The Dragonfly Sea

by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
The Dragonfly Sea cover
Good Books rating 4.13
Literary Fiction
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99
Amazon
Format/Price Check
Technical
  • ID: 6620
  • Added: 2025-11-27
  • Updated: 2025-11-28
  • ISBN: 9781914613081
  • Published: 2022-05-06
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

On the remote island of Pate, off the coast of Kenya, Ayaana lives a solitary life with her mother, Munira. Their world changes when Muhidin, a sailor and outsider, becomes a father figure to Ayaana. This new bond sets Ayaana on a dramatic voyage to the Far East, where she encounters new friends, faces enemies, and navigates a landscape of beauty and violence. Along the way, she is seduced by a charming but unreliable Turkish businessman, rediscovers her devotion to the sea, and ultimately finds her own place in a complex world./n/nThe Dragonfly Sea is a richly woven tale that explores themes of identity, belonging, and the transformative power of the sea. Ayaana's journey is not just physical but also deeply personal, as she grapples with love, loss, and the search for meaning. The novel is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring allure of the ocean.

Reviews
Series Book Lover · 2022-11-29
transcendent 4.50

The novel is praised for its lyrical prose and compassionate storytelling, offering a transcendent tale of adventure and difficult choices. The reviewer highlights the book's exploration of fate, mortality, and love.

The reviewer was deeply moved by the book's lyrical and compassionate narrative, which they found transcendent. They appreciated the exploration of complex themes such as fate, mortality, and love, which are woven into a story of adventure and difficult choices. The setting and characters are vividly brought to life, making the reading experience rich and immersive. The reviewer also noted the book's unerring sense of compassion, which adds depth to the storytelling.

Quick quotes

    Told with a glorious lyricism and an unerring sense of compassion, The Dragonfly Sea is a transcendent story of adventure, fraught choices, and poignant explorations of fate, mortality, and love.

    The novel's setting on the island of Pate is vividly depicted, adding to the richness of the story.

    The characters are beautifully crafted, making their journeys and struggles deeply resonant.

Penelope Walker Writer · Penelope Walker · 2019-06-30
vibrant 4.00

The reviewer describes the novel as a rich and vibrantly sensual treat, set primarily on the island of Pate. They praise the book's exploration of cultural and political themes.

Penelope Walker found the novel to be a rich and vibrantly sensual treat, particularly appreciating its setting on the island of Pate. She highlights the book's exploration of cultural and political themes, which are seamlessly woven into the narrative. The reviewer also notes the vivid and sensual descriptions that bring the setting to life, making it a compelling read. The characters and their journeys are deeply engaging, adding to the overall richness of the story.

Quick quotes

    A rich and vibrantly sensual treat. This novel is set primarily on the island of Pate, part of the Lamu Archipelago, off the coast of Kenya.

    The cultural and political themes are explored with depth and nuance, adding layers to the story.

    The vivid and sensual descriptions make the setting come alive, immersing the reader in the world of the characters.

Goodreads · 2019-03-12
stunning 3.90

The novel is described as a vibrant and stunning coming-of-age story about a young woman's journey to find her place in the world. The reviewer appreciates the book's exploration of fate, mortality, and love.

The reviewer on Goodreads describes the novel as a vibrant and stunning coming-of-age story, focusing on a young woman's journey to find her place in a vast world. They appreciate the book's exploration of themes such as fate, mortality, and love, which are presented in a poignant and thought-provoking manner. The reviewer also notes the rich and immersive storytelling, which makes the reading experience deeply engaging. The characters and their struggles are beautifully depicted, adding depth to the narrative.

Quick quotes

    A vibrant, stunning coming-of-age novel about a young woman struggling to find her place in a vast world.

    The exploration of fate, mortality, and love is poignant and thought-provoking.

    The rich and immersive storytelling makes the reading experience deeply engaging.

Appears in Lists