Member Review

The Elsewhere Express only picks up people who have lost their way in life, giving them a chance to forget all their baggage and enjoy a life full of magic forged from the songs and emotions. Raya is a lost soul who gave up her dream to live her brother's after he passed away. She arrives at the Elsewhere Express with no desire to be there and the goal of getting back to the life she doesn't really want. Q is an artist who's losing his sight and his desire to be in the world, and he wants nothing more than to stay on the train that gave him back his sight. They arrive together and are immediately pulled into the dangerous task of finding a dark stowaway that's putting the train and everyone in it in danger. Can they find the stowaway in time and figure out what their true purpose is?

SSY books always leave me confused in a way that I appreciate. The story is pretty straightforward, even when things don't always play out chronologically or even completely rationally, but there is so much to dig through, explore, and think about that makes it something you can't just read and be done with. It's a book that invites you to sit and think about it, forcing you to think about your own life even when it might not apply at all to your current situation.
The characters are fascinating, with full backstories that help you understand their actions on the train and connect with their emotions at times when you might disagree with them. You're rooting for Raya to heal from her trauma, and for Q to get to keep his sight. You're interested in the other passengers and how they ended up on the Elsewhere Express.
There is so much to process. It's impossible to read this and not find yourself fully immersed in the world. This also makes for a heavy read that demands your full attention; it isn't always something that pays off, but The Elsewhere Express is definitely worth it.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the thought-provoking read!