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Dragonfruit

Makiia Lucier

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“A mesmerizing, captivating Pacific Islands-inspired fantasy.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review).

“(D)azzles from start to finish.” — Publishers Weekly.

A “lush, captivating fantasy.” — Booklist.

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 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 as they battle enemies both near and far, there is another danger they cannot escape...that of the dragonfruit itself.

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Posts about this title from Celestial

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 11

let’s chat about horror, fantasy, and science fiction reads by Pacific Islander authors!

📚 books mentioned: - That Which Feeds Us by Keala Kendall - Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier - Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto

👗💄: - dress is from Anthropologie, rented from Nuuly - eyeshadow is The Spring Symphony Palette from Dandy Lion Cosmetics and The Lord of the Rings Middle Earth Palette from Glamlite - shimmer is from Ourbella (Midsummer) - eyeliner is Vegan Longwear Eyeliner (Minty) from Pacifica Beauty - mascara is Lash Extensions XL from Milani Cosmetics - lip combo is Lip Liner Stay-n (After Party) from Sacheu Beauty and Hyper Shine Glossy Lipstick (Melrose Place) from Colourpop - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!) Thank you to Underlined for the gifted copy!

#pacificislanderbooks #hawaiianbooks #aapibooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @getunderlined @clarionbooks @harpercollins @harpervoyagerus @anthropologie @dandylionsco @glamlite @ourbella.us @milanicosmetics @sacheubeauty @colourpopcosmetics

books by pacific islander authors • books by hawaiian authors • hawaiian science fiction • hawaiian horror • pacific islander fantasy • fantasy books • science fiction books • speculative books • horror books • weird books • experimental books • unique books • diverse books • Clarion Books • HarperCollins • HarperVoyager

3 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Dec 30 2025

💭 do you have any goals for 2026?

happy (almost) new year! here are some books about reconciliation, healing, or just generally fresh starts. three very different tones, too!

📚 books mentioned: - Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier - The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo - Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife by Deston J. Munden

👗💄: - dress is from CeliaB Designer, rented from Nuuly - top eyeshadow is 3 Sparklestiks from Half Magic - bottom eyeshadow is You Make Me Happy Palette from KimChi Chic Beauty - lip combo is Lippie Pencil (Twisted) from Colourpop) and PhD Hybrid Lip Glaze (Fig) from Haus Labs - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)

thanks to Bindery Books for the gifted copy!

#fantasybooks #fantasybookrecs #bookrecs #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @clarionbooks @henryholtbooks @harperkids @bindery_books @celiabdesigner @nuuly @halfmagicbeauty @kimchichicbeauty @colourpopcosmetics @hauslabs

fantasy books • fantasy book recs • new years books • fresh start book recommendations • diverse books • Bindery Books • Clarion Books • Henry Holt and Co

3 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Aug 16 2025

i would, unfortunately, gruesomely perish in these worlds. but i would have fun first (sometimes).

📚 books mentioned: - Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase - These Vengeful Gods by Gabe Cole Novoa - Killer on the Road by Stephen Graham Jones - Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier - I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me by Jamison Shea

thank you to Get Underlined and Saga Press for the gifted copies!

#fantasybooks #fantasybookrecs #horrorbooks #horrorbookrecs #bookishopinions #GetUnderlinedPartner #SagaSays #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #diversebookstagram #nycbookstagram #bookstagram #nycbookstagram @erewhonbooks @getunderlined @sagapressbooks @clarionbooks @fiercereads @harpercollins

4 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Aug 2 2025

fantasy books without spice (and minimal romance overall)!

but i know people will still ask if there’s spice every darn time. 😭

📚 books mentioned: - To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose - The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings - May a Divine Awaken by Michael Tinsley - The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong - The Undetectables by Courtney Smyth - Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko - The Pomegranate Gate by Ariel Kaplan - Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott - The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar - The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson - When Among Crows by Veronica Roth - Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier - Somadina by Akwaeke Emezi - Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger - The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings

#fantasybooks #fantasybookrecs #favoritefantasybooks #noromancebooks #nospicebooks #isitspicy #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram #nycbookstagram

14 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jul 5 2025

what book recs do YOU have for persephone? 🐇

what book recs do YOU have for persephone? 🐇 (also, do I need to do this for artemis next???)

📚 books mentioned: - Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier - Tale of the Flying Forest by R.M. Romero - The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar

thank you to Little, Brown Books and Tordotcom for the free copies!

#fantasybooks #fantasybookreviews #fantasybookrecs #bestfantasybooks #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #nycbookstagram #bookstagram @clarionbooks @theshelfstuff @harpercollins @littlebrownyoungreaders @tordotcompub @tordotcom

3 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • May 1 2025

Hi Celestial friends!\ \ Three quick updates for you all today.\ \ First, our May book club ( Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier) officially kicks off today! The forums are up and running so you can discuss with spoilers as you finish each part. \ \ Next, the results from our book club summer polls are in! Here's what we're reading this summer:\ \ June: Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger\ \ July: Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant\ \ August: Metal From Heaven by August Clarke\ \ And last but FAR from least, our next readathon starts on Saturday! This is a Sat/Sun/Mon readathon where you join for as much as you can and read as much as you can. It's fun and casual and text-based.\ \ All of these community events take place in our Discord, so make sure you've joined (click here) if you haven't already. :)

Book clubs and readathon updates!

