A Vandermeerian tale with notes of The Night Circus and What Moves the Dead, The Cautious Traveler’s Guide to the Wastelands stands unique and tactile, at once astonishingly vague and crystal clear.
The story follows a train in the late nineteenth century that traverses a path throughout regions unknown and terrifying, ever since an ecological mutation years before. It has run since its conception without issue, carrying the curious and the ambitious, travelers on a journey full of potential unknowns and windows to a strange and ever altering world. This journey, however, is different. Something changed on the last crossing, and none of the crew can remember what, exactly, it was, only that the mysterious Company that rules the line is keeping secrets and the Captain has been uncharacteristically absent.
The daughter of the man blamed for technical malfunctions last crossing dons a false name in order to clear him of guilt. The child of the train feels the discrepancy in her memories and is determined to seek out the truth. The disgraced scientist, certain that he is being pulled toward a new Eden, is in search of discovery. These, and more, all have their parts to play, and their journey is a lingering and colossal thing unlike, in its entirety, anything I have ever read before. Pick this book up on June 18th and you will not regret it.

(Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron books for a digital arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/154985516

If you're looking for a strange, alternate history adventure on a train that travels through an otherworldly landscape with solid character development and strong writing, this could be a book for you! Take 18th century class divides, a powerful colonial trade company, and put it on the Snowpiercer train through Annihilation's landscape, and you get this book, and I really enjoyed it! While the summary describes it as a cross of Piranesi and the midnight library, I found it was more of a cross between Murder on the Orient Express, Snowpiercer, and the works of new weird authors such as Jeff Vandermeer or China Mieville.

The book largely follows several POV characters riding on an alternate history Trans-Siberian railroad that drives through a wasteland that has opened in Siberia. Each of the POV characters is on the train for a different reason, and the mystery of what the wasteland is and does to those who pass through, and some strange occurrences that occurred on the last ride the train took that ended in disaster drive the plot forward. Overall I thought each POV character had a strong distinct voice and offered interesting (and sometimes twisted) perspectives on the strange occurrences around the wasteland and the train.

My favorite part of the book was the atmosphere itself. The author did an excellent job creating a fascinating world filled with equal parts wonder and dread in trying to understand what is happening. The overall setting on the train was a great choice, and really gave a strong sense of space.

While I have no major critiques of the book, there were some parts towards the end where some of the events occurring get a bit confusing, but it did not detract from the reading experience or the somewhat strange yet satisfying conclusion to the book. I would definetely recommend this book to fans of the new weird genre and I look forward to reading over novels from the author.

Received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The descriptive expressions in this book were charming, all aboard a unique passage on the trans-Siberian Express.

Sometimes, I have difficulty slowing down and concentrating on the minute details, but the language used to write and orchestrate this plot was lovely. It has a bit of an interesting vibe—a setting full of mystery and intrigue, with a bit of supernatural horror underlining. There are also some confusing plot points, which left a bit of confusion as to the actions of a couple of characters in the story.

While it was a smidge slow, it was a intriguing mysterious tale. I immensely enjoyed the uniquely clever journey.

The synopsis for this book originally intrigued me because of the mystery surrounding the wastelands but it ended up falling a little flat for me. The first couple chapters felt a little slow with the introduction of several characters. Some of them had interesting backstories and reasons for being on the train but their characters ended up feeling stagnant. The initial suspense and mystery of the wastelands ended up losing momentum halfway through and didn't deliver after the rising tension. Lastly, some of the events felt disconnected or led the reader to believe they were later going to serve a greater purpose but did not.

The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wasteland was a very unique book. The story did not go where I thought it would so the ending was unexpected. A very interesting concept.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this going in, as a the blurb I got on Netgalley was pretty sparse. I love an alternate history fantasy, and I’m really glad I read it. The characters, especially Marya, Weiwei, Elena, and Suzuki, were compelling. The Wastelands were interesting and reminded me of Annihilation (the movie) in the sense of landscapes being changed/altered in an unnatural or chaotic way.

I think I liked the first half more, and I was expecting it to lean a little more into horror than it ended up doing. I also thought it would lean into the corporate conspiracy stuff a little more (I want to know more about what the Company was hiding!). The last 20 pages or so felt a little rushed and the epilogue felt a little too neat for my liking, but overall I really enjoyed this and look forward to reading more from this author!

I picked this arc up on a whim and did NOT expect to love it as much as I did. The world is large and compelling without ever falling into the alluring trap of too much lore, the characters have depth, and the story is compelling. What more could I ask for?

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

I enjoyed the premise of the book. It felt a bit like Snowpiercer, with people separated by class in some weird train dystopia-ish situation. I liked the book, up until the ending. The ending/epilogue just didn't make a lot of sense to me; it just felt like an easy way out. I think there needed to me more consequences or a stronger direction or something, instead of just petering out to things being just fine. 3 5 stars.

1 train, 23 days, 3 different points of view. Hop on the Trans-Siberian Express at your own risk but witness the wonders of the Wastelands. The warning: do not let it in or it may just consume you.

