Sharks in the Time of Saviours

Sharks In the Time of Saviours by Kawai Strong Washburn is technically my first read of 2020 and what a truly enthralling read. So much so I stayed up way past midnight to finish it! This is a book that needs to be experienced, to be breathed in to your soul and made a part of you. It is one I can see myself reading again and again over the years.
The story takes place in Hawai’i, O'ahu, and the mainland. The writing is so transportive I felt like I was back visiting again for a short time. It is told from the viewpoint of the Flores family with Malia (mother), Dean and Nainoa (sons), and Kaui (daughter) being the main narrators. The islands were a main character as well and had plenty to say throughout. The Flores' are all such exquisitely flawed individuals but much like a parent loves their children no matter what, as a reader you are sometimes angry with them but never stop cherishing them. I really don't want to talk about the plot at all. Reading the synopsis is enough if you must but absolutely try going into this with no knowledge. You will be handsomely rewarded.
I loved Malia's voice the most. Her knowledge of things connected to their ancestors was so grounding. There is also this delicious sense of foreboding coursing throughout. Most of the time we want the characters we love to run away from danger, to survive. In this case I was urging them forward into what, I really had no idea. When this book is released in April, grab a copy and settle in.
Thank you to Canongate and Netgalley for an advanced review copy. All opinions are absolutely my own.

Sharks in the Time of Saviours is the story of a family, a miraculous son, and life in modern Hawaii. When Nainoa is seven, he is saved from drowning by sharks, and his parents see this as a sign things are looking up for them. But things aren't simple for Nainoa, and for his siblings Dean and Kaui who both feel like he has a special place in their parents' affections. Each of them travels to mainland USA looking for something, but things don't work out as their parents hope.

It is difficult to know what to expect from this novel, which starts with a kind of mystical atmosphere as Nainoa is saved and becomes a kind of myth, but also looks at the struggles of economic downturn, and later the tarnished American dream. The magical elements, though vital to the narrative and the blended atmosphere of myth and harsh reality, are much less prevalent than you might assume, which works well with the different characters' senses of the myth elements of the book. Though Nainoa's narrative is the more unusual, it is through Dean and Kaui that you get a real sense of the novel's power as their connections to Hawaii and their family become complicated and change, and the dreams or goals they once had become untenable.

This is a novel for people who like stories that combine sadness and harsh circumstances with interesting explorations of place, myth, and people. For many readers it'll give new ways to think about Hawaii and how people might interact with it as a home and what they might seek in mainland USA.

A simple story at first sight. A boy is saved from drowning by sharks and his family see this as a sign of good things to come. However, his siblings feel that they are now not as loved or as cherished as their brother and resentment starts to grow. The sons leave Hawaii and travel to the USA to make something of themselves and it’s there that the story takes on another turn and twist.

It’s actually hard to fully describe this novel as it’s more like a dream sequences in many ways. It’s magical and mystical but look closely and there’s some serious topics too. The failed American dream, the poverty caused by economic downturn,and the struggles within a family.

I really enjoyed this. Tropical light and shade in one novel. Layered family drama with a stunning backdrop. Recommended.

I have been transported by this novel. There's magical realism and a generational family saga against the dramatic background of the Hawaiian islands; the legends and power of Hula made my head spin. One for lovers of Karen Russell and the kind of novel that is a starting point for further exploration of the cultural history of the islands it is set on.

This book intrigued me from the start. Powerful imagery wrapped in the myths of Hawaii whilst telling the intertwined story of siblings and their parents struggling to make their own unique ways in life. There is magic and reality clashing and merging at every point of the story and as the reader you root for all the characters to succeed, find their path and maybe happiness. This is a coming of age book with a difference - powerful story telling that stays with you long after you have read the last page.

This is a wonderful, heartbreaking drama about a Hawaiian family, with a touch of magical realism.  Nainoa was conceived on a night when spirits, Night Marchers, walked the ridge of the valley, and from an early age it was obvious to his parents that the boy was special, maybe even touched by the Hawaiian gods. 
An engrossing and moving story about myths and legends of Hawaii and, ultimately, the importance of family.