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Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'
On These Black Sands (Bonus Scene) by Vanessa Rasanen
4 reviews
fromjuliereads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Wow. This book really surprised me. It has so many fantastic elements, good characters, a good story. I really like the world, set up, premise for the story - how could I not? It's essentially leading to a quest, one of my favourite things! This is very much a set up for that. We get to know the characters and for them to all connect, learn the power players and lay of the world.Ā
I read this so quickly. It's enticing and I really like the characters! Aoife is difficult to like at first but she grew on me. Declan is a great character as a pirate. There was one scene with him that I disliked though - the author says he is based on Dean from Supernatural, and while I see that in most of his character, Dean would never... To make a point in one scene, Declan basically forces himself onto Aoife, pushing her under him on a bed with no warning. It felt icky to me and I get it was him acting and making a point, it felt like a bit much.
I will say though that I liked the panic attack rep in this! I actually teared up at a few lines because it felt so real and true what the characters were saying about panic attacks.Ā
Anyways. It ended at an interesting point and I'm curious to see how the next book goes!
I read this so quickly. It's enticing and I really like the characters! Aoife is difficult to like at first but she grew on me. Declan is a great character as a pirate. There was one scene with him that I disliked though - the author says he is based on Dean from Supernatural, and while I see that in most of his character, Dean would never...
I will say though that I liked the panic attack rep in this! I actually teared up at a few lines because it felt so real and true what the characters were saying about panic attacks.Ā
Anyways. It ended at an interesting point and I'm curious to see how the next book goes!
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Death, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Death of sisterchaoticreader22's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
Minor: Death
booksalacarte's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
On These Black Sands- 4.25āļø 2.75š¶ļø
In one month Aoife Cascade will turn twenty and take her seat on the Council of Cregah, an honor sheās been preparing for her whole life. But when she lets a secret slip to her mother, all the plans for her future are quickly upended. Believing the people of Cregah will be better off without her, Aoife decides to flee in hopes of finding a place where her loose tongue canāt hurt anyone.
Until she comes upon a pirate captain who needs her help.
Captain Declan McCallagh is young compared to the pirate lords, but after twelve long years on the grueling Aisling Sea, he has earned a well-respected ship and the attention of the lords, who seek to put him in his place. All he wants is to leave the Aisling Sea--and his past --behind him, and finding the enchanted dagger is the final key to making that happenā¦ the same dagger his sister and her rebel group need to overthrow the council. Heāll have to decide whether to help a people he no longer claims as his own or take this weapon for himself.
That is, if the runaway heir he has asked to help doesnāt ruin everything first.
When no one can be trusted, can Aoife and Declan learn to rely on each other? Or will their pasts keep them from saving the very people they walked away from?
āāāāāā
āØMy OpinionāØ
I loved this book! The pirates! The Fae! The Celtic influence (hello, my name is Erin!).The tension. the conflicts. The adventure. The action. The politics! Yup. Iām here for it!
Mixing fae and pirates was really surprising and original! I have never come across this type of story before. And just the possibility of a complete magic system with lord and fantastical beasts puts this series right down my alley.
I was immediately drawn in with Declan and his vulnerability. A pirate who is going through an internal battleā¦His moral grayness is complete with a devastating secret? I ate him up.Ā
Aiofe (Ee-fuh) being awkward with poor comedic timing feel like a loving look at every bad joke I didnāt land. She is a bit useless in a realistic way. Her competence raises minimally in the 2-ish weeks during this portion of the story. Thankfully, there wasnāt a āta-da you are a natural pirateā moment for her. Her cyclical thinking was sometimes a lot and repetitive, but it has a purpose so Iāll let it pass. (Anxiety rep!)
Cait was a great look into the corruption of the Council of Cregah and how itās effecting the people who rely on it for everything. Iām excited to see her part of the story even more.
The insta-love/slow burn mix is nice, not forced. The tension is there but I appreciate things not progressing so fast since the timeline of the book was so short.
The cliffhanger was really well done. Iām anxious just writing this review because I am starting book two ASAP!
In one month Aoife Cascade will turn twenty and take her seat on the Council of Cregah, an honor sheās been preparing for her whole life. But when she lets a secret slip to her mother, all the plans for her future are quickly upended. Believing the people of Cregah will be better off without her, Aoife decides to flee in hopes of finding a place where her loose tongue canāt hurt anyone.
Until she comes upon a pirate captain who needs her help.
Captain Declan McCallagh is young compared to the pirate lords, but after twelve long years on the grueling Aisling Sea, he has earned a well-respected ship and the attention of the lords, who seek to put him in his place. All he wants is to leave the Aisling Sea--and his past --behind him, and finding the enchanted dagger is the final key to making that happenā¦ the same dagger his sister and her rebel group need to overthrow the council. Heāll have to decide whether to help a people he no longer claims as his own or take this weapon for himself.
That is, if the runaway heir he has asked to help doesnāt ruin everything first.
