A review by serendipitysbooks
The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

 The Cartographers is a book with lots of disparate elements which I enjoy, all combined to make a satisfying read. We’ve got elements of a campus novel, a once close friendship group that slowly becomes toxic, a murder mystery involving the New York Public Library, found family, a romance, plenty of matter-of-fact low key diversity representation, a family secret, a character with a singular obsession, magical maps with the power to transport people to hidden places, plus plenty of fascinating factual information about cartography folded in. I also enjoyed the structure which follows Nell in the present and has her learn about the past through conversations with her parents’ friends. On the downside I found a couple of the big reveals and twists easy to predict and the motivations for some characters’ actions didn’t always make sense. But overall an enjoyable read - and such a fabulous cover. 
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