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Light the Abyss #2
Journey to the Heart of the Abyss
Leyla gilt ab sofort als Großbritanniens Staatsfeind Nummer eins. Gemeinsam mit dem Anthropoiden Ari stellt sie sich in ihrem U-Boot gegen die Regierung. Doch als Leyla beim Kampf unter Wasser ein Geheimnis ihrer verstorbenen Mutter aufdeckt, schwebt sie sogar noch in viel größerer Gefahr. Ari und Leyla müssen das britische Volk unbedingt über die dunklen Machenschaften des Premierministers aufklären, sonst werden die Anthropoiden und sie selbst niemals Ruhe finden.
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 16, 2021
16 people are currently reading
1403 people want to read
About the author
London Shah
2 books208 followersSofia Shah is a speculative fiction writer from London. Her passion for crafting new worlds is fuelled by a steady diet of tea and cakes, hiking (the drearier the weather, the better), and a lifelong love of consuming stories on the page and screen. Growing up in beautiful Yorkshire, she discovered storytelling early, entertaining friends and family – and occasionally alarming strangers – with elaborate tales and spontaneous performances. As a Pashtun, she has long been fascinated by the many diverse Persianate histories, cultures, and mythologies. London is Sofia’s favourite city in the world, and she is especially drawn to its older, still-shadowed streets. Published under the pseudonym London Shah, her science-fiction debut, The Light at the Bottom of the World, set in a submerged Britain of the future, was named Best YA Novel of the Year by Open Letters Review, and received wide acclaim. Its sequel Journey to the Heart of the Abyss was released in 2021, completing the Light the Abyss duology. Sofia is currently hard at work on her debut Adult novel.
Follow Sofia on Instagram: @sofiashahbooks
Follow Sofia on Instagram: @sofiashahbooks
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
August 27, 2021
A great conclusion to a fiercely imaginative, fast-paced duology that has so much heart.
London Shah broadens her underwater world even farther, vividly describing the wonders and terrors of the abyss – the finale had me reading deep into the night.
London Shah broadens her underwater world even farther, vividly describing the wonders and terrors of the abyss – the finale had me reading deep into the night.
December 5, 2023
*inserts relevant sea shanty and sinks it to the bottom of the ocean in a submarine*
There will be mild spoilers for the first book ahead!
The conclusion to The Light at the Bottom of the World duology, ABYSS picks up a few weeks after that explosive and heartbreaking ending. Leyla has rescued her father from the dreaded Broadmoor prison, but before she could even breathe a sigh of relief Ari was kidnapped and taken away by the Blackwatch. Now listed as one of England's most wanted, Leyla is hiding in the country's northern ocean and searching for Ari's hidden amphi community. If she can find his family, then perhaps they'll be able to help her find him and strike a blow at the Blackwatch.
Leyla has had some really great character development throughout this series. In the beginning she was so terrified of the great wide ocean outside of London. After listening to all the news reports of anthropoid attacks, terrors of the deep, and explosions and earthquakes taking down infrastructure, the thought of leaving London was paralyzing. Of course, after her father was taken she was left with no choice but to look for him, and it was refreshing to see this young woman step into the world and start seeing the cracks in what she's been forced to grow up knowing. This second instalment in no different. Leyla has her eyes wide open, her heart ready to love everyone who needs it, and no thought but to unveil the injustices the government has laid on so many people, including her family and friends.
The story is so solid. For one, there are a lot of scenes of action and cool ocean moments. There are so many fabulous twists that change quite literally everything. Betrayals are rife and secrets are ripe for the picking. And the author did a great job with misleading the reader. All of my incredibly confident guesses were wrong and I'm so embarrassed. I truly thought lol! Questions that were asked in the first book are answered at last. We learn more about Ari's childhood before he was adopted and we learn more about what happened to Leyla's mother. I literally cannot say more about either because *spoilers*
I do have some critiques as this wasn't perfect. It should be held in mind that I read an advance reader copy; all of this may be rectified in the finished copy. One, some of the dialogue is too middle grade-sounding and could use a bit of tightening. Two, the action at times can be difficult to follow along with every step. This was my complaint with the first book, though, and might just be a Me issue. And three, I thought the middle was a bit slow. Things happened, for sure, but the quieter scenes really dragged the pace down in between.
With all that in mind, I had intended to rate this as four stars. And it very nearly stayed four stars ... until the last few chapters. Dang, now that is how you reveal the villain with a monologue and wrap up a duology. I was utterly riveted and enraptured by the events that unfolded and the secrets that were spewed. It was so satisfying, so shocking. There is absolutely no way I could have guessed what the result would. And I definitely didn't. All my guesses were wrong, remember? The author and book gets a whole star based on that alone.
Honestly, if you're looking for a cool sci-fi series with Bioshock vibes, authentic Muslim Pashtun rep, and an all around good time, then I can't recommend this enough!
There will be mild spoilers for the first book ahead!
The conclusion to The Light at the Bottom of the World duology, ABYSS picks up a few weeks after that explosive and heartbreaking ending. Leyla has rescued her father from the dreaded Broadmoor prison, but before she could even breathe a sigh of relief Ari was kidnapped and taken away by the Blackwatch. Now listed as one of England's most wanted, Leyla is hiding in the country's northern ocean and searching for Ari's hidden amphi community. If she can find his family, then perhaps they'll be able to help her find him and strike a blow at the Blackwatch.
Leyla has had some really great character development throughout this series. In the beginning she was so terrified of the great wide ocean outside of London. After listening to all the news reports of anthropoid attacks, terrors of the deep, and explosions and earthquakes taking down infrastructure, the thought of leaving London was paralyzing. Of course, after her father was taken she was left with no choice but to look for him, and it was refreshing to see this young woman step into the world and start seeing the cracks in what she's been forced to grow up knowing. This second instalment in no different. Leyla has her eyes wide open, her heart ready to love everyone who needs it, and no thought but to unveil the injustices the government has laid on so many people, including her family and friends.
The story is so solid. For one, there are a lot of scenes of action and cool ocean moments. There are so many fabulous twists that change quite literally everything. Betrayals are rife and secrets are ripe for the picking. And the author did a great job with misleading the reader. All of my incredibly confident guesses were wrong and I'm so embarrassed. I truly thought lol! Questions that were asked in the first book are answered at last. We learn more about Ari's childhood before he was adopted and we learn more about what happened to Leyla's mother. I literally cannot say more about either because *spoilers*
I do have some critiques as this wasn't perfect. It should be held in mind that I read an advance reader copy; all of this may be rectified in the finished copy. One, some of the dialogue is too middle grade-sounding and could use a bit of tightening. Two, the action at times can be difficult to follow along with every step. This was my complaint with the first book, though, and might just be a Me issue. And three, I thought the middle was a bit slow. Things happened, for sure, but the quieter scenes really dragged the pace down in between.
With all that in mind, I had intended to rate this as four stars. And it very nearly stayed four stars ... until the last few chapters. Dang, now that is how you reveal the villain with a monologue and wrap up a duology. I was utterly riveted and enraptured by the events that unfolded and the secrets that were spewed. It was so satisfying, so shocking. There is absolutely no way I could have guessed what the result would. And I definitely didn't. All my guesses were wrong, remember? The author and book gets a whole star based on that alone.
