A review by ineffablebob
The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi

adventurous dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

The Water Knife is a near-future thriller set in a third-world area where climate change and environmental excess have driven some people to desperation and others to predation. The twist in this particular novel is that the third-world area is the Southwest USA, after battles over water rights have turned states against one another. I thought that was the least believable part of the premise, honestly, but it's not too hard to suspend disbelief and roll with it. And once you do, the rest is a solid thriller story with lots of danger, betrayal, and near escapes. Plenty of excitement and action with characters that are various shades of gray. Recommended if you're into the thriller genre and the premise sounds intriguing.
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