Once Stolen Series: These Treacherous Tides #1 Published by Bryn Books on July 27, 2021
Source: Blog Tour
Pages: 256
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Format: Ebook Arc
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No one with half a brain would rob the jungle’s most notorious energy cartel. The vibrations of their power-producing stones are the only thing that calms the mer-snake Cacao’s agonizing sensory condition though—and after being banished from his homeland swamps for similar thefts, he’s desperate.
When his attempt fails stunningly, a chaotic escape leaves him chained to a cartel prisoner: a self-proclaimed hero with a hidden stash of power stones so large, Cacao would never need to steal again. He’s determined to get his hands on it, even if it means guiding her home straight through the mist-laden and monster-filled swamp that exhaled him, with scheming poachers and a desperate cartel leader on their tail.
But the selfish and the self-righteous can only flee together for so long before something snaps...
CONTENT WARNINGS:
Cultural ableism, adolescent abandonment, two instances of animal injury and death, accidental house fire, kidnapping, secondary character drinking alcohol including non-violent drunkenness.
REPRESENTATION:
Main character, Cacao: pansexual, autistic, sensory disorder.
Love interest, Thais: nonbinary she/her, may be read as a person of color.
Other majorly featured characters: (Rubem) biracial Black man, homosexual, (Xera) vaguely a person of color, nonbinary, deaf, bisexual, social anxiety, (Fern) pansexual.
* characters labeled as “vaguely a person of color” are described as being non-white, but are never distigued enough to be understood as a specific race occuring in our world.
Review
I don’t think I even enjoyed a book with a unique blend of characters that I have not seen in other books. All the dialogue in this book communicates through sign language as Mersnakes are deaf, and many creatures and people live in the murk. Sign language communication stands out very prominently throughout the novel as accepted as perfectly usual. Once Stolen also gives us the lovely Mersnake character Cacao, who is autistic, and his need for ignits (gems) that prompts most of the plot spurred on by his sensory perception issues.
As Cacao hunts out his ignits, he encounters a chained cartel prisoner who promises a massive hoard of ignits to rescue her. What follows is a madcap adventure running from cartel leaders out to get them, poachers, and a few monsters lurking in the murk. This world is unique and exciting, and you will fall in love with the story.
About D. N. Bryn
D.N. Bryn began writing short stories in middle school and has yet to stop. They received their bachelors degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from UCSD, and enjoy a day job involving respiratory disease research. They bring their love for animals, science, and mythology into all their writing, and are passionate about creating inclusive worlds where a diverse array of characters can go on grand adventures without being hindered by social misconceptions based on their appearance, sexuality, or gender.
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| Overall: | 5 |