Honestly, if you're looking for a cool sci-fi series with Bioshock vibes, authentic Muslim Pashtun rep, and an all around good time, then I can't recommend this enough!
August 4, 2021
Thank you to the author for inviting me to read this through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I loved this so much!! Fantastic ending.
Journey to the Heart of the Abyss is the conclusion of Leyla McQueen's adventures which started in The Light at the Bottom of the World. This book picks up right where Light left us. Leyla has been reunited with her father and they're beginning to search for the amphi communities so they can come up with a plan find Ari.
This book was one giant adventure with so many twists and turns. There were so many times I thought I knew where the book was going and then it would go a different direction. It was so much fun!
It's so easy to love Leyla. I've loved seeing how much she's grown from the first book where her fear of the ocean would almost paralyze her. She's done so much since winning her submersible race. What started as a quest to find her father has changed into a battle to unveil the injustice her family and friends have faced. We also find out what truly happened to Leyla's mother all those years ago.
I really loved the huge diversity of the amphi community. One point this book features a wedding of a WLW couple and I was giant heart eyes. I also really loved seeing Leyla bond with Ari's adoptive family. The love they had for him was so soft and I loved it so much. And then there's Ari's sister who is so cute and curious! I loved her rock collection.
The ending was freaking fantastic. I don't know how it could've been better, both as an end of the book and the end of a series. All I know is that I'm a forever fan of Shah and I cannot wait for this to release and whatever may come next!
Rep: British Muslim female MC of Pashtun descent, adopted biracial love interest that is an amphis, side character with a prosthetic leg, AI that is programmed to be Oscar Wilde--gay, side WLW couple, various BIPOC side characters.
CWs: Animal death, animal cruelty (scientific manipulation of animals), blood, confinement (to submersibles and to the ocean), death, gun violence, medical trauma (including experimentation without consent), violence, xenophobia (against amphis), death of parent, suicide (brief mention of side character).
I loved this so much!! Fantastic ending.
Journey to the Heart of the Abyss is the conclusion of Leyla McQueen's adventures which started in The Light at the Bottom of the World. This book picks up right where Light left us. Leyla has been reunited with her father and they're beginning to search for the amphi communities so they can come up with a plan find Ari.
This book was one giant adventure with so many twists and turns. There were so many times I thought I knew where the book was going and then it would go a different direction. It was so much fun!
It's so easy to love Leyla. I've loved seeing how much she's grown from the first book where her fear of the ocean would almost paralyze her. She's done so much since winning her submersible race. What started as a quest to find her father has changed into a battle to unveil the injustice her family and friends have faced. We also find out what truly happened to Leyla's mother all those years ago.
I really loved the huge diversity of the amphi community. One point this book features a wedding of a WLW couple and I was giant heart eyes. I also really loved seeing Leyla bond with Ari's adoptive family. The love they had for him was so soft and I loved it so much. And then there's Ari's sister who is so cute and curious! I loved her rock collection.
The ending was freaking fantastic. I don't know how it could've been better, both as an end of the book and the end of a series. All I know is that I'm a forever fan of Shah and I cannot wait for this to release and whatever may come next!
Rep: British Muslim female MC of Pashtun descent, adopted biracial love interest that is an amphis, side character with a prosthetic leg, AI that is programmed to be Oscar Wilde--gay, side WLW couple, various BIPOC side characters.
CWs: Animal death, animal cruelty (scientific manipulation of animals), blood, confinement (to submersibles and to the ocean), death, gun violence, medical trauma (including experimentation without consent), violence, xenophobia (against amphis), death of parent, suicide (brief mention of side character).
September 6, 2021
JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF THE ABYSS is the thrilling and satisfying conclusion to an intriguing YA sci-fi/fantasy duology. In the future, humanity has been forced below the ocean where they are barely thriving. In former London, they live in constant fear of the genetically modified humans who can breathe underwater. Initially developed so that they could serve humanity as they began their life submerged, the amphi (short for amphibius) community has now sought to live their own lives. Forced into hiding and known as Anthropods, which propaganda claims are dangerous and deadly despite just being people who can breathe water, the government is increasingly ruthless in destroying them, adults and children.
The second book picks up where the last book left off, with Ari captured by the government Blackwatch and Leyla and her father being labeled among the most wanted criminals. In the Kabul, Leyla's sub, they are searching for the amphi communities for their help in locating and rescuing Ari. As she begins her search, she is now increasingly aware of the government lies and injustices, willing to do what it takes to protect the people she loves.
What I loved: This is an absolutely action-packed sequel with lots of twists and turns that lead to the explosive ending. While readers do need to have read the first book to fully get into this sequel, the book does a great job of recapping the key events from the first, which is helpful if the first was read a while ago. This book is expertly plotted with clues leading to the big reveals along the way, and some which may be guessed, while others will be surprises.
The characters remain really compelling with Leyla leading the charge. Leyla's love for those around her and willingness to learn and evolve have led to a lot of character growth throughout these books, and it makes for a really captivating story. Ari remains another strong character, and I loved the way they come together and make space for each other. Although the romance is relatively background, their relationship definitely shines in their friendship as well as interest. The world-building is also fully realized, with the underwater cities and culture coming to life, and I absolutely wish I had a sub anything like the Kabul.
The themes of the book are really thought-provoking and make this a great duology for discussion. The story touches on propaganda, weaponization of "civility," othering and prejudice, the power of whistleblowers, religion, identity, and hatred stemming from ignorance. All of these themes touch on the reality of history but remain important to consider and discuss, making it a great choice for book clubs.
Final verdict: With compelling characters, masterful world-building, thought-provoking themes, and captivating plot twists, JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF THE ABYSS is the explosive and thrilling conclusion to an atmospheric and lush YA sci-fi/fantasy duology. Highly recommend picking up these books for fans of LEGEND, THE TIGER AT MIDNIGHT, and DEFY THE STARS.
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
The second book picks up where the last book left off, with Ari captured by the government Blackwatch and Leyla and her father being labeled among the most wanted criminals. In the Kabul, Leyla's sub, they are searching for the amphi communities for their help in locating and rescuing Ari. As she begins her search, she is now increasingly aware of the government lies and injustices, willing to do what it takes to protect the people she loves.
What I loved: This is an absolutely action-packed sequel with lots of twists and turns that lead to the explosive ending. While readers do need to have read the first book to fully get into this sequel, the book does a great job of recapping the key events from the first, which is helpful if the first was read a while ago. This book is expertly plotted with clues leading to the big reveals along the way, and some which may be guessed, while others will be surprises.
The characters remain really compelling with Leyla leading the charge. Leyla's love for those around her and willingness to learn and evolve have led to a lot of character growth throughout these books, and it makes for a really captivating story. Ari remains another strong character, and I loved the way they come together and make space for each other. Although the romance is relatively background, their relationship definitely shines in their friendship as well as interest. The world-building is also fully realized, with the underwater cities and culture coming to life, and I absolutely wish I had a sub anything like the Kabul.