I love the way the story begins. It has a very Murder on the Orient Express feel with the introduction of the train and all its different characters. The story, however, plays out much more differently. This is not a murder mystery, this is an adventure of discovery. The wastelands are a dangerous place, and this crossing is a risk to every passenger that decided to take it on. Though the Company boasts safety, all the characters are affected and transformed one way or another by the wasteland.


I enjoyed reading this story immensely. I felt like I was on a train adventure myself. Though the wastelands had little effect on me, I felt immersed every single step of the way.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Taking place aboard a transiberian train designed and engineered to carry passengers across the eerie and corrupted wastelands, this story tells the tale of the train’s travels, and the passengers on it. This journey feels different though- something happened on the last trip, something that is spoken about only in rumor and whispers, in which the survivors claim no memory.

The story feels like it’s holding its breath, like something is always *almost* going to happen, creating a very ominous air at first. The style reminds me a lot of Annihilation. Very different stories, but similar weird, almost psychedelic imagery that leaves you like “woah what” at the end. At no point did I really know what to expect. This is like a slow unraveling of your sanity along with the characters, and I’m still not totally sure what I read.

Overall, recommend this one- just know that it’s a slow burn and very weird.

The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands follows an eccentric cast of passengers as they ride the Trans-Siberian Express across the strange and sinister Wastelands, stretching from (if I recall correctly.) Beijing to Moscow. Their conflicting motivations and hidden connections to the shadowy Company that operates the train come to a head when the journey begins to go awry.

Highlights of this book for me included the concept (locked-room mystery meets creeping supernatural horror), the cast of characters (including a Chinese train brat born on the rail, a disgraced English naturalist, and a Russian woman with something to hide), and the framing device ( the in-universe titular travelogue). I really felt the author's background in the details about the geographic setting (entering Siberia via China), which was another high point for me and something she made real use of.

Going into this book, I imagined a cross between Murder on the Orient Express and a horror novel like Mexican Gothic, and though elements of each were present in the story I ultimately felt that it was much more of a magical realism piece, genre-wise. There wasn't much mystery (things were simply revealed over the course of the novel), nor was it particularly scary/suspenseful. Though I enjoyed the archetypical characters, I found them to be tonally quite similar and never really connected to any one of them or their motivations in anything but an intellectual sense. I also felt that the supernatural/magical elements were overexplained, and though the worldbuilding was interesting it felt a little spoon-feedy at the cost of real investment in the plot. Overall I would rate this 3.5/5 stars, and would recommend it to someone with the caveat that it is more magical realism then anything else.

The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands is definitely a unique book. The entire book is set on one train journey between Beijing and Moscow and what happens while the train is traveling through the Wastelands, a desolate barren place between the two that people fear and are curious about.

The book took a little time to get going, as it was introducing characters and setting up the story. It moved a little slow, but you learn the backstories of all the main characters as well as why they are on the train. However, about halfway through the book, it really picks up and gets interesting, and that’s where the magic occurs.

Beautifully written, this book has lots of detail and train(?) building. The descriptive writing really helps you to really imagine what the train and Wastelands look like.

I really enjoyed reading this unique book. If you like trains, magic realism, and wonderfully descriptive books, you definitely need to read this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

"What’s that? A refrain that echoes through every crossing. The crew have taught themselves not to react. A crawler, a specter; some familiar strangeness."

This was really good and inventive. The writing is a little thick so it took me a while to finish, but I was engrossed almost the entire time.

One part historical fantasy, one part science fiction, and a decent helping of horror thrown in. A train full of people traverses the wastelands that are both dangerous and unknowable, a land known for inducing bouts of madness or even memory loss.

The Plotting + Writing:
The story is told from 3 POVs. Arguably WeiWei, the child of the train, is the main POV and where most of the story orbits. She is curious and confident with a streak of defiance that helps her pursue a new relationship with the Wastelands.

Next is Marya, who is investigating a mystery and what happened on the previous journey. And lastly the scientist Grey (arguably the closest the book comes to a villain, other than the Crows/corporation) who is wealthy and entitled and driven by a need to define, own, and put his name to the universe.

Horror:
I'm honestly surprised that Horror isn't a higher label for this book. Maybe it's that the US cover is deceptively sweet, even while the plants on the UK cover mimic skeletons. There are a lot of bugs and tendrils and a persistent sense of uneasiness/foreboding that starts around the first third and never lets up for the rest of the novel. For the most part the descriptions are not gruesome, only haunting, aside from some predator/prey observations.

The Train:
Looking back at the synopsis, I totally see the Piranesi comparisons now. This isn't like Piranesi in the language and almost poetic nature, nor in the mysteries or plot unfurlings, but it's certainly similar in that the train and the Wastelands are essentially characters themselves. The setting is essential to the story and is often a living thing (the pulse of the train like a heartbeat, the connections in the Wastelands like veins).

Overall:
I really enjoyed this a lot and would probably give it a solid 4.5/5 stars, but with potential to be upgraded on further reflection if it really sits with me. If anything about the synopsis or reviews appeals to you, definitely try it! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Awesome idea, beautiful atmosphere, and compelling plot. The second half was bursting with gorgeous imagery that reminded me of Annihilation. However, my main nitpick was that the characters were just not fully realized enough. I feel like I barely knew anyone except Weiwei, and even she was pretty weak. Because I didn’t really know in the players, it was really only by the strength of concept and the skillfully growing sense of dread kept moving it forward—I actually almost gave up at the 43% mark but I am super glad I picked it up again! Absolutely worth reading (if only for the ending) but not a good as it could have been.

Thanks to NetGalley for the EArc!

Reading the synopsis for this books didn’t really give the reader a idea of what lay within. This book should be read all in one sitting, if you wait too long between readings or only read a little at a time details get lost and continuity fails. Reading the first half the wrong way made me appreciate reading the last half that much more.

Absolutely loved the atmosphere of this book - inventive, creepy, mysterious, and awe-inspiring at time. Great cast of characters who kept me intrigued throughout. Excellent descriptive writing. Overall a solid 4.5 stars out of 5. I do wish there had been a bit more concrete answers given regarding the mystery around happenings of the previous journey on the train, but it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book.

Described as steampunk fantasy and set in the Victorian age (end of 19th Century), The Cautious Traveler's Guide to the Wastelands features a trans siberian train reminiscent of Agatha Christie's classic. In this story, the train is the only way to travel to the Wasteland - a land of "terrible miracles" and an indescribable marvel.

As the story begins and the train bears down on the area between Beijing and Moscow we meet a series of passengers that have decided to pay the price for a ticket including a child born on the train! The widow Marya, the naturalist Henry and even a stowaway feature in this story and the group decides to trust each other as things on the train begin to go wrong. If you are a lover of scify, dark stories and historical fantasy this is a book for you! #flatironbooks #thecautioustravellersguidetothewastelands #sarahbrooks

Summary:
This follows multiple PoV’s during the multi-day journey from China to Moscow on the Great Trans-Siberian Express. There aren’t solid character chapter designations, but it does follow 3 characters really consistently with the occasional foray into other minor characters.

Positives:
+ I loved how colourful the descriptions of the strange train happenings were. So beautiful and horrible at the same time.
+ Absolutely loved the final chapter of the story and the epilogue. Are you allowed to love the wrapped up conclusion of a story more than the actual journey through it? I adored how the author tied things together. Such a beautiful feeling to end on. Recommend on the feelings-high provided alone.

Negatives:
- I could not bond with any of the main or side characters in the book. The way that the perspectives jumped around so much didn’t give me time to sympathize with them. There were absolutely characters that I didn’t enjoy: Henry Gray immediately jumps to mind. I feel like the most interesting aspect about the two main female characters started to really flourish at the end of the book. Why were the most epic parts of them confined to the last few chapters? … Side note, if there is a second book and it jumps off from where this book left off, awesome.

Final Thoughts:
I have mixed feelings about this book. This was a roller-coaster of feelings: from mounting horror to wonder. The story reminded me of a combination of Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” and T. Kingfisher’s “What Moves the Dead”. I would have loved it more if the last few chapters were the first few chapters of the story and it went on from there. There was a mounting creeping horror throughout the story that was done really well. This book didn’t feel like it was the right fit for me. I would recommend this book to people that enjoy a sinister sneaking horror throughout their historical fantasy.

This book was a hit for me. Although it started off a bit slow, it quickly picked up and had me hooked. I loved the genre blend of sci fi and fantasy this novel embodied. It transported me to an alternative timeline for 19th century China/Russia, showcasing modern marvels and alien landscapes. The group of character onboard the Great Trans-Siberian Express were eclectic and well-written. You were drawn into their stories and why they are connected to the train. The prose is engaging, and the plot is unique and mysterious-keeping the reader in its grip until the end. This is an easy book to recommend because I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. 4.5 stars.

So, this book was on my radar from the jump (I mean, c'mon? That title??), but it was an author recommending it on their Insta that really cinched it for me. This was a weird, wonderful, fantastical book with this undercurrent of unease running throughout the majority of the novel. Part historical fantasy, part gothic horror, part mystery, this book follows three main POVs: Marya (a woman posing as a grieving widow with secrets of her own), Weiwei (the child of the train), and Dr. Grey (a disgraced naturalist trying to regain his former glory). I'd say that Dr. Grey was my least favorite character and POV, but considering I loved this book that doesn't mean much.

The writing in this was just... so, so luscious. From the descriptions of the landscape and the train to the way the characters interacted with one another. I loved it all.

I will say that I can definitely see why this would be divisive. This book takes place in a sort of alternate history where the stretch of land between Beijing and Moscow becomes... strange. It necessitates the building of a railway between the two points to reconnect an area that was previously lost. The Wastelands are weird and surreal and haunting and occasionally confusing. This book doesn't really take the time to fully explain the finer nuances of the Wasteland. It sort of just is. And the ending might be a bit confusing, too. But, again, I loved all of it.

I wish I could articulate better just how weird and wonderful and creepy this was, with like the faintest undercurrent of hope towards the end. Just a delightful read and one I'm probably going to think on for some time.