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Comment voyager dans les terres oubliées
" On dit qu'il y a un prix que doit payer tout voyageur s'aventurant dans les Terres oubliées. Un prix dépassant le simple coût d'un billet de train. " Oserez-vous embarquer avec nous ? Un roman subjuguant plein de mystères et de suspense, l'improbable rencontre de Jules Verne et Stephen King dans le Snowpiercer...
XIXe siècle. Quels secrets renferment les Terres oubliées, ces vastes étendues entre la Russie et la Chine totalement coupées du monde ? La seule activité que l'on y connaisse est le passage du Transsibérien. Si la traversée est réputée dangereuse, les voyageurs ne manquent pas, tous attirés par les mystères et les légendes de ce territoire isolé. Malgré d'inquiétantes rumeurs à propos d'un accident survenu lors du dernier trajet, la compagnie l'assure, tout est désormais sécurisé. Et le prochain départ est là pour en attester. À bord, les passagers s'installent, font connaissance. Mais si tout semble s'annoncer pour le mieux, certains ont des raisons toutes particulières d'être là. Marya, par exemple, qui a l'impression qu'on lui cache la vérité sur la mort de son père, survenue peu après la dernière traversée. Ou bien Weiwei, l'enfant née dans le train, qui en connaît chaque recoin et secret par cœur. Ou encore Henry Grey, le scientifique prêt à tout pour obtenir son heure de gloire et la reconnaissance de ses pairs. Sans oublier la mystérieuse capitaine du train, dont la discrétion confine à l'invisibilité. Alors que le train commence sa course folle, des évènements d'abord imprévisibles, puis très vite incontrôlables, se produisent.
Défiant tous les genres, du roman d'aventures à l'horreur, en passant par le thriller historique, Sarah Brooks nous offre avec ce premier roman subjuguant un voyage plein de mystères et de suspense. Un régal de lecture qui nous rappelle à quel point la littérature peut être magique !
XIXe siècle. Quels secrets renferment les Terres oubliées, ces vastes étendues entre la Russie et la Chine totalement coupées du monde ? La seule activité que l'on y connaisse est le passage du Transsibérien. Si la traversée est réputée dangereuse, les voyageurs ne manquent pas, tous attirés par les mystères et les légendes de ce territoire isolé. Malgré d'inquiétantes rumeurs à propos d'un accident survenu lors du dernier trajet, la compagnie l'assure, tout est désormais sécurisé. Et le prochain départ est là pour en attester. À bord, les passagers s'installent, font connaissance. Mais si tout semble s'annoncer pour le mieux, certains ont des raisons toutes particulières d'être là. Marya, par exemple, qui a l'impression qu'on lui cache la vérité sur la mort de son père, survenue peu après la dernière traversée. Ou bien Weiwei, l'enfant née dans le train, qui en connaît chaque recoin et secret par cœur. Ou encore Henry Grey, le scientifique prêt à tout pour obtenir son heure de gloire et la reconnaissance de ses pairs. Sans oublier la mystérieuse capitaine du train, dont la discrétion confine à l'invisibilité. Alors que le train commence sa course folle, des évènements d'abord imprévisibles, puis très vite incontrôlables, se produisent.
Défiant tous les genres, du roman d'aventures à l'horreur, en passant par le thriller historique, Sarah Brooks nous offre avec ce premier roman subjuguant un voyage plein de mystères et de suspense. Un régal de lecture qui nous rappelle à quel point la littérature peut être magique !
456 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 18, 2024
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44151 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Brooks
1 book148 followersSarah Brooks is a writer living in Leeds. She won the Lucy Cavendish Prize in 2019 and a Northern Debut Award from New Writing North in 2021. She works in East Asian Studies at the University of Leeds, where she helps run the Leeds Centre for New Chinese Writing. She is co-editor of Samovar, a bilingual online magazine for translated speculative fiction. The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands is her debut novel and will be published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson in the UK and Flatiron Books in the US in June 2024.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,048 reviews
May 5, 2024
I'm not going to lie, this one was a bit disappointing. From the description it sounded right up my alley and I was super excited to read it. I waited over four months for the publisher to approve my ARC request and another month until I could find a spot in my schedule to start it, and then … sadness. I really, really wanted to love this one.
I just could not get into this story, though. The first 60% pretty much just consists of the characters walking around the train and talking to each other. Nothing happens. I mean, I suppose there's the whole thing with Elena, but for something that should be a very surprising occurrence, it's tremendously anticlimactic. And, honestly, I just couldn't bring myself to care about any of the characters – they're all pretty one-dimensional and I never felt like I got to know them in the slightest. I kept thinking that things had to get interesting at some point so I kept on reading, despite the fact that I really wanted to DNF around the 40% mark (I actually got out of bed around 2 a.m. to go downstairs and “officially” mark it as DNF'd on Goodreads but changed my mind at the last second). And there is a bit of action around the 60% mark, and things get supremely wonky after that point, but I can't say that I ever truly got invested in the story. It just all felt so … flat.
But, with that said, this book has a fantastic premise. A dangerous train journey though the magical wastelands of Siberia? Yes, please! And I have to say that I didn't hate the ending. I wasn't exactly invested in it, but it's unique and seems appropriate considering the events that lead up to it. If there were just a little more “oomph” to this story, it really could have been phenomenal.
Obviously I'm in the minority here – lots of other reviewers have loved this book. While I wasn't its biggest fan, I'd certainly be willing to try out another book by Sarah Brooks in the future – she definitely knows how to come up with an intriguing premise!
My overall rating: 2.75 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
I just could not get into this story, though. The first 60% pretty much just consists of the characters walking around the train and talking to each other. Nothing happens. I mean, I suppose there's the whole thing with Elena, but for something that should be a very surprising occurrence, it's tremendously anticlimactic. And, honestly, I just couldn't bring myself to care about any of the characters – they're all pretty one-dimensional and I never felt like I got to know them in the slightest. I kept thinking that things had to get interesting at some point so I kept on reading, despite the fact that I really wanted to DNF around the 40% mark (I actually got out of bed around 2 a.m. to go downstairs and “officially” mark it as DNF'd on Goodreads but changed my mind at the last second). And there is a bit of action around the 60% mark, and things get supremely wonky after that point, but I can't say that I ever truly got invested in the story. It just all felt so … flat.
But, with that said, this book has a fantastic premise. A dangerous train journey though the magical wastelands of Siberia? Yes, please! And I have to say that I didn't hate the ending. I wasn't exactly invested in it, but it's unique and seems appropriate considering the events that lead up to it. If there were just a little more “oomph” to this story, it really could have been phenomenal.
Obviously I'm in the minority here – lots of other reviewers have loved this book. While I wasn't its biggest fan, I'd certainly be willing to try out another book by Sarah Brooks in the future – she definitely knows how to come up with an intriguing premise!
My overall rating: 2.75 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
October 16, 2024
Exactly what I wanted. Reads a great deal like Annihilation with plot.
If you've read more than one of my reviews, you've probably gathered I'm not a fan of most multi-view narratives. This uses the framing device of an opening from The Wasteland book, followed by a limited-person view: Marya Antonovna Fyodorova, seeking answers to her father's death; WeiWei, a sixteen year-old born on the train; and Henry Grey, a disgraced scientist with a plan to redeem himself. Nonetheless, it largely works.
"'How do you bear it?' The widow’s voice is unsteady. 'Working here, being forced to see it. How do you keep coming back?' The steward scratches his chin but he doesn’t look out the window. 'You get used to it,' he says, unconvincingly."
