several other creatures like the Hoatzi’s and Botos. Once Stolen also explores the consequences of environmental exploitation such as the Murk’s dwindling population and the destruction the cartel leaders wrecked on the Murk. I love books where the environment is just as alive as its character. Also, I really appreciate that D.N. Bryn implemented this theme in their book as it portrays how exploitation destroys the symbiotic relationship between people and the land.
You can find me at Camillea Reads || Twitter || Instagram || Tumblr
Listen to bookish discussions and stay updated on the upcoming author interviews on my podcast Totes and Tales
July 24, 2021
4 stars
An e-ARC was kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I've been a fan of Bryn's work since Our Bloody Pearl in 2018, and I feel so lucky to have had the chance to read their latest book early because there is just so much about their writing that delights me. Once Stolen was no exception.
I'll keep my review as brief as I can and just list a few things that I really loved. I was amazed by how viscerally and intimately Bryn explored the protagonist Cacao's sensory issues as well as his physical existence and presence in his a non-human form. They weave in beings like mer-snakes and other fantasy concepts so seamlessly that I found myself really drawn into the world of the novel and all its rich complexity. The physical environment of the setting itself was just beautifully described to create a vivid sensory world.
Thais is also a brilliant character, and her relationship with gender was a meaningful thing to read as someone who relates to a lot of her experiences. The relationship between her and Cacao especially was so well-paced and entertaining to read. I loved how the author was able to build a hate-to-love romance in a way that not only felt genuine and as un-linear and complicated as real life, but was also tempered with humour, sass and unexpected moments of true connection.
Bryn really proves how possible it is to write an engaging fantasy story with a cast whose diversity goes far beyond the surface level, and I'm excited to see what they'll come out with in the future.
An e-ARC was kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I've been a fan of Bryn's work since Our Bloody Pearl in 2018, and I feel so lucky to have had the chance to read their latest book early because there is just so much about their writing that delights me. Once Stolen was no exception.
I'll keep my review as brief as I can and just list a few things that I really loved. I was amazed by how viscerally and intimately Bryn explored the protagonist Cacao's sensory issues as well as his physical existence and presence in his a non-human form. They weave in beings like mer-snakes and other fantasy concepts so seamlessly that I found myself really drawn into the world of the novel and all its rich complexity. The physical environment of the setting itself was just beautifully described to create a vivid sensory world.
Thais is also a brilliant character, and her relationship with gender was a meaningful thing to read as someone who relates to a lot of her experiences. The relationship between her and Cacao especially was so well-paced and entertaining to read. I loved how the author was able to build a hate-to-love romance in a way that not only felt genuine and as un-linear and complicated as real life, but was also tempered with humour, sass and unexpected moments of true connection.
Bryn really proves how possible it is to write an engaging fantasy story with a cast whose diversity goes far beyond the surface level, and I'm excited to see what they'll come out with in the future.
July 26, 2021
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After reading D.N. Bryn's "Our Bloody Pearl" a few years back, I was excited to read the new book in the same universe and it most definitely did not let me down. "Once Stolen" offers a well-paced, at times action-packed, adventure with lovable main characters who balance each-other out and easily entertain with their quippy dialogue.
This second standalone story in "These Treacherous Tides" verse presents a rich, interesting expansion of the world I previously got to visit in the first book; instead of the open seas, this time focusing on the swamp, called the Murk, and the cultures that inhabit it.
Its exploration happens through the eyes of Cacao, an initially selfish and morally flawed character, yet definitely not an unlikable one. His voice and the ways in which he understands and interacts with his surroundings and others, as a non-human creature, communicating through smells and sign language, paired up with the author's easy-flowing style makes for a very compelling read.
D.N. Bryn yet again builds their world with diversity at the forefront, weaving in characters of varying gender identities, and with disabilities, beginning with the book's deaf, autistic lead.
Definitely recommending the book for a nice, well-spent afternoon.
After reading D.N. Bryn's "Our Bloody Pearl" a few years back, I was excited to read the new book in the same universe and it most definitely did not let me down. "Once Stolen" offers a well-paced, at times action-packed, adventure with lovable main characters who balance each-other out and easily entertain with their quippy dialogue.
This second standalone story in "These Treacherous Tides" verse presents a rich, interesting expansion of the world I previously got to visit in the first book; instead of the open seas, this time focusing on the swamp, called the Murk, and the cultures that inhabit it.
Its exploration happens through the eyes of Cacao, an initially selfish and morally flawed character, yet definitely not an unlikable one. His voice and the ways in which he understands and interacts with his surroundings and others, as a non-human creature, communicating through smells and sign language, paired up with the author's easy-flowing style makes for a very compelling read.
D.N. Bryn yet again builds their world with diversity at the forefront, weaving in characters of varying gender identities, and with disabilities, beginning with the book's deaf, autistic lead.
