Delivery to the Lost City

The Train to Impossible Places #3

by P.G. Bell

P. G. Bell's Delivery to the Lost City is the thrilling conclusion of the Train to Impossible Places trilogy, a magical middle-grade adventure.

When the Impossible Postal Express is charged with returning an overdue library book, Suzy Smith looks forward to a nice, simple delivery–just the thing she needs to convince her anxious parents to let her keep her job on the train.

So she’s less than thrilled to discover that not only is the book alive, it’s full of a growing and dangerous magic. Worse still, the world to which it belongs is missing, and Suzy and her friends will have to use all their ingenuity to find it.

Suzy must help a fledgling rebellion seize power, return the book to its rightful owner, and get home before her parents ground her for life.

The conclusion to the Train to Impossible Places trilogy promises to be the most adventurous yet.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Adventure, Fiction, Magic, Family, Childrens

416 pages, Hardcover

First published January 26, 2021

About the author

P.G. Bell is a native of south Wales, where he was raised on a diet of Greek mythology, ghost stories and Doctor Who. He's had all sorts of jobs over the years, from lifeguard to roller coaster operator, but all he's ever really wanted to do is write stories for a living. And now he does! He lives in Wales with his wife Anna and their two children.

Reviews

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the final book in The Train to Impossible Places trilogy. I’m so sad it’s over! This might have been the best one yet! Can’t say a lot w/it being the 3rd book, but it was amazing. We had all the favs back, plus met some new amazing friends. We had some old villains, & met some new ones too. The most adventurous delivery yet, w/the highest stakes. It was so fun to be back w/Suzy, Fletch, Frederick, Ursel, Stonker, the Chief, & of course, Wilmot-who has my whole heart. I was on the edge of my seat, & it was so fast paced I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend the whole trilogy. I can’t wait to see what the author does next. Both US & UK covers are beautiful, w/amazing illustrations sprinkled throughout as well. I was disappointed the UK didn’t come in hardback too, to go w/the 1st two. But I love looking at these beauties. Swipe to see them all together. The US illustrator is Matt Sharack, & the UK illustrator is Flavia Sorrentino.💜

[rachel, x · Rating 4 out of 5]

#1) A Cursed Delivery ★★★★☆
#2) The Great Brain Robbery ★★★½☆

➸ Trigger warnings for earthquake recounted, displacement discussed, flooding, and imprisonment mentioned.

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[Resh (The Book Satchel) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final instalment in the Train to Impossible places. I enjoyed Delivery to the Lost City. In this adventure, Suzy is trying to make her parents warm up to her role as a Postie and to get their permission to work part time at the Postal express. The trolls —Stonker and Flinch — visit with a lovely present (!) to talk things over with Suzy's parents. But suddenly they are thrown into an impossible delivery and called to be Ivory tower on emergency. They includes Suzy's parents too! There is a book that was loaned to the Tower and it has to be returned to a 'lost' city before the due date. This book 'The Book of Power' eats words, so words are disappearing from the world —including books from the library and the delivery forms of the postal express.

Suzy's parent's being in the train add to the anxiety element in the book. They are amazed by the new world they are witnessing but also incredibly scared for Lucy. It is cute to see them having differences in opinion among themselves. There are ghosts attached to ships, demons, eyes of storms, frog armies, evil magicians and all the fun. It was nice to note how the book uses the theme of spreadig fake news and suppressing truths. I enjoyed this lesser than the earlier books though, probably because there were less of trolls —those are the funniest guys! So this is less funny than the earlier books. Overall, worth a read and an adventurous postal delivery. I am glad to see a trilogy ending well. Looking forward to see what P. G. Bell has in store next.

Much thanks to Usborne for an e-copy. All opinions are my own.

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[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Impossible Postal Express magically arrives to collect Suzy, she sets off on her most difficult delivery yet. A mysterious talking book is stealing words and causing chaos across the whole of the Impossible Places!

The book must be returned to a city that's been lost for thousands of years. But without a map to get there, Suzy and Wilmot's journey plunges them into grave danger. And with time running out, it might not just be the knowledge in the Impossible Places that is lost for ever - Suzy and Wilmot could be too...

I love this series. full of magic and adventure! I cant wait for the children to read this one. Such a brilliant addition to our classroom library.

[stefiereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Thrilling. Funny. Adventurous.
If you want to go on a magical adventure with kind and funny trolls delivering package to the impossible places, than this series is for you.
This book in particular will take you to the lost city, and you can probably guess from the cover of the book where about that place is.
I was spellbound from the very first page. What an adventure! :) I truly love the characters in the books. I don’t know how P. G. Bell does this. But he is a remarkable writer!

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been a great series and this third book does not disappoint as Susie tries to persuade her parents that she should continue to be a Postie, while undertaking her most difficult delivery yet. Lovely characters and a fast paced adventure for older juniors, younger seniors.

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suzy is back and this time it is a very important postal delivery! Something that sucks out words!


In this new book Suzy is going to a city that is lost! A special delivery needs to be made and it is a quest again time!

I was just so excited to find this book at my library! They are really spotty on adding English books, especially with series, so I was delighted that I could finally read Suzy’s next adventure!

In this one a book is eating words, it is overdue and that its curse. A whole library is eaten! Suzy has her parents with her as they really wanted to come and keep an eye on her. There is a dinner party at the beginning. Sorry, I am all jumbled because this was such a fun read! Suzy makes some reckless but awesome decisions in here and I was rooting for her. She is so brave and I love that with each story she gets stronger and more determined to be a postie. No matter what the worlds throw at her she is there to give it a shot.

I loved that we find out some more about the worlds. Not just about the missing one, but also about the rest of the Impossible Places. Plus, we have a character along that we normally only meet at one point!

I loved Hydroborea, well, OK, the villain was just ARGHHHHH, but well-written. But I just loved going in a city that was lost. A city that once was beautiful but now is lost and with a dictator. I was hoping that Suzy could help out. That the book could solve things.

I had such a laugh at the mobile phones they have in the Impossible Places. XD I guess it is good for your condition.

While I wasn’t a fan of the book all the times (I mean he is EATING words) I did grow to like him as the story goes. The snark was just so perfect. And I loved what happened when he opened up.

Where Hydroborea actually was? I absolutely LOVED that and loved how it connected so many things together. Plus, also what it all meant! dances

The main reason why I am rating this one lower (really, each book just gets a lower rating) is because of the parents and then especially the mom. I mean, your kid is honest about where she has gone which is just fantastic and instead of praising that you ground her, lock her down, keep a tight watch on her, stalk her school each day multiple times, hover over her like she cannot be her own person, and more. The mom is such a classic helicopter mom. Horrible. I thought maybe if she went with Suzy on her travels she would change. Well, the dad did (but then again I don’t think dad was that big of an obstacle given all), but mom was constantly whining, screaming, being angry, keeping Suzy close. I mean, your girl has survived 2 adventures so far, she has an amazing group of friends and family there that will help her out. She isn’t alone. She is as safe as one can be. She is inventive and knows how to get out of trouble. She tries to show you and all you do is shriek. 😐 So yeah, I loved the Suzy/Wilmot POVs but not the Express ones as those featured the parents. 😐

Plus, I found it all the magic that those two were magically there. Sure, sure.

But all in all, despite those things, I did have fun reading it and I am hoping that there will be a new book in the series. Because I am sure there are enough adventures to be told. Especially now with that revelation!

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ebook was sent to me via Netgalley in order to provide an honest review. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an early copy!

I absolutely loved the first two books in this series, which made me super excited to read this one. I absolutely love all of the characters and the adventures that they take us on, so unique, so whimsical and so addictive. I think this was my favourite adventure yet.

I was so intrigued by the third book in this series based on the ending of the second. I absolutely loved that her parents went on this adventure with her. We find that we dont get to see much of Suzy's parents in the previous two books so to have them for the whole story seemed magical and I really enjoyed it. What I also enjoyed is that we got two adventures for the price of one. I loved that I got to go on two separate adventures with the characters. They were so much fun.

I think my favourite part of these books are just being able to sit down and immerse myself into such a wonderful work with such wonderful characters. I love them all so much and I cant wait for the next instalment.

