Reviews

The Dragonfly Sea by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor

rissaleighs's review

3.0

The Dragonfly Sea is a coming of age story richly steeped in setting. We follow the heroine, Ayaana, across a decade or so and three continents. When I began the book, I had no concept of coastal east Africa, but now I feel as though I could find my way around Pate Island like an old resident. This book is wonderfully vivid.

So why only three stars? I guess I just struggled to connect to the characters. In some ways Ayaana grew more opaque as the story wore on. The characters seemed to speak on riddles and react in hyperbole. As a reader, I also wanted more closure around certain characters. I loved the beginning of this story, but starting with the voyage to China, I kind of struggled to keep in step.

It's a beautiful book, though. I just didn't love it.

I received a free digital ARC of this book through the Penguins First Reads program in exchange for an honest review. :)

gathonik's review

4.0

What a beautiful book! Yvonne can really write and I felt totally transported by scents, sights and this expansive story. It did feel a little long in some parts but as a whole it was a wonderfully complex story.

morganbellee's review

5.0

One of the most beautiful books I have ever read

syllareads's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

wildblackberrydays's review

5.0

One of my all time favourites!

curer_bell's review

adventurous emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

clarie's review

adventurous emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

4.0

bootlegdarklord's review

challenging dark emotional reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Incredible and beautiful prose that sometimes makes it a bit difficult to understand what’s actually happening.  Every character is very well realized and the settings Ayaana goes through feel very dreamlike 

kitwhelan's review

4.0

Beautiful and immersive. It does take a while to get into the prose, which is flowery and often switches between multiple languages, but at about 20% in I was in the flow and enjoying it. It is a long read, at times I had to force my way through a chapter, and yet somehow the ending seemed almost abrupt. But it was a very satisfying journey.

Trigger warnings for literally everything you could think of.

jrobinw's review

5.0

I want more stars. What a beautifully written book.