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Readers` Reviews
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
rebecca swartz
My suspension of disbelief can only be so strong for so long before it collapses. ATLANTIA is a mind-boggler. To the author's credit, Ally Condie does try to describe the actual world-building: the city of Atlantia is underwater, inside giant, connected "bubbles". But I can't properly imagine the engineering and logistics required to build a city and move it into these "bubbles", or bring the materials INTO the bubbles, and build them inside. What are these bubbles made of, and how are they connected?
Then there's the matter of the "floodgates": you go into the empty room, lie down the corpse, and then vacate. There's some button or lever to use, and the room floods with water. The corpse rises, and...exits? Then somehow the water is drained, so the room is empty again. I CANNOT FIGURE THIS OUT. I can kind of picture it, but can't understand the structure and drainage.
The book gets better, though, or at least more interesting. I gave up trying to understand, and the story picks up from thereon. There are mysteries to solve: why did the narrator's sister choose to live Above, and who killed their mother? When revealed, the answers are anti-climactic, but at least the second half of the book is much better than the first.
Rio Conwy is an alright heroine, working towards her goal by breaking it down into components. While her swimming efforts are fabulous, a little knowledge of lungs and pressure would have cut out that plotline altogether. Albeit, her training isn't for nothing in the end, though it does come across as a bit of a waste.
Then there's the matter of the "floodgates": you go into the empty room, lie down the corpse, and then vacate. There's some button or lever to use, and the room floods with water. The corpse rises, and...exits? Then somehow the water is drained, so the room is empty again. I CANNOT FIGURE THIS OUT. I can kind of picture it, but can't understand the structure and drainage.
The book gets better, though, or at least more interesting. I gave up trying to understand, and the story picks up from thereon. There are mysteries to solve: why did the narrator's sister choose to live Above, and who killed their mother? When revealed, the answers are anti-climactic, but at least the second half of the book is much better than the first.
Rio Conwy is an alright heroine, working towards her goal by breaking it down into components. While her swimming efforts are fabulous, a little knowledge of lungs and pressure would have cut out that plotline altogether. Albeit, her training isn't for nothing in the end, though it does come across as a bit of a waste.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
devang doshi
I was looking forward to Atlantia releasing, and was super excited to receive an eARC from the publisher, so I of course dove into those digital pages ASAP! I enjoyed the Atlantia right from the start.
"Bay asked me if I heard the city breathing. I hear my own breathing now, in and out and in and out. I live here. I will die here.
I am never going to leave."
-Atlantia, pg. 9
Doesn't that just grab your attention and send anticipation tingles down your spine? The idea of the story was what originally drew my interest. Atlantia. A city, a civilization set beneath the waves, like the mythical city Atlantis, but this city is a modern one that was created to help save the people from the polluted air of the surface world.
"Under star-dark seas and skies of gold
Live those Above and those Below
They sing and weep, both high and deep
While over and under the ocean rolls."
-Atlantia, pg. 60
Some still reside on the surface however, and provide goods to those below. While those below can make the choice, when they turn sixteen, stay below or make the sacrifice and go above, but once the choice is made, that is where they must stay for the rest of their lives.
The descriptions of Atlantia were well written. You could imagine living under the sea, never knowing a warm sun on your face or dirt between your toes. But you can also picture the buildings of Atlantia, the air system piped throughout, and being able to hear the city 'breathe'.
Now the romance in the story, I thought was adorable. It wasn't a fast whirl wind romance, but something that grew slowly and when Rio stopped and looked at it, she realized what it was and what True really meant to her. I was really excited when things finally worked out for them. It felt like one of those moments when you just want to gossip with your girlfriends about the cute boy you have a crush on.
So throughout the story there are a lot of subtle underlying messages. One of the more obvious is the message about pollution and the environment. The whole of Atlantia is based on this premise. I didn't mind that, it was not like it was being shoved down your throat, it was just more subtly placed in the background. The other message is about women and family. How important family is or can be and how strong women can be to protect that family and the ones they love. Rio does everything for her sister, and vice versa, as well as what her aunt does for her. I personally don't have the strongest family bond, so these messages never press as far home for me as they could, but for the story, I liked how it all fit together in the end.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. I liked the setting and the idea of Atlantia with the mixture of fantasy and science fiction. I did wish some more questions would have been answered before the conclusion or in the epilogue, but nowadays a lot of authors or shows seem to like to leave some open questions, to leave people wanting more. I also have to mention, that I really liked the cover Atlantia. It's simple, but the shell is the quiet heart of the story. A definite must read for this year.
"Bay asked me if I heard the city breathing. I hear my own breathing now, in and out and in and out. I live here. I will die here.
I am never going to leave."
-Atlantia, pg. 9
Doesn't that just grab your attention and send anticipation tingles down your spine? The idea of the story was what originally drew my interest. Atlantia. A city, a civilization set beneath the waves, like the mythical city Atlantis, but this city is a modern one that was created to help save the people from the polluted air of the surface world.
"Under star-dark seas and skies of gold
Live those Above and those Below
They sing and weep, both high and deep
While over and under the ocean rolls."
-Atlantia, pg. 60
Some still reside on the surface however, and provide goods to those below. While those below can make the choice, when they turn sixteen, stay below or make the sacrifice and go above, but once the choice is made, that is where they must stay for the rest of their lives.
The descriptions of Atlantia were well written. You could imagine living under the sea, never knowing a warm sun on your face or dirt between your toes. But you can also picture the buildings of Atlantia, the air system piped throughout, and being able to hear the city 'breathe'.
Now the romance in the story, I thought was adorable. It wasn't a fast whirl wind romance, but something that grew slowly and when Rio stopped and looked at it, she realized what it was and what True really meant to her. I was really excited when things finally worked out for them. It felt like one of those moments when you just want to gossip with your girlfriends about the cute boy you have a crush on.
So throughout the story there are a lot of subtle underlying messages. One of the more obvious is the message about pollution and the environment. The whole of Atlantia is based on this premise. I didn't mind that, it was not like it was being shoved down your throat, it was just more subtly placed in the background. The other message is about women and family. How important family is or can be and how strong women can be to protect that family and the ones they love. Rio does everything for her sister, and vice versa, as well as what her aunt does for her. I personally don't have the strongest family bond, so these messages never press as far home for me as they could, but for the story, I liked how it all fit together in the end.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. I liked the setting and the idea of Atlantia with the mixture of fantasy and science fiction. I did wish some more questions would have been answered before the conclusion or in the epilogue, but nowadays a lot of authors or shows seem to like to leave some open questions, to leave people wanting more. I also have to mention, that I really liked the cover Atlantia. It's simple, but the shell is the quiet heart of the story. A definite must read for this year.
The True Story of a Tormented Six-Year-Old and the Brilliant Teacher Who Reached Out :: An Every Man's Guide to Winning the Heart of a Woman (The Every Man Series) :: Sacred Pathways: Discover Your Soul's Path to God :: A Year of Weekly Devotions for Couples - Devotions for a Sacred Marriage :: Demolished Man Signet S1593
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
damir makic
I borrowed this from the local library and I loved it. I have been reading the Mortal Instruments Series, and it was refreshing to read something that read quickly, and held my interest (unlike the first three books of aforementioned series). Like another reviewer, I was expecting something different, however I was pleasantly surprised. AS the book was ending, I found myself hoping it was part of a trilogy, something I can't say I have hoped for in the past. I felt the book had a lot of nice pieces that worked well together, without one being overpowering (romance, power, struggle against 'them man', etc etc).. I think the Siren aspect was different than what we think of when we typcially think of Sirens. The romance was more believable than some others I have read. More realistic I should say. The story is about family. While it's about a city under the sea, I felt that everything was believable, well conceived...In short, I did recommend this book to my friends that are readers and I would recommend to others as well.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
ryan k
Atlantia by Ally Condie is the story of two orphaned sisters, Rio and Bay, who live in an underwater city called Atlantia. They've spent their whole lives there, one dreaming of going above, and one wishing to stay below. It's also the story of lies and deception and a heroine will rise to save her world.
