I had a great time reading this one! I’ll admit, my knowledge of Treasure Island doesn’t go beyond Muppet Treasure Island, but I thought it was a pretty great twist on the story! The pacing was pretty steady which was great. My interest was always kept. The world building was fantastic. I felt completely enveloped in it once point where I’d look up from reading and be surprised I wasn’t on a ship! I absolutely loved Jin as our MC. She was fierce from the beginning, but I loved how she eventually let go of her anger and fear. I also loved Bhili, Thara, Taim, Saanvi and Silva. Everyone was written so vividly and with so much complexity. It was a very adventurous book and it absolutely had me turning pages to see what would happen next! Also I loved how the ending is definitely open enough for another book (please please please!) I’m hoping this isn’t the last we see of this world and characters!
CW: gun violence, death of a parent

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Teen for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5 rounded up to 5/5.

Dinesh Thiru's "Into the Sunken City" submerges readers into a unique and enthralling tale set in the slowly sinking city of Coconino, Arizona. The protagonist, Jin Haldar, navigates a world where days are endless, finances are strained, and rain is perpetual. Yet, it is within this atmospheric backdrop that Thiru crafts a compelling narrative of family, adventure, and redemption.

Jin's life takes a dramatic turn when a mysterious drifter named Bhili presents her and her younger sister, Thara, with an irresistible opportunity—a treasure hidden within the sunken ruins of Las Vegas. Reluctantly, Jin finds herself drawn back into the dangerous world of diving, a path she had abandoned after her father's tragic accident. The ensuing high-stakes heist weaves a tale filled with crumbling ruins, sea beasts, corsairs, and the enigmatic figure of João Silva.

Thiru's storytelling prowess shines through with an original and gripping plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The world-building is nothing short of spectacular, vividly portraying the sunken landscapes and instilling a sense of both wonder and peril. The author seamlessly integrates elements of fantasy, adventure, and drama, creating a narrative that transcends genre boundaries.

One of the standout features is the well-crafted characters. Jin Haldar is a believable and relatable protagonist, grappling with her past trauma and the responsibilities thrust upon her. The sibling dynamic between Jin and Thara is portrayed with authenticity, adding depth to the story. The lesson that role models can emerge from unexpected places is a recurring theme, adding layers to the character development.

While marketed as a romance, the romantic element in the story is minimal, which might disappoint readers seeking a prominent love story. However, the strength of "Into the Sunken City" lies in its multifaceted exploration of family bonds, trauma, healing, and redemption.

The supporting cast is equally noteworthy, with secondary characters possessing layers, backstories, and motivations that contribute to the story's richness. Thiru skillfully intertwines these characters, creating a tapestry of relationships that adds emotional weight to the narrative.

In conclusion, "Into the Sunken City" stands out as a favorite read, offering a refreshing take on adventure, fantasy, and family dynamics. Dinesh Thiru's masterful storytelling and well-rounded characters make this novel a must-read for those seeking a captivating and immersive literary experience.

The very beginning of this story seemed a bit unsure of itself. but once the story got going, the author and characters really hit their stride. I liked the way the sibling relationship developed, and the pirate/heist plot was so enjoyable and fun. I don't often read books with pirates, but when I do they always turn out to be great books. Overall, I loved the setting and the characters--the worldbuilding was so lush that the story was really vibrant and came to life so well. Overall, I really loved this and I can't wait to read more from this author!

There were a couple spots in the first half where I thought that the dialogue was kind of awkward. During the first half, I also felt like I was just waiting for bigger things to happen. The second half was much more enjoyable for me. I loved the sibling dynamic, and I also really enjoyed the portrayal of what happens to a sibling dynamic when one sibling has to take on the role of provider.

Into the Sunken City was an absolute phenomenal read. I loved the pirate vibes amidst the heist storyline and the strong bond between Jin and her sister Thara. There was treasure and moody weather and sea beasts. I loved the diving parts and the trauma that Jin had to go through to get back into diving. The characters were also a perfect crew for this story and all added immensely to my enjoyment. The world building was so descriptive I felt like I was in the story myself.

Into the Sunken City is set in a future where climate change has resulted in majority of the world being under water. We follow Jina after the tragic death of her father during a dive to recover items from the world that was. While dealing with grief and PTSD, Jina is also responsible for the care of her 14-year-old sister, running the inn her father owned, and to top it off she's of age to be conscripted. Enter the Pretty One, a woman who arrives just when Jina thinks all is lost and offers good coin to stay in Jina's inn. Jina is initially wary but concedes because the money can pay her conscription tax and allow her to stay with her sister. Jina and her sister, Thara, settle in to life with the Pretty One until one night a violent corsair arrives and demands to see the Pretty One. Jina is then swept up on a tense and emotional quest to retrieve sunken treasure that can change her and her sister's life.

