Reviews

The Traveler by E.B. Dawson

shebephoebe's review against another edition

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4.0

IF EVERYONE COULD LEARN TO BACK UP THEIR IMPORTANT RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE THAT WOULD BE AMAZING K THANKS

rmarcher's review

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4.0

At the beginning of this year I set a goal to read all of the Phoenix Fiction Writers' books that I could get in paperback, by the end of the year. If I remember correctly that list was 25 books long, and so far I've read three off the list (as well as four PFW books that weren't on my list, including a reread). I'm looking forward to significantly growing that number over the next few months, but for now I'm happy to focus on the lovely book that is The Traveler.

First off, I was immediately struck by how atmospheric and vivid the setting description is in this book. Throughout the book I was able to really enjoy the mood of the settings and feel (as much as I could) like I was in the book alongside the characters. The worlds themselves were very well-thought-out and intriguing, as well, and (being primarily a fantasy reader) I particularly enjoyed Angapo.

The characters are where I feel like this book fell a little bit flat. I liked all of the characters, but I didn't feel like I really got to know them. I don't think this is a fault in the development of the characters--I got the impression they were all fleshed out well--but in the writing. A lot of the emotions in this book were told rather than shown, including Anissa's feelings toward the other characters, so I feel like I didn't really get to connect with them like she did. Even with that said, I was able to particularly enjoy reading about Carson, Brett, and Rodge, and I'm looking forward to reading the short story companions/prequels to The Traveler and getting to know a few of the characters better.

The lack of emotional showing also impacted action scenes, which lost the tension they might have had if I'd been able to feel what Anissa was feeling. I think they were well-written otherwise, and they were still usually enjoyable to read, but I think they could have been even stronger with more sensory description.

My biggest problem with this book, however, was the moment my suspension of disbelief was most strongly tested. When Anissa drove for the first time, in a stick-shift, with minimal instruction, and didn't pop the clutch on her first attempt. I've mostly driven an automatic, but I've also driven a stick-shift a couple of times, with leisurely, detailed instruction, and I pop the clutch almost. every. time. Yeah, I'm probably less coordinated with it than the average person, but the idea that Anissa didn't pop the clutch until several minutes into her drive is pretty hard for me to believe. Am I being nit-picky? Maybe.

But overall, I really enjoyed this book. The writing was pretty good, most of the characters were interesting, I loved the worldbuilding and the atmosphere, so overall I'd give it 3.5 stars.

xephtastic's review

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4.0

[b:The Traveler|36163426|The Traveler|E.B. Dawson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1504281152s/36163426.jpg|54938993] is a book full of subverted expectations. We are introduced to a dull, grey, ordered world. Anissa Robson doesn’t quite seem to belong in this world of concrete and skyscrapers; her heart is drawn to the majesty of the wild ocean, the towering mountains that surround the futuristic city in which she lives. She is suffocated by the bureaucratic environment of her job, and finds respite when she escapes into the lush, green world of her dreams.

But are they only dreams?

Everything Anissa thought she knew about her world is forever changed when she discovers secrets long buried, and an oppressive campaign that will drag her into the center of a conflict she never knew existed.

What I love about this story is the way Anissa takes on the role of the protagonist; she tries to carry everything on her shoulders, but is told that the “...story isn’t about [her].” There’s so much more to the story than she knows – countless moving parts and individuals and decades of history – it can’t all be tackled by one person, no matter how well-meaning they may be.

The characters are all multi-layered. Their motivations are often veiled, and you’ll find yourself wondering whether you know what they’re up to. They feel like living, breathing people, in richly described environments. Whether it’s the wet, glistening skyscrapers of Riyen after a rainstorm, or the green fields and jungles of Angapo, the world feels alive.

One minor issue I had with this novel was the occasional head-hopping. It made some scenes a little confusing/disorientating, but this didn’t spoil the overall experience of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the story was crafted, and how the narrative unfolded in often unexpected ways. Every action has a consequence, even if a character has only good intentions.

I’ll definitely be picking up the next book in the series, and look forward to what’s in store!

tahernandez's review

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4.0

3.5/5 stars
The Traveler is a thoughtful story that draws some insightful parallels to our own world. It’s also not quite what you might expect from a fantasy novel, but that’s what makes it so refreshing. The story takes place in two different worlds, and protagonist Anissa has to navigate each one as she tries to find her place. Riyen is a world of structure, technology, and multi-storied buildings – a world very reminiscent of our own modern era but with a bit more of a dystopic edge. Then there’s Angapo, a lush, vibrant world made up of smaller villages whose people live a very different lifestyle from those in Riyen. When a connection is discovered between these two worlds, it isn’t long before the elite of Riyen begin exploiting that connection for their own personal gain (because of course they do), threatening the Angapoans established way of life.

I really loved some of the themes and ideas that were explored in this book. In the author’s note at the end, Dawson says she hopes The Traveler “makes you think about your place in the world,” and that’s exactly what it does. Writing issues like this and the politics that surround them into a story can be challenging, but Dawson handles the task well, clearly demonstrating how we are all connected to each other and that all actions have consequences, both intended and unintended.

I liked the characters for the most part, but to be perfectly honest, I had a bit of a hard time really connecting with any of them. The point of view didn’t work for me consistently (and this is something I am admittedly super picky about), and that made it difficult at times to really get immersed in the story. I also wished there had been some more showing rather than telling, particularly when it came to character’s emotions and internal conflicts. Especially for Anissa. This seemed to be a bigger issue earlier on in the story, and I did notice Anissa and the other characters starting to resonate with me more during the last 1/3 of the book or so. There were also a few moments that broke my suspension of disbelief.

Despite these issues, I really enjoyed the premise of the story and seeing the characters navigate all of the new challenges that were thrown at them. I found the character’s dialogue and the author’s descriptions of settings to be some of the best and most skillfully-written parts of the book. It will be interesting to see how things play out for Riyen, Angapo, and the people inhabiting them throughout the rest of the series. I’ll look forward to reading more.
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