Sharks in the Time of Saviors | Kawai Strong Washburn

Read If: you want a taste of Hawaiian myth/legend/culture, you're interested in hearing the "hero's" side of the story, you like a good mystery.

It took me a bit to warm up to this book as I was reading it, and right around the time when I was wondering, "How the hell can they kill off this character NOW?!" I realized I was fully in.

Nainoa is definitely blessed? in some way - that's obvious when, after falling off of a boat as a kid, he's returned to his mom by a shark. ("A shiver of sharks" is such beautiful wording.) But even if Nainoa has some kind of supernatural abilities/fate, he still needs to deal with his family, his job as a paramedic, and the weird stagnancy of his life despite having a higher purpose.

This is a great story with an undertone of myth/legend that has characters who are easy to sink into, leaving you feeling as exhausted and weighty as they are. It speaks to expectations, family ties, and loss wonderfully.

Pros: More exposure to Hawaiian culture!

Cons: It took a bit to pull me in and realize how compelling the story truly was.