Journey to the Heart of the Abyss (Light the Abyss #2) by London Shah
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Publishing Date: November 16, 2021
Synopsis:
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
Leyla McQueen has finally reunited with her father after breaking him out of Broadmoor, the illegal government prison—but his freedom comes at a terrible cost. As Leyla celebrates his return, she must grapple with the pain of losing Ari. Now separated from the boy who has her heart and labeled the nation’s number one enemy, Leyla must risk illegal travel through unchartered waters in her quest for the truth behind her father’s arrest.
Across Britain, the fallout from Leyla’s actions has escalated tensions between Anthropoid and non-Anthropoid communities, bringing them to an all-time high. And, as Leyla and her friends fight to uncover the startling truths about their world, she discovers her own shocking past—and the horrifying secrets behind her father’s abduction and arrest. But as these long-buried truths finally begin to surface, so, too, do the authorities’ terrible future plans. And if the ever-pervasive fear prevents the people from taking a stand now, the abyss could stay in the dark forever.
Book Links:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40307018-journey-to-the-heart-of-the-abyss
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/journey-to-the-heart-of-the-abyss-london-shah/1138786001?ean=9780759555075
Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Journey-Heart-Abyss-London-Shah/9780759555075?ref=grid-view&qid=1631999716073&sr=1-1
IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780759555075
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.
About the Author:
London Shah is a British Muslim of Pashtun ethnicity. She has lived in Britain’s capital for most of her life, via England’s beautiful North. On any given day she can be found daydreaming of a different past, an alternate present, or some surreal future. She enjoys drinking copious amounts of tea, eating all the sweets and cakes, strolling through Richmond Park or along the Thames, getting lost on an evening in the city’s older, darker alleyways—preferably just after it’s rained—listening to punk rock, and losing herself in a fab SFF book or film. The Light at the Bottom of the World is her debut novel. The sequel Journey to the Heart of the Abyss releases 26.10.21.
Website: https://www.londonshah.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/london.shah/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17495980.London_Shah
Tour Schedule: https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/2021/09/23/tour-schedule-journey-to-the-heart-of-the-abyss-light-the-abyss-2-by-london-shah/