Dinesh Thiru has written a fast paced and exciting retelling of Treasure Island. All of the characters are dynamic and three dimensional, each with their own personal goals and desires. While Jina herself grated on me at times (I wanted to just shake her on occasion), I understood her and the expression of her grief and PTSD was raw and real. The Pretty One (I refuse to reveal her name because I really enjoyed how it was revealed in the book) was such a good reincarnation of her character inspiration. Silva was a strong villain, written in such a way that he could be both feared and cared for. Thara was such a force, honestly my favorite character of the bunch. Taim was honestly one of the best YA love interests that I have read in a long time, he cared for Jina a way that wasn't overbearing or patronizing. He encouraged her growth in a kind and thoughtful way that fit the maturity young adults in this world would have to exhibit.

The worldbuilding that Thiru has done is truly robust. Everything felt cohesive from the language used, to the cultures, and military presence. Often times when authors use swears that are based in their fantasy world it can feel awkward or forced but in this case, swamping or rusting for example, felt so fitting to the world that we were in. The setting made sense and the characters acted accordingly within it.

I just really enjoyed everything in this book, the pacing the dialogue, the characters, the theme and the ending. This was honestly a banger of a debut from Thiru and I look forward to reading the finished work and anything else he publishes.

- Fantasy adventure
- Inspired by Treasure Island
- Heist
- Dystopian
- Family
- Diving
- Diverse cast
- Pirates

Into The Sunken City explores a dystopian world where the rain never stops, and most houses and land have sunk or are in the process of doing so.

Drawing from Treasure Island, which I absolutely loved when I was younger, Into The Sunken City immediately gripped me with its interesting premise of diving for treasure.

However, whilst I liked the premise and plot, the writing just wasn’t for me, leading me to struggle to read it at times as I wasn’t too immersed.

Tysm to the author and NetGalley for an arc 💗

The perfect escapist read for a reader of any age, background and mood! I loved diving into this post-apocalyptic adventure. The world-building was unique, subtle in a way that allowed immersion before the reader even realizes it's occurred. I felt instantly connected to the characters, the world they lived in, and the trials they went through. It had a bit of a Treasure Planet vibe to it, which happens to be one of my favorite animated movies, so that likely helped. The romance was very minimal, so don't go into this expecting a whole lot in that department. Honestly, the book would have been just fine without it, so this could be categorized as a science-fiction/fantasy young adult novel and leave off the romance tag entirely. Which I was a little bummed about, given that it was marketed as a romance. There is a couple in love, but this story is more about family, trauma, healing and redemption. While there isn't a large cliffhanger, there is a bit of one, so my guess is the romance will feature more prominently in the next book.

Jin Haldar lives to keep her sister safe, after their father died in a diving accident three years ago and left the running of their family inn to his surviving daughters. Dodging the Navy's efforts to recruit her requires money, and it's all she can do to continue swimming into the vast waters around them to salvage wreckage from long-lost towns and homes. When her boyfriend leaves to join the Coast Guard, Jin accepts that she can only count on herself and her sister...until a visitor to their inn changes everything. In exchange for enough money to ensure Jin and her sister can live comfortably outside the Navy's reach, she allows the guest inside. When someone comes looking for them, it sparks a chain of events that points to an even bigger prize - gold in the Treasure Island Casino in what was once Las Vegas. It requires an experienced diver, and if Jin doesn't go, her sister will take her place. Joined by a crew that eventually involves her ex-boyfriend, Jin must face her fears to keep her sister safe. Even if that means doing the one thing she swore never to do again - dive.

I loved the family dynamic in this book more than anything else - reading about the complexity of Jin's relationship with her sister was so genuine and multi-faceted. Her sister being a teenager in a post-apocalyptic world just showed how the world can change but teenagers will still be teenagers. Her sister's relationship with their guest only solidified that, where sometimes they find role models in the most unlikely of places...and with the last person the adult in the room wants them to look up to. I also really enjoyed the secondary characters, even the villains. They weren't caricatures of villains, feeling overdone or obvious. They had layers, a backstory, even as they did things that made me want to see them hurt. Jin's romance with her ex-boyfriend, Taim, was interesting, albeit not as interesting as the rest of the story. It was predictable, frustrating and full of emotion. Taim wanted to move on with his life, and he wanted Jin at his side, but he didn't realize Jin couldn't move on. Jin was still stuck in the past, struggling to manage her trauma from her father's death, and it wasn't until she was able to verbalize where she laid blame that true healing began. Honestly, that was where their relationship started to take a turn. It was painful but necessary. I really look forward to seeing how it progresses in the next book.

Thank you to netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This book was so damn good. From the very beginning you are pulled into this amazing world and you are immersed until the end.

Into the Sunken City is a fast paced thriller with diverse characters set in a dystopian future. The idea of having everything underwater makes for a titillating idea, where kids are diving to find treasure and pirates and the Coast Guard clash. This was a fun and quick read, and while I wish some aspects of the characters and worldbuilding were fleshed out a bit more, it was a good time! Definitely curious to see what else Dinesh writes in the future.

I read an eARC of Into the Sunken City by Dinesh Thiru. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins Children’s Book.

