Journey to the Heart of the Abyss

by London Shah

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780759555075
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	11/16/2021
Series:	Light the Abyss , #2
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	254,181
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 6.00(h) x 1.40(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

London Shah is a British-born 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. 

Editorial Reviews

Praise for The Light at the Bottom of the World:

"A sequel full of intrigue and betrayal, this second series volume will be a hit with returning readers of the first book."—School Library Journal

 "Full of action, plot twists, and an ending with a message of hope and possibility of change."—Kirkus

"A work of fathomless imagination."—Samantha Shannon, New York Times bestselling author of The Bone Season and Priory of the Orange Tree

"Expertly pairing catastrophe and courage, Shah tells the story of intensely personal problems in a truly perilous world. I love this book."—E.K. Johnston, #1 NYT bestselling author of Star Wars: Queen's Shadow

"A heart-racing adventure that reveals compelling and necessary truths about several critical issues of our times, while delivering all the thrills and twists of an epic quest. A stand-out, must-read book that engulfed me in its enthralling world and characters. Leyla McQueen is queen of the (under)seas!"—S.K. ALi, New York Times bestselling author of The Proudest Blue, Saints & Misfits, and Love From A to Z

"A breathtaking, hope-filled underwater adventure that always leaves room for wonder. The story is pacy, the setting lush and original, but it's Leyla and her positive, determined spirit that will really steal your heart."—Laura Weymouth, author of The Light Between Worlds and A Treason of Thorns

"Shah's debut is a fast-paced masterpiece from start to finish. Readers will fall in love with passionate, persistent Leyla as well as her secretive, swoon-worthy companion, Ari. Shah has skillfully shaped a gorgeous world unlike any those fans [of dystopian fiction] have seen before. But be forewarned: the book ends on a jaw-dropping cliff-hanger. Highly recommended."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

09/01/2021

Gr 7 Up—What would you do for the people you love? Evade the authorities? Break into a secret government lab? Overthrow a corrupt and oppressive system? If you're Leyla McQueen, the answer is yes to all of the above. Following closely behind the events of The Light at the Bottom of the World, this title tracks Leyla's quest to rescue love-interest Ari and find a way to safeguard the amphis, all while on the run from the Blackwatch. But as Leyla gets closer to achieving her goals, she can't help feeling as though there is something she's forgotten. Soon, secrets are revealed that will change not only Leyla's life but potentially all of Briton. A sequel full of intrigue and betrayal, this second series volume will be a hit with returning readers of the first book. VERDICT This thrilling page-turner is a recommended purchase.—Kaitlin Frick, Darien Lib., CT

School Library Journal

2021-09-01
This sequel to The Light at the Bottom of the World (2019) continues with Leyla McQueen’s journey to save those she loves and reveal the lies the underwater London government has been spreading.

It has been just over a month since Leyla broke into Broadmoor prison to rescue her father, Hashem. Although the two of them have been declared terrorists and Britain’s foremost enemies, Leyla wants the truth and refuses to stay in hiding: Ari has been kidnapped by Blackwatch security, and they are searching for his people in hopes of locating him. Tensions between Anthropoids—the government’s derogatory label for Homo amphibius, people who are able to breathe underwater—and non-amphis are increasing, mostly due to the lies and actions of authority figures. Evading Blackwatch security forces and Capt. Sebastian, the prime minister’s right-hand man, Leyla and others (including characters from the previous volume such as Theo, Tabby, Lewis, and Bia) rush to uncover the truth. Leyla learns more about her connection with Ari, her mother’s death, and the government’s plans for the future of Britain, while Ari makes discoveries about his birth family. Shah includes many plot twists, weaving details of the world below the ocean’s surface into themes of authority, government policies toward minorities, and pollution that mirror present-day issues. Pashtun Muslim Leyla is surrounded by a diverse cast.

Full of action, plot twists, and an ending with a message of hope and possibility of change. (author's note) (Science fiction. 12-17)

Kirkus Reviews