When no one can be trusted, can Aoife and Declan learn to rely on each other? Or will their pasts keep them from saving the very people they walked away from?
āāāāāā
āØMy OpinionāØ
I loved this book! The pirates! The Fae! The Celtic influence (hello, my name is Erin!).The tension. the conflicts. The adventure. The action. The politics! Yup. Iām here for it!
Mixing fae and pirates was really surprising and original! I have never come across this type of story before. And just the possibility of a complete magic system with lord and fantastical beasts puts this series right down my alley.
I was immediately drawn in with Declan and his vulnerability. A pirate who is going through an internal battleā¦His moral grayness is complete with a devastating secret? I ate him up.Ā
Aiofe (Ee-fuh) being awkward with poor comedic timing feel like a loving look at every bad joke I didnāt land. She is a bit useless in a realistic way. Her competence raises minimally in the 2-ish weeks during this portion of the story. Thankfully, there wasnāt a āta-da you are a natural pirateā moment for her. Her cyclical thinking was sometimes a lot and repetitive, but it has a purpose so Iāll let it pass. (Anxiety rep!)
Cait was a great look into the corruption of the Council of Cregah and how itās effecting the people who rely on it for everything. Iām excited to see her part of the story even more.
The insta-love/slow burn mix is nice, not forced. The tension is there but I appreciate things not progressing so fast since the timeline of the book was so short.
The cliffhanger was really well done. Iām anxious just writing this review because I am starting book two ASAP!
Graphic: Gaslighting and Grief
Moderate: Violence and Panic attacks/disorders
aspoonfuloflanguage's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
She was too stunned to speak.
Iāve been searching for a book to break my years-long reading slump. When I was a kid I could devour a series in a weekend. As an adult I still loved to read but it didnāt contain that same spark. Reading felt empty, almost as if I had lost a part of myself.
Earlier this year I became determined to get back into reading. I missed exploring different lands & allowing myself to be passionate about something I loved. About good storytelling, the art of writing, and exploring emotions through the lens of literature.Ā While I had to dig to find my niche, I ended up stumbling across indie books, which led me here. Iām not going to write a synopsis, as you can find one easily on Google. But Iā¦ can I just?.. Vanessa is a genius not only with words, but at crafting a story.
Each chapter was told from the perspective of one of the three main characters, which would have normally put me off. However, she shifted perspectives seamlessly in a way that gave so much depth & dimension to the story while weaving a thread of intrigue throughout.
She lets you inside everyoneās head, but only to a certain extent. Its like showing all the cards but keeping a poker face because thereās a trick card tucked up the sleeve. Each character had their own secrets, doubts, agendas, pieces of the puzzle thatās guarded closely until, like a loose thread on clothing, gets tugged on by the right person at the right time.
It unravels slowly, gets tangled, cut, freed once more, tied to another thread, yanked, and all at once it comes undone. The hidden card flutters to the ground for all to see. As for the reader? Weāre the first to know the hints but the last to discover the reveal. Itās infuriating and I love her for it.
But when that card is finally revealed? When she fully lets you into the character? Itās an experience. I literally blinked and the book was over, and Iām mad about it because I have to wait for book 2!
But Iām also so glad about it because you know what? I found my joy for reading again.
Iāve been searching for a book to break my years-long reading slump. When I was a kid I could devour a series in a weekend. As an adult I still loved to read but it didnāt contain that same spark. Reading felt empty, almost as if I had lost a part of myself.
Earlier this year I became determined to get back into reading. I missed exploring different lands & allowing myself to be passionate about something I loved. About good storytelling, the art of writing, and exploring emotions through the lens of literature.Ā While I had to dig to find my niche, I ended up stumbling across indie books, which led me here. Iām not going to write a synopsis, as you can find one easily on Google. But Iā¦ can I just?.. Vanessa is a genius not only with words, but at crafting a story.
Each chapter was told from the perspective of one of the three main characters, which would have normally put me off. However, she shifted perspectives seamlessly in a way that gave so much depth & dimension to the story while weaving a thread of intrigue throughout.
She lets you inside everyoneās head, but only to a certain extent. Its like showing all the cards but keeping a poker face because thereās a trick card tucked up the sleeve. Each character had their own secrets, doubts, agendas, pieces of the puzzle thatās guarded closely until, like a loose thread on clothing, gets tugged on by the right person at the right time.
It unravels slowly, gets tangled, cut, freed once more, tied to another thread, yanked, and all at once it comes undone. The hidden card flutters to the ground for all to see. As for the reader? Weāre the first to know the hints but the last to discover the reveal. Itās infuriating and I love her for it.
But when that card is finally revealed? When she fully lets you into the character? Itās an experience. I literally blinked and the book was over, and Iām mad about it because I have to wait for book 2!
But Iām also so glad about it because you know what? I found my joy for reading again.
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Murder
Minor: Kidnapping
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