I really wanted to like this book, especially after reading the first few chapters from NetGalley. Unfortunately, I just feel like too many things went wrong for me to like it.
I'll admit that I like it a lot better than Condie's Matched trilogy, but once again, Condie's writing style is lackluster. When I was reading, especially at certain points in the novel, I felt like Condie was trying to write to little kids instead of the target teen audience. When I read, I want to feel like the author is really trying to say something. Most of the time that is done by including sentences of varying length. In Atlantia, there are way too many sentences of the same length in a row. It makes reading difficult, like someone is trying to beat you in the head to get you to understand what is going on.
The introductory chapters in Atlantia are indeed great at capturing a reader's attention, but the pace slowed soon after. It was almost as if all the life were sucked out of the book. Much of the middle of the book is boring. There were many times that I wanted to put it down. The book eventually picks up the speed and action again in the last third, but at this point, salvaging an enjoyable read was out of the question for me. It was a chore to read this book.
Condie does create an interesting world in Atlantia, but only for The Below. She describes the city well, and I was able to imagine much of it in my head. It's hard to say that her world building is superb when she fails to give The Above half of the detail that she gives The Below.
The characters in Atlantia were okay. Rio really didn't impress me; I feel like Condie could have explored her a little more or at least made her a bit more interesting. Rio's sister, Bay, is mentioned a lot in the book, but I felt like I barely knew her at all. Atlantia also features many supporting characters, and some of them are interesting and characterized well, but I didn't really enjoy reading about them.
I think at this point, it's safe for me to say that Ally Condie is not the writer for me. I don't know if I'll be reading anything else from her in the future after this proved to be a book that bored me for weeks.
I really wanted to like this book, especially after reading the first few chapters from NetGalley. Unfortunately, I just feel like too many things went wrong for me to like it.
I'll admit that I like it a lot better than Condie's Matched trilogy, but once again, Condie's writing style is lackluster. When I was reading, especially at certain points in the novel, I felt like Condie was trying to write to little kids instead of the target teen audience. When I read, I want to feel like the author is really trying to say something. Most of the time that is done by including sentences of varying length. In Atlantia, there are way too many sentences of the same length in a row. It makes reading difficult, like someone is trying to beat you in the head to get you to understand what is going on.
The introductory chapters in Atlantia are indeed great at capturing a reader's attention, but the pace slowed soon after. It was almost as if all the life were sucked out of the book. Much of the middle of the book is boring. There were many times that I wanted to put it down. The book eventually picks up the speed and action again in the last third, but at this point, salvaging an enjoyable read was out of the question for me. It was a chore to read this book.
Condie does create an interesting world in Atlantia, but only for The Below. She describes the city well, and I was able to imagine much of it in my head. It's hard to say that her world building is superb when she fails to give The Above half of the detail that she gives The Below.
The characters in Atlantia were okay. Rio really didn't impress me; I feel like Condie could have explored her a little more or at least made her a bit more interesting. Rio's sister, Bay, is mentioned a lot in the book, but I felt like I barely knew her at all. Atlantia also features many supporting characters, and some of them are interesting and characterized well, but I didn't really enjoy reading about them.
I think at this point, it's safe for me to say that Ally Condie is not the writer for me. I don't know if I'll be reading anything else from her in the future after this proved to be a book that bored me for weeks.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
aluap
An interesting and simple story of sisterhood, love, and the choices we make for survival.
My Summary: Rio lives in a city at the bottom of the ocean. She has always wanted to go Above to see the sand and sun. When her sister makes a unexpected choice, Rio had to decide how far she'll go to get Above and how much of her true self, with a siren voice, she is willing to share.
My Opinion: Simple and enchanting. Those are the words that come to mind after reading this book. The ideas of Atlantia: a city that breathes, shells that send messages, sirens who can control thoughts and objects, and a city created to save humankind - all these unique ideas had me devouring the pages.
Rio's character was endearing, but I wanted more. I wished we could have seen more of her interaction with her sister before their separation. I also wanted more of her interaction with True, but that's probably because I'm a sap who loves a good romance.
I know this was a stand alone book, but I liked the ideas so much I wished it could have been a trilogy so we could have seen more of each character. That being said, I did enjoy reading the book and my love for the ocean increased even more.
Content Rating: PG (some murders, nothing too graphic)
**Robin-approved for teens**
My Summary: Rio lives in a city at the bottom of the ocean. She has always wanted to go Above to see the sand and sun. When her sister makes a unexpected choice, Rio had to decide how far she'll go to get Above and how much of her true self, with a siren voice, she is willing to share.
My Opinion: Simple and enchanting. Those are the words that come to mind after reading this book. The ideas of Atlantia: a city that breathes, shells that send messages, sirens who can control thoughts and objects, and a city created to save humankind - all these unique ideas had me devouring the pages.
Rio's character was endearing, but I wanted more. I wished we could have seen more of her interaction with her sister before their separation. I also wanted more of her interaction with True, but that's probably because I'm a sap who loves a good romance.
I know this was a stand alone book, but I liked the ideas so much I wished it could have been a trilogy so we could have seen more of each character. That being said, I did enjoy reading the book and my love for the ocean increased even more.
Content Rating: PG (some murders, nothing too graphic)
**Robin-approved for teens**
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
kristen frankie
Rio is an unlikely heroine who slowly unfolds the mysteries of her city in her efforts to save it, and to fulfil her dream of reaching the Above and her sister, Bay. Atlantia‘s character are very well-developed, including the character of the city itself. It’s very well-written and by 1/3 of the way through I was totally invested in the characters and the story. I highly recommend reading it to teens and up!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
morteza
Sure to please dystopian fiction fans and readers of her Matched trilogy, Ally Condie's latest foray into world building and YA dystopian fiction features a heroine unlike any other. Readers will be fascinated with the story and engrossed by the adept storytelling. Condie has a gift of drawing the reader in--hook, line and sinker (pun intended). I was all in and hooked by the end of chapter two.
Twin sisters Bay and Rio live Below in Atlantia. At the age of fifteen, each teen decides what their future holds--whether they will live Below or go Above. After the untimely death of their mother, Rio decides to stay Below to keep her twin sister company. They are like one...after all. Rio declares her choice to stay Below, but Bay comes next. She chooses Above. Rio is horrified and hurt. How could her sister ever leave her? Now she has no one, and she longs to leave Atlantia. She has always dreamed of going Above and seeing the stars for the first time and feeling dirt beneath her feet.
Rio begins to make plans to escape Below. It is a sure death sentence; no one ever survives. Rio's aunt Maire tries to help Rio, but Rio does not fully trust her. Maire may have had something to do with the death of her mother, and Rio won't quit until she finds answers. When a chance to go Above presents itself, Rio takes it. She needs to see Bay again and find out why she deserted her. Will Rio find the answers she's looking for? Or will she uncover the secrets of Atlantia and her mother's death? Atlantia is in danger and no one else can save the future. Rio is called upon to save her home, but can she save Atlantia alone?
At first I thought, Oh, brother! Not another mermaid or mer-people book! I was proven wrong. Atlantia is much more than that. Atlantia is actually an underwater city created to preserve life after the Divide. Rio and Bay and everyone in Atlantia are human--well, sort of. Atlantia seems otherworldly and beautiful--serene, almost--until the suspicious death/murder of Rio's mother who just so happens is the leader of Atlantia. When the safety of Atlantia is breached, Rio knows there's a conspiracy somewhere and makes it her business to uncover the guilty and punish them.
Highly recommended for fans of dystopian fiction and Ally Condie. Her fans won't be disappointed. Highly readable and entertaining. Readers will not want to wait for the next installment of this series.
Read all my YA reviews at "Young Adult Books--What We're Reading Now"
Twin sisters Bay and Rio live Below in Atlantia. At the age of fifteen, each teen decides what their future holds--whether they will live Below or go Above. After the untimely death of their mother, Rio decides to stay Below to keep her twin sister company. They are like one...after all. Rio declares her choice to stay Below, but Bay comes next. She chooses Above. Rio is horrified and hurt. How could her sister ever leave her? Now she has no one, and she longs to leave Atlantia. She has always dreamed of going Above and seeing the stars for the first time and feeling dirt beneath her feet.
