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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
I was so hyped by the premise but ouch was it hard to get through. I don't understand how you can fumble such a great concept like that. No plot, super overwritten for some reason, author kept switching between the characters names and their descriptives (the child of the train, the professor, the widow, the cartographer) which was super confusing... also what's the point of having your whole story taking place on a train, when all the exciting stuff happened outside of it??
Overall, I did enjoy this book but I did have some issues with it. I thought the beginning was the best part, getting to know the train and how Siberia has changed in this world. The plot was a little too slow-moving for me, but I did like being able to see events from the different POVs. The writing describing the wasteland was the best part of the book for me and I enjoyed the lush, descriptive sections towards the end. 3.5/5 Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.25 stars upgraded because I don't like dragging down an author's ratings.
I enjoyed this, putting this strange world in a historical setting. Some glimmers of the Southern Reach Trilogy. I was able to follow the multiple POVs easily enough.
I enjoyed this, putting this strange world in a historical setting. Some glimmers of the Southern Reach Trilogy. I was able to follow the multiple POVs easily enough.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
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:
Yes
Compelling, otherworldly and chock full of secrets, this story held me captivated on its mysterious journey. I Loved this novel of train trip turned experiment, turned revolution!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
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:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I had a difficult time staying interested in this one. It definitely wasn’t boring, there’s a lot of great descriptive detail and the premise is neat, but it was hard to follow exactly what the mystery aspect was and I couldn’t get a good grasp on how the magic in this world worked. I think it was just a bit too abstract for me.