Review of the Lighthouse at the End of the World.

Oyster is a small time thief in a small time part of London, there’s little to look forwards to, and that which you can, you’ll find that you won’t like it when you eventually get it.  He’s in with gangs and trying not to get further in, whilst realising that being further in is the only way that he’ll ever make the money he needs to get a better life. This is the London that Oyster is trying to make a life for himself in. 

Until one day it isn’t…

Oyster finds himself in a London that’s both familiar and not familiar, this London isn’t all blades and bravado, this is something else entirely.

And then he’s in another London, but as he soon learns, the different London’s know each other, and there’s a struggle going on for the power the will grant one of them dominion over the others, and somehow, in the middle of it all, is a small time thief trying to keep his head above the water.

There’s a lot of found family in this story, plenty of trying to find the family you should have had rather than the one that you have, but in a refreshing change, also understanding that the family you started with, may actually be the one that’s best for you.

The worldbuilding is exquisite, bouncing between worlds often leaves the reader wondering where they are and what’s going on, but that’s not the case here, there’s enough similarity that you can recognise where you are without being so much similarity that you can’t tell you’re somewhere else, it’s a delicate balancing act and one that is done very well here.

If I were to make any comparisons, this would be the rich worldbuilding of Perdido Street Station crossed with the wisecracking street smarts of Attack the Block, very enjoyable self contained story that has the potential to go further if there’s enough interest.

Thanks to Titan Books and the Author for the Free ARC, my views are my own, no incentive offered or accepted.