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.

When Hanalei’s father chooses her over his princess he commits treason and condemns Hanalei to life as an exile. Ten years later Hana returns to her former home to begin a quest.

Dragonfruit is engaging. Every aspect is unique and new to me. The atmosphere is incredible and enticing. Seadragons, ship voyages, a unique take on animal companions, island life, royalty, subtle romance.

The chapter lengths were perfect. The plot moved along well and never legged. BUT the ending comes on quickly. Around the 70% mark I felt like I was getting to know the characters and then boom it was over. I think Lucier could easily write a companion piece or make it a series.

You can tell Lucier put her whole heart into this story. It’s her island, her mythology.

This a book more so about the people, the culture, and their ties to their mythology than a complex plot. If you are looking to escape reality for a short time then this is perfect for you.

Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

“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 sworn enemy, a painful illness….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’s father does the unthinkable, steals the last dragonfruit (Seadragon egg) that is known to grant the wish and desire of the person whom uses it. Her father uses the egg to revive Hanalei after herself and the princess of Tamarind succumb to poison, but that leaves the princess in an eternal slumber.

10 years later Hanalei returns to Tamarind and aids Sam, the princess’ son, in finding another dragonfruit to heal the princess. Their search is filled with trials and worries of what may come with another wish granted looms overhead.

My favorite part of this series is the unique animal companions called markings. They sleep and lay semi-dormant as tattoos, and come to life when their companion is in need. I love the Pacific Islander inspiration and setting, full of rich culture and beautiful writing.

5/5⭐️ can’t recommend enough!

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.

Hanalei used to live a life of privilege. Until she didn’t. Until her mother died. Until Hanalei was mistakenly poisoned and her father did the unthinkable to save her life. Until she, as a young exiled orphan, found the only work she could performing horrible tasks for a seadragon hunter. Now years later, though still poor, she has found a role as a seadragon researcher, spending her time searching and observing the wonderful creatures whenever she can find them.

When she crosses paths with her old boss, Hanalei is forced to help him search for a seadragon and the eggs she may lay, the mystical dragonfruit. Only by sheer luck does she escape, but finds herself back in her homeland and face-to-face with the now-grown prince she once roamed the island with as a young child. Will he be happy to see her? Or will he exact revenge for her father’s actions?

I really enjoyed this book. The setting descriptions are well written, and the world-building and dragon lore is easy to understand. I especially loved the idea of markings and what they could do for the characters. This is a great standalone (though it could easily be continued as a duology or series) tale, perfect for any fan of dragons and fantasy.

This book hooked me from the start. Hanalei’s story was so interesting and the world building and dragons were probably my favorite part to read and learn about. I can’t say much without spoilers but if you are looking for an adventurous, dragon filled YA fantasy I cannot recommend this book enough. The story and plot line were incredibly engaging, the characters had a lot of growth and were lovable, and the writing was beautiful and included so many references to Pacific Islander culture! 10/10 would definitely recommend!

Wow this cover gives me all the warm feelings, I love it. This is a YA fantasy following 2 characters (one of them being the prince) who are on a journey to find this missing magical dragon egg so that they can save the princess who has suffered from a this strange disease. The setting is this beautiful island with seadragons, there’s pacific island mythology, it's just as magical as the cover.

I absolutely loved this one. Anytime there's mythology thrown in that's a buzzword for me and this one did not disappoint. It's filled with rich descriptions, a very unique main character and more. As I said anything mythology will draw me in and when it's a mythology that may not be commonplace/known as widely I enjoy it even more. The writing style was easy to read and engaging and honestly once I got into this one I had a hard time putting it down. Also, if you're looking for a dragon book that may not be the typical dragon book, definitely pick this one up!

I loved being immersed in this world. I absolutely love the seadragons and the markings as magical creatures. They were my favorite parts about the world building, and yet another reason why this book is such a gem. Hanalei is a wonderful main character. I love how she has gained so much wisdom merely from her love of seadragons and how she understands them better than anyone else because she alone has taken the time to understand rather than fear them. The communities in Tamarind were also so amazing and loving! <spoiler>I love how even after everything that happened ten years prior, Hanalei was still welcomed home with open arms.</spoiler> This is the first time I've ever read a fantasy book where the worldbuilding is inspired by Pacific Island cultures and it's absolutely wonderful to finally get to see that!