The themes of the book are really thought-provoking and make this a great duology for discussion. The story touches on propaganda, weaponization of "civility," othering and prejudice, the power of whistleblowers, religion, identity, and hatred stemming from ignorance. All of these themes touch on the reality of history but remain important to consider and discuss, making it a great choice for book clubs.
Final verdict: With compelling characters, masterful world-building, thought-provoking themes, and captivating plot twists, JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF THE ABYSS is the explosive and thrilling conclusion to an atmospheric and lush YA sci-fi/fantasy duology. Highly recommend picking up these books for fans of LEGEND, THE TIGER AT MIDNIGHT, and DEFY THE STARS.
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
November 13, 2021
Eine Welt im Umbruch …
Genau in solch einer Welt möchte Leyla leben, die weiß das die Ungerechtigkeit der Regierung immer größere Ausmasse annimmt und sie deshalb mit ihrem Vater auf der Flucht ist als Staatsfeind Nummer eins.
Sie, die jahrelang auf der Suche nach ihrem verschwunden Vater alleine und ratlos war weshalb man ihn einfach mitnahm und ihn zum Glück endlich wiederfand.
Sie, die nach den dramatischen Ereignissen endlich bereit ist nach vorne zu schauen und vor allem eines: zu kämpfen.
Deshalb ist sie jetzt auch auf der Suche nach einem Plan um Ari zu retten.
Nur wird der Plan gelingen?
Die Zeit rennt und die Gegner schlafen nicht.
Meine Meinung
Ich war schon mega gespannt auf die Fortsetzung dieser gelungenen Climate- Dilogie die mich auch im Finalen Band begeistern konnte.
Hier trifft man auf schockierende Geheimnisse die einen mitnehmen in die Politik von dem Unterwasser-London in der Zukunft.
Wir befinden uns im Jahr 2100 wo die Menschen unter Wasser leben, nachdem die Erde unbewohnbar wurde.
Aber selbst hier wird unterschieden zwischen Arm und Reich, zwischen Menschen und Amphis.
Dabei sind Amphis genauso Menschen wie alle anderen Gattungen auch und nur, weil sie anderer Abstammung sind nicht weniger Wert.
Eine Story die mich in Band zwei absolut begeistern konnte mit dem Thema der Politik die hier einen Machtmissbrauch an den Tag legt der erschreckenderweise Menschen zur Flucht zwingt. Sie zu Staatsfeinden macht und sie leider zu Aussätzigen der Gesellschaft werden lässt.
Hier sind die Politiker die wahren Verbrecher im versunkenen London.
Sehr gut hat mir gefallen dass Leyla und Ari sich super weiterentwickelt haben und das Leyla kämpft für das was sie liebt und das sie nie aufgeben im Angesicht der Unterdrückung.
Ein Buch das mich begeistert hat von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite.
Für mich ein gelungener Buchtipp im Dystopie Bereich.
Genau in solch einer Welt möchte Leyla leben, die weiß das die Ungerechtigkeit der Regierung immer größere Ausmasse annimmt und sie deshalb mit ihrem Vater auf der Flucht ist als Staatsfeind Nummer eins.
Sie, die jahrelang auf der Suche nach ihrem verschwunden Vater alleine und ratlos war weshalb man ihn einfach mitnahm und ihn zum Glück endlich wiederfand.
Sie, die nach den dramatischen Ereignissen endlich bereit ist nach vorne zu schauen und vor allem eines: zu kämpfen.
Deshalb ist sie jetzt auch auf der Suche nach einem Plan um Ari zu retten.
Nur wird der Plan gelingen?
Die Zeit rennt und die Gegner schlafen nicht.
Meine Meinung
Ich war schon mega gespannt auf die Fortsetzung dieser gelungenen Climate- Dilogie die mich auch im Finalen Band begeistern konnte.
Hier trifft man auf schockierende Geheimnisse die einen mitnehmen in die Politik von dem Unterwasser-London in der Zukunft.
Wir befinden uns im Jahr 2100 wo die Menschen unter Wasser leben, nachdem die Erde unbewohnbar wurde.
Aber selbst hier wird unterschieden zwischen Arm und Reich, zwischen Menschen und Amphis.
Dabei sind Amphis genauso Menschen wie alle anderen Gattungen auch und nur, weil sie anderer Abstammung sind nicht weniger Wert.
Eine Story die mich in Band zwei absolut begeistern konnte mit dem Thema der Politik die hier einen Machtmissbrauch an den Tag legt der erschreckenderweise Menschen zur Flucht zwingt. Sie zu Staatsfeinden macht und sie leider zu Aussätzigen der Gesellschaft werden lässt.
Hier sind die Politiker die wahren Verbrecher im versunkenen London.
Sehr gut hat mir gefallen dass Leyla und Ari sich super weiterentwickelt haben und das Leyla kämpft für das was sie liebt und das sie nie aufgeben im Angesicht der Unterdrückung.
Ein Buch das mich begeistert hat von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite.
Für mich ein gelungener Buchtipp im Dystopie Bereich.
December 21, 2021
It's been over a year since I read the prequel Light the Abyss, but you don't really need to freshen up the details to jump right into this novel. However, you really do need to read the prequel to fully understand the dynamics. This sci fi is full of action and some romance. While the main character is Muslim, it's not a religious book, but I did enjoy how basic aspects of Leyla's faith were maintained and how it helped carry her through difficult times. The themes of racism, justice, and nature lend to many discussion points. I appreciated the discussion questions for book clubs at the end, but I think a map and timeline would also have been nice touches. Unfortunately, there are a few expletives, so I can't recommend this for our school library. However, I will recommend this to students who would enjoy it. Thank you for a happy ending!
November 1, 2021
Full review can be found here!
I LOVED this book! I think it did a wonderful job answering all of my questions from the end of book one, plus I loved all the new questions that arose while I was reading this! If you're looking for a thrilling, dystopian-ish story, then Journey to the Heart of the Abyss is the book for you!
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I LOVED this book! I think it did a wonderful job answering all of my questions from the end of book one, plus I loved all the new questions that arose while I was reading this! If you're looking for a thrilling, dystopian-ish story, then Journey to the Heart of the Abyss is the book for you!
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | Storygraph
December 11, 2021
„Die Welt verändert sich – warum nicht wir?“
Was für ein toller Abschluss dieser Dilogie! Die Handlung geht dort weiter, wo Band 1 geendet hat und ich muss sagen, die Geschichte war wieder unheimlich interessant und hat mich ab Seite 1 gefesselt. Das Setting der Unterwasserwelt war wieder sehr faszinierend, aber auch erschreckend. Die Weiterentwicklung von Leyla und Ari hat mir gut gefallen.
Der Schreibstil war, wie schon in Band 1, wieder sehr Bildhaft und ich konnte mir die beschriebene Welt mit all ihren Details und Lebewesen sehr gut vorstellen. Von mir gibt es eine Leseempfehlung, vor allem für alle die gerne etwas aus dem Dystopie Bereich lesen.
Was für ein toller Abschluss dieser Dilogie! Die Handlung geht dort weiter, wo Band 1 geendet hat und ich muss sagen, die Geschichte war wieder unheimlich interessant und hat mich ab Seite 1 gefesselt. Das Setting der Unterwasserwelt war wieder sehr faszinierend, aber auch erschreckend. Die Weiterentwicklung von Leyla und Ari hat mir gut gefallen.
Der Schreibstil war, wie schon in Band 1, wieder sehr Bildhaft und ich konnte mir die beschriebene Welt mit all ihren Details und Lebewesen sehr gut vorstellen. Von mir gibt es eine Leseempfehlung, vor allem für alle die gerne etwas aus dem Dystopie Bereich lesen.
May 30, 2021
I received an early copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Journey to the Heart of the Abyss was amazing! I absolutely loved it, it’s definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. 💖 It was action-packed, fun and unpredictable.
I’m going to miss reading about Leyla and her friends, and getting a glimpse into the depths of the water. I can’t wait for you all to read it. 😍
Journey to the Heart of the Abyss was amazing! I absolutely loved it, it’s definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. 💖 It was action-packed, fun and unpredictable.
I’m going to miss reading about Leyla and her friends, and getting a glimpse into the depths of the water. I can’t wait for you all to read it. 😍
January 9, 2022
I know this is based in London but I found some scary parallels with what happened in the United States just two years ago. I'll give you a hint. "False news" and "Fake news" sound very similar. A government official claiming that the facts and figures were ridiculous...
Want to read
October 10, 2021Such an underrated series y’all need to stop sleeping on thissss
But also need to reread the first one because it’s been a bit heheh 😅
But also need to reread the first one because it’s been a bit heheh 😅
November 26, 2021
Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing me with an ARC. This has not affected my review, which reflects only my honest opinions.
My full review can be found here!
Oof. London Shah has dove to greater depths, racing towards a dramatic conclusion full of as much imagination as the first—and even more shocking revelations.
Truly, the worldbuilding of the Light the Abyss duology is incredible. The underwater world is equal parts fascinating and terrifying. It’s intriguing and atmospheric and lures you in immediately, while Shah’s writing transports you so fully into this futuristic underwater world.
This duology explores so many important themes, many of which are more timely now than ever before, and that adeptly weave their way through the book’s conversations surrounding history, identity, and politics. I loved how Journey to the Heart of the Abyss frames the concept of nostalgia. There is comfort, but also room for caution. There is value in being critical of the past, of looking passed the sepia and rose-tinted ideals of “the good, old days.” Clinging too tightly to what was can be even more dangerous than the uncertainty of what could be.
Shah’s protagonist shines throughout. I love Leyla’s enduring optimism, and how fiercely she fights to do the right thing, to fight for the truth in a world so overwhelmingly shrouded in secrets (some darker than others). Her growth in Journey to the Heart of the Abyss was incredible, and I loved how readers are given the opportunity to really see her come into own, in every sense. She has come such a long way, and it’s such a rewarding experience.
There are betrayals and secrecy at every turn to keep you guessing (some of which I got, and others that I absolutely predicted incorrectly!) The book is, for the most part, brilliantly paced—especially towards the end when the truths readers will have been yearning for finally come to light. London Shah also offers such a satisfying delivery for those final revelations and reveals. Journey to the Heart of the Abyss is absolutely a study in how to effectively execute the villainous monologue.
With more searingly poignant social commentary and as much imagination as ever, London Shah has crafted an exquisite ending to a fabulous duology.
— — —
I had the absolute pleasure of being able to read an early draft, and as it’s still in the early draft stages all I will say is: there are things I want to draw.
(And if you know me at all, this is honestly the highest praise I have to give)
"Racing is freedom; it’s escaping from everything confusing and painful, and hurtling toward some unidentifiable hope."
My full review can be found here!
Oof. London Shah has dove to greater depths, racing towards a dramatic conclusion full of as much imagination as the first—and even more shocking revelations.
Truly, the worldbuilding of the Light the Abyss duology is incredible. The underwater world is equal parts fascinating and terrifying. It’s intriguing and atmospheric and lures you in immediately, while Shah’s writing transports you so fully into this futuristic underwater world.
This duology explores so many important themes, many of which are more timely now than ever before, and that adeptly weave their way through the book’s conversations surrounding history, identity, and politics. I loved how Journey to the Heart of the Abyss frames the concept of nostalgia. There is comfort, but also room for caution. There is value in being critical of the past, of looking passed the sepia and rose-tinted ideals of “the good, old days.” Clinging too tightly to what was can be even more dangerous than the uncertainty of what could be.
Shah’s protagonist shines throughout. I love Leyla’s enduring optimism, and how fiercely she fights to do the right thing, to fight for the truth in a world so overwhelmingly shrouded in secrets (some darker than others). Her growth in Journey to the Heart of the Abyss was incredible, and I loved how readers are given the opportunity to really see her come into own, in every sense. She has come such a long way, and it’s such a rewarding experience.
There are betrayals and secrecy at every turn to keep you guessing (some of which I got, and others that I absolutely predicted incorrectly!) The book is, for the most part, brilliantly paced—especially towards the end when the truths readers will have been yearning for finally come to light. London Shah also offers such a satisfying delivery for those final revelations and reveals. Journey to the Heart of the Abyss is absolutely a study in how to effectively execute the villainous monologue.
With more searingly poignant social commentary and as much imagination as ever, London Shah has crafted an exquisite ending to a fabulous duology.
— — —
I had the absolute pleasure of being able to read an early draft, and as it’s still in the early draft stages all I will say is: there are things I want to draw.
(And if you know me at all, this is honestly the highest praise I have to give)
January 25, 2022
Es ist Band 2 der Reihe,und für mich eine sehr gelungene Fortzung! Man hat so viele unvorhersehbare Dinge Erfahren,mit denen ich nie gerechnet hätte. Ich fand die Untewasserwelt einfach wieder traumhaft und faszinierend.
November 4, 2021
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not impact my review which is honest and unbiased.
The Journey to the Heart of the Abyss has phenomenal world building. I’m always impressed with Shah’s ability to bring this underworld to life. In real life, I wouldn’t have even made it because I am pretty terrified of the water, so Shah’s ability to transport me is even more remarkable. The Journey to the Heart of the Abyss feels almost a hop away from real life. The rhetoric of intolerance and misinformation.
Action packed from the beginning, The Journey to the Heart of the Abyss features a father/daughter relationship which made my heart soar. Since we are familiar with the characters, Shah allows the action to take off. With emotions, this finale highlights moments of highs and lows. It discusses how we cannot let our fears control us. While I’ve been feeling pessimistic about the world, Shah’s finale asks us whether the world, and people, are capable of change.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
The Journey to the Heart of the Abyss has phenomenal world building. I’m always impressed with Shah’s ability to bring this underworld to life. In real life, I wouldn’t have even made it because I am pretty terrified of the water, so Shah’s ability to transport me is even more remarkable. The Journey to the Heart of the Abyss feels almost a hop away from real life. The rhetoric of intolerance and misinformation.
