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A review by lilybethneeds2read
Our Bloody Pearl by D.N. Bryn
5.0
For full transparency, the author was kind enough to give me a read-for-review copy, but of course this is my honest opinion.
Our Bloody Pearl is amazing for any fantasy or found-family fans. To be entirely honest, I don't normally read fantasy, but I heard such good things about this book I was excited to read it for myself. The world building is amazing and unique. I love the steampunk elements, and the sirens are so well developed. Typical mermaids are fun enough as is, especially for the daughter of a mermaid fanatic, but it's doubly fun to have original sirens that are so thoroughly developed. They were so fleshed out as a species that they felt truly real, and I loved learning about them through Perle, and the way their love of the water colored their language (especially all of the crab metaphors). There's also just something about the focus on the character relationships and pacing that feels special, and like what I've been looking for but missing in other books.
The story also has great representation. It's especially nice for me to have a canonical ace character in Dejean. Of every other bit of media I've consumed, I can only think of one other such character. Dejean also happens to be my favorite character for other reasons. He's strong but gentle all at once, a pirate who has no doubt seen a lot of violence, but never lets it turn him cold. It's an awesome cast of characters overall (love quirky Murriel with her very distinct voice and hair full of gadgets). Oh, and I nearly forgot, it's friggin amazing to see representation of a signed language, and so heavily featured.
There's so many lovely, refreshing facets to this book.
And finally, the messages. The decision to reject your past as a "monster," that it's never too late to grow and change...I love it. My heart was so warmed by the ending on the beach, the growth of the pod. It left me wanting to see what's next for Perle, Dejean, and the others.
Our Bloody Pearl is amazing for any fantasy or found-family fans. To be entirely honest, I don't normally read fantasy, but I heard such good things about this book I was excited to read it for myself. The world building is amazing and unique. I love the steampunk elements, and the sirens are so well developed. Typical mermaids are fun enough as is, especially for the daughter of a mermaid fanatic, but it's doubly fun to have original sirens that are so thoroughly developed. They were so fleshed out as a species that they felt truly real, and I loved learning about them through Perle, and the way their love of the water colored their language (especially all of the crab metaphors). There's also just something about the focus on the character relationships and pacing that feels special, and like what I've been looking for but missing in other books.
The story also has great representation. It's especially nice for me to have a canonical ace character in Dejean. Of every other bit of media I've consumed, I can only think of one other such character. Dejean also happens to be my favorite character for other reasons. He's strong but gentle all at once, a pirate who has no doubt seen a lot of violence, but never lets it turn him cold. It's an awesome cast of characters overall (love quirky Murriel with her very distinct voice and hair full of gadgets). Oh, and I nearly forgot, it's friggin amazing to see representation of a signed language, and so heavily featured.
There's so many lovely, refreshing facets to this book.
And finally, the messages. The decision to reject your past as a "monster," that it's never too late to grow and change...I love it. My heart was so warmed by the ending on the beach, the growth of the pod. It left me wanting to see what's next for Perle, Dejean, and the others.