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No Man's Lander #1
Odder Still
Rubem of No-Man’s Land was content keeping to his wine, his pets, and his extensive collection of fishnets.
But since a sentient, fuel-producing parasite bonded to his brainstem, every morally-depraved scientist and hardcore rebel for a hundred miles wants to ruthlessly dissect him. The parasite itself is no better, influencing his emotions and sassing him with his own memories as it slowly takes over his body.
The only person offering Rubem help is Tavish K. Findlay, a dashing and manipulative philanthropist whose mother’s fuel company monopolizes their corrupt underwater city with an iron claw. She desperately wants to tear Rubem apart for the parasite before those who oppose her can do the same. Her son is irresistibly charismatic though, and after a lifetime of being kicked out and disavowed, Rubem is desperate to believe in the friendship Tavish offers.
With revolutionary plots and political schemes tangling his every choice, Rubem must soon decide whether or not to trust Tavish in his fight against the parasite’s growing control.
Odder Still is a M/M fantasy novel with a class-crossing slow burn romance, murderous intrigue, and a Marvel’s Venom-style parasite-human friendship in an underwater steampunk city. This book exist in the wider These Treacherous Tides universe, coming chronologically after Once Stolen, but it is the first book in the No-Man's Lander series and is an easy entry point into the world. Each No-Man's Lander book has a romantically fulfilling ending and a final HEA, with steamy thoughts and foreplay but no explicit sex. (For more information on reading order, please visit D.N. Bryn's website.)
Content warnings include alcohol consumption and animal death.
But since a sentient, fuel-producing parasite bonded to his brainstem, every morally-depraved scientist and hardcore rebel for a hundred miles wants to ruthlessly dissect him. The parasite itself is no better, influencing his emotions and sassing him with his own memories as it slowly takes over his body.
The only person offering Rubem help is Tavish K. Findlay, a dashing and manipulative philanthropist whose mother’s fuel company monopolizes their corrupt underwater city with an iron claw. She desperately wants to tear Rubem apart for the parasite before those who oppose her can do the same. Her son is irresistibly charismatic though, and after a lifetime of being kicked out and disavowed, Rubem is desperate to believe in the friendship Tavish offers.
With revolutionary plots and political schemes tangling his every choice, Rubem must soon decide whether or not to trust Tavish in his fight against the parasite’s growing control.
Odder Still is a M/M fantasy novel with a class-crossing slow burn romance, murderous intrigue, and a Marvel’s Venom-style parasite-human friendship in an underwater steampunk city. This book exist in the wider These Treacherous Tides universe, coming chronologically after Once Stolen, but it is the first book in the No-Man's Lander series and is an easy entry point into the world. Each No-Man's Lander book has a romantically fulfilling ending and a final HEA, with steamy thoughts and foreplay but no explicit sex. (For more information on reading order, please visit D.N. Bryn's website.)
Content warnings include alcohol consumption and animal death.
392 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2022
63 people are currently reading
1740 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 72 reviews
July 27, 2022
This was my first book with a parasite and I dived into it without knowing because I never read the blurb. The main character is Rubem, one of the side characters from the previous book in the series, Once Stolen. He has mental illness and a very sweet, albeit slow, friends to lovers storyline. His love interest and the second lead of the story, Tavish, has seeing disability. Romance is my favourite genre and this one had an MM romantic storyline. It too was action-packed, takes place in an underwater city and has marvelous attention to detail. This book is an amalgamation of representation of all kinds - BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disability, mental health - you name it, you have it. I am eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series.
It is the first book in the No-Man's Lander series (book 1) and book 3 of These Treacherous Tides series.
Like the author's previous books, this too has fabulous character and world building. It's descriptive and, like its predecessors, I could imagine everything happening in front of my eyes. I love books like these. Another thing that I love about the author's writing is how raw and realistic their characters are. They are imperfectly perfect and not trying desperately to fit in. Third would be the physical disability, mental health and LGBTQIA+ representation. These are not part of the story, these are the story and there was no hue and cry or drama surrounding such characters. It was as "normal" as being heteronormative and able-bodied with no grief in the world to sacrifice your happiness for. Fourth is the right amount of action and adventure in all their books. Very commendable. If there's a new author you must read this year, DN Bryn is your person.
And will someone pick this series up for a screen adaptation already?
It is the first book in the No-Man's Lander series (book 1) and book 3 of These Treacherous Tides series.
Like the author's previous books, this too has fabulous character and world building. It's descriptive and, like its predecessors, I could imagine everything happening in front of my eyes. I love books like these. Another thing that I love about the author's writing is how raw and realistic their characters are. They are imperfectly perfect and not trying desperately to fit in. Third would be the physical disability, mental health and LGBTQIA+ representation. These are not part of the story, these are the story and there was no hue and cry or drama surrounding such characters. It was as "normal" as being heteronormative and able-bodied with no grief in the world to sacrifice your happiness for. Fourth is the right amount of action and adventure in all their books. Very commendable. If there's a new author you must read this year, DN Bryn is your person.
And will someone pick this series up for a screen adaptation already?
July 12, 2022
Before reading Odder Still, I wasn’t entirely sure what the story was about aside from an MM Romance and a parasite. Let me tell you, that does not even begin to describe what this book is. I had a feeling I would like it, just from the cover and description, but wow was I not prepared to love it as much as I did. The beginning was already pretty interesting and raised several questions, but before I knew it, I’d been consumed, and could not put it down until I’d finished.
Odder Still is a captivating and intricate story with a rich world, so detailed that I could practically envision the different cities and environments in my head. The gorgeous writing style definitely contributes to this. Each description and sentence flowed so smoothly, the meaning was always clear, if layered with emotion. I was blown away by the elaborate world created and was so impressed with the writing style.
The characters were also fascinating and so interesting to read about. Rubem was especially intriguing because he was by no means perfect. He cared for those close to him, and he would do anything to protect them, but he was also flawed and authentically human. His portrayal of depression was another great addition to the story, and I appreciated how these details were depicted. Rubem's descriptions of emptiness and numbness caving in on him was so personal and real.
Additionally, I absolutely loved watching the romance bloom between Rubem and Tavish. They were both so different but also complimented each other so well. They formed a bond early on in the book, but their romance took more time to grow from there. The care and attraction they carried for each other was so obvious from the beginning, but I appreciated how the romance wasn’t jumped into right off the bat. Their friendship developed first, and because we got to see that connection ahead of time, it was even more meaningful when they did get together.
Also! Can we talk about how awesome it is to see blind rep in a fantasy novel? And from one of the main characters, no less! Speaking of which, this book was full of fantastic representation, including BIPOC, trans, gay, bisexual, non-binary, disability, and more! I love to see representation like this in books, especially because it was normalized, but still a part of who they are. I just loved it!
One of my favorite parts of the story was the take on the parasite. I’ve read and seen several books and movies that employ this as a plot point, but I was especially fascinated with how it was explored here. I won’t go into too much detail about it just because it’s such a large part of Rubem’s character development, but I will say that I thought it was well done.
Meanwhile, the plot of Odder Still was gripping and fascinating. There were so many layers and so much nuance to it! Just when I thought I had it all figured out, yet another layer would be revealed, and I'd be back to figuring it all out again. There were several plot points weaved together throughout, and while it wasn’t revealed how they were all connected until the end, it was abundantly clear they were intersecting each other, even if I wasn’t sure how yet. This was such a fun aspect to the story and had me on the edge of my seat and continuing to turn the page (even though I probably should have been asleep!).
Odder Still was a wild ride of a book, and I highly, highly recommend everyone read it!
Thank you so much to PrideBookTours on Instagram for providing me with a digital copy of this book!
Odder Still is a captivating and intricate story with a rich world, so detailed that I could practically envision the different cities and environments in my head. The gorgeous writing style definitely contributes to this. Each description and sentence flowed so smoothly, the meaning was always clear, if layered with emotion. I was blown away by the elaborate world created and was so impressed with the writing style.
The characters were also fascinating and so interesting to read about. Rubem was especially intriguing because he was by no means perfect. He cared for those close to him, and he would do anything to protect them, but he was also flawed and authentically human. His portrayal of depression was another great addition to the story, and I appreciated how these details were depicted. Rubem's descriptions of emptiness and numbness caving in on him was so personal and real.
Additionally, I absolutely loved watching the romance bloom between Rubem and Tavish. They were both so different but also complimented each other so well. They formed a bond early on in the book, but their romance took more time to grow from there. The care and attraction they carried for each other was so obvious from the beginning, but I appreciated how the romance wasn’t jumped into right off the bat. Their friendship developed first, and because we got to see that connection ahead of time, it was even more meaningful when they did get together.
Also! Can we talk about how awesome it is to see blind rep in a fantasy novel? And from one of the main characters, no less! Speaking of which, this book was full of fantastic representation, including BIPOC, trans, gay, bisexual, non-binary, disability, and more! I love to see representation like this in books, especially because it was normalized, but still a part of who they are. I just loved it!
One of my favorite parts of the story was the take on the parasite. I’ve read and seen several books and movies that employ this as a plot point, but I was especially fascinated with how it was explored here. I won’t go into too much detail about it just because it’s such a large part of Rubem’s character development, but I will say that I thought it was well done.
Meanwhile, the plot of Odder Still was gripping and fascinating. There were so many layers and so much nuance to it! Just when I thought I had it all figured out, yet another layer would be revealed, and I'd be back to figuring it all out again. There were several plot points weaved together throughout, and while it wasn’t revealed how they were all connected until the end, it was abundantly clear they were intersecting each other, even if I wasn’t sure how yet. This was such a fun aspect to the story and had me on the edge of my seat and continuing to turn the page (even though I probably should have been asleep!).
Odder Still was a wild ride of a book, and I highly, highly recommend everyone read it!
Thank you so much to PrideBookTours on Instagram for providing me with a digital copy of this book!
June 11, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
Odder Still is a wildly, lushly imaginative suspense mixed with a touch of slow-burn romance from author D.N. Bryn. It’s the first book in their No Man’s Lander series, which is part of the larger These Treacherous Tides universe of books. Odder Still clocks in at a hefty 400-ish pages and I was mesmerized by all of it. My biggest interest at first was seeing how Rubem and the aurora/parasite thread would play out. I wondered if this aurora/parasite would be its own sentient voice inside Rubem’s head, or be able to wholly take him over by invitation or force, and what that might have meant for the relationship Rubem and Tavish develop. In reality, this dynamic unfolded far less cleanly. Rubem and the parasite can’t really communicate and while there were sometimes emotions shared, it was at times hard to know whose emotions belong to whom. It didn’t seem like Rubem and the parasite’s increasing interdependence caused so much as a ripple in the romance thread with Tavish.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
Odder Still is a wildly, lushly imaginative suspense mixed with a touch of slow-burn romance from author D.N. Bryn. It’s the first book in their No Man’s Lander series, which is part of the larger These Treacherous Tides universe of books. Odder Still clocks in at a hefty 400-ish pages and I was mesmerized by all of it. My biggest interest at first was seeing how Rubem and the aurora/parasite thread would play out. I wondered if this aurora/parasite would be its own sentient voice inside Rubem’s head, or be able to wholly take him over by invitation or force, and what that might have meant for the relationship Rubem and Tavish develop. In reality, this dynamic unfolded far less cleanly. Rubem and the parasite can’t really communicate and while there were sometimes emotions shared, it was at times hard to know whose emotions belong to whom. It didn’t seem like Rubem and the parasite’s increasing interdependence caused so much as a ripple in the romance thread with Tavish.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
June 23, 2022
3 Stars
Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book from the author. This has not influenced my review.*
I couldn't get super into this, but it had a lot to love and is worth trying if you're interested!
There's wonderful diversity among characters. The main character is POC, gay, and has depression and an alcohol addiction. The love interest is trans, bi (or maybe pan), chubby, blind, and has anxiety. And the side and background characters are diverse in various ways as well.
It takes place in an underwater steampunk city. One which includes what is seemingly a combination of magic and science, with unique beings and forms of energy.
Also there's selkies! Including the love interest.
There's a Venom-style parasite friendship. I admittedly haven't not read any Venom comics, I know virtually nothing about that, but I still found it interesting how Rubem and his aurora (the parasite) communicated, how the aurora used his memories, etc.
There's a bit of romance. Though it is a series, so this is kind of the start of it.
There's also intrigue and action.
One issue I had though was that I was confused about some things. In the beginning, about the world and the ignits and auroras (perhaps because I haven't read "Once Stolen"---I am under the impression this is meant to work as an entry point, the first in a series, but I'm unclear on how all the books in the Treacherous Tides world go together). Then I felt like I got my footing somewhat, only for the climax scene to confuse me again with how everything was working. I was also very confused about the layout and setup of the city and buildings, what with all the glass breaking and water rushing and rooms falling. I also never did understand what Rubem was, since as far as I understood he's not fully human. It's possible I just missed some things though.
Other than that, there wasn't anything in particular wrong, just one of those books I didn't connect with. But I enjoyed the diversity, the interesting parasitic friendship, and the steampunk fantasy world. This book has a lot of action and violence but is somehow gentle in its vibes, emotions, characters, and messages, and I think a lot of people will love it.
*Rating: 3 Stars // Read Date: 2022 // Format: Ebook via TTS*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes diverse characters (including disabled, queer, POC, and body diversity), steampunk worlds, underwater dome cities, Venom-style parasite friendship, romance, and action.
More Reviews @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book from the author. This has not influenced my review.*
I couldn't get super into this, but it had a lot to love and is worth trying if you're interested!
There's wonderful diversity among characters. The main character is POC, gay, and has depression and an alcohol addiction. The love interest is trans, bi (or maybe pan), chubby, blind, and has anxiety. And the side and background characters are diverse in various ways as well.
It takes place in an underwater steampunk city. One which includes what is seemingly a combination of magic and science, with unique beings and forms of energy.
Also there's selkies! Including the love interest.
There's a Venom-style parasite friendship. I admittedly haven't not read any Venom comics, I know virtually nothing about that, but I still found it interesting how Rubem and his aurora (the parasite) communicated, how the aurora used his memories, etc.
There's a bit of romance. Though it is a series, so this is kind of the start of it.
There's also intrigue and action.
One issue I had though was that I was confused about some things. In the beginning, about the world and the ignits and auroras (perhaps because I haven't read "Once Stolen"---I am under the impression this is meant to work as an entry point, the first in a series, but I'm unclear on how all the books in the Treacherous Tides world go together). Then I felt like I got my footing somewhat, only for the climax scene to confuse me again with how everything was working. I was also very confused about the layout and setup of the city and buildings, what with all the glass breaking and water rushing and rooms falling. I also never did understand what Rubem was, since as far as I understood he's not fully human. It's possible I just missed some things though.
Other than that, there wasn't anything in particular wrong, just one of those books I didn't connect with. But I enjoyed the diversity, the interesting parasitic friendship, and the steampunk fantasy world. This book has a lot of action and violence but is somehow gentle in its vibes, emotions, characters, and messages, and I think a lot of people will love it.
*Rating: 3 Stars // Read Date: 2022 // Format: Ebook via TTS*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes diverse characters (including disabled, queer, POC, and body diversity), steampunk worlds, underwater dome cities, Venom-style parasite friendship, romance, and action.
More Reviews @ Metaphors and Moonlight
July 17, 2022
Thank you to Pride Book Tours, Kraken Collective and the author for an ebook in exchange for an honest review and promotion. All opinions are my own.
4.5/5
This was so fun and I'm curious to see if the anti-capitalist vibes continue during the series.
Odder Still is the first in a new series adult fantasy that follows Rubem. Rubem lives in No Man’s Land and hangs out with his pets. He has a great time. Until he is bonded to a parasite that is slowly taking over his body. Rubem must venture out to find someone to help him, but unknowingly stumbles into a rebellion and murder investigation. While this book is the start of a new series, Bloody Pearl and Once Stolen are set in the same universe and can be read before this one.
This was such an adventurous book. I really enjoyed seeing Rubem explore the underwater city and seeing his relationship with Tavish develop. Rubem struggles with depression and we see him deal with it throughout the book. Many times he turns to alcohol to self-medicate. The way depression and alcoholism were treated was really well down. Nowhere in this book did Rubem feel villainized for dealing with these diseases.
The murder mystery/rebellion was wild. I loved this aspect of the book and I want to see what will happen for the underwater city’s government next! It was very anti-capitalist and I definitely want to see more themes like that in the future. The world this was set in is so cool. I find the aurora (parasites), the ignit and everything so fascinating, I can’t wait to learn more. I’ll definitely have to check out the prequels at some point!
Rep: Black biracial gay cis male MC with depression and alcoholism, white blind bisexual trans male side character with anxiety, nonbinary side character who uses a wheelchair, various queer side characters.
CWs: Alcoholism, alcohol consumption, mental illness (depression), death, death of parent, murder, animal death (including pet death), violence, chronic illness (parasitic infection), near drowning, body horror. Moderate: blood, consensual blood draws, medical trauma, gun violence, grief, injury/injury detail, classism.
4.5/5
This was so fun and I'm curious to see if the anti-capitalist vibes continue during the series.
Odder Still is the first in a new series adult fantasy that follows Rubem. Rubem lives in No Man’s Land and hangs out with his pets. He has a great time. Until he is bonded to a parasite that is slowly taking over his body. Rubem must venture out to find someone to help him, but unknowingly stumbles into a rebellion and murder investigation. While this book is the start of a new series, Bloody Pearl and Once Stolen are set in the same universe and can be read before this one.
This was such an adventurous book. I really enjoyed seeing Rubem explore the underwater city and seeing his relationship with Tavish develop. Rubem struggles with depression and we see him deal with it throughout the book. Many times he turns to alcohol to self-medicate. The way depression and alcoholism were treated was really well down. Nowhere in this book did Rubem feel villainized for dealing with these diseases.
The murder mystery/rebellion was wild. I loved this aspect of the book and I want to see what will happen for the underwater city’s government next! It was very anti-capitalist and I definitely want to see more themes like that in the future. The world this was set in is so cool. I find the aurora (parasites), the ignit and everything so fascinating, I can’t wait to learn more. I’ll definitely have to check out the prequels at some point!
Rep: Black biracial gay cis male MC with depression and alcoholism, white blind bisexual trans male side character with anxiety, nonbinary side character who uses a wheelchair, various queer side characters.
CWs: Alcoholism, alcohol consumption, mental illness (depression), death, death of parent, murder, animal death (including pet death), violence, chronic illness (parasitic infection), near drowning, body horror. Moderate: blood, consensual blood draws, medical trauma, gun violence, grief, injury/injury detail, classism.
December 19, 2022
3.5 stars
I got sucked into this book. The world the author created is fabulous although far from perfect. I have a dilemma, whether it's a fantasy world or a post-apocalyptic one. Regardless I found myself questioning a few things. The story takes place mostly in an underwater world and the mechanics and science of it is not clear to me. I thought I could picture it, but towards the end, during the action sequence, things got confusing.
I loved the diversity of the characters. There wasn't a huge discussion about race or gender. It was just all part of the plot.
I loved Tavish and Rubem. They both have their own goals and agenda and they're understandably selfish about them. Their relationship was slow-going, which I enjoyed.
But what I loved most is Rubem's connection to his parasite. I have not watched Venom so I'm not sure if there's a parallel there. It's kind of a love-hate relationship and I truly loved watching their struggle for dominance and acceptance.
The last 30% is when the story started to speed up and by the end there was so much going on that I got overwhelmed. I think the ending was too tangled.
I also want to mention that every chapter starts with a short poem which made me so thrilled. :)
I think the blurb is actually pretty good in describing the book. Heed the warnings too.
Overall I really enjoyed it.
I got sucked into this book. The world the author created is fabulous although far from perfect. I have a dilemma, whether it's a fantasy world or a post-apocalyptic one. Regardless I found myself questioning a few things. The story takes place mostly in an underwater world and the mechanics and science of it is not clear to me. I thought I could picture it, but towards the end, during the action sequence, things got confusing.
I loved the diversity of the characters. There wasn't a huge discussion about race or gender. It was just all part of the plot.
I loved Tavish and Rubem. They both have their own goals and agenda and they're understandably selfish about them. Their relationship was slow-going, which I enjoyed.
But what I loved most is Rubem's connection to his parasite. I have not watched Venom so I'm not sure if there's a parallel there. It's kind of a love-hate relationship and I truly loved watching their struggle for dominance and acceptance.
The last 30% is when the story started to speed up and by the end there was so much going on that I got overwhelmed. I think the ending was too tangled.
I also want to mention that every chapter starts with a short poem which made me so thrilled. :)
I think the blurb is actually pretty good in describing the book. Heed the warnings too.
Overall I really enjoyed it.
