A swash-buckling adventure full of action, danger, mystery and fun; it hooks the reader in and takes us on an entertaining and emotional journey.

The fascinating world-building fully immerses us in this never-ending waterworld, there’s no sun but plenty of rain! The water feels alive, it has a mind of its own, and the stunning Coconino Bay is subject to its whims. I enjoyed how the writing brings the elements so vividly to life, we can hear it, see it, and feel it!

In the aftermath of losing her Father, Jin is dealing with her grief and struggling to keep the Inn afloat. She’s a strong character who’s smart, funny, loyal and I loved the sass she brings to the pages lending the perfect voice to the story.

Thara doesn’t always take Jin’s protective advice on board and longs for independence and to make her own choices. Be careful what you wish for! I loved their strong bond and the way they support each other through the darkest of times. I enjoyed how the story explores family – how it can hurt, heal, give strength and come in many forms.

A mysterious guest, Bhili, brings more to their door than they bargained for, and before they can turn back they find themselves caught up in a high-stakes treasure hunt with betrayal, secrets and peril hiding under the surface. The reader has no clue how it will all pan out and I was so invested in the outcome!

What follows is an exciting tale that’s as up and down as the choppy waters they find themselves in! There’s complicated feelings, sea monsters and the ruthless Captain Silva to contend with. Despite all this, Jin and Thara keep their hope for a better tomorrow alive. Will a job that could destroy them be the thing that sets them free? It’s a brilliant read to find out!

The underwater world of "Into the Sunken City" was my favorite part of the novel. The environment and atmosphere pulled me in but the plot and the characters left me wanting. The plot felt abrupt at times and I did not find the treasure-hunting narrative compelling when it felt like so much else could have been explored. The tonal transitions also felt quite jarring at times. The characters felt extremely one-dimensional, especially with regard to their relationships with other characters. They were either simple monoliths of sister or not-quite-ex-boyfriend rather than fully fleshed-out people who would've known each other for years.

This last point may be more personal to me as I am of Indian descent, but the Hindu texts and deities felt shoe-horned in rather than having a meaningful impact on the characters or worldbuilding. While the text of the prayers may have mirrored the novel's setting, they felt unmoored within the story and largely superficial rather than deeply meaningful. I think a more subtle integration of the Vedic philosophies would've fit better rather than symbolic inclusions.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This book was not what I expected but it was so much more. Jin and Thara are sisters who have been on their own since the diving death of their father in a dystopian world where much of the West Coast is underwater. Jin was a diver, but won't do it any longer, to protect her sister. But a man named Bhili convinces her sister to dive into Las Vegas to go after a legendary cache of gold, so Jin has to go along to keep her sister safe. But can she? The dangers and terrors Jin has to face are intense--the story is brutal but spellbinding. This is definitely one you will think about for a long time afterward, I can promise you that--even though I can't tell you why. It would give away too much of the plot! Excellent story, well worth the read. Thank you to NetGalley for the Advance Readers Copy and, as always, my reviews are independent and my opinions are my own.

The main reason I loved this book so much was the unique worldbuilding. It is set in a dystopian future world where the water level has risen enough for most of the continents to start sinking. I’ve never read a book that takes place in a world like this, and I really loved it!

The other reason I enjoyed reading was because it’s a heist novel!! Heists are my favorite type of plotline and this one was executed well. The diving aspect of the book was great, it really helped make everything more tense because of the lack of oxygen safety.

The only thing I didn’t like was the main character. I found her quite annoying, I don’t know if she was written this way or it was just me, but I just didn’t like her personality and actions.

Did you like treasure plant/island, Atlantis: the lost Empire and the dystopian books from the early 2000 you will enjoy this book.

I started this book in the morning and about 6 hours later I finished it and I loved every second of it. Jin is a very gripping and intriguing character to follow her journey across a sunken America to find the treasure that may or may not save her and her sister.

I never personally have read treasure planet. I have seen treasure planet muppet movie and treasure planet and I felt it was pretty close to the original (but did I buy the original because I now want to read that yes).
What was refreshing about the book is that it was a lot off hindu influence because normally in these kind off books the. main characters are "white" annoying female and Jin was nothing like that. Probably the reason I finished in six hours.
What this didn't make it a five star read is Taim. I didn't like Taim and I found the story between him and Jin unnecessary which also made the end a bit off a bummer

Good book will look forward to reading the next book this author may write

At first, I was really intrigued to hear about this future world where the rains have flooded most of the Earth and people are struggling to keep going. There is a little bit of romance and a whole lot of action. I found myself wanting a bit more world building or a little more explanation of certain things. It is definitely an interesting twist on a Treasure Island retelling. We've got Jin instead of Jim. We also have Bones and Silva. It was a good book.
Thanks to the author and Netgalley for an advance review copy of this book.

