This is a Young Adult Debut novel and I really enjoyed it! Readers follow Marisol through the final weeks of her last year in school when she will be assigned to a permanent assignment in her undersea settlement. Marisol's been underwater on the Aqueous campus for 10 years, she's happy and well adjusted, and dreams of becoming an elite diver, a dangerous position. Prior to this she was adopted in the chaos of a dying earth above the ocean. She's always felt her mother gave her up so she would be sure to have a better life. As she adjusts into her new adult role, Marisol learns some information about the above world that changes everything. She's unsure of what's to come, but she won't keep silent. We are left with a big CLIFFHANGER and I'm left wanting book two now.

The biggest strength of the novel is the fantastic worldbuilding. I was fascinated and really enjoyed all of the descriptions of the sea steading pods created to survive climate disaster. If there is a weakness, it's in the dialogue. Overall, it is a bit stiff and made me feel like I wasn't really reading/listening to teens talk among themselves, but I was able to suspend my ideas and I told myself that theses were all kiddos who learned to interact "under the sea" and of course their language might be different.

The audiobook is read by the author herself and does included 2 musical numbers which were pretty enjoyable (I usually skip right over any added lyrics etc, so if I say I enjoyed it, that's a real endorsement).

one more note- this is true YA. There is no "spice" Marisol and her friends do engage in the usual teen aged crushes, kisses and flirting- but it isn't the main point of the novel, and this is not Ocean based romantasy. I was happy to be immersed in a novel about a normal teen in unusual circumstances, facing normal challenges! Marisol isn't "the chosen one" or a hidden paranormal princess and I must have read too many of those books because I really liked her concerns about dresses, career choices and friends. I think it's an excellent book for kids aged between about 11-16 and very well written for exactly that age group. (and for me...)

Oof, for a YA novel this one is a doozy. It is set on an Earth where humans have ruined things ecologically and people are starving, dehydrated and dying everywhere. made me think about how easily we could be headed down this path ourselves, making me enjoy the book more as I was just sucked into this new underwater world. Marisol is a young child who is adopted on the whim of a childless couple to go to on of the three merstations. Fast forward 10yrs and she is now about to graduate and take her place as a contributing adult, but first she must go through a series of trials to aid in her placement. Marisol is athletic and bright, but also very naive in many ways. Watching her and her friends go through these trials and trying to find their place is captivating. All about the age of 16, they are mature in many ways and immature in just as many. Warning: this book is meant to be a series and ends with a huge cliffhanger. I’m now following the author and wanting to know what’s next

As life on Earth reaches a breaking point and dwindling resources threaten humanity’s survival, a small group of scientists and experts turns to the ocean in search of salvation. Marisol barely remembers her life above the waves, except for the stories her mother used to tell—tales of princesses and dragons whispered as they journeyed across the higher latitudes in a desperate bid to survive.
When they finally arrive at the ocean fortress that promises their only hope, they are met with a grim omen: a stampede of fleeing vehicles. The last surface dwellers are escaping. Life on land has ended.
But fate gives Marisol another chance. She is taken in by an escaping couple—Admiral Blaise and her wife—who become her new family.

Now, as Marisol approaches her sixteenth birthday, she must face the trials that will determine her role in this underwater society—a decision that will shape the rest of her life.
In Aqueous, Shyback’s stunning debut, we are immersed in the intricacies of a vividly imagined undersea world. The author masterfully weaves together history, societal structures, and complex relationships as we follow Marisol and her friends through their trials.
As a dystopian novel, the worldbuilding is truly impressive—rich, detailed, and delivered in a way that feels natural and immersive, never like a dry lesson. The story moves at a brisk pace and builds to a tense ending that will leave you eagerly awaiting the sequel.

thank you to netgalley and red hen press/xeno books for this complimentary copy of their audiobook version of aqueous. i enjoyed myself a lot!

the audiobook was engaging enough and has some musical numbers to go with. this kept me on my toes listening.

this book is the book i would have eaten up especially as a younger teen- post apocalyptic mermaidic type vibes??? please, this is like a wishlist item.

fun read, highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Xeno Books for the advanced listener copy of this audiobook, in exchange for my honest review.

