[Review will be posted on Reader Voracious Blog on 11/5/19.]

“Hope had abandoned them to the wrath of all the waters. The great Old Floods had done more than exile humanity to the depths of the oceanic abyss. They had also ravaged humankind of all faith and, like expiring pockets of air, sucked out any belief they would ever again live in peace.”

The Light at the Bottom of the World is set in the year 2099, about sixty-five years after a cataclysmic climate event made the ocean’s waters rise and the surface of the Earth uninhabitable. What remains of humanity lives 1,000 feet below the ocean’s surface, stuck in the past and afraid of the unknown.

Shah absolutely nails the atmosphere. Even though I have never done more than snorkeling, I could envision the world that she created. Dark and mysterious, a never-ending expanse for exploration but danger in every crevice. The world-building is fantastic and the tone of writing captures the anxiety and fear of what lurks outside of safety. Because while humanity has continued, it’s as dangerous as ever.

“Beneath us, the undergrowth is an endless expanse of ancient trees, all uprooted and toppled over one another. The mass of plants – a mixture of long dead and evolved new life – ripples as if the ground itself is alive, whispering, plotting.”

The writing is descriptive without being over-burdened, and as a result the book is a fast-paced read. I suffered from quite a reading slump in October, but I found myself breezing through the book when I picked it up. I did find the plot’s pacing to be a little uneven in the middle compared to the beginning and end of the book, but I never thought the plot dragged.

“All I see is a vast and terrible unknown ahead of me. An endless abyss of monstrous creatures and earthquakes and the all-destructive Anthropoids.”

Leyla McQueen is a sixteen-year-old British Muslim girl who enjoys punk rock and racing submersibles. I am not going to lie, I loved that she was blaring The Clash when we first meet her! Leyla’s parents are both of Afghan descent and I love how much her heritage means to her and her family. She’s been living alone for the past three months since her father was arrested, but no one will tell her exactly where he is. Which isn’t shady at all.

Light is told in Leyla’s first-person perspective, and like how it feels like she’s just narrating the story to her diary in a way, though. Her anxiousness and Virgo nature really come through in how the story is told. I also appreciated Leyla’s character development in the course of the book, which I can’t discuss because of spoilers.

While I absolutely loved the plot and world-building, I struggled a bit connecting with Leyla. I love her strength and courage to do whatever it takes to find and rescue her beloved papa, but this is a book that nails the sixteen-year-old perspective. This isn’t a bad thing at all – on the contrary, I think teenagers acting like teens need to be more prevalent in YA – but this is the case of right character, wrong reader.

“No past. No future.”

Other than the atmosphere itself, I think my favorite part of the book is the underlying social and political commentary. Light is set in a society which is steeped in nostalgia – they revere everything “ancient” to the point that they would rather restore historic buildings rather than deal with current social issues.

“A group of off-duty train drivers in the nearby booth discuss ancient transport over a pint. ‘I’m telling you,’ a woman says, ‘Old World trains were spotless, and everyone chatted, knew one another. It was safe as houses. And they never broke down – not once. Zero delays!'”

Revisionist history is one of the dangers of nostalgia, and you can see it across all sectors of the population in Light. People hold the time before as the Golden Age, helpfully forgetting all of the flaws. Spotless trains? Zero delays? On what planet? But besides that, an undercurrent of this book is the fact that history is written by the victors and we should always question everything.

Unfortunately, my reading experience was definitely hampered by spoilers in someone’s Goodreads updates. Can we all just agree not to put spoilers in Goodreads updates? I was assured the spoiler wasn’t real (“you’ll see”), but real or not it actually permanently and irreparably colored my opinion of a character. To the point that I don’t know if any of my feelings about this character are based on what I read or not. And that kind of sucks.

Overall, I found The Light at the Bottom of the World to be a solid debut fantasy story and I am looking forward to finding out what happens next. While I didn’t connect with the characters as much as other readers, this is very much a Me Being in My 30s Thing. I found the atmosphere amazing and thought London did a good job describing the setting, which made up my lack of character connection.