February 8, 2022
Odder Still by @dn_bryn brings back Rubem from Once Stolen as the main character of this novel after he becomes the host for a sentient, fuel producing parasite during the events of the last book. Dragged out of the Murk, away from his home and pets, by Lilias, Rubem now finds himself in the unfamiliar underwater city of Maraheem where Selkie nobles rule over an impoverished low class kept at bay by gates. Rubem is running out of time to remove the parasite before it fully takes him over and finds aid in the youngest son of the ruling family, Tavish Findlay. The two of them must fight against assassination plots and immoral experiments to stay alive while also falling for each other.
I LOVED this book. I count myself very lucky that I got to read this arc so early but it does mean I have to wait soooooo long for the next book!! Bryn is part of my four favorite author group for good reason, they write just fantastic books that keep you on the edge of your seat and are so unique. I didn’t even really like Rubem in Once Stolen when he was just a side character but I completely fell in love with him in this book and because I learned so much more about him, rereading Once Stolen is going to be a completely different experience—which I think is a mark of a great writer. The world Bryn has created in the These Treacherous Tides books is so full of lore and is just so colorful. These books feel bright when you read them. And each book opens up new locations that are each so cool! Bryn also does such a lovely job of making you fall in love with their characters, I loved Tavish instantly. Like I wish I could hug him. And I still miss the characters from former books. Their characters are so memorable. Idk if I could sing the praises of this book or any of Danny’s books enough. Do yourself a favor and preorder this one then buy Our Bloody Pearl and Once Stolen—you won’t regret it!
I LOVED this book. I count myself very lucky that I got to read this arc so early but it does mean I have to wait soooooo long for the next book!! Bryn is part of my four favorite author group for good reason, they write just fantastic books that keep you on the edge of your seat and are so unique. I didn’t even really like Rubem in Once Stolen when he was just a side character but I completely fell in love with him in this book and because I learned so much more about him, rereading Once Stolen is going to be a completely different experience—which I think is a mark of a great writer. The world Bryn has created in the These Treacherous Tides books is so full of lore and is just so colorful. These books feel bright when you read them. And each book opens up new locations that are each so cool! Bryn also does such a lovely job of making you fall in love with their characters, I loved Tavish instantly. Like I wish I could hug him. And I still miss the characters from former books. Their characters are so memorable. Idk if I could sing the praises of this book or any of Danny’s books enough. Do yourself a favor and preorder this one then buy Our Bloody Pearl and Once Stolen—you won’t regret it!
Read
June 19, 2022ODDER STILL is a fast-paced science-fantasy novel featuring a romance between a disaffected outcast trying to rid himself of the sentient parasite that's latched to his neck and threatening to kill him, and an aristocratic selkie whose family has the means to separate that parasite - or lock it and its host in a laboratory for the rest of their natural lives.
Set in an underwater city divided by classism and a brewing rebellion, ODDER STILL has fantastic descriptions that ground the story, the writing is engaging and the pacing never drags, and the cast is distinctive and extremely queer, including numerous trans/nonbinary characters whose gender is never remarked upon (shout-out to Elspeth, the mad-scientist fish-person covered in glitter and my fave character).
I've been struggling to read longer books lately - struggling to read books at all lately, tbh - but, while this one took me longer to finish than I wanted (this was supposed to be an ARC and I'm so sorry), I had a great time. It was fun, non-stop action with a compelling romantic subplot where I genuinely wanted the two leads to end up together, despite every obstacle making it more and more unlikely with every passing chapter. The MC's growth in relation to his attitude towards the parasite taking over his body and his own depressed apathy towards the rest of the world was extremely satisfying. The book had violent scenes without being gory, though there were several instances of pet deaths that sensitive readers (me) might want to know of before going in.
Overall: I recommend this to anyone looking for queer SFF with low-heat romance, a guillotine attitude towards the upper class, and an action/adventure plot that keeps moving forward even when the characters manage to catch a much-needed breather (rare). I haven't read the author's other books yet, but ODDER STILL seems to be a standalone with series connections, so if you want more of this world, it's out there!
Set in an underwater city divided by classism and a brewing rebellion, ODDER STILL has fantastic descriptions that ground the story, the writing is engaging and the pacing never drags, and the cast is distinctive and extremely queer, including numerous trans/nonbinary characters whose gender is never remarked upon (shout-out to Elspeth, the mad-scientist fish-person covered in glitter and my fave character).
I've been struggling to read longer books lately - struggling to read books at all lately, tbh - but, while this one took me longer to finish than I wanted (this was supposed to be an ARC and I'm so sorry), I had a great time. It was fun, non-stop action with a compelling romantic subplot where I genuinely wanted the two leads to end up together, despite every obstacle making it more and more unlikely with every passing chapter. The MC's growth in relation to his attitude towards the parasite taking over his body and his own depressed apathy towards the rest of the world was extremely satisfying. The book had violent scenes without being gory, though there were several instances of pet deaths that sensitive readers (me) might want to know of before going in.
Overall: I recommend this to anyone looking for queer SFF with low-heat romance, a guillotine attitude towards the upper class, and an action/adventure plot that keeps moving forward even when the characters manage to catch a much-needed breather (rare). I haven't read the author's other books yet, but ODDER STILL seems to be a standalone with series connections, so if you want more of this world, it's out there!
June 13, 2022
RTC but I enjoyed this one, so much. This book was just so fascinating to read and I had the best of time reading it. I loved how atmospheric this book was, it was so easy for me to lose myself in this book and the story.
I received an arc of this book and this is my honest opinion
I received an arc of this book and this is my honest opinion
June 20, 2022
This was such a fabulous adventure!
I guess this is a spin-off from a previous series that I have yet to read. No concerns however as it easily read as a standalone first in a series. Though if you are anything like me you will be left wanting to read the other series in this universe.
I want to start with the world-building
The author did a superb job of crafting this world
I was easily transported from the first page into a world of magic and fantasy and I did not want to leave
The city, the different towns/outposts, the various "habitats"
All the wonderful creatures both sentient and well ...
Evocative personalities that had me laughing, wanting to scream or wrap them in bubble wrap - each character brought so much to the story
Rubem has a small parasitic problem - Well It was small but the problems it caused were far from minor irritations.
On his quest (?) to rid himself of the little bugger, he runs into Tavish quite literally. Turns out Tavish might be able to help and it doesn't hurt that he is also easy on the eyes
It would take pages to share all the characters I enjoyed meeting
The moments that stopped my heart
The sweet relationship that develops between Rubem and his little parasite
The romance between Tavish and Rubem
I highly recommend it to those who enjoy a fast-paced adventure that truly captivates and transports its reader
I am looking forward to the next in the series and will be seeking out the other books in this universe as well as works by this author
I guess this is a spin-off from a previous series that I have yet to read. No concerns however as it easily read as a standalone first in a series. Though if you are anything like me you will be left wanting to read the other series in this universe.
I want to start with the world-building
The author did a superb job of crafting this world
I was easily transported from the first page into a world of magic and fantasy and I did not want to leave
The city, the different towns/outposts, the various "habitats"
All the wonderful creatures both sentient and well ...
Evocative personalities that had me laughing, wanting to scream or wrap them in bubble wrap - each character brought so much to the story
Rubem has a small parasitic problem - Well It was small but the problems it caused were far from minor irritations.
On his quest (?) to rid himself of the little bugger, he runs into Tavish quite literally. Turns out Tavish might be able to help and it doesn't hurt that he is also easy on the eyes
It would take pages to share all the characters I enjoyed meeting
The moments that stopped my heart
The sweet relationship that develops between Rubem and his little parasite
The romance between Tavish and Rubem
I highly recommend it to those who enjoy a fast-paced adventure that truly captivates and transports its reader
I am looking forward to the next in the series and will be seeking out the other books in this universe as well as works by this author
May 4, 2022
I received and ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
OH, what's not to love about this book? Selkies, underwater cities, a delightfully sassy parasite, and a deliciously authentic protagonist.
Rubem from Once Stolen returns as the protagonist in this story and he performs admirably. From his ongoing struggles with depression and alcoholism as well as his own sense of self, he always came off as someone making genuine reactions to the horrible(and occasionally not so horrible) things happening to him. He felt real and sad and his choices were so true to who he is.
His love interest, Tavish, was another fantastic character. Tavish's arc and personal growth were delightful to see. Also, it's wonderful to see a blind character who faces realistic limitations but doesn't hang around waiting for the protagonist to save them. He impacts Rubem and the plot almost as much as Rubem himself does.
Maraheem, the main setting, occassionally felt more like another character than just the setting. From the gilded grandeur of the upper floors to the squalor and darkness of the lower ones, it never felt contrived or forced. Sometimes I nearly forgot they were underwater due to the sheer scale of Maraheem, but it always came back to remind me that this city could only exist as it is at the bottom of the ocean. Windows overlooking coral beds and orcas swimming just outside combined with air scrubbers and luminescent alge lighting to create an intense and realistic atmosphere. When we ventured outside Maraheem we were still treated to glimpses of how it impacted the world around it, including the selkie's treatment of mer and finfolk and even their own poorer kin.
Overall, I highly enjoyed this book and recommend it for anyone looking for an adventurous read into an undersea world of selkies and mer.
OH, what's not to love about this book? Selkies, underwater cities, a delightfully sassy parasite, and a deliciously authentic protagonist.
Rubem from Once Stolen returns as the protagonist in this story and he performs admirably. From his ongoing struggles with depression and alcoholism as well as his own sense of self, he always came off as someone making genuine reactions to the horrible(and occasionally not so horrible) things happening to him. He felt real and sad and his choices were so true to who he is.
His love interest, Tavish, was another fantastic character. Tavish's arc and personal growth were delightful to see. Also, it's wonderful to see a blind character who faces realistic limitations but doesn't hang around waiting for the protagonist to save them. He impacts Rubem and the plot almost as much as Rubem himself does.
Maraheem, the main setting, occassionally felt more like another character than just the setting. From the gilded grandeur of the upper floors to the squalor and darkness of the lower ones, it never felt contrived or forced. Sometimes I nearly forgot they were underwater due to the sheer scale of Maraheem, but it always came back to remind me that this city could only exist as it is at the bottom of the ocean. Windows overlooking coral beds and orcas swimming just outside combined with air scrubbers and luminescent alge lighting to create an intense and realistic atmosphere. When we ventured outside Maraheem we were still treated to glimpses of how it impacted the world around it, including the selkie's treatment of mer and finfolk and even their own poorer kin.
Overall, I highly enjoyed this book and recommend it for anyone looking for an adventurous read into an undersea world of selkies and mer.
June 16, 2022
Thank you to the author D.N. Bryn for the ARC! Releases June 9 2022.
When I set out to summarize Odder Still for my review, I wasn’t really sure where to begin because it encompasses a lot of ground in a small space.
The story is about Rubem, a depressed, alcoholic, previous head of a cartel. A falling out with a past accomplice, has him on the run with an even bigger issue in the form of an Aurora (a type of parasite) attached to his neck. While searching for help to remove the parasite, Rubem, meets and falls in love with Tavish.
Tavish happens to be a gorgeous, aristocratic selkie, whose super-rich, and unethical family, is responsible for most of the research and advancements, that have come from the Aurora’s, and is probably not the best choice for someone in Rubem’s predicament to approach for help, or to be attracted to. And heck, the timing kind of sucks too, because that parasite, is slowly taking the lead in Rubem’s body. But love is never convenient, is it?
Odder Still is again part of The Treacherous Tides series. Though Rubem, is a character from Once Stolen, I don’t believe you need to read that book to know more about him because he is but a small part of the last book, and most of his growth is in this book. Though reading the previous stories would definitely help to fill in the gaps of this unique world, and its characters.
This story took me a bit longer to warm up to because Rubem, wasn’t a character I liked much in the previous book- where he was introduced. He had done a lot of nasty things, before we discovered how much manipulation was involved behind the scenes, and so this feels very much like a redemption story, mixed-in with a personal growth arc. I did warm to him a lot by the end of the story. I also found it interesting how this sour, melancholy man, became happier and more animated as he grew to love Tavish, and grew to love himself- accepting the good and the bad parts of himself, as one.
Each book in this series, expands on the world a little by introducing more races, and cities. The setting, while still in the same world, felt a lot less charming this time around, as the cover is pulled-back and the innerworkings of the city of Maraheen, are explored. There is a distinct line between the upper and lowers classes, with an over-board of opulence in the higher levels, contrasted strongly, with the bottom of the barrel opposite of the lower class, and the poor. (Much like shown in the movie Parasite)
We also gain more of an understanding of how the ignits (one of the cooler things in this world), are utilized to power things, and other fuel sources that the city and its surroundings use to maintain their infrastructure.
A little romance, some action, a twist of social issues, and to stir the pot- a whole lot of self-love. Like all of Bryn’s stories, representation and finding understanding within yourself, and each other, is at their core making these stories more about healing and acceptance. The rest- is just the icing on the cake.
When I set out to summarize Odder Still for my review, I wasn’t really sure where to begin because it encompasses a lot of ground in a small space.
The story is about Rubem, a depressed, alcoholic, previous head of a cartel. A falling out with a past accomplice, has him on the run with an even bigger issue in the form of an Aurora (a type of parasite) attached to his neck. While searching for help to remove the parasite, Rubem, meets and falls in love with Tavish.
Tavish happens to be a gorgeous, aristocratic selkie, whose super-rich, and unethical family, is responsible for most of the research and advancements, that have come from the Aurora’s, and is probably not the best choice for someone in Rubem’s predicament to approach for help, or to be attracted to. And heck, the timing kind of sucks too, because that parasite, is slowly taking the lead in Rubem’s body. But love is never convenient, is it?
Odder Still is again part of The Treacherous Tides series. Though Rubem, is a character from Once Stolen, I don’t believe you need to read that book to know more about him because he is but a small part of the last book, and most of his growth is in this book. Though reading the previous stories would definitely help to fill in the gaps of this unique world, and its characters.
This story took me a bit longer to warm up to because Rubem, wasn’t a character I liked much in the previous book- where he was introduced. He had done a lot of nasty things, before we discovered how much manipulation was involved behind the scenes, and so this feels very much like a redemption story, mixed-in with a personal growth arc. I did warm to him a lot by the end of the story. I also found it interesting how this sour, melancholy man, became happier and more animated as he grew to love Tavish, and grew to love himself- accepting the good and the bad parts of himself, as one.
Each book in this series, expands on the world a little by introducing more races, and cities. The setting, while still in the same world, felt a lot less charming this time around, as the cover is pulled-back and the innerworkings of the city of Maraheen, are explored. There is a distinct line between the upper and lowers classes, with an over-board of opulence in the higher levels, contrasted strongly, with the bottom of the barrel opposite of the lower class, and the poor. (Much like shown in the movie Parasite)
We also gain more of an understanding of how the ignits (one of the cooler things in this world), are utilized to power things, and other fuel sources that the city and its surroundings use to maintain their infrastructure.
A little romance, some action, a twist of social issues, and to stir the pot- a whole lot of self-love. Like all of Bryn’s stories, representation and finding understanding within yourself, and each other, is at their core making these stories more about healing and acceptance. The rest- is just the icing on the cake.
July 24, 2022
5 stars
i love this book!!! my brain FINALLY let me read this and i'm so happy it did. rubem and tavish are two new all time favorite characters and i cannot wait for the next book because i need more of them like right now 🥹
i love this book!!! my brain FINALLY let me read this and i'm so happy it did. rubem and tavish are two new all time favorite characters and i cannot wait for the next book because i need more of them like right now 🥹
March 5, 2022
Odder Still by D. N. Bryn
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
If you loved Venom but felt as if something was missing, I have good news for you! This book is the perfect book for you to read. Being the third book by the author I’ve read and the third book in the These Traitorous Tides series, I was not dissapointed (Though I have to mention that Our Bloody Pearl will probably always remain my favourite).
Rubem from Once Stolen makes a comeback, now as our main character. I have to say, I didn’t care much for him in the previous book, but he definitely made a great protagonist in this one. However, character wise Tavish stole the show for me. And the romance, combined with the high stakes and the assassinations plots, made this a very entertaining read.
It’s no secret thar I love the world Bryn has created. It's fully fleshed out, diverse and whimsical. This is what I want to see more of in fantasy books. Odder Still didn’t dissapoint, much like its predecessors. The writing also helped in keeping me enthralled by the story. The prose is absolutely beautiful.
However, I can’t help but feel as if something is missing. I do find our ‘bad guys’ to be a bit lacking, which is a problem I had with the other two books as well. But the protagonists steal the show regardless.
I definitely recommend this book to lovers of mythical creatures (I love selkies so this book was extra amazing just for including them). Not enough people have read and appreciated this series so now is the time!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
If you loved Venom but felt as if something was missing, I have good news for you! This book is the perfect book for you to read. Being the third book by the author I’ve read and the third book in the These Traitorous Tides series, I was not dissapointed (Though I have to mention that Our Bloody Pearl will probably always remain my favourite).
Rubem from Once Stolen makes a comeback, now as our main character. I have to say, I didn’t care much for him in the previous book, but he definitely made a great protagonist in this one. However, character wise Tavish stole the show for me. And the romance, combined with the high stakes and the assassinations plots, made this a very entertaining read.
It’s no secret thar I love the world Bryn has created. It's fully fleshed out, diverse and whimsical. This is what I want to see more of in fantasy books. Odder Still didn’t dissapoint, much like its predecessors. The writing also helped in keeping me enthralled by the story. The prose is absolutely beautiful.
However, I can’t help but feel as if something is missing. I do find our ‘bad guys’ to be a bit lacking, which is a problem I had with the other two books as well. But the protagonists steal the show regardless.
I definitely recommend this book to lovers of mythical creatures (I love selkies so this book was extra amazing just for including them). Not enough people have read and appreciated this series so now is the time!
August 7, 2022
Woah!! Okay, I have M A N Y thoughts about this book, so much that it chocked-full my brain and all I could manage was “it’s so good!” because ODDER STILL is hard to be condescend into proper verbal praise.
This is my first taste of DN Bryn’s books, and my first delve into the world of Marraheem, Rubem, and Tavish’s life—and honestly from that ending and the openness of it, I would have SCREECHED if it was a standalone!!
From the get-go, ODDER STILL is immersive, a sprawling vast world set in a steampunk-parasite-dystopian setting that leaves nothing to the imagination. The descriptions are rich, the world building is phenomenal—to the point where I hastily looked up if the author has a Pinterest board (not that I could find) because I wanted to *see* this world that had already been written and visualised so stunningly. And then in that world there’s Rubem, a boy from a no-man’s land, content to drink whiskey and live with his caiman’s on his river home porch—until Lillias corners and blackmails him into helping her rebellion, but he helps for one aurora, which latches onto him in the first aurora-host mutation anyone’s ever seen. However, when he meets Tavish, a blind, trans, selkie, he’s brought further into a dangerous world of energy, life force, and people willing to sacrifice the lower class for any gain the upper might have.
ODDER STILL wraps Tavish and Rubem in a heart-wrenching slow burn, a tender spark that grows through hard means and sharp turns and trials throughout the book. They’re beautiful, balanced, and utterly perfect for each other in both snippy ways. Tavish’s representation was done stunningly, and the way Rubem was with him was beautiful and pulled me in closer to their dynamic. When Rubem was light, Tavish was darkness; when Tavish was darkness Rubem was his light, and that constant exchange of being there for each other was endlessly heartbreaking against the violent, monstrous backdrop of Marraheem. While Rubem fights to love and forgive both himself and the aurora on his neck that rapidly grows the more he loses himself, he fights morality, mortality, and the boy who has nothing left but himself.
This is a book that’ll stay with me, dug it’s weird claws into and said “see what I can do”. It’s a book about loving yourself, forgiving yourself, fighting depression and working with it and being ended by it sometimes. It’s about what you’ll give up to save others—how far you can be willing to go, even if you don’t always recognise yourself anymore. But this book is a brilliant, stunning reminder: there is always a way back to whoever you want to be, even if it means carving out a new person to be entirely, someone a little bit of the Old You, transformed, remade, reloved. Dig in a little deeper into ODDER STILL, and you’ll find a world where nothing is predictable or too dark or too twisted to exist.
This is my first taste of DN Bryn’s books, and my first delve into the world of Marraheem, Rubem, and Tavish’s life—and honestly from that ending and the openness of it, I would have SCREECHED if it was a standalone!!
From the get-go, ODDER STILL is immersive, a sprawling vast world set in a steampunk-parasite-dystopian setting that leaves nothing to the imagination. The descriptions are rich, the world building is phenomenal—to the point where I hastily looked up if the author has a Pinterest board (not that I could find) because I wanted to *see* this world that had already been written and visualised so stunningly. And then in that world there’s Rubem, a boy from a no-man’s land, content to drink whiskey and live with his caiman’s on his river home porch—until Lillias corners and blackmails him into helping her rebellion, but he helps for one aurora, which latches onto him in the first aurora-host mutation anyone’s ever seen. However, when he meets Tavish, a blind, trans, selkie, he’s brought further into a dangerous world of energy, life force, and people willing to sacrifice the lower class for any gain the upper might have.
ODDER STILL wraps Tavish and Rubem in a heart-wrenching slow burn, a tender spark that grows through hard means and sharp turns and trials throughout the book. They’re beautiful, balanced, and utterly perfect for each other in both snippy ways. Tavish’s representation was done stunningly, and the way Rubem was with him was beautiful and pulled me in closer to their dynamic. When Rubem was light, Tavish was darkness; when Tavish was darkness Rubem was his light, and that constant exchange of being there for each other was endlessly heartbreaking against the violent, monstrous backdrop of Marraheem. While Rubem fights to love and forgive both himself and the aurora on his neck that rapidly grows the more he loses himself, he fights morality, mortality, and the boy who has nothing left but himself.
This is a book that’ll stay with me, dug it’s weird claws into and said “see what I can do”. It’s a book about loving yourself, forgiving yourself, fighting depression and working with it and being ended by it sometimes. It’s about what you’ll give up to save others—how far you can be willing to go, even if you don’t always recognise yourself anymore. But this book is a brilliant, stunning reminder: there is always a way back to whoever you want to be, even if it means carving out a new person to be entirely, someone a little bit of the Old You, transformed, remade, reloved. Dig in a little deeper into ODDER STILL, and you’ll find a world where nothing is predictable or too dark or too twisted to exist.
June 10, 2022
Nous avons ici un des protagonistes de Once Stolen qui revient. Je n’ai pas lu Once Stolen et je n’ai pas senti de manque à la lecture. Juste une envie d’en savoir beaucoup plus sur ce monde.
Rubem est un personnage en proie à des luttes incessantes, aussi bien contre la dépression que l’alcoolisme.
L’auteur nous l’a rendu bien réel et fidèle à lui-même.
Tavish est aussi un personnage incroyable. Malgré son handicap il n’est pas impuissant. Il ne se restreint pas à ses limites. Il est acteur de sa propre existence.
J’ai littéralement adoré Maraheem, ce monde aquatique qui prend forme sous nos yeux. Le background est si bien étudié et réaliste qu’il donne du corps au récit du début à la fin.
Cette lecture m’a donné envie de plus me plonger dans ce monde si riche. Et le fait qu’il y ai des selkies change par rapport aux lectures plus ordinaires.
J’ai été convaincu du début à la fin.
Here we have one of the protagonists of Once Stolen returning. I haven't read Once Stolen and I didn't miss reading it. Just a desire to know a lot more about this world.
Rubem is a character in the grip of incessant struggles, both against depression and alcoholism.
The author has made it very real and true to himself.
Tavish is also an amazing character. Despite his disability he is not helpless. It does not restrict itself to its limits. He is an actor of his own existence.
I literally adored Maraheem, this aquatic world that takes shape before our eyes. The background is so well studied and realistic that it gives body to the story from beginning to end.
This reading made me want to immerse myself more in this rich world. And the fact that there are selkies is a change from more ordinary reading.
I was convinced from start to finish.
Rubem est un personnage en proie à des luttes incessantes, aussi bien contre la dépression que l’alcoolisme.
L’auteur nous l’a rendu bien réel et fidèle à lui-même.
Tavish est aussi un personnage incroyable. Malgré son handicap il n’est pas impuissant. Il ne se restreint pas à ses limites. Il est acteur de sa propre existence.
J’ai littéralement adoré Maraheem, ce monde aquatique qui prend forme sous nos yeux. Le background est si bien étudié et réaliste qu’il donne du corps au récit du début à la fin.
Cette lecture m’a donné envie de plus me plonger dans ce monde si riche. Et le fait qu’il y ai des selkies change par rapport aux lectures plus ordinaires.
J’ai été convaincu du début à la fin.
Here we have one of the protagonists of Once Stolen returning. I haven't read Once Stolen and I didn't miss reading it. Just a desire to know a lot more about this world.
Rubem is a character in the grip of incessant struggles, both against depression and alcoholism.
The author has made it very real and true to himself.
Tavish is also an amazing character. Despite his disability he is not helpless. It does not restrict itself to its limits. He is an actor of his own existence.
I literally adored Maraheem, this aquatic world that takes shape before our eyes. The background is so well studied and realistic that it gives body to the story from beginning to end.
This reading made me want to immerse myself more in this rich world. And the fact that there are selkies is a change from more ordinary reading.
I was convinced from start to finish.
July 10, 2022
This was a 3.5 that I’m bumping up to 4 because of the fantastic ending.
Odder Still is quite an odd story with both fantasy and scifi elements. It follows a man who accidentally gets a parasite (think Venom) attached to him. As the parasite starts taking over more and more of him, he seeks help from the young aristocrat selkie whose leading family (and company) are experts in these energy-producing parasites. However, things get complicated when they become mixed up in murder plots, assassinations, and a full blown revolution in their underwater city.
So much is going on in this book that I thought I might have missed a prequel or something because I felt the need for a clearer introduction into this world. Once the story gets moving after the initial struggle of understanding what’s going on, the book had me gripped all the way through to that explosive final third. That last act was a truly spectacular action set piece that had me reading non-stop in the middle of the night.
What truly shined through in this book were the characters and their interactions. One is a gay black man with a chip on his shoulder who lives a lonely life with his exotic pets after being rejected by society. The other is a blind bisexual trans man who means well but remains ignorant in his rich sheltered life. They each struggle and grow as their backgrounds and perspectives on life grind against as much they blend together in their budding attraction and love. They both won me over, and I liked that their love never made their differences disappear or get glossed over.
Odder Still is a scififantasy series starter (but can stand alone) with queer and disabled main characters, fantastical creatures mixing with science fiction elements, a slow burn romance, and a clash between social and economic classes.
*I was provided an ebook as part of the book tour for it.
Odder Still is quite an odd story with both fantasy and scifi elements. It follows a man who accidentally gets a parasite (think Venom) attached to him. As the parasite starts taking over more and more of him, he seeks help from the young aristocrat selkie whose leading family (and company) are experts in these energy-producing parasites. However, things get complicated when they become mixed up in murder plots, assassinations, and a full blown revolution in their underwater city.
So much is going on in this book that I thought I might have missed a prequel or something because I felt the need for a clearer introduction into this world. Once the story gets moving after the initial struggle of understanding what’s going on, the book had me gripped all the way through to that explosive final third. That last act was a truly spectacular action set piece that had me reading non-stop in the middle of the night.
What truly shined through in this book were the characters and their interactions. One is a gay black man with a chip on his shoulder who lives a lonely life with his exotic pets after being rejected by society. The other is a blind bisexual trans man who means well but remains ignorant in his rich sheltered life. They each struggle and grow as their backgrounds and perspectives on life grind against as much they blend together in their budding attraction and love. They both won me over, and I liked that their love never made their differences disappear or get glossed over.
Odder Still is a scififantasy series starter (but can stand alone) with queer and disabled main characters, fantastical creatures mixing with science fiction elements, a slow burn romance, and a clash between social and economic classes.
*I was provided an ebook as part of the book tour for it.
June 18, 2022
I received an Advance Review Copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I have been a fan of the author’s work since I first read Our Bloody Pearl and then, Once Stolen. So it’s no surprise that I enjoyed this book as well. What had me hooked in the beginning of the book itself was the world-building and writing. I loved the way the different places mentioned in the book were described such as the underwater steampunk city of Maraheem and the finfolk town of Glenrigg. The physical settings and the politics created an overall fantastic world.
While the book is heavily plot-driven, it pays a lot of attention to the growth and development of our main characters. It was also interesting to read about the various external and inner conflicts they faced. The idea of the Marvel Venom’s-inspired parasitic relationship with Rubem was super interesting as well. Aside from Rubem and Tavish, I liked our other multifaceted characters such as Lilias and Ivor, just to name a few.
I enjoyed how it tackles capitalism and the revolution against it included in the book. It also talks about other important topics such as the ethics involved in science and research, and environmental degradation. Overall, a really thrilling and emotional read. Excited for the next book in the series!
My full review on Odder Still can be found on my blog.
I have been a fan of the author’s work since I first read Our Bloody Pearl and then, Once Stolen. So it’s no surprise that I enjoyed this book as well. What had me hooked in the beginning of the book itself was the world-building and writing. I loved the way the different places mentioned in the book were described such as the underwater steampunk city of Maraheem and the finfolk town of Glenrigg. The physical settings and the politics created an overall fantastic world.
While the book is heavily plot-driven, it pays a lot of attention to the growth and development of our main characters. It was also interesting to read about the various external and inner conflicts they faced. The idea of the Marvel Venom’s-inspired parasitic relationship with Rubem was super interesting as well. Aside from Rubem and Tavish, I liked our other multifaceted characters such as Lilias and Ivor, just to name a few.
I enjoyed how it tackles capitalism and the revolution against it included in the book. It also talks about other important topics such as the ethics involved in science and research, and environmental degradation. Overall, a really thrilling and emotional read. Excited for the next book in the series!
My full review on Odder Still can be found on my blog.
October 17, 2022
Rubem is running away from people who invaded his home in search of energy-producing parasites. But everyone he meets is more interested in taking advantage of the parasite attached to him than his well-being.
Maraheem is an underwater steampunk city populated by freckled ginger selkies. The class disparity is evident, and Rubem readily empathizes with the lower city's hardships. He finds an unlikely ally in Tavish, who uses his wealth to help the underprivileged.
Bryn built a queernormative and diverse world. Rubem is dark-skinned and gay, never fitting in any place and silencing his grief with alcohol. Tavish is an altruistic selkie princeling who happens to be plump, blind, and trans. From the moment they meet, their interactions are filled with bangxiety.
The alliance between these two men from different standings while fighting for their lives drives them to question the future they want.
An environmentalist tale of loneliness, connection, and love. Get it if you are looking for mental health and queer representation. There's a beautiful poem at the beginning of each chapter.
Maraheem is an underwater steampunk city populated by freckled ginger selkies. The class disparity is evident, and Rubem readily empathizes with the lower city's hardships. He finds an unlikely ally in Tavish, who uses his wealth to help the underprivileged.
Bryn built a queernormative and diverse world. Rubem is dark-skinned and gay, never fitting in any place and silencing his grief with alcohol. Tavish is an altruistic selkie princeling who happens to be plump, blind, and trans. From the moment they meet, their interactions are filled with bangxiety.
The alliance between these two men from different standings while fighting for their lives drives them to question the future they want.
