You know that here at THP we love fantasy books, so we’re thrilled to be reviewing Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier! This YA fantasy will grab hold of your imagination and refuse to let go! Get ready to dive into a world of seadragons, gods, magic, and adventure!
Book Overview
Summary: Hanalei of Tamarind is the cherished daughter of an old island family. But when her father steals a seadragon egg meant for an ailing princess, she is forced into a life of exile. In the years that follow, Hanalei finds solace in studying the majestic seadragons that roam the Nominomi Sea. Until, one day, an encounter with a female dragon offers her what she desires most. A chance to return home, and to right a terrible wrong.
Samahtitamahenele, Sam, is the last remaining prince of Tamarind. But he can never inherit the throne, for Tamarind is a matriarchal society. With his mother ill and his grandmother nearing the end of her reign. Sam is left with two choices: to marry, or to find a cure for the sickness that has plagued his mother for ten long years. When a childhood companion returns from exile, she brings with her something he has not felt in a very long time-hope.
But Hanalei and Sam are not the only ones searching for the dragonfruit. And as they battle enemies both near and far, there is another danger they cannot escape…that of the dragonfruit itself.
Content Warnings: graphic animal death & animal cruelty, death, violence, death of a parent, child abuse, grief, minor mention of kidnapping
Intriguing Mythological History
One of our favorite elements of Dragonfruit was the exciting mythology and world history. We enjoyed that we continued learning more about the island of Tamarind throughout the book. We couldn’t get enough of the mythological stories sprinkled in between daring action scenes. The seadragon god Taga was intriguing and mysterious, along with his other family members. The rich world history of Dragonfruit also engaged us at every turn. Learning the political drama among nations across the Nominomi Sea also created a great atmosphere.
Character Development
Seeing how much the characters in Dragonfruit adapted and grew because of their experiences was heartwarming! We especially enjoyed that not only did the main characters develop as time went on, the side characters did as well. It created a story that had a lot of depth and felt well-rounded. We loved both Hanalei and Sam and couldn’t get enough of their interactions together. Sam learned what it truly meant to lead, and Hanalei returned to a home she once thought lost. Another thing we enjoyed was how much they communicated with one another! We loved how they comforted and supported one another throughout this perilous journey.
A Thrilling Chase
As Hanalei and Sam race to find the dragonfruit in time, we’re swept up in a thrilling chase along the shores of Tamarind. We rooted for them as they encountered obstacle after obstacle, keeping their determination and hope along the way. With each plot twist, we constantly were wondering about where the seadragon was, what Hanalei and Sam could do to capture it, and how they would avoid the dangers that come with possessing the dragonfruit.
Get lost in the magical world of Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier, where dragons, myths, and magic come to life!
Grab your copy of Dragonfruit here!
What magical creature do you wish was real? Let us know in the comments below or by tweeting us @TheHoneyPop! You can also visit us on Facebook and Instagram!
Looking for more book reviews? Check this out!
