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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
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:
Complicated
adventurous
reflective
tense
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:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This was such a lovely book! The atmosphere and writing were exquisite, and I really enjoyed the historical setting.
What really made this book for me were the characters - I'm a character driven reader, so always on the lookout for characters to love and this book delivered. Marya especially was my kind of character - a woman who wants to do her own thing even if society tries to restrict her. She was curious, strong in her own way and I loved to see her grow and become more confident. I also liked most of the rest of the cast of characters, Weiwei, Elena, the Professor, Suzuki - and I loved the found family vibes.
I thought enough happened to keep me interested, although this book really is mostly about the atmosphere, lovely writing and the strong characters, so you probably don't want to get into this if you're looking for an action-packed plot.
The other thing I really enjoyed was the tentative romance between Suzuki and Marya. It was subtle and beautifully laid out, full of lovely little moments that I ended up highlighting while reading on my Kindle.
I found this really engaging and would recommend to people who enjoy historical, atmospheric stories with great characters and some fantasy and who aren't too bothered by all the fantasy elements being fully explained and resolved.
What really made this book for me were the characters - I'm a character driven reader, so always on the lookout for characters to love and this book delivered. Marya especially was my kind of character - a woman who wants to do her own thing even if society tries to restrict her. She was curious, strong in her own way and I loved to see her grow and become more confident. I also liked most of the rest of the cast of characters, Weiwei, Elena, the Professor, Suzuki - and I loved the found family vibes.
I thought enough happened to keep me interested, although this book really is mostly about the atmosphere, lovely writing and the strong characters, so you probably don't want to get into this if you're looking for an action-packed plot.
The other thing I really enjoyed was the tentative romance between Suzuki and Marya. It was subtle and beautifully laid out, full of lovely little moments that I ended up highlighting while reading on my Kindle.
I found this really engaging and would recommend to people who enjoy historical, atmospheric stories with great characters and some fantasy and who aren't too bothered by all the fantasy elements being fully explained and resolved.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands is giving gothic "Sideways Stories from Wayside Elementary" (there is no 2nd Class).
Once I was able to let go of my preconceived notion that this was supposed to be more of a horror story, or scary mystery, I was able to enjoy it more, however I found there to be very few twists and turns that weren't super obvious.
The themes are clear: corporate greed, man vs nature, a thirst for knowledge with no regard for consequences... sure. Incredibly relevant themes in our current timeline that are being repeated ad nauseam and as such made things just a little too predictable here.
I still love a gothic tale for all it's tropes, and appreciated the moments of beautiful prose and imagery as they occured. But I felt like I was beaten over the head with "it's all bad and bad things are coming!" without being given the details to back any of it up. Also like, is the train alive? Hell if I know. I just wanted either: 1. more structure to back up the vibes, or 2. a shorter book to paint the gothic picture without so much repetition.
That being said, I am so sick ofmushrooms being the magic solution/revelation in far too many stories. Mycelium! It's all connected! Great! It just feels like an easy way out atp. 🍄🍄🍄🍄
Once I was able to let go of my preconceived notion that this was supposed to be more of a horror story, or scary mystery, I was able to enjoy it more, however I found there to be very few twists and turns that weren't super obvious.
The themes are clear: corporate greed, man vs nature, a thirst for knowledge with no regard for consequences... sure. Incredibly relevant themes in our current timeline that are being repeated ad nauseam and as such made things just a little too predictable here.
I still love a gothic tale for all it's tropes, and appreciated the moments of beautiful prose and imagery as they occured. But I felt like I was beaten over the head with "it's all bad and bad things are coming!" without being given the details to back any of it up. Also like, is the train alive? Hell if I know. I just wanted either: 1. more structure to back up the vibes, or 2. a shorter book to paint the gothic picture without so much repetition.
That being said, I am so sick of
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Down with the System: This book surprised me. Hints of natural and psychological terror along with a misterious threat made this read interesting and thrilling. The beginning is a little bit dense, but the prose is fantastic.
The Trans-Siberian express has to cross vast uncharted and unfathomable lands, which humanity has long sought to understand. Three different POVs describe the journey in the majestic and powerful train and its crossing of the Wastelands.
The Trans-Siberian express has to cross vast uncharted and unfathomable lands, which humanity has long sought to understand. Three different POVs describe the journey in the majestic and powerful train and its crossing of the Wastelands.
adventurous
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
The imagery and tension in this one were quite incredible.