Into the Sunken City by Dinesh Thiru

Waterworld meets Treasure Island describes this heist fantasy adventure story.

Dinesh Thiru has created a diverse cast of characters that you will want to follow to the ends of the Earth and you do. The Earth in this world is mostly underwater as clouds cover the sky and they haven’t seen the sun in years. Rain is their constant companion.

In this world we find Jin, a brave teen trying to keep her little family together after her father died in a wrecking dive gone wrong. Jin doesn’t want to dive ever again but when a stranger with tales of treasure shows up at their inn, her sister is determined to find it.

Throw in an ex-boyfriend who recently joined the Coast Guard and you have a heist crew.

No story about wreckers and ocean dives would be complete without pirates, and Thiru’s corsairs are reminiscent of Blackbeard or Long John Silver.

Danger abounds not the least of which is the ocean itself with creatures that have thrived in this new world. Danger meets them at every turn and Jin is forced to do what she promised herself she would never do again—dive.

This story is jam-packed with action and adventure.

The world is unique and immersive.

The danger is ever present and keeps you hoping for success and for this found family to finally come together in the end.

Jin is extremely frustrating at times as her own issues keep her from trusting those she loves, but we see her character grow and change throughout the story as the best characters always do.

The underwater world is fascinating as cities we know are submerged and overtaken by nature. I enjoy pirate stories and stories of wreckers like Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, and The Wreckers by Iain Lawrence and this definitely has the atmosphere that I enjoyed in those books while giving me the diversity in the characters that I want in modern tales. 

Enjoy this one for yourself or give to a teen in your life who craves adventure.

Note: I actually found this book using NoveList which is a database through my local public library. It is a fantastic resource! Highly recommend!

Don’t miss our weekly reviews of new releases and our latest reads. If you have any questions or suggestions for future posts, contact us or leave a comment. We’d love to have you follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube to see our latest reviews and reads!