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Dragonfruit
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fantasy (2024)An Asian/Pacific American Award Honor BookA USA TODAY bestsellerOne of NPR's 2024 ""Books We Love""A Kirkus Best Book of 2024A School Library Journal Best Book of 2024A New York Public Library Best Book of 2024From acclaimed author Makiia Lucier, a dazzling, romantic fantasy inspired by Pacific Island mythology.
In the old tales, it is written that the egg of a seadragon, dragonfruit, holds within it the power to undo a person’s greatest sorrow. But as with all things that offer hope when hope had gone, the tale came with a warning.
Every wish demands a price.
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 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.
In the old tales, it is written that the egg of a seadragon, dragonfruit, holds within it the power to undo a person’s greatest sorrow. But as with all things that offer hope when hope had gone, the tale came with a warning.
Every wish demands a price.
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 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.
Audible Audio
First published April 9, 2024
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About the author
Makiia Lucier
5 books829 followersMakiia Lucier is the author of Year of the Reaper, the Isle of Blood and Stone duology, and A Death-Struck Year. Her stories are inspired by history and mythology and have been called “brilliant” (Booklist), “moving,” (New York Times), “masterful” (Horn Book), and “breathtaking” (School Library Journal). They can be found on many notable lists, including the Kids’ Indie Next and the American Library Association’s ‘Best Fiction for Young Adults.’
Makiia grew up on the Pacific island of Guam, not too far from the equator, and holds degrees in journalism and library science.
She lives with her family in Portland, Oregon.
Makiia grew up on the Pacific island of Guam, not too far from the equator, and holds degrees in journalism and library science.
She lives with her family in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,152 reviews
February 13, 2025
this is a book that has a lot of potential and the bones of what could be a very fascinating story.
the plot has a clear cut direction that takes place in a promising fantasy world with unique magic and intriguing dragons. the writing is readable and explains things well. the characters are easy to root for with a good foundation for a friendship/relationship.
but, the thing is, all of these are pretty basic and could definitely be more. the plot and world-building has plenty of room for expansion, the writing could be more consistent and the characters could benefit from more in-depth development.
so while an enjoyable story, its pretty evident how it could have been better.
↠ 3 stars
the plot has a clear cut direction that takes place in a promising fantasy world with unique magic and intriguing dragons. the writing is readable and explains things well. the characters are easy to root for with a good foundation for a friendship/relationship.
but, the thing is, all of these are pretty basic and could definitely be more. the plot and world-building has plenty of room for expansion, the writing could be more consistent and the characters could benefit from more in-depth development.
so while an enjoyable story, its pretty evident how it could have been better.
↠ 3 stars
April 28, 2024
I enjoyed this book, although the execution was lacking. The premise of the book was very interesting, I loved the idea of sea dragons and magical dragon fruit, but the pacing was inconsistent and the character development was lacking. The pacing was inconsistent throughout the whole book and the plot dragged at times. I didn't connect to the characters and the development of the characters was not explored. The characters felt flat and I wanted to learn more about their past and understand their feelings in more depth. I liked Hanalei, she's brave and strong, but I didn't feel a personal connection to her and she felt flat as a character. I have similar feelings about Sam, I didn't learn enough about his character and growth to feel a connection to him. I enjoyed that this story was unique and the focus on Pacific Islander mythology was very interesting. The ending was decent, I'm glad some aspects of the plot were resolved, but it felt rushed. Overall, this book was okay, the premise was so interesting, but I felt that it lacked in execution and the pacing was inconsistent.
April 12, 2024
Makiia Lucier saw the YA fantasy genre was floundering and knew she had to step in to save the day.
Dragonfruit is one of the most unique fantasies I've read in a long time. If you were disappointed by a *certain* dragon booktok recommendation, you've come to the right place. Lucier has combined Pacific Islander mythology with a beautifully crafted plot and characters you’ll want to be friends with.
Haliendi has lived in exile since her dad stole a seadragon egg from the queen. Since then, she has spent years traveling the oceans and studying the beautiful creatures that changed her life. But when a ruthless hunter tries to kill a seadragon, Haliendi is back in her homeland, surrounded by those she once called family. Given the chance to redeem her name, Haliendi travels with an old friend to find a sea dragon and save her island.
Everything about this book is magical. From the descriptions of the beautiful islands, a unique and loveable heroine, and the inclusion of mythology most people have never heard about. The plot was consistently placed and never stagnant. Even with a relatively large cast of characters, each one is well-rounded and easy to remember. Read this if you need to restore your faith in YA fantasy.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Dragonfruit is one of the most unique fantasies I've read in a long time. If you were disappointed by a *certain* dragon booktok recommendation, you've come to the right place. Lucier has combined Pacific Islander mythology with a beautifully crafted plot and characters you’ll want to be friends with.
Haliendi has lived in exile since her dad stole a seadragon egg from the queen. Since then, she has spent years traveling the oceans and studying the beautiful creatures that changed her life. But when a ruthless hunter tries to kill a seadragon, Haliendi is back in her homeland, surrounded by those she once called family. Given the chance to redeem her name, Haliendi travels with an old friend to find a sea dragon and save her island.
Everything about this book is magical. From the descriptions of the beautiful islands, a unique and loveable heroine, and the inclusion of mythology most people have never heard about. The plot was consistently placed and never stagnant. Even with a relatively large cast of characters, each one is well-rounded and easy to remember. Read this if you need to restore your faith in YA fantasy.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
August 5, 2024
Ooo my friends...I wanted to enjoy this one, but it didn't work for me. CW: violence (some involving children, death, grief, death of animals.
Dragonfruit has been gaining quite a bit of traction this year as the genre of romance fantasy becomes more widespread in popularity. It follows main character Hanalei of Tamarind who has been living in exile due to her father's thievery. Eventually, she is able to return to Tamarind to help Sam (the current prince) find another dragonfruit to help his ailing mother who's been sick for so long.
What Worked: This book had a lot of potential. Lucier did a wonderful job introducing what could have been a complex and beautiful world that illustrated interactions between the different kingdoms, gods/goddesses, and dragons. There was also some great messaging towards the end where Hanalei and Sam both acknowledge the mistakes that we all make throughout life especially when we're younger.
What Didn't Work: Oh so much of this book didn't work! The pacing was extremely slow which made the stakes feel low even though they technically were high. Hanalei and Sam lacked the necessary character development for me to be invested in them as individuals and as a couple. Granted, the two grew up together, but I did not understand nor could justify any reasons for them to be together outside of repairing their old friendship. There was no chemistry between the two although Lucier attempted to make the attraction between them apparent. To be quite honest, the plot was probably the true villain behind this entire novel. Lucier not only leaves loose ends untied, but there elements of the book that go unexplained particularly the magic system. I'm still unclear about the purpose and magic/lore behind the dragonfruit. This is one of those books that I think works well as a "vibes" read; however, it terms of actually delivering in relationship to the plot and world building is a completely different story. It was repetitive in sections while being unclear in others. Writing a stand alone fantasy is a task that takes great execution skills and I don't think we get that in this title. It's underwhelming and would have served better as an opening to a series.
Overall, I was disappointed by this read; however, I am an outlier and I know that people really adore it. While this particular title didn't work for me, I would be interested in checking out something else by Makiia Lucier in the future.
Dragonfruit has been gaining quite a bit of traction this year as the genre of romance fantasy becomes more widespread in popularity. It follows main character Hanalei of Tamarind who has been living in exile due to her father's thievery. Eventually, she is able to return to Tamarind to help Sam (the current prince) find another dragonfruit to help his ailing mother who's been sick for so long.
What Worked: This book had a lot of potential. Lucier did a wonderful job introducing what could have been a complex and beautiful world that illustrated interactions between the different kingdoms, gods/goddesses, and dragons. There was also some great messaging towards the end where Hanalei and Sam both acknowledge the mistakes that we all make throughout life especially when we're younger.
What Didn't Work: Oh so much of this book didn't work! The pacing was extremely slow which made the stakes feel low even though they technically were high. Hanalei and Sam lacked the necessary character development for me to be invested in them as individuals and as a couple. Granted, the two grew up together, but I did not understand nor could justify any reasons for them to be together outside of repairing their old friendship. There was no chemistry between the two although Lucier attempted to make the attraction between them apparent. To be quite honest, the plot was probably the true villain behind this entire novel. Lucier not only leaves loose ends untied, but there elements of the book that go unexplained particularly the magic system. I'm still unclear about the purpose and magic/lore behind the dragonfruit. This is one of those books that I think works well as a "vibes" read; however, it terms of actually delivering in relationship to the plot and world building is a completely different story. It was repetitive in sections while being unclear in others. Writing a stand alone fantasy is a task that takes great execution skills and I don't think we get that in this title. It's underwhelming and would have served better as an opening to a series.
Overall, I was disappointed by this read; however, I am an outlier and I know that people really adore it. While this particular title didn't work for me, I would be interested in checking out something else by Makiia Lucier in the future.
July 29, 2025
i think it’s illegal to hate on hanasam
October 3, 2024
Every wish demands a price.
this is a beautiful story about family, greed, and sacrifice. i NEED more tropical-set fantasy; the descriptions are so lush and vivid, with an exciting seafaring islander adventure undertone. hanalei is clever, brave, and compassionate as a protagonist, and her sympathy and understanding for the seadragons is admirable. her budding romance with sam was organic and sweet, childhood friends reunited after years apart (the romance is v much subplot, just fyi!).
i loved the idea of dragon eggs being dragonfruit, and the theme of greed and sacrifice was played out well w the wishes and their costs. how far are people willing to go for glory? for their dreams? one pays for their wish, whether it was made out of selfishness or selflessness alike.
also so cool to see a matriarchal society and how it works.
i definitely teared up multiple times reading this. overall, it was a unique and touching story, i would recommend it for fans of the girl who fell beneath the sea.
as someone who's been pushing for writers to stop needlessly extending their books, this is a rare exception that i'd say i wish this were longer! a follow-up novella to learn more about the seadragons would be fun, too.
tw for some violence/blood/injury/death, animal cruelty/death. it's YA, but some of the violence might be a bit much for the younger end of the YA range.
We are defined by our hardships, and how we face them. We are made stronger or weaker by those we hold closest to us.
this is a beautiful story about family, greed, and sacrifice. i NEED more tropical-set fantasy; the descriptions are so lush and vivid, with an exciting seafaring islander adventure undertone. hanalei is clever, brave, and compassionate as a protagonist, and her sympathy and understanding for the seadragons is admirable. her budding romance with sam was organic and sweet, childhood friends reunited after years apart (the romance is v much subplot, just fyi!).
i loved the idea of dragon eggs being dragonfruit, and the theme of greed and sacrifice was played out well w the wishes and their costs. how far are people willing to go for glory? for their dreams? one pays for their wish, whether it was made out of selfishness or selflessness alike.
also so cool to see a matriarchal society and how it works.
i definitely teared up multiple times reading this. overall, it was a unique and touching story, i would recommend it for fans of the girl who fell beneath the sea.
as someone who's been pushing for writers to stop needlessly extending their books, this is a rare exception that i'd say i wish this were longer! a follow-up novella to learn more about the seadragons would be fun, too.
tw for some violence/blood/injury/death, animal cruelty/death. it's YA, but some of the violence might be a bit much for the younger end of the YA range.
We are defined by our hardships, and how we face them. We are made stronger or weaker by those we hold closest to us.
April 5, 2024
With Dragonfruit, Makiia Lucier delivers another engaging, heartwrenching YA fantasy story that I could not put down. Though I really enjoyed this story and its characters, the ending crumbled a bit for me.
The Pacific Island-inspired fantasy world was lush and engaging. The magical elements were simple and light but added something fun to the story. I particularly loved the concept of the magic markings. I do think some of the rules to the magic were applied inconsistently, especially when it comes to one character’s ending.
Even though the plot of Dragonfruit is relatively contained, I love that we still get a sense of the broader tensions in the world. It makes the world feel alive and I can easily imagine a future for these characters. Some may find it unrealistic, but I loved that Dragonfruit avoided the more obvious conflict and instead focused on community, responsibility, and history.
Haliendi and Samahtitamahenele were loveable, compelling main characters. They both worked so hard for what they wanted and faced such heavy challenges in their lives. I loved the sense of history and friendship between them. I immediately felt the chemistry and loved seeing both of their perspectives.
A lot of my minor complaints with Dragonfruit come down to the fact that the book is too short. The pacing is incredibly consistent. In fact, Makiia Lucier excels at crafting well-paced, engaging standalones. However, because the book is so short, certain elements don't have enough room to breathe or be properly developed.
In particular, the romance felt like it was taken for granted. There is practically no time spent building romantic tension between the two leads. Rather, it is assumed that they are automatically in love because they were close as children. This would be less of a problem if the romance wasn't a major marketing point for this book.
I also wish some of the side conflicts had been more developed. Characters would take note of strange behavior saying “huh that’s odd” and then the plot would rush past the observation like it didn’t happen. The obliviousness felt a little forced so that the reveal could happen at a more convenient time for the plot.
Minor rant ahead feel free to skip:
There is a moment towards the end of the book that really bothers me. I have contemplated how much to let my preference impact my rating because, at the end of the day, I believe that authors should be able to do whatever they want with their characters. But this moment was so unexpectedly brutal that it almost felt gratuitous. It is not only the fact that it happens but how it happens that makes me nauseous. The main reason that it bothers me is that it feels so out of place in the story. Dragonfruit is a mostly pleasant, positive story that touches on heavier topics but often actively avoids veering toward cruel or angsty paths. And how hard would it have been to have a magical solution or a fake out so that you still get some of the emotions? Part of me thinks it makes less sense for it to have even been possible. It may be unfair of me to be so bothered by this single moment, but it singlehandedly makes me not want to reread this book in the future. Even though I really, really enjoyed the vast majority of Dragonfruit.
Dragonfruit is everything that I love about YA fantasy. With a vibrant world, loveable characters, and majestic dragons, it is a book that will capture your attention from the very first page.
Thank you Clarion Books for the eARC
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
The Pacific Island-inspired fantasy world was lush and engaging. The magical elements were simple and light but added something fun to the story. I particularly loved the concept of the magic markings. I do think some of the rules to the magic were applied inconsistently, especially when it comes to one character’s ending.
Even though the plot of Dragonfruit is relatively contained, I love that we still get a sense of the broader tensions in the world. It makes the world feel alive and I can easily imagine a future for these characters. Some may find it unrealistic, but I loved that Dragonfruit avoided the more obvious conflict and instead focused on community, responsibility, and history.
Haliendi and Samahtitamahenele were loveable, compelling main characters. They both worked so hard for what they wanted and faced such heavy challenges in their lives. I loved the sense of history and friendship between them. I immediately felt the chemistry and loved seeing both of their perspectives.
A lot of my minor complaints with Dragonfruit come down to the fact that the book is too short. The pacing is incredibly consistent. In fact, Makiia Lucier excels at crafting well-paced, engaging standalones. However, because the book is so short, certain elements don't have enough room to breathe or be properly developed.
In particular, the romance felt like it was taken for granted. There is practically no time spent building romantic tension between the two leads. Rather, it is assumed that they are automatically in love because they were close as children. This would be less of a problem if the romance wasn't a major marketing point for this book.
I also wish some of the side conflicts had been more developed. Characters would take note of strange behavior saying “huh that’s odd” and then the plot would rush past the observation like it didn’t happen. The obliviousness felt a little forced so that the reveal could happen at a more convenient time for the plot.
Minor rant ahead feel free to skip:
There is a moment towards the end of the book that really bothers me. I have contemplated how much to let my preference impact my rating because, at the end of the day, I believe that authors should be able to do whatever they want with their characters. But this moment was so unexpectedly brutal that it almost felt gratuitous. It is not only the fact that it happens but how it happens that makes me nauseous. The main reason that it bothers me is that it feels so out of place in the story. Dragonfruit is a mostly pleasant, positive story that touches on heavier topics but often actively avoids veering toward cruel or angsty paths. And how hard would it have been to have a magical solution or a fake out so that you still get some of the emotions? Part of me thinks it makes less sense for it to have even been possible. It may be unfair of me to be so bothered by this single moment, but it singlehandedly makes me not want to reread this book in the future. Even though I really, really enjoyed the vast majority of Dragonfruit.
Dragonfruit is everything that I love about YA fantasy. With a vibrant world, loveable characters, and majestic dragons, it is a book that will capture your attention from the very first page.
Thank you Clarion Books for the eARC
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
July 6, 2024
Hanalei is the daughter of an old island family but due to her father stealing a seadragon egg not meant for him, she’s forced into exile. she seems to have a special connection with the seadragons and there lies her chance to return home. then we have Sam who is the prince of Tamarind and an old friend of Hanelei, so when chance brings them back together they’re able to reunite and help the seadragons from being prayed upon by those who fear and don’t understand them.
“But as with all things that promise the moon and the stars and offer hope when hope has gone, the tale comes with a warning. Every wish demands a price.”
Dragonfruit was such a breath of fresh air to read. from the island setting, to the sea dragons and tattoo magic — all of it felt unique. the only obvious comparison would be to Moana, but even then this stood well on its own . i loved having the audio in tandem with the physical book since it enhanced my experience (and helped with some pronunciation of words in this book lol). the only thing i wished was different is the ending cause it felt a bit .. anticlimactic? but then again maybe it was meant to be a more calm story overall.
- the island vibes are exactly what i need rn and I’m still so obsessed with this gorgeous cover 🏝️😻🐉
“But as with all things that promise the moon and the stars and offer hope when hope has gone, the tale comes with a warning. Every wish demands a price.”
Dragonfruit was such a breath of fresh air to read. from the island setting, to the sea dragons and tattoo magic — all of it felt unique. the only obvious comparison would be to Moana, but even then this stood well on its own . i loved having the audio in tandem with the physical book since it enhanced my experience (and helped with some pronunciation of words in this book lol). the only thing i wished was different is the ending cause it felt a bit .. anticlimactic? but then again maybe it was meant to be a more calm story overall.
November 8, 2024
had the same issues with "year of the reaper" by the same author for me. there's a problem lasting the entire book that is clearly the main plot, and the characters work to solve this for the entire book until a solution comes out of nowhere at the end. like i'm being so fr the solution literally manifests out of thin air right at the end, the characters use it to solve the only problem of this book, and then the book ends. because of this, ending was so quick and everything wrapped up too neatly.
writing style also wasn't for me. basically just told me everything that was happening, and it felt very stilted in a way where some sentences were abrupt and didn't link together well. characters were likeable enough, but felt stereotypical for a YA novel and lacked a spark that made me actually care about anything. worst problem of all was that not a single character dies (i think?) except for my favorite who was hardly even a main character and had such minimal page time. their death was so useless and i have no idea why it was added since they were the only character that died and there was barely any emotional impact.
didn't really feel the stakes and there was no backstory or explanation at all for the magic system. things kind of just happened and the characters rolled with it, and i never felt like any of the characters were in any danger. overall, book lacked a spark for me and every aspect felt very underdeveloped and i never got invested. it's still a fun book and the worldbuilding was so interesting, but it just wasn't for me!
writing style also wasn't for me. basically just told me everything that was happening, and it felt very stilted in a way where some sentences were abrupt and didn't link together well. characters were likeable enough, but felt stereotypical for a YA novel and lacked a spark that made me actually care about anything. worst problem of all was that not a single character dies (i think?) except for my favorite who was hardly even a main character and had such minimal page time. their death was so useless and i have no idea why it was added since they were the only character that died and there was barely any emotional impact.
didn't really feel the stakes and there was no backstory or explanation at all for the magic system. things kind of just happened and the characters rolled with it, and i never felt like any of the characters were in any danger. overall, book lacked a spark for me and every aspect felt very underdeveloped and i never got invested. it's still a fun book and the worldbuilding was so interesting, but it just wasn't for me!
June 1, 2024
So much potential, so many questions left unanswered. This felt slow and rushed at the same time and I’m pissed about the stew. IF YOU KNOW YOU KNOW ✋😭 WHAT WAS THE REASON???
June 1, 2024
“But as with all things that promise the moon and the stars and offer hope when hope has gone, the tale comes with a warning. Every wish demands a price."
This was a beautifully executed YA fantasy. The world building was clear and concise with a magic system that was well explained. The plot actually made sense, which was a nice change from the last few dragon books I’ve read. The ending felt a bit abrupt and maybe could have been improved upon, but overall I was very impressed and am happy to have found a book that I feel comfortable recommending to teens. It can be difficult to rate YA books from an adult lens, but this was an excellent book for the genre. I think those who are rating this below 3 or even 4 stars are forgetting that they are not the intended audience. 🙃
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High Fantasy in only 356 pages? Let’s see if she can pull it off. 🌺🌊☀️
This was a beautifully executed YA fantasy. The world building was clear and concise with a magic system that was well explained. The plot actually made sense, which was a nice change from the last few dragon books I’ve read. The ending felt a bit abrupt and maybe could have been improved upon, but overall I was very impressed and am happy to have found a book that I feel comfortable recommending to teens. It can be difficult to rate YA books from an adult lens, but this was an excellent book for the genre. I think those who are rating this below 3 or even 4 stars are forgetting that they are not the intended audience. 🙃
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High Fantasy in only 356 pages? Let’s see if she can pull it off. 🌺🌊☀️
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March 24, 2024
Another hit for Makiia Lucier!
This was so good. I don't know how she can hit the 90s nostalgia vibes, but she does. The subtle romance. The relationships. The stakes. The quest. The magic. The markings. The DRAGONS. Ugh. Loved it.
