Review: Rip Tide - Kat Falls

Ty has always known that the ocean is a dangerous place, populated by sharks, killer whales - and savage outlaws.  Every time he swims beyond the borders of his family's subsea settlement, he's prepared to face all manner of predators.

What he isn't prepared for is the discovery of an entire township chained to a sunken aeroplane, its inhabitants doomed to a watery grave.  It's only the first clue to a mystery that has claimed hundreds of lives and stands to claim two more.  Lives which are very precious to Ty and his topsider ally, Gemma . . .

Dark Life Series:
Dark Life
Rip Tide

For more information visit Kat Falls' author page on the Simon & Schuster website

Review:
Dark Life was one of the most original stories I read last year so I couldn't wait to get my hands on it's sequel Rip Tide.  Once again Kat Falls was able to transport me into the underwater world that she has created and describes beautifully.  It is so easy to picture Ty's world that you could easily be watching a film rather than reading a book.  I don't think you could read Rip Tide as a stand alone novel but if you're looking for something completely different then I'd definitely recommend getting hold of a copy of Dark Life, this really is a series you don't want to miss.

Trouble begins when Ty and Gemma discover a sunken township, as they get a closer look at it they realise that it has been deliberately sunk, with the entrances sealed from the outside to keep the residents trapped within.  As they discover the number of people who have been brutally murdered they become determined to find out what happened to them, and why.  Then when Ty's parents are kidnapped things take an even darker turn and it is up to Ty and Gemma to try to save them all.

Since the events of the first book Gemma has understandably become more and more afraid of the water, she misses Ty and his family but is too scared to stay at their underwater home anymore and is instead living on the floating town where the underwater settlers go to trade.  I could easily relate to Gemma's fear of the water, as much as I love swimming the thought of living so far below scares me to death and the numerous sea creatures that Kat Falls introduces us to doesn't make me feel any better about the idea!  When Ty's parents are kidnapped Gemma desperately wants to help him find them and I was proud of the way she puts her fears to one side to go with Ty.

In Rip Tide we get to learn a lot more about the different kinds of settlers and the way they live.  With rising water levels meaning land is scarce more and more people are trying to make homes on or under the water but the different groups have disagreements about how things should be.  Ty is going to find everything he has been brought up to believe is challenged and I was impressed with him and his family with the way they deal with things.  It isn't easy living subsea and the whole community needs to stick together if they want to survive.  The story is full of action and adventure and was thoroughly enjoyable to read, if you liked Dark Life then you'll definitely want to read this next installment - if you haven't order your copy now!  I don't know if there are future books planned for the series but I'm really hoping we get to visit Ty and Gemma again.

Source: Received from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review

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