This was an interesting concept and not one I've come across before. Imagine living in a future world that is mostly flooded and never stops raining. This is certainly not a world I would like to experience. Living in England, we get our fair share of rain. But non-stop rain that just goes on and on is unfathomable, and to be honest, it is depressing.
The adventure Jinny and Thara find themselves on with Taim after meeting Bhilli in Vegas-drowned is nail-biting.
The oceans have many secrets and the creatures....it makes me shiver just thinking about it.
I very much enjoyed Into The Sunken City but I did find the first couple of chapters a bit slow to get into.
Thank you so much for allowing me to read an early copy of Into The Sunken City.

Imagine a world damaged by global warming. It's not that hard to do because we're living it which was the scariest thing about this dystopian novel. It's hundreds of years into the future and it does nothing but rain. So much so, most of Europe is under water and the poor have nowhere to go but the coasts where diving below to find treasures to sell is how they get by. Pirates are back in business. Jin Haldar is our female protagonist, fiercely protective over Thara, confused about her relationship with her ex and grieving over the loss of her father who died whilst on a dive. Her money is running out and soon she may be conscripted, leaving the Inn she owns and her sister behind. Then she meets Bhili who proposes a deal...raid the ruins of Las Vegas Below and become rich! Jin is dubious but Thara wants in so together, with friends, they embark upon an adventure involving deceit, pirates and death.
The world building in this is brilliant and such an original concept, albeit a frightening one. I liked the characters and their relationship, the only downside being Bhili being missing for most of the actual raid. She's a funny, hard character and I'd have liked to know more of her story. I enjoyed the book, praise the concept, my main criticism being I felt the ending was rushed and slightly anti climactic. Will definitely recommend to others though. A good young adult and an easy read.

"Into the Sunken City" tales dystopia to a new level, below sea level. I was enthralled by Thiru's creation of a world overtaken by climate change and its affect on the human population around the world. The story takes sisterly love to a different level as well. The challenges of keeping their home while mourning the loss of their father is while dealing with outsiders who want their own piece of the action, is a testament to the phrase blood is thicker than water. I will also never think about Las Vegas in the same way, no desert, just water, everywhere. There is also a love story brewingin the background, but there is so much going on that it's not distracting and leads our heroine to an assumed happy ending.

I loved the novelty of this story and hope to see a sequel soon.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for giving me the gift of exploring "Into the Sunken City".

quick read thriller vibes. Loved readers it so much. Also dystopian aspect was cool. when reading this book I really felt transported
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4 star

The best treasure island dystopian retelling. I absolutely loved every part of this book the plot, to the characters, and writing it was just perfection.

Jin hasn’t had it easy. After her father dies wrecking in a drown city, she is left to grieve, support, and survive in a world that has been drowned by never ending rainfall. When a suspicious character shows up at their inn talking of treasure buried in what used to be Las Vegas, Jin is both reserved and excited about the possibilities. A journey to not only find the gold but also a self discovery.

I love underwater world-building and a good pirate story and this is exactly that. I enjoyed the unique storyline with recognizable areas underwater to explore and creepy creatures who live underwater. I look forward to reading the continuing adventures of Jin, Thara and Taim. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

YA dystopian isn't a genre I tend to gravitate to - post hunger games, I think the market is oversaturated. It's difficult to come across YA dystopians that feel really, completely fresh. But Into the Sunken City definitely manages that with this highly readable blend of dystopian, classic retelling, and climate fiction.

The story kicks off in a future world under constant cloud cover, where the rain literally never stops falling and most of the map as we know it now is underwater. Two teenage sisters are eking out a meager living as innkeepers in a small town on the Arizona coast, mourning the death of their father a few years prior, when a mysterious stranger arrives seeking refuge. Eventually, their guest tells them about an opportunity to retrieve a life-changing amount of treasure from Las Vegas - which is at the bottom of the ocean.

The first quarter or so of this book takes its time ramping up and moving the characters into place, but once the plot takes off, this is an extremely fast-paced, exciting story. The journey to Vegas-lost takes the band of adventurers up against sea monsters, thieves, pirates, and scariest of all, the ocean itself - intensely hostile to human life.

I really appreciated the Hindu influence and casually queer secondary characters, but beyond that I have to admit I was frequently frustrated with the cast. They’re one-dimensional and often irrational, the main character particularly so - I think multiple POVs would have been great to offer some reprieve from Jin’s bitter, grief-warped perspective, which honestly becomes a bit grating.

I also do have to say, I had a LOT of unanswered questions about holes in the worldbuilding, choices characters made that didn't really make sense, and plot holes that we quickly glossed over. Like, to start with, why is mandatory conscription into the Navy such a looming threat when there's no war? What is this Navy for? Apparently people regularly drown while serving - what are they doing? Why is the Navy so bad at keeping people alive, when our characters were diy traipsing around the ocean floor? And for a fairly technologically advanced world, why haven't they built any houseboats, rafts, or floating islands to live on? Why not, I don’t know, just a simple system of covered walkways around town? The entire premise of this rain-drenched, drowning world is also hand-waved away early on, and I didn't want it to bother me but it kind of did. There is a finite amount of water that exists on our planet, constantly cycling, right? "Where is the water coming from" was a very real question I wanted the book to at least take a stab at answering, because... yeah. Where IS all this water coming from?