Small summary: Hanalei returns to her home island after years of being pretty much exiled, and joins her old friend Sam (who is also the prince) the search for a magical dragon egg (dragonfruit) in order to heal the princess from her long sickness. In all her years away, Hanalei has observed and learned about the seadragons, and with her wisdom and knowledge, there might actually be a chance to finally save the princess.

I found myself wanting to dive deeper into this world and wishing this book was longer and the story more complex, but the way it's written seems more younger YA and very accessible to readers who don't usually do fantasy, so I can appreciate why it's a lighter book. It's definitely super creative and beautiful and I would recommend it. I had such a wonderful time reading it and got chills more than once just because of the beauty of the writing.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Makiia Lucier is a masterful storyteller. I'll read anything she ever writes. I was really impressed by her book, A Year of the Reaper, and Dragonfruit sounds like nothing I've ever read, so I personally contacted the publisher for an ARC. I'm glad they offered it to me!

Dragonfruit is a superb YA fantasy with a compelling main character, wonderful world-building, great character development, and at its core, beautifully conveyed themes. Makiia Lucier delivers another magical story that stands out in the oversaturated market of YA fantasy.

It follows Hanalei, a girl who grew up in exile because of her father's crime. A girl without a family and without a home who then got abused during her forced child labor times. A girl who is fascinated by seadragons and who studies them with awe and reverence and respect! They're not "it" to her; they have their personalities and identities. Hanalei has strong morals, and even when torn, she doesn't make an immoral choice. I loved her values, her grit! She's stubborn and speaks her mind, but she's disrespectful or, well, a brat--for lack of a better word, to be honest. I see her as a role model for young girls--a girl who is passionate about something and who follows her heart and her mind.

The love interest is her childhood friend and Prince of Tamarind, Sam. I also loved Sam! It's just so refreshing to see a love interest who isn't a secretive broody person (though, I do love them!). Sam is a charming, dedicated son and prince, loyal to his friends and family. He's a good guy, you know? And while I love my broody characters, we need to see more good people like genuinely good people with morals and kindness, especially now as the world turns all the more bleak and brutal.

The worldbuilding is MESMERIZING. We have rich Pacific Island mythology and a matriarchal society! SEADRAGONS!!!!!! We have SEADRAGONS!!!! Everything in this book was beautiful and authentic and MAGICAL.

The plot had some surprising twists, but to be honest, I'd be in awe even if we just sat down by the beach and watched seadragons and dolphins play. What impressed me (apart from the great characters and amazing worldbuilding) was how the author weaved the themes with the plot so seamlessly as if it was effortless. I relished how we saw the price the magic has and its different forms, and above all, I cherished the second chances we gave the characters. We don't see it often. Not simply mercy, but forgiveness and unconditional second chances.

A brilliant YA fantasy that I devoured and kept thinking about in between my reading sessions. Compelling, magical, and a must read. I sincerely hope that teens discover this beautiful story and a see a girl passionate for studying and for her beliefs and characters who find a home and a second chance if they need it.

There was so much to love in this book - the lush island setting, familial ties, animal companions, and the strength the characters had in dire settings. However, the amount of animal death and abuse/captivity makes it hard for me to recommend this book to teens. There was all of the dragons kept in captivity, the baby dragons being consumed, the death of the dog, and then the feeding of the prince's bat companion to unsuspecting people. It was too much.

Content Warning: violence

I was attracted to this book because of the book cover and it’s inspired by Pacific Islander mythology which is so rare to see in books! And since I live in Hawaii, the premise really called to me and I wanted to see how dragons fit into this story.

The seadragons and the lore about the dragonfruit eggs were pretty interesting. Hanalei has a connection to them and everyone is hunting these dragon eggs. The sentient tattoos turning into animals was also really cool. I think the world-building was very creative and I liked seeing the Pacific Islands represented in the characters and landscape. There is a lot of adventure as they searched for these eggs, they even have to deal with pirates.

