Book Review: Atlantia by Ally Condie

Atlantia by Ally Condie
Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal/Fantasy Romance)
Date Published: October 28, 2014
Publisher: Dutton Children's

Can you hear Atlantia breathing?

For as long as she can remember, Rio has dreamt of the sand and sky Above—of life beyond her underwater city of Atlantia. But in a single moment, all her plans for the future are thwarted when her twin sister, Bay, makes an unexpected decision, stranding Rio Below. Alone, ripped away from the last person who knew Rio’s true self—and the powerful siren voice she has long hidden—she has nothing left to lose.

Guided by a dangerous and unlikely mentor, Rio formulates a plan that leads to increasingly treacherous questions about her mother’s death, her own destiny, and the complex system constructed to govern the divide between land and sea. Her life and her city depend on Rio to listen to the voices of the past and to speak long-hidden truths.

Atlantia by Ally Condie is a stand alone novel. It reminded me a lot of The Burn by Annie Oldham, especially in the beginning. That book's plot line is completely different, of course, but there were some little things here or there through the whole book that made me think of it.

One thing I kept wondering was: How deep in the ocean are they? Because when people were sent to the surface they didn't have to decompress or anything. At least, it's not mentioned. Rio herself talked about having to swim an unknown distance if/when she was able to escape. She never mentioned decompressing let alone a plan or equipment to do so. It's no wonder those who tried to escape, died.

There were some interesting aspects to this world. I liked the sirens and their back story. They are a little different from typical sirens I've read about before. I also liked the bats. It was nice to read a stand alone novel for once. Don't get me wrong.. I love a good series, but it was nice to have everything all wrapped up in one book without having to wait for the next book.

Check out my reviews of other books by this author.

Ally Condie is a former high school English teacher who lives with her husband, three sons and one daughter outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. She loves reading, running, eating, and listening to her husband play guitar.

To learn more about Ally Condie and her books, visit her website.You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter.