Overview

In The Dragonfly Sea, we follow Ayaana, a young girl growing up on the island of Pate off the Kenyan coast. She lives with her mother, Munira, in a place shaped by tides, stories, and quiet rules. When Muhidin, a sailor with a shadowed past, arrives, Ayaana’s sense of the world begins to stretch. His presence opens questions about her father, her future, and what lies beyond the horizon. As Ayaana grows older, her path takes her far from home, moving across the Indian Ocean and into China and Turkey, where she must learn who she is when the island is no longer beneath her feet.

Writing & Voice

We found the writing slow and deliberate, shaped by the rhythm of the sea. Owuor’s language is rich but not rushed, full of texture, memory, and feeling. The voice often feels reflective, as if the story is being carried on the wind rather than pushed forward. It asks us to read patiently and take in the mood as much as the plot.

Characters

Ayaana stands at the centre of the novel, thoughtful, stubborn, and searching. Munira is a complex mother, protective and burdened by the weight of her choices. Muhidin is both a guide and a mystery, someone who brings change simply by being present. Together, their lives show how family can be formed through care as much as blood.

Themes

This is a novel about belonging and movement. We see how history, trade, and migration shape lives along the East African coast. The sea is always there, as livelihood, boundary, and memory. Identity in this story is not fixed. It shifts with travel, language, and loss, raising questions about where home truly begins and ends.

What Worked

• Sense of place: the island of Pate and the wider ocean world feel vivid and grounded.
• Scope: the story moves across countries while staying focused on one woman’s inner life.
• Language: the prose is careful and often beautiful without feeling ornamental.

Minor Quibbles

• The pace is measured and reflective, which may feel slow for readers who want a tighter plot.
• Some sections lean more toward atmosphere than action.

Final Thoughts

We found The Dragonfly Sea to be a thoughtful and absorbing novel, rooted in place but open to the wider world. It is a story about how journeys shape us, even when we carry home with us.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.3 / 5)