That Which Feeds Us: A Sunnie Reads Select

A Hawaiian Gothic

De: Keala Kendall

Narrado por: Sara Malia Hatfield

A Sunnie Reads Select • A native Hawaiian teen travels to a luxury island resort in search of her missing twin and uncovers the dark side of paradise, in this riveting supernatural thriller.

“This astounding book is both a finger pointed directly at the rotting heart of colonial greed and a truly heart-pounding mystery.” —Andrew Joseph White, New York Times bestselling author of Compound Fracture

“A striking Hawaiian gothic that is as terrifying as it is emotionally resonant.” —Jihyun Yun, author of And the River Drags Her Down

For the world’s wealthiest, Kōpaʻa Island Resort is more than a destination. It’s the ultimate escape. With no cell service or Wi-Fi, the Hawaiian island is a coveted wellness retreat renowned for its persimmon orchard and promises of rejuvenation.

But their dream vacation is Lehua’s nightmare. When her twin sister, Ohia, goes missing, Lehua follows her trail to Kōpaʻa to find her. Instead, Lehua is cut off from civilization—and help—after the island’s boat leaves without her, stranding her with the resort’s lavish guests and enigmatic staff.

As Lehua investigates Ohia’s disappearance, she discovers her missing sister isn’t the island’s only mystery. Kōpaʻa’s rich exterior and sweet persimmons hide its dark plantation past. And Lehua can’t ignore the dreams haunting her each night—nor the warning telling her to leave the island at once. To uncover what happened to Ohia, Lehua will have to unearth the island’s bloody history and face the horrors that lurk within its sugarcane fields—or risk being consumed by them.

Sharply observed and gorgeously written, That Which Feeds Us explores the true cost of paradise as Lehua must fight to reclaim the land, the stories, and the very souls of her people.

Hawaiian Storyteller

Hawaiians always love a good spooky story. That one was creepy too! It was a good spin of different cultures.

The Story

I just finished this month’s Book Club pick, That Which Feeds Us, hosted by Monique at @theroomiesdigest.

For a debut novel? The author absolutely understood the assignment.

This story is equal parts eerie, mysterious, and unsettling, with a fascinating look at the bond between twins and just how far people will go to survive. But beneath the creepy atmosphere is something with real bite. The novel weaves in the history of colonialism in Hawaiʻi, the racism endured by Native Hawaiians, and the exploitation of both the people and the land. Turns out imperialism ruins more than vacations.

A horror novel with something to say is always a win for me. I’ll definitely be picking up whatever this author writes next.

Compelling tale of the horrors of colonialism

The performance was phenomenal. This was an eye opening look, into what life is like for modern Hawaiians.

Full of history, horror, and mystery!!

"That Which Feeds Us" by Keala Kendall is a powerful Hawaiian Gothic that expertly blends supernatural suspense with the island's complex history ..as you follow the FMC to find her twin sister.
As a Caucasian reader, this novel offered a valuable and eye-opening opportunity to re-examine historical narratives, confronting the harsh realities of colonialism, including the impact of missionaries and the destruction of cultures and their burial sites. It's a gripping story that makes the reader reflect deeply on the past while delivering a truly unsettling thriller. It is giving eerie vibes!!! Perfect for the spooky summer time reader.

So thank you, Keala Kendall, for writing this book. It allowed me the opportunity for a Google deep dive into rich Hawaiian history and the horrors of colonialism. Please write another!!

6 star read for blending creativity, history, and culture! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

1,000 STARS

THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I HAVE READ ALL YEAR! As a Kanaka, this book was phenomenal, but I also think anyone can enjoy this story. I read this book in one sitting as a busy mom of 2, which is hard to do, so I always appreciate when I can do that. Even though it was a shorter story, it was packed with so much history of our people and of the main characters. I don't personally know what it is like to grow up away from the islands, but as a Kanaka who left to pursue College and a Career elsewhere, it resonated with me when Keala highlighted how the islands called Lehua and Ohia, as well as all the other Hawaiians before them, home. So much history packed into such few pages, it is truly a masterpiece! I saw the story unraveling like a movie in my head. I truly hope the right folks approach Keala about making this into a production! I will never stop talking about this book. Adding Keala as an automatic buy author to my list!!