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neesa_books's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
kayemcie's review against another edition
4.0
Man this brought me back to high school when I read Lord of the Flies. What a really great look at how fragile we as people can be when placed in dire circumstances. I loved reading this book and definitely recommend it!
shoshpursley's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
Ok, but not as good as Beauty Queens. I'd recommend this to those who like the "marooned students trying to survive" genre, but beyond that it won't appeal.
ellieafterall's review against another edition
3.0
this book was enjoyable to read - sort of creepy, but in a slow and sneaky way. it was a really good reading experience, actually, because i didn’t put this book down. i just wish it fleshed out its characters and themes more - there’s nothing more annoying than things that are half-assed. and a majority of this book felt half-assed.
let me use one example so i don’t spoil the book: the title, Damselfly. About 80% (!) into the book, we’re told by Mel and Sam that damselflies are like dragonflies, but more dangerous, and predators that are always looking for their next prey. and you get that metaphor that the author was trying to push there - that Sam, too, was becoming dangerous, except she really isn’t. she doesn’t stand up for the people she loves just as much as she didn’t in the entire first half of the book. she doesn’t take things into her own hands, be fierce, or even do anything resembling a dangerous situation. she follows mel, even till the end. See what I mean? She changed, yes, but she didn’t grow. And it’s frustrating because we could see that natural growth in other characters, yet our mc is still as placid and felt more like a supportive character instead of a main one.
It was still good though! The cover is beautiful. Also random side note but I loved the font in the book, it was so easy to read and also fit the book really well. The writing was entertaining, like I said, but nothing really mind blowing. I’m down to read more books by this author, but I think she can do way better than Sam. If we didn’t get those flashbacks, I really think her voice would’ve been flat and unremarkable.
ALSO IM ANNOYED SHE AND MEL DIDNT DATE ?? their bond is so close and Sam would literally do anything for her ?? (ahem: they’re gay.)
TW for mentions of self harm, domestic abuse, drug abuse and suicidal attempts. And also teenagers being really stupid, but that’s to be expected lmao
let me use one example so i don’t spoil the book: the title, Damselfly. About 80% (!) into the book, we’re told by Mel and Sam that damselflies are like dragonflies, but more dangerous, and predators that are always looking for their next prey. and you get that metaphor that the author was trying to push there - that Sam, too, was becoming dangerous, except she really isn’t. she doesn’t stand up for the people she loves just as much as she didn’t in the entire first half of the book. she doesn’t take things into her own hands, be fierce, or even do anything resembling a dangerous situation. she follows mel, even till the end. See what I mean? She changed, yes, but she didn’t grow. And it’s frustrating because we could see that natural growth in other characters, yet our mc is still as placid and felt more like a supportive character instead of a main one.
It was still good though! The cover is beautiful. Also random side note but I loved the font in the book, it was so easy to read and also fit the book really well. The writing was entertaining, like I said, but nothing really mind blowing. I’m down to read more books by this author, but I think she can do way better than Sam. If we didn’t get those flashbacks, I really think her voice would’ve been flat and unremarkable.
ALSO IM ANNOYED SHE AND MEL DIDNT DATE ?? their bond is so close and Sam would literally do anything for her ?? (ahem: they’re gay.)
TW for mentions of self harm, domestic abuse, drug abuse and suicidal attempts. And also teenagers being really stupid, but that’s to be expected lmao
booksforlosers's review against another edition
4.0
This was less of a survival story and more of a test of human sanity/influence. Throughout the story, the author shows how the teenagers influence each other's decisions, and what unthinkable things they're willing to do to each other when they cannot come to an agreement The protagonist is one of the most neutral forces, but still leans to her best friend, Mel's side, but also finds herself susceptible to the compliments of the ever popular and similarly Indian Rittika, who is confident and controlling, as well as, naturally hate-able from the perspectives of readers. The story flashes back to Samantha's life prior to the plane crash, and shows her broken home and the safety she found in Mel's family. The story in itself was not very dramatic or fast paced, but it had a very solemn mood to it, never humorous or light in writing style, and was somewhat thought-provoking. Unquestionably solid 4 stars.
dleirap's review against another edition
5.0
I have read diverse books before but not one wherein the people of color were the ones who bully. It was perfect. This book covers racism, hypocrisy, representation of the under minority, and something that was opposite White Supremacy but the cruelty and discrimination is all the same.
Damselfly was a good quick read I am surprised why I haven’t heard of this book before but I am partly glad I had the opportunity to read it before it will be a best seller (because it would be and it should). Ms. Chandra Prasad is definitely the author that I would look forward to for more of her works. Her style of writing is amazing. She wrote about the setting like she was painting the jungle, the ocean, the biodiversity, the Sharpe greenhouse, and Mr. Sharpe’s workshop room. They were easily imaginable.
I loved all the characters because they were made as real and relatable people whose decisions and perspective you would love and hate sometimes but know that that would make sense in their point of view because that’s how they were built by the author to think and act.