Representation: anxiety (and possible panic attacks, not explicit), Muslim rep, Pashtun rep
Content warnings: death of a parent, loss of a parent, mention of suicide, a dog is thrown by a Bad Guy (but is okay)

eARC provided by Disney-Hyperion via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This did not affect my opinion. Quotations were compared against the finished copy that I purchased.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital copy of this book. This story is fantastic! It original and yet follows a current trend. Good Dystopian novels are not being written often these days but here is one I can’t wait to buy for students!

**4.5-stars rounded up**

Debut novels have really been impressing me lately and this one is no exception. Man, what a captivating story. I don't think I have ever read anything quite like this.
Set at the end of the 21st-century, the world is now underwater. Our protagonist, 16-year old Leyla McQueen is living on her own in London. Her Father has been arrested and spirited away by government officials, although no one will tell her exactly where.
Leyla knows he is innocent of the crimes for which he is accused and now her whole life is focused on trying to find him and get him back. When the opportunity arises for her to compete in a government-sanctioned auto race, with the prize being anything the winner desires, she puts her whole heart into winning.
The marathon doesn’t turn out to be what she expected, however, and Leyla finds herself fleeing the perceived safety of London and heading out to lesser chartered waters for the first time in her life.
Now in her own submarine with her sweet pup, Jojo, virtual domestic help, Oscar, and a new body guard, Ari, she sets out to finally solve the mystery of what happened to her Father.
This book is so intriguing, you guys. Once I got into it, I could not put it down and pretty much read it in two days. There is a an enemies-to-lovers plot element which I enjoyed. It was very mild though so if romance isn't you thing, I would say it never overpowered the rest of the storyline.
For me the elements of the story that I was picking up the most were the politically-charged social commentary. That may not be the greatest way to describe it. The story itself isn't of a political nature but the topics explored definitely were and are poignant for a lot happening in the world right now.
Topics I noticed would include the idea that it is okay to question authority, to question the official story. It explored the idea of governments molding citizens viewpoints on 'others' and how individuals can be punished if they speak up or against such sanctioned ideas. There were elements of 'terrorism', domestic and otherwise, explored, as well as an us-versus-them mentality.
While all these topics were threaded throughout the narrative, to me, they never felt forced or like the author was championing and agenda. It was all very natural and organic to the plot progression. I was impressed with how the author was able to do that.
It's also important to note this is Own Voices representation for a Muslim main character. Both of Leyla's parents were of Afghan descent. So if you are looking for more stories with Muslim main characters, I think this would be a great one for you to check out!
I thought the scifi elements in here were excellent. Very forward thinking and unique as far as the whole world being underwater. I think the concepts are very approachable for all readers, so even if you don't read a lot of scifi, maybe you are afraid you won't necessarily understand it all, I don't think that would be the case here.
Finally, there are very cool 'monsters' in this story! They were honestly one of my favorite parts. They are called anthropoids and are basically genetically-modified humans that can breathe underwater. So, think the evil mermaids from Harry Potter -- very well done.
Thank you so, so much to the publisher, Disney Book Group, and to NetGalley, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. I was so impressed and cannot wait for the next book to be released!

All really knew about this book going in was that it takes place entirely under the ocean and honestly I haven't read a book with submarines ever?! (I guess other than that one Series of Unfortunate Events book)


The world building was really fun and unique. I especially loved the whole idea behind it being a post apocalyptic society because of global warming. You gotta love the political stuff! I haven't read dystopia in a while, so that was great! Plus, creepy Anthropoids that are terrorizing the city... very intriguing indeed!


Leyla McQueen was a really fun MUSLIM main character (I always get really excited with Muslim characters, okay?!)! She was an adorable little nerd who also loved to race submarines which is pretty epic! PLUS SHE HAS AN ADORABLE LITTLE PUPPY NAMED JOJO WHO MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS.


I really enjoyed reading about the technology and the underwater life, though for a while I was a little confused as to what Anthropoids even were, but eventually I figured that out! I liked the slow build of the story because it gave this air of mystery. Plus, our narrator was in the dark about a lot of things so it was equally frustrating and intriguing trying to figure out what had happened to Leyla's father and what everyone was hiding.


The second half of the book is when it gets really fun in my opinion. There's more action and dramaaaaa!!!! I am a sucker for dramatic situations, especially emotional ones. I love seeing how different characters react to situations and Leyla had SUCH GREAT REACTIONS.


If you love underwater racing in cities, really passionate characters determined to save their family, a brooding male character you can't help but be attracted to, CUTE LITTLE PUPPIES, sea monsters, Oscar Wilde, and adventure you should definitely pick this up! I would recommend this to anyone who wants something unique and fun!

Everything I LOVED: We didn't get a lot of overt political conspiracy in this book, but there was some amazing foreshadowing, and I'm really looking forward to seeing more of it in book two! It's a very different post-apocalyptic/dystopian book than what we usually get! I'd say it reminds me more of The Giver than anything that came after. Seeing everything that humanity went through and what they're still doing was really cool! I also LOVED the pace that the romance moved at!!! It's definitely a slow burn, so just be aware of that! The characters in this book were overall a super amazing cast. I do believe that the twins were my favorite, and I really hope that we see more of them in book two!
And things I wish were different: This book is very British, which isn't always my favorite thing. Because it was so British, there were things that the author would talk about (especially locations!) where I would just be completely lost. The dialogue was also clunky in places, but that could simply be that it wasn't American English. Definitely little things that didn't take away from my enjoyment at all!
5 Stars!!! See link below for more details.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live underwater and how humanity would adapt to such a drastic change in environment? London Shah explores this possibility in her young adult debut novel, The Light at the Bottom of the World. Get ready to journey to the dark abyss where humanity is awash in a conspiracy of secrets and lies that gives rise to fear, and threatens to drown the voices of those who dare to hope.

In 2099, Earth is completely submerged in water due to an asteroid impact. A small population of humans survived and live in the ruins of cities around the world. Leyla McQueen is a sixteen-year-old submersible racer living in London. She is desperate to clear her father’s name of a crime he did not commit. When all of Leyla’s attempts to help him are blocked, she sets out to free him on her own. Armed with determination, bravery, and the aid of an unexpected companion, Leyla will venture outside of London for the very first time to rescue her beloved father and in the process, discover a truth that will forever alter humanity.

I was completely entranced by the underwater setting in The Light at the Bottom of the World. Shah’s stunning descriptions of the dark abyss, ruins, and technology lend itself to a richly imaginative world. It has an eerie atmosphere that combines intrigue, tension, and nostalgia. You can’t help but be pulled into this remarkably unique world.

A brilliant setting requires an equally brilliant lead character, and Shah delivers with Leyla McQueen. She is a proud British-Muslim that practices her faith and honors her Afghan heritage. Shah includes beautiful, simple moments that acknowledge Leyla’s identities in an organic way. Leyla is strong and compassionate, cautious but brave, resolute in the face of adversity. Her antagonistic dynamic with reluctant companion Ari during their perilous excursion through the infinite water is the perfect set-up for a slow-burn romance. Like Leyla, Ari has a deep love of family that drives his actions. He’s mysterious and intense, but also fiercely protective of Leyla.

Shah expertly intertwines thought-provoking themes into the story as a natural extension of the plot. She examines how fear, nostalgia, survival, and hope can be used as tools to control humanity. Of how those in power, seek to manipulate truth for their own advantage. Ultimately, The Light at the Bottom of the World conveys a message of hope to its readers. Hope that humanity can survive against all odds if they are open to change. Hope that they can rebuild their world with the idea of peaceful coexistence. And most importantly, to keep moving forward towards a brighter future.

Final thoughts: The Light at the Bottom of the World is science-fiction at its best—a strikingly crafted world, a tenacious heroine in Leyla McQueen, and an intensely engrossing story that culminates in an ending that will leave you speechless.

The Light at the Bottom of the World will be available for purchase on October 29th with a sequel forthcoming in 2020.

Thank you to Disney Book Group for sending us an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

DNF at 22%
I wanted to love this book, but at this time, it didn't grab me or immerse me into the story. I love the idea of an underwater world, but the actual descriptions of the underwater London felt very sparse. The details that are in the beginning still made it hard to picture the author's vision of the world. It still felt like it took place on land with how the book describes them living in apartments and many buildings covered by moss. But that was about it and with being a world building type person, it's hard to enjoy a book if I can't picture what's going on. I also felt like the writing needed a bit more editing; some sentences felt like fragments and didn't always work for me. I will try this again in the future, but at this time, it didn't motivate me to keep reading. But this does have potential to be a favorite for teens in my library district. But I will recommend this to teen library patrons when they're looking for new books.

The Light at the Bottom of the World by London Shah is a book with a fascinating concept but mediocre execution. The plot is thrilling at first but quickly becomes like many other dystopian novels, and the main character seems immature. I did enjoy the world building, however, and I believe the submerged world will appeal to many.

This book tells the story of the Earth in 2099, where life now exists under the sea. Leyla, who has just won a submersible race, is denied her wish to free her father and thus sets out on a journey to save her father herself. However, the government is hot on her heels, and danger lurks in the depths of the waters. What drew me to this book was the idea of submarine racing. This is such a unique idea, and I couldn’t wait to see how it would play out. Unfortunately, only a small chunk of the book is dedicated to this, which was a little disappointing. After the race ends, the story reverts to a basic dystopian, and the plot falls flat.

❀ UNIQUE SETTING

One aspect of the book that I really enjoyed is the setting. Shah has created a vision of the world in a post-apocalyptic future, and the history and logic is well-developed. Every little detail including why humans live under the water and why certain technologies exist is accounted for, and it is easy to see how much planning went into this book. I haven’t seen a book about an underwater dystopia before, so this was a fresh concept for me.

❀ IMMATURE MAIN CHARACTER

I am still not entirely sure how I feel about Leyla. On one hand, I loved how determined she is to make things right and rescue her dad, but on the other, I feel like she is a bit immature. To me, something about the way she speaks is not always fitting for her age, and her recklessness bothered me. That being said, I still wanted to support her on her journey as she does have a touching motive.

The Light at the Bottom of the World is a book that I neither loved nor hated. There are certain aspects I loved such as the submarine racing and the world building, however much of it fell flat, including the main character. I do still think that many will enjoy this one, as perhaps I am just tired of dystopian.

I was really excited going into this, but it fell a little flat for me. It came across as more of a beginning draft for me, like it wasn't completely the best it could have been. The premise is really interesting and I enjoyed that part of it, but the dialogue is what really turned me off. The main character asked every question immediately seemingly to get all of the answers immediately, to give more background quickly. I feel like it could have been spaced out more.

The 21st century is coming to an end on an Earth completely decimated by a natural disaster that covered all cities under miles of water. All survivors were forced into forging communities within their cities underwater, while Explorers on the surface search for an answer to their problems underwater. Enter Leyla McQueen, a 16 year old striking out on her own in order to save her father from being wrongfully accused and imprisoned.

This had a slow start for me, but picked up quite quickly around the 15% mark and I couldn’t put it down after that. I read 80% of it in one day due to its action-packed nature. I did find some of the situations Leyla deals with to be a bit too easy in how she gets out of the drama, but otherwise I was enjoying the ride. I feel like a story of this nature would lend well to a movie because it would look so cool to see the cities underwater and all of the sea creatures. Definitely looking forward to the next book!

I'll be honest, giving this a less-than-stellar review is going to break my heart, but here we are. I am going to try to break it down the best I can, and hey, maybe you'll have better luck. I have seen a lot of positive reviews, but in the spirit of honest opinions... here we go!

The Things I Liked:

• I mean, the whole concept is awesome! You have read the synopsis by now, and wow, how unique and fabulous it sounds! Underwater London dystopian society? Yes please!!

• The cultural throwbacks to Afghanistan were incredible. Like the Afghan food? Sign me up! I loved that it was so full of these little charms, especially moments from before the world was underwater (i.e., our current times!).

• By the end of the book, I had started to care about what happened to the characters. It took awhile, yes, but I did really start to have concern for their welfare.

• There is an AI named Oscar Wilde. He's beyond fun, and I love him.

• Honestly that cover, just look at it! I know, I know, don't judge a book by the cover, but it's going to look good on any shelf, just saying 🤷‍♀️

The Things I Didn't

• I could not connect to Leyla for most of the book. She seems emotionally vacant for parts, and when she does show emotion, it comes of as whiny and kind of mean. So yeah, it was hard to feel for her, even with the deceased mother and missing father, because she simply wasn't very sympathetic beyond that.

• I couldn't visualize/conceptualize this world at all. I had no picture in my head, no idea what was happening, really. I felt like I had many, many questions surrounding the world/how it worked that were simply never answered/addressed.

• The dialogue just didn't seem emotive at all. Like okay, you like these people, they're your friends, etc, but I feel nothing. This is just an example, of course, but it just didn't move me at all. Not when someone was scared, or angry, or happy. It simply didn't feel compelling to me.

• 'Twas awfully predictable. I mean, not that I knew what was happening with the world, but I was very sure of what was lurking around the corners for Leyla. I won't say more because of spoilers, but there's some very obvious huge plot points that I guessed from very early on.

•Similarly, I felt like while things were seemingly very spelled-out for the reader, the characters were wholly clueless. And it's kind of infuriating? Like if I know exactly what is happening to you around every corner, how is it that you have zero clue?

Bottom Line: I wanted to like this. I am deeply pained that I did not. Perhaps you will?

I loved the world building of this novel. It has to be one of the most vivid settings I have read in a while (it does help that I have somewhat of an image of London). The fact that the entire world is underwater is such a cool concept!! I felt like I was not super attached to the characters (although there were moments when I really felt who they are); however, I was intrigued by the world Shah built, and new details about London in 2099 consistently surprised me.

Also: the Muslim rep!! Leyla is Muslim, but the novel does not solely revolve around her religion; it is just a part of her.

One of my favorite parts about this book were the quotes! Also I loved the questions Shah asked her characters, asked herself, and, thus, asked the readers. Hope was a strong theme in this book, and so was the question of judging Anthropoids (human-like creatures who can breathe and swim underwater regardless of the pressure) as evil, as the current government had always pushed. Seriously though, I highlighted so many paragraphs of this book; they were absolutely incredible words.

I couldn't wait to get started on this book because the description was so exciting so I gave a slight squeal when I was approved for the ARC. But then it ended up taking me six days to get through it because the reality didn't live up to the premise for me. The underwater world is fascinating and upon reflection, that's the part of the description that drew me to the book. I wanted more description of the world - not because Shah did a bad job of world building - because I had questions about how humans got to this place and what they have to learn in school now about the animals that live there and how traffic works when you can drive in three dimensions and one hundred other little details that were running through my brain. With that mindset, I found myself disappointed with the main focus being on Leyla, who I didn't enjoy much. She spent a lot of time complaining about her grandpa placing Ari on board but she definitely needed him on more than one occasion. It wouldn't have made her less of a character if she had just gone with it, realizing her quest was huge and nearly impossible for one person. Nor was I interested in the romance arc going from anger to love to obstacle to their love. More adventure, less romance! And as much as I love Oscar and the pretty random inclusion of Oscar Wilde in a current YA book, he functioned as a Deus ex Machina too many times.

Things I appreciated: A Muslim character in sci fi and the timely message about the government creating fear about people who are different from us. It got a little heavy-handed in the final couple of chapters, but I can handle that. I'm all for authors using their platform to send a message.

Having these books fall into my hands was a godsend given that we are looking to add more female leads to our library—tough ones at that and in a different type of world we are used to today. It is so hard to find books that are written well in character development, plot, and female “tough” situations, but I think we’ve found a great one. The character design in this book is and was exquisite. I enjoyed reading all the descriptions, development, and love put into the characters from the very beginning. Many of the characters have found their way in the world that is so important to that character that I can’t help but love them. Leyla must find her way through a submerged Great Britain with every fear you could possibly have while living “under the sea”.

There are many themes and ideas that come into this novel such as determination, joy, fear, and much more. I really loved delving into the world that the author created as it is such a magnificent creature in and of itself. The many traditions and customs that she created was great and I really enjoyed seeing that in a book—we don’t see that written so great often. The characters in this book caught my attention so much and I believe that students would be able to connect to the different characters as well (there is someone for everyone). This can be utilized for many grades and many different groups of people—it would be a great book club book.