They are travelling on the Great Trans-Siberia Train from Beijing to Moscow, through the Wastelands of Greater Siberia. It isn't entirely clear what happened in this version of history, but the Wastelands is full of wildness. Marya brings her Guide to help navigate the perils of the journey.
"He is speaking of the affliction they call Wastelands sickness—of symptoms and signs. She is familiar with them from Rostov’s book—they may start with a lack of vigor, a feeling of lassitude, then develop into hallucinations. The afflicted may be convinced they are pursued, or that they must immediately exit the train."
The side characters are interesting; often briefly drawn but playing their roles well. The Countess, attended by her maid, Vera, serves as an amusing comic relief:
"A very tedious man, you see. So unmemorable he makes me forget an entire city. Please stage a fainting fit if he approaches, Vera.”
I thought Brooks did a great job with building atmosphere. Judging by the other reviews, for some it was too slow. I enjoyed the pacing and the slow escalation, and how ambivalent the strangeness is. For the longest time, I couldn't tell if Brooks was going for horror or weird, and I enjoyed the anticipation it gave me.
"—and the shadows rearrange themselves into arms and legs, the face into high cheekbones and watchful eyes, the slithering sound into the rustle of silk."
Eventually, unlike Annihilation, it solidifies. Brooks writes like a visual artist that loves language. My biggest problem was the last quarter of the book, which abandoned subtlety for obvious allegory and a hasty wrap-up. Occasionally the writing slides into heavy-handed, but I found it overall forgivable.
"A traveler should know the truth of where they are going, or they should at least be allowed to see for themselves.” She hears the sincerity in his voice, but something else, as well; a faint echo of words left unsaid. “I think perhaps that is what Rostov wanted, in the end.”
If you've read more than one of my reviews, you've probably gathered I'm not a fan of most multi-view narratives. This uses the framing device of an opening from The Wasteland book, followed by a limited-person view: Marya Antonovna Fyodorova, seeking answers to her father's death; WeiWei, a sixteen year-old born on the train; and Henry Grey, a disgraced scientist with a plan to redeem himself. Nonetheless, it largely works.
"'How do you bear it?' The widow’s voice is unsteady. 'Working here, being forced to see it. How do you keep coming back?' The steward scratches his chin but he doesn’t look out the window. 'You get used to it,' he says, unconvincingly."
They are travelling on the Great Trans-Siberia Train from Beijing to Moscow, through the Wastelands of Greater Siberia. It isn't entirely clear what happened in this version of history, but the Wastelands is full of wildness. Marya brings her Guide to help navigate the perils of the journey.
"He is speaking of the affliction they call Wastelands sickness—of symptoms and signs. She is familiar with them from Rostov’s book—they may start with a lack of vigor, a feeling of lassitude, then develop into hallucinations. The afflicted may be convinced they are pursued, or that they must immediately exit the train."
The side characters are interesting; often briefly drawn but playing their roles well. The Countess, attended by her maid, Vera, serves as an amusing comic relief:
"A very tedious man, you see. So unmemorable he makes me forget an entire city. Please stage a fainting fit if he approaches, Vera.”
I thought Brooks did a great job with building atmosphere. Judging by the other reviews, for some it was too slow. I enjoyed the pacing and the slow escalation, and how ambivalent the strangeness is. For the longest time, I couldn't tell if Brooks was going for horror or weird, and I enjoyed the anticipation it gave me.
"—and the shadows rearrange themselves into arms and legs, the face into high cheekbones and watchful eyes, the slithering sound into the rustle of silk."
Eventually, unlike Annihilation, it solidifies. Brooks writes like a visual artist that loves language. My biggest problem was the last quarter of the book, which abandoned subtlety for obvious allegory and a hasty wrap-up. Occasionally the writing slides into heavy-handed, but I found it overall forgivable.
"A traveler should know the truth of where they are going, or they should at least be allowed to see for themselves.” She hears the sincerity in his voice, but something else, as well; a faint echo of words left unsaid. “I think perhaps that is what Rostov wanted, in the end.”
August 4, 2025
This book comes highly recommended for fans of fantasy thriller, gothic horror, and historical fiction, offering a captivating blend of genres reminiscent of Agatha Christie's 'Murder on the Orient Express.'
While the slow-paced beginning may raise some initial questions, the narrative quickly gains momentum as different narrators unveil their introductory stories, drawing readers into a thrilling adventure. Picture a journey through the Wasteland, where glimpsing out of the train windows can unleash twisted images that threaten to shatter one's sanity. The voyage aboard the Trans-Siberian Express from Beijing to Moscow proves to be a journey not only of financial cost but also of mental toll—a price that voyagers may pay with their very sanity.
The cast of characters is as diverse as it is intriguing, reminiscent of the 12 passengers aboard the haunted Orient Express. Among them is Marya Petrovna, a grieving woman harboring a secret agenda under a borrowed name; Henry Grey, a disgraced naturalist seeking redemption for his past sins; and Elena, a stowaway with secrets and mysterious connections to the Wasteland. As alliances form and betrayals loom, passengers like Zhang Weivei find themselves torn between duty and loyalty, grappling with decisions that could alter the course of their journey—and their lives. With danger lurking both inside and outside the train, trust becomes a precious commodity, and passengers must navigate a web of deception to uncover the truth.
Overall, this is a captivating and smartly written fiction that seamlessly blends different genres, evoking Christie-esque vibes while delivering a thrilling fantasy-horror narrative with a touch of gothic intrigue. I wholeheartedly recommend it to genre enthusiasts and fiction readers alike, offering a unique and adventurous journey filled with twists and surprises.
A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for providing me with a digital review copy of this exceptional novel in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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While the slow-paced beginning may raise some initial questions, the narrative quickly gains momentum as different narrators unveil their introductory stories, drawing readers into a thrilling adventure. Picture a journey through the Wasteland, where glimpsing out of the train windows can unleash twisted images that threaten to shatter one's sanity. The voyage aboard the Trans-Siberian Express from Beijing to Moscow proves to be a journey not only of financial cost but also of mental toll—a price that voyagers may pay with their very sanity.
The cast of characters is as diverse as it is intriguing, reminiscent of the 12 passengers aboard the haunted Orient Express. Among them is Marya Petrovna, a grieving woman harboring a secret agenda under a borrowed name; Henry Grey, a disgraced naturalist seeking redemption for his past sins; and Elena, a stowaway with secrets and mysterious connections to the Wasteland. As alliances form and betrayals loom, passengers like Zhang Weivei find themselves torn between duty and loyalty, grappling with decisions that could alter the course of their journey—and their lives. With danger lurking both inside and outside the train, trust becomes a precious commodity, and passengers must navigate a web of deception to uncover the truth.
Overall, this is a captivating and smartly written fiction that seamlessly blends different genres, evoking Christie-esque vibes while delivering a thrilling fantasy-horror narrative with a touch of gothic intrigue. I wholeheartedly recommend it to genre enthusiasts and fiction readers alike, offering a unique and adventurous journey filled with twists and surprises.
A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for providing me with a digital review copy of this exceptional novel in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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September 23, 2023
My blurb:
‘A journey both unnerving and powerful, which thunders along at breathtaking speed, abounding with mysteries and marvels. Be warned – once you step into The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands, you’ll never want to disembark.’
Note: I received an Advance Reading Copy from the publisher.
‘A journey both unnerving and powerful, which thunders along at breathtaking speed, abounding with mysteries and marvels. Be warned – once you step into The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands, you’ll never want to disembark.’
Note: I received an Advance Reading Copy from the publisher.
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September 10, 2025Lovely premise, of a trans-Siberian train journey only Siberia has become a kind of magical radioactive wasteland. It's a great set up with promising characters, but it didn't quite come to a point for me: the pace ends up being a bit leisurely and the promised peril from both the outside and the inside of the train doesn't quite materialise enough. Good writing, but I wanted more propulsion. It reminded me quite a lot of Alien Clay in the theme of the deadly outside that turns out to have its own meaning, but this one felt a bit too determined to see the good in everything. Then again that might be exactly what you're looking for and it's a very inventive setup and the first book I've finished in a while.
February 24, 2024
With the comparison to Piranesi, one of my favorite fantasy novels, I'm disappointed to say this book was a miss for me. The concept of the story is quite incredible--set in the late 1800s, a train runs through the Wastelands, the space between China and Russia. However, something dangerous happened on the train's last crossing, causing operations to shut down for quite some time. Along with the train's passengers, we embark on the first journey since the hiatus, though the Trans-Siberia Company has kept all the details completely silent. Even those who were on the last crossing can't remember what happened.
I thought the book was written very well, with stunning descriptions of the train journey and atmosphere. However, I the fantasy world-building fell a bit short. I'm not sure if I would describe this as fantasy at all. It reads more like magical realism to me. Which is usually something I really enjoy, but in this case, I found the pacing too slow, and I couldn't visualize the fantastical/unnatural elements.
The cast of characters seems diverse at first glance: Marya Petrovna, a wealthy Russian widow, Henry Grey, the English naturalist, Zhang Weiwei, the girl who grew up on the train, Suzuki, the train's Cartographer. But they all felt one-dimensional to me, and I couldn't connect with them. Their varied cultural backgrounds hardly come up at all. In the beginning of the book, we are told they speak a kind of train language that bridges between Russian and Chinese, a fascinating concept, but this linguistic diversity doesn't come across in the story. Even the economic disparity between First and Third class passengers feels like an afterthought.
I think readers of cozy fantasy would enjoy this book, though it does have some ominous/horror themes. I'm learning that I prefer fantasy that makes bolder statements. While I don't regret reading this, it unfortunately wasn't for me.
Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for providing me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I thought the book was written very well, with stunning descriptions of the train journey and atmosphere. However, I the fantasy world-building fell a bit short. I'm not sure if I would describe this as fantasy at all. It reads more like magical realism to me. Which is usually something I really enjoy, but in this case, I found the pacing too slow, and I couldn't visualize the fantastical/unnatural elements.
The cast of characters seems diverse at first glance: Marya Petrovna, a wealthy Russian widow, Henry Grey, the English naturalist, Zhang Weiwei, the girl who grew up on the train, Suzuki, the train's Cartographer. But they all felt one-dimensional to me, and I couldn't connect with them. Their varied cultural backgrounds hardly come up at all. In the beginning of the book, we are told they speak a kind of train language that bridges between Russian and Chinese, a fascinating concept, but this linguistic diversity doesn't come across in the story. Even the economic disparity between First and Third class passengers feels like an afterthought.
I think readers of cozy fantasy would enjoy this book, though it does have some ominous/horror themes. I'm learning that I prefer fantasy that makes bolder statements. While I don't regret reading this, it unfortunately wasn't for me.
Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for providing me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 18, 2024
Happy publication day to one of the best books I've read this year!
This book straddles every single genre I love: historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, magical realism, speculative fiction, mystery, steampunk fantasy, and alternate history. It is written in vivid descriptive prose and is surprisingly engaging and fast-moving even when rife with metaphors, and so much of it feeling like a commentary on society, science, history, and our constant human need to ascribe meaning to things.
Sarah Brooks creates an enrapturing version of the world with the wild landscape of the Wastelands that lie between China and Russia, which are connected by a train and its secrets. She weaves the story of the characters well with the (literal and metaphorical) journey they take across the Wastelands and balances the realism of the world with the magic associated with fantasy novels.
This book has echoes of many books I've previously read, and would appeal to those who like the same: Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials, Susanna Clarke's Piranesi, Yann Martel's Life of Pi, and R.F. Kuang's Babel. It's strange, fantastical, whimsical, and introspective. I can't wait to get my hands on a paperback, dive back in, and understand the story deeper.
Thanks to Flatiron books and Netgalley for an eARC of the book, and thank you to the author for that wonderful, beautiful story!
This book straddles every single genre I love: historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, magical realism, speculative fiction, mystery, steampunk fantasy, and alternate history. It is written in vivid descriptive prose and is surprisingly engaging and fast-moving even when rife with metaphors, and so much of it feeling like a commentary on society, science, history, and our constant human need to ascribe meaning to things.
Sarah Brooks creates an enrapturing version of the world with the wild landscape of the Wastelands that lie between China and Russia, which are connected by a train and its secrets. She weaves the story of the characters well with the (literal and metaphorical) journey they take across the Wastelands and balances the realism of the world with the magic associated with fantasy novels.
This book has echoes of many books I've previously read, and would appeal to those who like the same: Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials, Susanna Clarke's Piranesi, Yann Martel's Life of Pi, and R.F. Kuang's Babel. It's strange, fantastical, whimsical, and introspective. I can't wait to get my hands on a paperback, dive back in, and understand the story deeper.
Thanks to Flatiron books and Netgalley for an eARC of the book, and thank you to the author for that wonderful, beautiful story!
June 12, 2024
What’s that? A refrain that echoes through every crossing. The crew have taught themselves not to react. A crawler, a specter; some familiar strangeness.
This was really good and inventive. The writing is a little thick so it took me a while to finish, but I was engrossed almost the entire time.
One part historical fantasy, one part science fiction, and a decent helping of horror thrown in. A train full of people traverses the wastelands that are both dangerous and unknowable, a land known for inducing bouts of madness or even memory loss.
The Plotting + Writing:
The story is told from 3 POVs. Arguably WeiWei, the child of the train, is the main POV and where most of the story orbits. She is curious and confident with a streak of defiance that helps her pursue a new relationship with the Wastelands.
Next is Marya, who is investigating a mystery and what happened on the previous journey. And lastly the scientist Grey (arguably the closest the book comes to a villain, other than the Crows/corporation) who is wealthy and entitled and driven by a need to define, own, and put his name to the universe.
Horror:
I'm honestly surprised that Horror isn't a higher label for this book. Maybe it's that the US cover is deceptively sweet, even while the plants on the UK cover mimic skeletons. There are a lot of bugs and tendrils and a persistent sense of uneasiness/foreboding that starts around the first third and never lets up for the rest of the novel. For the most part the descriptions are not gruesome, only haunting, aside from some predator/prey observations.
The Train:
Looking back at the synopsis, I totally see the Piranesi comparisons now. This isn't like Piranesi in the language and almost poetic nature, nor in the mysteries or plot unfurlings, but it's certainly similar in that the train and the Wastelands are essentially characters themselves. The setting is essential to the story and is often a living thing (the pulse of the train like a heartbeat, the connections in the Wastelands like veins).
Overall:
I really enjoyed this a lot and would probably give it a solid 4.5/5 stars, but with potential to be upgraded on further reflection if it really sits with me. If anything about the synopsis or reviews appeals to you, definitely try it! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for granting me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Audiobook Notes:
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me an audio ARC.
I really loved this book when I read it earlier this year, and I think the audio version is quite good. There are two narrators (male and female voices) and they do that recent trend where each narrator will voice their characters, even during the other narrator's POV chapters. I think the female voice can lack oomph and feel a little rote, especially when narrating Marya, but overall seemed like a decent audio adaptation!
July 16, 2024
2.5
I was looking forward to this one, but it wasn't for me. The premise initially caught my eye - a Trans-Siberian train that is the only means of travel through the Wasteland- the abandoned wilderness between countries that's inhabited by strange creatures, the air thought to be deadly. Our main cast on board are Marya, a woman undercover, looking to find more information on the last crossing in relation to her father's death; Weiwei, a teenager who was born on the train and has spent her whole life there; and Henry Gray... A Guy.
There were many brief moments while listening to this that I thought it could be something really special, but I feel the different plot points and overall storytelling created a lot of lows and not enough highs. There was a huge missed opportunity in how little Marya and Weiwei interacted, I feel like a sense of kinship between the two of them may have been able to tie the different storylines together. The Wasteland itself was a missed opportunity, so much could've been expanded upon. Henry Gray was an annoyance that should have been a side character, there was not one singular time when I was like "omg I wonder what Henry is going to do". I wish The Professor could've been the other main character. Overall I couldn't get invested in the story, there was never a "peak" so to speak, and I was just wishing it would end. Very ambitious debut that could've been so much better.
It is said there is a price that every passenger must pay. A price beyond the cost of a ticket.
My price was mind-numbing boredom.
(All that said, the narration was very well done. There were some inconsistencies but I'll chalk that up to it being an ARC.)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this audiobook, now available as of June 18th.
I was looking forward to this one, but it wasn't for me. The premise initially caught my eye - a Trans-Siberian train that is the only means of travel through the Wasteland- the abandoned wilderness between countries that's inhabited by strange creatures, the air thought to be deadly. Our main cast on board are Marya, a woman undercover, looking to find more information on the last crossing in relation to her father's death; Weiwei, a teenager who was born on the train and has spent her whole life there; and Henry Gray... A Guy.
There were many brief moments while listening to this that I thought it could be something really special, but I feel the different plot points and overall storytelling created a lot of lows and not enough highs. There was a huge missed opportunity in how little Marya and Weiwei interacted, I feel like a sense of kinship between the two of them may have been able to tie the different storylines together. The Wasteland itself was a missed opportunity, so much could've been expanded upon. Henry Gray was an annoyance that should have been a side character, there was not one singular time when I was like "omg I wonder what Henry is going to do". I wish The Professor could've been the other main character. Overall I couldn't get invested in the story, there was never a "peak" so to speak, and I was just wishing it would end. Very ambitious debut that could've been so much better.
It is said there is a price that every passenger must pay. A price beyond the cost of a ticket.
My price was mind-numbing boredom.
(All that said, the narration was very well done. There were some inconsistencies but I'll chalk that up to it being an ARC.)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this audiobook, now available as of June 18th.
January 9, 2025
Ein wenig Steampunk, ein wenig Avatar - ein durchaus überraschender Abenteuerroman.
Der Transsibirienexpress ist Schauplatz dieser Geschichte. Der Zug verbindet Peking und Moskau. In dieser dystopischen und doch seltsam altertümlichen Welt liegt das Ödland zwischen den beiden Ländern. Dicke Mauern sperren die Ödnis aus. Jede Durchquerung ist ein Wagnis, der gepanzerte Zug bietet den Reisensen Schutz und Comfort. Weiwei ist in diesem Zug geboren, ihre Mutter bei ihrer Geburt verstorben. Und so lebt sie in diesem Zug - er ist ihr Zuhause und sie kennt ihn wie kein anderer. Neben Weiwei lernen wir Maria, eine junge Frau kennen, die unter falschem Namen reist und ihre ganz eigenen Gründe für die gefährliche Reise hat und einen Wissenschaftler, der im Ödland mehr sieht als alle anderen: ein unentdecktes Forschungsgebiet. Doch wer ist der ominöse Captain, den nie jemand zu Gesicht bekommt? Stimmt es, dass es einen Geist im Zug gibt? Und welche Geheimnisse verbirgt die Transsibirienkompanie? Wird der Zug von jemandem manipuliert oder will er selbst überhaupt in Moskau ankommen?
Klar ist, dass nichts so ist wie es scheint und der Leser nach und nach auf Entdeckungsreise geht in diesem ungewöhnlichen Setting!
Für mich war der Schreibstil sehr gewöhnungsbedürftig. Er klingt eingestaubt und holprig, aber die Ideen der Autorin sind einfallsreich und neu! Denn so „öde“ ist das Ödland bei weitem nicht!! Lasst euch auf diese wilde Fahrt am Besten selbst überraschen 🚂
Der Transsibirienexpress ist Schauplatz dieser Geschichte. Der Zug verbindet Peking und Moskau. In dieser dystopischen und doch seltsam altertümlichen Welt liegt das Ödland zwischen den beiden Ländern. Dicke Mauern sperren die Ödnis aus. Jede Durchquerung ist ein Wagnis, der gepanzerte Zug bietet den Reisensen Schutz und Comfort. Weiwei ist in diesem Zug geboren, ihre Mutter bei ihrer Geburt verstorben. Und so lebt sie in diesem Zug - er ist ihr Zuhause und sie kennt ihn wie kein anderer. Neben Weiwei lernen wir Maria, eine junge Frau kennen, die unter falschem Namen reist und ihre ganz eigenen Gründe für die gefährliche Reise hat und einen Wissenschaftler, der im Ödland mehr sieht als alle anderen: ein unentdecktes Forschungsgebiet. Doch wer ist der ominöse Captain, den nie jemand zu Gesicht bekommt? Stimmt es, dass es einen Geist im Zug gibt? Und welche Geheimnisse verbirgt die Transsibirienkompanie? Wird der Zug von jemandem manipuliert oder will er selbst überhaupt in Moskau ankommen?
Klar ist, dass nichts so ist wie es scheint und der Leser nach und nach auf Entdeckungsreise geht in diesem ungewöhnlichen Setting!
Für mich war der Schreibstil sehr gewöhnungsbedürftig. Er klingt eingestaubt und holprig, aber die Ideen der Autorin sind einfallsreich und neu! Denn so „öde“ ist das Ödland bei weitem nicht!! Lasst euch auf diese wilde Fahrt am Besten selbst überraschen 🚂
July 18, 2024
Objectively, this is good writing—a vibrant fantasy novel about an alternate world trans-Siberian where Siberia is a wasteland of weird magic trying to creep in. Three POV characters, each with their own motivations, will cross from Beijing to Moscow on the eve of the 20th century and a great universal exhibition taking place in Moscow. The world is vivid and well-defined.
Subjectively, my own feelings and all: it was a bit boring and predictable. I would not normally call myself a junkie for excitement and surprises, but there was predictability in the roles the characters would play and how the story would go, which was ultimately "meh." I also thought there were some contradictions to the danger of the setting as presented (the train sealed, for example, the fear of contagion) and the way some of the characters reacted to it, . Surprise themes in common with another 2024 book that had been on my mind recently though approached from a totally different perspective and sensibility (I preferred the other book, but this one is easier and more pleasant).
It is not a romantic fantasy, and while that is refreshing in this time of generic, over-the-top romantasy novels, in this case, exceptionally, I thought it might have been better if there were some romantic (or sexual) feelings to pad a bit some of the motivations. And despite my saying it was not romantic—not in the sense of romance/sex being an important motivation—it is romantic in the sense of impressive scenery, mood, and grandeur of the kind of story.
