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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plenty good fun. Gets a little bit of that Jeff Vandermeer Area X vibe towards the end which I enjoy.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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
dark
mysterious
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:
No
Maybe it's because I was listening instead of reading, but I really lost the thread of this book about two-thirds in. I think that's intentional though. Beautifully written, beautiful story. Very enigmatic.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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:
No
The world-building in this book is marvelous! The interior of the train is detailed, and believable, from the stokers loading coal into the engine, to the social divisions between 3rd Class and 1st Class passengers. (There is no 2nd Class.)
The lead character is WeiWei, a Chinese orphan, raised on the train by the porters, kitchen staff, and other crew members. As a member of the crew herself, she moves between all of the train cars, and knows the hidden pockets where a small young person can hide for a few moments peace.
The "Wastelands" is a centuries old aberration where the laws of physics, biology, and geomorphology have been bent and twisted. The Russian Empire and China have each walled off their realms from the Wastelands, as security against the creeping contamination.
The train, heavily fortified, moves between those two realms, defying the touch of the Wastelands. On each trip, a number of passengers succumb to the crippling psychic attacks brought on by too much viewing of the horrors outside the train. This passage carries more than the usual risk, since the last passage was tainted the the Wasteland. And yet, The Company insists that the train is safe, (despite making passengers sign a waiver to indemnify them against lawsuits in case of derangement or death.)
The writing is clear and allows the highly original settings and the characters to carry the story to it's unexpected and satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended.
The lead character is WeiWei, a Chinese orphan, raised on the train by the porters, kitchen staff, and other crew members. As a member of the crew herself, she moves between all of the train cars, and knows the hidden pockets where a small young person can hide for a few moments peace.
The "Wastelands" is a centuries old aberration where the laws of physics, biology, and geomorphology have been bent and twisted. The Russian Empire and China have each walled off their realms from the Wastelands, as security against the creeping contamination.
The train, heavily fortified, moves between those two realms, defying the touch of the Wastelands. On each trip, a number of passengers succumb to the crippling psychic attacks brought on by too much viewing of the horrors outside the train. This passage carries more than the usual risk, since the last passage was tainted the the Wasteland. And yet, The Company insists that the train is safe, (despite making passengers sign a waiver to indemnify them against lawsuits in case of derangement or death.)
The writing is clear and allows the highly original settings and the characters to carry the story to it's unexpected and satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
The book was well written (no problems with the prose etc.) but it just didn't super grab me? I desperately wanted to read it because it sounded interesting, but I kept picking up other books. There was some electric element missing. Everything conceptually grabbed my attention but the actual story just couldn't keep my attention. I wouldn't completely eliminate this author from my future book browsing, but I may look up book reviews before committing.
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes