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That Which Feeds Us
A native Hawaiian teen travels to a luxury island resort in search of her missing twin and uncovers the dark side of paradise, in this YA supernatural thriller that's Mexican Gothic meets She is a Haunting.
For the world’s wealthiest, Kōpaʻa Island Resort is more than a destination. It’s the ultimate escape. With no cell service or Wi-Fi, the Hawaiian island is a coveted wellness retreat renowned for its persimmon orchard and promises of rejuvenation.
But their dream vacation is Lehua’s nightmare. When her twin sister, Ohia, goes missing, Lehua follows her trail to Kōpaʻa to find her. Instead, Lehua is cut off from civilization—and help—after the island’s boat leaves without her, stranding her with the resort’s lavish guests and enigmatic staff.
As Lehua investigates Ohia’s disappearance, she discovers her missing sister isn’t the island’s only mystery. Kōpaʻa’s rich exterior and sweet persimmons hide its dark plantation past. And Lehua can’t ignore the dreams haunting her each night—nor the warning telling her to leave the island at once. To uncover what happened to Ohia, Lehua will have to unearth the island’s bloody history and face the horrors that lurk within its sugarcane fields—or risk being consumed by them.
Sharply observed and gorgeously written, That Which Feeds Us explores the true cost of paradise as Lehua must fight to reclaim the land, the stories, and the very souls of her people.
For the world’s wealthiest, Kōpaʻa Island Resort is more than a destination. It’s the ultimate escape. With no cell service or Wi-Fi, the Hawaiian island is a coveted wellness retreat renowned for its persimmon orchard and promises of rejuvenation.
But their dream vacation is Lehua’s nightmare. When her twin sister, Ohia, goes missing, Lehua follows her trail to Kōpaʻa to find her. Instead, Lehua is cut off from civilization—and help—after the island’s boat leaves without her, stranding her with the resort’s lavish guests and enigmatic staff.
As Lehua investigates Ohia’s disappearance, she discovers her missing sister isn’t the island’s only mystery. Kōpaʻa’s rich exterior and sweet persimmons hide its dark plantation past. And Lehua can’t ignore the dreams haunting her each night—nor the warning telling her to leave the island at once. To uncover what happened to Ohia, Lehua will have to unearth the island’s bloody history and face the horrors that lurk within its sugarcane fields—or risk being consumed by them.
Sharply observed and gorgeously written, That Which Feeds Us explores the true cost of paradise as Lehua must fight to reclaim the land, the stories, and the very souls of her people.
341 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2026
About the author
Keala Kendall
3 books116 followersKeala Kendall (pronounced: kay-ah-luh) is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of How Far I’ll Go and Nobody Gets Left Behind in Disney's A Twisted Tales series, and That Which Feeds Us: A Hawaiian Gothic. Hapa Native Hawaiian, she is a cofounder of Pacific Islanders in Publishing and a past organizer of the Books for Maui charity auction.
Born in Honolulu, raised on Molokaʻi, she now lives as part of the Native Hawaiian diaspora in Los Angeles. To learn more about Keala, visit her at kealakendall.com or @kealakendall on Instagram and TikTok.
Born in Honolulu, raised on Molokaʻi, she now lives as part of the Native Hawaiian diaspora in Los Angeles. To learn more about Keala, visit her at kealakendall.com or @kealakendall on Instagram and TikTok.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 252 reviews
June 14, 2026
THAT WHICH FEEDS US is a gothic horror novel set in Hawaii that reads like a cross between Mexican Gothic and White Lotus. It's also an older YA that sits in that niche between high school and college, which is a seriously underserved age demographic and is so awesome to see!
Lehua is a mortuary assistant, and the serious, grounded twin. Her sister, Ohia, is the flighty, sensitive one, who has just run off to work at a hotel for rich people in Hawaii. When she goes missing, Lehua takes off from work to track her down, and immediately, the vibe is off. She's told that technology isn't allowed on Kopa'a, that ti leaves mark off which paths are "safe." Guests aren't allowed to intermingle with staff and nobody is supposed to go outside after dark. For their own safety, of course.
This book is drenched in Native Hawaiian folklore and blends ghosts and chilling scares with anti-colonialist rhetoric and Hawaiian history. Like a lot of gothics, THAT WHICH FEEDS US is slow-burn, which is a feature of the genre and not a flaw in the story-telling (a note for people who are new for the genre and might just assume gothic is synonymous with horror). Lehua is also bisexual and talks about her attraction to multiple genders on page, including her attraction to one of the staff, another Native girl named Melia.
Once this story got rolling into scary territory, I couldn't put it down. The ending was bittersweet and a little sad, but ultimately satisfactory. Native/Indigenous horror is seriously having a moment right now and I'm so glad, because the books are amazing and they provide such an addictive and entertaining outlet that also educates on some darker moments of imperialist history. Definitely add this to your list.
4 stars
Lehua is a mortuary assistant, and the serious, grounded twin. Her sister, Ohia, is the flighty, sensitive one, who has just run off to work at a hotel for rich people in Hawaii. When she goes missing, Lehua takes off from work to track her down, and immediately, the vibe is off. She's told that technology isn't allowed on Kopa'a, that ti leaves mark off which paths are "safe." Guests aren't allowed to intermingle with staff and nobody is supposed to go outside after dark. For their own safety, of course.
This book is drenched in Native Hawaiian folklore and blends ghosts and chilling scares with anti-colonialist rhetoric and Hawaiian history. Like a lot of gothics, THAT WHICH FEEDS US is slow-burn, which is a feature of the genre and not a flaw in the story-telling (a note for people who are new for the genre and might just assume gothic is synonymous with horror). Lehua is also bisexual and talks about her attraction to multiple genders on page, including her attraction to one of the staff, another Native girl named Melia.
Once this story got rolling into scary territory, I couldn't put it down. The ending was bittersweet and a little sad, but ultimately satisfactory. Native/Indigenous horror is seriously having a moment right now and I'm so glad, because the books are amazing and they provide such an addictive and entertaining outlet that also educates on some darker moments of imperialist history. Definitely add this to your list.
4 stars
March 24, 2026
This book was the best I’ve read in a while!!! Cannot wait to get my hardcover and re read when it comes back. Thank you to netgalley and Keala Kendall for letting me have this early ebook. I need to read more Hawaiian gothic tales. The story rocks
December 5, 2025
You’re in for a serious treat with this book (and you will never look at persimmons the same way again).
