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valbakuh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
ethaneryk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
2.0
The ideas in this book are really interesting but the execution was poor. Pretty much all of the characters were pretty surface level. One or two would die and it didn’t move me much at all.
There was also magic in it, which I didn’t expect. It was haphazard at best and not really flushed out in its entirety. I think either no magic or jumping all the way in with it would’ve worked better.
It was also a mystery of sorts, I’ll chalk this up to maybe mysteries just aren’t for me
There was also magic in it, which I didn’t expect. It was haphazard at best and not really flushed out in its entirety. I think either no magic or jumping all the way in with it would’ve worked better.
It was also a mystery of sorts, I’ll chalk this up to maybe mysteries just aren’t for me
timinbc's review against another edition
1.0
If it weren't for all the other one-star reviews here - with which I heartily agree - I would question the integrity of the entire Goodreads operation. It's really hard to believe that even one reader would give this even three stars. I did a DNF halfway and should have done it sooner.
In addition to what my one-star colleagues have already pointed out:
Each new character, despite being the same character with a new name, gets a long, long "You see, Nell, ..." in first person, yeeting the plot (such as it is) ahead to where the author apparently couldn't get with anything but a straight infodump.
Dad's apoplectic firing of Nell was so obviously bogus that I decided the book had to be about why he did that and how it could have seemed like a good idea. Nope.
Bigshot Dad dies. But no will is mentioned. Surely it would have been important.
And then the "magic."
Lookit, I've read Sturgeon's great "The Shottle Bop" and I am completely OK with the concept.
I even dared to hope that this would be an attempt to explain how shottle bops work. I suppose it is, but [and this analysis is based on having flipped through the last half at speed] having it all be driven by a magic printing press? That's just like saying it's made of telepathic unobtainium. Feh.
The whole teleport-by-hidden-gates could have been great, but not here. It's obscured by Nell and Felix, 35-year-old teenagers. By a gang of PhDs who wouldn't have earned a master's degree among them in a plausible world. By a gang of library people who are all just so NICE and are probably copies of the same person in nine bodies.
And, I will grant a spolier warning here .... I was still in the first chapter when I worked out that
The plot, I will admit, was carefully worked out. I didn't like it, but Shepherd put in the work and that's good.
This reads like the book that should have been rejected so the next one would have a chance. As it is, I suggest a nom de plume for the next one. I am sure this author can do better.
Don't believe me? Read the rest of the one-stars.
In addition to what my one-star colleagues have already pointed out:
Each new character, despite being the same character with a new name, gets a long, long "You see, Nell, ..." in first person, yeeting the plot (such as it is) ahead to where the author apparently couldn't get with anything but a straight infodump.
Dad's apoplectic firing of Nell was so obviously bogus that I decided the book had to be about why he did that and how it could have seemed like a good idea. Nope.
Bigshot Dad dies. But no will is mentioned. Surely it would have been important.
And then the "magic."
Lookit, I've read Sturgeon's great "The Shottle Bop" and I am completely OK with the concept.
I even dared to hope that this would be an attempt to explain how shottle bops work. I suppose it is, but [and this analysis is based on having flipped through the last half at speed] having it all be driven by a magic printing press? That's just like saying it's made of telepathic unobtainium. Feh.
The whole teleport-by-hidden-gates could have been great, but not here. It's obscured by Nell and Felix, 35-year-old teenagers. By a gang of PhDs who wouldn't have earned a master's degree among them in a plausible world. By a gang of library people who are all just so NICE and are probably copies of the same person in nine bodies.
And, I will grant a spolier warning here .... I was still in the first chapter when I worked out that
Spoiler
Mummy was alive.The plot, I will admit, was carefully worked out. I didn't like it, but Shepherd put in the work and that's good.
This reads like the book that should have been rejected so the next one would have a chance. As it is, I suggest a nom de plume for the next one. I am sure this author can do better.
Don't believe me? Read the rest of the one-stars.
taymbb's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
juliekerr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
hondiggsreads's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I love the underlying conceit, that maps can create space as they describe space.
However, I have a few quibbles.
1. I don’t believe that they would have figured out that the big bad were searching for that particular map that quickly. If it was widely thought of as worthless, I feel like that jump in reasoning wouldn’t be an immediate realization
2. Why was it so cold at the beginning of the semester in Wisconsin? It downright hot in Madison in August, but Romi was shivering and everyone was wearing puffy jackets and hats. Was this the spring semester? Why were they all starting in the spring? It doesn’t fit into her description of the characters.
3. Somehow I’m supposed to believe that they drove 16 hours with a toddler, got to where they were going, and almost immediately that toddler back into a car seat?! That’s just absurd. Have you ever seen a toddler after a long car ride?
It’s a bit predictable, but it’s totally worth a read.
However, I have a few quibbles.
1. I don’t believe that they would have figured out that the big bad were searching for that particular map that quickly. If it was widely thought of as worthless, I feel like that jump in reasoning wouldn’t be an immediate realization
2. Why was it so cold at the beginning of the semester in Wisconsin? It downright hot in Madison in August, but Romi was shivering and everyone was wearing puffy jackets and hats. Was this the spring semester? Why were they all starting in the spring? It doesn’t fit into her description of the characters.
3. Somehow I’m supposed to believe that they drove 16 hours with a toddler, got to where they were going, and almost immediately that toddler back into a car seat?! That’s just absurd. Have you ever seen a toddler after a long car ride?
It’s a bit predictable, but it’s totally worth a read.
kay_slayerofbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Half of the original 7 Cartographers having nicknames REALLY threw me off for the entire book. Wally was clearly batshit and couldn't see the wrong in what he was doing. I actually wonder if he may have been on the autism spectrum. He was so hyper-focused on his goal . . . Really enjoyed this book.
bella_gioseffi's review against another edition
4.0
the Cartographers had me lost in a world of magic and mystery from start to finish. The imagery that Shepard created to describe the town of Agloe is so peaceful and whimsical yet has an eerie twist hidden between the lines that I found fascinating. The magic in this book kept me guessing from page to page. I connected with Nell and felt her grow as the plot thickened. although the characters in the book could be hard to follow at times I grew to love them quite quickly. I can't wait to re-read this book and I have a feeling that the magic will only grow stronger with each read.
katwritesandreads7's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
denasquirrel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0