An environmentalist tale of loneliness, connection, and love. Get it if you are looking for mental health and queer representation. There's a beautiful poem at the beginning of each chapter.
June 21, 2022
Diverse characters in a dystopian fantasy/sci-fi setting
I had the pleasure of getting to read an e-ARC of this book and - as with previous books by D. N. Bryn - absolutely loved the story.
The characters are effortlessly diverse but it's natural in this world so that's never a topic of discussion or - even better - of conflict. They are also realistically flawed which made it easy to empathize with them and very interesting to read about their backstories and character arcs.
The story - especially main character Rubem - deals with pretty dark themes like depression, alcoholism and grief but they're written in a non-depressing way.
(Other content warnings include graphic violence and animal death, by the way. All content warnings can be found on the author's website https://www.dnbryn.com/odder-still/).
The world building is perfectly interwoven with the plot which I personally enjoyed very much because I easily get bored by drawn-out descriptions.
All in all a great story, very recommend for lovers of mlm fantasy! Can't wait to read the sequel!
I had the pleasure of getting to read an e-ARC of this book and - as with previous books by D. N. Bryn - absolutely loved the story.
The characters are effortlessly diverse but it's natural in this world so that's never a topic of discussion or - even better - of conflict. They are also realistically flawed which made it easy to empathize with them and very interesting to read about their backstories and character arcs.
The story - especially main character Rubem - deals with pretty dark themes like depression, alcoholism and grief but they're written in a non-depressing way.
(Other content warnings include graphic violence and animal death, by the way. All content warnings can be found on the author's website https://www.dnbryn.com/odder-still/).
The world building is perfectly interwoven with the plot which I personally enjoyed very much because I easily get bored by drawn-out descriptions.
All in all a great story, very recommend for lovers of mlm fantasy! Can't wait to read the sequel!
July 10, 2022
A Marvel's Venom style human-parasite friendship in a steampunk underwater city, a class-crossing relationship with a blind corporate selkie, and revolution. This book is just as good as it sounds
June 15, 2022
If you are looking for a fantasy with great worldbuilding, underwater cities and selkies...this is your book. It was beautiful and moving. Also if you are a fan of slowburns, this swoon worthy MM romance is the story for you.
May 8, 2022
Received an ARC of this book in exchange for a review so here we go!
If you love pathetic gay men dragged by another more determined character into actively saving a place or person they originally had no link to, you're going to love Rubem. I just have so many feels about this man. He's just trying so hard not to care, to keep to himself, and he FAILS because in the end, he has a good heart and he'll always care. He's tired and depressed but he still pushes forward and that was really comforting to read. I also loved his relationship with Tavish: from their affectionate, teasy banter to their eventual romance. His relationship to the parasite is also amazing: they have banter, a slowly, reluctantly growing trust and companionship, and the way they interact with each other and the care they come to have for each other was just wonderful to witness.
I think, though, what I loved the most is Rubem's relationship to the world around him. From the morally complex feelings he has for the other people around him, like Lilias, to the aurora in his neck and his environment in general, there is a lot he works through and a lot he takes in. He has that relationship where the world didn't seem to want him to he removed himself from it, but will always, always come back to it and love it without fail. And as the story unfurls, he learns to deal with these feelings, with the good and bad and the complicated, both outside and inside of himself. I have Big Feelings about that. I also have Big Thoughts about him being a liminal character - which, funnily enough, is an adjective that can be applied to all of Bryn's protagonists, but Rubem truly feels like a special case (and I know why but a goodreads review is maybe not the best place to go full academic again so I'll refrain from now).
The worldbuilding slaps as always with Bryn's books so I was just mesmerized with the vivid descriptions of Maraheem and its inhabitant. Bryn truly has a gift for crafting a world that feels real and tangible despite being fictional, a society you can SEE. I would die to see Odder Still adapted into a movie because the scenery would be drop dead gorgeous. The plot was also amazingly well crafted: everything falling into place perfectly, one event kicking off the other, everything unfurling in a logical yet twist-filled manner that kept me at the edge of my seat. I started reading yesterday telling myself I'd take it easy and read 10% a day but then today I just nyomed through the entire book. Oops.
All in all: an amazing book. I feel like Bryn outdo themself with every book they publish, and I can't wait to read both the next TTT book and the rest of Rubem's story.
If you love pathetic gay men dragged by another more determined character into actively saving a place or person they originally had no link to, you're going to love Rubem. I just have so many feels about this man. He's just trying so hard not to care, to keep to himself, and he FAILS because in the end, he has a good heart and he'll always care. He's tired and depressed but he still pushes forward and that was really comforting to read. I also loved his relationship with Tavish: from their affectionate, teasy banter to their eventual romance. His relationship to the parasite is also amazing: they have banter, a slowly, reluctantly growing trust and companionship, and the way they interact with each other and the care they come to have for each other was just wonderful to witness.
I think, though, what I loved the most is Rubem's relationship to the world around him. From the morally complex feelings he has for the other people around him, like Lilias, to the aurora in his neck and his environment in general, there is a lot he works through and a lot he takes in. He has that relationship where the world didn't seem to want him to he removed himself from it, but will always, always come back to it and love it without fail. And as the story unfurls, he learns to deal with these feelings, with the good and bad and the complicated, both outside and inside of himself. I have Big Feelings about that. I also have Big Thoughts about him being a liminal character - which, funnily enough, is an adjective that can be applied to all of Bryn's protagonists, but Rubem truly feels like a special case (and I know why but a goodreads review is maybe not the best place to go full academic again so I'll refrain from now).
The worldbuilding slaps as always with Bryn's books so I was just mesmerized with the vivid descriptions of Maraheem and its inhabitant. Bryn truly has a gift for crafting a world that feels real and tangible despite being fictional, a society you can SEE. I would die to see Odder Still adapted into a movie because the scenery would be drop dead gorgeous. The plot was also amazingly well crafted: everything falling into place perfectly, one event kicking off the other, everything unfurling in a logical yet twist-filled manner that kept me at the edge of my seat. I started reading yesterday telling myself I'd take it easy and read 10% a day but then today I just nyomed through the entire book. Oops.
All in all: an amazing book. I feel like Bryn outdo themself with every book they publish, and I can't wait to read both the next TTT book and the rest of Rubem's story.
February 27, 2025
This is such an interesting, engrossing and brilliant read! Rubem wakes to find himself handcuffed by his kidnapper in an abandoned coastal town. Attached to his neck is an aurora, a parasite that he needs to remove before it takes over his body. When his kidnapper Lilias leaves him to go and meet someone Rubem sees it as his chance to escape, but the parasite that clings to his neck does more than just sits there and seems to aid him escaping. Rubem has to find a way out of his predicament, but finding himself so far from home, his only hope seems to lie in the selkie he meets on the beach.
This is such a brilliant and complex fantasy story that takes place in the wider These Treacherous Tides world. I’ve read the first book in this series, a standalone called Our Bloody Pearl and was keen to read more of this author’s work and while there is a prequel to Odder Still, which perhaps helps to explain more about the auroras, ignits, etc. this book can be read easily even without the prequel. I have to admit though that for the first few chapters I wasn’t completely sure about understanding what auroras, ignits and ignation was, but I stuck with the story and it soon becomes easy to understand as well an interesting and exciting plot.
I love what happens in this story and the different characters involved, particularly our main protagonist Rubem and Tavish’s character too. I love the way these two first meet, how we learn about the selkies and more about their transformation as the story develops and how Tavish’s family rule over the world of Marakeep. The story is so detailed and a lot happens to all of the characters and I enjoyed how the story develops around Rubem and his own problems as well as his relationship with the parasite that has attached itself to him.
Though this is a fantasy story there are some clear steampunk vibes in the world of Marakeep, and I love how the upper world in this place is filled with the power of ignation and how we later learn more about the effects of this power source and where it truly comes from. Throughout the whole story there’s a beautiful slow burn romance building too which I just loved reading through as everything just develops and moves along at the right pace. There’s also a lot of good diverse representation in this story too. The story is filled with different races, classes, gay, trans and non-binary characters and there is also a lot of disabled representation too which doesn’t happen in a lot of books I’ve read and which I found refreshing. There’s characters with physical disabilities loike difficulty walking, blindness and also menatal health problems like one character suffering from depression. I’m impressed with just how inclusive this book is without diminishing from the story and making it feel like the diverse characters are there to fill a quota. The story flows so well showing the strengths of these characters too.
There are a few uses of the f and s swear words but not too frequently, there are also instances of violence and blood including some violence against animals mentioned. The book does have trigger/content warnings at the back of the book along with a glossary of the characters and companies mentioned which is good if you put this book down for a bit and might forget, although for me I just couldn’t put this book down it was so good!
Overall I just loved reading this so much. Despite the problems faced with one character’s depression and another’s blindness, I love how they manage to overcome the obstacles faced and I just love how this book kept me glued to the pages, glued to the adventure and the drama and it kept me desperate to see what would happen next! Overall, this is such a wonderful read and I can’t wait to read the sequel Stronger Still which has just recently been published! 🙂
-Thanks to the Indie Ink Awards for a free copy.
This is such a brilliant and complex fantasy story that takes place in the wider These Treacherous Tides world. I’ve read the first book in this series, a standalone called Our Bloody Pearl and was keen to read more of this author’s work and while there is a prequel to Odder Still, which perhaps helps to explain more about the auroras, ignits, etc. this book can be read easily even without the prequel. I have to admit though that for the first few chapters I wasn’t completely sure about understanding what auroras, ignits and ignation was, but I stuck with the story and it soon becomes easy to understand as well an interesting and exciting plot.
I love what happens in this story and the different characters involved, particularly our main protagonist Rubem and Tavish’s character too. I love the way these two first meet, how we learn about the selkies and more about their transformation as the story develops and how Tavish’s family rule over the world of Marakeep. The story is so detailed and a lot happens to all of the characters and I enjoyed how the story develops around Rubem and his own problems as well as his relationship with the parasite that has attached itself to him.
Though this is a fantasy story there are some clear steampunk vibes in the world of Marakeep, and I love how the upper world in this place is filled with the power of ignation and how we later learn more about the effects of this power source and where it truly comes from. Throughout the whole story there’s a beautiful slow burn romance building too which I just loved reading through as everything just develops and moves along at the right pace. There’s also a lot of good diverse representation in this story too. The story is filled with different races, classes, gay, trans and non-binary characters and there is also a lot of disabled representation too which doesn’t happen in a lot of books I’ve read and which I found refreshing. There’s characters with physical disabilities loike difficulty walking, blindness and also menatal health problems like one character suffering from depression. I’m impressed with just how inclusive this book is without diminishing from the story and making it feel like the diverse characters are there to fill a quota. The story flows so well showing the strengths of these characters too.
There are a few uses of the f and s swear words but not too frequently, there are also instances of violence and blood including some violence against animals mentioned. The book does have trigger/content warnings at the back of the book along with a glossary of the characters and companies mentioned which is good if you put this book down for a bit and might forget, although for me I just couldn’t put this book down it was so good!
Overall I just loved reading this so much. Despite the problems faced with one character’s depression and another’s blindness, I love how they manage to overcome the obstacles faced and I just love how this book kept me glued to the pages, glued to the adventure and the drama and it kept me desperate to see what would happen next! Overall, this is such a wonderful read and I can’t wait to read the sequel Stronger Still which has just recently been published! 🙂
-Thanks to the Indie Ink Awards for a free copy.
June 6, 2022
Once Stolen has a special place in my heart, especially for its setting on a fantasy Amazon rainforest, but also for its characters. I was very happy to see Rubem getting his own series, and Odder Still didn’t disappoint! He’s a charismatic main character, his romance with Tavish is compelling, and I loved the high-fantasy thriller and social commentary sides of the plot.
(On a side note, reading Once Stolen might help if you want to know more about how Rubem ended in this situation, but this only affects the very beginning of the book. You don’t need to read Once Stolen to understand Odder Still.)
Rubem is honestly the most charismatic protagonist I’ve met in quite some time. His life is a mess, but he’s such a likable character, who just wants to go home to his pets and loneliness, but, instead, finds himself being pushed to become more involved in his own life and those of the people around him.
His relationship with Tavish was an interesting plot on its own, because of the contrast and chemistry between them. Tavish and Rubem come from opposite worlds—a white northern “princeling” and a mixed black and indigenous outcast from fantasy global south—but it feels so natural to see them together. These differences mean their wishes and the expectations placed on them don’t always align, though, so there’s a running question in the story that you want to see answered. Can they have a relationship, despite everything that’s pushing them apart? Will they have to sacrifice each other to get what they want? Or will they have to give up something important to them, so they can hold on to each other?
But my favorite thing about Odder Still was its revolution plot. It had a nice balance of suspense and action, and I loved its moral complexity.
You have Maraheem, a city with an immense class gap, where a handful of families control everything in politics, industry and economy, and the rest of the population is left in misery. So it’s easy to believe there’s an impending revolution in the air, but it doesn’t stop at that, because you also see the story touching on acts of imperialism that aren’t limited to the upper classes. More than that, all the characters are people, neither wholly good or wholly bad, just making choices that sometimes pit their wellbeing and beliefs against others’, and I liked this.
I felt like some moments around/during the climax alternatively dragged or had too much happening all over the place, but there were some very emotional action scenes, and I found the ending narratively satisfying. Odder Still doesn’t shy away from taking its themes to a full and realistic conclusion.
(On a side note, reading Once Stolen might help if you want to know more about how Rubem ended in this situation, but this only affects the very beginning of the book. You don’t need to read Once Stolen to understand Odder Still.)
Rubem is honestly the most charismatic protagonist I’ve met in quite some time. His life is a mess, but he’s such a likable character, who just wants to go home to his pets and loneliness, but, instead, finds himself being pushed to become more involved in his own life and those of the people around him.
His relationship with Tavish was an interesting plot on its own, because of the contrast and chemistry between them. Tavish and Rubem come from opposite worlds—a white northern “princeling” and a mixed black and indigenous outcast from fantasy global south—but it feels so natural to see them together. These differences mean their wishes and the expectations placed on them don’t always align, though, so there’s a running question in the story that you want to see answered. Can they have a relationship, despite everything that’s pushing them apart? Will they have to sacrifice each other to get what they want? Or will they have to give up something important to them, so they can hold on to each other?
But my favorite thing about Odder Still was its revolution plot. It had a nice balance of suspense and action, and I loved its moral complexity.
You have Maraheem, a city with an immense class gap, where a handful of families control everything in politics, industry and economy, and the rest of the population is left in misery. So it’s easy to believe there’s an impending revolution in the air, but it doesn’t stop at that, because you also see the story touching on acts of imperialism that aren’t limited to the upper classes. More than that, all the characters are people, neither wholly good or wholly bad, just making choices that sometimes pit their wellbeing and beliefs against others’, and I liked this.
I felt like some moments around/during the climax alternatively dragged or had too much happening all over the place, but there were some very emotional action scenes, and I found the ending narratively satisfying. Odder Still doesn’t shy away from taking its themes to a full and realistic conclusion.
May 30, 2022
I loved the other two books in this universe, so when the author offered me a review copy for this one, I was thrilled to accept!
Admittedly, I had waited a little too long between books, so it took me a bit to remember everything that had happened in Once Stolen. But I did remember how much I loved Rubem as a character and how excited I was to see his own story.
The dynamic between human and parasite was my favorite part. The aurora somehow managed to be... cute? Like... adorable? It's hard to explain, but I did like the way it communicated with Rubem throughout the story. Reusing his own memories and feelings to communicate it's own was a neat trick, even with all the drawbacks. But the threat of being totally taken over by it was a great source of tension.
The relationship with Tavish is absolutely adorable. Probably the character I most closely relate to out of all the characters I've met in this universe so far. I loved how their character arcs were directly related to one another in how they affected the outside world for the greater good. And, of course, the romance was adorable. But the author's already proved their queer romance chops time and time again.
I did struggle a bit with the setting, mostly because my brain did not want to wrap itself around the mechanics of the under water city. I kept having to stop and reread, even during tense moments, to figure out exactly how things were happening. However, as a reader with a habit of struggling with speculative settings, I can't say for sure this was a direct result of the narrative. So, I didn't alter the rating for it. But if you are someone that struggles with descriptions like, it's something to keep in mind.
The reason removed a star was for the ending. Or rather, endings. The last 80 pages or so felt like several different climactic scenes strung together in rapid succession. Different villains coming out at different moments, plot twists, and several fake outs. Even Rubem noted that he couldn't relax because something else was bound to happen next. There was an added element of surrealism as a result of late-stage realizations (that I can't get into, cuz spoilers) that made it harder to follow, which led to even more diminishing emotional returns. By the time the last big *thing* happened, there wasn't much left in the emotional battery for my brain to make a big deal out of it. The very last part of it though, the falling action, did feel like it fit nicely into the story.
All in all, I very much enjoyed it!
Admittedly, I had waited a little too long between books, so it took me a bit to remember everything that had happened in Once Stolen. But I did remember how much I loved Rubem as a character and how excited I was to see his own story.
The dynamic between human and parasite was my favorite part. The aurora somehow managed to be... cute? Like... adorable? It's hard to explain, but I did like the way it communicated with Rubem throughout the story. Reusing his own memories and feelings to communicate it's own was a neat trick, even with all the drawbacks. But the threat of being totally taken over by it was a great source of tension.
The relationship with Tavish is absolutely adorable. Probably the character I most closely relate to out of all the characters I've met in this universe so far. I loved how their character arcs were directly related to one another in how they affected the outside world for the greater good. And, of course, the romance was adorable. But the author's already proved their queer romance chops time and time again.
I did struggle a bit with the setting, mostly because my brain did not want to wrap itself around the mechanics of the under water city. I kept having to stop and reread, even during tense moments, to figure out exactly how things were happening. However, as a reader with a habit of struggling with speculative settings, I can't say for sure this was a direct result of the narrative. So, I didn't alter the rating for it. But if you are someone that struggles with descriptions like, it's something to keep in mind.
The reason removed a star was for the ending. Or rather, endings. The last 80 pages or so felt like several different climactic scenes strung together in rapid succession. Different villains coming out at different moments, plot twists, and several fake outs. Even Rubem noted that he couldn't relax because something else was bound to happen next. There was an added element of surrealism as a result of late-stage realizations (that I can't get into, cuz spoilers) that made it harder to follow, which led to even more diminishing emotional returns. By the time the last big *thing* happened, there wasn't much left in the emotional battery for my brain to make a big deal out of it. The very last part of it though, the falling action, did feel like it fit nicely into the story.
All in all, I very much enjoyed it!
July 14, 2022
[I received a digital copy for an honest review]
Odder Still by D.N. Bryn is a Queer Adult Fantasy with just the right of romance that made romance reading heart happy. If you know me, you know fantasy is my least reached for genre, but between the cover and the synopsis I couldn't resist, and I'm so glad I made that decision. From chapter one I was completely enchanted by the writing style and the book world I was being introduced to and that feeling stayed with me the entire time reading.
"You're a wee bit odd, Rubem of No-Man's Land." His tone contains all the confusing softness of his expression.
I put on a wry smile for no one but myself. "I get odder the more you know of me."
Where to even start with this wonderful book. Firstly I loved the poetry that began each chapter, it was beautiful. Our lead and narrator has such a strong voice, even when he's struggling. He's an alcoholic with depression who cares greatly for animals. Even as he fights the parasite bonding to him, he stills cares about it. He's not perfect, he's greatly flawed, but that's what made him so fantastic. The facts that he kept trying, trying to make the right choices, even if sometimes he acted out of selfishness when it came to keeping Tavish in his orbit. Tavish, a blind trans man of privilege who at his heart wanted to help those less fortunate than him, but until he met Rubem he was doing the bare minimum. Travish was charming and sweet. The slow romance that blossoms between him and Rubem made me warm and fuzzy, with all its light and lingering touches. There is an intimate scene between them that's off page, but we are given the lead up and right after which was fine with me. I didn't feel like I missed out on anything because the story as a whole was so satisfying.
Tavish's fingers slide across skin and parasite, leaving a warmth like whiskey in its wake. They settle beneath my jaw, his thumb fitting there perfectly.
The story and world that D.N. Bryn has created in Odder Still is interesting and layered and comes to life with their writing . Filled with Selkies, a human just trying to survive, a parasite you'll grow fond of, two lovable cats, assassinations , a revolution, scientific experiments, and so many life or death situations for our leading characters that it puts your heart through the ringer. It has a satisfying ending, but I was very excited to learn there will be another book in the series, and that I'll get to revisit with Rubem and Tavish in the future.
Odder Still by D.N. Bryn is a Queer Adult Fantasy with just the right of romance that made romance reading heart happy. If you know me, you know fantasy is my least reached for genre, but between the cover and the synopsis I couldn't resist, and I'm so glad I made that decision. From chapter one I was completely enchanted by the writing style and the book world I was being introduced to and that feeling stayed with me the entire time reading.
