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Travel by Night
From the author of Bird Spotting in a Small Town, "a dark and deliciously tense modern fairy-tale, brutal and beautiful" (Sophie Hannah, New York Times–bestselling author).
A shattered memory. A deadly trap. A fight for freedom.
When Yalina wakes up in the hospital, she doesn't even recognize her own parents. Hoping to reconnect with her estranged brother, Yalina travels to Sheffield—but instead, she's lured into a house where girls are held captive and forced into sex slavery.
With only an old piano to keep her grounded, Yalina forms fragile bonds with the other women, vowing to protect a young girl. But as violence looms, she's forced to trust a stranger whose secret could upend her entire life.
Can Yalina escape her captors? And when the truth comes out, will she ever recover?
Tense, emotional, and unforgettable—this is a story of survival, courage, and the power of hope in the darkest moments.
A shattered memory. A deadly trap. A fight for freedom.
When Yalina wakes up in the hospital, she doesn't even recognize her own parents. Hoping to reconnect with her estranged brother, Yalina travels to Sheffield—but instead, she's lured into a house where girls are held captive and forced into sex slavery.
With only an old piano to keep her grounded, Yalina forms fragile bonds with the other women, vowing to protect a young girl. But as violence looms, she's forced to trust a stranger whose secret could upend her entire life.
Can Yalina escape her captors? And when the truth comes out, will she ever recover?
Tense, emotional, and unforgettable—this is a story of survival, courage, and the power of hope in the darkest moments.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2020
229 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Morton-Thomas
2 books22 followersWriter of literary thrillers. Currently studying at Cambridge University, UK.
I live in West Sussex in the UK with my husband; I have three kids too and some cats. I'm an English teacher during the day when I'm not writing. I also love to write short stories and flash fictions and have been shortlisted in international competitions for these, as well as for the beginning of my debut novel, Travel by Night.
GENRES:
Psychological Thrillers
I live in West Sussex in the UK with my husband; I have three kids too and some cats. I'm an English teacher during the day when I'm not writing. I also love to write short stories and flash fictions and have been shortlisted in international competitions for these, as well as for the beginning of my debut novel, Travel by Night.
GENRES:
Psychological Thrillers
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 10, 2021
3 1/2 Stars
This is a very dark and disturbing novel that is both appalling and sinister.
The story is about the human trafficking of women and all the psychological battering it entails. This is not my personal favorite genre.
Having said that, it was very well developed and it was very fast paced. I was sucked into the storyline due to great characterization. So, I was very much pulling for the woman-victims.
It is not my personal type of book. It has a Stephen King feel to it at times.
So, I recommend to those who read these horror stories
This is a very dark and disturbing novel that is both appalling and sinister.
The story is about the human trafficking of women and all the psychological battering it entails. This is not my personal favorite genre.
Having said that, it was very well developed and it was very fast paced. I was sucked into the storyline due to great characterization. So, I was very much pulling for the woman-victims.
It is not my personal type of book. It has a Stephen King feel to it at times.
So, I recommend to those who read these horror stories
June 25, 2022
Travel by Night is a painful book to read, not simply because it’s about the sex-trafficking of young women, but mainly because the story is told so poorly.
It should not have been so.
The author, Sophie Morton-Thomas, is an English teacher and a Master’s student in Writing at Cambridge, one of the world’s oldest and most renown universities.
My high hopes for Travel by Night, her debut novel, were dashed at the very beginning in the Acknowledgments preceding the Prologue, where the author thanks her editors for reducing the number of semicolons in her sentences. No one with her degree of education and teaching experience should have a problem with too many semicolons.
And then in the Prologue she belittles her readers by actually describing the sound (“Drip, drip, drip”) of a dripping tap, though it may surprise her that even those of us without the benefit of a Cambridge education can imagine the sound of a dripping tap without her spelling it out.
And then for the next 200 pages, virtually nothing happens. The book’s main character, Yalina, a Pakistani girl in her early twenties and raised in London, narrates the doldrums of her daily life in the first-person. She plays the piano a lot during the days and has sex with strangers by night, though thankfully the author spares us many of the lurid details.
Meanwhile, we readers are left wondering why Yalina doesn’t try escaping from the house where she’s held captive, even when she has the chance to run away. Or how she was abducted so easily in the first place. Or why her parents and siblings at the beginning of the book are so unfamiliar to her. Or how she became suddenly proficient on the piano. Or why her brother didn’t notify the police when she failed to answer his calls and sent him a distress message on-line. Or what’s her connection with this Richard, whose storyline appears every four or five chapters.
Satisfactory answers to most of these mysteries are not provided in the unexpected ending which earned the author an extra star from me, but the monotonous journey to reach the end was much more of a chore than a rewarding reading experience.
It should not have been so.
The author, Sophie Morton-Thomas, is an English teacher and a Master’s student in Writing at Cambridge, one of the world’s oldest and most renown universities.
My high hopes for Travel by Night, her debut novel, were dashed at the very beginning in the Acknowledgments preceding the Prologue, where the author thanks her editors for reducing the number of semicolons in her sentences. No one with her degree of education and teaching experience should have a problem with too many semicolons.
And then in the Prologue she belittles her readers by actually describing the sound (“Drip, drip, drip”) of a dripping tap, though it may surprise her that even those of us without the benefit of a Cambridge education can imagine the sound of a dripping tap without her spelling it out.
And then for the next 200 pages, virtually nothing happens. The book’s main character, Yalina, a Pakistani girl in her early twenties and raised in London, narrates the doldrums of her daily life in the first-person. She plays the piano a lot during the days and has sex with strangers by night, though thankfully the author spares us many of the lurid details.
Meanwhile, we readers are left wondering why Yalina doesn’t try escaping from the house where she’s held captive, even when she has the chance to run away. Or how she was abducted so easily in the first place. Or why her parents and siblings at the beginning of the book are so unfamiliar to her. Or how she became suddenly proficient on the piano. Or why her brother didn’t notify the police when she failed to answer his calls and sent him a distress message on-line. Or what’s her connection with this Richard, whose storyline appears every four or five chapters.
Satisfactory answers to most of these mysteries are not provided in the unexpected ending which earned the author an extra star from me, but the monotonous journey to reach the end was much more of a chore than a rewarding reading experience.
March 3, 2021
"Travel by Night" is a very uncomfortable read. It is truly frightening and upsetting. So: Why 5 stars? Because this sort of story needs to be told, and Sophie Morton-Thomas tells this one with real skill and empathy. The characters are solid, the writing is near faultless, and from the first few pages the book demands to be read. This is a tale that will linger in your mind for a long time.
This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion. My thanks to damppebblesblogtours
This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion. My thanks to damppebblesblogtours
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June 14, 2021I found this a very odd book. Initially confusing and then it didn't get much better! It was an odd perspective to tell a story of sex slavery, trafficking of women - with no detail on what they actually went through. Not that I particularly want to read those sorts of details but not having them lessened the effect of the story. It made the main narrator seemed unperturbed by what she must have gone through. There was too much mystery at the start about her and her parents and her brother. By the time we reached the point of understanding where the second narrator fit into the story, it was obvious but I still didn't see the point of it. I did like some of the characters, women and men. I felt a sense of menace but all the stuff about the piano and music ... I kept thinking - is there some symbolism here I'm missing, some allegory? I did finish it but was left flat.
January 27, 2021
Warning: this book has triggers. I enjoyed this heart breaking story about one girl's kidnapping and subsequent force into prostitution. The author tells a tale of Yalina in her own words and helps us understand some of the things she has done to save herself. From the time she had a heart transplant, she has trouble interacting with her family. She decides to visit her brother for a while and gets kidnapped at the bus station. My heart broke for the girls and what they endured for over a year. I liked the way the author introduced Richard and his involvement with Yalina. I received this book for free and I am voluntarily leaving my review.
March 2, 2021
This review of Travel by Night comes through a Blog Tour by Damppebbles.
TRIGGER WARNING!
Travel By Night was an interesting read, though I found it a little difficult.
A creepy and stark anti-fairy tale, this one will push buttons…
It’s not graphic or bloody. There’s no great detail of acts or violence – indeed, Yalina as narrator skips over any nasty bits, almost like she’s shut down for that bit, memory blocked. But the anxiety and distrust she feels comes through well on the page.
The characters are pretty well fleshed, though we actually find out little about them. They are all shadowy figures – defined by their personality, or by their deliberate cruelty. Ms Morton-Thomas doesn’t really go into the nitty gritty, simply covers Yalina’s day-to-day over the course of her year long torment.
We meet the other women in her world, but only one or two play more than bit parts. We meet her captors, their colleagues and a couple of punters – but again not much detail is given. As if Yalina’s brain skips over so much that doesn’t directly impact her. (It happens. I’ve had it happen. Memories of events come in flashes.)
What does come through, and perhaps I recognise it because women experience it every day, is the total dominance of the men and the lack of strength and confidence in the women. Not just physical strength, but mental strength – how quickly the ‘fight or flight’ instinct is supressed, and how being resigned to your circumstances affects you.
My difficulty with it?
There was a disparity between why I thought she did something and why she tells us she did something. Going further would give spoilers, but it jarred me a little.
As did the ending.
All in all, though, Travel By Night is worth reading. It gives insight into the little things that keep us going.
TRIGGER WARNING!
Travel By Night was an interesting read, though I found it a little difficult.
A creepy and stark anti-fairy tale, this one will push buttons…
It’s not graphic or bloody. There’s no great detail of acts or violence – indeed, Yalina as narrator skips over any nasty bits, almost like she’s shut down for that bit, memory blocked. But the anxiety and distrust she feels comes through well on the page.
The characters are pretty well fleshed, though we actually find out little about them. They are all shadowy figures – defined by their personality, or by their deliberate cruelty. Ms Morton-Thomas doesn’t really go into the nitty gritty, simply covers Yalina’s day-to-day over the course of her year long torment.
We meet the other women in her world, but only one or two play more than bit parts. We meet her captors, their colleagues and a couple of punters – but again not much detail is given. As if Yalina’s brain skips over so much that doesn’t directly impact her. (It happens. I’ve had it happen. Memories of events come in flashes.)
What does come through, and perhaps I recognise it because women experience it every day, is the total dominance of the men and the lack of strength and confidence in the women. Not just physical strength, but mental strength – how quickly the ‘fight or flight’ instinct is supressed, and how being resigned to your circumstances affects you.
My difficulty with it?
There was a disparity between why I thought she did something and why she tells us she did something. Going further would give spoilers, but it jarred me a little.
As did the ending.
All in all, though, Travel By Night is worth reading. It gives insight into the little things that keep us going.
January 10, 2021
Morton-Thomas has a brave, compelling and relevant story to tell; something which she does with compassion and honesty. A story about a sex-trafficking ring is always going to be a difficult read and the opening is brutal and frightening, but there is also a mystery, planted at the beginning, to unravel. Morton-Thomas is an author who makes you think; the reader can’t comprehend everything that’s going on straight away and it’s akin to the confusion Yalina feels when she comes around from her operation.
Whilst trying to re-connect with her brother, Yalina is tricked into becoming a sex slave and the title of the novel is taken from the way the girls arrive at their new home because there is ‘safety under the stars’. There is a terrible sense of desperation at the situation, but ‘red haired Ruby with the booze and polka dot clothing’ manages to get away and this offers Yalina hope. I love the importance of music in the narrative and how the piano becomes Yalina’s salvation with the music moving from the ridiculous to the sublime. Yalina’s body clings to the melodies with Rebecca sitting next to her on the piano stool whilst she plays – the importance of this image can only be fully appreciated at the end of Yalina’s journey.
Morton-Thomas paints a horrific picture of what the women’s lives are like – they are slaves. They work as prostitutes by night and, during the day, they work in nail bars then, after one particularly hurried move, in food factories. They suffer constant racism, dirty sheets, hunger, regular beatings, and work so unpleasant it makes them sick. Morton-Thomas explores how desperation can make you twist reality to see what you want to, even if logically things don’t add up. How, when you have nothing, it’s not just as simple as finding the right opportunity to run away. Yalina, when she first arrives, screams at Petrova, asking why she is so accepting of their situation and then Petrova reveals her hidden bruises. There is so much emotional upheaval going on and add Stockholm Syndrome, institutionalisation and the fact these girls don’t recognise themselves anymore or have anything to return to and the situation feels hopeless. At some point during her imprisonment Yalina says that she feels settled and, knowing that the other girls rely on her, she feels bound by promises she has made to them – all of this contributes to her stalled attempts at escaping. The men have an immense hold over them and Keith and Jonno have their own manipulative traps in play at all times, one of which comes as a startling shock later on. It is sickening to see how far the group’s reach spreads; they have spies everywhere.
There are so many heart-breaking moments; the birth of Adaeze; when the women are given reject oranges at the factory. I love the constant reference to the changing colour of the fields and how Yalina always notices the spiders’ webs in her environment. It is also moving how Yalina can recognise that, even in the worst of circumstances, there is a growing sense of kindness and empathy within herself – especially with regards to Chisimdi and Rebecca.
The story is broken with a curious and moving tale about Richard which gathers momentum as the narrative progresses.
Thankfully the ending is rewarding and assuaged some of the horror and sadness I experienced. Morton-Thomas’ sensitive writing dealt with a horrific subject but without preaching, and I was left thinking about the story long after I finished. A beautiful, compelling and haunting read.
Whilst trying to re-connect with her brother, Yalina is tricked into becoming a sex slave and the title of the novel is taken from the way the girls arrive at their new home because there is ‘safety under the stars’. There is a terrible sense of desperation at the situation, but ‘red haired Ruby with the booze and polka dot clothing’ manages to get away and this offers Yalina hope. I love the importance of music in the narrative and how the piano becomes Yalina’s salvation with the music moving from the ridiculous to the sublime. Yalina’s body clings to the melodies with Rebecca sitting next to her on the piano stool whilst she plays – the importance of this image can only be fully appreciated at the end of Yalina’s journey.