Let’s talk about Sam first. I liked how she emphatized with her sister. I liked how she hated her dysfunctional family. I liked how she wished she would belong to the Sharpe family instead. I liked how she hated how her bestfriend called her Rockwell. She adored and hated Rittika, I liked it. She clung to her compliments, her beauty, her approval and hated herself for it. I liked it. She’s nowhere near a perfect girl you would look up to and call a hero. She is a teenage girl with her own issues.
Mel and Pablo are my favorite characters. The best friend and the supposed-to-be love interest. I know I should not be labeling them as such because they are far more than that. Mel is the girl I want to be friends with. You could go with her on an adventure, have fun and know a lot of things at the same time. Just what a very capable girl. I liked how she is always determined, knows her way with stuff, and just literally gives zero care about Chester even though he tried to flirt with her (because she an independent girl who couldn’t care less about guys). She just screams girl power to me. Pablo, on the other hand, is the dream. He is courageous, earnest but friendly. More importantly, he is an environmentalist. The moment it was introduced that he was, I immediately knew he was going to be my bias. He could be funny, too. There were moments of him and Sam together wherein I thought there would be something. I was kind of disappointed because my hopeless romantic self somehow wanted for something like that to happen. The disappointment was, however, overcome by the satisfaction for the way things turned out.
I liked the other characters, too. Anne Marie’s vulnerability. Betty’s skillfulness. Chester being not the way you think he is. Rish’s attachment to his sister. Avery and Ming’s attachment to Rittika. Finally, Rittika is the Indian Regina George. Cunning, clever, of course, beautiful. Always the center of attention and wants to stay as that. Pales and Golds. Camp Summerbliss. Conch Lake. The way she names things and the way she persuades, I liked it.
Another thing I liked about this book is Sam and Mel’s friendship. I liked how it was built, broken and fixed again, remaining stronger than ever. This quote just about sums it.
If she and I made it to safety, then we’d make it back together. And if we went down, well, we’d do that together, too. We were sisters, after all. United till the end
The ending was supposed to be unsatisfying to me but I guess what actually happened worked better given the circumstances and the characters so I accepted it as it was.
Reading this book was a thrill. Having questions and having them answered and then unanswered again, making you confused. The guessing of what will happen next, who the enemy is, why this book is called Damselfly. Please just read this book already if you haven’t yet.
Damselfly was a good quick read I am surprised why I haven’t heard of this book before but I am partly glad I had the opportunity to read it before it will be a best seller (because it would be and it should). Ms. Chandra Prasad is definitely the author that I would look forward to for more of her works. Her style of writing is amazing. She wrote about the setting like she was painting the jungle, the ocean, the biodiversity, the Sharpe greenhouse, and Mr. Sharpe’s workshop room. They were easily imaginable.
I loved all the characters because they were made as real and relatable people whose decisions and perspective you would love and hate sometimes but know that that would make sense in their point of view because that’s how they were built by the author to think and act.
Let’s talk about Sam first. I liked how she emphatized with her sister. I liked how she hated her dysfunctional family. I liked how she wished she would belong to the Sharpe family instead. I liked how she hated how her bestfriend called her Rockwell. She adored and hated Rittika, I liked it. She clung to her compliments, her beauty, her approval and hated herself for it. I liked it. She’s nowhere near a perfect girl you would look up to and call a hero. She is a teenage girl with her own issues.
Mel and Pablo are my favorite characters. The best friend and the supposed-to-be love interest. I know I should not be labeling them as such because they are far more than that. Mel is the girl I want to be friends with. You could go with her on an adventure, have fun and know a lot of things at the same time. Just what a very capable girl. I liked how she is always determined, knows her way with stuff, and just literally gives zero care about Chester even though he tried to flirt with her (because she an independent girl who couldn’t care less about guys). She just screams girl power to me. Pablo, on the other hand, is the dream. He is courageous, earnest but friendly. More importantly, he is an environmentalist. The moment it was introduced that he was, I immediately knew he was going to be my bias. He could be funny, too. There were moments of him and Sam together wherein I thought there would be something. I was kind of disappointed because my hopeless romantic self somehow wanted for something like that to happen. The disappointment was, however, overcome by the satisfaction for the way things turned out.
I liked the other characters, too. Anne Marie’s vulnerability. Betty’s skillfulness. Chester being not the way you think he is. Rish’s attachment to his sister. Avery and Ming’s attachment to Rittika. Finally, Rittika is the Indian Regina George. Cunning, clever, of course, beautiful. Always the center of attention and wants to stay as that. Pales and Golds. Camp Summerbliss. Conch Lake. The way she names things and the way she persuades, I liked it.
Another thing I liked about this book is Sam and Mel’s friendship. I liked how it was built, broken and fixed again, remaining stronger than ever. This quote just about sums it.
If she and I made it to safety, then we’d make it back together. And if we went down, well, we’d do that together, too. We were sisters, after all. United till the end
The ending was supposed to be unsatisfying to me but I guess what actually happened worked better given the circumstances and the characters so I accepted it as it was.
Reading this book was a thrill. Having questions and having them answered and then unanswered again, making you confused. The guessing of what will happen next, who the enemy is, why this book is called Damselfly. Please just read this book already if you haven’t yet.