Sand Dunes and Skyscrapers

by Delia Simpson

Life as a tram conductor had never been better, had it, Sherwin?

You knew where you were going. You followed the tracks from the patchwork metal walls through the web of the wooden skyscrapers in the City. You collected tickets you sold throughout the day and stuck them up on your bedroom wall. After a hard day’s work, Sigal, whom you loved very much, baked you chocolate-coated rum-buns. You remember Sigal, don’t you, Sherwin?

And then, one day, you witnessed the launch of an incredible flying ship, and you found yourself derailed. The Šéf, the head of the City’s police, tasked you and ex-fighter Lucky Buster with tracking down a gang of dangerous fugitives and solving the mystery of the blue-haired girl. He gave you a mansion, access to terrifying bounty hunters, and Lennox, the timid City Artificer. Are you sure you weren’t blinded by the gifts the Šéf bestowed upon you? Were these fugitives really that fearsome, or did you have your own hidden agenda?

Being fired was the best thing that ever happened to you... wasn’t it, Sherwin?

Step into the Leisurely Ländler: Where science fiction meets fantasy in a universe of endless wonder

99 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 31, 2024

About the author

Leeds-born Delia Simpson is making her literary debut with the highly anticipated Leisurely Ländler series. Her passion for writing started early, with video games and fiction reading shaping her craft. Some of Delia’s outside interests include composing, cooking, and communicating with feline life forms, making her a versatile creative with a unique perspective on storytelling. Her diverse characters and captivating world-building resonate with fantasy and sci-fi enthusiasts alike.

Reviews

[Dan Lupo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sand Dunes and Skyscrapers has an interesting premise and a fair amount of potential, but ultimate suffers from not fully knowing what it wants to be.



Sand Dunes sits in a novelette range in length, which is a fairly tricky length to work with. It’s not long enough to spend much time in exposition without making the story lose momentum, but it’s too long to just leave things completely vague and evocative without any answers, and so it requires a VERY deft hand to make it work well. This defines my struggles with the book perfectly. It felt like the author had such interesting ideas they wanted to explore, but didn’t give themselves enough time to really unpack them. So while I would have been satisfied with no answers and things just left mysterious, what we ended up with was a lot of quick or half answers that didn’t satisfying as much either way. I thought the protagonist was charming, and the loss of agency could have been really interesting, but we didn’t get enough time with any internal struggles. Some of these struggles are likely smoothed out in the larger series, but books need to be self-sufficient to a degree as well. 



Overall, the book had an interesting premise and fun moments, but left me a little wanting in the end.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Joy Hunneyball · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a lot of promising elements, but the worldbuilding, characters, and story feel half baked. With richer descriptions and more details I would have cared much more about what happened to the characters. As a reader, I was most invested in the story when Sherwin runs around the city solving the case, but as the action fizzles out and Sherwin is left in a dead end, I lost interest in the story. The time jumps were by far the most annoying element of the book and felt unrealistic. The supernatural elements and magic system seemed a little out of place and needed to be more embedded into the world. The last chapter felt like a completely different book and left me feeling disoriented. As a side note, the editor shouldn't be listed next to the author on Goodreads, unless she co-wrote the book.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sand Dunes and Skyscrapers" by Delia Simpson is an atmospheric and introspective read that beautifully contrasts the vastness of the desert with the complexity of city life. The vivid descriptions of both environments transport the reader, making the settings feel alive and integral to the protagonist's journey.

Some of the transitions between the desert and the city feel abrupt, leaving the reader momentarily disoriented. Despite this, the sense of adventure and the protagonist's introspection keeps the story engaging. The book does slow down at times during reflective passages, but the emotional weight of those moments feels worth it. I found myself wanting more backstory on the protagonist's motivations and a deeper dive into the secondary characters.

[Debbie Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have read the rest of this series, you will love this too. It's a really clever shift in perspective using a previously very minor character to present a completely different take on the story.
All the quirkiness, darkness, humour and moral dilemmas of the preceeding books are still evident, providing a great read once again.
If you haven't read any of the series so far, don't worry..start here and then go back, it will all make perfect sense.
Hoping for another installment soon...

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a ARC free from Book Sirens and this is my voluntary honest review.
Interesting.
Well written.
Fascinating characters.
Hard to put down.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story is well written. Its implications are frightening in context with the main storyline [spoilers]. It does motivate me to track down the other books and read them to see the full intersection with this story.

I subtracted a star as this story shows what it meant to show, but that did not feel like a complete story. I can't explain further due to spoilers, just that I expected more and there wasn't.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Alastair · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is engaging with well-developed characters and an intriguing plot that left me eager to explore more in this series.

My only minor critique is that I prefer my steampunk to delve deeper into the details of steam technology and the environment. I’m curious if the longer books in the series provide more of this descriptive richness.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Geraldine Winters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sand Dunes and Skyscrapers by Delila Simpson follows the adventure of Sherwin, a tram ticket-taker turned detective in the City. She must investigate the launch of a sky ship, the disappearance of a girl, and the mysterious crew with apparent sinister goals. The story had a strong beginning, a likeable character, and I was hooked. Unfortunately, the plot was a little hard to follow at points due to a very lengthy and unexpected time-skip. Overall, an ok read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jasmin Joachims · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun novella! I really enjoyed the diversity of the character ensemble and found myself captivated by the unpredictable plot and tense emotional moments. What a ride! And what an ending, gahh. I would definitely recommend a read!