Rio begins to make plans to escape Below. It is a sure death sentence; no one ever survives. Rio's aunt Maire tries to help Rio, but Rio does not fully trust her. Maire may have had something to do with the death of her mother, and Rio won't quit until she finds answers. When a chance to go Above presents itself, Rio takes it. She needs to see Bay again and find out why she deserted her. Will Rio find the answers she's looking for? Or will she uncover the secrets of Atlantia and her mother's death? Atlantia is in danger and no one else can save the future. Rio is called upon to save her home, but can she save Atlantia alone?
At first I thought, Oh, brother! Not another mermaid or mer-people book! I was proven wrong. Atlantia is much more than that. Atlantia is actually an underwater city created to preserve life after the Divide. Rio and Bay and everyone in Atlantia are human--well, sort of. Atlantia seems otherworldly and beautiful--serene, almost--until the suspicious death/murder of Rio's mother who just so happens is the leader of Atlantia. When the safety of Atlantia is breached, Rio knows there's a conspiracy somewhere and makes it her business to uncover the guilty and punish them.
Highly recommended for fans of dystopian fiction and Ally Condie. Her fans won't be disappointed. Highly readable and entertaining. Readers will not want to wait for the next installment of this series.
Read all my YA reviews at "Young Adult Books--What We're Reading Now"
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
marguerite
Atlantia by Ally Condie ?????
I’m obsessed with Atlantis, and although I know this doesn’t take place in Atlantis, that’s the original reason I had to pick this book up and see what it was about. I wasn’t disappointed. Atlantia (Below) is green and blue and beautifully wondrous. Most of the novel is about the underwater city, and surprisingly, religion played a huge role in this book. I’m not normally one to enjoy novels with religious undertones, but I found the discussion of religion quite interesting in this setting, especially when juxtaposed against the religion of Above. Also, the central theme is more about family and less about love or action. So, if you enjoy reading more about new worlds and family, you’ll enjoy this novel, but I wouldn’t recommend it to those in search for heavy action or romance. Honestly, I was on the fence about whether this was a 3- or 4-star read for me. I love my action scenes, and there weren’t a lot in this novel. But because of all the amazing one-liners—not to mention my favorite animal (bats)—I ended up on a 4-star read. The one-liners are brilliant. I often found myself pausing just to highlight a quote or think about it, and I love it when a novel does that to me! I also managed to get my copy signed. So kudos goes out to Ally Condie for being an awesome author.
~SAT
Favorite quote: People can be miracles.
(But—seriously—it was difficult to pick one quote.)
I’m obsessed with Atlantis, and although I know this doesn’t take place in Atlantis, that’s the original reason I had to pick this book up and see what it was about. I wasn’t disappointed. Atlantia (Below) is green and blue and beautifully wondrous. Most of the novel is about the underwater city, and surprisingly, religion played a huge role in this book. I’m not normally one to enjoy novels with religious undertones, but I found the discussion of religion quite interesting in this setting, especially when juxtaposed against the religion of Above. Also, the central theme is more about family and less about love or action. So, if you enjoy reading more about new worlds and family, you’ll enjoy this novel, but I wouldn’t recommend it to those in search for heavy action or romance. Honestly, I was on the fence about whether this was a 3- or 4-star read for me. I love my action scenes, and there weren’t a lot in this novel. But because of all the amazing one-liners—not to mention my favorite animal (bats)—I ended up on a 4-star read. The one-liners are brilliant. I often found myself pausing just to highlight a quote or think about it, and I love it when a novel does that to me! I also managed to get my copy signed. So kudos goes out to Ally Condie for being an awesome author.
~SAT
Favorite quote: People can be miracles.
(But—seriously—it was difficult to pick one quote.)
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
emma dresser
ATLANTIA was an entertaining post-apocalyptic story about a girl in an underwater city who longs for life on the surface. The city had been created many generations earlier when conditions on the surface became difficult. The world was divided in Aboves and Belows. The relationship between the two has become strained. Some of those living in Atlantia have become Sirens - able to sway people through the power of their voice. At first the sirens were considered a miracle but then some of them abused their powers and the government turned against them. Now, sirens are taken from their families and raised by the Council.
Our heroine Rio is a siren but her mother who was the religious leader of the city kept her talent hidden. Rio has grown up with her twin sister Bay and her mother both keeping her secret. Now, her mother is dead and the circumstances of her death are suspicious. Teens in the city are given a choice about at a ceremony about whether to choose live Above or life Below. Rio has always wanted to live life Above. She wants to see the sky. However, after their mother's death, Bay makes Rio promise to stay with her Below.
However, things take an unexpected turn when Bay chooses life Above and leaves her sister Rio behind. Rio is determined to find out why Bay chose as she did and also determined to join her Above. As Rio makes plans to join her sister, she learns that all is not as she thought in her city of Atlantia. The new leader of the city has plans and secrets that could be tragic.
Rio is alone except for her aunt Maire. She doesn't really know her aunt except to know that she is a siren who works for the Council. She thought that Maire and her mother were estranged. Her aunt comes to her and offers her help in her plans to escape and offers to teach her about the history of her city that has been hidden. But Rio isn't sure that she can trust her.
While she is making plans to leave Atlantia, Rio meets a boy named True who becomes her friend. He is content with his life Below and works as mechanic. He is also wondering why his best friend Fen chose to go Above. It seems that Bay and Fen had a relationship that Rio didn't know anything about.
I enjoyed this story which was filled with interesting characters and took place in a fascinating world.
Our heroine Rio is a siren but her mother who was the religious leader of the city kept her talent hidden. Rio has grown up with her twin sister Bay and her mother both keeping her secret. Now, her mother is dead and the circumstances of her death are suspicious. Teens in the city are given a choice about at a ceremony about whether to choose live Above or life Below. Rio has always wanted to live life Above. She wants to see the sky. However, after their mother's death, Bay makes Rio promise to stay with her Below.
However, things take an unexpected turn when Bay chooses life Above and leaves her sister Rio behind. Rio is determined to find out why Bay chose as she did and also determined to join her Above. As Rio makes plans to join her sister, she learns that all is not as she thought in her city of Atlantia. The new leader of the city has plans and secrets that could be tragic.
Rio is alone except for her aunt Maire. She doesn't really know her aunt except to know that she is a siren who works for the Council. She thought that Maire and her mother were estranged. Her aunt comes to her and offers her help in her plans to escape and offers to teach her about the history of her city that has been hidden. But Rio isn't sure that she can trust her.
While she is making plans to leave Atlantia, Rio meets a boy named True who becomes her friend. He is content with his life Below and works as mechanic. He is also wondering why his best friend Fen chose to go Above. It seems that Bay and Fen had a relationship that Rio didn't know anything about.
I enjoyed this story which was filled with interesting characters and took place in a fascinating world.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
gabriela
Original review posted here: http://utahvalley360.com/2014/10/27/delicate-divide-land-sea-ally-condies-captivating-atlantia/.
From the first gripping chapter, we learn of Rio Conwy’s forbidden dream of leaving her beloved underwater city of Atlantia to venture permanently to the world Above: “You could see the stars. You could feel the sun on your face. You could touch a tree that had roots in the ground. You could walk for miles and never come across the edge of your world.” In the wake of their mother’s death, Rio promises her twin sister, Bay, she’ll stay with her in Atlantia — the complex undersea city engineered to save humanity after pollution endangered life on earth. But Rio is thrown into a life of betrayal when her sister abandons their agreement for solidarity and leaves her to a life Below and alone. Suddenly, the only person who knew Rio’s deeply held and dangerous secret — her siren voice — is gone.
As Rio schemes to escape to the Above, she discovers her beautifully created subaquatic Atlantia is full of more flaws than she ever imagined. Rio’s search for truth leads to dangerous questions about her mother’s death, the city’s religious and political history, and her ability to courageously use her voice to restore light and peace to a broken world.
