A review by hellobookbird
Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

5.0

 

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 choices: to marry, or to find a cure for the sickness that has plagued his mother for ten long years. When a childhood companion returns from exile, she brings with her something he has not felt in a very long time - hope. But Hanalei and Sam are not the only ones searching for the dragonfruit. And there is another danger they cannot escape…that of the dragonfruit itself.

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.

I'm extremely burned out from a new temporary job so while I think I would have normally rated this a 4 because the pacing didn't really feel urgent, calm but engaging was exactly what I needed and thus gets a 5.

The island setting was lush and descriptive...a perfect backdrop for a seafaring islander adventure involving pirates and seadragons. I loved the Pacific Island naming and elements. The magic was light (though I do feel it shouldn't have been island-specific). The characters were well developed as well as the theme of greed, sacrifice, and cost. I really liked that the story didn't focus on the marriage aspect or even the budding affection between Hanalei and Sam. It was very much an undercurrent that gave it flavor without being overwhelming.

To the seadragons and magic tattoos!

Recommended for peeps that like a sleepier fantasy with dragons.