It is one of those fantasy novels that, while being "adult," has a lot of crossover with YA fantasy, and that is not me throwing shade, I mean in the Hardinge style, and I am a Hardinge fan. The two main characters are one a teen and the other in her early 20s (and motivated by her relationship to her father), the texture of the story, and the relative straightforwardness of the plot and concepts can make it read like YA.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Katie Leung and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. I picked up the book itself because of Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, and well, it's definitely him narrating, but he just does the voices of the guidebook quoted at the beginning of chapters, and he does it in his most mythical Darth Vader-like voice—great work, but not carrying the book, IMO. Katie Leung is the main narrator of all 3 POVs, and her voice, accents, and the way she differentiates characters are beautifully done, but I had an issue with her narration, which has a staccato hurried quality to descriptive passages, which made it hard for me to follow what was going on and to distinguish what was crucially important information. So, my advice is to pick the print book if possible, or listen to the whole sample before picking the audiobook.
3.5 stars, but it's pretty good for a debut novel, and I get that feeling it is not the book, it's me, so rounding it up to 4 and keeping an eye out for what the author publishes next.
Subjectively, my own feelings and all: it was a bit boring and predictable. I would not normally call myself a junkie for excitement and surprises, but there was predictability in the roles the characters would play and how the story would go, which was ultimately "meh." I also thought there were some contradictions to the danger of the setting as presented (the train sealed, for example, the fear of contagion) and the way some of the characters reacted to it, . Surprise themes in common with another 2024 book that had been on my mind recently though approached from a totally different perspective and sensibility (I preferred the other book, but this one is easier and more pleasant).
It is not a romantic fantasy, and while that is refreshing in this time of generic, over-the-top romantasy novels, in this case, exceptionally, I thought it might have been better if there were some romantic (or sexual) feelings to pad a bit some of the motivations. And despite my saying it was not romantic—not in the sense of romance/sex being an important motivation—it is romantic in the sense of impressive scenery, mood, and grandeur of the kind of story.
It is one of those fantasy novels that, while being "adult," has a lot of crossover with YA fantasy, and that is not me throwing shade, I mean in the Hardinge style, and I am a Hardinge fan. The two main characters are one a teen and the other in her early 20s (and motivated by her relationship to her father), the texture of the story, and the relative straightforwardness of the plot and concepts can make it read like YA.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Katie Leung and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. I picked up the book itself because of Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, and well, it's definitely him narrating, but he just does the voices of the guidebook quoted at the beginning of chapters, and he does it in his most mythical Darth Vader-like voice—great work, but not carrying the book, IMO. Katie Leung is the main narrator of all 3 POVs, and her voice, accents, and the way she differentiates characters are beautifully done, but I had an issue with her narration, which has a staccato hurried quality to descriptive passages, which made it hard for me to follow what was going on and to distinguish what was crucially important information. So, my advice is to pick the print book if possible, or listen to the whole sample before picking the audiobook.
3.5 stars, but it's pretty good for a debut novel, and I get that feeling it is not the book, it's me, so rounding it up to 4 and keeping an eye out for what the author publishes next.
July 14, 2024
Something strange has happened to Siberia -- not in Siberia, but to the whole of the region, which is now full of previously unknown life forms and where physical space is apparently unstable. Walled off and quarantined, Siberia can now, at the turn of the 19th century, be crossed only on a specially fortified train belonging to the mysterious Company; if, on arrival at either terminus -- Beijing or Moscow -- the train has been contaminated, it's sealed off and the passengers left to die. (The train itself is said to be unique; what the Company would do without a reserve supply is left unexplained.)
On the most recent crossing, something happened -- but what? Neither the passengers nor the crew can remember. (And we never find out.) Whatever it was, it's been blamed on the man who supplied the train's window glass; he has since died. His daughter, Marya, has assumed a fake identity and booked a trip, hoping to clear her father's name. She's one of the three principal characters, along with Weiwei Zhang, called the train child because she was born on the train and has lived on it all her life, and Henry Grey, a naturalist in the true 19th-century "catch everything in a net and put it in a glass box" mold.
Sarah Brooks gets full marks for imagination -- the descriptions of the train and of the ambiguous, terrifying and enticing Wasteland it passes through are rich in sensory detail. But setting can't carry a novel all by itself, and the characters never quite came alive for me. As a case in point, Weiwei meets a stowaway, Elena, who proves to be a Wasteland being, and when they are separated late in the book we're told how close they have grown, how much fun they've had together, and how much Weiwei will miss her. But all the things that supposedly made that relationship valuable to Weiwei have taken place off the page; mostly, we've seen Elena posing problems for Weiwei and worrying her.
Flaws also appear at the intersection of worldbuilding and plot -- the question of how many trains there are and what happened on the trip that left everyone with amnesia, for instance, as well as the question of how big the train would have to be in order to carry all the trade goods exchanged between Europe and East Asia.
Finally, the narrative is oddly slow-moving, considering that it takes place on a train and that the stakes are so high. This reflects, I think, the relatively weak characterizations: I didn't care enough about these people to feel engaged with their fates.
3.5 stars, rounded up because Sarah Brooks tried something complicated and interesting, even though in my view she didn't quite pull it off. Thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
September 2, 2024
💀 DNF at 52%. Because 💤💤💤 and stuff.
When you try reviewing a book two weeks after
A good thing I added this one to my Boredom Fest and Humongous Potential Goes Poof shelves, otherwise I wouldn't know why I'd
One thing I do remember is that I originally wanted to read this book because of the most scrumptious train-voyage-meets-historical-fantasy premise. Also, it is a truth universally acknowledged that anything Trans-Siberian is as enticing as fish.
I believe this short review has been exceptionally helpful to those curious about the book and that nothing more needs to be said, so I guess I'll leave it at that. You are very welcome.
P.S. Oh wait, I seem to recall I quite liked one of the characters! She's a Chinese kid called Something-Something (not her real in case you were wondering) who was born on the train. And that is all 😬.
July 10, 2024
The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands is one of those books that delights simply because of its originality. It has its weak moments, but the overall concept and narrative arc more than compensate for those and earn it a five-star rating.
Imagine: the book is set on a Trans-Siberian Express, but not the Trans-Siberian Express and not the Siberia we're familiar with. This Siberia started to "go wrong" in the mid-19th Century. People were going mad and disappearing in Siberia; plant and animal life was transforming at well beyond the usually stately evolutionary pace. So, wall it off, but run a train through it that begins in China and ends in Russia. Make everyone who rides on it sign a waiver indemnifying the British-East-India-like company running the train from any loss of mind or bodily injury. The only other China-Moscow route involves sea travel and takes months, so there are plenty of people willing to take their chances.
Something odd, however, happened on the last run of the train. Things went wrong in a way no one can remember exactly—a breakdown of minds as well as the train itself. The current run comes after a particularly large time gap and everyone is on edge worried that the thing-no-one-remembers will occur again.
The train's passengers and crew on this run include
• An Erasmus Darwin-like scientist hoping to capture some of the bizarre life forms in the Wastelands in order to use them to prove that the drive behind evolution is an effort to reach perfection, to become more like God.
• A young woman whose father purportedly caused the disaster (the one no one remembers) on the last run—she's determined to clear his name.
• Wealthy businessmen smuggling contraband.
• The train's mapmaker whose own body seems to be becoming an increasingly complex map itself.
• A young girl born and raised on the train who longs for a friend and for a more responsible position on the train.
