Into the Sunken City by Dinesh Thiru

Title: Into the Sunken City

Author: Dinesh Thiru

Narrator: Rasha Zamamiri

Release Date: January 23, 2024

Publisher: print, HarperTeen; audio, HarperAudio

Genre: Adventure, Dystopian, Sci-Fi, YA

Source: audio, Hoopla

TW: death of parent, death, grief, violence

Synopsis

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.

Thoughts

I absolutely loved this creative retelling of Treasure Island! From the moment I started reading, I was captivated by the unique and immersive world Dinesh Thiru has crafted. The names of the different sunken cities like Vegas-Drowned, Phoenix-Below, and Once-Havasu were not only incredibly creative but also helped paint a vivid picture of this dystopian future. I found myself constantly amazed by how the author reimagined familiar locations as underwater ruins, adding an extra layer of intrigue and danger to the story.

The setting of an underwater southwest America was truly inspired. It provided a perfect backdrop for this reimagining, blending familiar elements of the original Treasure Island with a fresh, futuristic twist. I was particularly impressed by how Thiru incorporated the challenges of this submerged world into the plot, making the environment itself a formidable adversary for the characters to overcome.

What really stood out to me were the subtle changes Thiru made to the original story. These alterations brought such a fresh and unique feeling to the narrative while still maintaining the spirit of Treasure Island that I've always loved. The author struck a perfect balance between honoring the classic tale and creating something entirely new and exciting. Even though I was familiar with the original plot, I found myself constantly surprised and delighted by the twists and turns in this retelling.

As for the audiobook experience, I was absolutely blown away by Rasha Zamamiri's narration! Her talent for voices and accents brought the diverse cast of characters to life in a way that added incredible depth to the story. Each character felt distinct and memorable, thanks to her skillful performance. I particularly appreciated how she captured the unique personalities of both the main characters and the supporting cast, making the listening experience rich and immersive.

What truly set Zamamiri's narration apart was her handling of the tense underwater moments. Her pacing and tone during these scenes were absolutely perfect, ramping up the tension and making me feel as if I were right there with the characters. There were times when I realized I was holding my breath along with them, completely caught up in the suspense of the moment. It's a testament to both Thiru's writing and Zamamiri's narration that these scenes were so incredibly vivid and affecting.

Overall, this audiobook was an incredibly immersive experience that I'd wholeheartedly recommend to any fan of adventure stories, creative retellings, or dystopian fiction. The combination of Thiru's imaginative storytelling and Zamamiri's captivating narration makes for a truly unforgettable journey. Whether you're a long-time fan of Treasure Island or new to the story, this underwater reimagining offers something fresh and exciting that's sure to keep you hooked until the very end.