Action packed from the beginning, The Journey to the Heart of the Abyss features a father/daughter relationship which made my heart soar. Since we are familiar with the characters, Shah allows the action to take off. With emotions, this finale highlights moments of highs and lows. It discusses how we cannot let our fears control us. While I’ve been feeling pessimistic about the world, Shah’s finale asks us whether the world, and people, are capable of change.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
Read
May 15, 2020✨ 5.15.2020: Check out the title reveal over on London's Twitter! Are you as excited as I am for October 2021?!
November 6, 2019: I really need to know what happens after the first book ends NOW. 😭 2020 won't come fast enough, this I know!
1. The Light at the Bottom of the World ★★★★I'm literally SCREECHING because I get to read an early draft of LIGHT2!
November 6, 2019: I really need to know what happens after the first book ends NOW. 😭 2020 won't come fast enough, this I know!
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October 29, 2021
The sequel to London Shah’s thrilling futuristic mystery The Light at the Bottom of the World, perfect for fans of Illuminae and These Broken Stars
Five Reasons to pick up this book!
💖 The sequel is full of intrigue and betrayal
💖 Action packed and Fast Paced
💖 Plot Twists that will surprise you
💖 Amazing world building and characters
💖 Ending with a hopeful message and a jaw dropping cliff hanger
This was a really fun read I enjoyed!
Five Reasons to pick up this book!
💖 The sequel is full of intrigue and betrayal
💖 Action packed and Fast Paced
💖 Plot Twists that will surprise you
💖 Amazing world building and characters
💖 Ending with a hopeful message and a jaw dropping cliff hanger
This was a really fun read I enjoyed!
Want to read
April 28, 2019I need more Leyla McQueen!!!!!!!!
June 3, 2022
{updated}
Sequels scare me.
I read The Light at the Bottom of the World, the first book in this duology, in 2019. And 3 years later, LIGHT is still one of the first books out of my mouth when someone asks me for a book rec. That book truly made it onto the All-Time Favorites list and hasn't budged in 3 years.
Book two, Journey to the Heart of the Abyss, has been one of my most anticipated sequels, if not THE most anticipated, and because of how much I loved LIGHT, I was scared to start this one. I didn't want to *not* like it. I don't think my heart could've taken it.
BUT
*we love "but"s, don't we?*
But, Journey to the Heart of the Abyss is as stunning, breathtaking, gorgeous, thrilling, masterful and all the other adjectives to make your eyes cloud over, as Light at the Bottom of the World was! I truly could not tell you if I love book one or two better, they are both exquisite stories. Everything that I loved about LIGHT can be carried over and applied to this book. The underwater exploration was magical. The characters were the best. The story was exciting. And Leyla and Ari were a GOOD couple.
A few different things that stood out:
-The teens in this book acted like TEENS and they let the adults act like ADULTS! Do you know how refreshing it was to watch teens actually respect what the adults told them and on the flip side have the adults respect the teens' opinions as people? So many healthy adult/teen relationships in this book, I could applaud all night. The characters weren't perfect and the teens and adults still messed up, but there was so much healthy communication among the characters. That alone is hard to find in YA.
-and on that note...can we talk about the PARENT/TEEN RELATIONSHIPS? Holy cow. Leyla and her papa are actual daddy/daughter goals. Ari and his parents had a great relationship. The twins and their mom had a realistic, healthy relationship. Like, whoa, we've got GREAT parents in a YA book. And those MOTHERS? Superwomen. Courageous, fantastic, strong women who are MOMS. Bravo.
-Ari and Leyla's relationship was so pure. I love them and their sweet selves. They are possibly my favorite literary couple of all time.
I could rave about this book forever because I love it so much. If you haven't read LIGHT yet, please go read it. I can't believe this duology has flown under the radar for so long, this is just so good. And if you can listen to the audiobook, I HIGHLY recommend you do so!
Content: Romance consists of a few kisses, mildly descriptive, and one LGBTQ+ wedding. Gore can be high when describing battle sequences. Language is about a PG-13 with very rare cursing, however, I did count 7 f-bombs and a few other strong words towards the end of the book. Religious content is Muslim and there are several mentions of praying.
{original}
Perfection. This book was perfection. I will write a full review after I've had time to savor and really think about the story, but that is the one-word summarization of Journey to the Heart of the Abyss: perfection.
(Also, I about lost my mind when the author dropped that Oscar Wilde quote in the last chapter)
Sequels scare me.
I read The Light at the Bottom of the World, the first book in this duology, in 2019. And 3 years later, LIGHT is still one of the first books out of my mouth when someone asks me for a book rec. That book truly made it onto the All-Time Favorites list and hasn't budged in 3 years.
Book two, Journey to the Heart of the Abyss, has been one of my most anticipated sequels, if not THE most anticipated, and because of how much I loved LIGHT, I was scared to start this one. I didn't want to *not* like it. I don't think my heart could've taken it.
BUT
*we love "but"s, don't we?*
But, Journey to the Heart of the Abyss is as stunning, breathtaking, gorgeous, thrilling, masterful and all the other adjectives to make your eyes cloud over, as Light at the Bottom of the World was! I truly could not tell you if I love book one or two better, they are both exquisite stories. Everything that I loved about LIGHT can be carried over and applied to this book. The underwater exploration was magical. The characters were the best. The story was exciting. And Leyla and Ari were a GOOD couple.
A few different things that stood out:
-The teens in this book acted like TEENS and they let the adults act like ADULTS! Do you know how refreshing it was to watch teens actually respect what the adults told them and on the flip side have the adults respect the teens' opinions as people? So many healthy adult/teen relationships in this book, I could applaud all night. The characters weren't perfect and the teens and adults still messed up, but there was so much healthy communication among the characters. That alone is hard to find in YA.
-and on that note...can we talk about the PARENT/TEEN RELATIONSHIPS? Holy cow. Leyla and her papa are actual daddy/daughter goals. Ari and his parents had a great relationship. The twins and their mom had a realistic, healthy relationship. Like, whoa, we've got GREAT parents in a YA book. And those MOTHERS? Superwomen. Courageous, fantastic, strong women who are MOMS. Bravo.
-Ari and Leyla's relationship was so pure. I love them and their sweet selves. They are possibly my favorite literary couple of all time.
I could rave about this book forever because I love it so much. If you haven't read LIGHT yet, please go read it. I can't believe this duology has flown under the radar for so long, this is just so good. And if you can listen to the audiobook, I HIGHLY recommend you do so!
Content: Romance consists of a few kisses, mildly descriptive, and one LGBTQ+ wedding. Gore can be high when describing battle sequences. Language is about a PG-13 with very rare cursing, however, I did count 7 f-bombs and a few other strong words towards the end of the book. Religious content is Muslim and there are several mentions of praying.
{original}
Perfection. This book was perfection. I will write a full review after I've had time to savor and really think about the story, but that is the one-word summarization of Journey to the Heart of the Abyss: perfection.