The pace here is slow, which takes a bit of getting used to, but actually works well. Progress across the wastelands is slow—and time stretches out even further as minds become fixated on potential disaster.
Let yourself take the unsettling (trippy, even) ride across the Wastelands and find out for yourself what happens next.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
Imagine: the book is set on a Trans-Siberian Express, but not the Trans-Siberian Express and not the Siberia we're familiar with. This Siberia started to "go wrong" in the mid-19th Century. People were going mad and disappearing in Siberia; plant and animal life was transforming at well beyond the usually stately evolutionary pace. So, wall it off, but run a train through it that begins in China and ends in Russia. Make everyone who rides on it sign a waiver indemnifying the British-East-India-like company running the train from any loss of mind or bodily injury. The only other China-Moscow route involves sea travel and takes months, so there are plenty of people willing to take their chances.
Something odd, however, happened on the last run of the train. Things went wrong in a way no one can remember exactly—a breakdown of minds as well as the train itself. The current run comes after a particularly large time gap and everyone is on edge worried that the thing-no-one-remembers will occur again.
The train's passengers and crew on this run include
• An Erasmus Darwin-like scientist hoping to capture some of the bizarre life forms in the Wastelands in order to use them to prove that the drive behind evolution is an effort to reach perfection, to become more like God.
• A young woman whose father purportedly caused the disaster (the one no one remembers) on the last run—she's determined to clear his name.
• Wealthy businessmen smuggling contraband.
• The train's mapmaker whose own body seems to be becoming an increasingly complex map itself.
• A young girl born and raised on the train who longs for a friend and for a more responsible position on the train.
The pace here is slow, which takes a bit of getting used to, but actually works well. Progress across the wastelands is slow—and time stretches out even further as minds become fixated on potential disaster.
Let yourself take the unsettling (trippy, even) ride across the Wastelands and find out for yourself what happens next.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
August 13, 2025
“Our names will be remembered,” he had said to the engineer. Isn’t that what everyone wanted? To not be forgotten. To be more than a line in a ledger, the sum total of your life adding up to little more than the strength you wasted to make other men rich.”
This is a historical fantasy novel in the steampunk tradition. I have been reading it as later this month Lincoln has its annual Steampunk festival. It’s an interesting and colourful affair. The inspiration comes from the 19th century, from steam engines, retro-futuristic technology, airships, mechanical computers, and much more. People dress flamboyantly and appropriately (actually mostly inappropriately) and it’s good fun.
This novel is set on a steam train in the 1890s. It is a journey from Beijing to Moscow. There is a huge wasteland between the two where nature has started doing very odd and interesting things, indeed dangerous things. The train is well protected with specialist defences and equipment. This is the story of the journey and the people on the train. The characterisation is good. There is a forces of order and oppression versus a chaotic wildness. It is worked out in interesting way and I was entertained. Brooks does play with some interesting ideas about the powers of nature and wildness.
This is a historical fantasy novel in the steampunk tradition. I have been reading it as later this month Lincoln has its annual Steampunk festival. It’s an interesting and colourful affair. The inspiration comes from the 19th century, from steam engines, retro-futuristic technology, airships, mechanical computers, and much more. People dress flamboyantly and appropriately (actually mostly inappropriately) and it’s good fun.
This novel is set on a steam train in the 1890s. It is a journey from Beijing to Moscow. There is a huge wasteland between the two where nature has started doing very odd and interesting things, indeed dangerous things. The train is well protected with specialist defences and equipment. This is the story of the journey and the people on the train. The characterisation is good. There is a forces of order and oppression versus a chaotic wildness. It is worked out in interesting way and I was entertained. Brooks does play with some interesting ideas about the powers of nature and wildness.
June 1, 2024
„Handbuch für den vorsichtigen Reisenden durch das Ödland“ ist ein Roman, der Elemente des Abenteuerromans, der Fantasy und des Entwicklungsromans verbindet, was ich vor dem Lesen so nicht erwartet hätte. Eingebettet in die Kulisse des späten 19. Jahrhunderts, nimmt der Roman seine Leser mit auf eine Reise durch das geheimnisvolle und gefährliche Ödland, das zwischen China und Russland liegt. Diese riesige, verlassene Wildnis wird nur vom Transsibirien-Express durchquert, einem Symbol für Fortschritt und Zivilisation, der jedoch in jüngster Zeit durch düstere Gerüchte überschattet wird.
Der Roman folgt drei Hauptfiguren, die alle aus verschiedenen Gründen den riskanten Weg durch das Ödland antreten und die man schnell näher kennenlernt. Aufgrund der Fantasyelemente, ein für mich ungewohntes Genre, ist es mir dennoch erst schwergefallen, in den Text zu finden. Im Laufe des Romans wurde die Atmosphäre dann jedoch dichter und packender. Das Ödland, eine fast mythologische Landschaft, wird durch lebendige Beschreibungen zum Leben erweckt. Auch die Fahrt des Zuges, war so beschrieben, dass ich sie während des Lesens fast selbst spüren konnte. Insgesamt ist der Roman ruhig erzählt, man muss sich Zeit nehmen, um sich auf die Welt des Zuges und des Ödlands einzulassen.
Aus meiner Sicht beleuchtet der Roman die Auswirkungen des Reisens auf die menschliche Psyche und den veränderten Blick auf die Welt. Die Charaktere entwickeln sich durch ihre Reise, werden mit ihren Ängsten und Hoffnungen konfrontiert. Darüber hinaus wird der Umgang des Menschen mit seiner Umwelt dargestellt und die Hybris, zu glauben, man könne sich die Welt Untertan machen und sei nicht mit ihr verbunden, ziehen sich als roter Faden durch die Erzählung. Das hat mich tatsächlich auch sehr berührt, weshalb ich den Roman allen empfehlen kann, die offen sind für ein ungewöhnliches, besonderes Leseerlebnis.
Der Roman folgt drei Hauptfiguren, die alle aus verschiedenen Gründen den riskanten Weg durch das Ödland antreten und die man schnell näher kennenlernt. Aufgrund der Fantasyelemente, ein für mich ungewohntes Genre, ist es mir dennoch erst schwergefallen, in den Text zu finden. Im Laufe des Romans wurde die Atmosphäre dann jedoch dichter und packender. Das Ödland, eine fast mythologische Landschaft, wird durch lebendige Beschreibungen zum Leben erweckt. Auch die Fahrt des Zuges, war so beschrieben, dass ich sie während des Lesens fast selbst spüren konnte. Insgesamt ist der Roman ruhig erzählt, man muss sich Zeit nehmen, um sich auf die Welt des Zuges und des Ödlands einzulassen.
Aus meiner Sicht beleuchtet der Roman die Auswirkungen des Reisens auf die menschliche Psyche und den veränderten Blick auf die Welt. Die Charaktere entwickeln sich durch ihre Reise, werden mit ihren Ängsten und Hoffnungen konfrontiert. Darüber hinaus wird der Umgang des Menschen mit seiner Umwelt dargestellt und die Hybris, zu glauben, man könne sich die Welt Untertan machen und sei nicht mit ihr verbunden, ziehen sich als roter Faden durch die Erzählung. Das hat mich tatsächlich auch sehr berührt, weshalb ich den Roman allen empfehlen kann, die offen sind für ein ungewöhnliches, besonderes Leseerlebnis.
January 31, 2024
This was delightful. A steampunk fantasy about the Trans Siberian express set in an alternative Victorian world? Yes. Yes. Yes. Where do I sign up? I loved this. Twisty, strange, magical and surprisingly tender. I absolutely loved this book. Great characters, bonkers ideas and rendered so beautifully. There was a seamless charm to the Victorian world nestled alongside a darkly troubling magical world. Splendid stuff.