[emily 💌 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book , it took me a while to read as I had just gotten out of a reading slump but I really enjoyed the plot of Hydroborea and the crimes of Lord Meridian :)

[Jen (The Jenerator) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well....another series finished. This was just ok. The first book was my favorite.

[Tammie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read- December 2021
- I listened to the audiobook for this book and I kind of wish I had listened to the audiobooks for the rest of the series but I really enjoyed that experience.

[Tracie Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Keila (Taylor's Version)🇵🇸⸆⸉ ོ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Mila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of the Train to Impossible Places series and the latest instalment, Delivery to the Lost City, is no exception. If you love trains, magic, math, adventure, and a bit of political intrigue this is the book for you.

The book picks up about a month after The Great Brain Robbery ended, with Suzy's parents alarmed and unhappy that their daughter has been working as a Postie in the Impossible Places. Trying to win their blessing to let her continue, Suzy sets up a dinner between her "impossible" friends and parents but things don't go to plan when Wilmot receives an urgent delivery call and her family joins the Express for the run. Things go from bad to worse when the destination for their parcel is a fabled ancient city whose location is unknown.

This is a book that hooks you from the beginning, is filled with action, and has a great theme regarding the importance of information and how it is used. The plot is intriguing and when the gang gets split up, you'll be eager to jump from one party to the next to see how things will unfold for our heroes. I loved every minute of this adventure.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group through NetGalley.
This is a delightful series and the latest book doesn't disappoint. Bell opens the story with Suzy and her parents preparing for dinner with the Train's team. From the first humorous interaction, the misadventures launch and the whole family joins the Posties as they set off on a Gold Stamp Special delivery. The delivery turns out to be a rather interesting book who not only talks but pulls words from everywhere around it. In order to return it to its home, the team has to locate a lost land and help boost a small rebellion. As a plus, they locate Aybek and save the world from the latest of his schemes.
No spoilers but the action moves steadily and readers are pulled in as part of the dangers and adventures. Bell's writing style appeals to middle grade readers and will trigger their imagination. They can easily envision these settings from the word pictures and build this world in their minds. Though several loose ends were wrapped up, I hope the adventures continue.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the impossible places series and like the first two I loved it. In this one you see all the characters from the other two come back and continues and finished the story lines that were created in the first two books. In this book they have to deliver the book of power back to hydrophea a legendary magical city that has been missing hundreds of thousands of years. The book of power had been lended to the impossible places thousands of years before but now the book is over due and is sucking all the knowledge out of the ivory tower library the central tower in the impossible places. It's worst emergency they have ever faced because if they can't find the lost city in time all it's knowledge will be lost to the book of power. In this book you experience the highest service impossible postal express offers a golf stamp special meaning all other deliveries stop and they can do nothing else really until the delivery is complete. This book is full of laughs and surprises . A truly wonderful and read.

[Insert Name Here · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fantastic ending to a brilliant series. I can't believe it all ends here; there are so many more adventures for Suzy and her friends to go on.

PG has managed to pull together all the lingering threads, crafting a wonderful story that brings everyone to an ending that suits them. It's full of even more imaginative worlds and strange races, although no one made the one connection I was expecting! I don't want to spoil anyone, so I won't mention it here.

This book has all the humour and comedy you can expect from this series. The new sidekick is brilliant, as is the new ally they make near the end. I'm going to repeat myself; I can't believe this is the end. Although no threads are left dangling, there's plenty of space for new stories and new adventures. But maybe PG wants to move on to a new world. I will definitely be waiting to read it, because it's going to be absolutely amazing.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book to read. This is the third and last book in a series of three books in the Trains to Impossible Places series. I hadn’t read the first two and realized when starting this story that something else happened prior. But it is all good as I quickly understood what was going on. Suzy, a young girl is also a deputy postal operative for the train mentioned above and is trying to convince her parents to allow her to take another journey to return a really overdue book to a city that no longer exists. To allow her, they take the journey also. What a trip they take us all on. It is an enjoyably book for kids of all ages!

[Euan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delivery to The Lost City

This book is a sequel of the Great Brain Robbery and Train to Impossible places so I was really excited to get it because I loved both of those books.

