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rcgpreads's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I had the chance, back in 2018, to read the first book in These Treacherous Tides, Our Bloody Pearl, and have kept Danny’s writing in my thoughts since then, so I was delighted when they offered the option to read and review an ARC of Once Stolen. The world Danny has created is vibrant and packed full of fascinating creatures, high-stakes drama, and characters that aren’t afraid to be flawed and multidimensional. My little (big?) Cacao Bean, mer-snake of my heart, was a fantastic point of view character. He’s angry, he’s selfish, he’s dealing with way too much sensory overload, and he knows what he wants! (As I said to my friends while I was reading this book, sometimes your special interest is rocks and that means you need to commit crimes!!) I loved his relationship with Thais and how much they clashed over ideology during their initially unwilling team up. Danny’s writing is snappy but descriptive, and the story is fast paced, throwing a new obstacle at our protagonists at every turn. The supporting cast was also fantastic. (Xera and Fern, my beloveds, and Rubem…well, I’m rooting for your future ventures.) Once Stolen is a speculative summer adventure for those who loved Our Bloody Pearl, rock enthusiasts, people who know sign language, autistic folks, and your pet crocodile.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Vomit, Death, and Animal death
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