If you love the idea of diving, a futuristic world in which most of what we know is underwater, and the possibilities of second chances, Into the Sunken City is for you. The world building is intriguing and as someone who wouldn’t trust herself swimming, the diving was fascinating! Keep reading this book review of Into the Sunken City for my full thoughts.
Summary
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.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Into the Sunken City is a dystopian, almost post-apocalyptic Treasure Island reimagining. As someone who isn’t too familiar with the source material, you only have to like pirates, deep sea diving, and love the idea of a dystopian world. Into the Sunken City is probably best for fans of diving and love the idea of exploring underwater worlds and also those who are terrified of diving, but love the idea of what lies beneath. If you haven’t guessed which I am, I love the idea of diving, but could never!
It’s a story infused with love. For Jin, she’s so deeply committed to protecting her sister, to honoring the legacy of her father, and for trying to figure out her place in the future. Like most dystopias, it’s difficult for Jin to find out what the future could even hold. Reeling from the grief, Jin and her sister explore how they honor their dad’s memory, how they see who he was, and how they struggle without him. The sister relationship is definitely one of my favorite aspects of the story. It grounds Jin’s decisions and her character.
There’s also an aspect of second chance romance for those who love that trope! While I wish there had been a bit more space for Jin to grow and show us some of her other sides, I deeply enjoyed the world and the themes of Into the Sunken City. The ideas of alluring riches, of powerful pirates, and sacrifices for our future. It’s full of ships, diving, and adventure. There’s this potent and powerful feeling of both a thirst for adventure, but also a fear of loss. Of knowing that dangerous actions have dangerous consequences.
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Find Into the Sunken City on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, & Blackwells.