Aqueous is a YA dystopian novel set in an underwater world, where humanity retreated as Earth became uninhabitable. The story follows Marisol, who had to leave her birth mother behind to have a chance at survival underwater with her adoptive parents. Now, a decade later, 16 years old Marisol is undergoing trials to determine her role within the Aqueous community, but hidden truths begin to unravel.

I enjoyed this book! The start had me hooked immediately, and set this book up incredibly. My favourite part of this book was the world building, it was so well done. I was fully immersed into this world, largely due to the descriptive and vivid writing style which brought this unique world to life. I liked the characters, and their dynamics; in particular the nuanced and complex relationship between Marisol and her adoptive parents.

I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by the author herself, and she did a great job keeping me engaged in the story. While I would have liked to hear a bit more distinction between the characters, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this book.

If you enjoy dystopian novels, with a strong female main character, I would recommend Aqueous. I cant wait to see what happens next, especially after that cliffhanger!

I love this fresh take on a dystopian world! The details and development throughout the entire book are phenomenal and while there are a few times the narration got a little confusing between different characters conversations, it was overall done exceptionally well. This is a great Y a story that adults will enjoy as well and I cannot wait to see where style author takes us in this new world!

thank you to Net Galley for this ARC.
This is a Young Adult Debut novel, and I enjoyed it! We follow Marisol through the final weeks of her last year in school, when she will be assigned to a permanent assignment in her undersea settlement. Marisol has been underwater on the Aqueous campus for 10 years; she's happy and well-adjusted, and dreams of becoming an elite diver, a dangerous position. Before this, she was adopted in the chaos of a dying Earth above the ocean. She's always felt that her mother gave her up so she would have a better life. As she adjusts to her new adult role, Marisol learns some information about the above world that changes everything. She's unsure of what's to come, but she won't keep quiet.

The novel's greatest strength lies in its rich and imaginative worldbuilding. I was fascinated and enjoyed all of the descriptions of the sea-steading pods created to survive a climate disaster. If there's a weakness, it lies in the dialogue. Please keep in mind that this is YA book No spice.

A heart wrenching YA dystopian novel that will stick with you long after you have read it, maybe even changing the way you view certain things. It is incredibly relevant.

The story follows Marisol’s journey on earth, which is no longer hospitable for human life to her journey living in the deep part of the sea. Aqueous dives into the science and the social workings of the underwater world. The limited resources, conformity and cold sea rules are an important part of the new life but the human spirit aways finds a way to shine through, just like nature always finds a way to survive.

The narrator for the audiobook did a great job as the voice of the story. It has been awhile since I have listened to an audiobook and listening to this one reminded me of how enjoyable audiobooks can be.

I really loved listening to this book. I’ve never heard or read anything like this. But it was absolutely amazing. I must admit I shed a few tears, both because of what happened in the book, but also because something like this could happen in the future. I have nothing bad to say, except now I have to wait for a second book to come out. I need a book 2, very very soon.

If you’re in your “under the sea “ phase like I have been, this is DEFINITELY a “must add” to your TBR. Beautiful writing will have you hooked from page 1 and the rest of the story makes you never want to leave

4.75 🌟 Aqueous | 5 🌟 Audiobook
This story begins with a young girl, Maracil, who lives deep beneath the ocean in a fully submerged world. She’s been adopted by two high-ranking officials and is preparing to compete, alongside other students, for her future career placement. Her dream? To become a diver.
The world-building in this book is phenomenal. The author does an incredible job explaining the society, rules, and structure of this underwater civilization without just info dumping. It gave me Hunger Games vibes, but set entirely under the sea, with intense, well-described challenges that Marcila must face along the way.
The audiobook is a standout! Each chapter starts with a rhythmic drumbeat and includes embedded music, making the listening experience truly immersive and creative. It’s a clever and unique touch that I haven’t seen in many audiobooks.
I will say, I hate where it ended—not because it was bad, but because I have a million questions and need the next book now! There were a few moments where transitions felt a bit abrupt, but I could quickly catch on and wasn’t lost for long.
This is a great pick for both middle and high schoolers. Teachers can use it for vocabulary development, plot structure, sequencing, and even climate change themes. It definitely leans dystopian in tone, with a strong environmental undercurrent.
Wonderful and highly recommended!
Million thanks to @NetGalley for this Arc!

