Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

From 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. An unwanted marriage, a painful illness, and unpaid debt … gone. 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.

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.

Published by Clarion Books
on April 9, 2024

Review:

I have always been interested in learning about mythology from other cultures. I’m familiar with Greek myths and some Norse and Egyptian mythology, but not so much those of Pacific Islanders, which is one of the reasons this book interested me. In this book, readers are transported to a world inspired by Pacific Island mythology, where the power of a seadragon’s egg, known as dragonfruit, holds the promise of undoing one’s greatest sorrow – but at what cost?

The story follows Hanalei (aka Hana) of Tamarind, a young woman forced into exile after her father steals a seadragon egg to heal Hana. The first problem is that the dragonfruit was meant for a princess Hana was close with, so naturally, she carries a certain amount of guilt over this. She also holds the guilt of her father’s death on her shoulders. The legend says that if you are to steal a dragonfruit, your wish will come true, but you must pay a price, and in this case, Hana’s father was killed. Years later, Hana finds solace in studying these majestic creatures, and one day, a chance encounter presents her with the opportunity to return home and potentially right her father’s wrong.

The other major character in the book is Sam, the last prince of Tamarind. Tamarind is a matriarchal society that prevents Sam from inheriting the throne, and Sam’s mother is the princess the dragonfruit given to Hana was intended to cure. With Sam’s grandmother set to relinquish the throne soon and Sam’s mother in a coma, Sam has two choices – find a wife or find a cure for his mother. When Hana returns after years of exile, she brings with her encouraging news and a glimmer of hope that she may be able to help Sam’s mother – but again – at what price?

The author weaves an intriguing tale of love, sacrifice, and a quest for redemption. As Hanalei and Sam navigate the journey ahead, they face challenges and adversaries that test their resolve and blossoming love for each other. The looming danger of finding the dragonfruit adds suspense and urgency to their journey, setting in motion an exciting adventure.

The characters in “Dragonfruit” are fun, and I felt like I mostly understood their motivations, but I never felt fully connected with them even though they felt very familiar. Hanalei and Sam’s emotional journey is at the novel’s heart as they grapple with their pasts, responsibilities, and growing feelings for each other. The guilt over Hana being saved by the dragonfruit while Sam’s mother was left in a coma added a nice bit of depth to the overall story, and of course, the urgency to find another dragon egg for Sam’s mother so she can awaken and claim the throne was a nice touch. That said, while I understood their struggles and what they needed/wanted to do, I would have liked a deeper dive into their lives and their journey. It all went by very fast and I felt like something important was missing.

As the plot unfolds, secrets are revealed, alliances are formed, and betrayals come to light. The narrative is fast-paced and filled with many fun revelations, but I never felt I was on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed the story and the idea of the characters, but I almost feel as though the author only skimmed the surface in many areas. This would make a great Disney movie, but as far as a book goes, I wanted to sink deeper into the world and the characters, and I wanted the stakes to be higher.

Overall, I found this to be a fun read, and I really enjoyed the mythology and especially the sea dragons. While I wished the stakes had been a little higher and I wanted a deeper dive into the world and the characters, this was an enjoyable read that fans of mythology retellings will likely enjoy. If you’re a fan of Disney movies, this would make a great one.