Scan barcode
A review by thebakersbooks
The Light at the Bottom of the World by London Shah
5.0
5/5 stars — a brave girl confronts a government conspiracy in her fear-gripped underwater society
The Light at the Bottom of the World is young adult dystopian made fresh, embracing some beloved tropes of the genre while turning others on their heads. In atmosphere, it reminds me of The Hunger Games, but the technology and some of the worldbuilding are reminiscent of Wildcard or Ready Player One. The mysterious sunken world is simultaneously captivating and chilling, particularly as main character Leyla McQueen peels away her society's glowing facade to reveal a host of corruptions.
"I will either find a way or make one." This is a philosophy Leyla's grandfather taught her that she applies throughout the story. I loved her determination and audacity, even when her choices were questionable because she was driven by emotion. Leyla's ability to discover she'd been blind to the government's manipulations and the flaws in her own ways of thinking and then reassess and form new opinions stood out in particular. Leyla's self-assigned mission and the tenuous alliances she forms long the way add immediacy and emotion, balancing the novel between plot- and character-driven.
This is the tip of an iceberg's worth of things I enjoyed about The Light at the Bottom of the World. The threads of familial loyalty and love of one's heritage were strong throughout the book; I can't remember the last time I read a novel with an Afghani protagonist! London Shah's knack for writing relationships of all kinds is apparent in the way Leyla draws on her empathy to challenge her preconceived notions of friend and foe. In short, this book may be speculative fiction, but its real-world connections are as powerful as its high-stakes plot. I'm eagerly awaiting a sequel and I highly recommend picking this up!
The Light at the Bottom of the World is young adult dystopian made fresh, embracing some beloved tropes of the genre while turning others on their heads. In atmosphere, it reminds me of The Hunger Games, but the technology and some of the worldbuilding are reminiscent of Wildcard or Ready Player One. The mysterious sunken world is simultaneously captivating and chilling, particularly as main character Leyla McQueen peels away her society's glowing facade to reveal a host of corruptions.
"I will either find a way or make one." This is a philosophy Leyla's grandfather taught her that she applies throughout the story. I loved her determination and audacity, even when her choices were questionable because she was driven by emotion. Leyla's ability to discover she'd been blind to the government's manipulations and the flaws in her own ways of thinking and then reassess and form new opinions stood out in particular. Leyla's self-assigned mission and the tenuous alliances she forms long the way add immediacy and emotion, balancing the novel between plot- and character-driven.
This is the tip of an iceberg's worth of things I enjoyed about The Light at the Bottom of the World. The threads of familial loyalty and love of one's heritage were strong throughout the book; I can't remember the last time I read a novel with an Afghani protagonist! London Shah's knack for writing relationships of all kinds is apparent in the way Leyla draws on her empathy to challenge her preconceived notions of friend and foe. In short, this book may be speculative fiction, but its real-world connections are as powerful as its high-stakes plot. I'm eagerly awaiting a sequel and I highly recommend picking this up!