This is a horror debut that deftly balances colonial atrocities with their lingering specter in modern day—the exploitation of Hawai’i and its people, the mistreatment of the land, and the people who rewrite history for their own benefit. It’s like White Lotus meets Mexican Gothic, with forays into real and terrifying histories. It’s elegantly written, haunting, and will keep you awake at night long after you’ve finished it.
But in some ways, it’s also fun. From Lehua’s descent into the dark underbelly of an idyllic resort and the ugly secrets its guests conceal, to unsettling encounters with what might be supernatural, it’s a book that hit the perfect amount of creepy for me.
Put everything Keala writes on your TBR forever. I’m early awaiting her next Hawaiian haunting!
This is a horror debut that deftly balances colonial atrocities with their lingering specter in modern day—the exploitation of Hawai’i and its people, the mistreatment of the land, and the people who rewrite history for their own benefit. It’s like White Lotus meets Mexican Gothic, with forays into real and terrifying histories. It’s elegantly written, haunting, and will keep you awake at night long after you’ve finished it.
But in some ways, it’s also fun. From Lehua’s descent into the dark underbelly of an idyllic resort and the ugly secrets its guests conceal, to unsettling encounters with what might be supernatural, it’s a book that hit the perfect amount of creepy for me.
Put everything Keala writes on your TBR forever. I’m early awaiting her next Hawaiian haunting!
May 15, 2026
First of all, this isn’t YA. The characters are in college, and one has a career in a mortuary. Just because it’s not extreme horror doesn’t make it YA. This mis categorization confused me for the duration of the book.
Now. I loved the themes in this book, and I really enjoyed the cloying claustrophobia the author created. The Hawaiian lore was fascinating. But something was majorly missing for me. The tone was so distant and detached, which didn’t feel right for such an emotional character and warred with the closeness of the island. I wanted intimacy with the character and it didn’t deliver.
The Big Reveal was great in theory, again I LOVED the author’s idea, but it was done with the same detached voice and that made it feel lacklustre and disappointing. I never got the actual feel of dread or fear—just the words saying the character was horrified.
There was a TON of repetition. This book needed another major copy edit pass. Eg the character told us (interiority) her grandfather always knew which direction Hawaii was in. Then she had the same conversation she’d had with us as the reader with her friend via dialogue. Then she quoted the dialogue, and remembered the interiority and the dialogue several other times. It made me feel like the author thinks I’m dumb. Often there would be callback quotes in italics on things from only a page prior.
The rot was a theme, I get that, but it was also repeated ad nauseum. We get it, the island smells like rot. We get it, Ira smells like rot. We get it, the room smells like rot. Oi vey. The editor should have done a search on the word “rot” and then deleted the 900 instances of her describing every room and character as smelling of rot every time she enters it.
Also, the ending confused me. Not literally, I just thought it was absolutely ridiculous to think the twins could suddenly be responsible for the island. If it’s privately owned, and by the filthy rich nonetheless, there are gonna be questions. Money owed. People coming to find out more about the resort. And your ghost protection is gone now ladies. Like, once the funerals are over you run. One of the dead people is world famous, you don’t think there will be questions?
A few other minor things weren’t tied up very well (why was the door to the printing press shack nailed shut? Made a big deal about it and then never followed up. And why was Willa’s hand in a jar?) but they were minor enough to be forgivable.
Overall, the concept was fire but the delivery was not. It needed some work tonally to bring home the creeping dread of isolation, and it needed a MAJOR copy edit. That probably would have shaved 60-70 pages and made this a more enjoyable pace.
Might try this author again but honestly probably not. Trad books don’t seem to support authors much re: editing these days, and unfortunately I don’t think the self-editing quality is good enough for me to read another unless it is shorter.
Now. I loved the themes in this book, and I really enjoyed the cloying claustrophobia the author created. The Hawaiian lore was fascinating. But something was majorly missing for me. The tone was so distant and detached, which didn’t feel right for such an emotional character and warred with the closeness of the island. I wanted intimacy with the character and it didn’t deliver.
The Big Reveal was great in theory, again I LOVED the author’s idea, but it was done with the same detached voice and that made it feel lacklustre and disappointing. I never got the actual feel of dread or fear—just the words saying the character was horrified.
There was a TON of repetition. This book needed another major copy edit pass. Eg the character told us (interiority) her grandfather always knew which direction Hawaii was in. Then she had the same conversation she’d had with us as the reader with her friend via dialogue. Then she quoted the dialogue, and remembered the interiority and the dialogue several other times. It made me feel like the author thinks I’m dumb. Often there would be callback quotes in italics on things from only a page prior.
The rot was a theme, I get that, but it was also repeated ad nauseum. We get it, the island smells like rot. We get it, Ira smells like rot. We get it, the room smells like rot. Oi vey. The editor should have done a search on the word “rot” and then deleted the 900 instances of her describing every room and character as smelling of rot every time she enters it.
Also, the ending confused me. Not literally, I just thought it was absolutely ridiculous to think the twins could suddenly be responsible for the island. If it’s privately owned, and by the filthy rich nonetheless, there are gonna be questions. Money owed. People coming to find out more about the resort. And your ghost protection is gone now ladies. Like, once the funerals are over you run. One of the dead people is world famous, you don’t think there will be questions?
A few other minor things weren’t tied up very well (why was the door to the printing press shack nailed shut? Made a big deal about it and then never followed up. And why was Willa’s hand in a jar?) but they were minor enough to be forgivable.
Overall, the concept was fire but the delivery was not. It needed some work tonally to bring home the creeping dread of isolation, and it needed a MAJOR copy edit. That probably would have shaved 60-70 pages and made this a more enjoyable pace.
Might try this author again but honestly probably not. Trad books don’t seem to support authors much re: editing these days, and unfortunately I don’t think the self-editing quality is good enough for me to read another unless it is shorter.
May 20, 2026
Super solid YA horror.
This was grotesque and poignant, atmospheric and haunting. It's predictable, but since the horror elements are more allegorical and poetic in nature, that never takes away from the reading experience. The best way I would describe it is the sinking feeling before you see something. Even if you know what you're about to see, that doesn't stop the discomfort.
If you're looking for a book that's creepy and trippy and also really important, then please pick this up. That Which Feeds Us delivers.
This was grotesque and poignant, atmospheric and haunting. It's predictable, but since the horror elements are more allegorical and poetic in nature, that never takes away from the reading experience. The best way I would describe it is the sinking feeling before you see something. Even if you know what you're about to see, that doesn't stop the discomfort.
If you're looking for a book that's creepy and trippy and also really important, then please pick this up. That Which Feeds Us delivers.
May 5, 2026
before I get into my review, I just want to say that I when I got this book in the mail I was a little emotional to hold an arc of a book from an islander. it’s so rare to see islander stories traditionally published and it just feels so special to have a copy. (a note: i’m not Native Hawaiian, but I am CHamoru and while these islands are not close to eachother and the culture is not the same, i see some of Guam in this book— in the talks of colonization and land being taken and disrespected, in the mythology, in the respect for the land).
okay a review!!
where to start??? 1) this book is CREEPY AF. and just when I thought we were at peak creepy Keala Kendall amped it up (to my dismay/horror/delight). in this story we follow Lehua, a Native Hawaiian, as she returns to her homeland to search for her missing twin sister, Ohia. oh man, i loved unraveling the mysteries of this island and also the suspense of WILL WE FIND OHIA??? and WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE??? and also: WHY ARE WHITE PEOPLE SO FUCKING WEIRD???
ALSO!! LEHUA!!! I loved following her and hearing her thoughts. she was so easy to root for and I loved how smart and determined she was. also, her feelings of disconnect from her culture felt so relatable 🥺😭.
the writing! was! so! lush! i really got a feel for the resort and the island and also it was lush in really creepy ways (like the smells?? why am i smelling rotten fruit as i read?? help!!!) (also why does it feel kinda humid and sweaty in here?? just me?) but it all added to the unsettling ambiance that immersed me in this book.
something that really stood out to me was the way that some guests of the island look at islanders and don’t see them as equals. instead of viewing them as the rightful custodians of the land, they see them as workers, savages, and/or an experienced to be had. it’s so gross, but also felt so real.
tl;dr— such a fun (???), beautifully written, unsettling read that i thoroughly enjoyed and highly rec!!
thank you to Get Underlined for the ARC!
okay a review!!
where to start??? 1) this book is CREEPY AF. and just when I thought we were at peak creepy Keala Kendall amped it up (to my dismay/horror/delight). in this story we follow Lehua, a Native Hawaiian, as she returns to her homeland to search for her missing twin sister, Ohia. oh man, i loved unraveling the mysteries of this island and also the suspense of WILL WE FIND OHIA??? and WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE??? and also: WHY ARE WHITE PEOPLE SO FUCKING WEIRD???
ALSO!! LEHUA!!! I loved following her and hearing her thoughts. she was so easy to root for and I loved how smart and determined she was. also, her feelings of disconnect from her culture felt so relatable 🥺😭.
the writing! was! so! lush! i really got a feel for the resort and the island and also it was lush in really creepy ways (like the smells?? why am i smelling rotten fruit as i read?? help!!!) (also why does it feel kinda humid and sweaty in here?? just me?) but it all added to the unsettling ambiance that immersed me in this book.
something that really stood out to me was the way that some guests of the island look at islanders and don’t see them as equals. instead of viewing them as the rightful custodians of the land, they see them as workers, savages, and/or an experienced to be had. it’s so gross, but also felt so real.
tl;dr— such a fun (???), beautifully written, unsettling read that i thoroughly enjoyed and highly rec!!
thank you to Get Underlined for the ARC!
May 12, 2026
4.25 // horrifying, sinister, and so so eye-opening
May 27, 2026
Thank you @prhaudio for the free audiobook ♡
🍅 I may never look at persimmons the same way. The rot and stench coming off this “wellness resort” is still with me.
A very unsettling vibe. This island is both alive and haunted.
19-year-old Lehua is a mortician and college dropout. When her twin sister goes missing on an island near Maui, Lehua has a gut instinct that something is very wrong in paradise.
And that is where the everything goes south. Arriving to the island, Lehua is met with creepy personas, supernatural phenomena, and sugarcane plantation nightmares.
All the characters were giving major ick factor, but no one will admit to knowing anything about Ohia’s disappearance. I truly thought some of these people might be vampires.
The most compelling part of this book was a bitingly sharp commentary on the exploitation and profiting off blood, sweat, labor, and pillaging and systemic erasure of indigenous cultures, languages, people.
I was influenced to read this by @literallymoody when I was craving YA gothic horror. Thank you friend! 🫶🏽
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။|• 🎧 Although I primarily read this on my e-reader, I previewed the audiobook for help with pronunciation of the native Hawaiian names, places, and phrases 🌺
🍅 I may never look at persimmons the same way. The rot and stench coming off this “wellness resort” is still with me.
A very unsettling vibe. This island is both alive and haunted.
19-year-old Lehua is a mortician and college dropout. When her twin sister goes missing on an island near Maui, Lehua has a gut instinct that something is very wrong in paradise.
And that is where the everything goes south. Arriving to the island, Lehua is met with creepy personas, supernatural phenomena, and sugarcane plantation nightmares.
All the characters were giving major ick factor, but no one will admit to knowing anything about Ohia’s disappearance. I truly thought some of these people might be vampires.
The most compelling part of this book was a bitingly sharp commentary on the exploitation and profiting off blood, sweat, labor, and pillaging and systemic erasure of indigenous cultures, languages, people.
I was influenced to read this by @literallymoody when I was craving YA gothic horror. Thank you friend! 🫶🏽
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။|• 🎧 Although I primarily read this on my e-reader, I previewed the audiobook for help with pronunciation of the native Hawaiian names, places, and phrases 🌺
Want to Read
January 15, 2026A Pacific Islander/YA thriller suspense thriller set in Hawaii.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children’s Books and the author, Keala Kendall for the early eARC!
Publication date: May 26, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children’s Books and the author, Keala Kendall for the early eARC!
Publication date: May 26, 2026
May 26, 2026
Moody, slow, and deeply unsettling in exactly the way good gothic horror should be. A native Hawaiian teen stranded on a luxury wellness resort island searching for her missing twin sister, slowly uncovering the dark history buried beneath all that carefully cultivated paradise. This one has a lot to say and says it beautifully with horror.
Hawaii exists in so many people's imaginations as beaches and sunshine and escape. This book takes that image apart piece by piece and replaces it with something far more painful, complicated, and REAL. The exploitation of Hawaii and its people, the displacement of those who lived there long before it became someone else's paradise, the way history gets quietly rewritten to serve those with money... It's all here, woven through the horror in a way that feels deeply personal and hopefully eye-opening. I am aware of the dark side of tourism, but hearing it this way, through this story, still landed hard.
The horror itself is genuinely creepy and the atmosphere is claustrophobic and suffocating as gothic stories tend to be. The resort's glossy surface, the uncanny and unsettling elements that make the hairs on the back of your neck rise as warnings start going off, and the ugly rot underneath it make for such an effective setting.
The audiobook narrator is excellent and builds the horror elements perfectly.
TW: MAJOR SPOILER
Hawaii exists in so many people's imaginations as beaches and sunshine and escape. This book takes that image apart piece by piece and replaces it with something far more painful, complicated, and REAL. The exploitation of Hawaii and its people, the displacement of those who lived there long before it became someone else's paradise, the way history gets quietly rewritten to serve those with money... It's all here, woven through the horror in a way that feels deeply personal and hopefully eye-opening. I am aware of the dark side of tourism, but hearing it this way, through this story, still landed hard.
The horror itself is genuinely creepy and the atmosphere is claustrophobic and suffocating as gothic stories tend to be. The resort's glossy surface, the uncanny and unsettling elements that make the hairs on the back of your neck rise as warnings start going off, and the ugly rot underneath it make for such an effective setting.
The audiobook narrator is excellent and builds the horror elements perfectly.
TW: MAJOR SPOILER
June 26, 2026
i need to gather my thoughts.. 🤯 rtc?
seriously such vivid prose i was fully immersed.
seriously such vivid prose i was fully immersed.
January 27, 2026
That Which Feeds Us is a masterclass in survival, colonial, and eco horror that follows a teen twin, Lehua, as she searches for her sister Ohia after disappearing from a job she took in their native Hawaiian homeland. The resort Lehua investigates is populated by rich White people who find new and increasingly disturbing ways to feed off the land and people they’re occupying… to the detriment of everyone. This text is heavy on indigenous people and stories, and is an incredibly rich story because of it. The loss, justice, and sense of "home' are all key aspects that are explored and I thought this book did a phenomenal job tackling all those items in a way that can resonate with ALL readers. I stayed up late to finish this in one sitting - the horrors and character complexities rival most adult horror I read, so I think fans of Andrew Joseph White and Ryan LaSala would enjoy this work by Keala Kendall.
May 21, 2026
The audiobook narrator was excellent!! The narrator did a great job building the tension and the stakes thoughout the book.
This book made me realize that I am perhaps a bit more okay with horror elements than I thought because while it is definately horror I wasn't scared which was a win. It did help that it was YA, but I still thought I wouldn't be able to get into the story, but I enjoyed my time listening.
*thanks to PRH Audio for the gifted copy; all thoughts are my own*
This book made me realize that I am perhaps a bit more okay with horror elements than I thought because while it is definately horror I wasn't scared which was a win. It did help that it was YA, but I still thought I wouldn't be able to get into the story, but I enjoyed my time listening.
*thanks to PRH Audio for the gifted copy; all thoughts are my own*
June 22, 2026
4.5 RTC
This was such a fantastic YA horror!
This was such a fantastic YA horror!
June 16, 2026
I wanted to like this so much more than I did, the ending saved it from two stars. I was really bored reading most of it because the mystery was so vague and it didn’t feel like anything started happening until right at the end. (I also am realizing gothic horror is not my thing most of the time)
May 20, 2026
I wanted to like this book more than I did. The overall concept is really clever but the execution is lacking. The setup of the sisters' relationship and the inciting incident is super rushed but then the rest of the novel is extremely drawn out without as much depth or suspense as is needed. There's a lot of exposition plopped in as a way to give the reader background information on the colonial history (and present) of Hawaii. The characters in general felt flat. Really, I ended up thinking that it would make a pretty decent movie but the writing itself was mediocre.
April 30, 2026
Got an arc through the Penguin audiobook app
I love a horror with atmosphere, especially one that can maintain the creepiness after it reveals its hand, so PROPS to this for being deeply chilling until the very end. This is an absolutely gut wrenching, stomach churning horror where the colonialism is just as haunting as the ghost stuff. Thank god I never liked persimmons because I don’t think I’d be able to look at them the same way again.
So yeah, had a really good time with this one!
I love a horror with atmosphere, especially one that can maintain the creepiness after it reveals its hand, so PROPS to this for being deeply chilling until the very end. This is an absolutely gut wrenching, stomach churning horror where the colonialism is just as haunting as the ghost stuff. Thank god I never liked persimmons because I don’t think I’d be able to look at them the same way again.
So yeah, had a really good time with this one!
May 20, 2026
When I think of Hawaii, I’m exactly one of the people Keala Kendall talks about in her author’s note, someone not of the land whose brain immediately jumps to beaches, resorts, honeymoons, tropical drinks, and “paradise.” That polished tourist image is so deeply ingrained that I never really stopped to think about what exists underneath it or who pays the price to maintain that fantasy.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐔𝐬 completely dismantled that version of Hawaii and replaced it with something far more painful, complicated, and real through an absolutely claustrophobic, creepy-as-hell gothic horror story. Following Lehua as she searches for her missing twin sister at an exclusive luxury resort on a remote island, this book radiates dread from the very first page. The atmosphere here deserves its own standing ovation because holy crap, everything just felt WRONG. The resort was creepy, the guests were weird, the rules too bizarre, and there was that constant feeling that everyone around you is acting like things are perfectly normal when they very much aren’t.
I can say this much, Keala Kendall’s writing is beautiful and deeply immersive in a way that made me feel like I could practically smell the humid air, feel the saltwater, and yes, taste the overripe persimmons rotting on my tongue 🤮 (fyi, I will never look at persimmons the same way again.)
What really made this book for me, though, was how horror is used as a vehicle to explore larger themes without sacrificing the story itself. A ton of the horror in this book is rooted in colonialism, tourism, displacement, environmental exploitation, cultural commodification, generational trauma, and the violence hidden inside the idea of paradise as a product to be consumed.
Reading the author’s note before AND after finishing added an entirely new layer to everything I had just read, and as a Filipino, that hit me in a deeply personal way. The Philippines is also so often packaged through a tourist lens, beaches, islands, hospitality, tropical escape, while the realities underneath become background noise or disappear entirely. Obviously Hawaii and the Philippines are not the same experience, but this book made me think about how familiar that disconnect can feel, watching places and cultures become products for consumption while the deeper histories, pain, and humanity beneath them are overlooked.
Lehua was also such a strong protagonist to follow, and I found myself completely invested in her determination, grief, anger, and love for her sister. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐔𝐬 unsettles you far beyond the monsters and creepy imagery because the scariest parts are tangled up in real systems, real history, and the roots of real human behavior.
This is not just a horror novel about a haunted paradise. It’s about who gets to define paradise in the first place, who profits from it, and who gets left behind.
Of course, if you know me and the horror I’m into, this book is a 5-star read. Highly recommend it!
(𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙍𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙢 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠.)
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐔𝐬 completely dismantled that version of Hawaii and replaced it with something far more painful, complicated, and real through an absolutely claustrophobic, creepy-as-hell gothic horror story. Following Lehua as she searches for her missing twin sister at an exclusive luxury resort on a remote island, this book radiates dread from the very first page. The atmosphere here deserves its own standing ovation because holy crap, everything just felt WRONG. The resort was creepy, the guests were weird, the rules too bizarre, and there was that constant feeling that everyone around you is acting like things are perfectly normal when they very much aren’t.
I can say this much, Keala Kendall’s writing is beautiful and deeply immersive in a way that made me feel like I could practically smell the humid air, feel the saltwater, and yes, taste the overripe persimmons rotting on my tongue 🤮 (fyi, I will never look at persimmons the same way again.)
What really made this book for me, though, was how horror is used as a vehicle to explore larger themes without sacrificing the story itself. A ton of the horror in this book is rooted in colonialism, tourism, displacement, environmental exploitation, cultural commodification, generational trauma, and the violence hidden inside the idea of paradise as a product to be consumed.
Reading the author’s note before AND after finishing added an entirely new layer to everything I had just read, and as a Filipino, that hit me in a deeply personal way. The Philippines is also so often packaged through a tourist lens, beaches, islands, hospitality, tropical escape, while the realities underneath become background noise or disappear entirely. Obviously Hawaii and the Philippines are not the same experience, but this book made me think about how familiar that disconnect can feel, watching places and cultures become products for consumption while the deeper histories, pain, and humanity beneath them are overlooked.
Lehua was also such a strong protagonist to follow, and I found myself completely invested in her determination, grief, anger, and love for her sister. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐔𝐬 unsettles you far beyond the monsters and creepy imagery because the scariest parts are tangled up in real systems, real history, and the roots of real human behavior.
This is not just a horror novel about a haunted paradise. It’s about who gets to define paradise in the first place, who profits from it, and who gets left behind.
Of course, if you know me and the horror I’m into, this book is a 5-star read. Highly recommend it!
(𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙍𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙢 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠.)
April 26, 2026
4.5 stars
Kaela Kendall is a new author to me. I have not read any of the Disney books and that seems to be what this author has previously written. BUTTTT I really enjoyed her writing so much I might actually have to pick them up! That Which Feeds Us is a gothic ya horror about two twins. One who goes to a resort to work and then disappears and then our main character, Lehua, who goes in search of what actually happened to her and see if she can find her. In this we get not only a fantastic story but history and also some Hawaiian folklore all mixed into a captivating tale that refuses to let you go until the very end.
At the Kōpa’a Island Resort there is no wifi, no cell phone service and when Kaela gets there is search of her sister she is welcome as a guest. Her sister was a worker and no one can talk to the workers. There are rules, this is a resort that is for people who are the wealthiest of them all. But also there really is no escape once Kaela gets there.
I really enjoyed the writting it was captivating. It sucked me in. It read very fast and the pacing never seem to let us. It propelled me forward the entire time and I really couldn’t stop. Yes, I read things in one sitting a lot of the time but this one is so easy to do you need to know what happens next! I really will never looked and persimmons the same ever again…I will say though it was easy to tell where some of this was going. The bread crumbs were easy to pick up but I sitll found it very satisfying. The colonization of the island and the murder and usage of its people was heartbreaking. I really want to find more books and even more, hopefully gothic, from Native Hawaiians.
Thank you to Random House for Young Readers for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Kaela Kendall is a new author to me. I have not read any of the Disney books and that seems to be what this author has previously written. BUTTTT I really enjoyed her writing so much I might actually have to pick them up! That Which Feeds Us is a gothic ya horror about two twins. One who goes to a resort to work and then disappears and then our main character, Lehua, who goes in search of what actually happened to her and see if she can find her. In this we get not only a fantastic story but history and also some Hawaiian folklore all mixed into a captivating tale that refuses to let you go until the very end.
At the Kōpa’a Island Resort there is no wifi, no cell phone service and when Kaela gets there is search of her sister she is welcome as a guest. Her sister was a worker and no one can talk to the workers. There are rules, this is a resort that is for people who are the wealthiest of them all. But also there really is no escape once Kaela gets there.
I really enjoyed the writting it was captivating. It sucked me in. It read very fast and the pacing never seem to let us. It propelled me forward the entire time and I really couldn’t stop. Yes, I read things in one sitting a lot of the time but this one is so easy to do you need to know what happens next! I really will never looked and persimmons the same ever again…I will say though it was easy to tell where some of this was going. The bread crumbs were easy to pick up but I sitll found it very satisfying. The colonization of the island and the murder and usage of its people was heartbreaking. I really want to find more books and even more, hopefully gothic, from Native Hawaiians.
Thank you to Random House for Young Readers for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 19, 2026
4.5 rounded
I love when the horror genre is used to explore deeper, cultural, and historical themes. I find so much nuance and texture within this genre and this story does not disappoint. Keala Kendall beautifully includes Hawaiian culture (as well as common problems that exist inside of Hawai’i due to colonization) into the narrative. And I found Lehua to be such a great FMC for this story. Seeing her navigate her insecurities around her sister and her roots made it really easy to connect with and relate to her. And getting to see her go to Hawai’i for the first time and really connect with the heritage she’s always felt removed from was special. Especially when we add in the cultural aspect of the story and the unity and connection that was so natural with the people and the land. This story effortlessly speaks to the value of our ancestors and our natural ties to our culture. I thought the story was well paced and held my attention throughout. There is an urgency to the story and, even when people try to stop her or slow her down, Lehua has a determination about her that really lends itself well to the story. And as more and more is uncovered, tensions rise and the emotional pull and overall mystery really build.
I do wish that the ending had a bit more space to breathe. A lot is revealed and uncovered at once and, while it makes for a really exciting and eventful ending, there isn’t a lot of time to really process (or for the characters to react) to all that’s going on. And that costs some of the emotional pull of the novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books | Random House Books for Young Readers for providing me with a digital review copy of this story in exchange for an honest review
I love when the horror genre is used to explore deeper, cultural, and historical themes. I find so much nuance and texture within this genre and this story does not disappoint. Keala Kendall beautifully includes Hawaiian culture (as well as common problems that exist inside of Hawai’i due to colonization) into the narrative. And I found Lehua to be such a great FMC for this story. Seeing her navigate her insecurities around her sister and her roots made it really easy to connect with and relate to her. And getting to see her go to Hawai’i for the first time and really connect with the heritage she’s always felt removed from was special. Especially when we add in the cultural aspect of the story and the unity and connection that was so natural with the people and the land. This story effortlessly speaks to the value of our ancestors and our natural ties to our culture. I thought the story was well paced and held my attention throughout. There is an urgency to the story and, even when people try to stop her or slow her down, Lehua has a determination about her that really lends itself well to the story. And as more and more is uncovered, tensions rise and the emotional pull and overall mystery really build.
I do wish that the ending had a bit more space to breathe. A lot is revealed and uncovered at once and, while it makes for a really exciting and eventful ending, there isn’t a lot of time to really process (or for the characters to react) to all that’s going on. And that costs some of the emotional pull of the novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books | Random House Books for Young Readers for providing me with a digital review copy of this story in exchange for an honest review
June 11, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 Stars
That Which Feeds Us was my first book by Keala Kendall and my first YA horror novel—and what a fantastic introduction to both!
This story completely captured my attention from the very beginning, but once I reached the second half, I genuinely could not put it down. Kendall masterfully weaves together horror, mystery, and Hawaiian folklore while exploring important themes such as colonization and its lasting impact on local communities, culture, and legends.
The story follows Lehua as she travels to a secluded Hawaiian island in search of her missing twin sister. From the moment she arrives, something feels off. As the story unfolds, Lehua begins to uncover long-buried secrets about the island, its history, and the forces lurking beneath the surface.
I’ve never been to Hawaii, but Kendall’s vivid descriptions made me feel as though I was experiencing the islands alongside Lehua. The setting felt immersive and alive, becoming just as important to the story as the characters themselves.
And that ending—beautiful, emotional, and incredibly satisfying. It brought everything together in a way that felt both powerful and meaningful.
If you’re looking for a YA horror novel that combines suspense, folklore, rich cultural themes, and an unforgettable setting, I highly recommend picking this one up.
Thank you to Penguin Random House for the finished copy. All opinions are my own!
That Which Feeds Us was my first book by Keala Kendall and my first YA horror novel—and what a fantastic introduction to both!
This story completely captured my attention from the very beginning, but once I reached the second half, I genuinely could not put it down. Kendall masterfully weaves together horror, mystery, and Hawaiian folklore while exploring important themes such as colonization and its lasting impact on local communities, culture, and legends.
The story follows Lehua as she travels to a secluded Hawaiian island in search of her missing twin sister. From the moment she arrives, something feels off. As the story unfolds, Lehua begins to uncover long-buried secrets about the island, its history, and the forces lurking beneath the surface.
I’ve never been to Hawaii, but Kendall’s vivid descriptions made me feel as though I was experiencing the islands alongside Lehua. The setting felt immersive and alive, becoming just as important to the story as the characters themselves.
And that ending—beautiful, emotional, and incredibly satisfying. It brought everything together in a way that felt both powerful and meaningful.
If you’re looking for a YA horror novel that combines suspense, folklore, rich cultural themes, and an unforgettable setting, I highly recommend picking this one up.
Thank you to Penguin Random House for the finished copy. All opinions are my own!
March 5, 2026
✨✨✨You had me at Hawaiian Gothic!!!✨✨✨
That Which Feeds Us is a beautiful YA gothic horror/thriller with a powerful message about the atrocities committed against native Hawaiians that you won’t soon forget!!
I loved this story! I don’t think I’ve ever read a horror novel set in Hawaii before. A gothic book set in Hawaii is definitely unique and right up my alley! The atmosphere in this book is so spot on. I enjoyed this one so much!
I really liked the FMC Lehua and felt for her while she was searching for her missing twin. I absolutely LOVED the blend of Hawaiian folklore and a bit of supernatural, mixed with such a poignant and important message. I absolutely LOVED the ending too!!!
I am so impressed with how well the author tackled some major topics all wrapped up in such an entertaining and well done book and without being preachy. 👏
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released May 5, 2026.
That Which Feeds Us is a beautiful YA gothic horror/thriller with a powerful message about the atrocities committed against native Hawaiians that you won’t soon forget!!
I loved this story! I don’t think I’ve ever read a horror novel set in Hawaii before. A gothic book set in Hawaii is definitely unique and right up my alley! The atmosphere in this book is so spot on. I enjoyed this one so much!
I really liked the FMC Lehua and felt for her while she was searching for her missing twin. I absolutely LOVED the blend of Hawaiian folklore and a bit of supernatural, mixed with such a poignant and important message. I absolutely LOVED the ending too!!!
I am so impressed with how well the author tackled some major topics all wrapped up in such an entertaining and well done book and without being preachy. 👏
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released May 5, 2026.
May 7, 2026
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of That Which Feeds Us!
I took away half a star because Lehua was THIRSTY in the beginning. She’s looking for her missing twin and has spent paychecks just to go to where she may have last been, yet still finds the time for two flirtations? It just made her seem a bit distracted and desperate. But that’s okay. Also, wanting to tie your life to someone you’ve known for 3 days? Very sapphic U-Haul of you, girlie.
Otherwise, the background was amazing, the lore and myths were engrossing. Learning some of the language and superstitions really added to the setting. If you want unsettling island vibes, this book has it. If you want talks of cannibalism, this book has it. If you want cute messages written on mirrors with shower steam, this book kind of has that too! A very wonderful YA horror that tackles colonialism, racism, and fetishizing race.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of That Which Feeds Us!
I took away half a star because Lehua was THIRSTY in the beginning. She’s looking for her missing twin and has spent paychecks just to go to where she may have last been, yet still finds the time for two flirtations? It just made her seem a bit distracted and desperate. But that’s okay. Also, wanting to tie your life to someone you’ve known for 3 days? Very sapphic U-Haul of you, girlie.
Otherwise, the background was amazing, the lore and myths were engrossing. Learning some of the language and superstitions really added to the setting. If you want unsettling island vibes, this book has it. If you want talks of cannibalism, this book has it. If you want cute messages written on mirrors with shower steam, this book kind of has that too! A very wonderful YA horror that tackles colonialism, racism, and fetishizing race.
June 13, 2026
Thank you to PRHAudio for my gifted ALC of the book.
Beautifully gothic and creepy, this book is both horrifying in the reality that I could see wealthy people doing exactly what these characters do to live… forever. Mixing the chilling realizations that Get Out left in every mind across America with the unsettling world of Mexican Gothic, That Which Feeds Us is eerily memorable and will be a story that haunts me long into the night.
When a native Hawaiian girl goes missing, her twin sister travels to the last place she was seen: Kōpaʻa Island Resort. While it’s known for its rejuvenating wellness retreat that only the world’s richest can afford to attend and the unbelievable persimmon orchards, Kōpaʻa is cut off from the rest of civilization. No cellphones, no WiFi, no real world, no direct connection to the main land. Once you are there, you aren’t going anywhere.
I had some misguided idea that I knew where this story was heading. I felt like I could see what was happening off page as we learned bits and pieces of the story. I, unfortunately, was full of hot air, because I knew nothing. After finishing it, I could see the signs that led me there, but it was all a surprise to me. But what I did know is that something funky was happening with those persimmons.🫠
I love when there is a doomed love story within a horror novel. As I’m reading and watching not one, but two girls come on to Lehua, I was thinking this is going to be interesting. She’s on this secluded island to find out what happened to her sister, but two different girls are mackin’ on her. Like get it girl! But one of them has to be a villain… right?! And if not, one of them has to die.
I enjoyed this a lot and will be looking for more queer Hawaiian stories to come from Keala Kendall.
Beautifully gothic and creepy, this book is both horrifying in the reality that I could see wealthy people doing exactly what these characters do to live… forever. Mixing the chilling realizations that Get Out left in every mind across America with the unsettling world of Mexican Gothic, That Which Feeds Us is eerily memorable and will be a story that haunts me long into the night.
When a native Hawaiian girl goes missing, her twin sister travels to the last place she was seen: Kōpaʻa Island Resort. While it’s known for its rejuvenating wellness retreat that only the world’s richest can afford to attend and the unbelievable persimmon orchards, Kōpaʻa is cut off from the rest of civilization. No cellphones, no WiFi, no real world, no direct connection to the main land. Once you are there, you aren’t going anywhere.
I had some misguided idea that I knew where this story was heading. I felt like I could see what was happening off page as we learned bits and pieces of the story. I, unfortunately, was full of hot air, because I knew nothing. After finishing it, I could see the signs that led me there, but it was all a surprise to me. But what I did know is that something funky was happening with those persimmons.🫠
I love when there is a doomed love story within a horror novel. As I’m reading and watching not one, but two girls come on to Lehua, I was thinking this is going to be interesting. She’s on this secluded island to find out what happened to her sister, but two different girls are mackin’ on her. Like get it girl! But one of them has to be a villain… right?! And if not, one of them has to die.
I enjoyed this a lot and will be looking for more queer Hawaiian stories to come from Keala Kendall.
June 14, 2026
I really enjoyed this one. Such a fantastic gothic horror. It was enlightening and horrifying. I'm not familiar with the history of Native Hawaiians, but with colonialism and seeing how things have progressed on the mainland United States, it doesn't surprise me that this happened, and it makes me so sad and angry.
Without giving anything away, there was a beautiful and horrifying use of persimmons in this story to show how white colonists have stolen from the Native Hawaiians, exploiting their land and bodies for their own use. It was such a powerful representation of how these white colonizers destroy everything for their own gain.
I absolutely loved this book, and I think it's going on my list of books that everyone should read (in my humble opinion). If you enjoyed Gallows Hill by Darcy Coates, I feel like this has a similar vibe but with much deeper meaning.
Without giving anything away, there was a beautiful and horrifying use of persimmons in this story to show how white colonists have stolen from the Native Hawaiians, exploiting their land and bodies for their own use. It was such a powerful representation of how these white colonizers destroy everything for their own gain.
I absolutely loved this book, and I think it's going on my list of books that everyone should read (in my humble opinion). If you enjoyed Gallows Hill by Darcy Coates, I feel like this has a similar vibe but with much deeper meaning.
May 11, 2026
picked this up for a kindle challenge and really enjoyed this. very eery and uncomfy and i was excited to find out what happened
June 24, 2026
This was my first experience with a Hawaiian Gothic and it dod not disappoint!
May 24, 2026
If there was ever an opportunity to deviate from my romance-only TBR, this was it. Keala Kendall wrote a hauntingly beautiful story that not only captured my attention immediately, but held it until the very last page. This book is labeled as a Hawaiian gothic story and goes beyond its spooky island resort setting, exploring the true cost of paradise and the dark history hidden in its roots.
It explored Hawaiian lore and diaspora through the lense of a young woman (note: Lehua is college-age so this is definitely more older YA, bordering New Adult) looking for her missing twin sister. I would like to applaud the amount of genuine work, care, and effort Keala Kendall poured into her book. As early as her author's letter, she explains the Hawaiian background that weaves itself throughout her book. You go in knowing that colonialism and exploitation are heavy themes in That Which Feeds Us and you can really feel the rot it brought in these pages. There were times that I had to pause reading because of the vivid imagery that was painted in front of me and how grotesque some descriptions were. Literally had goosebumps as I was reading because everything was written so clearly. It was no question that Kendall is a "show, not tell" author.
And as horrified as I was about Kōpaʻa Island Resort, That Which Feeds Us kept me on my toes and so fascinated by this place that was forcefully built upon native grounds. It went from a terrible plantation to an even worse luxury resort, as if building a fancy getaway would absolve its owner of any guilt or shame. There are also so many hidden secrets and foreshadowing in this book. I highly recommend taking your time and really diving into the story, and even do some outside research if you're unfamiliar with Hawaii and its history.
That Which Feeds Us is a fantastically written story that was devoured by me, despite being a romance-focused reader. This is Keala Kendall's first book outside of Disney's Twisted Tales series and I am looking forward to all her future publications. I would also like to give Sara Malia Hatfield her credit/flowers because she did a phenomenal job as the narrator and really captured the horrors being written on the page, including an eerie plantation worker song. If you are an audiobook listener, I recommend it! Better yet, do an immersive read with both the text and audio!
Thank you Underlined for sharing this story with me and while I was given a physical finished copy by them, I got the e-book and audiobook through my own means. All opinions are my own.
It explored Hawaiian lore and diaspora through the lense of a young woman (note: Lehua is college-age so this is definitely more older YA, bordering New Adult) looking for her missing twin sister. I would like to applaud the amount of genuine work, care, and effort Keala Kendall poured into her book. As early as her author's letter, she explains the Hawaiian background that weaves itself throughout her book. You go in knowing that colonialism and exploitation are heavy themes in That Which Feeds Us and you can really feel the rot it brought in these pages. There were times that I had to pause reading because of the vivid imagery that was painted in front of me and how grotesque some descriptions were. Literally had goosebumps as I was reading because everything was written so clearly. It was no question that Kendall is a "show, not tell" author.
And as horrified as I was about Kōpaʻa Island Resort, That Which Feeds Us kept me on my toes and so fascinated by this place that was forcefully built upon native grounds. It went from a terrible plantation to an even worse luxury resort, as if building a fancy getaway would absolve its owner of any guilt or shame. There are also so many hidden secrets and foreshadowing in this book. I highly recommend taking your time and really diving into the story, and even do some outside research if you're unfamiliar with Hawaii and its history.
That Which Feeds Us is a fantastically written story that was devoured by me, despite being a romance-focused reader. This is Keala Kendall's first book outside of Disney's Twisted Tales series and I am looking forward to all her future publications. I would also like to give Sara Malia Hatfield her credit/flowers because she did a phenomenal job as the narrator and really captured the horrors being written on the page, including an eerie plantation worker song. If you are an audiobook listener, I recommend it! Better yet, do an immersive read with both the text and audio!
Thank you Underlined for sharing this story with me and while I was given a physical finished copy by them, I got the e-book and audiobook through my own means. All opinions are my own.
June 17, 2026
3.5, learned a lot. Loved the ending, was bored for a lot of this.
April 23, 2026
Summary:
Ohia and Lehua are orphaned twin sisters who have always shared similar trajectories as college track stars, until recently. When Lehua realized she was fooling herself into a future she couldn’t quite reach, she dropped out of school and became a mortician. She spent her days giving closure to families that she was unable to receive when her own grandparents passed. Her new life was stable, predictable, and calm.
Then one day, Ohia randomly calls after months of silence following a fight. She tells Lehua that she is on route to Hawai’i — their homeland. Suspicious, Lehua tries to figure out why her sister would drop everything in her perfect life and leave. The more she investigates, the more wrong it feels. She follows her sister to Hawai’i only to find she has gone missing on a remote tourist island which caters to the wealthy. She has to find her other half, but everything on the island is trying to stop her.
Review:
This book intrigued me because it was described as Hawaiian horror. I don’t know much about the history or folklore about Hawai’i, so this title pulled me in with the promise of these topics. I also thought the topics of colonialism, tourism, and culture were interesting to include in a horror novel, and was excited to see how these themes shined through the story.
I am happy to report that these themes remain present throughout the entire book, and grow more and more disturbing as time on the island passes. The island itself acts like a character, albeit a claustrophobic and eerie one. I liked how the setting both isolated and enlightened Lehua at times.
I struggled with the tone of the book though. The diction was more advanced than where most teen readers are at. Meanwhile the plot seemed to spell everything out. It repeated a lot, and was riddled with typos. This made my connection with the characters very shallow. I wanted to care, but I felt a lack of connection throughout the entire thing. The side characters were tedious and boring to read through, and because they were so strange the twist became predictable. I also did not care for the instant-love trope used between Lehua and Melia. I also found them staying on the island a bit unrealistic, especially after enduring so much trauma while staying there, but I suppose they felt a sense of duty to their kin. I just don’t know practically how they would survive after the fires.
Overall 2.5 stars from me. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
Ohia and Lehua are orphaned twin sisters who have always shared similar trajectories as college track stars, until recently. When Lehua realized she was fooling herself into a future she couldn’t quite reach, she dropped out of school and became a mortician. She spent her days giving closure to families that she was unable to receive when her own grandparents passed. Her new life was stable, predictable, and calm.
Then one day, Ohia randomly calls after months of silence following a fight. She tells Lehua that she is on route to Hawai’i — their homeland. Suspicious, Lehua tries to figure out why her sister would drop everything in her perfect life and leave. The more she investigates, the more wrong it feels. She follows her sister to Hawai’i only to find she has gone missing on a remote tourist island which caters to the wealthy. She has to find her other half, but everything on the island is trying to stop her.
Review:
This book intrigued me because it was described as Hawaiian horror. I don’t know much about the history or folklore about Hawai’i, so this title pulled me in with the promise of these topics. I also thought the topics of colonialism, tourism, and culture were interesting to include in a horror novel, and was excited to see how these themes shined through the story.
I am happy to report that these themes remain present throughout the entire book, and grow more and more disturbing as time on the island passes. The island itself acts like a character, albeit a claustrophobic and eerie one. I liked how the setting both isolated and enlightened Lehua at times.
I struggled with the tone of the book though. The diction was more advanced than where most teen readers are at. Meanwhile the plot seemed to spell everything out. It repeated a lot, and was riddled with typos. This made my connection with the characters very shallow. I wanted to care, but I felt a lack of connection throughout the entire thing. The side characters were tedious and boring to read through, and because they were so strange the twist became predictable. I also did not care for the instant-love trope used between Lehua and Melia. I also found them staying on the island a bit unrealistic, especially after enduring so much trauma while staying there, but I suppose they felt a sense of duty to their kin. I just don’t know practically how they would survive after the fires.
Overall 2.5 stars from me. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
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