Aqueous by Jade Shyback is an impressive debut that delivers an imaginative post-apocalyptic world with genuine heart. Set in a fascinating premise where humanity has retreated beneath the sea after some unnamed collapse, this YA novel succeeds in creating both an engaging coming-of-age story and a richly developed underwater civilization.

What Works:
The strongest element is Marisol's character development and the complex friendship dynamics she navigates with her fellow trainees. Shyback captures the intensity of teenage relationships beautifully - supportive and loyal one moment, fiercely competitive the next. Even as someone outside the target YA demographic, I found myself genuinely invested in Marisol's journey.

Equally compelling is the nuanced portrayal of her adoptive parents. Their struggle between wanting to protect Marisol and their deep-seated fear of losing her after everything they've sacrificed feels authentic and emotionally resonant. These family dynamics add real depth beyond the typical YA fare.

The world-building is another standout. Shyback has clearly put thought into how this underwater society functions, and the details feel both creative and believable. The pacing moves along briskly, making this an engaging page-turner.

Room for Improvement:
Some plot developments felt telegraphed from early on, and occasionally the dialogue doesn't quite ring true - a common growing pain for debut novelists. The ending also feels somewhat rushed, as if the author was eager to wrap things up rather than letting the conclusion breathe.

Bottom Line:
Despite its minor flaws, Aqueous is a solid debut that shows real promise. Shyback has created an intriguing world and characters worth caring about.

Recommended for: YA fantasy fans, readers who enjoy post-apocalyptic settings, and anyone looking for a coming-of-age story with strong friendship themes and solid world-building.

Aqueous
Jade Shyback
This is the debut novel written by author Jade Shyback. I believe this is the first book in the new young adult series. While the focus may be young adult, I am a senior fan and will definitely be watching for the next book in this series.
Earth is in trouble. It has become impossible for life to live on the surface of the planet. Marisol Blaise and her family were struggling to survive. One after the other of her family was succumbing to extreme conditions. Her mother begged a couple to take her with them to Aqueous, the underwater community. The couple had no children and treated her as their own.
Like all the children in the community, Marisol spent years training for the future. There are trials and tests to evaluate their capabilities, strengths and limitations of each candidate. Marisol dreams of joining the Cuviers, an all-male elite diving team. She works tirelessly in an effort to destroy the prejudice against women, so that she can prove she is worthy of joining the Cuvlers. At 16 Marisol and her fellow candidates begin their trials. While Marisol thought the Cuvlers were against her because she was female there was another standing in her way.
I could not turn off this audiobook. The author did the narration herself; she did an amazing job. Marisol is an incredible character; she is a strong female lead. There were 2 male characters that stand out. Both were fond of Marisol however, one seemed arrogant while the other seemed sincere. I did not want this book to end. Now I have to wait until the next book comes out.

Aqueous had me at the description of a dystopian adventure under the sea. The story is reminiscent of the trials in Divergent, set within the layered worlds of the Silo series. After ecological disaster strikes, humans retreat beneath the waves to survive, and everything is carefully arranged to build a better society. I really enjoyed how the story flips between past and present, keeping the pace lively and pulling us straight into the heart-pounding action. The flashbacks give us a glimpse of the survivors' last frantic moments, while the current timeline follows a group of young people facing tough trials to find their place in this new world. The world-building and character development are top-notch, and even when a few conversations got a little tangled, it didn't detract from the overall flow. This is a fantastic YA read that adults will also find engaging, and I can't wait to see where the next underwater universe takes us.

Jade Shyback made her debut with Aqueous, a dystopian novel that is planned to be the first in a serie of books.

I reviewed the audio book for Netgalley. The narrator of this book is a woman with a soft but strong voice. It totally matches the main character of the book. The sound effects make this audio book feel like an extra experience. It's perfect, not to much!

When the earth is about to collapse there are people selected to be saved, and to continue there live way down underneath the water...

Marisol Blaise is one of the lucky... She's been taken down there by a couple that aren't her parents. She can be saved but her parents can't.

In the years that are followed Marisol and her friends are prepared for several tasks that help them survive... Marisol wants to be a diver, the first woman on that position, but even though she's finishing top of her class, her changes are slim.