December 27, 2023
Stunning Immersion into another world. Steam Punk meets speculative fiction, and so very much more
I absolutely loved this, its wonderful cast of characters, its invention of a recognisable world from Victorian times, but one which also showed all the venal horrors of the vested interests of global capitalism, of greed run riot, of how we plunder the planet, and how, also some kind of hope might exist if we could only feel our connectivity to that planet, and to each other.
Beautifully written, it has just the right amount of satisfying weirdness, and a cast of characters all well delineated both recognisable and unique
I must say, closing the final page, I felt utterly bereft, and immediately would have liked to have been able to erase my memory of the book so that I could read it all again in the state of innocence and adventure a new book gives
We have a mythical Trans Siberian railway, linking Beijing and Moscow. The problem is though, that the landscape across which the train travels, back and forth, is by all accounts, dangerous, filled with odd lifeforms which might ‘infect us’ there are huge high walls/barriers/holding pens at start and end of journey ensure that nothing from ‘outside’ will contaminate those who live within the great connected cities. I thought of the horrible rhetoric of populism, of the Walls which get built to keep ‘them’ out of our place, whether these are actual physical structures or bureaucracy laced with horrible rhetoric and ideology behind it.
There is nothing heavy handed or over obvious in the way Brooks does this, she doesn’t smack you round the head with all of that. In fact, it is absolutely easy to read this as part of a sealed off adventure mystery – like a country house murder, or Murder on the Orient Express (those tropes are woven in) But I would say the ‘so much MORE than just that or this’ is in there for any reader who wants to find that.
I envy all future readers of this. I don’t think I’ve surrendered to a this kind of weird invented vibrant, real and coherent ‘new’ world since The Night Circus.
This is nothing like that, except in its glorious coherence in its own weird creation
Of course, the challenge is that inevitably the next book I read is likely to feel a little flat, as I’m still ‘infected’ by the seduction of this. Was there something from out the Wastelands somehow hidden in the pages?
Thank you, hugely, Sarah Brooks, for such glorious inventiveness. And the publisher. And Netgalley
I absolutely loved this, its wonderful cast of characters, its invention of a recognisable world from Victorian times, but one which also showed all the venal horrors of the vested interests of global capitalism, of greed run riot, of how we plunder the planet, and how, also some kind of hope might exist if we could only feel our connectivity to that planet, and to each other.
Beautifully written, it has just the right amount of satisfying weirdness, and a cast of characters all well delineated both recognisable and unique
I must say, closing the final page, I felt utterly bereft, and immediately would have liked to have been able to erase my memory of the book so that I could read it all again in the state of innocence and adventure a new book gives
We have a mythical Trans Siberian railway, linking Beijing and Moscow. The problem is though, that the landscape across which the train travels, back and forth, is by all accounts, dangerous, filled with odd lifeforms which might ‘infect us’ there are huge high walls/barriers/holding pens at start and end of journey ensure that nothing from ‘outside’ will contaminate those who live within the great connected cities. I thought of the horrible rhetoric of populism, of the Walls which get built to keep ‘them’ out of our place, whether these are actual physical structures or bureaucracy laced with horrible rhetoric and ideology behind it.
There is nothing heavy handed or over obvious in the way Brooks does this, she doesn’t smack you round the head with all of that. In fact, it is absolutely easy to read this as part of a sealed off adventure mystery – like a country house murder, or Murder on the Orient Express (those tropes are woven in) But I would say the ‘so much MORE than just that or this’ is in there for any reader who wants to find that.
I envy all future readers of this. I don’t think I’ve surrendered to a this kind of weird invented vibrant, real and coherent ‘new’ world since The Night Circus.
This is nothing like that, except in its glorious coherence in its own weird creation
Of course, the challenge is that inevitably the next book I read is likely to feel a little flat, as I’m still ‘infected’ by the seduction of this. Was there something from out the Wastelands somehow hidden in the pages?
Thank you, hugely, Sarah Brooks, for such glorious inventiveness. And the publisher. And Netgalley
July 6, 2024
This is said to be for fans of Piranesi and The Midnight Library, two books this is truly not alike at all. This is actually a character driven novel about a train travelling across a fae wilderness, and the mystery hidden by the owners of the train company. As they travel, the passengers and crew start to descend into madness and chaos.
Weiwei was the heart of the story, and the strongest character of the multiple POVs. Born on the train, and now part of the crew, she struggles with how she's been raised and the new questions she has when she finds Wilderness creature Elena hiding in the train. I also liked Marya, who is on the train to investigate her father's mysterious death.
The ending of this story is pretty wild, but I was greatful the story finally picked up some speed, as the rest of the story is fairly slow paced. While this uses real world locations, it uses them fairly loosely, similar to Oxford in The Golden Compass. It did get so chaotic it was almost difficult to keep up with, but I did feel it had a fitting ending.
Weiwei was the heart of the story, and the strongest character of the multiple POVs. Born on the train, and now part of the crew, she struggles with how she's been raised and the new questions she has when she finds Wilderness creature Elena hiding in the train. I also liked Marya, who is on the train to investigate her father's mysterious death.
The ending of this story is pretty wild, but I was greatful the story finally picked up some speed, as the rest of the story is fairly slow paced. While this uses real world locations, it uses them fairly loosely, similar to Oxford in The Golden Compass. It did get so chaotic it was almost difficult to keep up with, but I did feel it had a fitting ending.
Read
September 25, 2024One of those rare novels that blends multiple genres with a seamless kind of grace, The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands is a dark, horror-tinged work of fantastical historical fiction. The novel is set entirely (or more-or-less entirely) aboard the Trans-Siberian Express at the end of the nineteenth century. But in this alternate history, Siberia is a dangerous and strange land in which monsters dwell and an illness can warp the minds of unsuspecting people.
My full thoughts: https://booksandbao.com/best-historic...
My full thoughts: https://booksandbao.com/best-historic...
November 5, 2024
3.5/5 I love a train setting and this sounded like an interesting take on a fantasy novel with a historical setting which it was. the pacing was weird though and I wasn't hugely interested in some of the turns the story took, but I still had a good time reading this.
October 6, 2024
idk how to feel ngl
June 8, 2024
The Cautious Traveller's Guide is nothing close to what I expected. Somehow, I got the notion that the characters would be traveling and experiencing fantastical locations. But all I got were multiple travelers stuck on a train passing cross country. If that wasn't boring enough, the writing style seemed too old fashioned, reminding me of a bygone era that was out of place for me in this particular novel.
I skimmed quite a bit of the novel, hoping for a spark that would ignite my interest. But that spark never materialized. By 34%, I was done with trying to find something interesting for me to carry on. One star DNF.
I received a DRC from Flatiron Books through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.
I skimmed quite a bit of the novel, hoping for a spark that would ignite my interest. But that spark never materialized. By 34%, I was done with trying to find something interesting for me to carry on. One star DNF.
I received a DRC from Flatiron Books through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.
December 23, 2024
Passing on this one. The audio and narration is fine, I just cannot get into it. I have started it three times already and would have been done but it's just not for me, as much as I like the premise.
Happy Reading.
PS. I am still losing notifications and have been away from the site. My apologies if I missed anything. I will catch up on friends review when I am able.
Happy Reading.
PS. I am still losing notifications and have been away from the site. My apologies if I missed anything. I will catch up on friends review when I am able.
