Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

The Light at the Bottom of the World by London Shah

2 reviews

emily_mh's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I really liked the MC Leyla. She was resolute, yet also unafraid to question herself, her ideas, and her beliefs. It was obvious how much she loved those close to her. I also appreciated her passion for submersibles and water transport generally, and loved how this was juxtaposed against her deep-seated fear of the ocean. It made for a layer of complexity that added well to her character. 

I’m not generally a huge fan of straight romance being included in a non-romance genre book, but I think it was done well here. The development of the connection between Leyla and Ari was nice and slow, and also simply believable. And it was definitely more of a background plot that complimented what the story was already doing. 

The underwater setting was ELITE. As the reader, you’re not allowed to forget for a second that this story is occurring in a dystopian underwater world and I LOVED it. I loved Leyla’s submarine and all her knowledge on racing submersibles; I loved the chilling descriptions of being surrounded by the fathomless ocean; I loved the author’s interpretations of what future tech might look like. 

The pacing was just fantastic. It managed the precise and difficult balance of having something new happening every chapter, while giving every new development space to breathe. Nothing felt rushed, yet at the same time I felt like I was racing from one point to the next. This is my personal favourite type of pacing. 

I found the concept of historians being incredibly valued members in Leyla’s society fascinating. It made sense, because of course you would cling to the past when the world as you know it has been wrenched away and you’re left with an arguably lesser existence, and who better to do that with than historians? It gave such a stark contrast to the way historians are treated in our society, and I think the difference lies in the fact that current society believes we live in a better time than anything that has come before; this is not the case in Leyla’s world. I’m definitely not saying that we should treat history and historians like 2099 London does, though. The story delves into the discourse around valuing history more than living people’s lives, which was excellent. Why should a crumbling castle take precedence over a person? What are preserving those kinds of artefacts for, if not for the people of your living society? 

This book was also exemplary of the human spirit. Hope and resilience are so key to our existence, are so central to the human condition, and the story shows this in how humans have created a new world for themselves in the wake of disaster. It instilled a weird sense of pride in me. 

I know this is a LOT of positive gushing, so why only 4.25 stars? The thing is, I had a few troubles, too. The dialogue could be clumsy and awkward, and the prose tried too hard in places. I also thought the climax could have had another chapter dedicated to it as it didn’t feel fleshed out enough. 
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monica_k's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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