Morton-Thomas paints a horrific picture of what the women’s lives are like – they are slaves. They work as prostitutes by night and, during the day, they work in nail bars then, after one particularly hurried move, in food factories. They suffer constant racism, dirty sheets, hunger, regular beatings, and work so unpleasant it makes them sick. Morton-Thomas explores how desperation can make you twist reality to see what you want to, even if logically things don’t add up. How, when you have nothing, it’s not just as simple as finding the right opportunity to run away. Yalina, when she first arrives, screams at Petrova, asking why she is so accepting of their situation and then Petrova reveals her hidden bruises. There is so much emotional upheaval going on and add Stockholm Syndrome, institutionalisation and the fact these girls don’t recognise themselves anymore or have anything to return to and the situation feels hopeless. At some point during her imprisonment Yalina says that she feels settled and, knowing that the other girls rely on her, she feels bound by promises she has made to them – all of this contributes to her stalled attempts at escaping. The men have an immense hold over them and Keith and Jonno have their own manipulative traps in play at all times, one of which comes as a startling shock later on. It is sickening to see how far the group’s reach spreads; they have spies everywhere.
There are so many heart-breaking moments; the birth of Adaeze; when the women are given reject oranges at the factory. I love the constant reference to the changing colour of the fields and how Yalina always notices the spiders’ webs in her environment. It is also moving how Yalina can recognise that, even in the worst of circumstances, there is a growing sense of kindness and empathy within herself – especially with regards to Chisimdi and Rebecca.
The story is broken with a curious and moving tale about Richard which gathers momentum as the narrative progresses.
Thankfully the ending is rewarding and assuaged some of the horror and sadness I experienced. Morton-Thomas’ sensitive writing dealt with a horrific subject but without preaching, and I was left thinking about the story long after I finished. A beautiful, compelling and haunting read.
March 2, 2021
I absolutely love discovering new authors and Sophie Morton-Thomas is certainly a new author for me. Having read the synopsis for ‘Travel By Night’, I was immediately intrigued and I couldn’t wait to start reading. So without further ado, I grabbed my Kindle, grabbed a cup of tea and settled down for what proved to be a very interesting read. I really enjoyed reading ‘Travel By Night’ but more about that in a bit.
In some ways ‘Travel By Night’ was a bit of a difficult but compelling read. I hope that makes sense. Without going into too much detail, it’s safe to say that the main themes of this story do not make for easy reading. That said, I thought that the author had tackled the subjects with great sensitivity and compassion. She certainly doesn’t mince her words or sugar coat things. Sophie grabbed my attention from the start and drew me into the story. Reading ‘Travel By Night’ was much like being on a very scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. On more than one occasion I almost had to read through my fingers as I feared what was going to happen next.
It didn’t take me all that long to get into this story. In fact by the time I had finished reading the synopsis I knew that I would find it increasingly difficult to be able to put the book to one side for any length of time. That was certainly true. Part of the reason why I found the book difficult to put down, was the fact that I had taken to the lead character so well that I just had to keep reading to see if she managed to escape the horrors that she had had to endure. The pages turned rather quickly at times as I worked my way through the story. It took me just under 48 hours to get through this book which is pretty good going for me, since I often find it hard to concentrate and I am easily distracted.
In short, although it was a difficult read at times, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Travel By Night’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Sophie’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
In some ways ‘Travel By Night’ was a bit of a difficult but compelling read. I hope that makes sense. Without going into too much detail, it’s safe to say that the main themes of this story do not make for easy reading. That said, I thought that the author had tackled the subjects with great sensitivity and compassion. She certainly doesn’t mince her words or sugar coat things. Sophie grabbed my attention from the start and drew me into the story. Reading ‘Travel By Night’ was much like being on a very scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. On more than one occasion I almost had to read through my fingers as I feared what was going to happen next.
It didn’t take me all that long to get into this story. In fact by the time I had finished reading the synopsis I knew that I would find it increasingly difficult to be able to put the book to one side for any length of time. That was certainly true. Part of the reason why I found the book difficult to put down, was the fact that I had taken to the lead character so well that I just had to keep reading to see if she managed to escape the horrors that she had had to endure. The pages turned rather quickly at times as I worked my way through the story. It took me just under 48 hours to get through this book which is pretty good going for me, since I often find it hard to concentrate and I am easily distracted.
In short, although it was a difficult read at times, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Travel By Night’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Sophie’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
March 1, 2021
Many thanks to Damppebbles Blog Tours, Sophie Morton-Thomas, and Darkstroke Books for providing me with a digital copy of Travel By Night with a request for an honest review.
Travel By Night is a heart-wrenching novel that pulls at every feeling you have inside. I read with tissues close at hand. Though at other times, I was so sick I was afraid to go on. Sophie Morton-Thomas writes with authority. I know this is a work of fiction, but I can’t help but picture those who are in this life for real.
I was quite confused at the start, but living with depression does all kinds of weird things to your mind and body. So, when Yalina began searching for someone to cling to, it was just a matter of time before she ended up in trouble.
Yalina frustrated me for a good part of the book because she seemed to be so passive and unwilling to fight to leave. But then I thought back to my abusive past and could empathize with her situation.
This book was trigger-heavy. Ordinarily, I am not affected by rape and violence, but I felt a kinship with Yalina. That made this book especially hard for me. No matter how I tried, a weight pulled on my soul.
But, the ending made everything okay for me. It isn’t happy, but it is satisfying. I’m able to let Yalina go, and she will be okay.
This novel is a 5 star read for me. The sheer amount of emotional investment makes this one of the best books I’ve read this year. So, I award Travel By Night a full 5 out of 5 stars. I urge you to read it if you have enough spoons. I warn you, however, to be sure to have plenty of tissues.
Travel By Night is a heart-wrenching novel that pulls at every feeling you have inside. I read with tissues close at hand. Though at other times, I was so sick I was afraid to go on. Sophie Morton-Thomas writes with authority. I know this is a work of fiction, but I can’t help but picture those who are in this life for real.
I was quite confused at the start, but living with depression does all kinds of weird things to your mind and body. So, when Yalina began searching for someone to cling to, it was just a matter of time before she ended up in trouble.
Yalina frustrated me for a good part of the book because she seemed to be so passive and unwilling to fight to leave. But then I thought back to my abusive past and could empathize with her situation.
This book was trigger-heavy. Ordinarily, I am not affected by rape and violence, but I felt a kinship with Yalina. That made this book especially hard for me. No matter how I tried, a weight pulled on my soul.
But, the ending made everything okay for me. It isn’t happy, but it is satisfying. I’m able to let Yalina go, and she will be okay.
This novel is a 5 star read for me. The sheer amount of emotional investment makes this one of the best books I’ve read this year. So, I award Travel By Night a full 5 out of 5 stars. I urge you to read it if you have enough spoons. I warn you, however, to be sure to have plenty of tissues.
January 22, 2021
A brave debut, Travel by Night is a gripping account of a woman (Yalina) imprisoned in a sex slave ring. Her story although heartbreaking at times is told beautifully.
I did find that as soon as I started I couldn't put it down, I needed to know how things would develop for Yalina and the other girls, safe to say I wasn't disappointed.
Sophie Morton Thomas is a talent to watch!
I did find that as soon as I started I couldn't put it down, I needed to know how things would develop for Yalina and the other girls, safe to say I wasn't disappointed.
Sophie Morton Thomas is a talent to watch!
February 8, 2021
Received this ebook through the Vorachious readers website in exchange for a review. It tackled a difficult subject in an involving way. The subject was kidnapped and taken into a prostitution ring. I was amazed at her resilience and the eventual details of her operation, which wasn't fully explained until the end.
August 24, 2021
Unusual housemates
This is a very different book, written in a very unique way . It’s a good story, written for those who enjoy the odd.
This is a very different book, written in a very unique way . It’s a good story, written for those who enjoy the odd.
March 7, 2021
Travel by Night by Sophie Morton-Thomas is a horrific but compelling and emotional story of sex-trafficking. A story that doesn't sit easily in your mind but one that is definitely told with a honesty and compassion. The author grips you by the throat almost right from the word go. The beginning of this book is a frightening and rough one, you would be forgiven for feeling confused, that is the aim. The reader is immediately thrown into our main characters, Yalina's world. She has woken in hospital after an operation as confused as us, the reader.
Yalina decides to meet her brother in order to re-connect. She ends up being tricked into becoming a sex-slave and taken to a house with other girls there. Yalina is trapped but finds hope in the fact that one girl has got away and while she waits she discovers a piano and finds her love for music. This becomes her only salvation along with the friendships she begins to make amongst the women and she takes a young girl, Rebecca under her wing. Will Yalina ever escape this desolate, desperate life she has been tricked into or not?
Sophie Morton-Thomas shows us a horrible picture of how these poor women live. They are made to work in nail bars and food factories in the day and prostitutes at night. This certainly opens our minds to the realism of this book. How many women are sex-trafficked into the U.K and made to live like this. She shows us how manipulated the women and girls are, mentally and physically. How easy it is to have a twisted vision and thoughts when in this type of situation. Stockholm syndrome is something that women such as these and any child or women who are abused can easily end up with. It highlights the power men have over women and children and the traps they lay for the women. The biggest shock is the reach these gangs have and we see it in the book how everyone is connected to them somehow.
An absolutely heartbreaking and emotional read which the author has managed to bring us an ending which lessens the horror of this book and one that feels right as well.
A story for our times that will not leave me for a while I do know that!
