What a delight this was to read! So creative and imaginative, and I find myself positively enthralled with the possibilities of the Wastelands.

This book is hard to describe. It's weird and tense and fantasy and sci-fi, it's set in an alternate historical timeline, it's a larger-than-life expedition through a fantastical and nightmarish place called the Wastelands, and yet it's really about the characters and their relationships to one another – and the Train, which is a character almost itself.

There is almost a sort of horror element, a touch of the Gothic.

It simply won't be neatly boxed into genre labels and easy descriptions. So much the better.

That said, there are, of course, a few minor points here and there, such as a line where Elena calls Weiwei by her name and the book says it is the first time she's done so, but I am almost positive it is not. There's also a slightly bigger and more confusing instance where <spoiler> it's hard to tell whether Weiwei knows if her friend the engineer let the doctor out into the Wastelands or not. It goes back and forth on this and it isn't ever really clear what way things actually played out.</spoiler>

In general I find that balancing such a large cast of characters and multiple povs can be tricky and, often enough, poorly executed. Here I found myself enjoying the different characters and their various arcs.

The ending wasn't what I was picturing either, and it is one of those endings that sort of leaves things a bit open but not in a bad way. If there's a sequel, I won't be mad, but I'm also content to leave this story where it is as a standalone and let my imagination fill in the rest.

I heard that fans of Piranesi and The Midnight Library would love this and said say less gimme it.
‘’..historical fantasy novel set on a train, about a group of passengers on a dangerous journey across a magical landscape.’’
This synopsis will make everyone be interested on this book and as they should. This was the next best thing. One of my new favs. Nothing like i read before.

“The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wasteland” by Sarah Brooks was a highly imaginative and creative story. It has a feeling of “Murder on the Orient Express” except it’s a Horror/Fantasy Novel. The book has an interesting cast of characters who force us to pay attention to the underlying forces of power and political intrigue during their journey on the Trans-Siberian Express. I loved the concept of this book but for me it was a slow read. However, I do think fans of historical fantasy will really enjoy it.

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

Thank you to NetGalley, author, Sarah Brooks, and the publisher Flatiron books for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest opinion of the book.

When I think about the debut book, The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks, it gives vibes of the Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. The book is an exceptional work of fantasy/ sci-fiction that takes place, at the turn of the century. Brooks has a bright future in the world of writing with her well-written story. I hope that she continues to write more in the future and will look for her future works. .

This has a wild Miyazaki vibe that I found extremely gripping. Personally wanted a bit more from the different character relationships but really successful over all.

Positively cinematic! Find a full cast of fascinating characters and unfold the mystery at the heart of the train with every turn of the page. Reminiscent of classic mysteries but sprinkled with fantasy, this tale celebrates truth seekers and the sublime of nature. Unlikely friendships abound and give heart to a cold world. I thoroughly enjoyed this historical adventure and I continue to find connections to current ecological concerns. Crossing my fingers for a series!

Thank you to Sarah Brooks and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was incredibly well written and full of amazing description. I think I expected it to be more of a fantasy, but instead it was more magical realism/alternate history in turn of the century Russia. I thought the idea was fantastic, though the story ended up feeling a bit slow. For readers who like literary fantasy/historical fantasy. I don’t know that I really connected with the characters or the overall plot. In conclusion, well-written but missing something. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Oh, and I enjoyed another character named Marya. Made me think of Senlin Ascends!

Reading this book bring a change in the observer--verve and imagination, especially may see some adjustments. The setting in The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands waffles between a small slice of life and a larger world with intrigue, politics, and power. Join The Cautious Traveller and learn that sometimes it's not Caution that's necessary, but imagination.

This was more fantasy/horror than I expected, and I loved it. It's like if you took the cast of Murder on the Orient Express and tossed them into a world where the wild expanse of Mongolia is a dangerous landscape that might make you lose your mind. Brooks handles the multiple viewpoints very well--each had their own unique voice. It dove into weirdness at the very end, which pleased me to no end. This will be popular with fans of Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries.

Utterly gripping and brilliant! This genre-bending work of literary fantasy meets and then defies expectation. The meticulous set-up of the three POV characters and their conflicting motives creates immediate tension, and the vivid descriptions of the train itself provide wonderful atmosphere. With its cars and compartments and hungry engines, it serves as a rich societal allegory, but the train itself is so nuanced that it at times acts as an additional character. The reader is invited to look up on it with the same wonder and horror as its occupants, the same awe at the Promethean ambitions of its creators.

With a fastidious attention to detail, the author unspools the narrative piece by tantalizing piece, always giving readers something new to ponder. The gradual build helps the reader to experience the same transformation as the traversers of the Wastelands. We get glimpses of what is happening just like passengers looking out train windows, always longing for more. Did I finish reading the book in a wild-eyed, obsessive frenzy that mirrored the zealotry of Henry Grey? Yes I did. Did I taste the sweet justice Marya tasted? Absolutely. And in the end, did I want to leave the Wastelands any more than Weiwei? No, no I did not.

I liked the premise of the book and the various characters were interesting, and I like the magical/fantasy aspects

It was heavily narrative, which isn’t my thing. I stopped after chapter 2 (4%). However, the reading is easy and the prose is full of random wit and random details that bring the story to life. If it keeps up, those who enjoy a slower story with rich prose will be pleased. Probably a solid three to four stars for the target audience, five for the right readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC.