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A review by ashton_reads_
The Light at the Bottom of the World by London Shah
4.0
This was a tragically beautiful story, and I really enjoyed travelling the seas with Leyla and Ari!!
Goodreads Synopsis:
At the end of the twenty-first century, the world has changed dramatically, but life continues one thousand feet below the ocean's surface. In Great Britain, sea creatures swim among the ruins of Big Ben and the Tower of London, and citizens waver between fear and hope; fear of what lurks in the abyss, and hope that humanity will soon discover a way to reclaim the Earth.
Meanwhile, sixteen-year-old Leyla McQueen has her own problems to deal with. Her father's been arrested, accused of taking advantage of victims of the Seasickness—a debilitating malaise that consumes people,often claiming their lives. But Leyla knows he's innocent, and all she's interested in is getting him back so that their lives can return to normal.
When she's picked to race in the action-packed London Submersible Marathon, Leyla gets the chance to secure his freedom; the Prime Minister promises the champion whatever their heart desires. The race takes an unexpected turn, though, and presents her with an opportunity she never wanted: Leyla must venture outside of London for the first time in her life, to find and rescue her father herself.
Now, she'll have to brave the unfathomable waters and defy a corrupt government determined to keep its secrets, all the while dealing with a secretive, hotheaded companion she never asked for in the first place. If she fails, or falls prey to her own fears, she risks capture—and her father might be lost forever.
I can’t say this is an entirely perfect book, and it’s not one of those that you’re constantly thinking about the transcendently lyrical writing, but I really enjoyed the unique tone of the novel. The world, first of all, is haunting and tragic, yet there’s an allure to the vastness of this new, water-covered world they live in. That’s honestly the point of this book: sometimes you’ve got to let go of the past and embrace the change the future will inevitably bring. It’s an interesting message on its own, but Shah delivers it with water-related metaphors and beautiful imagery that gives the setting a vivid brilliance that quite contrasts the tragic undertones of the story. I was enveloped immediately.
The pacing is a little weird at the beginning, I’ll be honest, but it levels out pretty quickly, and from there the story is an action-packed journey with a sliver of romance as Leyla’s perspective is challenged and she dives headfirst into the vast unknown. I enjoyed this fast-paced adventure, and I hope to continue the story with the sequel coming later this year!
If you enjoyed this review, you can friend me here on Goodreads and follow my Bookstagram/Pinterest/Twitter @ashton_reads. Thanks for reading!
Goodreads Synopsis:
At the end of the twenty-first century, the world has changed dramatically, but life continues one thousand feet below the ocean's surface. In Great Britain, sea creatures swim among the ruins of Big Ben and the Tower of London, and citizens waver between fear and hope; fear of what lurks in the abyss, and hope that humanity will soon discover a way to reclaim the Earth.
Meanwhile, sixteen-year-old Leyla McQueen has her own problems to deal with. Her father's been arrested, accused of taking advantage of victims of the Seasickness—a debilitating malaise that consumes people,often claiming their lives. But Leyla knows he's innocent, and all she's interested in is getting him back so that their lives can return to normal.
When she's picked to race in the action-packed London Submersible Marathon, Leyla gets the chance to secure his freedom; the Prime Minister promises the champion whatever their heart desires. The race takes an unexpected turn, though, and presents her with an opportunity she never wanted: Leyla must venture outside of London for the first time in her life, to find and rescue her father herself.
Now, she'll have to brave the unfathomable waters and defy a corrupt government determined to keep its secrets, all the while dealing with a secretive, hotheaded companion she never asked for in the first place. If she fails, or falls prey to her own fears, she risks capture—and her father might be lost forever.
I can’t say this is an entirely perfect book, and it’s not one of those that you’re constantly thinking about the transcendently lyrical writing, but I really enjoyed the unique tone of the novel. The world, first of all, is haunting and tragic, yet there’s an allure to the vastness of this new, water-covered world they live in. That’s honestly the point of this book: sometimes you’ve got to let go of the past and embrace the change the future will inevitably bring. It’s an interesting message on its own, but Shah delivers it with water-related metaphors and beautiful imagery that gives the setting a vivid brilliance that quite contrasts the tragic undertones of the story. I was enveloped immediately.
The pacing is a little weird at the beginning, I’ll be honest, but it levels out pretty quickly, and from there the story is an action-packed journey with a sliver of romance as Leyla’s perspective is challenged and she dives headfirst into the vast unknown. I enjoyed this fast-paced adventure, and I hope to continue the story with the sequel coming later this year!
If you enjoyed this review, you can friend me here on Goodreads and follow my Bookstagram/Pinterest/Twitter @ashton_reads. Thanks for reading!