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The Legend of Tawhiri
There is a legend in the archipelago that long ago, the ocean grew weak and feared for his heart, so he took the form of a man. The villagers took him into themselves and protected him until he was strong again. In times of trouble, when storms come or when outsiders threaten the island, the sea will rise up to fight for the people of the Island, because of the love he has for them. The people of the Islands belong to the sea, and he belongs to them. If you walk along the beach when darkness comes, you might hear the ocean, singing to his people. If you are lucky, you might see the ocean climb from its bed, and walk on the sand in human form along the beaches.
- GenresFantasy
200 pages, Hardcover
Published May 19, 2023
1 person is currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
J.E. Purrazzi
36 books58 followers I grew up on a steady diet of adventure both real and imagined. It was never quite enough. So what is a girl to do? The answer: live in a fantasy world.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 30, 2023
4.5 stars
I recently had the privilege of reading J.E. Purrazzi's latest release, The Legend of Tawhiri! This book has been in the works for a while—originally as a blog serial that I never managed to make the time to read despite my interest—and I was super excited for the chance to read and review an ARC copy. (As always, opinions are still fully my own.)
There is a lot to be said for The Legend of Tawhiri, but perhaps what stood out to me most was its internal consistency—especially when it comes to the coming-of-age rites of the world. It's not often that a fictional world takes its coming-of-age rites this seriously and is consistent in its treatment of those who have passed through and become adults vs. those who have not and are therefore still considered children, but that is what we see in The Legend of Tawhiri. Tawhiri's restriction from his culture's rite of passage not only withholds him from the privileges of adulthood but also exempts him from some of the behavioral expectations; he is allowed to act like a child despite his age
Not only do we see this consistency clearly, but we also see the shift that happens when you stop thinking of yourself as a child and begin to behave as an adult. So perhaps my favorite thing about this book was the way that the coming-of-age theme was handled and the way Purrazzi tied it intrinsically to the world and culture she designed.
The language, too, was consistent with the culture, utilizing Polynesian and south pacific island vocabulary and trading modern colloquialisms for phrases tied to the ocean and islands (e.g. "Now they were back on the same current" referring to characters coming back around to a tired topic).
But consistency wasn't the world's only strength. Purrazzi has clearly drawn from cultures and experiences she has intimate familiarity with, and the knowledge and love she has for the Polynesian- and south pacific-inspired setting. The settings are described in vivid detail that place the reader right into the wonder and peace of the characters' surroundings, which not only makes for a lovely reading experience but also reflects perfectly on Tawhiri's own love for the ocean and his island.
Moving on from the setting, the characters were all well-drawn. Though they fell into some easy tropes in certain ways, they were all thoroughly enjoyable to read and the cast was filled out well. Ooma was a great grandmotherly character, Kai'Ali's relationship with Tawhiri was excellent all the way through, and Ihaka and Solbat both had perhaps surprising nuance.
Tawhiri himself was a compelling main character, torn between the life he knows and the life he both is drawn toward and fears. I admired his values from the outset—I can't remember the last time I read about a male MC who was motivated by a desire to get married and provide for a family, and I think we need more of that—and the beginning and end of his arc came beautifully full-circle.
My biggest complaint with the book is the pacing around the middle of Tawhiri's arc. While Tawhiri's character arc started and ended consistently, I didn't feel like the flow of his journey to get from one to the other was quite as smooth as it could have been. The first third of the book takes its time establishing the world, Tawhiri's thoughts and values, etc., but the last two-thirds felt like they rushed through Tawhiri's thoughts in places, not leaving the reader time to be as fully on-board with the shifts in his motivation as he seemed to be. That said, my "biggest complaint" is not really that big; I still quite enjoyed the whole book, even where it felt choppy.
Overall, this is one of the best books I've read so far this year and I highly recommend checking it out!
I recently had the privilege of reading J.E. Purrazzi's latest release, The Legend of Tawhiri! This book has been in the works for a while—originally as a blog serial that I never managed to make the time to read despite my interest—and I was super excited for the chance to read and review an ARC copy. (As always, opinions are still fully my own.)
There is a lot to be said for The Legend of Tawhiri, but perhaps what stood out to me most was its internal consistency—especially when it comes to the coming-of-age rites of the world. It's not often that a fictional world takes its coming-of-age rites this seriously and is consistent in its treatment of those who have passed through and become adults vs. those who have not and are therefore still considered children, but that is what we see in The Legend of Tawhiri. Tawhiri's restriction from his culture's rite of passage not only withholds him from the privileges of adulthood but also exempts him from some of the behavioral expectations; he is allowed to act like a child despite his age
Not only do we see this consistency clearly, but we also see the shift that happens when you stop thinking of yourself as a child and begin to behave as an adult. So perhaps my favorite thing about this book was the way that the coming-of-age theme was handled and the way Purrazzi tied it intrinsically to the world and culture she designed.
The language, too, was consistent with the culture, utilizing Polynesian and south pacific island vocabulary and trading modern colloquialisms for phrases tied to the ocean and islands (e.g. "Now they were back on the same current" referring to characters coming back around to a tired topic).
But consistency wasn't the world's only strength. Purrazzi has clearly drawn from cultures and experiences she has intimate familiarity with, and the knowledge and love she has for the Polynesian- and south pacific-inspired setting. The settings are described in vivid detail that place the reader right into the wonder and peace of the characters' surroundings, which not only makes for a lovely reading experience but also reflects perfectly on Tawhiri's own love for the ocean and his island.
Moving on from the setting, the characters were all well-drawn. Though they fell into some easy tropes in certain ways, they were all thoroughly enjoyable to read and the cast was filled out well. Ooma was a great grandmotherly character, Kai'Ali's relationship with Tawhiri was excellent all the way through, and Ihaka and Solbat both had perhaps surprising nuance.
Tawhiri himself was a compelling main character, torn between the life he knows and the life he both is drawn toward and fears. I admired his values from the outset—I can't remember the last time I read about a male MC who was motivated by a desire to get married and provide for a family, and I think we need more of that—and the beginning and end of his arc came beautifully full-circle.
My biggest complaint with the book is the pacing around the middle of Tawhiri's arc. While Tawhiri's character arc started and ended consistently, I didn't feel like the flow of his journey to get from one to the other was quite as smooth as it could have been. The first third of the book takes its time establishing the world, Tawhiri's thoughts and values, etc., but the last two-thirds felt like they rushed through Tawhiri's thoughts in places, not leaving the reader time to be as fully on-board with the shifts in his motivation as he seemed to be. That said, my "biggest complaint" is not really that big; I still quite enjoyed the whole book, even where it felt choppy.
Overall, this is one of the best books I've read so far this year and I highly recommend checking it out!
July 24, 2023
Yaay! I have finished yet another SPFBO book!
I really liked this one, probably because I have visited Easter Island and felt the author did a fine job researching Polynesian culture. The great adult initiation challenge gave me lovely memories of visiting the sloping hillside next to Rano Kau volcano and seeing the famous bird caves beneath a rocky cliff.
The story is quite cute. Our protagonist is a young adult named Tawhiri, who was washed ashore on the island of Taloa as a newborn. The peaceful villagers wanted to leave him to die, but an elderly woman named Ooma decided to adopt him. Due to superstitions that these sea children will inevitably return to the ocean where they belong and might enact revenge on innocent humans, Tawhiri isn't allowed to perform the coming-of-age swimming ritual. Forced to accept a life of building huts and never being allowed to go fishing or marry, Tawhiri tries to be happy living with his mom...
Until his love interest, a young woman named Kai'ali finally passes her initiation, and it hits him she'd like him to illegally perform the initiation so that they could get married. Worse, a childhood friend and future ruler of the tribe named Inaka has asked for Kai'ali's hand in marriage.
Pinned to a wall, Tawhiri has to make a difficult choice: continue living a life that seems unfulfilling or risk being exiled from the people that kindly adopted him.
There are several things I liked about this book.
1) Tawhiri's relationship with his mom. He doesn't care that Ooma is kind of kooky and an outcast among her people. Their relationship is full of reciprocated love and acceptance. Considering so many fantasy stories kill the mom or turn her into a boring background character, this book was a fresh breeze of wind.
2) Disability representation. Taloans believe every member of their tribe brings value. If you can't become a warrior or fisherman, you can weave baskets or draw tattoos like Ooma. Even though we never meet any in the story, it is theorized that Taloan women can become warriors. Characters with mobility disabilities like Kai'ali are encouraged to attempt the initiation despite previous failures. I still wonder how Kai'ali walked around the island with her twisted foot. I don't think the book mentions her using a cane.
