3.5 stars, rounded up.

Nell is a 30-something with a PhD in Cartography who is working in a job way below her because of the "Junk Box Incident" at the NYPL seven years prior. Through multiple POV's we learn why her father had fired her from the library where he was an esteemed cartographer and why they never spoke again. When Nell's father dies at his desk at the NYPL, she is called in to say her goodbyes. Nell discovers an old 1930's road may in his portfolio, the same map that they had fought about and ultimately caused her firing 7 years ago. The mystery of why this map was so important to her father sets Nell on a quest.

Nell meets people who had been her parents best friends back when they were in college and who reluctantly and slowly fill her in on the history of the map. They are all cartographers and in one way or another all love maps and how they tell a story. We a almost half way into the book before the fantasy is revealed.

I am not generally a reader of fantasy but I easily fell into it. My problem with the book was more with the motivation of some of the characters. They made life-altering decisions that I had a hard time understanding and therefore didn't buy as part of the plot. I loved the idea of the book and the love of maps and even the question "what is the purpose of a map?" I also loved all the characters from the parents' early years, the relationships well-crafted. It really was more the climax and explanations near the end of the book that put me off.

Thanks to NetGalley far the advance copy in exchange for this honest review.

I'd describe this book as Paper Towns meets National Treasure, with all of the dark academia feels and adventurous thrills. Nell is thrust into a dangerous game of cat and mouse and responds as most of us would - naively. (Like seriously... if you think your dad was killed because of a map, why in the world would you tell people about it??) But outside of that naivety, we get a gorgeous tale of magical realism that allows us to glimpse the true magic of cartography. It's emotional, messy, and nonlinear, with a few twists thrown in that I didn't see coming. I'd recommend this for fans of historical fiction, adventure, and magical realism (or even just fans of Indiana Jones).

*Thank you to B2W Tours, William Morrow, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This was a very surprsingly pleasant read. I didn’t quite know what to expect from the blurb but I enjoyed it.

The good things - it is very fast paced and a quick read. I liked the mystery element as you try and work out what’s going on. The Magic system is interesting and quite unique. Definitely made me more interested in maps. The passion and interest in cartography came through.

Not so great things - there were a lot of obvious plot lines. I mean you start off thinking everyone is suspicious because of the way they are acting and speaking to each other, then you quickly work things out. Nell makes some very dumb decisions. The baddy is given a lot of power or agency over the others for no decipherable reason. The “big reveal” was also quite obvious and I didn’t understand the reasoning behind it - the way it wrapped up also had some weird plot holes that didn’t make sense to me. The writing as a whole felt a little young.

I mean overall I really enjoyed the book but I have a lot of questions which is why I’m giving this 3.25 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

I was really excited to read this. It seemed very intriguing and different.

Let's start with the good: This book really moved. I didn't feel like there were filler chapters or any information given that didn't drive the story forward. It was plot driven and didn't lag. I also really loved the hoping back and forth in time with chapters; getting little pieces of the story and then back to the present. It kept the book fun and interesting.

I didn't fully understand character motives and felt the ending got a little rushed and convoluted. I wasn't always sure what was happen and why so it got a bit confusing. I gave this 3.5 stars because I read it in a day, it held my interest and intrigued, but some plot holes and lack of character motivation is why I didn't rank this story higher.

I wouldn't go as far to say I was disappointed by this book, but I did definitely expect more.

The backdrops in Peng Shepherd’s The Cartographers (fiction), will set bookish hearts ablaze: secret rooms in the New York Public Library’s maps department and the aisles of the New York Antiquarian Book Fair. Millennial Nell Young, disgraced from her conservation internship at the NYPL, is begrudgingly working as a reproduction artist when her father, a distinguished map curator, dies and leaves behind a mysterious highway map that sets Nell on a wild chase that turns violent. Points for creativity, demerits for a few discordant notes.

First off, if you love mystery thrillers and maps, this has to be on your TBR. I am a huge fan of maps and map puzzles. Hello "National Treasure"! So if those vibes are your thing, this is an automatic endorsement - go pick this one up. Secondly, if you love the idea of an adult mystery with fantasy shading another reason you have to pick up The Cartographers. There's plenty of character tension and intricacies. While my love of maps is what intentionally drew me to The Cartographers, the character dynamics quickly hooked me.

A little bit Dan Brown. A little bit Paper Towns. Some magical realism/soft fantasy.
Nell grew up to be a cartographer, just like her father, but without knowing some of the secrets from his past. Years after they had an explosive falling out, his death sends Nell on a whirlwind adventure involving a hidden map, an ex-beau, and multiple folks from her fathers past. A fun read, especially if you can look past some ridiculous coincidences/scenarios. Whenever I was reading, I never wanted to put it down, but it's not necessarily a book that's going to leave me thinking for days.

This was my first Peng Sheperd book, and what a great way to get to know this author! I really loved this story, the pacing goes really well, you almost don't see yourself turning the pages. The writing felt good within the whole theme of the book. And what a theme! This isn't a dark academia book, but it certainly is an "academia" one! There are so many discussions of ambition, greed, and people are driven to be the best in their field and I absolutely loved that aspect of the novel. Also, there is so much academic DRAMA, so I feel that a lot of people will maybe call it DA at the end of the day. For me, since I wrote a piece on characteristics DA books have, even though this book fits quite a bit of them, I'm still unsure if I do consider it a DA, maybe not a pure DA, but the vibes are definitely there, especially since this book is so nerdy and focuses a lot on research, the characters spend so much time studying and even getting masters and PhDs so the study aspect is definitely there, and also the whole group of friends dynamic that ends badly that usually happens in DA books is also there, anyway I'm just rambling at this point but what I want to say is that if you like dark academia books you should pick up The Cartographers.

I adored the chosen field of study in this story, Cartography, it was developed and constructed so well, you could feel the love these characters had for maps. I also learned some things about it and it was really cool, plus the huge "twist" involving maps was really clever and there is also a bit of a fantasy aspect to take into consideration, although I would call maybe more of magical realism? I am a bit confused with naming it, but the point is I was SO excited when I realized what this promised for the whole story and it made me really love it.

I loved how certain situations and characters surprised me throughout the narrative, as the events unfolded and it was interesting to still be discovering things even so far deep into the story, it definitely kept me interested from start to finish and I had a really great reading experience. Can't forget to mention how GORGEOUS is this cover, the amount of details is amazing and I'm obsessed with it.

Honestly, the only thing I kind of dislike about this book is the ending, in fact, I have finished this book for a while and I'm still thinking about the ending and not sure how I feel about it, I mean, I feel conflicted and aI do feel it was maybe a bit rushed and could have used more development, so many things happened just in the last four chapters that I didn't really have time to process it all. But since I loved so many aspects of this book and was so excited for the majority of it, I decided to keep my five-star rating, but I'm refraining from calling this book a favorite, at least for now.

Despite my own opinions about the ending, I would definitely recommend this book. Especially if you like clever, nerdy books, dark academia, maps and cartography, and a touch of magic. You will not be disappointed.

Ps. The immediate moment I read Agloe, my mind went back to when I was fifteen years old and reading about it in another book about maps (if you know, you know) and it was the greatest feeling ever.

The Cartographers was the first book I have read by Peng Shepherd and it certainly won’t be the last! This is a novel featuring Dr. Helen Young, who we know throughout the book as Nell. She works reproducing classic maps after a falling out with her father, Dr. Daniel Young, who works at the New York Public Library in the illustrious map department. Upon notification of her father’s sudden death, a mysterious item is found which spurs Nell on a journey that ties to her previous losses. This clever adventure features so many wonderful elements: mystery, romance, fantasy, suspense, history and some serious map nerdiness that I have not seen in my reading before. The information about maps, from ancient copies to new technology, as well as the intriguing story of The Cartographers was satisfying and added unique elements to the book. The characters were well-drawn and I enjoyed the tension among various members as well as how they cared for each other. Pacing was solid and I savored the entire story, especially the ending which is highly discussable for book club. I questioned some of the choices made by the author in the final scenes, however, it did not take away from my reading experience. To be able to enjoy such a dynamic and informative novel was an absolute delight! (Do not skip the author’s note! It has information that helped me appreciate the book even more.). Thank you to Net Galley and Thoughts From a Page Podcast for this opportunity.

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd is a very highly recommended, outstanding, creative, and enchanting thriller/mystery. What an excellent novel!

It is no wonder Nell Young's greatest passion is cartography since her father, Dr. Daniel Young, is a cartographic scholar who rules the map rooms at the New York Public Library. She was thrilled to be an intern at the library until the two had a terrible argument over a map that resulted in her being fired and summarily shunned by other serious cartographers. Nell had not seen or spoken to her father in seven years when she received a call informing her that he has died in his office and asking her to come to the library. While in his office she discovers in the hidden compartment in his desk the same map the two fought so bitterly over seven years earlier.