3.5. Altogether, this was still a quick and enjoyable read! The ending leaves the story open for more potential adventures, and if Dinesh Thiru chooses to keep writing in this world, I will be reading.

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!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book stressed me out SO MUCH, but in a good way. First of all, I went into this not knowing it was a Treasure Island retelling, and when certain events started happening I thought, "waaiiittt... is this...?" and of course it is, and I adore that. Taking Treasure Island and making it a dystopian near-future adventure (that seems all too plausible in this age of climate change), with a diverse cast of characters is such a great premise, and the author certainly follows through on that promise. It's a fast-paced adventure with romance, heart, thrills, and did I mention the stress? (it's all those underwater scenes. I don't do well with underwater scenes). It wraps up quite satisfyingly, but in a way that leaves room for a sequel (which I would definitely read).

This debut book offers the reader an escape to an undersea world complete with action, adventure, suspense and even pirates!

Two orphaned sisters, Jin and Thara, operate an inn after a diving accident claimed their father's life. The issue is that the inn is located in a sinking city where it never stops raining and their inn will soon be underwater. Unless... they can agree upon whether or not to join a stranger and his not-so-merry band of merchants and dive to an underwater casino in Las Vegas and raid it. Their decision and the adventure, twists and turns that they encounter upon the way, are very unique and creative, illustrating the author's gifted imagination. Highly enjoyed this one and recommend!

I thank the author, publisher and Net Galley for my ARC.

Hindu culture meets Atlantis and Treasure Island in this YA dystopian coming of age novel where two orphaned sisters join a not-so-merry band of pirates and deep divers in a heist to raid an under water casino in Las Vegas. I loved this unique and absolutely interesting world that that doesn't stop raining, where the American Archipelago is sinking and people are being taxed heavily just to be able to exist in land that isn't underwater. I loved the strong and resilient FMC and the wildcard that is Bhili. I loved the exploration on grief between the two sisters, especially towards their father and how the water was both traumatic and healing.

What I didn't quite enjoy is how the feelings of the FMC seemed to be disregarded and deemed as unimportant throughout the novel. Or, how there was a lack of acknowledgement that her feelings were valid and significant by the other characters. I also very much did not enjoy the romance. Far too often this fierce FMC was derailed by her own lust for her ex boyfriend, rather than love, up to the very end of the novel. I didnt like how often it mentioned that she wanted to climb him, or how how good his chest looked, etc etc, took away the focus from why she actually loved and cared for him as a human being and instead objectified the love interest greatly.

Nonetheless, I had quite a bit of fun with this action packed novel and am definitely interested in reading the next book, if there is another adventure after.

(+) half Indian author, sapphic secondary romance, Indian mythology and beliefs

Okay so I am going to be a bit of a fangirl here for several reasons. First of all this book is amazing on it’s own. Second of all it has elements of some of my favourite things, heists, underwater cities like in a sort of love child of bioshock and waterworld and of course deep sea diving which both excites and terrifies me. I was excited for this one but I had no idea just how good it was going to be.

Thiru’s world is amazing. A vision of our own world but were most of the cities are sinking and those above the water struggle to stay alive. Jin and Thara were dream protagonists and I have never fallen in love with a main character so fast. But it doesn’t stop there we have a host of amazing characters to enjoy, even the bad guys!

On top of amazing characters we have a brilliant plot with superb pacing. Add into this the rag tag group becoming a sort of found family, romance done how I like it (a little subplot that didn’t really take over the whole story), action, adventure, sea creatures and a host of other things you have a win from me. It ticks a lot of boxes and I honestly think any dystopian fantasy fan will love this one but if you love pirates, heists and amazing characters you cannot miss this one!

I'm really glad I picked this one up! Into the Sunken City was a rollicking adventure story with pirates, treasure, and action galore.

The characters: Jin was a great heroine- strong, determined, and flawed. She's consumed with grief but does everything in her power to care for her sister. I have a hard time getting past the spoiled younger sibling trope, especially when a lot is on the line, but the family bond here is the core of the story and the motivation behind all of Jin's actions, good and bad. The tension between the sisters makes the story even more compelling. The secondary characters like Taim, Silva, and Bhili are all very distinct, with clear voices and their own motivations that you discover throughout the novel, keeping you guessing.

The setting is one that's eerily plausible, and the descriptions of this nearly-drowned world is stunning. I was immediately captured by the opening chapter, setting us up for a world that's recognizable, but only just. I wish we could have explored it more and seen more of the creatures that inhabit that underwater world, because they really added the splash (pun intended)

This is a very fast-paced book with lots of twists and turns. You're never really sure who to trust, and that kept me turning pages- I finished this in less than a day. You won't regret this one if you're a fan of clear world-building, strong characters, and lots of surprises.

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I really enjoyed this book! The world building was excellent. I was sucked in to the world, and vividly visualized everything. I also enjoyed the bong between Jin and her sister. The diving portions of the book were the strongest for me. I felt a little suffocated and tense, and I loved it. The only downside was the pacing. Overall a solid read!