Like Year of the Reaper, this book tackles the return of a beloved child to their homeland after years of exile/imprisonment/hardship. It deals with redemption and justice, and the concept of justice and how that trickles from parent to child. It also involves, to a large extent, colonization and what constitutes theft.
I adored Hanalei. I really, really liked Sam. Viti was fantastic, Grandma was fascinating, and Catamora...I need more page time.
I might go back and add some quotes from the book, but I also might forget. I won't be forgetting this one though.
This was so good. I don't know how she can hit the 90s nostalgia vibes, but she does. The subtle romance. The relationships. The stakes. The quest. The magic. The markings. The DRAGONS. Ugh. Loved it.
Like Year of the Reaper, this book tackles the return of a beloved child to their homeland after years of exile/imprisonment/hardship. It deals with redemption and justice, and the concept of justice and how that trickles from parent to child. It also involves, to a large extent, colonization and what constitutes theft.
I adored Hanalei. I really, really liked Sam. Viti was fantastic, Grandma was fascinating, and Catamora...I need more page time.
I might go back and add some quotes from the book, but I also might forget. I won't be forgetting this one though.
April 7, 2024
3 ⭐️
This is described as a romantic fantasy and I’m here to tell you that’s not true. There’s maybe like 1% romance, but that’s not a bad thing! A true oceanic fantasy! The plot was interesting and so clever I had never read anything like it. I especially liked that the markings/tattoos super cool! The writing style is where I struggled! It definitely wasn’t for me. I felt like there were truly no hardships in the book? The conflicts were resolved within one page. & how did our two leads even start liking each other? Definitely had potential, but ultimately fell a little flat for me.
Also, did we really have to KILL OFF YOU KNOW WHO?!! You are telling me 30 people survive a sea dragon but we couldn’t save the star of the show. MAJOR EYEROLL!!!
This is described as a romantic fantasy and I’m here to tell you that’s not true. There’s maybe like 1% romance, but that’s not a bad thing! A true oceanic fantasy! The plot was interesting and so clever I had never read anything like it. I especially liked that the markings/tattoos super cool! The writing style is where I struggled! It definitely wasn’t for me. I felt like there were truly no hardships in the book? The conflicts were resolved within one page. & how did our two leads even start liking each other? Definitely had potential, but ultimately fell a little flat for me.
Also, did we really have to KILL OFF YOU KNOW WHO?!! You are telling me 30 people survive a sea dragon but we couldn’t save the star of the show. MAJOR EYEROLL!!!
May 18, 2024
Didn't click with this one so DNF at 60%
If it sounds like the type of story you usually enjoy, pick it up cause it's objectively good. I was just trying to get out of my comfort zone and it didn't work out
If it sounds like the type of story you usually enjoy, pick it up cause it's objectively good. I was just trying to get out of my comfort zone and it didn't work out
May 23, 2024
3.5 Stars for Dragonfruit (audiobook) by Makiia Lucier read by Mapuana Makia.
This was a fun YA fantasy adventure. The story was rather unique and interesting. And I liked the characters and narration.
This was a fun YA fantasy adventure. The story was rather unique and interesting. And I liked the characters and narration.
July 29, 2024
Dragonfruit is a YA fantasy novel inspired by Pacific Islander culture and mythology. The world and magic system are very cool, but I felt like the pacing was much too slow most of the time and the characters often felt very surface level. It's an interesting take on dragons, a cool use of tattoos, and overall an interesting story and world but one that could have been shorter or have had more in-depth character work. I guess there's a romantic arc but I didn't really have any feelings about it.
April 9, 2024
Here I am reading Dragonfruit while everyone else is reading Fourth Wing and Iron Flame. I loved loved loved this book so much! Seadragons? Yes please! This book did not disappoint. It was amazing and I loved every second of it! The pacing was amazing! The writing was amazing! The story was amazing! Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!
May 18, 2024
2.5 stars rounded up.
I’m so disappointed, guys. *wails* I was SO excited for this book—I mean, Polynesian-inspired fantasy with that gorgeous Tran Nguyen cover—but while I enjoyed it at first, there were several things I didn’t care for. My two main issues were flat characters and animal brutality.
I really loved the worldbuilding in this book. The world really came alive to me—the islands, the food, the seadragons, all of it. I especially loved the animal companions that live in tattoos and come out at various times. Particularly a certain fruit bat who is on the cover…
But I couldn’t bring myself to care about the characters. Hanalei was interesting enough, though sometimes her motivations were back and forth. I liked how much she loved seadragons, but I would’ve liked her to show more of her conflicted feelings about the quest since the whole point is harming seadragon babies and possibly their parents. (More on that later.) Honestly, the person I felt the strongest for was the villain, Bragadin, who was horrible but honestly wasn’t in a lot of the story. It felt like wasted potential. But the rest of the characters (the human ones, anyway), I didn’t really care for. I didn’t like being in Sam’s head—he felt especially flat—and the romance didn’t have much emotional development. Honestly, I didn’t really care if any of the characters lived or died. I did, however, care if the animals did. Which brings me to my second point.
If you don’t do well with animal brutality, you will probably not like this book. First of all, the book is built on the premise that in order to undo your greatest sorrow, you must eat a baby sea dragon from its egg. I did not know that going in. You should probably know that if you’re going to read this book. Now, wishes come with a price and all that, eating the baby dragons (the egg is called “dragonfruit”) causes lots of consequences, etc, so it’s not a GOOD thing, exactly, but the plot is about Hana and Sam wanting to find a dragonfruit so they can wake up Sam’s mom, who is under a cursed sleep. So they are looking for a dragon egg… so his mother can eat the baby dragon. Kind of gross. Not my main issue, but pretty gross. I was still all right with the book, though. Then I got to the dog scene.
The book is all about how eating the dragonfruit has major consequences, right? So it shows one guy who ate the dragonfruit and now everything (everyone?) he touches turns into a nutmeg tree. So he turned his family into nutmeg trees. Horrible. Very upsetting. But what MORE upsetting is that he doesn’t just tell Hana and Sam about his curse. Or find something, I don’t know, vaguely alive but not sentient to demonstrate (if that’s how it works, I’m not really sure? Maybe it doesn’t need to be alive at all? Not really explained.) No. He calls over his DOG and touches it to demonstrate his curse. HE TURNED THE FREAKING DOG INTO A TREE. Introduced on one page, killed on the same. I just kind of stared in horror. Now, Hana mentions in her thoughts that she’s upset he used his dog to demonstrate instead of just telling them. But still. WAS THAT REALLY NECESSARY?
It gets worse. The part that made me NOPE out was when Bragadin captures the children of this village and demands that the chief turn Sam’s fruit bat into soup. I wish I was joking. This fruit bat tattoo who has been his companion, who is lovable and adorable and did nothing wrong, is TURNED INTO SOUP. And the MCs EAT it. *gags* I could’ve thrown the book. Instead I kind of just stared at it numbly and tried not to cry. I was reading at lunch and my coworkers had to ask me if I was okay.
I know the author put in her authorial note that she is used to seeing fruit bats in pots… but an animal companion??? I would MUCH rather a human have died. (Yeah, I didn’t really care about the humans, but I feel like there is a line that was crossed with that bat. Idk, it’s the second time I’ve read a book where an animal companion is turned into dinner that the MC eats and let me tell you, I am NOT a fan.) There WAS a reason Hana and Sam and the others ate the soup; they had to pretend everything was fine because they were being watched, but it was so sickening.