Teens and adults alike will be drawn in by Condie’s descriptive voice and her expertly created enchanting underwater world. And the unique take on dystopia — with earth life still existing — is a breath of fresh air for the less ardent fans of the genre. Familial bonds between sister/sister, daughter/mother, and niece/aunt are questioned but ultimately strengthened, and the romance between Rio and True is honest and pure. Condie’s characters are complex but approachable, and the heroine’s fierce determination to right her world’s wrongs is model-worthy for any young reader.
While the pace of the journey slows at times, overall the pages seem to turn themselves, making the 320 pages a quick read. Unlike “Matched,” “Atlantia” is written as a stand-alone book, though Condie is hard at work on her next novel, which is already under contract with Penguin Books.
From the first gripping chapter, we learn of Rio Conwy’s forbidden dream of leaving her beloved underwater city of Atlantia to venture permanently to the world Above: “You could see the stars. You could feel the sun on your face. You could touch a tree that had roots in the ground. You could walk for miles and never come across the edge of your world.” In the wake of their mother’s death, Rio promises her twin sister, Bay, she’ll stay with her in Atlantia — the complex undersea city engineered to save humanity after pollution endangered life on earth. But Rio is thrown into a life of betrayal when her sister abandons their agreement for solidarity and leaves her to a life Below and alone. Suddenly, the only person who knew Rio’s deeply held and dangerous secret — her siren voice — is gone.
As Rio schemes to escape to the Above, she discovers her beautifully created subaquatic Atlantia is full of more flaws than she ever imagined. Rio’s search for truth leads to dangerous questions about her mother’s death, the city’s religious and political history, and her ability to courageously use her voice to restore light and peace to a broken world.
Teens and adults alike will be drawn in by Condie’s descriptive voice and her expertly created enchanting underwater world. And the unique take on dystopia — with earth life still existing — is a breath of fresh air for the less ardent fans of the genre. Familial bonds between sister/sister, daughter/mother, and niece/aunt are questioned but ultimately strengthened, and the romance between Rio and True is honest and pure. Condie’s characters are complex but approachable, and the heroine’s fierce determination to right her world’s wrongs is model-worthy for any young reader.
While the pace of the journey slows at times, overall the pages seem to turn themselves, making the 320 pages a quick read. Unlike “Matched,” “Atlantia” is written as a stand-alone book, though Condie is hard at work on her next novel, which is already under contract with Penguin Books.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
st phanie
I really enjoyed the story, but the characters fell flat for me.
So many things happen that Rio doesn’t know about and we find that’s all been to protect Rio. This makes me seriously dislike all the characters that were in on this. That being said, I suppose I liked Rio a bit more than the others, but I still didn’t really like her.
I always love books that have underwater cities, and this was no exception. It’s a beautiful city and it would be an interesting place to live. Also very dangerous, as we eventually see. But I fell in love with the city of Atlantia. Minus a few problems that are gone by the end of the book.
Rio’s obsession with going Above was actually kind of annoying. I know it’s what she was planning to do in the first place, but then she made the decision to stay Below for her sister. And then her sister went Above. And Rio hates that separation. A separation that was going to happen anyway if she had gone Above as planned. So this need to get to her sister is kind of annoying. Her need to get answers I completely understand. I just hate the way she goes about it.
The story itself, the mystery surrounding Rio and the city of Atlantia, is what makes this book worth reading.
So many things happen that Rio doesn’t know about and we find that’s all been to protect Rio. This makes me seriously dislike all the characters that were in on this. That being said, I suppose I liked Rio a bit more than the others, but I still didn’t really like her.
I always love books that have underwater cities, and this was no exception. It’s a beautiful city and it would be an interesting place to live. Also very dangerous, as we eventually see. But I fell in love with the city of Atlantia. Minus a few problems that are gone by the end of the book.
Rio’s obsession with going Above was actually kind of annoying. I know it’s what she was planning to do in the first place, but then she made the decision to stay Below for her sister. And then her sister went Above. And Rio hates that separation. A separation that was going to happen anyway if she had gone Above as planned. So this need to get to her sister is kind of annoying. Her need to get answers I completely understand. I just hate the way she goes about it.
The story itself, the mystery surrounding Rio and the city of Atlantia, is what makes this book worth reading.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
sheryl woods
«Do you hear the city breathing?»
I ended up liking this much more than I thought I would. This was a very slow read. It's not one of those books you fly through, full of action and adventures.
It was a very well constructed world full of political intrigue and things that are not what they look like at first sight - like most dystopias.
This was a tale about family and the bond between sisters. I think that was one of the things that appealed most to me. Nowadays, books seem to overlook family and emphasise love - the fact that in this one, family was very present was refreshing.
I did have some minor issues with it, which is why I rated it 3 stars.
I am relieved though, to see that this is a stand alone, which tends to be very rare in a time where trilogies and series are everywhere.
There was no need to stretch the story further, and I congratulate the author for not having done so when so many others would have, merely with the purpose of profit.
I ended up liking this much more than I thought I would. This was a very slow read. It's not one of those books you fly through, full of action and adventures.
It was a very well constructed world full of political intrigue and things that are not what they look like at first sight - like most dystopias.
This was a tale about family and the bond between sisters. I think that was one of the things that appealed most to me. Nowadays, books seem to overlook family and emphasise love - the fact that in this one, family was very present was refreshing.
I did have some minor issues with it, which is why I rated it 3 stars.
I am relieved though, to see that this is a stand alone, which tends to be very rare in a time where trilogies and series are everywhere.
There was no need to stretch the story further, and I congratulate the author for not having done so when so many others would have, merely with the purpose of profit.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
ateesh kropha
Atlantia by Ally Condie is a fantasy full of secrets. For the first part of the book, I was annoyed at Rio because of the disrespect she shows towards her aunt Maire. She is uncaring towards Maire. As the book goes on, I began to understand why Rio is this way and why she is so secretive around everyone. Atlantia is a society and a life in which no one can trust each other. Very sad! Trust really isn't an option! The book became more interesting towards the second half and I really give Atlantia 4.5 stars.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
marquitta
Rio and her twin sister, Bay, live in the underwater city of Atlantia. When the children of Atlantia come of age they are able to choose whether they want to stay Below or go Above. Rio has dreamed of going Above and is devastated when Bay chooses to go Above instead, leaving Rio alone in the Below. Rio is a siren but has to keep this a secret from everyone. Sirens are very rare and her society deems the sirens too dangerous and keeps them locked away. Rio is determined to get to the Above and with the help of her love interest, True, she saves up money by racing in the Deepmarket after hours. Rio does eventually make it to the Above and the story wraps up very neatly, leaving no questions unanswered.
Being a huge fan of Ally Condie’s “Matched” series, I couldn’t wait to read Atlantia. Unfortunately it falls a bit short, or maybe my expectations were too high. The pace is very slow at times and I would have liked to see more world building. There was so much left unexplained about Atlantia itself. And there were no mermaids. At all.
This is not a riveting, action-packed, edge of your seat type story. It is a very unique dystopian full of mystery with a satisfying ending.
Being a huge fan of Ally Condie’s “Matched” series, I couldn’t wait to read Atlantia. Unfortunately it falls a bit short, or maybe my expectations were too high. The pace is very slow at times and I would have liked to see more world building. There was so much left unexplained about Atlantia itself. And there were no mermaids. At all.
This is not a riveting, action-packed, edge of your seat type story. It is a very unique dystopian full of mystery with a satisfying ending.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
derek wong
Wow. I rarely post reviews on books, but this one was very good. I love that the plot is resolved at the end, rather than being drawn out into a trilogy (can you tell I hate waiting months for the next book to come out?). I don't know if the author plans to write a sequel, but this book definitely works as a stand-alone.
Atlantia is not your usual conglomeration of trite mermaid themes and utterly predictable plot twists - the storyline is interesting and unique the whole way through. The author's style is descriptive and thought-provoking without dragging on or putting you to sleep. Overall, a very good book.
Atlantia is not your usual conglomeration of trite mermaid themes and utterly predictable plot twists - the storyline is interesting and unique the whole way through. The author's style is descriptive and thought-provoking without dragging on or putting you to sleep. Overall, a very good book.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
emma mekinda
Atlantia by Ally Condie is a standalone that mixes a post-apocalyptic future Earth with magic and a strong environmentalism message. Atlantia is not, as I first thought, a mermaid book, but instead takes place deep under the ocean in a habitat humans constructed when the air pollution on land became too toxic. There is also magic in Atlantia though in the form of several miracles that appeared after the humans moved into Atlantia, including people being born with the ability to force others to obey with just the sound of their voice. Beyond all the cool world-building though, Atlantia is the story of a young girl dealing with the loss of her family and trying to understand who she is without the help of her twin sister.
Note: I borrowed an advanced copy of Atlantia. Some things may have changed in the final version.
Atlantia by Ally Condie
Published by Dutton Juvenile on October 28th, 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Post Apocalyptic, YA
Length: 368 pages
How I got my copy: Borrowed
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.
Strengths:
I’m really liking this trend of authors mixing elements of sci-fi and fantasy together in order to build worlds that are unique and intriguing. Atlantia at first comes off as very much a sci-fi story because of the setting and emphasis on technology to overcome humanity’s problems, however Atlantia still managed to bring in a whimsical beauty with bits of magic here and there.
The romance in Atlantia is pretty darn adorable and a great example of how to develop a romance in a short book while still making it realistic. Rio doesn’t instantly fall for the male lead and instead slowly realizes what her feelings really mean. I just wanted to hug her and giggle and braid her hair when things finally got figured out between them ;-).
Atlantia really focuses in on familial bonds between women in a family despite much of Rio’s family being gone. The entire plot of Atlantia is motivated by Rio’s deep sense of obligation to both her sister and her mother and the bonds demonstrated in flashbacks and memories made it clear why Rio felt so strongly. If you’re a fan of sisterly bond books, definitely grab Atlantia :).
There are a couple of strong messages that come out in the telling of Atlantia and they are environmentalism and the importance of not fearing the Other just for being different. Using story-telling to demonstrate the importance behind an idea is one of my favorite things about sci-fi, so I’m happy to see that element being incorporated into more YA sci-fi.
Atlantia is a standalone! Praise the publishing gods!!! I love a good trilogy as much as the next addicted reader, but it was really nice to burn through Atlantia and then feel a nice sense of satisfaction.
Weaknesses:
The writing of Atlantia ended up being a bit simplistic for me. I mostly didn’t mind it until I realized that I had very little idea what Atlantia looked like or what the people Rio was talking to looked like. There was so little description that I found myself struggling to make a mental image despite there being pretty metallic trees to imagine!
While I like messages being incorporated to make a point, Atlantia started to verge on preachy when Rio was discusses how horrible Above was because of human pollution, etc etc etc.
I have enough questions still at the end of Atlantia (significant questions that I really expected to have been answered) that I’m wondering if a sequel is planned. I’m not a reader who really appreciates any sort of mystery being left by the end of a book, so at the end of Atlantia I was sorely tempted to start making up answers for myself >.>.
Summary:
Atlantia is a fast and intriguing sci-fi/fantasy hybrid. It is definitely not a mermaid book, but instead is a new spin on a story under the sea. Atlantia’s strength was really in the character relationships that develop and strengthen as Rio grows into her own skin, though discovering the mysteries hidden in the secret places of an underwater city is pretty fun too!
Note: I borrowed an advanced copy of Atlantia. Some things may have changed in the final version.
Atlantia by Ally Condie
Published by Dutton Juvenile on October 28th, 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Post Apocalyptic, YA
Length: 368 pages
How I got my copy: Borrowed
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.
Strengths:
I’m really liking this trend of authors mixing elements of sci-fi and fantasy together in order to build worlds that are unique and intriguing. Atlantia at first comes off as very much a sci-fi story because of the setting and emphasis on technology to overcome humanity’s problems, however Atlantia still managed to bring in a whimsical beauty with bits of magic here and there.
The romance in Atlantia is pretty darn adorable and a great example of how to develop a romance in a short book while still making it realistic. Rio doesn’t instantly fall for the male lead and instead slowly realizes what her feelings really mean. I just wanted to hug her and giggle and braid her hair when things finally got figured out between them ;-).
Atlantia really focuses in on familial bonds between women in a family despite much of Rio’s family being gone. The entire plot of Atlantia is motivated by Rio’s deep sense of obligation to both her sister and her mother and the bonds demonstrated in flashbacks and memories made it clear why Rio felt so strongly. If you’re a fan of sisterly bond books, definitely grab Atlantia :).
There are a couple of strong messages that come out in the telling of Atlantia and they are environmentalism and the importance of not fearing the Other just for being different. Using story-telling to demonstrate the importance behind an idea is one of my favorite things about sci-fi, so I’m happy to see that element being incorporated into more YA sci-fi.
Atlantia is a standalone! Praise the publishing gods!!! I love a good trilogy as much as the next addicted reader, but it was really nice to burn through Atlantia and then feel a nice sense of satisfaction.
Weaknesses:
The writing of Atlantia ended up being a bit simplistic for me. I mostly didn’t mind it until I realized that I had very little idea what Atlantia looked like or what the people Rio was talking to looked like. There was so little description that I found myself struggling to make a mental image despite there being pretty metallic trees to imagine!
While I like messages being incorporated to make a point, Atlantia started to verge on preachy when Rio was discusses how horrible Above was because of human pollution, etc etc etc.
I have enough questions still at the end of Atlantia (significant questions that I really expected to have been answered) that I’m wondering if a sequel is planned. I’m not a reader who really appreciates any sort of mystery being left by the end of a book, so at the end of Atlantia I was sorely tempted to start making up answers for myself >.>.
Summary:
Atlantia is a fast and intriguing sci-fi/fantasy hybrid. It is definitely not a mermaid book, but instead is a new spin on a story under the sea. Atlantia’s strength was really in the character relationships that develop and strengthen as Rio grows into her own skin, though discovering the mysteries hidden in the secret places of an underwater city is pretty fun too!
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
nstacey
This was a refreshing book that had a conclusion by the end of the book, no need to read two or three more books... While the main character goes through a transformation of self discovery throughout the book, the underlying message is not lost. It is a message on the potential future consequences of humanity and our planet. It is a message of possibilities of what could be, should we choose to sit back and do nothing. But in the end the message that survives throughout the book is hope and the cost of making sacrifices for the greater good. Not the best book I have ever read, but it was worth reading.
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
muhammad
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Atlantia by Ally Condie
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Publication Date: October 28, 2014
Rating: 2 stars
Source: Hardcover copy traded via YA Book Exchange
Summary (from Goodreads):
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.
What I Liked:
Well, I really wanted to like this one. I tried. I was super excited about this one, despite not really enjoying Matched and Crossed (never read Reached). A novel about an underwater city? Cool! No mermaids? Even better. Sadly, I was disappointed.
Rio has always wanted to go Above - she's lived Below, in an underwater city called Atlantia, for her entire. There is only one way to go Above: you get a choice as a teenager. Rio's twin sister Bay made Rio promise that she wouldn't choose Above, after their mother died. But then, on the choosing day, Bay chooses Above... after Rio chose Below. Rio is determined to be reunited with her Above. As Rio searches for a way out, she discovers secrets and the true history of Atlantia, of Below and Above.
Like I said, I was really excited to read this book! I didn't get an ARC or eARC, and that was okay. When I finally got the book and started reading, I was intrigued. How dare Bay make Rio promise that she wouldn't choose Above, and then chose it herself?! And a boy also chose Above... suspicious. Poor Rio. Rio was so distraught, so alone. She literally had no one - no father (dead), no mother (dead), no sister (Above).
