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jemofabook 's review for:
The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands
by Sarah Brooks
Rating: Enjoyed It, 3.5 stars, rounded to 4
This was a very well-written debut. The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands is a historical fantasy, mystery novel. It is set on a train that runs between Bejing & Moscow, running through the Wastelands. The Wastelands are a mysterious stretch of land that has some magical and horrific elements. The train is a wonder that protects the passengers, but what happens if they aren't as protected as they initially thought?
We follow multiple different passengers on the train as well as some of the employees of the train. There is a mysterious stowaway, a girl trying to avenge the death of her father, and a disgraced naturalist trying to make a name for himself again, to name a few. I felt like each POV had a distinct voice, which was really lovely to see in a debut. There are some gothic horror elements as well as some mystery-esque elements as we figure out what is truly going on with the train and the company that owns it.
I thought that the wastelands was really interesting and I enjoyed learning more about it. Overall, I feel like the characters were well crafted and the plot moved along at a good clip, keeping me engaged throughout. I don't know that I really latched onto any one element, but I was excited to see how it ended. It's not my typical read, but I did enjoy it. It doesn't hit the same way epic fantasy does, so it's not going to be a favorite, but I am glad I read it., and the audiobook narration was very well done.
Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for an audio review copy. The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands releases on June 18, 2024.
This was a very well-written debut. The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands is a historical fantasy, mystery novel. It is set on a train that runs between Bejing & Moscow, running through the Wastelands. The Wastelands are a mysterious stretch of land that has some magical and horrific elements. The train is a wonder that protects the passengers, but what happens if they aren't as protected as they initially thought?
We follow multiple different passengers on the train as well as some of the employees of the train. There is a mysterious stowaway, a girl trying to avenge the death of her father, and a disgraced naturalist trying to make a name for himself again, to name a few. I felt like each POV had a distinct voice, which was really lovely to see in a debut. There are some gothic horror elements as well as some mystery-esque elements as we figure out what is truly going on with the train and the company that owns it.
I thought that the wastelands was really interesting and I enjoyed learning more about it. Overall, I feel like the characters were well crafted and the plot moved along at a good clip, keeping me engaged throughout. I don't know that I really latched onto any one element, but I was excited to see how it ended. It's not my typical read, but I did enjoy it. It doesn't hit the same way epic fantasy does, so it's not going to be a favorite, but I am glad I read it., and the audiobook narration was very well done.
Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for an audio review copy. The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands releases on June 18, 2024.