And the fruit bat thing brings me to another issue—there were a couple continuity errors. Like, Fetu the bat is turned into soup, but later, they take a bag that presumably holds him and burn it on a pyre. Is it his bones?? I looked and looked because I was really confused about whether he’d been in the soup or if he was being burned but it never clarifies. My best guess is they burned his bones but it just seemed really contradictory. Then, there was a part where you find out that Sam’s cousin took one of the dragonfruit and ate it. But it doesn’t seem like his wish kicked in until the very end of the book?? Which made no sense because it seemed like all the other wishes kicked in immediately. Or maybe it was that the curse didn’t kick in until then. The magic system was not very well explained and there were little inconsistencies like that, which was somewhat bothersome.
I really wanted to love this. I just can’t get past the animal stuff. Maybe other people aren’t as bothered by it, but I really love animals and the callous cruelty really bothered me.
I’m so disappointed, guys. *wails* I was SO excited for this book—I mean, Polynesian-inspired fantasy with that gorgeous Tran Nguyen cover—but while I enjoyed it at first, there were several things I didn’t care for. My two main issues were flat characters and animal brutality.
I really loved the worldbuilding in this book. The world really came alive to me—the islands, the food, the seadragons, all of it. I especially loved the animal companions that live in tattoos and come out at various times. Particularly a certain fruit bat who is on the cover…
But I couldn’t bring myself to care about the characters. Hanalei was interesting enough, though sometimes her motivations were back and forth. I liked how much she loved seadragons, but I would’ve liked her to show more of her conflicted feelings about the quest since the whole point is harming seadragon babies and possibly their parents. (More on that later.) Honestly, the person I felt the strongest for was the villain, Bragadin, who was horrible but honestly wasn’t in a lot of the story. It felt like wasted potential. But the rest of the characters (the human ones, anyway), I didn’t really care for. I didn’t like being in Sam’s head—he felt especially flat—and the romance didn’t have much emotional development. Honestly, I didn’t really care if any of the characters lived or died. I did, however, care if the animals did. Which brings me to my second point.
If you don’t do well with animal brutality, you will probably not like this book. First of all, the book is built on the premise that in order to undo your greatest sorrow, you must eat a baby sea dragon from its egg. I did not know that going in. You should probably know that if you’re going to read this book. Now, wishes come with a price and all that, eating the baby dragons (the egg is called “dragonfruit”) causes lots of consequences, etc, so it’s not a GOOD thing, exactly, but the plot is about Hana and Sam wanting to find a dragonfruit so they can wake up Sam’s mom, who is under a cursed sleep. So they are looking for a dragon egg… so his mother can eat the baby dragon. Kind of gross. Not my main issue, but pretty gross. I was still all right with the book, though. Then I got to the dog scene.
The book is all about how eating the dragonfruit has major consequences, right? So it shows one guy who ate the dragonfruit and now everything (everyone?) he touches turns into a nutmeg tree. So he turned his family into nutmeg trees. Horrible. Very upsetting. But what MORE upsetting is that he doesn’t just tell Hana and Sam about his curse. Or find something, I don’t know, vaguely alive but not sentient to demonstrate (if that’s how it works, I’m not really sure? Maybe it doesn’t need to be alive at all? Not really explained.) No. He calls over his DOG and touches it to demonstrate his curse. HE TURNED THE FREAKING DOG INTO A TREE. Introduced on one page, killed on the same. I just kind of stared in horror. Now, Hana mentions in her thoughts that she’s upset he used his dog to demonstrate instead of just telling them. But still. WAS THAT REALLY NECESSARY?
It gets worse. The part that made me NOPE out was when Bragadin captures the children of this village and demands that the chief turn Sam’s fruit bat into soup. I wish I was joking. This fruit bat tattoo who has been his companion, who is lovable and adorable and did nothing wrong, is TURNED INTO SOUP. And the MCs EAT it. *gags* I could’ve thrown the book. Instead I kind of just stared at it numbly and tried not to cry. I was reading at lunch and my coworkers had to ask me if I was okay.
I know the author put in her authorial note that she is used to seeing fruit bats in pots… but an animal companion??? I would MUCH rather a human have died. (Yeah, I didn’t really care about the humans, but I feel like there is a line that was crossed with that bat. Idk, it’s the second time I’ve read a book where an animal companion is turned into dinner that the MC eats and let me tell you, I am NOT a fan.) There WAS a reason Hana and Sam and the others ate the soup; they had to pretend everything was fine because they were being watched, but it was so sickening.
And the fruit bat thing brings me to another issue—there were a couple continuity errors. Like, Fetu the bat is turned into soup, but later, they take a bag that presumably holds him and burn it on a pyre. Is it his bones?? I looked and looked because I was really confused about whether he’d been in the soup or if he was being burned but it never clarifies. My best guess is they burned his bones but it just seemed really contradictory. Then, there was a part where you find out that Sam’s cousin took one of the dragonfruit and ate it. But it doesn’t seem like his wish kicked in until the very end of the book?? Which made no sense because it seemed like all the other wishes kicked in immediately. Or maybe it was that the curse didn’t kick in until then. The magic system was not very well explained and there were little inconsistencies like that, which was somewhat bothersome.
I really wanted to love this. I just can’t get past the animal stuff. Maybe other people aren’t as bothered by it, but I really love animals and the callous cruelty really bothered me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2024
4.5 Stars
Tapping into the current zeitgeist for all things dragony; Makiia Lucier has lovingly crafted a lush, vibrantly unique YA fantasy inspired by Pacific Island mythology that completely stole my heart!
Set on the island of Tamarind, where legend states imbibing the egg of a sea dragon (called a Dragonfruit) can undo a person’s greatest sorrow. We follow the exiled Hanalei, a decade after her father stole a seadragon egg from the Tamarindi Royals in order to save her life.
Captured by Dragon hunting pirates (Dragoners), Hanalei manages to escape their clutches only to find herself returned to the island of her birth, with an opportunity to undo her father’s actions (by helping childhood friend and prince, Sam find a dragonfruit to revive his comatose mother.)
But Hanalei knows that Dragons and Dragoners are the least of their worries as imbibing the Dragonfruit comes with it own danger. For every wish comes with a price…
This was such a magical, swashbucklingly adventurous read, exploring themes of family, friendship and community in ways that few books ever do, let alone as successfully as Lucier does here.
With family ties and ancestral heritage key motivators for our POV characters, I enjoyed delving into both Hanalei and Sam’s backstories. Having grown up together as children, it was also really interesting to see how their dynamics changed after soo many years apart, especially for Hanalei who’s yearned to return to her homeland and the safety it represents.
I loved both our MCs (Hanalei and Sam), and found that throughout their shared emotional journeys they each remained endearingly likeable. For Sam, a Prince within a matriarchal society, it was interesting to see how he navigated the expectations and duties of his royal heritage— which was a refreshing change from the typical western portrayals of monarchy and leadership. I also adored his bat marking Fetu who had such a cheeky personality.
Hanalei, was probably the most in depth of our characters with a fairly detailed yet tragic backstory that drew me to her instantly. Brave, compassionate and willing to risk her own life for the people she cares for most—it’s impossible not to like her!
The chemistry between the pair was so quite magnetic but the romance isn’t as prevalent as I had hoped (taking a backseat to their quest to save Sam’s mother), but adorably sweet nonetheless.