3) Positive culture representation. I like it how this book lets us enjoy the easygoing way of Taloan life. You really feel like you are a member of the tribe.
4) The love rival is a good guy. I sometimes felt a bad taste in my mouth because Kocum in Disney's Pocahontas was typecast as a brooding and jealous love rival. It felt very nice to see that despite being interested in the same woman, Inaka tries to consider Tawhiri's feelings. To him, they will always be good friends.
Now, I do not wish to spoil the great revelation of what Tawhiri is. I will, however, mention while I really enjoyed this book, I did feel the story starts very slow. I think it would have benefitted with 15 pages cut because you already know Tawhiri will end up attempting the initiation without asking for permission. Yet, the book wanders around in circles for 100 pages. Once the story really gets in motion, it moves lighting fast!
In a nutshell, this book is a great standalone read that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages, just a bit too slow at first for me. Well worth reading.
I really liked this one, probably because I have visited Easter Island and felt the author did a fine job researching Polynesian culture. The great adult initiation challenge gave me lovely memories of visiting the sloping hillside next to Rano Kau volcano and seeing the famous bird caves beneath a rocky cliff.
The story is quite cute. Our protagonist is a young adult named Tawhiri, who was washed ashore on the island of Taloa as a newborn. The peaceful villagers wanted to leave him to die, but an elderly woman named Ooma decided to adopt him. Due to superstitions that these sea children will inevitably return to the ocean where they belong and might enact revenge on innocent humans, Tawhiri isn't allowed to perform the coming-of-age swimming ritual. Forced to accept a life of building huts and never being allowed to go fishing or marry, Tawhiri tries to be happy living with his mom...
Until his love interest, a young woman named Kai'ali finally passes her initiation, and it hits him she'd like him to illegally perform the initiation so that they could get married. Worse, a childhood friend and future ruler of the tribe named Inaka has asked for Kai'ali's hand in marriage.
Pinned to a wall, Tawhiri has to make a difficult choice: continue living a life that seems unfulfilling or risk being exiled from the people that kindly adopted him.
There are several things I liked about this book.
1) Tawhiri's relationship with his mom. He doesn't care that Ooma is kind of kooky and an outcast among her people. Their relationship is full of reciprocated love and acceptance. Considering so many fantasy stories kill the mom or turn her into a boring background character, this book was a fresh breeze of wind.
2) Disability representation. Taloans believe every member of their tribe brings value. If you can't become a warrior or fisherman, you can weave baskets or draw tattoos like Ooma. Even though we never meet any in the story, it is theorized that Taloan women can become warriors. Characters with mobility disabilities like Kai'ali are encouraged to attempt the initiation despite previous failures. I still wonder how Kai'ali walked around the island with her twisted foot. I don't think the book mentions her using a cane.
3) Positive culture representation. I like it how this book lets us enjoy the easygoing way of Taloan life. You really feel like you are a member of the tribe.
4) The love rival is a good guy. I sometimes felt a bad taste in my mouth because Kocum in Disney's Pocahontas was typecast as a brooding and jealous love rival. It felt very nice to see that despite being interested in the same woman, Inaka tries to consider Tawhiri's feelings. To him, they will always be good friends.
Now, I do not wish to spoil the great revelation of what Tawhiri is. I will, however, mention while I really enjoyed this book, I did feel the story starts very slow. I think it would have benefitted with 15 pages cut because you already know Tawhiri will end up attempting the initiation without asking for permission. Yet, the book wanders around in circles for 100 pages. Once the story really gets in motion, it moves lighting fast!
In a nutshell, this book is a great standalone read that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages, just a bit too slow at first for me. Well worth reading.
September 24, 2023
I first noticed this book back in its Wattpad days, and my impression then and still is that this book is whimsical! It is whimsical, heartfelt, and made me nostalgic for the many hours I spent swimming the river as a child.
The book does begin a bit slowly, but the plot draws you foreword irresistibly along with Tawhiri and you find yourself rooting for him because he’s such a good and decent character, even if his “happily ever after” doesn’t look like he thinks it should.
I enjoyed it very much!
The book does begin a bit slowly, but the plot draws you foreword irresistibly along with Tawhiri and you find yourself rooting for him because he’s such a good and decent character, even if his “happily ever after” doesn’t look like he thinks it should.
I enjoyed it very much!