Suzy and the crew have a gold stamp special delivery to make in just under 8 hours but there is a breakdown in the HEC. The crew that aren't in the HEC can't find the piece to fix it so they go to a mythical pet shop for some unusual help!

I liked this book because Suzy always solves the problems and barely ever gets stuck with things.

You should read this book if you like adventures, weird but wonderful places and magic.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read, this quirky story of cleverly designed worlds and unique characters throughout. I looked forward to being swept away by the fast pace and easily imagined worlds every time I opened the book. A theme of how words connect us all, and without them we are at the will of anyone who says 'it is so', is exemplified in an archaic book that if not returned on time to its original city (now missing) will suck all the words from everywhere leaving every page, poster, sign, label etc....blank! The race of impossible importance is on! I really enjoy P.G. Bell's easy way with words, as if everything he tells us is familiar and known already by us all. A true treasure.

[Izzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, it was a bittersweet journey in this, the third and final instalment of the Train to Impossible places series.
I was really looking forward to this one, having enjoyed the previous 2 and it was really nice to be back in the company of Suzy, Wilmot, Fletch etc.
This time, the crew are looking for the lost city of Hydroborea and have limited time to deliver their package.
Another fun adventure for the crew. I really enjoyed the addition of the chief and Ina. These books are great fun and I did feel sad knowing it was the last journey.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Returning the Book of Power which had been borrowed for a few thousand years, was the mission for Suzy and Wilmot.
The challenge was mighty! This massive responsibility led to the pursuit of evil Lord who had been controlling the Union. .
An amazing sequel to The Train to Impossible places had me and my ten year old son on the edge of our seats.
We were gripped and thrilled by the adventure!
Recommended to all readers aged 9+
thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review

[jess (bibliophilicjester) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely my favorite of the series!! Suzy and crew get into so much mischief, I kind of wish this series would continue indefinitely..but I suppose I'm okay with it being a conclusion. If I must be.

There are so many funny parts and silly jokes (and doctor who references) that I was cackling out loud. The thing with the secure cargo unit was funny every single time 🤣 maybe I'm just easily amused. I love middle grade!

Believathon: published in 2021
Clear your shit: journey

[Dreximgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed this series, it's fun and exciting and I really enjoy the range of characters. Suzy is a fab main character I love her personality and this installment developed her even more. She and Wilmot have the most adorable friendship which I love.

I liked how previous characters and storylines came into play and the twist towards the end was great.

A solid series, 4 stars 🌟

[Marloes | Subtlebookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

9.29 on CAWPILE - The final instalment in the Train to Impossible places and I’m very sad about it. I’ve had so much fun with Suzy & Wilmot on their travels to the Impossible Places. This book was an incredible conclusion to the trilogy and readers of all ages will enjoy the mystery and the adventure.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this series and think it might just be one of my favourite middle grade series ever. I adore all the characters and how sarcastic and witty the books are. The Chief was such a gold star highlight in this book and I loved all his terrible ghost jokes.

I hope this series carries on for more books because i'd love to follow these adventures forever.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to finish this trilogy after enjoying #2, before I give them to my niece. I got a bit lost in the new impossible lands in this one, but ended up enjoying it nearly as much as I did the last one. A true escapist adventure, full of perseverance, resourcefulness, and adventure for children. A great deal of imagination is required, and you definitely disappear into these new worlds.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reading for my son

After reading the Secret Zoo series (great series by the way) I was after a little bit of adventure, fantasy, and a good thrill for my son and this series delivered. He loved reading this series with me and thoroughly enjoyed the pictures. The characters and different worlds are exciting and fun.

[Elizabeth Barrett Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wrapped up the trilogy very well. As a parent, I liked that Suzy's parents were involved and got to see what she's capable of. The fascism in Hydroborea led to interesting (IMHO) discussions with my eight-year-old about the state of the world. We ended up talking about historical events involving dictators that he's touched on in school, and contemporary issues happening right now.

[Nicky Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last in this trilogy of adventure which takes you to a parallel world on board a train which runs on bananas. This is definitely the best yet and takes Suzy on a near impossible postie job. A great read on the lines of Terry Pratchett.