Honestly, this book was not for me, but it could be for you.

The book is about Jin, a cynical nineteen-year-old who lost her father in a diving accident and now has to make enough money so she doesn’t get conscripted into the Navy (basically they “tax” anyone not in it) so she can take care of her fourteen year old sister. One way she could do this is by “diving” as she lives in a world drowned in water and there are hidden treasure within the deep sea just waiting to be found, but after her father’s death, Jin finds herself unable to put on the suits and dive.

She decides just before her ex-boyfriend leaves on conscription to dive and get something to get the money she needs, but it goes bad. Thankfully a strange woman who won’t give Jin her name, shows up with plenty of gold and who also promises to help her dodge having to conscript. Only thing is, she has some weird rules like looking out for a man.

Later she talks about going on a dive, somewhere only she knows about, where there’s a stash of gold just waiting to be brought up to the service, and maybe even enough that Jin can finally see the sun.

As I said, the story is interesting, the pacing is good, and the characters fun. The problem is that I wasn’t a fan of the writing style. Part of it is that, especially at the beginning, Jin would think back in detail about things that happened in her past, before abruptly starting to talk about what was happening in the present, but since the book is written past tense throughout, it was whiplash going from one to the other with no real cues beyond pronouns or her suddenly talking about being inside, and then I’d have to figure out how much of what I’d read had been in the past, and what was supposed to be happening in the moment.

So, a book to check out, either at your library or to read about a chapter of before you buy it, but I think this book can definitely find its audience.

If you have ever wanted a sci fi book that takes place after climate change when most of the world's land has been covered by water, this is the book for you. I really loved the setting of this book and felt the world building was well done. I also really enjoyed the "villain" of the story and their characterization (being very vague here to avoid spoilers).

I was absolutely hooked from the first page. The world building was incredible! It was easy to feel immediately immersed and I am so excited for this books release.

Into the Sunken City is a dystopian retelling of Treasure Island. The year is 2532, and the continents have slowly been covered by water with only a few remaining pieces of land and little sun. Jinn and Thara manage the inn, and Jinn wrecks with her, maybe more than her friend Taim, to make ends meet. A mysterious stranger shows up named Bhili, flashing ounces of gold, the current currency. She entices the sisters, along with Taim and a friend named Saanvi, to help her dive the wreck of the Treasure Island Casino, which is now underwater in Vegas-Drowned. Along the way, they encounter the Corsair Captain Silva, sea monsters, and other obstacles.

I'm not usually a fan of fantastical adventures, but I enjoyed this. I enjoyed the Treasure Island connection even more once I picked up on it. The world-building was great.

My only qualm was Captain Silva's sentiment towards his cousin Vittoria; it seemed out of character.

I gave it 4/5 stars and will be purchasing it for my library.

Definitely quite strange and unique. I highly appreciate that in today's world of homogeneous fiction. I highly recommend this book.

This was certainly an interesting read. For a YA fantasy, it was definitely a bit dark, but I definitely enjoyed it. Into the Sunken City is a futuristic wasteland type novel where the world has been plunged into rainstorms for over 500 years, leaving much of Earth’s cities underwater.

Living in a state of constant raining, wrecking old cities and working for the coast guard or navy seem to be the only options for people. This book brings a sort of heist-esque quest filled with privateers, lies, and insane diving.

I have always found the world of diving super interesting and have only read a few books that go into that world, so to read one where the diving was in underwater cities, was really something cool. This book had a sort of gritty feeling that was a nice palette cleaner for me

I’d definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for something different and really well written!

A very original YA post-apocalyptic sci-fi book with pirates and diving. The setting is so cool and unique. It’s like climate change run amok; sea levels have risen catastrophically, and corsairs travel around to seek treasure from our sunken cities. There are also new giant undersea creatures to worry about.

Jin is a great FMC. She’s a bad*** with a shaved head and doesn’t take s*** from anybody. However, she doesn’t come up with the best ideas and has a pretty skewed viewpoint of people.

There is romance, but I wouldn’t say it is heavily featured. It does have religious references (Hinduism). There’s a lot of diversity; I think every character might have been BIPOC.

To begin, the world-building in this book was truly amazing, creating a vast and immersive setting that significantly contributes to the story's depth.

Jin, our main character, initially leads a cautious life due to her circumstances. However, an exciting opportunity arises that demands her unique skillset.

What truly shines in this book is the adventurous journey it takes us on It's reminiscent of TV shows and video games I've watched. What sets it apart is the diverse and intriguing characters.

Jin, in particular, captured my heart, and without giving away any spoilers, I must say that I enjoyed the book.

I want to express my gratitude to Dinesh Thiru and Netgallery for allowing me the opportunity to read this book. Also, the cover is gorgeous!

I was so intrigued by this book at first, I loved the premise of it. Unfortunately, I couldn’t connect to any of the characters and I couldn’t get invested into the story.

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.

This book was magical and I loved every moment of it. I can't wait for more from this story and this author.