Review - The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks

 

 

Title: The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands

Author: Sarah Brooks

Pages: 367

Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Release Date: 20th June 2024

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 It is said there is a price that every passenger must pay. A price beyond the cost of a ticket.

It is the end of the nineteenth century and the world is awash with marvels. But there is nothing so marvellous as the a terrain of terrible miracles that lies between Beijing and Moscow.

Nothing touches the Wastelands except the Great Trans-Siberian an impenetrable train built to carry cargo across continents, but which now transports anyone who dares.

Onto the platform steps a curious cast of Marya, a grieving woman with a borrowed name; Weiwei, a famous child born on the train; and Henry Grey, a disgraced naturalist.

But there are whispers that the train isn't safe. As secrets and stories begin to unravel, the passengers and crew must survive their journey together, even as something uncontrollable seems to be breaking in . . .

  

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My Review:

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group*

The Great Trans-Siberian is the only way to cross the Wastelands that lie between Beijing and Moscow. The train is a wonder, and supposedly protects the passengers from the dangers outside, but there are rumours this isn't the case.

Will the train and its passengers survive the crossing?

The premise of this book intrigued me, and as a fan of historical fantasy novels, I was eager to read it.

There were three protagonists; Marya, who concealed her true identity by pretending to be a mourning widow; Weiwei, who was born on the train and had been on every crossing since working as a member of staff; and Henry Grey, who was a scientist that had been disgraced and would do anything to regain his good name. Of the three, I found Marya and Weiwei more interesting and relatable. I felt for them, but didn't find Henry very easy to care for.

The setting of the train and the Wastelands were both intriguing and I liked finding out more about both.

The plot was enjoyable to begin with, but I did find myself losing interest after a while as the pacing was a bit off.

I am a little disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more, but the book didn't quite come together for me.

Overall, this was a mixed read.

 

 

Review - The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins

 

 

 

 Title: The Blue Hour

Author: Paula Hawkins

Pages: 336

Publisher: Transworld Digital

Release Date: 10th October 2024

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 The masterful new thriller from the global No.1 bestseller and one of our most powerful psychological storytellers.

Eris, an island with only one house, one inhabitant, one way out. Unreachable from the Scottish mainland for twelve hours each day.

Once home to Vanessa. A famous artist whose notoriously unfaithful husband disappeared twenty years ago.

Now home to Grace. A solitary creature of the tides, content in her own isolation.

But when a shocking discovery is made in an art gallery far away in London, a visitor comes calling.

And the secrets of Eris threaten to emerge . . .

 

 Goodreads | Storygraph | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop

 

 

 

 

My Review:

 *I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK*

 

There is a Scottish island called Eris that is only accessible from the mainland at certain times of the day.

The island was once inhabited by Vanessa, a famous artist who had a tumultuous relationship with her husband who went missing.

Grace now lives on the island - a friend of Vanessa's whose isolation is about to be disturbed by a visitor who will unearth memories and secrets best left buried.

This was my first Paula Hawkins novel, and I wasn't sure what I would make of it, but I did enjoy the book overall.

There are essentially three protagonists - Vanessa, the artist who passed away several years ago and whose perspective we see through her diary entries; Grace, a doctor, who became friends with Vanessa and later lived with her; and Becker, a fan of Vanessa's work who is involved with the institute that now owns Vanessa's work. Vanessa, Grace, and Becker were all quite different, and it was interesting to find out more about them.

The setting of Eris was eerie and very isolated. It certainly added to the atmosphere of the book.

The plot was enjoyable, if a little predictable. I found the ending disappointing and a little pointless.

I found the writing style engaging and it was very easy to keep reading.

While I am maybe a little disappointed I didn't enjoy this more, I would definitely consider reading another novel by the author.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.