As far as the characters though, I can’t say I connected to anyone. I did like Sam and his relationship with his grandmother, because family is important in Pacific Islander culture, so I liked that it was present in this book and nice that the Tamarind throne is ruled by a matriarch.

It’s promoted as romantic fantasy but I felt like there was no romance at all, so this one felt like it would be perfect for teen readers and younger young adults or those that like minimal romance in their fantasies.

My Thoughts:

This story has great world-building and the story is filled with adventure with seadragons and pirates but I was left wanting more. I didn’t really connect to the characters and I really wish there was more to the romance since it’s billed as a romantic fantasy.

Seadragons. Sentient tattoos. Magical island. Need I say more? This book was a fun YA adventure filled with Pacific Islander mythology, and honestly, I couldn’t put it down at times. 🐉

The book follows 18 year old Hanalei as she follows pods of seadragons for a living. She’s resourceful, practical, and yet so wonderfully optimistic. Her past is something that has really defined her present, and while we get wonderful glimpses of her life in Tamarind before she left, I do wish we had gotten a bit more of her past with the nasty Captain Bragadin. Not going to lie, I kept seeing Moana whenever I pictured Hanalei, and it was a conscious effort not to constantly mix the two up. 🤣

Sam is the second protagonist of the book, and the Prince of Tamarind. He provided a wonderful perspective of the events that took place in Tamarind after Hanalei had to leave, while also being a fantastic love interest for Hanalei. This couple is definitely for those who love old childhood friends to lovers. His marking, Fetu, was just plain adorable and the outcome for him was so sad that I felt Sam’s outrage. 🦇

All in all, I had a blast reading this and would definitely recommend it for those looking for a Pacific Islander mythology inspired book! The world is lush, the characters unforgettable and engaging, and the plot engrossing to the point you forget you’re reading. Also would recommend to those who adore Moana. 🐉

Big thank you goes to NetGalley and Clarion Books for accepting my request in exchange for an honest review, and to the author, Makiia Lucier, for writing such a fun and wonderfully written mythology inspired book! ❤️

Publication date: April 9!

Overall: 4.75/5 ⭐️

This book caught my attention mainly for that cover. STUNNING. Once I read the synopsis, I was even more intrigued. I've never read a Pacific Island inspired fantasy so this was so unique. I loved the lore of the sea dragons and the dragonfruit. I was quite surprised at how vicious these dragons are, I loved it. I loved the tattoo animal familiars and how they were utilized but oh my gosh break my heart. The family dynamics were interesting and I enjoyed the friendship between Sam and Hanalei. This story ended in a way that works well as a standalone but could also be part of a series. I'd love it to be a standalone as we don't get enough of those. The only things that didn't work for me were the writing and the marketing of this book. The writing is very choppy in the beginning There were too many commas used. The author wrote sentences and chopped them up with descriptions or info that didn't need to be added. The info was often an explanation or description of very obvious situations that didn't need to be dumbed down or repeated. Such as and this is just an example not actually in the story but similar concept; the dragon opened its mouth, wide and fearsome, ready to attack. We've already been told that the dragons are large and scary so adding the "wide and fearsome" isn't needed and sounded choppy as I was reading. The beginning had so many sentences structured like that. Thankfully it got better as the story progressed. I've also seen this marketed as a fantasy romance, it's not. There isn't a romance in this story by any stretch of the imagination. Yes Sam and Hanalei obviously have feelings for one another but beyond a brief kiss, they felt like nothing more than a platonic friendship I'm not saying this needs spice to be a romance not at all, but there does need to be more romantic moments than simply being in the same space. It feels like it could grow into a romance but no this isn't romance. All in all a unique story that I'd highly recommend and i would read more form this author. Four stars.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the opportunity to read this book. This is my honest opinion..

Amazing new adventure. Pirates, Sea dragons, odd magic all in this book. It's dual POV between a girl who's been exiled and a prince looking for a way to help his family. It has a small romance subplot. It has grand adventure with a prince and a girl against pirates. And who doesn't love dragons even if they don't breath fire. The character development is amazing. The interactions have you giggling. It is a well thought out world with it's minimal but powerful magic. The cover throws you off about the story but if you like island adventures you will love this book.

Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier - ebook ARC

It’s necessary to tell you that as I read this book, it was 28 degrees and snowing. Why do I tell you that? Because this book truly transported me to a place I would much rather be. The lush world of Tamarind, richly inspired by Pacific Island Mythology, is a world I want to live in. I could smell the smells, I could hear the waves, and I could feel the sense of community in this place. I didn’t want to leave. Oh and did I mention, we have seadragons, magic markings, mythical creatures, a quest for a cure that ails the princess, and romance???? I freaking loved this book.

Dragonfruit is the egg of a Seadragon and is said to have the magical ability to right any wrong. Illness, loss, etc… but we quickly learn that magic has a price. You think you are willing to pay it, until you realize the cost was too great for any one person to bear. The main female character is Hanalei. Her family provides aid and council to the matriarchal society of Tamarind. One day the princess and Hanalei are poisoned. One wakes from the illness and one doesn’t. Hanalei’s father, desperate to save her, steals a dragonfruit and saves his daughter, but now Hanalei and her father are forced to flee. The price for the magic leaves Hanalei in exile and alone. She decides she needs to right the wrong and try to find another dragonfruit and save the princess. She studies the seadragons and roams the islands. She has an opportunity to get back home and she is reacquainted with the Prince she knew as a boy. Togertyher they fight to save the matriarchy, his family and they find love… among other surprises.

This book is YA Fantasy at its best. It has such a beautiful blend of character development and plot. The world unfolds in my minds eye and I want to be there, smelling the spice harvest and playing with Viti and Fetu… Fetu for life! The pace is perfect, unfolds beautifully. I love the redemption arcs of a few of the characters, I loved the way the magic just seamlessly poured out onto the page. It felt so real and natural I forgot some of this stuff isn’t real! Lol. I loved Year of the Reaper so when I saw the Makiia had a new book I had to request it. I’m so glad I did. She is solidified as an Auto-Buy author for me now and can’t wait for more!

I truly enjoyed the plot of this novel. The ending felt a bit rushed in some areas but overall it was a great story.

I was (still am) obsessed with Lucier's last book, Year of the Reaper, and am equally obsessed with Dragonfruit even though the two books are wildly different. The sea dragon aspect will fit in nicely with the dragon resurgence caused by Fourth Wing, and the book's foundation in a non-Western culture is refreshing. Lucier particularly excels at writing gentle romance--there's no love triangle or dramatic fits of passion. I feel comfortable suggesting her books to younger fans of fantasy who may not want a really intense or graphic love story.

THIS is the only dragon book I want to hear people going crazy over! Dragonfruit is unique, with lots of action, amazing characters and filled with Polynesian folklore/ mythology.

In the old tales, it is written that the egg of a seadragon, dragonfruit, holds within it the but 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. 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 has 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.

I loved Hanalei so much! She was fierce, kind, and intelligent. She is a great female main character that I think a lot of young adults will thoroughly enjoy getting to know. I also really enjoyed getting to know Sam and how much he respected Hanalei.

I really enjoyed this but wish the ending was more clear… is there going to be another book or not?! The book wrapped things up but left a few things loose that could technically be picked up in another book so I hope there is another!!

Thank you to Harper Collins for giving me an ARC of this.

I’m not sure I have the adequate language to express just how much I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This is one of my favorite reads so far this year and it has convinced me to go back to Lucier’s backlog. Not only is it a fantastic plot wise but Lucier is a strong storyteller. I was immediately hooked from the very beginning and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I found myself become found of the characters.

Not only is this wonderful book about Pacific Islander mythology, it explores grief and the cost of all things we hope and strive for. What are we willing to give in exchange for something that may seem unattainable? What is the price of that? What are the repercussions on those dreams and brining them to fruition?

There are so many strengths in this book but I think Lucier’s ability to make sure that all of her characters feel fully breathed into is a testament to her craft as a writer and I cannot wait to read more. While I’m satisfied with the ending, I could read a sequel. Or perhaps more set in this wonderful lush world.

If you love:

(Sea) Dragons
Adventure
Pacific Islander Mythology
Found Family
Twists & Turns
Evil and Morally grey
Gods that may or may not be listening

Then this is definitely the book for you. Please read this!!!!