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News, followed by Reviews:
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The Light at the Bottom of the World is:
Open Letters Review’s Best YA Novel of 2019
A YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults 2020
A Junior Library Guild selection
Winner of the 2019 Bookish Reader’s Choice Award for Favourite YA Setting ​
A Book Riot Best Genre-blending Young Adult Novel of 2019
A Paste Magazine Best Young Adult Novel of 2019
An ALAN 2020 Pick: Assembly On Literature For Adolescents Of The NCTE
A Children’s Book Council Showcase selection
A Manda Dewey Young Adults Pick 2019
A Canberra Weekly Great Summer Read
A BookishFirst Perfect Book For Every Reader On Your Holiday List
A Silver Petticoat Review’s Best YA Novel of 2019
A Sirens Conference 2019 Heroes Book
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Praise for The Light at the Bottom of the World:
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“A work of fathomless imagination”
—SAMANTHA SHANNON, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE BONE SEASON AND THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE
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“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 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF STAR WARS: QUEEN'S SHADOW AND MORE
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“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 SAINTS & MISFITS AND LOVE FROM A TO Z
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“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
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“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 skilfully shaped a gorgeous world unlike any ... seen before. But be forewarned: the book ends on a jaw-dropping cliff-hanger. Highly recommended.”
—SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
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“A thrilling post apocalyptic tale, vividly described and emotionally rich.”
—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
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“Still waters run deep with this novel. Like the best speculative fiction, Leyla’s story both stands on its own as an exciting adventure and acts as a commentary on the current state of the real world. Shah is a remarkable worldbuilder. With her cast of intriguing characters, she deftly explores complex situations and ideas. This may be Shah’s debut novel, but it sparkles with skill.”
—TOR.COM BOOK REVIEW
“A thrilling journey packed with unexpected discoveries”
—KIRKUS REVIEWS
“One of the most unique debuts of 2019”
—TOR.COM
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“A genre-blending stunner of a novel”
—BOOK RIOT
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“Boasting a lushly-imagined dystopian world, Shah’s novel delivers a thrilling narrative to get lost in. We’ve never read anything quite like it, and we can’t wait for people to fall for this debut as hard as we have.”
—PASTE MAGAZINE
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“A spectacular debut, with some of the most inventive worldbuilding we’ve ever read.”
—BARNES & NOBLE TEEN
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“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.”
—POP CULTURALIST
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“A remarkably assured vision of a world. The story Shah tells is so full of wisdom and adventure. The best YA novel of the year.”
—OPEN LETTERS REVIEW
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“A fascinating YA dystopian novel. This great book makes excellent use of its intriguing concept—very inventive, and a fantastic read.”
—CANBERRA WEEKLY
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“Delivers with waves of suspense and action. This fascinating page-turner is an action-packed adventure and a tender teen romance. A perfect novel for fans of high-octane dystopias.”
—VOYA REVIEWS
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“Waterworld meets The Hunger Games. The world-building is stunning.”
—YALSA, THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
“Lots of plots and subplots twisting and turning with thrilling action and moments of quiet introspection. A large, compelling cast with characters you can’t help but root for. A gripping adventure. Shah is a great writer with big ideas.”
—LOCUS (Journey to the Heart of the Abyss)
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“This is a fine post-apocalyptic novel. There could easily be more stories in this undersea dystopian world.”
—BOOKLIST
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“Cinematic and incredibly vivid. If you’re craving an original dystopian universe, then you don’t want to miss this terrific debut.”
—THE NERD DAILY
“Engrossing, compelling, and fantastically built. A book that raises interesting questions all while entertaining the reader completely. Incredible characters and beautiful world-building.”
—YA BOOKS CENTRAL
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“Of fantastical worlds that normalise Islam, this YA novel is the most commonly praised.”
—THE MARY SUE
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“Shah’s world is unique and a welcome reprieve, and Leyla’s journey keeps the reader on edge. The Light at the Bottom of the World proves to be a great addition to the dystopian, post-apocalyptic genre.”
—NERDOPHILE
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“A fantastic fast-paced journey through the depths of the world. Shah has given us a tale of hope and family that will stick with the reader long after the last words have been read.”
—ASSEMBLY ON LITERATURE FOR ADOLESCENTS OF THE NCTE
“A riveting tale of the future.”
—INTERNATIONAL FALLS JOURNAL, MINNESOTA
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“An intriguing and richly detailed post-apocalyptic journey.”
—LIBRARY AWARE
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“For the teen who’s going to change the world.”
—BOOKISH FIRST
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“Shah creates a timeless world all of her own, with insurmountable beauty, realism, and deep emotion. This is one of the year’s most exciting reads.”
—THE INDEPENDENT VOICE NEWSPAPER, CALIFORNIA
“An immersive, hope-filled wonder of a book. This is London as you’ve never seen it before, and all the better for it.”
—TURNAROUND UK, STAFF PICK
“A wonderfully refreshing epic adventure, with dynamite worldbuilding and a crafty heroine. Leyla’s determination and talent will keep you hooked in her story, and you will be begging for Shah’s next book before you’ve even finished this one.”
—RACHEL STROLLE: TEEN LIBRARIAN, GLENSIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
“Truly remarkable. Everything about this book is literally perfection, and we haven’t seen anything quite like it before.”
—LITERATURE APPROVED
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“A lush and complex world of London under the sea.”
—TEEN LIBRARIAN TOOLBOX, SLJ
Tor.com review in full: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
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