Rio's aunt, Maire, starts contacting Rio. Maire is a siren - like Rio. But everyone knows that Maire is a siren, whereas no one knows that Rio is one. Maire wants to help Rio go Above, but Rio doesn't trust Maire. Rio begins to uncover secrets about the city, just as the city is curiously falling apart. There has never been a better time to go Above, it seems...
The romance was probably the best thing about this book, honestly. I really like True and Rio together. They meet because True's friend is the boy that went with Bay, Above. True create mechanical fish, and Rio starts buying them to race against them, to make herself a better swimmer. True has secrets of his own, just like Rio does. He has a gentle, quiet nature, which I really liked. I liked the two of them together.
The whole underwater city thing was awesome, honestly. Those two aspects are where the book earned its two stars from me - the romance, and the underwater aspect. It was really unique, because the city is like a bubble underwater, at the bottom of the ocean, with humans living in it (with the exception of a few sirens). I had high hopes for this book... but it didn't deliver.
What I Did Not Like:
Okay my biggest problem started when Bay chose Above... which was pretty soon after the book started. To be completely, while I felt for Rio, I got bored. Real quick. The author spends so much time letting Rio wallow, letting the plot kind of meander along with no purpose, no twists, no bumps in the road. Bay leaves. Rio feels sorry for herself. She decides to swim. She evades Maire. La la la... that's kind of how I felt as I was reading. Not going to lie, I was in a really comfortable position on my bed while reading this book...
... And I fell asleep. Like, actually asleep, totally knocked out, unconscious and the whole nine yards.
That says something, folks. I'm on Thanksgiving vacation right now, so it's not like I've been lacking sleep. No, the problem was that forty, fifty, sixty, pages in, I was struggling. I was bored. I needed more oomph from the plot. I needed more than Maire hinting at secrets, more than a budding friendship with True, more than swim races that meant nothing to me.
Throughout the whole book, I didn't like Bay. She doesn't pop up until the end of the book, but I spent the whole book disliking her for leaving Rio, regardless of her reasons. If she had told Rio from the beginning, the whole angst thing could have been avoided. Of course, then there might not have been much of a story, but that doesn't mean that I had to like Bay. I didn't. I didn't want Rio and Bay to be reunited. I don't like Bay.
I'm also a little disappointed because while the premise of the story is very fresh and unique, the story was really cliche and over told, honestly. Evil tyrant, falling city, super powerful protagonist, save the world, last one left, blah blah blah. This book wasn't really anything special, if you took away the setting. Meh.
Overall... things were boring. And I don't do boring. I wanted more action, or at least, more interesting SOMETHING. The "plot twists" and "big reveals" weren't that exciting or shocking.
Would I Recommend It:
Hmm, naahhh. I think I've come to accept to accept the fact that Ally Condie is not an author for me - her books and I don't really agree. Unfortunate to say, but true. So I wouldn't recommend this one. Don't let the pretty cover fool you.
Rating:
2 stars. I'm glad I read this one, because I had been really excited to read it... but I'm sad that I was so disappointed. Tis life!
Atlantia by Ally Condie
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Publication Date: October 28, 2014
Rating: 2 stars
Source: Hardcover copy traded via YA Book Exchange
Summary (from Goodreads):
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.
What I Liked:
Well, I really wanted to like this one. I tried. I was super excited about this one, despite not really enjoying Matched and Crossed (never read Reached). A novel about an underwater city? Cool! No mermaids? Even better. Sadly, I was disappointed.
Rio has always wanted to go Above - she's lived Below, in an underwater city called Atlantia, for her entire. There is only one way to go Above: you get a choice as a teenager. Rio's twin sister Bay made Rio promise that she wouldn't choose Above, after their mother died. But then, on the choosing day, Bay chooses Above... after Rio chose Below. Rio is determined to be reunited with her Above. As Rio searches for a way out, she discovers secrets and the true history of Atlantia, of Below and Above.
Like I said, I was really excited to read this book! I didn't get an ARC or eARC, and that was okay. When I finally got the book and started reading, I was intrigued. How dare Bay make Rio promise that she wouldn't choose Above, and then chose it herself?! And a boy also chose Above... suspicious. Poor Rio. Rio was so distraught, so alone. She literally had no one - no father (dead), no mother (dead), no sister (Above).
Rio's aunt, Maire, starts contacting Rio. Maire is a siren - like Rio. But everyone knows that Maire is a siren, whereas no one knows that Rio is one. Maire wants to help Rio go Above, but Rio doesn't trust Maire. Rio begins to uncover secrets about the city, just as the city is curiously falling apart. There has never been a better time to go Above, it seems...
The romance was probably the best thing about this book, honestly. I really like True and Rio together. They meet because True's friend is the boy that went with Bay, Above. True create mechanical fish, and Rio starts buying them to race against them, to make herself a better swimmer. True has secrets of his own, just like Rio does. He has a gentle, quiet nature, which I really liked. I liked the two of them together.
The whole underwater city thing was awesome, honestly. Those two aspects are where the book earned its two stars from me - the romance, and the underwater aspect. It was really unique, because the city is like a bubble underwater, at the bottom of the ocean, with humans living in it (with the exception of a few sirens). I had high hopes for this book... but it didn't deliver.
What I Did Not Like:
Okay my biggest problem started when Bay chose Above... which was pretty soon after the book started. To be completely, while I felt for Rio, I got bored. Real quick. The author spends so much time letting Rio wallow, letting the plot kind of meander along with no purpose, no twists, no bumps in the road. Bay leaves. Rio feels sorry for herself. She decides to swim. She evades Maire. La la la... that's kind of how I felt as I was reading. Not going to lie, I was in a really comfortable position on my bed while reading this book...
... And I fell asleep. Like, actually asleep, totally knocked out, unconscious and the whole nine yards.
That says something, folks. I'm on Thanksgiving vacation right now, so it's not like I've been lacking sleep. No, the problem was that forty, fifty, sixty, pages in, I was struggling. I was bored. I needed more oomph from the plot. I needed more than Maire hinting at secrets, more than a budding friendship with True, more than swim races that meant nothing to me.
Throughout the whole book, I didn't like Bay. She doesn't pop up until the end of the book, but I spent the whole book disliking her for leaving Rio, regardless of her reasons. If she had told Rio from the beginning, the whole angst thing could have been avoided. Of course, then there might not have been much of a story, but that doesn't mean that I had to like Bay. I didn't. I didn't want Rio and Bay to be reunited. I don't like Bay.
I'm also a little disappointed because while the premise of the story is very fresh and unique, the story was really cliche and over told, honestly. Evil tyrant, falling city, super powerful protagonist, save the world, last one left, blah blah blah. This book wasn't really anything special, if you took away the setting. Meh.
Overall... things were boring. And I don't do boring. I wanted more action, or at least, more interesting SOMETHING. The "plot twists" and "big reveals" weren't that exciting or shocking.
Would I Recommend It:
Hmm, naahhh. I think I've come to accept to accept the fact that Ally Condie is not an author for me - her books and I don't really agree. Unfortunate to say, but true. So I wouldn't recommend this one. Don't let the pretty cover fool you.
Rating:
2 stars. I'm glad I read this one, because I had been really excited to read it... but I'm sad that I was so disappointed. Tis life!
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
andrew keen
This was a refreshing book that had a conclusion by the end of the book, no need to read two or three more books... While the main character goes through a transformation of self discovery throughout the book, the underlying message is not lost. It is a message on the potential future consequences of humanity and our planet. It is a message of possibilities of what could be, should we choose to sit back and do nothing. But in the end the message that survives throughout the book is hope and the cost of making sacrifices for the greater good. Not the best book I have ever read, but it was worth reading.
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
ajay kalyankar
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Atlantia by Ally Condie
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Publication Date: October 28, 2014
Rating: 2 stars
Source: Hardcover copy traded via YA Book Exchange
Summary (from Goodreads):
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.
What I Liked:
Well, I really wanted to like this one. I tried. I was super excited about this one, despite not really enjoying Matched and Crossed (never read Reached). A novel about an underwater city? Cool! No mermaids? Even better. Sadly, I was disappointed.