As everyone of Marisol her class is getting a place... Marisol has been assigned. But when she finds out the truth about the people that weren't able to travel and live down under in the ocean, her live and everything that is important for her has been placed in a different perspective!

Shyback writes down a strong story with a strong female person having the lead in this story. She has been able to set down a totally new world, you can almost see because of her descriptions.

The only bad thing about this book is the fact that the second part is still in the making, which means you have to wait before you can continue reading this story!

This is a SOLID YA (like upper elementary into middle school) story.
Dystopian sci-fi
Underwater! 🦈 🐟
Trials/competitions
Amazing friendships
Lost love 😪😥

This had a lot, and for a debut? Wow, so original unique.
Plus, if you know me, I'm going to read something about the oceans, and the plays and correlation to today's society was done tastefully.

AND, I HIGHLY recommend the audiobook.

4.5 ⭐️
"You are perfect as you are you are worthy and you are strong and you are smart"

"You have all the right stuff right now,already"

Aqueous is a dystopian YA novel set under the deep sea after climate has changed and made the Earth's surface uninhabitable.

This was my first science fiction, I was drawn to the book by the cover and title and it was giving post apocalyptic mermaid vibes, I wasn't sure if I'd like it but i thought the synopsis was worth giving a try and i must say i genuinely enjoyed this read! Even steady pacing, easy quick read, I finished this book within a day and a half.

The audio book was engaging in loved the tone of the narrators voice and in my opinion fit perfectly with the genre and style of writing. I loved the drum and musical interlude at the start of each chapter as well as the Aqueous anthem!

The only downside is the ending-- and I think that is more than likely because there will be a book 2 👀 I hope so and I hope it comes soon. I will definitely be purchasing! I look forward to reading more by this author and would recommend to others!

Thank you Red Hen Press and Net Galley for the advanced listener copy of this audiobook!

I initially picked this up because it was giving off major Bishock/Fallout 3 energy, and I was not disappointed. Add in some social commentary on global warming and overconsumption and boom, you’ve got Aqueous!

The world building was done wonderfully and really helped to immerse me in the plot. I really enjoyed the bouncing between timelines to trickle down the bits of information that help to paint the bigger picture, it really kept me on my toes. I’m really curious to see where the next book goes with this because I was left with SO MANY QUESTIONS. So many subtle hints dropped through the book to really build up suspense for what’s to come! I can’t wait.

I was initially thrown off a bit by the lack of use of contractions, but I’m just not sure if it was intentional or not. I decided to view it was a side effect of the characters being raised in a strict, almost sterile, environment. That was really my only “complaint” about this book.

Audiobook review.
Aqueous by Jade Shybeck narrated by author.

I really enjoyed 'this audiobook.
It was well crafted, with great storytelling and vivid imagery.
The strong female protagonist is well developed, and the author narrated format adds a personal touch.
The delivery is engaging, and the music at the start of each chapter is a nice creative element.
I would have liked an ending with more answers but this also tells me there may be a book 2 which would be great.
This was appropriately written for a YA audience.
Although it's a YA book, this book is worth listening to for all ages.
Thank you to NetGalley and Red Hen Press for the opportunity to listen and review this book

I have never read something like this before and I am so happy I did! 5 stars for both the story and narration!

Aqueous follows Marisol who is taken from her family as the world is ending and then is adopted to live underwater in a place called Aqueous.
This book tackles such an important topic of climate change and polluting the environment.
I don't want to give anything away so I'm not going to mention anything more about the plot. I absolutely recommend this book and audio.
The characters were great and each had fleshed out personalities which I loved.
It left on a huge cliffhanger and now I want to know what happens immediately (Take your time Jade!)

The narration and story is fast paced and was keeping me hooked. A few cool things about the narration is that the author Jade Shyback narrated it and did a great job. There was also some cool sound affects at the beginning of each chapter and during the chapters.
The last thing is that there are two songs written and sung by the author! This immersed me into the story so much more!

I just know there was so much work and thought put into this production and I really appreciate it all!

Thank you Netgalley, Red Hen Books, and Xeno Books for this audio arc in exchange for an honest review!

New autobuy author!