June 9, 2023
If you love fantasy set in the real world and based on history and myths, this book may be for you. The Legend of Tawhiri is a South Pacific inspired fantasy by an author that grew up in Papua New Guinea. While I love a medieval fantasy as much as anyone else, it’s refreshing to read a fantasy set somewhere other than Europe. Fantasy is after all, about exploring a world different than that which is familiar to us. Yet it still has beloved myth-based elements such as mermaid-like creatures and demigods that make up much of what we love about fairytales and fantasy.
The beginning of the story opens with a peaceful island people celebrating the coming-of-age of their youth. Coming into adulthood requires a difficult trial—swimming into the depths below an island volcano and retrieving a talisman. One man, Tawhiri, will forever be a boy in the eyes of his people because he is forbidden to complete this trial, forbidden even to set a toe in the ocean that he loves and that gives life to his people. The people of Taloa fear that Tawhiri, a foundling on a reef, is a demi-god left by the Ri—mischievous mermaid-like creatures of the sea. The leaders of the village fear that if Tawhiri were to be called back to the ocean, it would bring destruction on their village.
Tawhiri longs for the sea, but follows the rules set by his people. He desires to be seen as a man and to prove that he is not the demigod they fear. Completing the trial could prove him to be an ordinary man or it could risk him being cast out by his people. One thing Tawhiri feels certain of is that he is not Ri.
I first discovered Tawhiri on Wattpad and was immediately drawn into the picturesque ocean setting and the charming pacific village. I loved the playful banter between Tawhiri and his adoptive mom, Ooma. I too was lured by the otherworldly call of the Ri. Even more, it’s a story we can all relate to: one of finding your place in this world.
But the story remained unfinished. It was, I think, a couple years that past, but I could not forget Tawhiri. Could not help but wonder what choice he made. Did he find his place among the Taloan people or was he called away to the sea? Imagine my excitement, when I saw the author tweet that she finally publish Tawhiri’s story.
There’s so much more I could say about this story, but I don’t want to give it all away. Tawhiri is easy to read and cozy, yet its beauty and themes gripping. I read almost the entire book in one evening until I accidentally fell asleep, so finished the last 30 minutes the next morning. The author introduced a few local words and animals (for which she provided a glossary of terms in the back) that help establish the foreign setting without going so overboard that it became difficult to comprehend.
I also reached out to the author and she graciously agreed to a few questions about The Legend of Tawhiri, and I’m glad I did as her answers were fascinating. You can read the interview on my blog: https://leannarapier.com/book-review-...
The beginning of the story opens with a peaceful island people celebrating the coming-of-age of their youth. Coming into adulthood requires a difficult trial—swimming into the depths below an island volcano and retrieving a talisman. One man, Tawhiri, will forever be a boy in the eyes of his people because he is forbidden to complete this trial, forbidden even to set a toe in the ocean that he loves and that gives life to his people. The people of Taloa fear that Tawhiri, a foundling on a reef, is a demi-god left by the Ri—mischievous mermaid-like creatures of the sea. The leaders of the village fear that if Tawhiri were to be called back to the ocean, it would bring destruction on their village.
Tawhiri longs for the sea, but follows the rules set by his people. He desires to be seen as a man and to prove that he is not the demigod they fear. Completing the trial could prove him to be an ordinary man or it could risk him being cast out by his people. One thing Tawhiri feels certain of is that he is not Ri.
I first discovered Tawhiri on Wattpad and was immediately drawn into the picturesque ocean setting and the charming pacific village. I loved the playful banter between Tawhiri and his adoptive mom, Ooma. I too was lured by the otherworldly call of the Ri. Even more, it’s a story we can all relate to: one of finding your place in this world.
But the story remained unfinished. It was, I think, a couple years that past, but I could not forget Tawhiri. Could not help but wonder what choice he made. Did he find his place among the Taloan people or was he called away to the sea? Imagine my excitement, when I saw the author tweet that she finally publish Tawhiri’s story.
There’s so much more I could say about this story, but I don’t want to give it all away. Tawhiri is easy to read and cozy, yet its beauty and themes gripping. I read almost the entire book in one evening until I accidentally fell asleep, so finished the last 30 minutes the next morning. The author introduced a few local words and animals (for which she provided a glossary of terms in the back) that help establish the foreign setting without going so overboard that it became difficult to comprehend.