Rio has always wanted to go Above - she's lived Below, in an underwater city called Atlantia, for her entire. There is only one way to go Above: you get a choice as a teenager. Rio's twin sister Bay made Rio promise that she wouldn't choose Above, after their mother died. But then, on the choosing day, Bay chooses Above... after Rio chose Below. Rio is determined to be reunited with her Above. As Rio searches for a way out, she discovers secrets and the true history of Atlantia, of Below and Above.
Like I said, I was really excited to read this book! I didn't get an ARC or eARC, and that was okay. When I finally got the book and started reading, I was intrigued. How dare Bay make Rio promise that she wouldn't choose Above, and then chose it herself?! And a boy also chose Above... suspicious. Poor Rio. Rio was so distraught, so alone. She literally had no one - no father (dead), no mother (dead), no sister (Above).
Rio's aunt, Maire, starts contacting Rio. Maire is a siren - like Rio. But everyone knows that Maire is a siren, whereas no one knows that Rio is one. Maire wants to help Rio go Above, but Rio doesn't trust Maire. Rio begins to uncover secrets about the city, just as the city is curiously falling apart. There has never been a better time to go Above, it seems...
The romance was probably the best thing about this book, honestly. I really like True and Rio together. They meet because True's friend is the boy that went with Bay, Above. True create mechanical fish, and Rio starts buying them to race against them, to make herself a better swimmer. True has secrets of his own, just like Rio does. He has a gentle, quiet nature, which I really liked. I liked the two of them together.
The whole underwater city thing was awesome, honestly. Those two aspects are where the book earned its two stars from me - the romance, and the underwater aspect. It was really unique, because the city is like a bubble underwater, at the bottom of the ocean, with humans living in it (with the exception of a few sirens). I had high hopes for this book... but it didn't deliver.
What I Did Not Like:
Okay my biggest problem started when Bay chose Above... which was pretty soon after the book started. To be completely, while I felt for Rio, I got bored. Real quick. The author spends so much time letting Rio wallow, letting the plot kind of meander along with no purpose, no twists, no bumps in the road. Bay leaves. Rio feels sorry for herself. She decides to swim. She evades Maire. La la la... that's kind of how I felt as I was reading. Not going to lie, I was in a really comfortable position on my bed while reading this book...
... And I fell asleep. Like, actually asleep, totally knocked out, unconscious and the whole nine yards.
That says something, folks. I'm on Thanksgiving vacation right now, so it's not like I've been lacking sleep. No, the problem was that forty, fifty, sixty, pages in, I was struggling. I was bored. I needed more oomph from the plot. I needed more than Maire hinting at secrets, more than a budding friendship with True, more than swim races that meant nothing to me.
Throughout the whole book, I didn't like Bay. She doesn't pop up until the end of the book, but I spent the whole book disliking her for leaving Rio, regardless of her reasons. If she had told Rio from the beginning, the whole angst thing could have been avoided. Of course, then there might not have been much of a story, but that doesn't mean that I had to like Bay. I didn't. I didn't want Rio and Bay to be reunited. I don't like Bay.
I'm also a little disappointed because while the premise of the story is very fresh and unique, the story was really cliche and over told, honestly. Evil tyrant, falling city, super powerful protagonist, save the world, last one left, blah blah blah. This book wasn't really anything special, if you took away the setting. Meh.
Overall... things were boring. And I don't do boring. I wanted more action, or at least, more interesting SOMETHING. The "plot twists" and "big reveals" weren't that exciting or shocking.
Would I Recommend It:
Hmm, naahhh. I think I've come to accept to accept the fact that Ally Condie is not an author for me - her books and I don't really agree. Unfortunate to say, but true. So I wouldn't recommend this one. Don't let the pretty cover fool you.
Rating:
2 stars. I'm glad I read this one, because I had been really excited to read it... but I'm sad that I was so disappointed. Tis life!
Atlantia by Ally Condie
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Publication Date: October 28, 2014
Rating: 2 stars
Source: Hardcover copy traded via YA Book Exchange
Summary (from Goodreads):
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.
What I Liked:
Well, I really wanted to like this one. I tried. I was super excited about this one, despite not really enjoying Matched and Crossed (never read Reached). A novel about an underwater city? Cool! No mermaids? Even better. Sadly, I was disappointed.
Rio has always wanted to go Above - she's lived Below, in an underwater city called Atlantia, for her entire. There is only one way to go Above: you get a choice as a teenager. Rio's twin sister Bay made Rio promise that she wouldn't choose Above, after their mother died. But then, on the choosing day, Bay chooses Above... after Rio chose Below. Rio is determined to be reunited with her Above. As Rio searches for a way out, she discovers secrets and the true history of Atlantia, of Below and Above.
Like I said, I was really excited to read this book! I didn't get an ARC or eARC, and that was okay. When I finally got the book and started reading, I was intrigued. How dare Bay make Rio promise that she wouldn't choose Above, and then chose it herself?! And a boy also chose Above... suspicious. Poor Rio. Rio was so distraught, so alone. She literally had no one - no father (dead), no mother (dead), no sister (Above).
Rio's aunt, Maire, starts contacting Rio. Maire is a siren - like Rio. But everyone knows that Maire is a siren, whereas no one knows that Rio is one. Maire wants to help Rio go Above, but Rio doesn't trust Maire. Rio begins to uncover secrets about the city, just as the city is curiously falling apart. There has never been a better time to go Above, it seems...
The romance was probably the best thing about this book, honestly. I really like True and Rio together. They meet because True's friend is the boy that went with Bay, Above. True create mechanical fish, and Rio starts buying them to race against them, to make herself a better swimmer. True has secrets of his own, just like Rio does. He has a gentle, quiet nature, which I really liked. I liked the two of them together.
The whole underwater city thing was awesome, honestly. Those two aspects are where the book earned its two stars from me - the romance, and the underwater aspect. It was really unique, because the city is like a bubble underwater, at the bottom of the ocean, with humans living in it (with the exception of a few sirens). I had high hopes for this book... but it didn't deliver.
What I Did Not Like:
Okay my biggest problem started when Bay chose Above... which was pretty soon after the book started. To be completely, while I felt for Rio, I got bored. Real quick. The author spends so much time letting Rio wallow, letting the plot kind of meander along with no purpose, no twists, no bumps in the road. Bay leaves. Rio feels sorry for herself. She decides to swim. She evades Maire. La la la... that's kind of how I felt as I was reading. Not going to lie, I was in a really comfortable position on my bed while reading this book...
... And I fell asleep. Like, actually asleep, totally knocked out, unconscious and the whole nine yards.
That says something, folks. I'm on Thanksgiving vacation right now, so it's not like I've been lacking sleep. No, the problem was that forty, fifty, sixty, pages in, I was struggling. I was bored. I needed more oomph from the plot. I needed more than Maire hinting at secrets, more than a budding friendship with True, more than swim races that meant nothing to me.
Throughout the whole book, I didn't like Bay. She doesn't pop up until the end of the book, but I spent the whole book disliking her for leaving Rio, regardless of her reasons. If she had told Rio from the beginning, the whole angst thing could have been avoided. Of course, then there might not have been much of a story, but that doesn't mean that I had to like Bay. I didn't. I didn't want Rio and Bay to be reunited. I don't like Bay.
I'm also a little disappointed because while the premise of the story is very fresh and unique, the story was really cliche and over told, honestly. Evil tyrant, falling city, super powerful protagonist, save the world, last one left, blah blah blah. This book wasn't really anything special, if you took away the setting. Meh.
Overall... things were boring. And I don't do boring. I wanted more action, or at least, more interesting SOMETHING. The "plot twists" and "big reveals" weren't that exciting or shocking.
Would I Recommend It:
Hmm, naahhh. I think I've come to accept to accept the fact that Ally Condie is not an author for me - her books and I don't really agree. Unfortunate to say, but true. So I wouldn't recommend this one. Don't let the pretty cover fool you.
Rating:
2 stars. I'm glad I read this one, because I had been really excited to read it... but I'm sad that I was so disappointed. Tis life!
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
molly bingham
Throughout the whole book, there was a feeling of everything building to a boiling point - and I felt like it just never came. The writing was done well, as I've come to except from Ally Condie, but the characters felt pretty lukewarm and the premise of the book was a miss for me. While there seemed to be plenty of things going on, there was never really a climax or even a good finish, in my opinion. I didn't dislike it, per say, but it was definitely not what I was hoping for.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
sophia chaulk
Fantastic book. The tale is gripping and enthralling. This story keeps you guessing as to the ending the entire length of the book, constantly revealing new secrets and plot-twists. The author has done a fantastic job creating a world where all seems ok but dark secrets abound. The narrator also has a very good voice and beautiful renders the story.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
dummytree
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.
There were a few things that I questioned about the story, but there were also some interesting aspects. I liked the sirens and their back story, and 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.
There were a few things that I questioned about the story, but there were also some interesting aspects. I liked the sirens and their back story, and 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.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
christina williams
This book was not bad, not great, but simply okay. I thought the world of Atlantia was very interesting, the characters however not so much. It was just impossible to connect with any of them.
This is a book that had a lot of potential & some interesting moments, but the best part was the world Condie built.
This is a book that had a lot of potential & some interesting moments, but the best part was the world Condie built.
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
christian crowley
The problem with Atlantia is that it’s so boring I’d rather eat nails than read it again. Or finish it. This is my first from Ally Condie. And probably my last if this is how she writes in all her books.
“He kisses me.. He is good at this. I am good at this. We are good at this”
WELL U KNOW WAT? I AM NOT GOOD WITH ANY OF DIS!
“She’s going to tell me the story, and I’m going to listen. And I am afraid.”
The author needs to be informed that we are not toddlers anymore. She needs to know that. Anyway, I did my best to just ignore the writing even though it is so distracting. I tried to focus more on the plot that is so so so exciting.
HA. I’m so good at sarcasm. Rio’s sister Bay left her to be in the Above. When we say ‘Above’ it means the land. So that left Rio all by herself because her Mother just died and her Father was dead long time ago. But no worries, her Aunt Maire who is equally as boring as her is still Below. (Below is, obviously, the sea)Even though she is reluctant to ask for help, she was desperate to find out why her sister left her alone Below. Good thing she met this boy whose name is so stupid I CANNOT UNDERSATND WHY IS HE NAMED LIKE THIS. His name is True Beck. True Beck also wants to know why his friend went above that’s why he wants to help the boring and incredibly bland Rio.
Also, True Beck knows Rio’s secret.. AND WHAT SECRET IS THAT? Well, I don’t want to spoil you because I’m not mean. And besides, if you decided to read this book, it might be the only thing that keeps you going.
Peoples, ATLANTIA is so boring. There’s no BOOM. No FEELS. Nothing amazing or awesome or good about it. I’m so harsh, I’m sorry. But it’s the truth. The premise is really fascinating. I thought they were mermaids but they’re not and I was actually okay with that. But the execution was so MEH.
The only good thing here is that it’s not a series. YAY! We can save some money.
“He kisses me.. He is good at this. I am good at this. We are good at this”
WELL U KNOW WAT? I AM NOT GOOD WITH ANY OF DIS!
“She’s going to tell me the story, and I’m going to listen. And I am afraid.”
The author needs to be informed that we are not toddlers anymore. She needs to know that. Anyway, I did my best to just ignore the writing even though it is so distracting. I tried to focus more on the plot that is so so so exciting.
HA. I’m so good at sarcasm. Rio’s sister Bay left her to be in the Above. When we say ‘Above’ it means the land. So that left Rio all by herself because her Mother just died and her Father was dead long time ago. But no worries, her Aunt Maire who is equally as boring as her is still Below. (Below is, obviously, the sea)Even though she is reluctant to ask for help, she was desperate to find out why her sister left her alone Below. Good thing she met this boy whose name is so stupid I CANNOT UNDERSATND WHY IS HE NAMED LIKE THIS. His name is True Beck. True Beck also wants to know why his friend went above that’s why he wants to help the boring and incredibly bland Rio.
Also, True Beck knows Rio’s secret.. AND WHAT SECRET IS THAT? Well, I don’t want to spoil you because I’m not mean. And besides, if you decided to read this book, it might be the only thing that keeps you going.
Peoples, ATLANTIA is so boring. There’s no BOOM. No FEELS. Nothing amazing or awesome or good about it. I’m so harsh, I’m sorry. But it’s the truth. The premise is really fascinating. I thought they were mermaids but they’re not and I was actually okay with that. But the execution was so MEH.
The only good thing here is that it’s not a series. YAY! We can save some money.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
emiliegrace
The story is simple and relatable. It is reminiscent of traditional fairy tales, but a definite modern dystopia. There are several layers of mystery and the love story aspect feels more natural. A good read.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
jody heifner
This book starts off very intriguing, but I found myself more and more bored towards the end. There are a lot of twists, but with each twist, I felt the story becoming less believable. The ending was okay, but somewhat rushed. Also, know that this book has nothing to do with mermaids, and is not about mermaids....
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
alana
I had just finished an Atlantis genre book, so I was expecting the typically of storyline of a city going underwater with a girl being at the center. However, this book was so unique in an dystopian story line. I started reading it can could not put it down. There were so many character's that added to the book's fantasy and mysterious feel. I think I finished it in a day. Amazing book, if you like this type of genre.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
hilary lahn
This book is fascinating and engaging. What a wonderful story, it's very original and written beautifully. It's a great tale of family and also of personal strength and finding yourself even when things aren't perfect.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
sandy medina
This book was not what I was expecting, although loving Ally Condie's books I should have come to expect books with twists and turns I can't see coming, quotes that hit me personally, lovable characters, and just pure entertainment. This book had it all. I especially loved the message about the importance of sisters. Ally did not disappoint. I would highly recommend this book.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
sehar
Love Ally Condie's style
This is one of my favorite books ever!
Magical, creative, intriguing, and unique!
Made me wish I could walk into the story and experience the life of the sirens for myself!
This is one of my favorite books ever!
Magical, creative, intriguing, and unique!
Made me wish I could walk into the story and experience the life of the sirens for myself!
Please RateAtlantia
I tried reading Ally Condie’s other series, Matched, and I got to the third book and while I was curious to see how the story was going to pan out, I wasn’t curious enough to pick the book up and actually read it. I mean, the covers were cool and mirrored the three pills, the world building was interesting enough and I wanted to know what would happen to the main character, just… not a lot?
That’s how I felt about this book as well. Something about Condie’s writing just makes everything middle of the road. The idea of Atlantia is sound and the world building around it is also interesting but I just didn’t care. I didn’t care about the characters or the setting or if everything imploded. I couldn’t muster it.
The story begins with a choice. The children are becoming adults, do they want to live above or stay below in Atlantia. One choice, they don’t get to take it back or change their mind or come visit for Christmas. They’re taught that Altlantia is the better choice and Rio is expecting to stay below with her sister Bay because Bay pretty much begged her to pick Atlantia over Rio’s dream of going above. Psych! Bay decides to go above and leaves Rio in the dust and emotional pain.
So, most of the book is just Rio pining about her sister and attempting to find her way above. She barely trusts her Aunt Maire, who is a siren. Oh, and Rio is also a siren, but she’s been pretending to be normal this whole time so that she wouldn’t have to be taken away from her family and raised by the underwater council. Rio instead befriends a boy named True, who she lies to about her motives for wanting money and uses gimmicks during her swimming practice to pull in an audience and gain funds. She eventually falls in love with this boy and tells him everything. This is around the time one of Atalantia’s bubbles burst and a whole lot of people drown.
Anyway, Rio needs to get above for more than selfish reasons now. She finds her way up there with Maire, avoids being slaughtered at gunpoint and eventually unravels a web of corruption and indifference.
Like I said, not all that interesting. Even when things were happening and people were dying, I could honestly care less. I probably won’t be picking up anything else by this author unless other people are randomly wow’d by it.