Thanks to Damp Pebbles Blog Tours and Sophie Morton-Thomas for the copy of this compelling book.
Yalina decides to meet her brother in order to re-connect. She ends up being tricked into becoming a sex-slave and taken to a house with other girls there. Yalina is trapped but finds hope in the fact that one girl has got away and while she waits she discovers a piano and finds her love for music. This becomes her only salvation along with the friendships she begins to make amongst the women and she takes a young girl, Rebecca under her wing. Will Yalina ever escape this desolate, desperate life she has been tricked into or not?
Sophie Morton-Thomas shows us a horrible picture of how these poor women live. They are made to work in nail bars and food factories in the day and prostitutes at night. This certainly opens our minds to the realism of this book. How many women are sex-trafficked into the U.K and made to live like this. She shows us how manipulated the women and girls are, mentally and physically. How easy it is to have a twisted vision and thoughts when in this type of situation. Stockholm syndrome is something that women such as these and any child or women who are abused can easily end up with. It highlights the power men have over women and children and the traps they lay for the women. The biggest shock is the reach these gangs have and we see it in the book how everyone is connected to them somehow.
An absolutely heartbreaking and emotional read which the author has managed to bring us an ending which lessens the horror of this book and one that feels right as well.
A story for our times that will not leave me for a while I do know that!
Thanks to Damp Pebbles Blog Tours and Sophie Morton-Thomas for the copy of this compelling book.
July 16, 2021
Desperation
At first I was a bit confused on where this story was going to go but as I continued reading I found I was completely dragged into this poor girls experience.Unfortunetely some of the content could have been stretched alit farther with more information on what was going on. I found some of the paragraphs ended somewhat bluntly and left me wondering what happened next? I chose the rating of 3 stars for this exact reason. I do believed realistically Yalina wouldn't be allowed to talk the way she does in some of the scenes without totally being punished for them. But the story does give enough evidence of what a women (young girl) would/could go through within these situations. Of how quickly and easily it is to gain the trust of desperate people and situations.
At first I was a bit confused on where this story was going to go but as I continued reading I found I was completely dragged into this poor girls experience.Unfortunetely some of the content could have been stretched alit farther with more information on what was going on. I found some of the paragraphs ended somewhat bluntly and left me wondering what happened next? I chose the rating of 3 stars for this exact reason. I do believed realistically Yalina wouldn't be allowed to talk the way she does in some of the scenes without totally being punished for them. But the story does give enough evidence of what a women (young girl) would/could go through within these situations. Of how quickly and easily it is to gain the trust of desperate people and situations.
February 23, 2021
Yalina wakes up in a hospital with no memory of her family and a large scar where her heart should be. She tries to reconnect with her brother, but instead, falls into a trap of sex slavery. This book is about the violence, abuse and betrayal these young women are meant to endure. It’s about the friendships she makes and the help and kindness of a stranger to escape this life.
The author writes in a way to feel deeply for these women and this life of abuse.
I received a free copy from VRO and the author for my honest review.
The author writes in a way to feel deeply for these women and this life of abuse.
I received a free copy from VRO and the author for my honest review.
June 29, 2021
I almost stopped reading this novel a time or two. I seldom do this. But, I'm glad I read it until the end.
The novel starts out slowly and (to me) in a very confusing manner.
Soon, it segues into a series of awful occurrences to the protagonist.
Each of these seems dream-like or nightmarish.
But, finally, it all wraps up into a coherent whole. For example, the jarring entrance of a man with a normal life juxtapositioned with the many horrifying chapters dealing with Yalina had me frustrated and curious. But, it all tied together neatly at the end.
So, lots of frustrations with a wonderful denouement.
The novel starts out slowly and (to me) in a very confusing manner.
Soon, it segues into a series of awful occurrences to the protagonist.
Each of these seems dream-like or nightmarish.
But, finally, it all wraps up into a coherent whole. For example, the jarring entrance of a man with a normal life juxtapositioned with the many horrifying chapters dealing with Yalina had me frustrated and curious. But, it all tied together neatly at the end.
So, lots of frustrations with a wonderful denouement.
January 30, 2021
Sophie Morton-Thomas’s debut novel is an impressive calling card. Its subject matter is dark and difficult, taking in grooming and sex slavery, which makes it an important novel too. Morton-Thomas builds tension skilfully early on as her protagonist, Yalina, becomes trapped in a world of relentless misery, atmospherically realised. There is ultimately, thankfully, a twist that proves satisfying. Poignant and promising.
February 14, 2021
I had trouble reading this offering from VRO, found the subject matter and the story line to be distressing and difficult to get through. The main character is courageous and a survivor, who helped her fellow internees get through their ordeal. I can’t say that this is an easy or enjoyable read. Not to my taste.
March 2, 2021
Start reading this book and you will be desperate to find out what happens to Yalina. The story shows a brutal side of British life but is written without sentimentality or sensationalism. The portraits of the young women are believeable and their fragile friendships are touching. A page turner!
June 11, 2021
What is real?
A book you can't put down because you HAVE to know what happens next. Still you feel the slowness of time and the weariness of the girls caught in trafficking schemes. You feel the numbness , apathy, and sometimes even the bursts of gaiety needed for survival.
A book you can't put down because you HAVE to know what happens next. Still you feel the slowness of time and the weariness of the girls caught in trafficking schemes. You feel the numbness , apathy, and sometimes even the bursts of gaiety needed for survival.
June 14, 2021
Dark and grim, but not graphic. Human trafficking never an easy story but this I couldn’t stop reading it. Confusing in the beginning and not everything spelled out, but in the end it works.
February 6, 2021
A free book from Voracious Readers thank you
A story containing many emotions through the tale of abduction, violence, abuse and the mental stain of being captive. A story that has you wanting to see what end there is and with a twist, this is an ending to pursue.
A story containing many emotions through the tale of abduction, violence, abuse and the mental stain of being captive. A story that has you wanting to see what end there is and with a twist, this is an ending to pursue.
January 5, 2021
Really enjoyed this, and finished it off in one sitting, as my forgotten coffee went tepid then stone cold. Incredibly atmospheric writing that transforms you to another time and place, but somehow keeps the pace of the storyline at the right (fast) speed. A proper thriller, written beautifully.
There’s a jaw-dropping (yet in hindsight so obvious! Doh! ) twist at the end. Anyone who can actually see it coming needs to be burned as a witch.
An absolute belter of a debut novel. Am lying eagerly in wait for more!
There’s a jaw-dropping (yet in hindsight so obvious! Doh! ) twist at the end. Anyone who can actually see it coming needs to be burned as a witch.
An absolute belter of a debut novel. Am lying eagerly in wait for more!
January 22, 2021
A very thought provoking book with a wonderful ending that I certainly never saw coming. It would make a great film.
March 25, 2021
I was absolutely enthralled by this book! It had so many twists and turns and I as so engrossed in it. Learning about Yalina, the main character and the relationships she formed were an important part of this book I believe. The writing style was amazing and read so fluently that I couldn’t put this down.
I would love to read more about the main character Yalina and what she did next.
I would love to read more about the main character Yalina and what she did next.
June 17, 2021
A well-written maiden effort. A disturbing theme, this is not my type of read. Still for all, I was on edge, and stressful expectancy, as I kept on turning pages, hoping, and yearning for redemption. A reading difficult to put down; I had to go on! The tempo and sense of dread and despair well maintained throughout.
The plot addresses a serious and heartbreaking issue that needs highlighting. This would be one way to ensure that crime prevention addresses the problem and acts proactively. I would never wish such calamity to befall any woman.
I highly recommend this book.
The plot addresses a serious and heartbreaking issue that needs highlighting. This would be one way to ensure that crime prevention addresses the problem and acts proactively. I would never wish such calamity to befall any woman.
I highly recommend this book.
April 12, 2021
I did not know how the book was going to go at first and couldn't really get into the first chapters but then perserved and it really turned out fantastic.
The twist was so obvious in hindsight but never would have guessed it.
So worth the read.
I was provided by a free copy by the author and voracious readers. I have given an honest and fair review.
The twist was so obvious in hindsight but never would have guessed it.
So worth the read.
I was provided by a free copy by the author and voracious readers. I have given an honest and fair review.
July 18, 2022
My Blog
After a major surgery, Yalina has vague memories of her family, but she feels a connection to her brother, Ali. Ali does not stay with them, so, Yalina decides to run away and meet him. However, another man picks her up instead of Ali.
This is where I found the premise of Travel by Night to be weak. Yalina just gets into the cab with the other man even when she has suspicions about his identity. However, once I suspended my disbelief, I could get into the flow of the story. But many of these gaps are explained at the conclusion so, ultimately the plot made sense.
This is a dark story. The darkness is compounded by the author’s honest and no-holds-barred sketches of these poor girls’ lives who are tricked or forced into sex slavery. Yalina and other girls keep on hurtling from one horror show to another. They get no respite from their captors. Morton-Thomas deftly creates a sense of claustrophobia on being trapped with scores of other girls in a house with bare minimum facilities. There are mentions of rape and descriptions of the abysmal working conditions to which these girls are subjected to. So, proceed with caution.
There are two parallel perspectives here – one of Richard, another of Yalina. Reading Richard’s point of view was confusing at first, however, in the end, the pieces all fit together.
Moreover, the female protagonist, Yalina, is resilient. She strives to keep her sanity and does not let her captors destroy her spirit.
The book deals with some important, yet dark topics. However, I like to read dark fiction with faster pacing. The descriptions of the abysmal conditions of the girls slowed down the pace and proved to be tough reading for me.
Someone who likes her fiction dark and gritty will like this book.
A complimentary digital copy was provided to me by the publisher for review. It does not affect my opinion of the book.
After a major surgery, Yalina has vague memories of her family, but she feels a connection to her brother, Ali. Ali does not stay with them, so, Yalina decides to run away and meet him. However, another man picks her up instead of Ali.
This is where I found the premise of Travel by Night to be weak. Yalina just gets into the cab with the other man even when she has suspicions about his identity. However, once I suspended my disbelief, I could get into the flow of the story. But many of these gaps are explained at the conclusion so, ultimately the plot made sense.
This is a dark story. The darkness is compounded by the author’s honest and no-holds-barred sketches of these poor girls’ lives who are tricked or forced into sex slavery. Yalina and other girls keep on hurtling from one horror show to another. They get no respite from their captors. Morton-Thomas deftly creates a sense of claustrophobia on being trapped with scores of other girls in a house with bare minimum facilities. There are mentions of rape and descriptions of the abysmal working conditions to which these girls are subjected to. So, proceed with caution.
There are two parallel perspectives here – one of Richard, another of Yalina. Reading Richard’s point of view was confusing at first, however, in the end, the pieces all fit together.
Moreover, the female protagonist, Yalina, is resilient. She strives to keep her sanity and does not let her captors destroy her spirit.
The book deals with some important, yet dark topics. However, I like to read dark fiction with faster pacing. The descriptions of the abysmal conditions of the girls slowed down the pace and proved to be tough reading for me.
Someone who likes her fiction dark and gritty will like this book.
A complimentary digital copy was provided to me by the publisher for review. It does not affect my opinion of the book.
November 26, 2022
A dark, gritty novel that shows not only the physical abuse, but psychological abuse that victims of sex-trafficking endure.
Sophie Morton-Thomas gives us two narrators, and we are thrust into the life of Yalina, a young Pakistani woman who wakes up in the hospital with a feeling that things aren't quite right, and having just had major surgery.
However, when Yalina begins to speak with her ostracized brother online, her plan to meet him goes very astray, leaving Yalina in the hands of two terrorizing sex traffickers.
Our other narrator is Richard, a white English father who has lost his son in a car accident. At first we are left wondering what he has to do with the story, and we aren't told until the end of the book.
Part of me feels that having this book be told first person gives it a more realistic look at the inner turmoil of a woman stuck in a prostitution ring. She describes the sights, scents, tastes; plus we get a look inside her thoughts. Yalina herself mentions Stockholm Syndrome and shows how easy it is for these people who are unhappy in their home life twist the terrible narrative of forced labor and prostitution to tell themselves it is better than going out on their own.
The only thing that bothers me is that instead of freeing the women when she has the chance, Yalina waits and hopes that the cops will save them. I deducted a whole star because of some of the nonsensical choices she made when it was clear she wanted to escape and save the girls, had the chance to do so, but went back to wait it out. Come on now.
Sophie Morton-Thomas gives us two narrators, and we are thrust into the life of Yalina, a young Pakistani woman who wakes up in the hospital with a feeling that things aren't quite right, and having just had major surgery.
However, when Yalina begins to speak with her ostracized brother online, her plan to meet him goes very astray, leaving Yalina in the hands of two terrorizing sex traffickers.
Our other narrator is Richard, a white English father who has lost his son in a car accident. At first we are left wondering what he has to do with the story, and we aren't told until the end of the book.
Part of me feels that having this book be told first person gives it a more realistic look at the inner turmoil of a woman stuck in a prostitution ring. She describes the sights, scents, tastes; plus we get a look inside her thoughts. Yalina herself mentions Stockholm Syndrome and shows how easy it is for these people who are unhappy in their home life twist the terrible narrative of forced labor and prostitution to tell themselves it is better than going out on their own.
The only thing that bothers me is that instead of freeing the women when she has the chance, Yalina waits and hopes that the cops will save them. I deducted a whole star because of some of the nonsensical choices she made when it was clear she wanted to escape and save the girls, had the chance to do so, but went back to wait it out. Come on now.
February 15, 2021
Gripping!
Found this gripping and frightening. It was frightening how easily these men (name used loosely) found girls in UK. The girls brought in from other countries caused me the greatest sorrow. They thought they were heading for a better life and would be in a position to help their families only to become victims in a much worse environment. Their courage was amazing! Very well written and so believable..
Found this gripping and frightening. It was frightening how easily these men (name used loosely) found girls in UK. The girls brought in from other countries caused me the greatest sorrow. They thought they were heading for a better life and would be in a position to help their families only to become victims in a much worse environment. Their courage was amazing! Very well written and so believable..
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