I also reached out to the author and she graciously agreed to a few questions about The Legend of Tawhiri, and I’m glad I did as her answers were fascinating. You can read the interview on my blog: https://leannarapier.com/book-review-...
June 7, 2023
Every so often a book comes along just when you need it most. Between the beautifully evocative setting, the relaxed pacing, and the themes that really spoke to my heart, that was this book for me.
From the opening chapter, Tawhiri is such a compelling MC, with struggles I was immediately invested in. His desire to live without bitterness and with joy for others, while still struggling with being excluded and left behind, was portrayed in a relatable and moving way. So many of the feelings that Tawhiri experiences — being an outsider, being divided between two worlds, or navigating the divide between what we dreamed our lives will be and the reality we weren’t expecting — are so very universal and beautifully drawn through his character. It really was a highlight of this story for me.
I also loved the relationships between the characters. Tawhiri and his adopted mother Ooma (her sass is just perfect, but also she truly wants the best for him). The sweet friendship and potentially something more with Kai’ali. The firm friendship with Ihaka, whose struggle to balance tradition and the past with the future and Tawhiri I really appreciated. And Solbat was an intriguing character that always left me wanting to know more.
Any review would be incomplete without mentioning the immersive worldbuilding and gorgeous settings. Purrazzi’s prose paints such a vivid picture of her Polynesian setting and made each scene a treat. The concept of the Ri was fascinating, and I loved how fleshed out the world was, full of history, traditions, legends, and even some underwater ruins.
The tension near the end had me turning pages and screaming (quietly, don’t want to scare my family) to myself. The ending was satisfying, both in terms of what I expected and what surprised me, and how it all comes full circle. Definitely a favorite read of the year!
From the opening chapter, Tawhiri is such a compelling MC, with struggles I was immediately invested in. His desire to live without bitterness and with joy for others, while still struggling with being excluded and left behind, was portrayed in a relatable and moving way. So many of the feelings that Tawhiri experiences — being an outsider, being divided between two worlds, or navigating the divide between what we dreamed our lives will be and the reality we weren’t expecting — are so very universal and beautifully drawn through his character. It really was a highlight of this story for me.
I also loved the relationships between the characters. Tawhiri and his adopted mother Ooma (her sass is just perfect, but also she truly wants the best for him). The sweet friendship and potentially something more with Kai’ali. The firm friendship with Ihaka, whose struggle to balance tradition and the past with the future and Tawhiri I really appreciated. And Solbat was an intriguing character that always left me wanting to know more.
Any review would be incomplete without mentioning the immersive worldbuilding and gorgeous settings. Purrazzi’s prose paints such a vivid picture of her Polynesian setting and made each scene a treat. The concept of the Ri was fascinating, and I loved how fleshed out the world was, full of history, traditions, legends, and even some underwater ruins.
The tension near the end had me turning pages and screaming (quietly, don’t want to scare my family) to myself. The ending was satisfying, both in terms of what I expected and what surprised me, and how it all comes full circle. Definitely a favorite read of the year!
June 8, 2023
Read for SPFBO, this is only my personal opinion, group verdict might differ widely! 💥
I really liked the start of The Legend of Tawhiri by J.E. Purrazzzi! A young man in an island community, who is somehow different. I enjoyed learning about this culture and how they live, both in actual survival as in societal structures.
Sadly the middle part of the book lost me a bit. The pace went up, and I felt the story started to lack depth. While the main character was very relatable at the beginning, struggling with his status as a child when he's older than some of those already progressed to adulthood via a ritual, he lost that later on. Instead of him changing with the story, it feels like he's just molded and pushed in the way the story needs him to go, instead of a natural progression.
The last bit was better again, but felt a bit rushed still, so it didn't make up for the weaker middle. All in all an enjoyable and easy to read tale, which could easily have been a 4* read with a little but more editing and depth to the character development.
I really liked the start of The Legend of Tawhiri by J.E. Purrazzzi! A young man in an island community, who is somehow different. I enjoyed learning about this culture and how they live, both in actual survival as in societal structures.
Sadly the middle part of the book lost me a bit. The pace went up, and I felt the story started to lack depth. While the main character was very relatable at the beginning, struggling with his status as a child when he's older than some of those already progressed to adulthood via a ritual, he lost that later on. Instead of him changing with the story, it feels like he's just molded and pushed in the way the story needs him to go, instead of a natural progression.
The last bit was better again, but felt a bit rushed still, so it didn't make up for the weaker middle. All in all an enjoyable and easy to read tale, which could easily have been a 4* read with a little but more editing and depth to the character development.
June 4, 2023
This is a beautiful book, and I am not just talking about the cover.
The way Purrazzi writes is evocative and detailed and really sets you down in this Polynesian inspired world. While it is not the fastest paced book, it doesn't matter because you are too busy soaking up the sights, sounds and feelings in this cozy fantasy.
I would highly recommend reading this by the sea if you are going away on holiday as I can only imagine it enhancing the lyrical text even more.
If you are unfamiliar with south pacific culture, the author has provided a glossary at the back, explaining some of the cultural items, but if like me you didn't realize it was there until the end, you do not miss out at all.
If you liked Moana, you will enjoy this.
The way Purrazzi writes is evocative and detailed and really sets you down in this Polynesian inspired world. While it is not the fastest paced book, it doesn't matter because you are too busy soaking up the sights, sounds and feelings in this cozy fantasy.
I would highly recommend reading this by the sea if you are going away on holiday as I can only imagine it enhancing the lyrical text even more.
If you are unfamiliar with south pacific culture, the author has provided a glossary at the back, explaining some of the cultural items, but if like me you didn't realize it was there until the end, you do not miss out at all.
If you liked Moana, you will enjoy this.
June 3, 2023
A great beach read
Another great SPFBO9 book. Definitely recommend reading by the ocean. It gave off a lot of Moana vibes and the writing was smooth as waves rolling on the beach. I will say that the style threw me because it did read more like a myth being told rather than a story, but it is still a great story.
Another great SPFBO9 book. Definitely recommend reading by the ocean. It gave off a lot of Moana vibes and the writing was smooth as waves rolling on the beach. I will say that the style threw me because it did read more like a myth being told rather than a story, but it is still a great story.
May 30, 2023
A beautifully written cozy read!
January 1, 2024
Free on Smashwords this month! A slower read but very immersive.
May 27, 2023
This is the type of fantasy I like best! Full of wonder and discovery, the pacing of the story is like the rhythm of the ocean. There is time to breathe and explore and escape from the manic rush of modern society. The themes of being caught between worlds, finding where you belong, and finding what you're willing to fight for are all some of my absolute favorites. It's beautifully written, beautifully executed and utterly refreshing in a market saturated with remakes, spin-offs, hackneyed plots, and anemic characters. The Legend of Tawhiri is a jewel which captures (at least some of) the beautiful complexity of what it means to be human and alive in this world. It will make you ache with beauty a little bit and long for places you've never been. But it will also make you feel deeply grounded and understood in your struggles--for we've all felt a little bit like outcasts at some point in our life, worried if our true selves and our true gifts would be accepted, felt trapped inside expectations and standards, and even feared taking the path we were meant to take because it diverges from everything safe and familiar. Purrazzi handles all these questions with wisdom and a light touch. I hope it brings quiet to your soul as it did to mine and makes you feel a little less alone and a little more empowered to figure out your place in the world.
August 3, 2023
Hands down, the greatest part about this story was the way the descriptions brought Tawhiri's world to life! I seriously felt like I'd visited an island after reading it.
Tawhiri was a likeable main character, and I quickly became invested in his plight and his dreams of being accepted as a man by his village.
I also loved Ooma. Such a sassy old woman! Perfect for keeping Tawhiri in line. 😆
In regards to the plot, it started out strong, but I felt it lagged a bit in the middle. Then, when things got moving again, I was frustrated by certain choices that Tawhiri made. I didn't really care for all the focus on "gods" and spirits, although it did set up some interesting conflict.
The ending, without giving anything away, left me with such a bittersweet feeling! There were some great themes and messages that I'm still turning over in my mind.
And I definitely want to go to the beach now...
Tawhiri was a likeable main character, and I quickly became invested in his plight and his dreams of being accepted as a man by his village.
I also loved Ooma. Such a sassy old woman! Perfect for keeping Tawhiri in line. 😆
In regards to the plot, it started out strong, but I felt it lagged a bit in the middle. Then, when things got moving again, I was frustrated by certain choices that Tawhiri made. I didn't really care for all the focus on "gods" and spirits, although it did set up some interesting conflict.
The ending, without giving anything away, left me with such a bittersweet feeling! There were some great themes and messages that I'm still turning over in my mind.