4 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 26 2025

May book club!

continue to read with intention (and delight and whimsy and all that good stuff) by joining the Celestial book club!! we have amazing picks, i promise!

📚 books mentioned: - Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier - Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase - Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko - Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei

#bookclub #bookcommunity #pacificislander #pacificislanderbooks #celestial #binderybooks #diversebookclub #fantasybooks #fantasybookclub #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @clarionbooks @theshelfstuff @harpercollins @bindery_books

5 books

Posts about this book from across Bindery

Tattooed Library\ \ Emily\ \ • Jul 16

Join for free

\ \ Upgrade for $5 or login](https://tattooedlibrary.binderybooks.com/item/XI1UkC51kFhry3sl855j/)

EARLY ACCESS youtube video

hey y'all, happy thursday!! new youtube video is live for early access! ILY <3

13 books

Tattooed Library\ \ Emily\ \ • Jun 18

Join for free

\ \ Upgrade for $5 or login](https://tattooedlibrary.binderybooks.com/item/RrRksAmzi6NxFzS4nxe6/)

EARLY ACCESS TO MY YOUTUBE VIDEO: MID-YEAR BOOK TAG

hi besties! i can't believe we're halfway through the year but i love watching everyone do this challenge, so i figured i'd join in this year! the prompts are down below if you want to make your own video, or want to answer in the comments!!

mid year book tag 🏷️ 1. best book you've read so far 2. best Sequel you've read so far 3. new release you haven't read but want to 4. most anticipated release this year 5. biggest disappointment so far this year 6. biggest surprise so far this year 7. favorite new author--debut or new to you 8. new fictional crush 9. new favorite character 10. book that made you cry 11. book that made you happy 12. what book(s) do you still need to read?

10 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jun 11

let’s chat about horror, fantasy, and science fiction reads by Pacific Islander authors!

📚 books mentioned: - That Which Feeds Us by Keala Kendall - Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier - Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto

3 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Dec 30 2025

💭 do you have any goals for 2026?

happy (almost) new year! here are some books about reconciliation, healing, or just generally fresh starts. three very different tones, too!

📚 books mentioned: - Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier - The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo - Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife by Deston J. Munden

thanks to Bindery Books for the gifted copy!

fantasy books • fantasy book recs • new years books • fresh start book recommendations • diverse books • Bindery Books • Clarion Books • Henry Holt and Co

3 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Aug 16 2025

i would, unfortunately, gruesomely perish in these worlds. but i would have fun first (sometimes).

thank you to Get Underlined and Saga Press for the gifted copies!

4 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Aug 2 2025

fantasy books without spice (and minimal romance overall)!

but i know people will still ask if there’s spice every darn time. 😭

#fantasybooks #fantasybookrecs #favoritefantasybooks #noromancebooks #nospicebooks #isitspicy #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram #nycbookstagram

14 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Jul 5 2025

what book recs do YOU have for persephone? 🐇

what book recs do YOU have for persephone? 🐇 (also, do I need to do this for artemis next???)

📚 books mentioned: - Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier - Tale of the Flying Forest by R.M. Romero - The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar

thank you to Little, Brown Books and Tordotcom for the free copies!

3 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • May 1 2025

Book clubs and readathon updates!

4 books

Elsewhen\ \ Emma Gardner\ \ • Apr 30 2025

Join for free

Poll:\ \ Vote for May’s Book!\ \ Hi all! The time has come to vote for the Elsewhen Book Club pick for May. \ \ (I am once again traveling at the end of the month, visiting family, so I’ll do my best with the formatting but can make no promises.)\ \ Vote in the poll attached to this post to make your preference known!\ \ Option 1: Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio\ \ Blurb: Hadrian Marlowe, a man revered as a hero and despised as a murderer, chronicles his tale in the galaxy-spanning debut of the Sun Eater series, merging the best of space opera and epic fantasy.\ \ Option 2: Blood of the Old Kings by Sung-Il Kim\ \ Blurb: From award-winning Korean author Sung-il Kim & translated by the world-renowned Anton Hur, Blood of the Old Kings begins an epic journey unlike any other.\ \ In an Empire run on necromancy, dead sorcerers are the lifeblood. Their corpses are wrapped in chains and drained of magic to feed the unquenchable hunger for imperial conquest.\ \ Option 3: Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier\ \ Blurb: From acclaimed author Makiia Lucier, a dazzling, romantic fantasy inspired by Pacific Island mythology.

Vote for May’s Book Club Book

3 books

Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 26 2025

May book club!

continue to read with intention (and delight and whimsy and all that good stuff) by joining the Celestial book club!! we have amazing picks, i promise!

5 books

Mareas\ \ Marines\ \ • Jul 2 2024

Join for free

june reading wrap-up

I very much muscled my way out of a reading slump 💪🏽

11 books