Burn the Water

by Billy Ray

From award-winning screenwriter of The Hunger Games Billy Ray comes an immersive and breathtaking enemies-to-lovers epic romance about war, loyalty, and the power that love has to save... or destroy.



The year is 2425 and London is underwater.

Three hundred years ago, rising oceans drowned a vast majority of the English Isle. London is now a jungle of dead skyscrapers and submerged streets.

Fighting over the scraps of a world none can remember, two Houses -- the Crowns and the Rogues -- have been at war for three centuries.

Rafe is the Rogue army's fiercest captain. Jule is the Crown army's deadliest soldier. They are vicious and merciless, courageous and beloved by their Houses. They are sworn enemies.

And then they fall in love.

It's a death sentence. But their love is all-consuming. As Rafe and Jule try to keep each other alive in their war-torn world, they are forced to confront new, horrifying threats to their loved ones while the hatred between their Houses only grows.

When mysterious foreigners appear on their shores, the warring factions may destroy each other, unless their two most ruthless soldiers can become beacons of peace and possibility, showing their people a different way, and save them all.

From the award-winning screenwriter of The Hunger Games comes a visceral and breathless forbidden romance about sacrifice, the neverending cycle of violence, and fiery, all-powerful love.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 3, 2026

Reviews

[afra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: YA

The story is well written and absolutely captivating that I couldn’t put it down. I adored the cover design and the title. They instantly pulled me in. The author’s writing style and narration felt incredibly professional, making it such an easy and engaging read to get through. This is an amazing book and I will be recommending to everyone.

This is an ARC review. Many thanks to the publisher and the author for kindly sending me this physical copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, wow. Burn the Water is one of those books that grabs you by the throat from page one and doesn’t let go. Billy Ray takes this wild, post apocalyptic setup with London completely underwater, and buildings turned into empty skeletons, and throws you into a world that feels both haunting and vividly alive. You can practically hear the creaking metal and rushing water as you read. It was really immersive and I appreciated that.

At its core, this isn’t just a dystopian war story. It’s an absolutely brutal, tender, messy enemies to lovers romance that feels like it shouldn’t work, but somehow it does. Rafe and Jule are sworn enemies, killers for their Houses (the Rogues and the Crowns), and the second they collide, you know it’s going to be devastating because the chemistry is insane, but the stakes are lethal. Their love feels equal parts survival and destruction, and watching them try to carve out something real in a world built on violence was addictive. I really felt The Hunger Games influence within this novel, and it felt really appropriately timed.

What I loved most is how the book refuses to shy away from the ugliness of war. There’s blood, betrayal, and a constant reminder that loyalty can be just as dangerous as love. But there’s also this thread of hope running through everything like maybe, just maybe, love really can rewrite centuries of hate.

If you’re into Romeo and Juliet meets The Hunger Games vibes with way more grit, danger, and heart, this is the kind of book that will wreck you in the best way. It’s cinematic, it’s ruthless, and it’s unexpectedly emotional. I kind of hope it becomes a movie because it had all the bones (pun intended) for a great film.

Thank you to NetGalley, Billy Ray, and Scholastic for the eARC of this book.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this novel is genuinely intriguing: a reimagining of Romeo and Juliet set on a post-apocalyptic, war-torn scrap of land left after rising seas have reshaped the world. The mix of love, conflict, and survival creates a compelling backdrop, and the story kept me invested through to the final pages.

While it didn’t quite reach the emotional depth or narrative tightness of some of its contemporaries, it has plenty of creative ambition. At times, the writing style felt influenced by the author’s screenwriting background, with a brisk, scene-driven approach that occasionally left me wishing for a bit more interiority. Some elements—like the parallel plot lines, the pace of the central romance, and a few character motivations (Jameson, in particular)—felt a little rushed or convenient. Even so, the momentum of the story carried me forward, and I remained curious to see how everything would unfold.

As a debut novel, it shows real promise. I especially appreciated the theme of lost arts woven throughout the narrative, as well as the thoughtful development of a few characters (Byron, in particular, left an impression). I also enjoyed the small, clever touches that juxtaposed our modern conveniences—like cell phones—with the novel’s stark new world.

Overall, I’m glad I picked this one up. It may not land among my top recommendations, but its creative worldbuilding and memorable character moments make it a debut worth watching, and I’m interested to see what the author creates next.

[Audra · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up. Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review!

First off, I do love the premise of this book- the world is underwater, and those still on the (little) bit of land are fighting over resources and to stay alive. Jule and Rafe are very star-crossed lovers, their houses warring but they are in love and want to stop the fighting.

The execution of the story was a bit rough for me. It reads like a movie. I would probably like it better if it WERE a movie or tv show. The constant POV changes in a single chapter were distracting. The ending was a bit disappointing, but honestly it was real to this sort of story.

But overall there were some good qualities to this book and if it sounds interesting to you, then give it a read! If it ever is made into a show or movie or something I will give it a watch. I really liked the part where Jule found the Victrola and her and Rafe spent the night listening to records and bonding.

[Emma-Louise McGill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you SO much to Scholastic for sending me a proof copy!

When I saw that the screenwriter for The Hunger Games wrote this book I immediately applied and was so grateful to be selected.

I really enjoyed the premise of the book, the dystopian vibes with London being underwater was great and actually through Billy’s writing I was able to picture this well.
I also liked that this book starts off on a slightly darker note with a poignant death of one of the members of the Rogues, I think it set up the story well.

I really didn’t enjoy the multiple pov in a single chapter. It made the book incredibly hard to follow and at times was quite confusing. Particularly with multiple POV from different sides, I really feel this would be so much better split into separate chapters.

