A review by katemarlowe
Journey to the Heart of the Abyss by London Shah

adventurous inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

 

   

In the follow up to Shah’s Light at the Bottom of the Ocean, we start out with love and loss. Our main character Leyla McQueen (Ka-Chow) finally has her father back but at the expense of her new love, Ari. Leyla also learns a lot more about who (and what) she is and the real story behind her mother’s disappearance. Leyla travels through Britain, revealing secrets of power and narrowly escaping death to save Ari and the future of her people. I enjoyed this one more than the first, however, the end fell flat for me. We were building up to what was looking like a drastic and bloody war and just like that, we’re all in a room together, the villain is revealed (big surprise, it was the white male politician) who then dies because of a stupid, power-hungry decision (also big surprise there, sense the sarcastic tone readers). I felt like the one redeeming quality was finding out that half the population actually CAN breathe under water therefore meaning we as humans have the capabilities to evolve and become merfolk, exciting stuff!