Book Review: Into the Sunken City by Dinesh Thiru

February 19, 2025January 28, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Dystopian
Length: 368 pages
Author: Dinesh Thiru
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: January 23rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

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.

MEH.

That’s how this book made me feel. And honestly even sitting here writing this review after just finishing the book I don’t have a lot to say? It kind of went in one ear and out the other without ever engaging me.

The general idea and story line were interesting. I liked the underwater dystopian aspects and the diving was cool too.

What I didn’t like was the main character. I found her constantly frustrating. Every time I thought we were moving steps forward she flung herself backwards and I was exhausted by the end of it to where I just didn’t care what happens.

Overall audience notes:

YA Fantasy Dystopian
Language: moderate
Romance: kisses
Violence: moderate

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Book Review: The Dividing Sky by Jill Tew

November 26, 2024October 14, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Dystopian Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Jill Tew
Publisher: Joy Revolution
Release Date: October 8th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Serpent & Dove meets Arcane in this dystopian romance debut that follows a cunning memory merchant who deals a little extra happiness on the side and the handsome rookie officer on her tail!

In 2460, eighteen-year-old Liv Newman dreams of a future beyond her lower-class life in the Metro. As a Proxy, she uses the neurochip in her brain to sell memories to wealthy clients. Maybe a few illegally, but money equals freedom. So when a customer offers her a ludicrous sum to go on an assignment in no-man’s-land, Liv accepts. Now she just has to survive.

Rookie Forceman Adrian Rao believes in order over all. After discovering that a renegade Proxy’s shady dealings are messing with citizens’ brain chemistry, he vows to extinguish the threat. But when he tracks Liv down, there’s one problem: her memories are gone. Can Adrian bring himself to condemn her for crimes she doesn’t remember?

As Liv and Adrian navigate the world beyond the Metro and their growing feelings for one another, they grapple with who they are, who they could be, and whether another way of living is possible.

Thank you GetUnderlined for the gifted copy.

UNDERRATED.

Alright y’all. I have seen no one in my book circles pick this one up (yet) and I gotta say, this needs to change!! I really liked this book and (while I can’t figure out if it was a standalone or a sequel is coming) it reminded me of why I used to read a lot of dystopian books circa the earlier 2000’s — now I feel old.

ANYWAYS. I thought the ideas and world building in this book were cool. I loved the division throughout and how each one worked inside this mega city corporation. It had this haunting edge of something that could actually happen and an intriguing look at how things would function.

The romance is a bit fast paced but it was charming. I thought it was sweet and loved that it stayed to true YA. There were a few romantic tropes I loved and there was good chemistry between Liv and Adrian. I’m very impressed with this debut and definitely will be reading this author’s next book!

Overall audience notes:

YA Dystopian Romance
Language: low
Romance: kisses
Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Lux (Texas Reckoners #1) by Brandon Sanderson and Steven Bohls

September 22, 2023October 8, 2022 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Dystopia
Length: 480 pages
Author: Brandon Sanderson & Steven Bohls
Publisher: Audible Originals
Release Date: July 22nd, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A Texas Reckoners novel

A new team of Reckoners must infiltrate the flying city of Lux to take down the Epic Lifeforce in this audio-exclusive novel from Brandon Sanderson.

When the great red star Calamity appeared in the sky, some believed the end had come. They were right.

Calamity created the Epics: humans with incredible powers they didn’t deserve.

They could have saved mankind. They could have lifted us into harmony and prosperity. Instead they burned. They slaughtered. They conquered. And then they ruled.

Jax has learned all of this the hard way. Orphaned at an early age, he’s spent most of his childhood training to be a Reckoner – determined to find the Epics’ weaknesses, unlock their secrets, and protect those of us who are still left.

But now, the mysterious High Epic Lifeforce has arrived with his flying city, Lux, to plunder what’s left of Texas. So Jax and his ragtag team – the few who remain of the once-mighty Texas Reckoners – must take their battle to this floating fortress of riches – and defeat the invincible.

To avenge what has been lost. And rise anew.

A GOOD SPIN-OFF.

I enjoyed the original Reckoners series and I couldn’t pass up reading all things Sanderson so here we are!

The main character, Jax, was solid. I liked that he had to work through tough decisions, sometimes make the wrong choice, and decide what path was the best for everyone involved. It gave a many layered character that I enjoy seeing. Not to mention, there’s villain points of view??? Wild and never happens so this was fun too.

There was nothing glaring for my rating to be four star, but you know when it’s Sanderson but not? It’s that vibe that just had it missing somethings for me overall.

I thought the ending was good, but there’s room for more??? So I’m confused because I thought this was a standalone. Guess we’ll find out.

LOTS of action, missions gone wrong and moments you won’t see coming. I really enjoyed this as an audiobook (and I actually think it only comes that way right now?) so give it a go!

Overall audience notes:

YA Dystopia
Language: very little
Romance: flirting
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: mass murder, physical violence, weapons violence, explosions, loss of life, loss of a sibling

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Book Review: Exile (The Extinction Trials #2) by S.M. Wilson

October 13, 2021February 15, 2021 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA Dystopia
Length: 384 pages
Author: S.M. Wilson
Publisher: Usborne Publishing LTD
Release Date: June 1st, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Betrayal. Sacrifice. Survival. Welcome to The Extinction Trials.

After surviving on Piloria once, Storm and Lincoln are the obvious candidates to return to the dinosaur continent to test the new virus that should clear the way for human settlement. But they have their own priorities – finding a cure for the plague that’s sweeping Earthasia, and keeping themselves alive.

DINOSAURS, OH MY!

Wow am I so happy I found this series! It’s pure entertainment for me (as a dinosaur fanatic) to get to read these. I love the dystopian-type setting and the exploration of Piloria.

Once again we have our two main characters, Lincoln and Stormchaser. I still liked them this time around. Though it looks like there might be some feelings there and I want more exploration of that. More exploration of all the characters interactions and musings. It’s a continual high stakes read with being chased by dinosaurs and surviving in the wild, that I’m realizing I’m not getting a lot of character connection.

I did see it come out towards the end and am so happy that it went the direction I was hoping. I think Strom and Lincoln both have some big decisions to make and it has amped up the finale. This series is overall an intriguing premise and I will practically read anything that involves dinosaurs.

Overall audience notes: