Emma V. R. Noyes

Orphaned as a child and raised on a ship by the most dangerous men in the Caribbean, Amare is one thing and one thing alone: a pirate. And pirates hate magic. After a fateful storm plunges her to the depths of the ocean, Amare wakes to find herself in a strange new world: an underwater kingdom, where magic exists, but is strictly outlawed by the King--a man who claims to be her true father.

The Sunken City

Chloé

First of everything in this book is something I would love it gave fairy-tale aesthetics however this book just did not jell with me. I loved the writing and tone however the plot lost me. I'm generally a fast reader when I'm not busy this book took me forever to get through and that saddens me.
I don't mind love triangles however I could not see why either Lukas or Finn liked Amare, I just don't understand. I don't mind unlikeable narrators but Amare was just to unlikable, Her personality changed half way through. I didn't care about her and for me I can excuse a bad or boring plot and terrible world building IF I like the characters but I didn't like Amare, Lukas and Finn wasn't as unlikeable but I still didn't care.
The author cared and that comes through I have nothing against her and I will keep an eye on her future releases, I'm sad I didn't love as much as I wanted.

Note - I read this in august and had this saved where I write stuff and forgot to post.

Chiara Vitale Zelaia

Actual rating: 4.5/5 stars

THE SUNKEN CITY is everything I look for in a book set at sea: pirates, adventure, morally gray characters. I adored the pirate element in the first part of the book. The author did an amazing job creating the correct atmosphere around them, even with little details such as ship parts and the pirate slang, but especially with the sense of family and camaraderie aboard the ship. Amare, the main character, fit perfectly within this frame. I loved her strong sense of independence and her sass! A true pirate at heart, so I didn’t miss the pirates too much when the setting turned to the underwater kingdom.

I thoroughly enjoyed the world building of this book, especially once we moved to the underwater kingdom. T the whole concept of it was completely different from what I expected, and very original! There was a lot to learn about the world and the magic, but the information was peppered throughout rather than being info-dumped on the reader. We got sea creatures, witches, court intrigues. It was fantastic!

And finally, the characters. I already mentioned that I loved Amare, but I also really appreciated the supporting cast. There’s a lot of female empowerment and women supporting women in this book, and I’m here for it! Maoke was probably one of my biggest surprises. She embodies a morally gray, misunderstood badass so well! Strangely, I also enjoyed the love triangle between Amare and the brothers, Finn and Lukas. Maybe it’s because I don’t think it’s a real triangle at this point. I think there are plenty of signs that point to the real endgame, and it’s the brother I choose! Hint: tall, dark, dangerous. It was a losing battle to resist.

In short, this new-adult novel is the perfect read for fans of adventures set above and below sea level. It has action, romance, magic, and BETRAYAL. I seriously cannot wait for the next book already because the last 50 pages had me reeling!

Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. All opinions are my own.

Maria Elena Vitale Zelaia

Actual Rating: 4.5 stars


This book is everything my pirate-loving heart wanted in a fantasy!

Ever since I was a child, I was a huge fan of tales like Pirates of the Caribbean and Sinbad, and I carried this love through my adulthood. As far as books go, I’ve found some stories that I liked, but didn’t love—until this book. The Sunken City immediately immersed me into that seafaring/pirate-y atmosphere I love thanks to the author’s beautiful writing and the characters that were so vivid in my mind, as if they were alive on the page. I was a few chapters in and I turned to my sister saying, “This book is so good!”

Amare is a wonderful main character. She’s a girl who had to learn fast how to live in a world of men. She’s strong and fierce, resourceful and curious, yet there were also moments where her vulnerability and empathy shone through. Seeing life aboard a pirate ship through her eyes made me feel as if I’d been on a ship all my life, but at the same time, everything felt so vibrant and new. Once the focus shifts to the Sunken City, life under the sea was not what I was expecting. I was expecting mermaids, instead I was surprised by an original world that resembles our own in terms of advancement—with some clever variations to fit the underwater life. 

The book’s strengths are many. The writing, I’ve already mentioned, but there’s also an amazing cast of characters to support Amare. There’s a point while Amare is in the Sunken City, away from her pirate family, that I felt like the plot slowed down a little, which is normal in a book. I missed the pirate side of the story, but the arrival of a particular character—*cough* Lukas *cough*—and the return of pirates made everything pick up again. As far as the romance goes, there’s a love triangle, and while I like both brothers, I love only one and have chosen my side. (Have you ever watched The Vampire Diaries? I was Team Damon. That’s clue enough.)

I seriously need the sequel tomorrow!

Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.

The Sunken City

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