The map is ostensibly a worthless road map from the 1930's. The kind of map you would pick up at a gas station and throw in the glove box. Why would this map be hidden as if it was a treasure? Nell serendipitously slips the map into her bag. Later, while she is investigating, she discovers that this particular edition of the map is very rare and valuable, in fact, it may be the only known copy in existence. Did this seemingly innocuous map lead to her father's death? Nell's search for the truth broadens to encompass the map but also of her parent's college friends and her mother's death.

Shepherd does an exceptional job tying together elements of a thriller, mystery, and magic realism into a thoroughly engaging novel exploring the power of maps - and more. The question is asked throughout the narrative, "What is the purpose of a map?" and the answers are diverse. A novel about cartographers might not initially make you envision an un-put-downable thriller, but set that dubious thought aside. Yes, there are lots of maps mentioned, but it doesn't detract from the elements the comprise an excellent thriller. When the magic realism enters the narrative, you will already be fully invested in the plot and the outcome.

Nell is a wonderful fully realized character. She is passionate, intelligent, and determined. I quite liked her stubbornness and perseverance, even when facing danger. All the characters are obsessed and passionate about maps. At the same time they are all depicted as specific individuals and each stands out as their own person. You will easily keep track of who is who because of their unique portrayals beyond their love of all things related to maps.

I really enjoyed The Cartographers and it is a contender for one of the best novels of the year! Be sure to read this one!

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of HarperCollins via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Edelweiss, Google Books, and Amazon.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

As soon as I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it…and I’m so glad I did because I absolutely loved it! I had heard early buzz about this one and then it was picked for an early read chat for the Patreon members of the Thoughts for a Page podcast group. And, my own bookclub also picked it…which I’m so excited about…this book is just too good not to be read and discussed!

First, I just have to say how much I absolutely love this cover. And the more you look at it, the more perfect it is for this book. Once you read it, it all makes sense, but the colors and the detail are just amazing. As for the book itself, I loved how all the parts of this came together – and there really is something here for everyone. Dark academia vibes, a murder mystery, some history, a little fantasy/magical realism and even a little romance thrown in. It all comes together in such a tightly plotted, brilliant story that’s full of suspense and totally original.

The story is told from multiple points of view and moves back in forth in time. I loved how this helped to put the pieces together while at the same time, would leave us with little cliffhangers throughout as we moved back and forth. I found that I was never at a loss as to who was who because each and every character was so richly drawn and quite honestly, the intrigue that is surrounding the mystery of what happened kept me fully engaged and captivated. As much as I wanted to take my time with this book because I wanted to really immerse myself in this story, I also had a hard time putting it down because I needed to see how it all played out. I needed to know why each character was keeping secrets and how it factored into what happened all those years ago.

I loved the way maps really played such a big part in this story and felt I learned so much about them here. I’m not going to include anything here because of spoilers but I will say that I did love that part of this story was set in the Map Division of the New York Public Library and next time I head into the city you can be sure I will be heading there! Maps hold so many possibilities and I love the way the author explored this.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It was such an original story and one that I definitely plan on rereading at some point because I just loved it so much. If this isn’t already on your radar, definitely put it on your list – it comes out March 15!

The Cartographers took me on a ride through a magical world of maps and magic with some NYC thrown in. The story goes back and forth between a group of college friends spending a summer together working on a cartography project and the present day with the daughter of one of the cartographers trying to find out the truth of what happened that summer. I loved this book so much! It kept me hooked from the first chapter and I could barely put it down. I really enjoyed all the characters and the different personalities and what each person brought to the group. The descriptions of cartography fascinated me and I found myself wanting to see some of the maps that were discussed. The only negatives for me were that some of the elements of the magic were a bit confusing to me. I probably needed to read a little slower, but I just couldn't wait to see what happened! Thanks for the ARC @netgalley!

I've been eagerly anticipating this novel ever since I read the synopsis. When I got the chance to read it, I leapt at the chance, and dove right in. I finished it a few days ago, and have been struggling with how to review it ever since.

The central idea of the novel is one that has pretty much limitless potential - the twist Shepherd has put on phantom settlements is brilliant. I've been thinking about it a lot ever since it popped up in the story. I kept reading, wondering where the author was going to take it, eager to see where she went. As it turned out: not very far. This is the rare instance of a novel featuring a great idea that kind of gets sidelined.

I'm not sure if this makes sense, but everything felt incidental to everything else: the magical realism felt incidental to Nell's family's story, which felt incidental to the utterly-predictable "love" story, which felt incidental to the mystery, etc. While Shepherd's prose is very good, much of the components of the story were predictable and familiar. The characters were a bit underdeveloped or inconsistent (Nell's reactions to pretty much everything didn't ring true).

Shepherd is a good writer (her list of awards and commendations long), but I think this could have been so much more. I'm still interested to see what Shepherd comes up with next. This just didn't quite work for me. Which is fine: not every book is going to be for everyone.

My first (and so far only) five star read of the year! This was quite a ride, but I absolutely loved it. Nell Young is a cartographer whose promising career was ruined... by her own father. That was seven years ago, and at the start of the novel she is languishing at a company that creates reproductions of old maps when she gets a call from her old mentor at the New York Public Library asking her to come there because of something that happened with her dad, who still works there. It turns out that he's dead, and Nell is not sure how to feel after having not spoken to him for 7 years. In a secret compartment in his desk, she finds her dead mother's portfolio, which her father was using to store a single road map from the 1930s. This happens to be one of the maps in a junk box that Nell found in the uncatalogued maps section of the library and which led directly to her father having her fired very publicly, which ultimately ruins her career. She quickly learns that there's something going on with this map, as someone breaks into the NYPL to try to steal it, and she looks up other copies and learns that they have all been lost, stolen, or destroyed. Her copy is the last one left. As she tries to unravel the mystery of the maps, she reconnects with the boyfriend who also lost his job in her altercation with her father, and meets old friends of her father and late mother who help her put some of the pieces together. A great mystery with a little magic/fantasy built in that I was not expecting but found completely compelling.

A young woman whose whole life is maps is disgraced and has her career ruined by her own father. When he dies suddenly, she starts to unravel the mystery that caused their rift and changed her father forever.

“Cartography, at its heart, was about defining one’s place in the world by creating charts and measurements.” “But she could see now that she had been paying attention to the wrong references. It was not a map alone that made a place real. It was the people.”

Not exactly a fantasy novel, but one which stretched my imagination, just beyond the limits of reality. 7 Phd graduates who are close friends, embark on a project which will impact their lives in profound, creative and deadly ways. Fast forward in time to the now grown daughter of 2 of them, and her mission to discover unanswered questions, and survive while doing so. At its core are The New York Public Library and a fictional tech juggernaut. Characters who care deeply for these institutions will battle to the end to preserve their agendas and personal stories. A number of twists highlight this satisfying read - keep this one spoiler free at all costs, and definitely read the author notes carefully!
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for my honest review.
3+ stars rounded up

The premise of the novel is unique and with a backdrop of the NYPL, it has great appeal. In fact, I am now looking forward to visiting the maps division of the library someday.

In The Cartographers, Peng Shepherd reveals the artistic beauty of maps and the mysteries they can hold. The main character, Nell, has been estranged from her cartographer father for seven years. The estrangement began after Nell, also a cartographer who worked at the NYPL, was fired by her father after an incident. When her father is found deceased at this desk in the NYPL, the story begins to unfold as Nell unravels the suspicious circumstances around his death. She discovers and follows clues which lead her to meet former university friends of her parents, each of whom had significant roles in her parent’s lives, around the time of Nell’s mother’s death. The Cartographers is told through multiple POV, and as the events of the past are recanted, tensions, suspicions, and danger mount in the present. There is also some magical realism and the author handles it so smartly, it adds an intriguing element to the suspense of the tale. .

I enjoyed The Cartographers and give it 3.75 stars.

Many thanks to William Morrow and Custom House for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 stars
Well, this was a humongous disappointment. The Cartographers is a prime example of a great idea, but terrible execution. I didn't vibe with the writing at all. It was bland and boring. The plot was idiotic and made no sense. The characters were flat, the villain's motives were non-sensical and the heroes pulled the stupidest shit imaginable.
The plot of The Cartographers is inspired by General Drafting and the town of Agloe NY. I first heard about Agloe when I read John Green's Paper Towns and his infamous TED Talk on the topic of paper towns and phantom settlements. I found the concept so cool, mix it in with some magical realism, and this could have been such a great book. But with the weak characterization and non-existent plot, The Cartographers ended up being a terrible disappointment. Should have DNF-ed it at 30%. I had to force myself to finish this book.



Disclaimer:
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and unbiased.

I loved the premise behind The Cartographers, and the way that Shepherd included elements of magical realism in the story. Even though some of the characters' actions strained credulity, the book serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers of obsession.

As a librarian with a background in archives and preservation, this book hit all the sweet spots! I knew this was going to be an interesting premise based on the description itself. Taking place within the New York Public Library and exploring the significance of maps of the United States throughout its history, The Cartographers makes for a thrilling adventure while also reminding us to value the preservation of history between yesterday and today.