I enjoyed the setting which was extremely original from everything else I have read in recent years. This is dystopian but not sci-fi but not, it is so many things all at once that I cannot completely understand exactly what it is… maybe a new genre? There is a lot of backstory that can help you understand what is happening cover to cover. I would suggest this book for a book club or even independent reading as it is not a difficult read and definitely has the high interest aspect to it that all students can get with. The characters that rush into danger is immediately something that my students would gravitate to and love to read—because who doesn’t love action in every form? Especially with a determined female at its helm.

This book is boring. The cover and premise make me feel claustrophobic. I don't see why it was published with Disney.

A watery world is pretty much my worst possible Dystopian setting. I'm no fan of the water and living on a planet that is all water, and no air disturbed me a bit. The writing itself is descriptive and poetic. You'll be amazed at the world-building. I'd compare it to Harry Potter and The Hunger Games in the atmosphere.

It's a terrific SciFi novel. Teenager Leyla McQueen, a British/Afghan Muslim submersible racer, is a delight. She's optimistic and is the kind of character that you want to succeed. The year is 2099, and all of surviving humanity is living underwater after an asteroid hits Earth. You'll get plenty of British scenery (from the Old World), even though things have changed in the new reality of life on Earth. The descriptions of this modern society were captivating. So much is new, while people act out in the same ways that they do now.
Without giving away spoilers or too much plot, it's hard to say more. I feel that with some stories, it's best not to know too much before you read it yourself.<br> If you need to label it, I'm honestly not sure if it's more dystopian, science fiction, or political conspiracy? In any case, once you start reading, it's a hard book to put down

It's genuinely unlike, while still being amazing, most of the YA that I've read this year! Grab a copy on October 29, 2019.

The Light at the Bottom of the World is a book with a lot of heart, and a sensitive one at that. I found Leyla to be a wonderful main character; she was strong, determined, and so very afraid of the world around her, but that never stopped her from following her heart and doing what needed to be done. In a world full of strong female characters, there seems to be a lack of characters who are on the softer side of strong, more resilient and determined than battle ready and punching faces in, which I found refreshing. It's also full of much needed representation. Leyla is a British Muslim girl who believes. She believes in hope, in a world that has continually lied to her and let her down, in the people around her to do the right thing, in God, in herself (though she struggles with her fear and anxiety) and it is that quality, that steady belief, that sees her through her challenges. After her Papa is falsely accused of a crime and taken away by the authorities, she will stop at nothing to find out what happened and get him back. You can't help but feel for her as you watch her risk everything to save the ones she loves.

Also of note is the unique setting, taking place in a post-apocalyptic scenario where the human race was forced under water after an asteroid hit. It's wonderfully imaginative with its descriptions of sea life and futuristic technology designed to help humans adapt to their new home. In an effort to assist humans with the aftermath and rebuilding, they've created Anthropoids who are humans enhanced with technology meant to help clear the debris post asteroid, only they've turned against those who created them without any explanation and the government is doing little to actually help their citizens-- too obsessed with returning back to the surface in a world they can't let go.

The Light at the Bottom of the World takes you on a non-stop adventure with some of the best companions, including a holographic, flamboyant, popular literary figure, a puppy, a girl who is desperate to save her family, and the boy who keeps secrets while keeping her safe. You will laugh, you will cry, you will soar and ache and love, but most of all, you will believe. And that in itself, is a very specific and powerful sort of magic.

I made it 54 pages into this and just couldn’t keep going. With short or clipped sentences I felt the writing was simple, more the quality of a middle grade book than YA. Lack of sentence development made the story seem to drag on with no clue where we were going. Definitely missing A TON of description and back story. For about the first 30 pages I just assumed how this London came to be underwater, what the antagonists were (sea creature, human), where dad went and why. Really I was just confused. The main character was boring, focusing only on rescuing her father, but even that basic plot line felt underdeveloped. Even her friends felt like they just existed to fill the page. Then there was the random “expedition” charge? What was that all about? Granted I’m sure if I had finished the book I might know more, but I just couldn’t get past the simplicity of the story and the writing.

