This review was written for YA Books Central and is being published here with permission.
I received this book via the publisher HarperTEEN. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Into the Sunken City by Dinesh Thiru Published by HarperTEEN on 2024-01-23
Length: 368 pages
Reviewing eARC from the publisher HarperTEEN
Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2024 COYER Unwind
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"Steal-your-breath adventure." —Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Lunar Chronicles
Perfect for fans of Fable and House of Salt and Sorrows, this spectacular YA fantasy adventure debut is like nothing else, featuring a unique twist on Treasure Island, a magnetic second chance romance, and a thrilling heist where the reward is great—but the risks are even greater.
In the slowly sinking city of Coconino, Arizona, the days are long, the money is tight, and the rain never stops.
For Jin Haldar, this life is nothing new—ever since her father died in a diving accident, she’s barely made ends meet for her and her younger sister, Thara.
Enter Bhili: a drifter who offers Jin and Thara the score of a lifetime—a massive stash of gold hidden in the sunken ruins of Las Vegas.
Jin knows it’s too dangerous. She stopped diving after her father’s accident. But when her sister decides to go, Jin’s left with only one choice: to go with her.
A ragtag crew is assembled—including Jin’s annoyingly hot ex-boyfriend. From there, a high-stakes heist ensues that’s beyond even Jin’s wildest fears. Crumbling ruins, sea beasts, corsairs, and a mysterious figure named João Silva all lie in wait. To survive, Jin will have to do what she promised herself she’d never do again: dive.
Breath-taking adventure! Into the Sunken City by debut author Dinesh Thiru is an exciting dystopian retelling of Treasure Island set in a future that sees most of the world underwater and divers are wrecking sunken landmarks and cities. Jin Haldar’s life changed when her father died in a diving accident leaving her in charge of their seaside inn and her younger sister, Thara. They are barely making ends meet, and Jin is terrified that she will be conscripted into the Navy as a way to pay their taxes leaving Thara alone. After a wrecking mission gone wrong, Jin is at her wit’s end until a mysterious corsair shows up and offers a deal she can’t refuse.
I loved almost everything about this book from the characters and Jin’s narration to the adventure and danger of life in this dystopian future. Jin is an interesting character to view this life from. She is still grieving the loss of her father and trying to cope with suddenly being the adult of the house, responsible for her sister and their livelihood, and she is struggling. Her boyfriend’s sudden departure doesn’t help this. She’s angry and feels alone, unable to see what her future holds.
Then Bhili arrives. A drifter and potential corsair, Jin isn’t sure if Bhili can be trusted, but her gold is too much to pass up. Bhili offers two gold coins a month for Jin to allow her to stay. Then after gaining the trust of Thara, she offers more: a chance to divide a large treasure from the sunken city of Las Vegas. Jin, along with her sister Thara, her ex-boyfriend, and his friend, join Bhili on an adventure that promises riches and a way to fulfill her dream: to see the sun.
The plot is incredibly fast-paced. I didn’t want to sit this book down for fear I’d miss something. The world Thiru has created here echoes of the past, but is a desolate future. The clouds have knitted together, and it rains without ending. There is no sun, only stories of what the world was like before. Most of the larger cities and coastlines are gone, sunken into the vast sea, and so the people have turned to diving as a means to survive. The tie-in to Treasure Island created a fantastic read. I can’t speak too much on it though because it’s been about twenty (or more) years since I read so a lot of what I remember of the novel is from The Muppets 😂 However, the thrill of adventure and danger of pirates echoes the source material well and creates an entirely new story to get lost in.
Overall, I really enjoyed Into the Sunken City. This is a fantastic debut! If you are looking for adventure, danger, and romance, look no further. Highly recommend it!
About Dinesh Thiru
Dinesh Thiru is a writer and stay-at-home dad currently living in Barcelona. He grew up in North Carolina, married his college sweetheart from the University of Pennsylvania, and spent over a decade in San Francisco. Dinesh is half-Indian, half-white. He loves the ocean. He used to have other interests, but he swapped them for kids. Those kids are seven, four, and a dog.
I used to read so much dystopian, but don’t as much anymore. However this one has been on my TBR. Glad to hear it is so good! I didn’t realize it was supposed to be a Treasure Island retelling. I’ll have to put it on my list to order for my school library next year. Great review!
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