(Also, I about lost my mind when the author dropped that Oscar Wilde quote in the last chapter)
November 14, 2021
Meine Meinung:
Nachdem mir Band Eins ganz gut gefallen hat, war ich sehr gespannt auf die Fortsetzung und wieder bereit in die schon bekannte Unterwasserwelt abzutauchen. Das Setting in unserer untergegangenen Welt war wieder sowohl erschreckend als auch faszinierend. Und durch den bildhaften Schreibstil konnte man sich die Welt mit ihren Tiefen und Lebewesen wieder wunderbar vorstellen. Die Handlung setzt dort an wo Band Eins geendet hat und ich muss sagen, anfangs fand ich die Geschichte unheimlich interessant und fesselnd. Ich habe die Entwicklungen gespannt verfolgt und es war wirklich schwer das Buch aus der Hand zu legen. Ich war mir sicher, dass wenn es so weitergeht, dass es besser würde als Band Eins, aber leider hatte ich ab dem Mittelteil das Gefühl, dass der rote Faden komplett verloren ging. Die Handlung wurde meiner Meinung nach nur immer verwirrender und hatte zudem noch einige Längen, was wirklich sehr schade war. Auch Das Ende konnte mich nicht wirklich zufrieden stellen. Dennoch fand ich Layla als Protagonistin wieder sehr interessant und auch dass die Dilogie durch das Thema Klimawandel eine wichtige Message vermittelt fand ich wirklich gut. Etwas ähnliches habe ich bisher wirklich nicht gelesen.
Fazit:
Für mich war es mal eine komplett andere Dilogie, die mich vor allem mit ihrem Setting überzeugen konnte. Und auch wenn ich Band Zwei schwächer fand, so hab ich sie dennoch gerne gelesen.
Nachdem mir Band Eins ganz gut gefallen hat, war ich sehr gespannt auf die Fortsetzung und wieder bereit in die schon bekannte Unterwasserwelt abzutauchen. Das Setting in unserer untergegangenen Welt war wieder sowohl erschreckend als auch faszinierend. Und durch den bildhaften Schreibstil konnte man sich die Welt mit ihren Tiefen und Lebewesen wieder wunderbar vorstellen. Die Handlung setzt dort an wo Band Eins geendet hat und ich muss sagen, anfangs fand ich die Geschichte unheimlich interessant und fesselnd. Ich habe die Entwicklungen gespannt verfolgt und es war wirklich schwer das Buch aus der Hand zu legen. Ich war mir sicher, dass wenn es so weitergeht, dass es besser würde als Band Eins, aber leider hatte ich ab dem Mittelteil das Gefühl, dass der rote Faden komplett verloren ging. Die Handlung wurde meiner Meinung nach nur immer verwirrender und hatte zudem noch einige Längen, was wirklich sehr schade war. Auch Das Ende konnte mich nicht wirklich zufrieden stellen. Dennoch fand ich Layla als Protagonistin wieder sehr interessant und auch dass die Dilogie durch das Thema Klimawandel eine wichtige Message vermittelt fand ich wirklich gut. Etwas ähnliches habe ich bisher wirklich nicht gelesen.
Fazit:
Für mich war es mal eine komplett andere Dilogie, die mich vor allem mit ihrem Setting überzeugen konnte. Und auch wenn ich Band Zwei schwächer fand, so hab ich sie dennoch gerne gelesen.
July 9, 2022
This is Young Adult/Sci-fi. This one didn't work for me. I think that the story had merit so I added a star for that. There were two things I didn't care for. One was the writing. There was a lot of "telling". We went here. We did this. I saw that. I didn't see this. There were also a lot of fluff descriptions like the color of things and where things were located. If it is key to the world building, mood, and/or to the plot, then yes, add it in.
Secondly, there was a lot of righteous indignation which tells me two things. A set of the characters are walking perfection and can do no wrong...so not realistic. And it tells me that there are no gray areas or shadows...all is black and white. Not my favorite, so 2 stars.
Secondly, there was a lot of righteous indignation which tells me two things. A set of the characters are walking perfection and can do no wrong...so not realistic. And it tells me that there are no gray areas or shadows...all is black and white. Not my favorite, so 2 stars.
January 26, 2022
Leyla finally has her father back, but she lost Ari. Ari was snatched away from her the one time she let her guard down and Leyla is determined to get him back. She also knows more of the truth about the government and wants to do all she can to help the Amphi’s with her father’s guidance. This book continues the tale of Leyla’s adventures in the true underwater universe she lives in, outside of the confines of London. There’s so much more to this new world than focusing on reminiscing about the Old World for decades. Leyla knows this now and she would go to the bottom of the sea if it meant getting Ari back.
I liked this book even more than the first book in the series! The world expands so much once Leyla is able to meet the other Amphi’s, Ari’s family and community. I loved reading about how much they’d continued to persevere in spite of the world’s demonization of them. They had so many unique traditions due to the fact that they’d stopped mourning the old days long ago. Instead of trying to imagine and wish for life back on the surface, they’re looking forward to a more positive future underwater. A more positive future unless the government keeps attacking them. I truly felt sucked in as Leyla explored the secretive underworld where people who weren’t friends of the government made their living. I read this book almost completely in one night as I couldn’t wait to see more of the world that had been built. Again, it was not really described HOW the world got to this point after everything was flooded, but it was still fun to see a world that wasn’t bound by the same rules that London was.
Leyla has truly grown so much in this book. She’s gone from a girl who was kept in the dark and who knew nothing about the real world she lived in into a strong woman who is determined to save the most vulnerable people in their society. Leyla finds herself in this installment and I root for her the entire time. She is coming into her own and no longer needs Ari to help her or guide her as much. Instead of him protecting her, she is determined to save his life. No matter what. This is an enemies-to-lovers romance that I can definitely get behind!
I also loved how Leyla’s relationships with her friends outside of Ari truly strengthened in this book. The theme of strong relationships was definitely one of my favorite themes of this book. Leyla wouldn’t have been able to get anywhere without her friends’ support, strength, and wisdom. Even if there are no future books about Leyla, I hope that there are future books about her friends and their lives in this undersea universe.
I wish that there were going to be more books in this universe, but I think this is the last one. I cannot wait to read more by London Shah as these books really took me for an amazing ride.
I would recommend this series to anyone looking for a new science fiction YA novel to enjoy.
I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 books.
I liked this book even more than the first book in the series! The world expands so much once Leyla is able to meet the other Amphi’s, Ari’s family and community. I loved reading about how much they’d continued to persevere in spite of the world’s demonization of them. They had so many unique traditions due to the fact that they’d stopped mourning the old days long ago. Instead of trying to imagine and wish for life back on the surface, they’re looking forward to a more positive future underwater. A more positive future unless the government keeps attacking them. I truly felt sucked in as Leyla explored the secretive underworld where people who weren’t friends of the government made their living. I read this book almost completely in one night as I couldn’t wait to see more of the world that had been built. Again, it was not really described HOW the world got to this point after everything was flooded, but it was still fun to see a world that wasn’t bound by the same rules that London was.
Leyla has truly grown so much in this book. She’s gone from a girl who was kept in the dark and who knew nothing about the real world she lived in into a strong woman who is determined to save the most vulnerable people in their society. Leyla finds herself in this installment and I root for her the entire time. She is coming into her own and no longer needs Ari to help her or guide her as much. Instead of him protecting her, she is determined to save his life. No matter what. This is an enemies-to-lovers romance that I can definitely get behind!
