Reviews

Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

sabrinareenan's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

tangyytee's review

3.0

I had such high expectations for this book & I was unfortunately disappointed. 
I did like the mythology & the sea dragons, but it just fell flat for me. 
The dragons could have had personalities. The main character just didn't connect with me. I did feel for Sam & was interested in how he would handle everything. It wasn't a bad read, just didn't leave an impression on me. 

siljefp's review

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

city_girl_writer's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.5

The tattoo magic and animal companions were the only saving grace for me. The writing style was really boring and basic despite me flying through it in less than 24 hours. The romance between Hanalei and Sam was fine but boring. I couldn't be more disappointed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty

annie26's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A strong and unique fantasy read for me. This just worked.

ugh1ife's review

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book was everything I wanted out of a YA with a great dive into the mythology and culture of Guam and other Pacific Islands. The only thing that kept it from a 5 star was a plot hole.

At the end cousin Jejomar is able to escape his curse/gift because the dragonfruit is subject to Tamarind’s rules since it was born there. However, wouldn’t that same logic apply to the dragonfruit that saved Hanalei? The book says that the Queen received two sea dragons that after 2 years (I think) laid dragonfruit. So if the magic of the dragonfruit must follow the rules of Tamarind, then it should not have been able to save Hanalei when it was taken from the island. Or if Hanalei was still in the bounds of Tamarind (which I highly doubt) then she should have gotten sick again once she left the bounds. Likewise the princess would not be allowed to leave Tamarind for that same reason.  

s_shronda's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

4.0

lau_vansunshine's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

chaitai00's review

adventurous hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

dodothebookbitch's review

3.5

super cool premise and story that was very unique! i loved the seadragons and the whole lore behind the markings. i think where this book lost me a little bit was having so many characters