June 24, 2025
Why is this book marketed as for fans of
The Midnight Library
? I have no idea, because if anything, the only other similar book I can think of with the same weird vibes is Annihilation, and that's a stretch.
In all honesty, I don't know why I didn't DNF this book, I considered it like 3 times, but I always decided to continue, now I don't know if that was the correct choice as it ended up being whatever for me.
I really thought this book was going to be different, the whole Train aspect sounded existing and The wastelands intriguing, but at the end I didn't like the story much; some of those actions the characters took made no sense, and the ending was just thrown there without an explanation of how everything would work.
In all honesty, I don't know why I didn't DNF this book, I considered it like 3 times, but I always decided to continue, now I don't know if that was the correct choice as it ended up being whatever for me.
I really thought this book was going to be different, the whole Train aspect sounded existing and The wastelands intriguing, but at the end I didn't like the story much; some of those actions the characters took made no sense, and the ending was just thrown there without an explanation of how everything would work.
July 31, 2025
Premisa je fantastická, závěr za mě moc nefungoval. Ale prostředí vlaku, pomalé tempo a ojedinělé myšlenky, co bych si nechala vytapetovat na vnitřní stranu hlavy... to já všechno můžu.
4/5*
4/5*
February 19, 2025
This was just not my jam. I was expecting this great big adventuring train-travel fantasy - well, I got a train and a lot of tedium [seriously, nothing happens for much of the book, so that when something does happen, its so anticlimactic and meh, you just don't care] instead, along with very one dimensional characters that just stay out of reach of one ever caring much about [and I won't even go into that ending ::eyeroll:: ]. Its just been such a huge disappointment for me.
I was excited about Katie Leung [of Harry Potter fame] being the narrator [I remember her having a lovely lilting voice in the movies] for this, but unfortinately, that also didn't work for me. She speaks very quickly [with little regard for pausing, periods, or even a breath here or there it felt like at times], pauses little, and at times seemed more monotone than anything else. Even during dramatic times there seemed to be little emotion and the whole experience [for me] was very underwhelming, and my disappointment was pretty high in this regard as well.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Brooks, and Macmillan Audio for providing the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was excited about Katie Leung [of Harry Potter fame] being the narrator [I remember her having a lovely lilting voice in the movies] for this, but unfortinately, that also didn't work for me. She speaks very quickly [with little regard for pausing, periods, or even a breath here or there it felt like at times], pauses little, and at times seemed more monotone than anything else. Even during dramatic times there seemed to be little emotion and the whole experience [for me] was very underwhelming, and my disappointment was pretty high in this regard as well.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Brooks, and Macmillan Audio for providing the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2025
4⭐️
A lovely and unique atmosphere crafted with words, felt like British steampunk. I enjoyed the passages from the traveller's guide. I found this to be more cozy than it was compelling. Overall it was really well done and I enjoyed it
A lovely and unique atmosphere crafted with words, felt like British steampunk. I enjoyed the passages from the traveller's guide. I found this to be more cozy than it was compelling. Overall it was really well done and I enjoyed it
November 3, 2025
Well, this was slow. The whole thing takes place on a train: the trans-Siberian railway from Beijing to Moscow. It could’ve been good. I was sort of getting Doctor Who “Midnight” vibes. But nothing happens—literally—until about 80 percent in. By then, I was so numb from waiting that I hardly noticed when something sort of actually happened. I think my brain had melted.
Katie Leung’s narration is great, but the male narrator who reads some small sections was terrible. I was about to give up the book right then once he came on at the beginning, but then Katie took over.
*Reader’s Choice Nominee Fall 2025*
Language: Mild
Sexual Content: None
Violence/Gore: Some body horror
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
Katie Leung’s narration is great, but the male narrator who reads some small sections was terrible. I was about to give up the book right then once he came on at the beginning, but then Katie took over.
*Reader’s Choice Nominee Fall 2025*
Language: Mild
Sexual Content: None
Violence/Gore: Some body horror
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
September 4, 2024
It’s the late 1800s, and the Trans-Siberian Express will travel between Beijing and Moscow, for the first time after a hiatus, necessitated by an unforeseen accident with its specially constructed glass windows. Or so the Company says.
The Company has been engaged in highly lucrative trade for many years in this part of Asia, stripping materials and eradicating wildlife as it filled its coffers. Eventually, to speed the transport of goods and resources, the Company laid track down between each great city, at great expense of life, and the Trans-Siberian express line was born. To add more wealth, and a faster means of travelling between the two cities, they enticed passengers to use the train by offering first-class berths, and cars for third-class travellers as well.
While the Company has been stripping resources and life from the countryside, leaving the land barren and toxic, with, mutated and dangerous creatures arising replacing the ones lost. Also, train passengers began experiencing a strange illness affecting their memories. To protect their access to the route and their paying customers, the Trans-Siberian Express was transformed into an armoured vehicle, with special, unbreakable glass for its windows; but its passengers are prevented from looking out on the land as they pass through it to keep them from succumbing to the bizarre, frightening visions and memory altering illness.
That the route is extremely dangerous is acknowledged, but profit is paramount, so until the last incident, involving the breakage of a glass window pane, the train has been running, uninterrupted, for years.
On its most recent voyage, we meet an interesting cast of characters:
-Zhang Weiwei, who has lived on the train since she was born on it
-Maria Petrovna, a grieving woman with secrets and a self-appointed mission to expose the truth about the corporation
-Disgraced academic and naturalist Henry Grey, looking to recover his reputation
-Elena, a young stowaway who behaves more than a little oddly
The author creates a wonderful feeling of both adventure and menace in this wonderful novel. It's claustrophobic and dark, with terrifying, monstrous dangers lurking just on the other side of the train's walls. But it's also a about loneliness, fear, bravery and trust. Sarah Brooks story is captivating, magical, creepy, and fantastical, and I loved it.
The Company has been engaged in highly lucrative trade for many years in this part of Asia, stripping materials and eradicating wildlife as it filled its coffers. Eventually, to speed the transport of goods and resources, the Company laid track down between each great city, at great expense of life, and the Trans-Siberian express line was born. To add more wealth, and a faster means of travelling between the two cities, they enticed passengers to use the train by offering first-class berths, and cars for third-class travellers as well.
While the Company has been stripping resources and life from the countryside, leaving the land barren and toxic, with, mutated and dangerous creatures arising replacing the ones lost. Also, train passengers began experiencing a strange illness affecting their memories. To protect their access to the route and their paying customers, the Trans-Siberian Express was transformed into an armoured vehicle, with special, unbreakable glass for its windows; but its passengers are prevented from looking out on the land as they pass through it to keep them from succumbing to the bizarre, frightening visions and memory altering illness.
That the route is extremely dangerous is acknowledged, but profit is paramount, so until the last incident, involving the breakage of a glass window pane, the train has been running, uninterrupted, for years.
On its most recent voyage, we meet an interesting cast of characters:
-Zhang Weiwei, who has lived on the train since she was born on it
-Maria Petrovna, a grieving woman with secrets and a self-appointed mission to expose the truth about the corporation
-Disgraced academic and naturalist Henry Grey, looking to recover his reputation
-Elena, a young stowaway who behaves more than a little oddly
The author creates a wonderful feeling of both adventure and menace in this wonderful novel. It's claustrophobic and dark, with terrifying, monstrous dangers lurking just on the other side of the train's walls. But it's also a about loneliness, fear, bravery and trust. Sarah Brooks story is captivating, magical, creepy, and fantastical, and I loved it.
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