The totally stunning cover and concept of humans living at the bottom of the ocean made this a must read for me.  

From the watercraft and underwater homes to the sea creatures, the world-building is magnificent.  When Leyla pilots her submersible around London landmarks and during the thrilling marathon, the imagery is outstanding.  And the conflict!  One roadblock after another is thrown into the mix, and nothing comes easy in her quest to find her father.  She's a brave and determined protagonist, but makes some questionable decisions at times before thinking things through.  Ari is a man of mystery and caution, but a perfect balance to Leyla's overly trusting nature.  Leila's world is brimming with mystery and political undercurrents, and she's forced to question many of her beliefs and things she's been told.  And that cliffhanger will steal your breath away!  

Although the pacing wavers here and there, I enjoyed this highly creative, underwater adventure and will be anxiously anticipating the next book in the series.  Add this one to your TBR! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

"The human spirit didn’t drown. It was swept up and carried along; it flows still, the stream coursing its way through everyone’s lives."

I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at Disney-Hyperion. Spoilers will be clearly marked. Trigger warnings: death, suicide, suicidal thoughts, drowning, violence, injury, blood, abduction, mental illness, depression, claustrophobia.

It’s been over a generation since the world flooded, forcing humans to retreat a thousand feet below the ocean’s surface for survival. It’s the only world Leyla McQueen has ever known, but she’s hopeful along with the rest of the population of Great Britain that humans will someday return to the surface. However, they’re plagued by Anthropoid attacks, a race of technologically engineered superhumans who can survive deep under the water. When her father is arrested under charges of aiding Seasickness victims in taking their own lives, Leyla is sure the accusations are false. She’s determined to win the London Submersible Marathon, which grants the winner a wish of their choice, to free her father. But when the plan goes awry, Leyla flees London to search for her father accompanied by a family friend whose secrets might jeopardize her quest–and their lives.

The main appeal of this book for me is the world-building, and I would recommend it on that alone. Shah has created a fascinating new world where humans live beneath the ocean in carefully pressurized homes and travel around in submersibles instead of cars. It’s weirdly nostalgic, since the population there is obsessed with preserving land memorabilia (we’re all little mermaids at heart, I guess). I could wax poetic for the rest of this review on the cool technological details and the lovely/terrifying ocean descriptions, but I won’t. Like the residents of this strange world, I was never able to forget that the characters are under a thousand feet of water, and it makes the atmosphere both captivating and unsettling. I’ve never read anything else quite like it.

It’s not as strong in other areas. I like Leyla, but she suffers from a lot of the same characteristics as every other YA heroine I’ve ever met. She’s referred to as stubborn, brave, and headstrong, but what she really does is charge headfirst into every situation with few plans or information, and her recklessness at one point costs lives. (But keep in mind, I’m well outside the target audience, and this might appeal fine to teenagers.) I do like that Leyla is a POC and Muslim, which is some cool representation that we don’t get enough of in fiction. Her love interest is also a POC (great), but he’s about as broody, distant, and chiseled as every YA male hero ever. Really, the descriptions of his eyes, and hair, and face are excessive. I very much didn’t enjoy the tiresome ‘he’s so annoying, I hate him’ routine that Leyla goes through before she realizes she likes him, but I generally have attitude about romances.

Plotwise, the book is a lot of fun, and it alternates some very tense scenes like Leyla’s submersible race and a couple of Anthropoid attacks with slower character and world-building. The government conspiracy trope is overdone, and the book doesn’t have a lot new to offer in the way of dystopias. Though the major plot wraps up to satisfaction while leaving a number of threads open for future exploration, I didn’t love the ending. I don’t enjoy cliffhangers, and Leyla never takes responsibility for some of the things that go down, but there’s time for that in later books. I probably won’t continue with the series, but I wouldn’t discourage anyone from picking it up if it sounds interesting. It holds its own.

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS. TURN BACK BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.

Really? That last chapter? We couldn’t leave things happy for five minutes? My knee-jerk reaction to being so blatantly manipulated into reading the sequel is to nope out of that quick. I like to think things are my own idea.

I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.