★ 10/23/2023
Five hundred years after the Stitching, an event that gathered the clouds together, causing constant rainfall and the world’s drowning, 18-year-old Jin Haldar is just trying to keep her younger sister alive. With both parents dead, Jin scrabbles for a living running their inn while desperately searching for ways to pay off the Navy’s conscription taxes, lest she be forced to join and see her sister shipped off to an orphanage. When a drifter arrives at the inn with a plan to dive down and raid the drowned ruins of Las Vegas for a hidden cache of gold, Jin knows that signing on ensures an opportunity to pay off a lifetime of taxes, and carve out an existence beyond mere survival. But the pirates and other seafaring dangers that Jin must face to claim her bounty have nothing on Jin’s true fear: diving, the thing that killed her father. The cinematic story line, electric prose, and creative and lived-in worldbuilding make Thiru’s debut a thrilling adventure on the high seas, a striking portrayal of trauma and hope in dystopian times, and a thoroughly compelling read. Jin’s family ancestry traces back to the Himalayas. Ages 13–up. Agent: Claire Friedman, InkWell Management. (Jan.)
"Steal-your-breath adventure meets a uniquely forlorn futuristic world and a cast of characters so memorable you just might find yourself speaking with a sailor's brogue. Add in the most clever nods to Treasure Island, and this is the retelling I didn't know I was craving!" — Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles
“A high-stakes, deep-diving adventure with twists that will keep you turning the pages to the very last! This retelling charts a course into new, exciting waters." — Natalie C. Parker, award-winning author of the Seafire series
"Into the Sunken City is the definition of swashbuckling—a gripping underwater adventure set in a fantastically full-bodied world of storms, sea, and cephalopods. Sisters Jin and Thara are the heart of this story, and their relationship—in Jin’s words—makes the whole spirit glow." — Nina Varela, author of Crier’s War
"This futuristic adventure features nonstop thrills and action and an unpredictable, compelling, twist-filled plot... A riveting fantasy adventure debut that pulls readers into the deep" — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"The cinematic story line, electric prose, and creative and lived-in worldbuilding make Thiru’s debut a thrilling adventure on the high seas, a striking portrayal of trauma and hope in dystopian times, and a thoroughly compelling read." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"The fresh premise, immersive, waterlogged atmosphere, and cinematic action of this dystopian riff on Treasure Island combine for an unforgettable read perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows or Adrienne Young’s Fable. Worldbuilding is vivid and detailed, while leaving tantalizing questions on the table for an anticipated sequel... Addictively pulse-pounding deep-sea future fiction, this is highly recommended." — School Library Journal (starred review)
"Paints a harrowing but beautiful picture of a rain-soaked apocalyptic world... Charming characters and multilayered mysteries will keep readers hooked from beginning to end in this well-developed eco-thriller with a lot of heart." — BookPage (starred review)
"This debut has a unique and original underwater dystopia, a treasure hunt, a second-chance romance, and a twisty heist with shifting alliances and complicated relationships." — Booklist
★ 02/01/2024
Gr 9 Up—It's been 500 years since the Stitching, when clouds fused a cover over the Earth. Since then, rain has fallen every day, leaving most of the world underwater. Jin Haldar, 18, grew up scavenging underwater ruins with her father, until he died in a building collapse in Phoenix-Below. Blaming herself, Jin gave up diving to care for her younger sister, Thara, while struggling to run a coastal inn in Conocino, AZ. When a foul-mouthed old woman named Bhili Bones shows up on their doorstep carrying a suspicious amount of gold, skeptical Jin is reluctant to trust her story of a massive treasure sunken in the depths of Vegas-Drowned. But the amount of money she promises them is life-changing—enough to travel to the Himalayas and see the sun—and with Thara's future in mind, Jin agrees to dive. Armed with their dad's valuable atmo-suits and joined by Jin's ex-boyfriend Taim Mazatlán and friend Saanvi, the group sets out for Vegas-Drowned, only to be captured and held hostage by murderous pirates intent on reaching the gold first. The fresh premise, immersive, waterlogged atmosphere, and cinematic action of this dystopian riff on Treasure Island combine for an unforgettable read perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows or Adrienne Young's Fable. Worldbuilding is vivid and detailed, while leaving tantalizing questions on the table for an anticipated sequel. Jin and Thara are of South Asian descent; secondary characters are racially diverse. VERDICT Addictively pulse-pounding deep-sea future fiction, this is highly recommended as a first purchase for all collections.—Elizabeth Giles
★ 2023-10-21
Thousands of feet under the ocean, a teenage girl must pull off the heist of a lifetime.
Five hundred years ago, the clouds fused around the Earth, forming a “foggy shell.” The daily rain is submerging cities. Now, in Arizona in the year 2532, 18-year-old Jin Haldar runs her father’s inn and tries to keep younger sister Thara safe. Ever since their father died while diving, they’ve been alone in the world, hardly making enough to survive. Desperate, Jin readily agrees when a woman named Bhili, an eccentric drifter, offers gold in exchange for an indefinite stay. Bhili later offers the sisters the opportunity to score enough gold to move inland to safety. The catch? They’ll have to dive to Vegas-Drowned and retrieve it from the sunken Treasure Island Hotel and Casino. Jin swore never to dive again after her father’s accident, but Thara is set on going. The girls pull together a crew consisting of Coast Guard cadet Taim, Jin’s ex-boyfriend, and ship’s mechanic Saanvi. Jin and Thara must survive ruthless pirates, monstrous deep-sea creatures—and betrayal. This futuristic adventure features nonstop thrills and action and an unpredictable, compelling, twist-filled plot. Forced to grow up too soon, Jin struggles with trust, courage, grief, love, and family. The detailed worldbuilding immerses readers in the dark, wet future world. In a broadly diverse world, the Haldars present South Asian; the girls’ late father was Hindu.
A riveting fantasy adventure debut that pulls readers into the deep. (map) (Fantasy. 13-18)
