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A review by doughtah
Our Bloody Pearl by D.N. Bryn
5.0
DN Bryn's "Our Bloody Pearl" is one of the most engaging first person books I've read in a long time. They crafted a story that developed the inner monologue of the main character, while still keeping the exterior world detailed and interesting.
"OBP" takes place in another world where technology, pirates, and sirens form a world built around the ocean. Perle - the main character - opens the book as a captive, they'd been captured by Captain Kian, a pirate who manufactured a blocker to siren singing. The rest of the book follows Perle as they engage with humans, learn more about the world beyond the ocean, and form bonds that will leave Perle questioning themself. One aspect of using Perle as the main character that really lends itself to the story is that, while we are learning about the world, it does not feel contrived. Perle's questions and assumptions about the human world make sense, rather than feel needless.
DN Bryn not only wrote an engaging book, but they created a world where diversity is as common as breathing. At one point in the story, two characters openly, and without awkwardness, discuss their sexuality, their gender, and the way gender and sexuality work in their societies. Outside of fanfiction, I don't think I've ever read a book that handled a conversation so well. Two queer characters getting to discuss their queerness without awkwardness. It was amazing, especially as an asexual person, to see two main characters speak about their own asexuality. So, thank you DN Bryn for that. Outside of asexuality though, there are women loving women, people of color as main characters, nonbinary characters, and a couple other folks who I'm sure I'm missing in this list. And while these aspects to us readers are important, never is the point of a character their queerness or their being a person of color.
On a darker note, there is also abuse in this book. Mostly characters dealing with the aftermath of being abused, but towards the climax, an abuser does resurface. There are conversations between characters about the abuse and night terrors.
Physical injuries are also permanent injuries in this book. Magical cures do not exist in this story, but recovery and aids are available. It was fantastic to see characters have to deal with the changes and come out on top as they adjusted to them.
With high seas adventures, peril that creates just enough tension to keep you on the edge of your seat, and the most marvelous, slow burn asexual romance I knew I needed, DN Bryn wrote a compelling first book. "Our Bloody Pearl" will make you cry, laugh, smile, and melt down to your bones if you enjoy romance, pirates, monsters, and action.
As a final note, I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
"OBP" takes place in another world where technology, pirates, and sirens form a world built around the ocean. Perle - the main character - opens the book as a captive, they'd been captured by Captain Kian, a pirate who manufactured a blocker to siren singing. The rest of the book follows Perle as they engage with humans, learn more about the world beyond the ocean, and form bonds that will leave Perle questioning themself. One aspect of using Perle as the main character that really lends itself to the story is that, while we are learning about the world, it does not feel contrived. Perle's questions and assumptions about the human world make sense, rather than feel needless.
DN Bryn not only wrote an engaging book, but they created a world where diversity is as common as breathing. At one point in the story, two characters openly, and without awkwardness, discuss their sexuality, their gender, and the way gender and sexuality work in their societies. Outside of fanfiction, I don't think I've ever read a book that handled a conversation so well. Two queer characters getting to discuss their queerness without awkwardness. It was amazing, especially as an asexual person, to see two main characters speak about their own asexuality. So, thank you DN Bryn for that. Outside of asexuality though, there are women loving women, people of color as main characters, nonbinary characters, and a couple other folks who I'm sure I'm missing in this list. And while these aspects to us readers are important, never is the point of a character their queerness or their being a person of color.
On a darker note, there is also abuse in this book. Mostly characters dealing with the aftermath of being abused, but towards the climax, an abuser does resurface. There are conversations between characters about the abuse and night terrors.
Physical injuries are also permanent injuries in this book. Magical cures do not exist in this story, but recovery and aids are available. It was fantastic to see characters have to deal with the changes and come out on top as they adjusted to them.
With high seas adventures, peril that creates just enough tension to keep you on the edge of your seat, and the most marvelous, slow burn asexual romance I knew I needed, DN Bryn wrote a compelling first book. "Our Bloody Pearl" will make you cry, laugh, smile, and melt down to your bones if you enjoy romance, pirates, monsters, and action.
As a final note, I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.