Definitely recommending the book for a nice, well-spent afternoon.
July 27, 2021
(I came back to Goodreads just for this review <3)
I had the chance, back in 2018, to read the first book in These Treacherous Tides, Our Bloody Pearl, and have kept Danny’s writing in my thoughts since then, so I was delighted when they offered the option to read and review an ARC of Once Stolen. The world Danny has created is vibrant and packed full of fascinating creatures, high-stakes drama, and characters that aren’t afraid to be flawed and multidimensional. My little (big?) Cacao Bean, mer-snake of my heart, was a fantastic point of view character. He’s angry, he’s selfish, he’s dealing with way too much sensory overload, and he knows what he wants! (as I said to my friends while I was reading this book, sometimes your special interest is rocks and that means you need to commit crimes!!) I loved his relationship with Thais and how much they clashed over ideology during their initially unwilling team up. Danny’s writing is snappy but descriptive, and the story is fast paced, throwing a new obstacle at our protagonists at every turn. The supporting cast was also fantastic. (Xera and Fern, my beloveds, and Rubem…well, I’m rooting for your future ventures.) Once Stolen is a speculative summer adventure for those who loved Our Bloody Pearl, rock enthusiasts, people who know sign language, autistic folks, and your pet crocodile. 💎💎💎💎/5
I had the chance, back in 2018, to read the first book in These Treacherous Tides, Our Bloody Pearl, and have kept Danny’s writing in my thoughts since then, so I was delighted when they offered the option to read and review an ARC of Once Stolen. The world Danny has created is vibrant and packed full of fascinating creatures, high-stakes drama, and characters that aren’t afraid to be flawed and multidimensional. My little (big?) Cacao Bean, mer-snake of my heart, was a fantastic point of view character. He’s angry, he’s selfish, he’s dealing with way too much sensory overload, and he knows what he wants! (as I said to my friends while I was reading this book, sometimes your special interest is rocks and that means you need to commit crimes!!) I loved his relationship with Thais and how much they clashed over ideology during their initially unwilling team up. Danny’s writing is snappy but descriptive, and the story is fast paced, throwing a new obstacle at our protagonists at every turn. The supporting cast was also fantastic. (Xera and Fern, my beloveds, and Rubem…well, I’m rooting for your future ventures.) Once Stolen is a speculative summer adventure for those who loved Our Bloody Pearl, rock enthusiasts, people who know sign language, autistic folks, and your pet crocodile. 💎💎💎💎/5
July 31, 2021
Once Stolen by D.N Bryn
Are you a fan of action-packed, and adventure-driven plots? If so, this is the book for you, I don’t think I’ve read a book with quite so much action in it. Bryn has written a book that will take you on an adrenaline-filled adventure, full of dangers from humans and swamp beings.
It follows Bittersweet Earth also known as Cacao, an autistic, m-spec Boiuna who is obsessed with ignits like we’re all obsessed with books, no joke. Ignit rocks fuel the jungle and are in high demand. Even notorious cartels are involved with stealing and trading the rocks to others, the market is huge. Cacao is an ignit thief and after a botched attempt of securing more of the rocks from robbing from the cartel, Cacao is chained to their prisoner, Thais. Thais a human., whose mother died whilst collecting the biggest known haul of ignits to date, is a self-confessed hero. Cacao and Thias team up, pledging to get to the haul before the cartel. However, from the very first step, there is danger and people lurking after them.
I really enjoyed this book for the inclusivity, Bryn has lovingly included autistic, non-binary, lesbian, and deaf characters, all of which have big roles in the story. Cacao is a morally grey character with selfish tendencies. However, Once Stolen strongly highlights and focuses on the personal growth and development of Cacao, which I loved.
Are you a fan of action-packed, and adventure-driven plots? If so, this is the book for you, I don’t think I’ve read a book with quite so much action in it. Bryn has written a book that will take you on an adrenaline-filled adventure, full of dangers from humans and swamp beings.
It follows Bittersweet Earth also known as Cacao, an autistic, m-spec Boiuna who is obsessed with ignits like we’re all obsessed with books, no joke. Ignit rocks fuel the jungle and are in high demand. Even notorious cartels are involved with stealing and trading the rocks to others, the market is huge. Cacao is an ignit thief and after a botched attempt of securing more of the rocks from robbing from the cartel, Cacao is chained to their prisoner, Thais. Thais a human., whose mother died whilst collecting the biggest known haul of ignits to date, is a self-confessed hero. Cacao and Thias team up, pledging to get to the haul before the cartel. However, from the very first step, there is danger and people lurking after them.
I really enjoyed this book for the inclusivity, Bryn has lovingly included autistic, non-binary, lesbian, and deaf characters, all of which have big roles in the story. Cacao is a morally grey character with selfish tendencies. However, Once Stolen strongly highlights and focuses on the personal growth and development of Cacao, which I loved.
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