Our Bloody Pearl (Book Review)
I want to begin with a small note. I don’t write reviews. Like...ever. It’s not really my thing. The reason I’m doing this is one: I enjoyed this book and want to spread the word, and two: I study journalism at uni and need to write a buncha stuff and a book review fits right in. This means I began by writing this in swedish, so what you’re about to read now is a translated version. Because of that it can sound a bit clumsy, so sorry about that heh...
Well let’s get to the review now shall we!
Syrens have for a very long time been the masters of the sea. They have protected their territories wildy and effectively with teeth sharp like knives and bewitching songs. No one could resist their beautiful melodies that sucked you to the bottom of the sea. They were unbeatable, though this was doomed to change.
Kian, a pirate and captain of what was now one of the most feared ships, were able to create a device that could block out the song, and ever since the hunters has become the prey.
The first one to fall victim to Kian’s hunt was our main character, a siren we come to call Perle. They are captured and chained to a tub, stuck in dirty water where they are tortured. That is until another pirate, also a human, saves them. This one doesn’t seem to posses the same dark soul that Kian has, but Perle doesn’t know if he can be trusted. They know that that kind smile and those sparkling eyes could be hiding something dark. Though they don’t have any other options with Kian once again hunting for blood.
D.N Bryn takes us on a wonderful journey filled with both laughter and fear. You never really know where it’s taking you and what it is that’s waiting on the other side of the upcoming corner. But it is a small and very focused story.
We see the world through Perle’s eyes and the way it is written makes it very clear. Through the whole story you can see those details, like how a lot of the words they have chosen has to do with the sea and how some human words have been given new names by Perle. You’re always aware that you’re not following the perspective of a human, but you never see them as less than a person, you always sympathise and relate with them still.
As I said, this is a small story and we don’t see much of the world, but it’s never hurt by it. I always had the feeling that Bryn spent a lot of time and energy on developing and expanding it. I can from personal experience imagine that there are notes somewhere with more details and information that never made it into the finished story.
The main group of characters isn’t big. Apart from Perle, we get to spend the most time with Dejean; the pirate that saved them, his sister Murielle and her fiance Simone, who’s also Dejean’s right hand out on the sea. We only get to meet Kian in Perle’s memories and later in the story. There are of course other characters, both humans and sirens, but they don’t get any bigger roles.
The characters had a lot of room and time to grow on us and we really got to get to know them. Bryn really succeeded here. All three of them are so easy to like. They ofc course got their flaws, like we all do, but how they handle them and their positive sides shine so bright that I almost got this motherly feeling of wanting to protect them. I really want to see them succeed and get that happy ending together.
The best way to describe Dejean is warm. The way he cares about his family and his friends is just so warm it’s contagious. Murielle is a whirlwind that is impossible to resist. She takes you with her with that big and happy personality. You can’t do anything but smile. Then we got Simone, who’s more like a sturdy rock or a mountain. She’s not very fast when it comes to trusting others, but her love for Murielle and everyone else she cares for is unshakable. You can have nothing but respect for her.
Lastly we got Perle, our main character. The word I would use to describe them is just strong. Not the same way as a rock like I called Simone, but more like a strong wave that either crushes everything in its path or gives you that last push you need to reach land.
Another thing I want to mention is the representation. To see LGBTQ+ people just exist isn’t something you wee very often, and it’s just so nice. It’s normal and it’s not questioned. Of course are stories that focus on the struggles these people face also important, they help spread awareness, but it’s almost also just as important to make these stories where they just exist and live. We often read to escape to another world. To have somewhere we can go, where we don’t have to face our daily troubles, can be such a relief.
In short; this is such a lovely book. It doesn’t do too little or too much. It’s just enough. I hope for and can imagine more stories with these characters, because it feels like there is a whole world that can still be explored, and there would be a lot of room to do so since we already know these characters now (*wink *wink* *nudge*).
I take my hat off to you Bryn! You did good.