And I definitely want to go to the beach now...
July 29, 2023
This is a very summer-y book. The aesthetics reminded me a lot of Moana and the storyline made me think of a lot of Polynesian myths that I studied for my college literature class.
That said, I'm not sure I was the right audience for this story. It was very slow and I struggled to get through it when it felt like it would have been much more interesting had it been more streamlined and condensed. Also the number of proofreading errors was distracting at times from the story.
In short, it was a fun read. But it didn't really hook me in.
That said, I'm not sure I was the right audience for this story. It was very slow and I struggled to get through it when it felt like it would have been much more interesting had it been more streamlined and condensed. Also the number of proofreading errors was distracting at times from the story.
In short, it was a fun read. But it didn't really hook me in.
February 5, 2024
Greatly enjoyed the world and the characters. I love Tawhiri and Ooma's relationship and the world feels very rich. The lore and stories had me wanting to learn more. Over all a very pleasant read and I'm glad I decided to pick it up!
May 24, 2023
A deeply satisfying story of friendship, found family, and sacrifice set in the South Pacific with mermen, tests of strength, and an epic battle. I highly recommend this excellently written story.
November 27, 2023
The Legend Tawhirir by J.E. Purrazzi was added to my personal SPFBO-9 TBR. This was ultimately my 29th read from this competition. I initially added this one to the list because it did look interesting but it was also on the shorter side so I figured it would be easy to slide into a month of reading which is exactly what happened.
The pacing was decent. It was a short read. I will say it never felt rushed due to it being on the shorter side of a novel length. However, I did notice more than a handful of editing issues, mostly typos in the Kindle version I read through. I also struggled with some of the vocabulary and early on found myself looking up several words and didn't even find definitions on a couple. I realized after finishing the book that there is a definitions section at the end of the book which might have helped this. So anyone reading this, you now have a heads up that this exists, use it if you need to!
The world building was really good. The author did a great job in so few pages in making sure I felt immersed in this island world filled with magical and mythical sea creatures and gods. There was just enough mention of other islands and the greater world away from the islands to make the world seem much bigger than the couple of islands we focus on for this story.
The character development was also solid. Once again, I think with a shorter word or page count that we are working with here we saw a good arc for our protagonist. We also got to witness just a small bit from a couple of supporting characters. I think the author would have added a few dozen pages though we might have gotten to understand some more of these supporting characters a bit more and connected with the story just that much more as well.
All in all I think The Legend of Tawhiri served just the purpose and expectations I had for it. It was a really fun and short read. If you are a fan of mythological fantasy in an island setting, this would be right up your alley. If you're just looking for a solid short fantasy read like I was, I'd also recommend this one. Go ahead and give it a shot. It's certainly worth the time.
The pacing was decent. It was a short read. I will say it never felt rushed due to it being on the shorter side of a novel length. However, I did notice more than a handful of editing issues, mostly typos in the Kindle version I read through. I also struggled with some of the vocabulary and early on found myself looking up several words and didn't even find definitions on a couple. I realized after finishing the book that there is a definitions section at the end of the book which might have helped this. So anyone reading this, you now have a heads up that this exists, use it if you need to!
The world building was really good. The author did a great job in so few pages in making sure I felt immersed in this island world filled with magical and mythical sea creatures and gods. There was just enough mention of other islands and the greater world away from the islands to make the world seem much bigger than the couple of islands we focus on for this story.
The character development was also solid. Once again, I think with a shorter word or page count that we are working with here we saw a good arc for our protagonist. We also got to witness just a small bit from a couple of supporting characters. I think the author would have added a few dozen pages though we might have gotten to understand some more of these supporting characters a bit more and connected with the story just that much more as well.
All in all I think The Legend of Tawhiri served just the purpose and expectations I had for it. It was a really fun and short read. If you are a fan of mythological fantasy in an island setting, this would be right up your alley. If you're just looking for a solid short fantasy read like I was, I'd also recommend this one. Go ahead and give it a shot. It's certainly worth the time.
November 16, 2023
3,5 🌟 since the ending is beautiful. This is a nice story perfect for summer inspired by Papua New Guinea lore. I enjoyed all the characters, the scenery, the writing transports you to the point you feel the clear water of the ocean at your feet. The pace suffered a bit towards the end, i am not sure if even intended since there was an event and tension was building up but it picked up at the end wraping the story up in a pretty bow 🎀.
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