"You're a wee bit odd, Rubem of No-Man's Land." His tone contains all the confusing softness of his expression.
I put on a wry smile for no one but myself. "I get odder the more you know of me."
Where to even start with this wonderful book. Firstly I loved the poetry that began each chapter, it was beautiful. Our lead and narrator has such a strong voice, even when he's struggling. He's an alcoholic with depression who cares greatly for animals. Even as he fights the parasite bonding to him, he stills cares about it. He's not perfect, he's greatly flawed, but that's what made him so fantastic. The facts that he kept trying, trying to make the right choices, even if sometimes he acted out of selfishness when it came to keeping Tavish in his orbit. Tavish, a blind trans man of privilege who at his heart wanted to help those less fortunate than him, but until he met Rubem he was doing the bare minimum. Travish was charming and sweet. The slow romance that blossoms between him and Rubem made me warm and fuzzy, with all its light and lingering touches. There is an intimate scene between them that's off page, but we are given the lead up and right after which was fine with me. I didn't feel like I missed out on anything because the story as a whole was so satisfying.
Tavish's fingers slide across skin and parasite, leaving a warmth like whiskey in its wake. They settle beneath my jaw, his thumb fitting there perfectly.
The story and world that D.N. Bryn has created in Odder Still is interesting and layered and comes to life with their writing . Filled with Selkies, a human just trying to survive, a parasite you'll grow fond of, two lovable cats, assassinations , a revolution, scientific experiments, and so many life or death situations for our leading characters that it puts your heart through the ringer. It has a satisfying ending, but I was very excited to learn there will be another book in the series, and that I'll get to revisit with Rubem and Tavish in the future.
June 11, 2022
DN Bryn is a new-to-me author but after reading this spellbinding book, I’m so eager to check out their entire backlist. *Odder Still*, part of a collection but still readable on its own, is a beautifully imagined story combining an underwater city, steampunk aspects, a friendly parasite, a tender romance, selkies and a class struggle. These might sound like disparate concepts but DN Bryn has woven them together in a captivating story that is rich in detail.
Our main characters are Rubem, an outsider living on the edges of society with his menagerie of rescued creatures, and Tavish, youngest son of the Findlays and one of the wealthiest families in charge of the underwater city of Maraheem. The two meet when Rubem is fleeing a kidnapper who wants the parasite that has latched itself onto his neck. The author has created this fascinating concept of auroras and the energy they emit, enough to power entire cities and countries. The role these auroras play, the way they are used and abused and a question of their sentience is an integral and riveting part of this novel.
I found Rubem’s entire arc fascinating. He suddenly finds himself thrust into a world of corporate royalty and predatory scientists as he desperately tries to find a way to separate the parasite who is invading his body and mind. But along the way, he develops such a poignant relationship with this being and the author’s conceptualization of this parasite and the way it communicates was so interesting. On top of this is Rubem’s growing infatuation with Tavish who is everything good and gentle and seems like such a balm to his isolated life. But amidst his cold family, assassins who are after them, a burning rebellion and the small parasite problem, Rubem isn’t sure if they can ever have a future. I loved their slow-burn relationship and how they managed to forge a connection despite coming from entirely different worlds. Despite the closed-door nature of the book, their chemistry was so strong and so intimate and I found myself rooting for this couple the entire time. I will be thinking about this book for a long time and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.
CWs: alcohol dependency; unethical scientific experimentation (including on people and animals); some violence
Our main characters are Rubem, an outsider living on the edges of society with his menagerie of rescued creatures, and Tavish, youngest son of the Findlays and one of the wealthiest families in charge of the underwater city of Maraheem. The two meet when Rubem is fleeing a kidnapper who wants the parasite that has latched itself onto his neck. The author has created this fascinating concept of auroras and the energy they emit, enough to power entire cities and countries. The role these auroras play, the way they are used and abused and a question of their sentience is an integral and riveting part of this novel.
I found Rubem’s entire arc fascinating. He suddenly finds himself thrust into a world of corporate royalty and predatory scientists as he desperately tries to find a way to separate the parasite who is invading his body and mind. But along the way, he develops such a poignant relationship with this being and the author’s conceptualization of this parasite and the way it communicates was so interesting. On top of this is Rubem’s growing infatuation with Tavish who is everything good and gentle and seems like such a balm to his isolated life. But amidst his cold family, assassins who are after them, a burning rebellion and the small parasite problem, Rubem isn’t sure if they can ever have a future. I loved their slow-burn relationship and how they managed to forge a connection despite coming from entirely different worlds. Despite the closed-door nature of the book, their chemistry was so strong and so intimate and I found myself rooting for this couple the entire time. I will be thinking about this book for a long time and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.
CWs: alcohol dependency; unethical scientific experimentation (including on people and animals); some violence
June 16, 2022
Thank you to D.N. Bryn for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
D.N. Bryn has done it again and given me a queer fantasy book that I absolutely adored. Odder Still is like an underwater revolution adventure that is messy and complicated and frustrating in all the right ways. I honestly loved it so much and am so happy to have read it.
I adore Rubem, but the poor man needs a hug. He has been through so much shit in his life and the hits just keep coming for him. He's complicated and not always making good or right decisions, but I loved watching him grow over the course of the book and start making decisions with a different motivation in mind at the end. The book starts off with a pretty dramatic beginning and meeting of Rubem and Tavish and it just keeps on going.
There is so much mystery and intrigue in this book. I could feel the moving parts behind all the action and situations Rubem kept getting into. It felt like there was a whole world behind the main plot that was moving along regardless of what Rubem and Tavish did. It was really cool to feel like things were happening and would continue to happen, no matter what choice Rubem made. This made the stakes feel higher, because his choices could actually effect the outcome.
I also loved Tavish. Though he came from a higher class, he was trying to do his best, and he was also incredibly kind and caring. I loved the discussions of class, resources, development, and wealth within the story. It was really interesting to see the characters struggle with their decisions and the impact they had on the greater population. I thought the action was really amazing and heart wrenching at the same time. I was so scared for the characters at some parts and it was stressing me out. There were also some beautiful moments between the characters and Rubem himself about changing, being more and better than your past. There are also discussions of abandonment and depression that I think were really nice and really interesting. I really enjoyed watching Rubem learn from his experiences and his parasite.
Overall, I loved this book so much. I highly recommend reading it and all the other books by D.N. Bryn to fantasy readers.
D.N. Bryn has done it again and given me a queer fantasy book that I absolutely adored. Odder Still is like an underwater revolution adventure that is messy and complicated and frustrating in all the right ways. I honestly loved it so much and am so happy to have read it.
I adore Rubem, but the poor man needs a hug. He has been through so much shit in his life and the hits just keep coming for him. He's complicated and not always making good or right decisions, but I loved watching him grow over the course of the book and start making decisions with a different motivation in mind at the end. The book starts off with a pretty dramatic beginning and meeting of Rubem and Tavish and it just keeps on going.
There is so much mystery and intrigue in this book. I could feel the moving parts behind all the action and situations Rubem kept getting into. It felt like there was a whole world behind the main plot that was moving along regardless of what Rubem and Tavish did. It was really cool to feel like things were happening and would continue to happen, no matter what choice Rubem made. This made the stakes feel higher, because his choices could actually effect the outcome.
I also loved Tavish. Though he came from a higher class, he was trying to do his best, and he was also incredibly kind and caring. I loved the discussions of class, resources, development, and wealth within the story. It was really interesting to see the characters struggle with their decisions and the impact they had on the greater population. I thought the action was really amazing and heart wrenching at the same time. I was so scared for the characters at some parts and it was stressing me out. There were also some beautiful moments between the characters and Rubem himself about changing, being more and better than your past. There are also discussions of abandonment and depression that I think were really nice and really interesting. I really enjoyed watching Rubem learn from his experiences and his parasite.
Overall, I loved this book so much. I highly recommend reading it and all the other books by D.N. Bryn to fantasy readers.
Want to read
January 15, 2024This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBO9 contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.
Our MC finds himself kidnapped when a useful parasite fuses to his neck, but his penchant for rescuing animals leads to a unique connection with the alien life, and maybe his ticket to freedom
I think this may skew Sci-Fi much more than it does fantasy. So much so that, based on the engaging voice of the writing and unique fix we find our MC in, I suspect that is why it was cut from the contest.
But the 1st person, present tense voice is strong, and bubbles with unique imagery. We begin in the thick of our MCs troubles. He’s already a prisoner, the parasite fused to his neck.
I think the opening tries to tell us a little too much about our MCs personal life and too little about just how he got into this fix regarding especially his relationship with his kidnapper, but everything else about this is fascinating.
The parasite is not some worm-thing or bug-like lifeform. It’s a kind of ooze which hardens and softens and goes hit and cold. I’m already interested to learn more about it, especially the unusual relationship our MC is already forming with it.
The setting is futuristic-dystopian, I think. I’ve only gotten the narrowest glimpse at the world so far. But the MC is odd and interesting all on his own. He’s in a bad fix. His new friend can help.
This bills itself as having queer romance, which is always a plus. The prose, and the principle characters so far are engaging. I’m interested to find out more about our world and I want to see what happens next. I’m in, despite what may be a genre mismatch.
Our MC finds himself kidnapped when a useful parasite fuses to his neck, but his penchant for rescuing animals leads to a unique connection with the alien life, and maybe his ticket to freedom
I think this may skew Sci-Fi much more than it does fantasy. So much so that, based on the engaging voice of the writing and unique fix we find our MC in, I suspect that is why it was cut from the contest.
But the 1st person, present tense voice is strong, and bubbles with unique imagery. We begin in the thick of our MCs troubles. He’s already a prisoner, the parasite fused to his neck.
I think the opening tries to tell us a little too much about our MCs personal life and too little about just how he got into this fix regarding especially his relationship with his kidnapper, but everything else about this is fascinating.
The parasite is not some worm-thing or bug-like lifeform. It’s a kind of ooze which hardens and softens and goes hit and cold. I’m already interested to learn more about it, especially the unusual relationship our MC is already forming with it.
The setting is futuristic-dystopian, I think. I’ve only gotten the narrowest glimpse at the world so far. But the MC is odd and interesting all on his own. He’s in a bad fix. His new friend can help.
This bills itself as having queer romance, which is always a plus. The prose, and the principle characters so far are engaging. I’m interested to find out more about our world and I want to see what happens next. I’m in, despite what may be a genre mismatch.
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