I also loved how Leyla’s relationships with her friends outside of Ari truly strengthened in this book. The theme of strong relationships was definitely one of my favorite themes of this book. Leyla wouldn’t have been able to get anywhere without her friends’ support, strength, and wisdom. Even if there are no future books about Leyla, I hope that there are future books about her friends and their lives in this undersea universe.
I wish that there were going to be more books in this universe, but I think this is the last one. I cannot wait to read more by London Shah as these books really took me for an amazing ride.
I would recommend this series to anyone looking for a new science fiction YA novel to enjoy.
I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 books.
Want to read
May 15, 2020Major withdrawal symptoms pending from book 1!!! CAN'T WAIT to get my hands on this gem once it's released!!!!
June 7, 2022
Nachdem Water Rising. Flucht in die Tiefe von London Shah mich so begeistert hat, war ich voller Vorfreude auf den zweiten Band.
Das Cover passt von der Gestaltung her wieder richtig gut zur Geschichte und ist auf jeden Fall ein gelungener Blickfang.
Der Einstieg ist mir recht schnell gelungen. Es liegt knapp ein Jahr zurück, dass ich Band eins gelesen habe. So waren nicht mehr alle Informationen ganz frisch, aber nach und nach kam alles zurück, je mehr Seiten ich las.
Leyla hat sich sehr stark entwickelt. Fand ich wunderbar, wie reflektiert sie geworden ist, wie sehr sie auf sich selbst und ihre Meinung vertraut hat. Die Veränderung zum Vorgängerband hat mich beeindruckt.
Hier im zweiten Teil steht die politische Entwicklung stark im Vordergrund und da geht es teilweise auch sehr grausam zu. Das hat mich sehr berührt und betroffen gemacht. Aber mit welcher Vehemenz Ari und Leyla für Gerechtigkeit kämpfen, das war großartig mitzuerleben.
Water Rising von London Shah ist wirklich eine Dilogie für sich. Die Welt ist anders, als wir sie kennen und doch in vielen Punkten sehr ähnlich.
Lest diese Bücher! Sie sind nicht nur für Jugendliche sehr spannend, sondern auch für Erwachsene auf jeden Fall empfehlenswert. Eine fantastische Welt und liebenswerte, nahbare Charaktere. Water Rising. Im Sog der Verschwörung von London Shah hat mich ebenfalls wieder sehr gepackt und es ist eine würdige Fortsetzung!
Das Cover passt von der Gestaltung her wieder richtig gut zur Geschichte und ist auf jeden Fall ein gelungener Blickfang.
Der Einstieg ist mir recht schnell gelungen. Es liegt knapp ein Jahr zurück, dass ich Band eins gelesen habe. So waren nicht mehr alle Informationen ganz frisch, aber nach und nach kam alles zurück, je mehr Seiten ich las.
Leyla hat sich sehr stark entwickelt. Fand ich wunderbar, wie reflektiert sie geworden ist, wie sehr sie auf sich selbst und ihre Meinung vertraut hat. Die Veränderung zum Vorgängerband hat mich beeindruckt.
Hier im zweiten Teil steht die politische Entwicklung stark im Vordergrund und da geht es teilweise auch sehr grausam zu. Das hat mich sehr berührt und betroffen gemacht. Aber mit welcher Vehemenz Ari und Leyla für Gerechtigkeit kämpfen, das war großartig mitzuerleben.
Water Rising von London Shah ist wirklich eine Dilogie für sich. Die Welt ist anders, als wir sie kennen und doch in vielen Punkten sehr ähnlich.
Lest diese Bücher! Sie sind nicht nur für Jugendliche sehr spannend, sondern auch für Erwachsene auf jeden Fall empfehlenswert. Eine fantastische Welt und liebenswerte, nahbare Charaktere. Water Rising. Im Sog der Verschwörung von London Shah hat mich ebenfalls wieder sehr gepackt und es ist eine würdige Fortsetzung!
October 26, 2021
Band zwei ist wesentlich besser als Band eins. Es wird zwar immer noch hier und da die Handlung sehr in die Länge gezogen, aber im Gegenzug zum erstem Band passiert immer wieder was spannendes. Die Herkunft von Ari hat mich sehr überrascht. Dass am Ende alles gut wird, könnte man sie so wie so glauben. Ich war aber trotzdem froh, dass die Lügen am Ende offengelegt wurden und jeder das bekommen hat, was er verdiente!
Want to read
April 25, 2020Aaaaaahhhhh, finished book 1 yesterday and I am already experiencing withdrawal symptoms :(
I need this ASAP!!!!! Can't wait!!
I need this ASAP!!!!! Can't wait!!
Want to read
May 14, 2020How am I going to pass the time?? I need book 2 asap!!!!!!!
May 16, 2021
Really enjoyed this! RTC
April 9, 2022
Thank you to TBR & Beyond Tours and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
SPOILER ALERT!! Seeming as this is the second book in a duology, this review may potentially contain slight spoilers for book one. I’ll try my best to keep it as un-spoilery as possible!
As conclusions go, this book was a solid end to an incredibly underrrated series! I had so much fun reading the conclusion to Leyla and company’s stories!
The story picks up immediately after the events at the end of book one, The Light at the the Bottom of the World. Leyla McQueen has rescued her father but the boy she’s found herself increasingly attached to, Ari, has been captured. Now she’s on yet another rescue mission because she refuses to leave him in the hands of the Blackwatch. This mission takes her and her submarine, the Kabul, to new waters as she meets new friends (and old) and gets pulled into something much bigger than herself.
You ever read a book where the setting, the environment, is basically another character? That’s one of my favorite things about this book! The author has a way of describing the underwater world our characters inhabit in such vivid, lush detail that it breathes life into it. You can feel the moodiness when Leyla is travelling through rougher waters. You feel her fear when she’s maneuvering her way through dark places. And you also feel the ever present wonder at all the awe-inspiring sights and creatures to be found in the vast ocean. I absolutely loved the descriptions in this series because it made you feel as though you were in the Kabul right alongside everyone else.
This story was just as action-packed as the first one, as well! I constantly found myself on the edge of my seat, heart pounding as Leyla and crew faced some new danger. I will say that some of their escapes (or the fact that they manage quite so many of them!) could feel a little too convenient at times. When someone is fighting against a powerful, deceitful government body, you expect some losses, but they always seemed to come out okay, if not unharmed. There were also bits of the story that dragged just a little to me. I suppose that can happen when you’re used to non-stop action and then you come to a calmer stretch of the story. Overall, though, I thought this was a gripping and exciting read that had me flying through the pages!
I think my favorite aspect of this story, though, has to be the characters. London Shah has a way of writing characters that makes you want to love them. Leyla is an incredible lead: strong, smart, vulnerable, and loving in ways that make her a beautifully complex character. Watching her journey from the beginning of this duology until the end is an absolute delight! And, while it can be easy to let the supporting characters fall flat, Shah makes them shine just as bright as Leyla. I loved Ari, the twins… even the Kabul’s AI navigator, Oscar has layers to him that make him such an interesting character! I tend to find it hard to really get into a story if I can’t connect with the principle players but I didn’t have to worry about that with this series in the slightest.
Final thoughts: A brilliant end to an underrated YA science fiction duology! I loved this one from beginning to end, with it’s vivid depictions of life underwater to it’s stunning characters. There were moments that dragged a little bit in an otherwise fast-paced story and some plot points felt a little too convenient, but I still flew through this book. It’s gripping, exciting, and carries a lot of important messages about change and learning to embrace it. If you like YA science fiction and are a fan of great characters, lush settings, and a bit of politics, I think you would enjoy Journey to the Heart of the Abyss! After you read The Light at the Bottom of the World, of course 😉
SPOILER ALERT!! Seeming as this is the second book in a duology, this review may potentially contain slight spoilers for book one. I’ll try my best to keep it as un-spoilery as possible!
As conclusions go, this book was a solid end to an incredibly underrrated series! I had so much fun reading the conclusion to Leyla and company’s stories!
The story picks up immediately after the events at the end of book one, The Light at the the Bottom of the World. Leyla McQueen has rescued her father but the boy she’s found herself increasingly attached to, Ari, has been captured. Now she’s on yet another rescue mission because she refuses to leave him in the hands of the Blackwatch. This mission takes her and her submarine, the Kabul, to new waters as she meets new friends (and old) and gets pulled into something much bigger than herself.
You ever read a book where the setting, the environment, is basically another character? That’s one of my favorite things about this book! The author has a way of describing the underwater world our characters inhabit in such vivid, lush detail that it breathes life into it. You can feel the moodiness when Leyla is travelling through rougher waters. You feel her fear when she’s maneuvering her way through dark places. And you also feel the ever present wonder at all the awe-inspiring sights and creatures to be found in the vast ocean. I absolutely loved the descriptions in this series because it made you feel as though you were in the Kabul right alongside everyone else.
This story was just as action-packed as the first one, as well! I constantly found myself on the edge of my seat, heart pounding as Leyla and crew faced some new danger. I will say that some of their escapes (or the fact that they manage quite so many of them!) could feel a little too convenient at times. When someone is fighting against a powerful, deceitful government body, you expect some losses, but they always seemed to come out okay, if not unharmed. There were also bits of the story that dragged just a little to me. I suppose that can happen when you’re used to non-stop action and then you come to a calmer stretch of the story. Overall, though, I thought this was a gripping and exciting read that had me flying through the pages!
I think my favorite aspect of this story, though, has to be the characters. London Shah has a way of writing characters that makes you want to love them. Leyla is an incredible lead: strong, smart, vulnerable, and loving in ways that make her a beautifully complex character. Watching her journey from the beginning of this duology until the end is an absolute delight! And, while it can be easy to let the supporting characters fall flat, Shah makes them shine just as bright as Leyla. I loved Ari, the twins… even the Kabul’s AI navigator, Oscar has layers to him that make him such an interesting character! I tend to find it hard to really get into a story if I can’t connect with the principle players but I didn’t have to worry about that with this series in the slightest.
Final thoughts: A brilliant end to an underrated YA science fiction duology! I loved this one from beginning to end, with it’s vivid depictions of life underwater to it’s stunning characters. There were moments that dragged a little bit in an otherwise fast-paced story and some plot points felt a little too convenient, but I still flew through this book. It’s gripping, exciting, and carries a lot of important messages about change and learning to embrace it. If you like YA science fiction and are a fan of great characters, lush settings, and a bit of politics, I think you would enjoy Journey to the Heart of the Abyss! After you read The Light at the Bottom of the World, of course 😉
April 19, 2022
JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF THE ABYSS picks up more or less where THE LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD left off, taking up well beyond the locations we'd seen before.
It let us not only explore new territory (into Norway) but also new communities - Anthropoid ones and mixed ones. After all the revelations of the previous book (don't worry, there are plenty of new ones here!) it was nice to see evidence of some of those revelations in person. It helped ground them more than just "the government's been lying to you!"
I feel like that's something that's often missing YA at the moment, the grounding and real proof of the big claims and twists, as many often go on documents or testimonies. Beyond setting this duology apart, it also really makes you believe it's real and thus it has real consequences. Not to mention stakes as you can see what the reveal needs the character to protect or challenge.
This also really helped make you trust/believe the more convenient (in terms of tying things up that probably didn't have to be linked for a satisfying story) reveals later on in this book. Because you'd seen and trusted the others, these unsubstantiated/unproven information reveals were easier to accept as part of the story. Sometimes building trust with a reader is more important that providing absolutely everything.
The one thing I really noticed reading it this time around was that this duology races into and races through action. I was always a little surprised when we were in action (as it felt like we'd gone from non-action to action in about a paragraph) and then equally surprised when we were in the post-action moments a page or so later. It's a very compact way of writing action - certainly not the norm but that doesn't mean it doesn't work. It's just that I never really got used to the style.
It let us not only explore new territory (into Norway) but also new communities - Anthropoid ones and mixed ones. After all the revelations of the previous book (don't worry, there are plenty of new ones here!) it was nice to see evidence of some of those revelations in person. It helped ground them more than just "the government's been lying to you!"
I feel like that's something that's often missing YA at the moment, the grounding and real proof of the big claims and twists, as many often go on documents or testimonies. Beyond setting this duology apart, it also really makes you believe it's real and thus it has real consequences. Not to mention stakes as you can see what the reveal needs the character to protect or challenge.
This also really helped make you trust/believe the more convenient (in terms of tying things up that probably didn't have to be linked for a satisfying story) reveals later on in this book. Because you'd seen and trusted the others, these unsubstantiated/unproven information reveals were easier to accept as part of the story. Sometimes building trust with a reader is more important that providing absolutely everything.
The one thing I really noticed reading it this time around was that this duology races into and races through action. I was always a little surprised when we were in action (as it felt like we'd gone from non-action to action in about a paragraph) and then equally surprised when we were in the post-action moments a page or so later. It's a very compact way of writing action - certainly not the norm but that doesn't mean it doesn't work. It's just that I never really got used to the style.
October 19, 2021
Der Mittelteil zieht sich sehr in die Länge und die Dialoge sind manchmal so, als hätte sie ein Schüler geschrieben. Es gibt viele Wiederholungen, was das Ganze noch etwas weniger interessant macht. Gegen Ende hin wird die Story wieder etwas spannender und auch die allgemeine Idee finde ich eigentlich sehr gut.
Was mir sehr gefällt ist, dass die Geschichte eine muslimische Hauptfigur hat. Das ist bei Fantasy und Sci-Fi Büchern eher selten anzutreffen und dies nun in einem eher untypischen Kontext anzutreffen finde ich sehr spannend.
Fazit: Inhaltlich eigentlich tolles Buch, aber der Schreibstil und der Mittelteil ziehen sich total in die Länge. Der erste Band hat mir um einiges besser gefallen.
Was mir sehr gefällt ist, dass die Geschichte eine muslimische Hauptfigur hat. Das ist bei Fantasy und Sci-Fi Büchern eher selten anzutreffen und dies nun in einem eher untypischen Kontext anzutreffen finde ich sehr spannend.
Fazit: Inhaltlich eigentlich tolles Buch, aber der Schreibstil und der Mittelteil ziehen sich total in die Länge. Der erste Band hat mir um einiges besser gefallen.
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