Atlantia

Narrator Rebecca Soler brings depth to a character who is defined by her voice. Rio lives in the underwater city of Atlantia, a colony in a world in which air pollution is so devastating that humanity is divided between those who live "below" and "above" in order to survive. Rio is a Siren, and her voice has the power to control others. Because Sirens are heavily regulated by the government, Rio has made her voice monotone to disguise her true nature. Soler makes the most of this premise, which is so well suited to the audio format. The voice that Rio uses in public is almost painfully dull but contrasts dramatically with Soler's reading of Rio's true voice. Listeners will sympathize with Rio's plight and cheer her on in her quest for vocal liberation. E.M.C. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

August 11, 2014
Rio Conwy has lived her whole life in Atlantia, a city built underwater to preserve the human race after the atmosphere became filled with toxic pollution. Rio had always planned to go Above and join the workers who support and feed the Atlantians, but she promised her twin sister, Bay, she would stay after their mother died. When Bay betrays their agreement and abandons her, Rio plots, plans, and trains to make her own escape. As a further complication, Rio is secretly a siren, with a voice that compels obedience; if she’s found out, she’ll be forced to serve the Atlantian Council and never find out why Bay left. Condie (the Matched trilogy) pulls together many interesting ideas that don’t hold up to close examination. While the author’s fans will enjoy the immersive prose and gentle romance, newcomers may be impatient with the unsympathetic characters and lack of action. Overall, this standalone story is like a problematic trilogy in one book—a catchy opening leading to a slow journey and an unexpected finale that brings in bewildering new elements and works hard to wrap everything up. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House.