‘Beneath the Surface’ Book Review

In a book market so oversaturated with dystopian science-fiction books, Beneath the Surface was a nice change of pace. It still very much fits into the genre, given the end-of-the-world scenario and the fact that humanity had to figure out how to go on somehow, but what set this book apart was the setting–it wasn’t something I’d seen done very often in books and, if it was done, it wasn’t done very well. Most dystopias simply assume the earth is ravaged or the government is uprising or something akin to those scenarios. Beneath the Surface, however, moves humanity to…well, beneath the surface. Underwater. It’s unfamiliar territory in this particular genre, and Matt Hebert’s book proves intriguing, well structured, and thoughtful.

Beneath the Surface takes place in a not-too-distant future, which is equal parts intriguing and terrifying. Right from the get-go we follow Sembado, our main character, as he discovers the true reality behind his underwater home–we get history in the form of journals, a terrifying history of what happened to the world to drive the population underwater, and right there is where the story takes hold of your interest and refuses to let go. I’m a sucker for books that have good backstories. Sometimes when information about the past is presented it’s told via a huge info dump, but Hebert’s way of explaining what happens through the journals of Sembado’s grandfather makes it so interesting, and the firsthand account drives in the emotional stake needed to keep the reader hooked. It’s fascinating.

Beneath the Surface Books

Books like these are always interesting because they mention snippets of real history. Events from recent years are referenced, and our ‘future’ is also mentioned–the near future, considering this book extrapolates events that take place in the 2020s and the late 20-teens. Hebert doesn’t gloss over anything that has already happened and directly incorporates our ‘real’ history into the world Sembado lives in, the world his grandfather has grown up in. Instead of completely ignoring history (as many books do, or they take place so far in the future that all of Earth’s history has been completely forgotten), Hebert has created his own while working with what’s already happened. It’s truly interesting writing.

Yes, Beneath the Surface has an interesting premise, setting, and characters, and was a quick, easy read. What really kept me interested was, it wasn’t something I’d really experienced before. I especially enjoyed losing myself in Sembado’s strange world, in Hebert’s descriptions of Sembado’s quest, and in the general story. I commend Hebert for writing a captivating tale, and I look forward to hopefully seeing more of this in the near future. His depictions of the past and his visions of the future are truly unique and strange, and they make for excellent storytelling.

This is definitely a book to pick up and enjoy. You won’t be able to put it down; it will be a quick, intense read. Sembado’s journey for truth throughout the book will keep you on the edge of your seat, turning pages frantically to find out what’s next. It’s got all the elements of a great story–action, adventure, and some pretty awesome world building. This reviewer definitely recommends Beneath the Surface.

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