This is my absolute favorite standalone novel of all time. There is so much to be learned from it as a writer, and a touching theme that reaches your heart for a reader.
Explore the mysterious depths of Venice with The Sinking City, a thrilling mystery book for teens! The captivating story follows Liona Carvatti, a patrician’s daughter who discovers the dark powers lurking beneath her city. Blending elements of fantasy and suspense, this book for middle school boys, girls, and young adults is hard to put down and sure to provide hours of excitement. As Liona struggles against the Seleni, a powerful force controlling Venice from beneath its canals, she must set a course that could shake the foundations of her beloved home. Each page leaves room for unexpected surprises that are sure to keep readers coming back for more. This engaging and entertaining novel is a must-have for any teen’s bookshelf! Perfect for fans of teen boy books and fantasy books for young adults. The Sinking City is an engrossing read that will keep readers guessing until the very end. This fantasy book is assured to provide hours of entertainment and is perfect for those seeking good books for teens. Dive into this captivating tale and discover what lies beneath the surface of Venice!
Amazon Blurb
The Sinking City is written by Christine Cohen, author of The Winter King, and published with Canon Press. And frankly, though this is a good blurb, I don’t think it does it justice. The blurb on Canon Press certainly tells a little more about the story.
Venice is a carnival of opposites, and Liona Carvatti thinks she understands it all: canal and palace, magician and merchant, plague and pantomime. As a patrician’s daughter, Liona enjoys the sparkling life of a noble family—although she would prefer to be tending to her flowers than practicing violin or standing around in a ball gown. But what Liona fails to realize is that Venice is a city of stone in a world of water. And ruling the dark waters are the Seleni—ageless, cold, and calculating.
Canon Press
When she loses everything she relies on, Liona must set a new course that will shake the foundations of Venice itself.
If you love historical fantasy, this is a splendid example. The setting is fascinating and vibrant, and the magic system unique and also not ridiculously complicated.
What else did I like? The heroine. Sure there was some romance at the end… but it wasn’t puke-worthy, nor did it consume her every waking thought. Nothing graphic occurs either, like what’s commonplace in so much YA fiction. Liona pursues her goals, is allowed to make mistakes, and acts in a genuine and realistic way with those around her… of course, as far as her deception allows. I loved the ruse — there’s something fascinating about watching a character juggle lies and wondering how long they can keep the act up. I also loved Aloysius. Now there was a character who embodied the theme. Heck, all of them did a fantastic job of grappling with the theme, and were bright and lifelike both in the physical — their mannerisms, picturing them in your head, etc, and in the spiritual, as they struggled with the themes and with their choices and fears. They were very, very realistic, and my gut twisted when bad things happened to them.
This was also a great book from a writer’s perspective, as a subject of study. It was what inspired me to try writing in present tense myself, which was a fun and unique experience. What really caught my attention here was Cohen’s imagery and metaphor. She uses small details or artistic descriptions to anchor scenes, and she does it very well.
Lightning cracks across the mud-gray sky, followed quickly by a roll of thunder that rattles my bones.
The sun is a glowing orb outside the window, slowly dipping below the houses and painting the room with golden rays.
I am unknowable, one of many, lost in the sea of masks. Hands clapping, we roam the streets, wild creatures swept up in the chaotic splendor of a Carnival night.
Aloysius is inside, asleep in a chair by the dying fire. (original sentence omitted here to prevent spoilers.) He has a cup of tea balanced precariously on his knee. I kneel carefully beside him, and there it is. Deep loss etched into his skin. He stirs, and his eyes flutter open.
I actually studied this book for a summer style exercise with the Young Writer’s Workshop, and it was a great lesson.
I don’t know if this is necessarily a book for teen boys, as the blurb might suggest. Now, this isn’t to say a boy wouldn’t enjoy it, but the main character is female and tells things in a distinctly feminine way that I’m not sure a teenage boy would be able to relate to. I don’t know — I’m not a guy — perhaps a dude could enjoy it, and could certainly find an example in the male characters. Let me know your thoughts.
The Sinking City is the perfect book for a cozy, character-centered read. Note: I define cozy as something without intense battle scenes, but this book has plenty of dangers, risks, and conflicts of its own. There is some physical violence at the end and spiritual warfare, but is not gory or frightening. This is suitable for higher middle grade and YA, as the blurb says. I highly recommend — again, this is my favorite standalone. You can check it out on Amazon here.
