ATLANTIA by Ally Condie
October 28th, 2014 from Dutton Juvenile
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.
7 REASONS TO READ ATLANTIA
1. FAMILY / SISTERHOOD
So many YA novels get caught up in romance, but this novel focuses on sisterhood and family. Rio spends her time trying to get Above, so she can reunite with her sister. But in the meantime, she slowly comes to know her siren aunt, Maire, and learning more about her mother's mysterious death.
2. CHARACTERS
Rio is a siren, and an excellent narrator - fierce, determined, but cautious. Her attempts to keep her voice bland and boring do make her seem a bit off-putting, the further along the story goes, the easier it is to adore her character and realize just how much she loves her sister. True, meanwhile, is a great support system for her, and watching the slow friendship between him and Rio develop is fun to see. But Bay, Nevio, and Justus are all intriguing characters, too.
3. WORLDBUILDING
My attempt to draw a metallic tree (without leaves) |
An underwater city, metallic trees and leaves, True's mechanical fish and eels. Even the deepmarket, where people sell jars of dirt and flavored air is a fascinating place. The decorative aspects, like the gargoyles and representations of the gods of Atlantia's religious figures, are also wonderfully written. I could go on and on, because this is a fully fleshed out world, where everything is so easy to visualize.
4. SECRETS
I'd say more, but then I'd ruin all the fun. But trust me when I say there are plenty of secrets in Atlantia, and they are all intriguing and surprising.
5. PLOT TWISTS
Again, I'll keep quiet, but there are a few surprises!
6. WRITING STYLE
Condie's writing flows with ease, and is magnificently descriptive. She has a talent for building worlds, characters, and creating memorable lines. Her writing style is slow, evocative, and captivating.
7. YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SET IT ASIDE
This book? It needs to be on your TBR list. Once you get into ATLANTIA, it's incredibly difficult to stop reading.
Want a copy of your own? Enter my giveaway at the bottom of this post to win an ARC of ATLANTIA. Plus, the winner will also receive one ATLANTIA necklace!
OPEN INTERNATIONALLY
(please have your parent's permission if you're under 18)
(please have your parent's permission if you're under 18)
Follow the #AtlantiaBelow Blog Tour
for more reviews, interviews, guest posts and giveaways!
September 28 – Katie (Mundie Moms) – Long Q&A
September 30 – Jen (I Read Banned Books) – Guest post
October 2 – Katie (Katie’s Book Blog) – Short Q&A
October 4 – Lea (YA Book Queen) – Review
October 6 – Taschima (Bloody Bookaholic) – Fancasting
October 8 – Jeremy (Novel Thoughts Blog) – Guest post
October 10 – Erin/ Flo (Fangirlish) – Review
October 12 – Nancy (Ravenous Reader) – Review
October 14 – Sara (Novel Novice) – Playlist
October 16 – Jess (Gone with the Words) – Short Q&A
October 18 – Rachel (Paper Cuts) – Guest post
October 20 – Georgia (Eve’s Fan Garden) – Playlist
October 22 – Gabby (Queen Ella Bee Reads) – Long Q&A
October 24 – Andrea (Reading Lark) – Review
October 26 – Tirzah (The Compulsive Reader) – Playlist
Many thanks to Penguin Teen for the ARC and the necklace + the necklace images!
I love the cover and the necklace looks beautiful :D
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for this book!! I got one of those printed chapter excerpts from a con I went to, and totally loved Rio as a narrator. If I wasn't already gonna read it, your 7 reasons just convinced me. ;) Thanks for doing this giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThat cover is so gorgeous I can't even begin . . . :D :D :D
ReplyDeleteAnd PLOT TWISTS. I love a book that keeps me guessing – I feel like I'm able to predict so much when I read a book these days, that it gets a bit tedious. So yay for surprises!
Above - too scared of drowning.
ReplyDeleteAbove. I'm claustrophobic. Loved Matched so I cannot wait to see what else Ally is writing.
ReplyDeleteI want to read it because Ally Condie wrote some of my favorite books :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of good plot twists! I'll definitely be picking this one up.
ReplyDeleteYAY :D Omg, this post is awesome. <3 thank you for making and sharing sweetie. I cannot wait to read this book :D it sounds amazing. But ohh. Is there any kind of romance? I hope so, hih :) So excited. <3 happy you loved it. I would live Above, I think. I need to be able to travel, hih :)
ReplyDeleteALSO! OMG! International giveaway :D You are the best. <3
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ReplyDeleteThe plot twists are a very decisive aspect when it comes to enjoying a story. So, if you say there are a few, then I'm game and will soon add Atlantia to my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteOh you've got me so excited for this one! I love the sounds of the family and sisterhood aspect if the book you talked about. It is so rare for that to be found in YA and now I really want to get my hands on Atlantia! PLUS PLOT TWISTS AND WORLD BUILDING <3 that alone sold me on the book! I'm unbelievably excited for this one.
ReplyDeleteoh this sounds like a great read! Mermaid/sea creature books can be a hit or miss for me but I like to give them a try. I love it when a book is not all about romance but has a great friendship or family dynamic included in the story. And it sounds like the world building is really well done! :)
ReplyDeleteI love this cover and the premise sounds exciting. Also, I think you did a fine job with the metallic tree. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for this book! I haven't read any well written books based in this kind of situation so hopefully this will live up to my expectations. The necklace is beautiful too! :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a must read to me :)
ReplyDeleteOne, the cover is really, REALLY pretty. Two, the concept seems really different. (I think I'd want to live Below, but I feel like I'd get bored too, so maybe Above. Idk XD) Three, THANK YOU FOR THE GIVEAWAY! :D
ReplyDeleteThe cover for this book looks so lovely and goes along with the theme of underwater. I really want to live Below because I have been living above for so long! Plus, who would pass of the chance to be underwater?
ReplyDeleteI think I'd be Above because I'm really bad at swimming.
ReplyDeleteI loved matched, but I detested crossed and reached, so I'm now very curious about this new book of hers. For one I love mermaids, so that is a positive thing :). Secondly, the cover ieeeh ♥
ReplyDeletesame as yun-a. i would enjoy living below but i suck at swimming so i'd likely drown. i'll stay above. (unless below offers life rings or something!)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great family read and the necklaces are so beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteSounds great and the cover is gorgeous!
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