I am equally fascinated by and deeply fearful of water. Aquariums and exhibits that open a window beneath the waves mesmerize me. At the same time, the mere thought of the depths and weight of so much water impenetrable by the naked eye makes my stomach drop and pulse race. Eiren Caffall‘s debut work of dystopian fiction is a captivating look at a possible world to come.

The narrator is Nonie, who lives with what remains of her natural and found families in The World As It Is. We call the setting New York City, but these residents no longer inhabit cities or towns. They seek refuge on rooftops and high ground, whatever remains out of the reach of the water. Rivers and streams have long since breached their banks, merging with lakes, seas, and oceans. Entire neighborhoods are drowned; the tallest skyscrapers resemble one- or two-story buildings.

Nonie has a special ability to feel and sense water. She can predict storms and knows how severe they will be. But even she couldn’t know the power of a hypercane that destroyed the only home she remembers and forced her, her father, her sister, and the only other surviving member of their community out on the open water in a canoe.

All the Water in the World is part dystopian story, part adventure, part family drama. The level of visionary detail is staggering and awe-inspiring. This is a story worth reading–and one that will haunt my imagination for quite a while.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.