The lore of the Island (particularly around Sea Dragons) and the unique, tattoo based magic system (where people form bonds with their sentient, animal markings) was one of the most fascinating aspects of the story. We don’t go into too much detail surrounding the latter (which was a shame) but I loved how immersed I became in this beautifully lush world.
Overall, a gorgeously crafted, fast paced and engaging read that fans of dragons, seafaring adventures or villains you’ll love to hate should definitely consider adding to their TBRs.
Also, a huge thank you to Harper360YA and Insta Book Tours for the finished copy.
Tapping into the current zeitgeist for all things dragony; Makiia Lucier has lovingly crafted a lush, vibrantly unique YA fantasy inspired by Pacific Island mythology that completely stole my heart!
Set on the island of Tamarind, where legend states imbibing the egg of a sea dragon (called a Dragonfruit) can undo a person’s greatest sorrow. We follow the exiled Hanalei, a decade after her father stole a seadragon egg from the Tamarindi Royals in order to save her life.
Captured by Dragon hunting pirates (Dragoners), Hanalei manages to escape their clutches only to find herself returned to the island of her birth, with an opportunity to undo her father’s actions (by helping childhood friend and prince, Sam find a dragonfruit to revive his comatose mother.)
But Hanalei knows that Dragons and Dragoners are the least of their worries as imbibing the Dragonfruit comes with it own danger. For every wish comes with a price…
This was such a magical, swashbucklingly adventurous read, exploring themes of family, friendship and community in ways that few books ever do, let alone as successfully as Lucier does here.
With family ties and ancestral heritage key motivators for our POV characters, I enjoyed delving into both Hanalei and Sam’s backstories. Having grown up together as children, it was also really interesting to see how their dynamics changed after soo many years apart, especially for Hanalei who’s yearned to return to her homeland and the safety it represents.
I loved both our MCs (Hanalei and Sam), and found that throughout their shared emotional journeys they each remained endearingly likeable. For Sam, a Prince within a matriarchal society, it was interesting to see how he navigated the expectations and duties of his royal heritage— which was a refreshing change from the typical western portrayals of monarchy and leadership. I also adored his bat marking Fetu who had such a cheeky personality.
Hanalei, was probably the most in depth of our characters with a fairly detailed yet tragic backstory that drew me to her instantly. Brave, compassionate and willing to risk her own life for the people she cares for most—it’s impossible not to like her!
The chemistry between the pair was so quite magnetic but the romance isn’t as prevalent as I had hoped (taking a backseat to their quest to save Sam’s mother), but adorably sweet nonetheless.
The lore of the Island (particularly around Sea Dragons) and the unique, tattoo based magic system (where people form bonds with their sentient, animal markings) was one of the most fascinating aspects of the story. We don’t go into too much detail surrounding the latter (which was a shame) but I loved how immersed I became in this beautifully lush world.
Overall, a gorgeously crafted, fast paced and engaging read that fans of dragons, seafaring adventures or villains you’ll love to hate should definitely consider adding to their TBRs.
Also, a huge thank you to Harper360YA and Insta Book Tours for the finished copy.
January 27, 2025
Wow! Look at this gorgeous cover 😍
4.25 🌟🌟🌟🌟🔅
First off, please note that this is a middle-grade romance cultural fantasy.
What this means is that it will be:
🔱 easy style to read
🔱 light in the theme
🔱 light in the romance
🔱 simple to follow magic system
All that while delivering a well-constructed plot and storyline that can be enjoyed by all ages
This hit all the marks
I thoroughly enjoyed the immersion in this mix inspiration of the Polynesian/ Guam culture
What I absolutely loved:
💕 the Matriarchal World. The island is ruled by a queen, and the throne is inherited by her daughter, not son. The people and the males are very accepting of that.
💕 the magic system was somehow new yet easy to follow. Think of Maui from Moana and the animated Little Maui tattoo that can come to life, grow in size or multiply, and even die.
The dragons were interesting, too.
💕 the conflict is universal. Every wish comes with a price. Are you willing to pay for that?
💕the romance between Hana and Sam was subtle (suitable for middle graders). However, there is a space to grow since Hana is 18 and Sam is 19. They are still young.
I wished we had more background and character development, but overall I loved the book.
4.25 🌟🌟🌟🌟🔅
First off, please note that this is a middle-grade romance cultural fantasy.
What this means is that it will be:
🔱 easy style to read
🔱 light in the theme
🔱 light in the romance
🔱 simple to follow magic system
All that while delivering a well-constructed plot and storyline that can be enjoyed by all ages
This hit all the marks
I thoroughly enjoyed the immersion in this mix inspiration of the Polynesian/ Guam culture
What I absolutely loved:
💕 the Matriarchal World. The island is ruled by a queen, and the throne is inherited by her daughter, not son. The people and the males are very accepting of that.
💕 the magic system was somehow new yet easy to follow. Think of Maui from Moana and the animated Little Maui tattoo that can come to life, grow in size or multiply, and even die.
The dragons were interesting, too.
💕 the conflict is universal. Every wish comes with a price. Are you willing to pay for that?
💕the romance between Hana and Sam was subtle (suitable for middle graders). However, there is a space to grow since Hana is 18 and Sam is 19. They are still young.
I wished we had more background and character development, but overall I loved the book.
April 20, 2024
"But as with all things that promise the moon and the stars and offer hope when hope has gone, the tale comes with a warning. Every wish demands a price."
TW: abuse, animal cruelty, animal death, blood, child abuse, confinement, death, death of a loved one, dementia, gore, grief, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, slavery, terminal illness, trafficking, violence.
Such a fun, original YA standalone! Perfect for anyone that's looking for a well-developed, but low-commitment story.
I was hesitant going into this because I have a bad track-record with seafaring fantasy novels. Anything ship/boat/pirate adjacent usually doesn't work for me (odd, with how much I love mermaids) but that concern turned out to be unfounded. This was a delightful story, with fantastic world-building and characters that were well fleshed out.
This does read on the younger side of YA, which I didn't mind at all, but might put off some readers. As it was, though, I loved how much this felt like a young adult book - rather than an adult book trying to reshape itself to fit the confines of a young adult audience. It was both magical and transportive, the way adventure movies can feel when you're younger.
Overall, I really enjoyed this! It also has sea-dragons so... I mean, it's worth the read for that aspect alone.
TW: abuse, animal cruelty, animal death, blood, child abuse, confinement, death, death of a loved one, dementia, gore, grief, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, slavery, terminal illness, trafficking, violence.
Such a fun, original YA standalone! Perfect for anyone that's looking for a well-developed, but low-commitment story.
I was hesitant going into this because I have a bad track-record with seafaring fantasy novels. Anything ship/boat/pirate adjacent usually doesn't work for me (odd, with how much I love mermaids) but that concern turned out to be unfounded. This was a delightful story, with fantastic world-building and characters that were well fleshed out.
This does read on the younger side of YA, which I didn't mind at all, but might put off some readers. As it was, though, I loved how much this felt like a young adult book - rather than an adult book trying to reshape itself to fit the confines of a young adult audience. It was both magical and transportive, the way adventure movies can feel when you're younger.
Overall, I really enjoyed this! It also has sea-dragons so... I mean, it's worth the read for that aspect alone.
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February 18, 2025
I have never read a Pacific Islander-inspired fantasy before, so stumbling upon Dragonfruit at my local library was the highlight of my week.