I thought it was generally fairly predictable but the book does what it says on the tin.
I feel this book should be aimed at the younger side of YA as at times, the relationship between the two leaders in particular, did feel a bit too tame for me.

Overall a strong 3 stars. Thanks again Scholastic!

[Holly Taggart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a gritty futuristic enemies to lovers dystopian fantasy. The novel is set in a future London/UK setting where most of the world is underwater. Ravaged by Climate change, communications are set back to more ancient times, and most technologic advancements have been lost to the water. Two factions are fighting over the last bit of land available for living. Enter Rafe and Jule- both leaders- but leaders of the different factions. Of course... love is in the air, or in the water as the case may be. These two star crossed lovers are really both desperately tired of this ongoing war and wish for peace, but find it hard to conceptualize how to make that come about. Within this environment, tension is building that threatens to break apart as foreigners appear on their shores. Lots of world building and a definite cinematic feel to the novel. It did feel a little bit like I knew where the plot was plotting but for whatever reason that didn't really interfere with my enjoyment of the novel as a whole.

[Alischa O'Harrow Rogillio · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is giving HUGE Romeo-and-Juliet-in-a-submerged-London vibes, (like literally reading a dystopian-ized retelling) but the book hits a solid 3 stars for me... good enough to keep going, but not quite the next The Hunger Games. The setting is vivid (London underwater in 2425, houses fighting, two elite soldiers from opposing factions who fall in love) and there’s a real cinematic energy, which makes sense given Ray’s screenwriting background. That said, the characters often feel under-developed, the pacing wobbles, and the “epic dystopian romance” promise doesn’t fully deliver the stakes I hoped for. If you’re looking for a fun, "fans of star crossed lovers" thriller, you’ll find something here, but don’t expect fireworks all the way through.

[Lisa Cain · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the world flooded, London divided into two houses, the Crowns and the Rogues, fighting over any dry land left. After hundreds of years of nothing more than fighting and illness, enemies Rafe and Jule meet and fall in love. Can they create a better future? I liked the premise and know dystopian lovers will enjoy it, but it needed some editing. The middle drags, and the ending itself comes out of left field and would have played better with some foreshadowing (and without the sudden appearance of first person). It makes sense to me that it is written by a screenwriter, because it feels like a movie. It’s got just the right amount of plot and action for two hours, but is a bit thin for a whole novel. It would be a fun movie, actually.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This pulled me in ever so slowly. The story has a textured atmosphere that kept my attention without ever feeling overwhelming, and there were moments when a line invoked such vulnerability as a reader.

I grew attached to the protagonist slowly, almost without noticing. Their determination felt genuine, and the relationships around them added a quiet weight that worked so so well.
Nothing felt forced, but the emotional hits still landed.

As the plot unfolded the tension rose at a steady pace. Some scenes surprised me, others hit more gently, creating a rhythm that made the book easy to sink into. Even when the momentum dipped I was still curious to see what happened next.

The conclusion tied everything together cleanly and left me with a satisfying sense of closure.

[Elisha Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had me HOOKED from page one. I normally avoid YA books purely because they can be so hit and miss and leave you feeling disappointed but this one was absolutely amazing!

This book is set in London, far into the future. London is left in a post apocalyptic setting after flooding takes over any remaining land. The characters present a Romeo and Juliet type reimagining whilst all of the other plot twists are coming and going.

Burn The Water releases 12th March 2026.

Billy Ray, you have absolutely smashed it with this one! I’m honoured that I had the opportunity to read ahead of the release day. Well done on your debut novel👏🏼

Thank you to the Scholastic team for kindly sending me a proof copy.

4⭐️

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Dystopian Fantasy is like a modern romeo and juliet. I enjoyed the story and the use of climate crisis in the setting of a London/world underwater. The warring of people over available land was also an interesting part of the story.

I would recommend this book but I would have liked it to have more detail. At times it felt like it was a plot outline waiting to have the extra detail put in as the writer goes along. It left some things to the imagination/glossed over them/implied what happened but I would have liked it to have those bits to have been added in and given more time. The ending also felt very abrupt to me.

But overall I enjoyed the story and the characters.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

TRUE RATING: 4.5 stars

Billy Ray was a writer on The Hunger Games films, and boy does it show in this thrilling new story.

Where to begin? This book is Romeo and Juliet meets post-apocalyptic London. It is an epic adventure that grabs hold of you from the first page and doesn't let go until the last. The worldbuilding is rich, the lore a treasure trove. This is a post-apocalyptic London that is dead and flooded with dangerous waters, but simultanously as full of life as the one we know.

The romance is brimming with yearning, the kind that makes you desperate to turn pages until Rafe and Jules are together again. Danger surrounds them and you feel it in every kiss, in every cladestine meeting.

My only complaint about the book is that I wish that Jules was as fleshed out as Rafe. We don't know much about her beyond the fact that she's a legendary soldier, a good leader, and she loves music and Rafe. Rafe has more meat to him, which isn't a bad thing, I just wish Jules did too.

Overall, I loved this book and I cannot wait to own a physical copy on release!

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the concept of this book. A Romeo and Juliet retelling set in a dystopian future where London is flooded and two warring “houses” clash with one another. War was a major theme of this story with much of it dedicated to highlighting the horrors associated, children fighting and ultimately being murdered, etc. I was expecting the love story to take more of a center stage than it did. It was a major portion of the story but I felt that much of it was rushed and brushed over. The two main characters barely said two words to one another before they were in love.

I did enjoy this story. It was just much different than I had expected going into it