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abrich's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Pacing issues, plot holes, and of the 10 characters Bear was the only potentially likable one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Death of parent
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Classism, Grief, Infidelity, Stalking, and Violence
rorikae's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
'The Cartographers' by Peng Shepherd is a novel with an engaging premise that never quite lives up to the promises set up in the beginning of the book.
Nell Young dreamed of working at the New York Public Library like her father but a falling out with him years ago resulted in her being fired from her dream job. It was all over a seemingly useless gas station map that she found in the library's collection. Years later, Nell's father dies at his desk and when she finds the same gas station map in his belongings, she starts delving into why this particular map, something that shouldn't have much worth, is still in her Dad's possessions. As she learns more about her father's past, her mother's death in a fire when she was young, and a mysterious group called the Cartographers, Nell begins to unravel why this map has had such a sway over her past.
'The Cartographers' starts out great. The premise is engaging as it sets up a mystery around the gas station map that has put a strain on Nell and her father's relationship. The first third of the book is great as the tension continues to ramp up as more incidents appear to all be triggered by this map that Nell finds in her father's belongings. Unfortunately, as the mystery continues on, it becomes less engaging and the solution to everything is rather lackluster. For the heights of the mystery and intrigue set up at the beginning, the answers don't match up and end up being kind of boring. This is capped off by explanations at the end, including why Nell's father fired her, that don't really make sense. The stakes are never as high as they are set up in the beginning and this makes the drastic nature of some of the decisions that were made in the story feel nonsensical. This book could have been so much fun but it is never allowed to fully explore the possibilities of the premise.
There is a lightly speculative element to this story that I did really enjoy but again, it wasn't used in as engaging of a way as it could of been. I had to suspend my disbelief a bit, not with the speculative element itself, but with the narrow scope of how the element was used. This ultimately left me frustrated.
I did enjoy the audiobook narration. The story is mainly told through two narrators with a few characters popping in to give backstory. Having each of these backstory moments narrated by their own narrator did help create the community feel that I think Shepherd was trying to evoke.
Ultimately, this book has a great premise that is never allowed to shine.
Nell Young dreamed of working at the New York Public Library like her father but a falling out with him years ago resulted in her being fired from her dream job. It was all over a seemingly useless gas station map that she found in the library's collection. Years later, Nell's father dies at his desk and when she finds the same gas station map in his belongings, she starts delving into why this particular map, something that shouldn't have much worth, is still in her Dad's possessions. As she learns more about her father's past, her mother's death in a fire when she was young, and a mysterious group called the Cartographers, Nell begins to unravel why this map has had such a sway over her past.
'The Cartographers' starts out great. The premise is engaging as it sets up a mystery around the gas station map that has put a strain on Nell and her father's relationship. The first third of the book is great as the tension continues to ramp up as more incidents appear to all be triggered by this map that Nell finds in her father's belongings. Unfortunately, as the mystery continues on, it becomes less engaging and the solution to everything is rather lackluster. For the heights of the mystery and intrigue set up at the beginning, the answers don't match up and end up being kind of boring. This is capped off by explanations at the end, including why Nell's father fired her, that don't really make sense. The stakes are never as high as they are set up in the beginning and this makes the drastic nature of some of the decisions that were made in the story feel nonsensical. This book could have been so much fun but it is never allowed to fully explore the possibilities of the premise.
There is a lightly speculative element to this story that I did really enjoy but again, it wasn't used in as engaging of a way as it could of been. I had to suspend my disbelief a bit, not with the speculative element itself, but with the narrow scope of how the element was used. This ultimately left me frustrated.
I did enjoy the audiobook narration. The story is mainly told through two narrators with a few characters popping in to give backstory. Having each of these backstory moments narrated by their own narrator did help create the community feel that I think Shepherd was trying to evoke.
Ultimately, this book has a great premise that is never allowed to shine.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and Murder
lvr105's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Death of parent
Moderate: Violence, Grief, Gun violence, and Murder
spacecurl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Death of parent, Death, and Murder
anniereads221's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Murder, Violence, Gun violence, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Infidelity
caitlinleigh96's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
5.0
This was like an adult Nancy Drew book in a library setting with a dash of National Treasure vibes and I ATE it up. Some parts I could see coming and I could get nitpicky about the pacing/writing but I don’t care, it was such an enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, and Infidelity
foreverinastory's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to B2 Weird and William Morrow Books for my finished copy in exchange for an honest review and promotion. All opinions are my own.
This was so fun. I was stressed and anxious the whole time, but in a good way!
The Cartographers is all about maps, especially maps that might be a little magical. When Nell's father is found dead in his office, Nell doesn't know what to think. She hasn't talked to him in years since he cruelly fired her and destroyed her reputation in cartography. Nell finds the same map that caused their last fight in his possessions. She thought it was completely worthless only to find out it's incredibly rare and valuable. A mysterious collector has been hunting all copies down. The mystery of why sets Nell on a life changing journey.
I really enjoyed this book! I was immediately pulled in by the suspicious death of Dr. Young. From this Nell begins to dig into her family's past in order to find out exactly what happened to her mother the year she died in a fire. I loved seeing how all the pieces wove together.
While Nell is the main focal point of this story, we get glimpses into the perspectives of her parents and their friends throughout the book. I enjoyed getting to know all of them and see their various motives for why they did what they did.
I meant to savor this book, but once I started I could not stop. I was so invested in the mystery. I had to have answers more than anything else. I also really enjoyed that the characters were all older since I've been reading mostly YA lately. Nell and Felix are in their 30s and the other side characters are probably in their late 40's to 50's.
Overall, I'm so glad I picked this one up, thoroughly enjoyed it!
Rep: white cishet female MC, Black cishet male side character, Black cishet female side character, Asian American cishet female side character, white cishet side characters, male side character mentions having a husband.
CWs: Murder, death, death of parent, violence, injury/injury detail, fire/fire injury. Moderate: sexual content, infidelity.
This was so fun. I was stressed and anxious the whole time, but in a good way!
The Cartographers is all about maps, especially maps that might be a little magical. When Nell's father is found dead in his office, Nell doesn't know what to think. She hasn't talked to him in years since he cruelly fired her and destroyed her reputation in cartography. Nell finds the same map that caused their last fight in his possessions. She thought it was completely worthless only to find out it's incredibly rare and valuable. A mysterious collector has been hunting all copies down. The mystery of why sets Nell on a life changing journey.
I really enjoyed this book! I was immediately pulled in by the suspicious death of Dr. Young. From this Nell begins to dig into her family's past in order to find out exactly what happened to her mother the year she died in a fire. I loved seeing how all the pieces wove together.
While Nell is the main focal point of this story, we get glimpses into the perspectives of her parents and their friends throughout the book. I enjoyed getting to know all of them and see their various motives for why they did what they did.
I meant to savor this book, but once I started I could not stop. I was so invested in the mystery. I had to have answers more than anything else. I also really enjoyed that the characters were all older since I've been reading mostly YA lately. Nell and Felix are in their 30s and the other side characters are probably in their late 40's to 50's.
Overall, I'm so glad I picked this one up, thoroughly enjoyed it!
Rep: white cishet female MC, Black cishet male side character, Black cishet female side character, Asian American cishet female side character, white cishet side characters, male side character mentions having a husband.
CWs: Murder, death, death of parent, violence, injury/injury detail, fire/fire injury. Moderate: sexual content, infidelity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual content
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