Unfortunately, I did not like this book and have no plans to read it again.
Dragonfruit did not work for me because too many plot points are left unexplained.
⟢ The story starts when Hanalei, who is out conducting research on dragons, gets caught up with a crew hoping to steal dragonfruit, aka dragon eggs. After Hanalei mentions this, we never hear more about this school. In a world with so little respect for dragons, a school that cares enough to research these creatures interests me. I wanted to know more.
⟢
⟢ There is a recurring reference to widespread child labor practices in this fantasy world. I was appalled, but everyone else accepts this. The main characters in Dragonfruit are people in power. What are they doing to eliminate the practice of child labor?
⟢ The magic is not well-explained. Several characters have markings, which resemble animals. These markings appear on the body and have the ability to leave the body to protect their host and others. How does this work? How long can a marking stay away from the host? What is the extent of these powers?
Also, there is entirely too much violence toward the seadragons. This book is nothing like any other dragon book I have read.
When I think of stories with dragons, I imagine people and their dragon friends joining forces to prevent further evil. In this story, the evil comes from the main characters. These people brutally murder animals for their own gain. This made me sick, and I struggled to read certain parts.
It’s terrible what has happened to the queen of Tamarind, but does her physical stasis justify hunting down unhatched dragon eggs to create a potential cure for her? Honestly, I don’t think so.
Bottom line: This book is nothing like I expected.
✎﹏pre review initial thoughts
i wanted to love this…
༝༚༝༚
my blog!
Unfortunately, I did not like this book and have no plans to read it again.
Dragonfruit did not work for me because too many plot points are left unexplained.
⟢ The story starts when Hanalei, who is out conducting research on dragons, gets caught up with a crew hoping to steal dragonfruit, aka dragon eggs. After Hanalei mentions this, we never hear more about this school. In a world with so little respect for dragons, a school that cares enough to research these creatures interests me. I wanted to know more.
⟢
⟢ There is a recurring reference to widespread child labor practices in this fantasy world. I was appalled, but everyone else accepts this. The main characters in Dragonfruit are people in power. What are they doing to eliminate the practice of child labor?
⟢ The magic is not well-explained. Several characters have markings, which resemble animals. These markings appear on the body and have the ability to leave the body to protect their host and others. How does this work? How long can a marking stay away from the host? What is the extent of these powers?
Also, there is entirely too much violence toward the seadragons. This book is nothing like any other dragon book I have read.
When I think of stories with dragons, I imagine people and their dragon friends joining forces to prevent further evil. In this story, the evil comes from the main characters. These people brutally murder animals for their own gain. This made me sick, and I struggled to read certain parts.
It’s terrible what has happened to the queen of Tamarind, but does her physical stasis justify hunting down unhatched dragon eggs to create a potential cure for her? Honestly, I don’t think so.
Bottom line: This book is nothing like I expected.
✎﹏pre review initial thoughts
i wanted to love this…
༝༚༝༚
my blog!
April 4, 2024
Dragonfruit
by Makiia Lucier
YA Fantasy
NetGalley ARC
Pub. Date: Apr. 9, 2024
HarperCollins Children's Books
Ages: 14+
In the legends, the egg of a seadragon, called dragonfruit has the power to undo a person's greatest sorrow, but that wish comes with a price. A price Hanalei's father paid to wake her when she was poisoned along with the princess, whom Hanalei thought of as a mother, with the egg that was intended for the princess. Now years later, living a life in exile because of what her father did, Hanalei studies the seadragons with the hope she can use that knowledge to save the princess.
Samahtitamahenele, or Sam, the princess's son has sat by for the ten years while his mother slept, but his grandmother, the queen, needs him to marry and to have children, girls because men cannot inherit the throne. But when a childhood friend returns, he has hope that his mother may be awakened.
But others are after the dragonfruit, even to kill to obtain one, because many are willing to pay the price, any price, to have their greatest sorrow undone.
This was a very interesting story, though I felt bad for the seadragons because they were hunted (like the whales were once hunted) for the resources their bodies had. Scales, oil, meat, etc., but their eggs were rare and would earn the seller a lot of money. But each time I read 'dragonfruit', I thought of the fruit.
Besides that, I enjoyed the story. It was a mostly quick read, kept to the plot, but I wish the magic of this world was better explained, especially about the tattoos. Wouldn't they not work when the wearer ventured past the border, as other magics did not, so that, at least for Hanalei, could be a bad thing for her future?
Anyways, I like the story, not overly graphic or violent, but there is violence and a really bad price one person had to pay for using dragonfruit, (worse than death in my, and the characters' opinions), but the book is still suitable for readers 14 and older.
3 Stars
by Makiia Lucier
YA Fantasy
NetGalley ARC
Pub. Date: Apr. 9, 2024
HarperCollins Children's Books
Ages: 14+
In the legends, the egg of a seadragon, called dragonfruit has the power to undo a person's greatest sorrow, but that wish comes with a price. A price Hanalei's father paid to wake her when she was poisoned along with the princess, whom Hanalei thought of as a mother, with the egg that was intended for the princess. Now years later, living a life in exile because of what her father did, Hanalei studies the seadragons with the hope she can use that knowledge to save the princess.
Samahtitamahenele, or Sam, the princess's son has sat by for the ten years while his mother slept, but his grandmother, the queen, needs him to marry and to have children, girls because men cannot inherit the throne. But when a childhood friend returns, he has hope that his mother may be awakened.
But others are after the dragonfruit, even to kill to obtain one, because many are willing to pay the price, any price, to have their greatest sorrow undone.
This was a very interesting story, though I felt bad for the seadragons because they were hunted (like the whales were once hunted) for the resources their bodies had. Scales, oil, meat, etc., but their eggs were rare and would earn the seller a lot of money. But each time I read 'dragonfruit', I thought of the fruit.
Besides that, I enjoyed the story. It was a mostly quick read, kept to the plot, but I wish the magic of this world was better explained, especially about the tattoos. Wouldn't they not work when the wearer ventured past the border, as other magics did not, so that, at least for Hanalei, could be a bad thing for her future?
Anyways, I like the story, not overly graphic or violent, but there is violence and a really bad price one person had to pay for using dragonfruit, (worse than death in my, and the characters' opinions), but the book is still suitable for readers 14 and older.
3 Stars
May 31, 2024
2.25 ★
this had so much potential but the writing style just made the story telling so...awkward? It made the characters and plot really forgettable unfortunately. Way too much telling not enough showing. A lot of things were underdeveloped.
if somebody were to ask me what the plot was, idk what I would tell them :/
I'm giving it plus 1.25★ for the tattoo animals.
this had so much potential but the writing style just made the story telling so...awkward? It made the characters and plot really forgettable unfortunately. Way too much telling not enough showing. A lot of things were underdeveloped.
if somebody were to ask me what the plot was, idk what I would tell them :/
I'm giving it plus 1.25★ for the tattoo animals.
May 23, 2024
the tattoo magic was awesome, and I liked the one scene with the green seadragon & the humans. if you know you know. i also visibly got pissed about that one death. otherwise i felt nothing for any of the characters, and everything else was either choppy, unexplained, boring, or all of the above.
May 19, 2025
ANHPI Heritage Month 2025 #12
June 13, 2025
Loved the concept, the setting was beautiful, but the writing fell flat for me. As much as I loved the seadragons and markings and the overall plot idea, the words didn’t come off the page and capture my attention the way I hoped. The tagline of “every wish demands a price” got completely lost. I think it was the use of the word “wish.” I think if it was swapped out with something like “choice” because the “wishes” were more “life or death” or “deepest desire” and less “wish upon a star” if ya know what I mean. It would have made more sense with the storyline to say “every decision demands a price.”
I also wanted more time spent with the seadragons, getting to know them on a deeper, less frightening level. I wanted to see their “loyal, puppy dog” side more and not just the swallowing humans whole side, but we only got a glimpse of that at the very end.
The FMC & MMC were suppose to have a childhood friends to lovers thing going on, but this also fell flat for me.
Overall, I feel like this book had potential and I wanted so badly to like it more than I actually did. I didn’t hate it and it wasn’t completely boring, but I wouldn’t read it again.
I also wanted more time spent with the seadragons, getting to know them on a deeper, less frightening level. I wanted to see their “loyal, puppy dog” side more and not just the swallowing humans whole side, but we only got a glimpse of that at the very end.
The FMC & MMC were suppose to have a childhood friends to lovers thing going on, but this also fell flat for me.
Overall, I feel like this book had potential and I wanted so badly to like it more than I actually did. I didn’t hate it and it wasn’t completely boring, but I wouldn’t read it again.
May 25, 2024
This is a diverse and intriguing fantasy story that beautifully incorporates elements of Pacific Island folklore and mythos, creating a unique and enchanting fantasy world. The story follows Hanalei, the beloved daughter of a distinguished island family, who is exiled after her father steals a precious seadragon egg intended for a sick princess. Over the years, Hanalei finds solace in studying seadragons, until a fateful encounter with a female dragon offers her a chance to return home and correct past wrongs.
Parallel to Hanalei's journey is that of Samahtitamahenele, or Sam, the last remaining prince of Tamarind. Sam is desperate to find a cure for his ailing mother. Hanalei’s return from exile rekindles hope in Sam, setting them both on a perilous quest for the elusive dragonfruit, a mythical object that can grant a boon but at a great cost.
One of the standout aspects of Dragonfruit is its rich and vibrant setting and nods to Pacific Island culture. This diverse backdrop adds a refreshing layer to the fantasy genre. The world feel alive and distinct among all of the Western-inspired fantasy worlds. Lucier’s storytelling is immersive, seamlessly blending the magical elements with the cultural details.
The character development is another highlight. Hanalei's journey from exile to reclaiming her roots is compelling and emotionally resonant. Her resilience and determination are admirable, and her relationship with the majestic seadragons adds a really interesting component to her character. Sam, on the other hand, provides a poignant contrast with his struggle to fulfill his duties and handle his responsibilities. Their bond, forged through shared trials and their pasts, is heartwarming and genuine. Love these two so much.
While Lucier's writing often targets a slightly younger audience, Dragonfruit carries a darker tone compared to her previous works, which adds a layer of complexity and maturity to the story. This makes the novel appealing to a broader range of readers, including those who prefer more nuanced and sophisticated fantasy stories.
Parallel to Hanalei's journey is that of Samahtitamahenele, or Sam, the last remaining prince of Tamarind. Sam is desperate to find a cure for his ailing mother. Hanalei’s return from exile rekindles hope in Sam, setting them both on a perilous quest for the elusive dragonfruit, a mythical object that can grant a boon but at a great cost.
One of the standout aspects of Dragonfruit is its rich and vibrant setting and nods to Pacific Island culture. This diverse backdrop adds a refreshing layer to the fantasy genre. The world feel alive and distinct among all of the Western-inspired fantasy worlds. Lucier’s storytelling is immersive, seamlessly blending the magical elements with the cultural details.
The character development is another highlight. Hanalei's journey from exile to reclaiming her roots is compelling and emotionally resonant. Her resilience and determination are admirable, and her relationship with the majestic seadragons adds a really interesting component to her character. Sam, on the other hand, provides a poignant contrast with his struggle to fulfill his duties and handle his responsibilities. Their bond, forged through shared trials and their pasts, is heartwarming and genuine. Love these two so much.
While Lucier's writing often targets a slightly younger audience, Dragonfruit carries a darker tone compared to her previous works, which adds a layer of complexity and maturity to the story. This makes the novel appealing to a broader range of readers, including those who prefer more nuanced and sophisticated fantasy stories.
January 5, 2024
I like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a chance at reading this new debut from Makiia Lucier.
I took a chance on the author last year at a book sale when I found her duology. I read them quickly and thoroughly enjoyed her well-rounded characters for YA audiences. So seeing this come out as an ARC, I quickly hit that request button because the cover gave off pretty Moana vibes, and I knew I'd get the same thing here.
Makiia takes us to a Polynesian-esque fantasy island where lineages get tattoos with animal guardians that assist them. Where sea dragons are ferocious but give birth to eggs that if devoured give you a wish. But, with wishes, there is a cost. In this story, our lead lost her father at the age of eight when he stole one of the eggs to save her from a eternal sleep / death. In turn, he lost his own life.
His daughter, now eighteen, and with no family, has lived alone and intrigued by the dragons that separated her from her father. She was not the only one who was in an eternal sleep, the Princess of the kingdom she once inhabited, still sleeps and they are still searching for a cure. The problem is, dragons eggs are rare and are sought after. So she has to compete against foreign nations and unsavory pirates who will stop at nothing to get the eggs.
I loved the plot, I loved the main characters, I love how the book did not seem to talk down to the reader, or give us some easy issues to overcome. There was death, gruesome ones from sea dragons.
The only two reasons I am rating this book down is the death of a certain character / minor character (he was so cute, why?) and how the book kind of ends where you expect another to begin.. If the author wanted to release one more book I think she could. Still, it's a good book and if you are already a fan of the author then you'll enjoy it just as much as I did.
I took a chance on the author last year at a book sale when I found her duology. I read them quickly and thoroughly enjoyed her well-rounded characters for YA audiences. So seeing this come out as an ARC, I quickly hit that request button because the cover gave off pretty Moana vibes, and I knew I'd get the same thing here.
Makiia takes us to a Polynesian-esque fantasy island where lineages get tattoos with animal guardians that assist them. Where sea dragons are ferocious but give birth to eggs that if devoured give you a wish. But, with wishes, there is a cost. In this story, our lead lost her father at the age of eight when he stole one of the eggs to save her from a eternal sleep / death. In turn, he lost his own life.
His daughter, now eighteen, and with no family, has lived alone and intrigued by the dragons that separated her from her father. She was not the only one who was in an eternal sleep, the Princess of the kingdom she once inhabited, still sleeps and they are still searching for a cure. The problem is, dragons eggs are rare and are sought after. So she has to compete against foreign nations and unsavory pirates who will stop at nothing to get the eggs.
I loved the plot, I loved the main characters, I love how the book did not seem to talk down to the reader, or give us some easy issues to overcome. There was death, gruesome ones from sea dragons.
The only two reasons I am rating this book down is the death of a certain character / minor character (he was so cute, why?) and how the book kind of ends where you expect another to begin.. If the author wanted to release one more book I think she could. Still, it's a good book and if you are already a fan of the author then you'll enjoy it just as much as I did.
Want to read
June 11, 2025After reading Year of the Reaper? I'm sold.
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