Tuesday 18 July 2017

Book Review: Atlantia by Ally Condie

Book: Atlantia 
Author: Ally Condie
Genres: YA, science fiction/dystopian

Can you hear Atlantia breathing? 
For as long as she can remember, Rio has dreamed of the sand and sky Above—of life beyond her underwater city of Atlantia. But in a single moment, all Rio’s hopes for the future are shattered when her twin sister, Bay, makes an unexpected choice, stranding Rio Below. Alone, ripped away from the last person who knew Rio’s true self—and the powerful siren voice she has long silenced—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 corrupted 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.-Quoted from Goodreads

My Rating: 3/5 STARS
My Review:
Atlantia is a book I've been wanting to read for years now.  Years ago I read the Matched trilogy by Ally Condie and I really enjoyed that series so I decided to pick up her next book even though it has took me years to do that.

In Atlantia people have been living underwater in specialised dome-like cities for years after it became too toxic for people to live Above (on land) and once you reach the age of 16 or so you can choose to leave the underwater city of Atlantia and live Above.  The people of Atlantia are taught that the people who go Above don't live as long as those in Atlantia.  So this story is about Rio who has always wanted to go Above but she promises her twin sister (who doesn't want to live Above) that she'll stay with her and so on the day of the choosing she chooses to stay but she is shocked when her sister decides to suddenly go Above instead.

The choosing ceremony at the beginning of the book had me really reminiscent of Divergent and so I was worried it would be too similar but it wasn't.
I found the world of Atlantia to be really interesting, the way things were described really painted a good impression of the world in my head.

I liked how the story was about Rio trying to find her way back to her sister, I liked how that was the main focus of the book.  I didn't feel much of a connection to any of the characters and I thought some of them were a bit boring.  The plot was good but it was also predictable.

Overall I enjoyed reading this book, it was a quick fun read.  The main thing I liked was the world of Atlantia.  And even though none of the characters really stood out to me and I thought the plot was predictable I still found it to be an enjoyable read.  

4 comments:

  1. I've heard so many mixed things on this book, so I've been meaning to pick it up so I can form my own opinion. Great review!
    Megan @ http://wanderingsofabookbird.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. I'd heard a lot of mixed things on it too, before reading it, but it was better than what I was expecting. Thanks! :)

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  2. I remember when this book was released and I was really interested in reading about it, but had forgotten it until I saw this review of yours!

    Books where you don't really connect to much but end up enjoying them nevertheless can be perfect for between heavy books, so I will keep this one in mind if I need a quick, easy read.

    I love books that have strong family relationships in them, and it looks like Atlantia has a bit of that, which is great!

    I'm glad you were able to enjoy this one, Kyla :)

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    1. I agree, sometimes we do need those quick easy reads inbetween all the heavier ones and I think Atlantia is a good book for that. Thanks! :)

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