A companion to Ship Breaker, The Drowned Cities focuses on Tool, Mahlia, Mouse, and a completely different aspect of this new world. It’s hard not to make comparisons to the first book, but this one wasn’t as action packed or as engaging. It was much more a look at war, and how people are caught up in notions of vengeance and winning. The Drowned Cities was a much more thought-provoking book as it followed Mahlia and Tool’s search to find and rescue Mouse from one of the many armies that was created when the United States as we know it fell. This was an emotional and sad book since it doesn’t romanticize war or people’s actions (specifically torture). As I was reading it, I kept thinking of the soldier boys in Africa and how contemporary the message is even though this book is a dystopia.

Although this will not be a favorite, it was a thoughtful and interesting read that I will be recommending.

Reviewed ARC sent by publisher.