thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

This was an interesting novel, set in the future everything in America is under water. It has hard to imagine Las Vegas submerged, but our main character Jin has fallen on hard times after the untimely death of her father and she must grow up quickly to take care of her younger sister who is coming of age. Jin and the love of her life have also broken up because of her and she is trying to forget that part of her life. Enter a stranger at the Inn Jin and her sister own. They promise big money and a chance to make their dreams come true to see the sun. They assemble a team and head on to this heist when pirates crash their plans. With her sister's life on the line and betrayals on the rise Jin must over come challenge and get back to her sister with the treasure before she is shark meat.

First off, as stated, the audiobook is not narrated, which was hard for me to get past! I enjoyed the general story and setting. The characters were hard for me to get into or care about. I also didn’t understand the need for the quick romance rekindling scene. I liked some of the tense scenes, but they felt a little off from the audio being AI.

Impressively written post-apocalyptic, dystopian, futuristic YA novel. I loved the distinct voices of the main characters and the secondary characters. I loved that the novel was a combination of character and plot driven.

The premise of this novel won me over after the first sentence, and the book description just got better as I read it. I can’t imagine being in a world where rain never stops.

Jin and her younger sister Thara earn a meager living as innkeepers after the death of their father in a diving accident. With the old cities underwater, divers earn money by scavenging the ruins. Jin is reluctant to dive anymore, but they’re barely making ends meet. When she’s offered a deal that seems too good to be true – a massive payout of gold in the sunken ruins of Las Vegas – it’s impossible to turn down. It could change their lives.

Pacing during the first quarter of the story is slow. I listened to the audiobook and was afraid if I fast forwarded I’d miss something. Once they set out on the heist at around the 25-30% mark, the story moves along. While the world-building is creative and unique, I missed a more detailed explanation of how the world came to be this way.

The dives into the city are fascinating and intense, but also filled with danger from massive sea creatures. Above water danger comes in the form of pirates. Jin soon wonders who she can trust – if anyone. Taking care of her sister is her first priority, and she’s forced into difficult situations because of it. If you’re hoping for romance, there’s not a lot in the story (which I didn’t mind). Jin and ex-boyfriend Taim are broken up because she expected him to stay with her and help run the inn then felt betrayed when he chose a different career path.

I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy heist stories, close family bonds, and creative world-building.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I couldn't get into this one, but I think it was a me thing, the writing is really gripping! I definitely think this story has a great hook and I think teens will love it.

A big thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollin's for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Treasure Island retelling? Sign me up!

Into the Sunken City by Dinesh Thiru is a YA fantasy retelling of the beloved classic Treasure Island. 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.

I kind of wished this book was out and in my possession when I first finished reading Adrienne Young's Fable duology. Because it surely would have helped with the book hangover I had. Into the Sunken City is the perfect blend of familiar story elements and general uniqueness. Also, I may never look at water the same way ever again.

Did not finish, was not for me. Didn’t feel there was very much character development. I was almost half way through just couldn’t continue.

A thrilling and adventure-driven read about family, grief, and what we live for. The world building was excellent and the diving scenes were transportive. If you’re looking to escape into a dystopian heist adventure, this is the book to pick up. What fantasy elements are in this book are minimal and not explored, so don’t go in expecting this to be a magic-filled fantasy adventure.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
I loved this roller coaster of a ride. Thiru's writing made you feel like you were with Jin and Thara in this story. It is full of action and adventure, twists and turns, friendship and family. Will be purchasing this one for our high school library.

My rating: 2 0f 5 stars

AHHHHH I wanted to love Into the Sunken City so badly. I mean c'mon--this beautiful cover, and that premise! I could not have been more excited to read about two South Asian sisters in a future where the rain never stops, major metropolis's are underwater, and everyday people trying to make ends meet turn to treasure hunting. Jin and her younger sister Thara run a struggling inn, trying to get by after the death of their father in a diving accident. Jin is now terrified to dive, but diving for valuables in submerged cities like Las Vegas may be her only way to a better life for her and her sister. One day, a mysterious older woman shows up at their inn with a scavenging opportunity of a lifetime, but Jin doesn't trust her, for possibly good reason.

The setting and premise were exciting and original, but the plot, characters, and writing all fell pretty flat for me. And with so much great, complex YA out there these days, this one left me disappointed.

Many thanks to HarperTeen and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I really enjoyed this audiobook sample! I’m already so invested in these characters and the setup of the adventure to come was excellent. I have faith that this is going to be a five star read when I’m able to finish it, so I’ve already preordered it. I just need to find out how Jin and her motley crew pull off this heist!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Audio for this VoiceGalley audio sample. All opinions are my own.

May even be 5 stars. I listened to an arc with a synthesized voice so that may have had some influence on my rating. There was plenty of adventure, suspense and danger to keep a reader engaged from beginning to end. Definitely should be considered for BoB. Thank you NetGalley for providing this advanced readers copy.

This was a decent start to the story, but the sample wasn’t long enough for me to make have a real opinion of the book. The concept is interesting and I love that it’s a sci-fi Treasure Island, but I needed more to make any real judgment. Also AI narrator wasn’t great. Use real people!

Thank you, NetGalley, Dinesh Thiru, and Harper Audio, for the opportunity to read and review Into the Sunken City.

This was a fun listen. I really enjoyed the descriptions of all the sea life and the idea of underwater cities. It gave me treasure hunter pirate vibes. I am looking forward to a book two, because I am intrigued with the city at the end and seeing the sun!

I was only given access to the first 7 chapters of the audiobook but it was intriguing. I will pick up the book when it is released.

Who doesn’t love a good heist story!?

Into the Sunken City delivers an interesting world, vivid characters, and a high stakes heist. I can already tell from the sneak peek chapters that this will be a totally engrossing book! I loved the dystopian feel of the book – a slowly sinking world under constant rain.

I can’t wait to continue this book when it becomes available! I was immediately invested in what path the characters were going to take, and the world felt so rich and developed. A top tier fantasy YA pick!

I really enjoyed this fascinating well written story! The characters were very well-developed and so well described that I felt like I got to know them! I enjoyed the interactions and conversations among the characters also. The world building was very well done and made the Sci-fi story truly come alive. Though the scenery and setting were very different than today’s world, the similarities and descriptions still made it possible to visualize the story setting. The only downside was that sometimes the descriptions were so detailed that the story moved along slowly- especially at the beginning of the book & narration.