I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from A Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands but I was pleasantly surprised by this mysterious and atmospheric historical fantasy.

There is a lot that’s happening in the background and off page which, might frustrate some people but if you’re in this for an eerie mystery I think you’ll have a good time. There was still a plot but for me it was the vibes that kept me hooked. The writing was so atmospheric that I wanted to spend more time in the weird world that Sarah Brooks created. The audiobook absolutely had a positive effect on my reading experience in that respect.

I definitely enjoyed my time with this book but I’m not sure how long it’ll stick with me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC. This is my honest review.

I've tried so hard to get into this book, but it's simply not happening. Something about the pacing feels weird to me and I keep getting confused on who is who and what exactly the danger is...?

The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks was a mixed bag. The premise was fascinating and unique. I also found it to be atmospheric. A few of the characters were especially interesting, but most of them were one-dimensional. It took so long to get into and understand what was happening that by the time I did, I had a hard time staying invested. What is particularly disappointing is that I sort of loved the ending, but by that point, I was just happy it was over.

The narrator's voice was great, but Wastelands would have worked better if the audio was performed by a full cast. I understand the expense and undertaking this requires, but the large cast of characters made it hard to differentiate them from each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me, it just wasn't working. I felt like more than half the story was meandering around and me wanting to find something to latch onto because the premise was just so promising!

This book is a captivating and immersive read that hooks you from the first page. The writing is beautifully crafted, with vivid descriptions and strong character development that makes the story come alive. The plot is well-paced, balancing moments of tension with quieter, reflective scenes that allow the characters to grow. The themes explored are deep and thought-provoking, resonating long after the final page. Whether it's the emotional depth, the twists and turns of the plot, or the unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys rich, engaging stories. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy.

This book was weird. I liked the world, I liked the characters, but it was weird. Narrator was enjoyable.

Dnfing 60%

Listened due to liking the narrator, but didn't find anything about this book very compelling. Kept zoning out and realized I didn't care about any of it.

If you love a train story, boy, is this the book for you.

It's nothing like Snowpiercer or Murder on the Orient Express, and yet it has those vibes, maybe because it's just a bunch of personalities on a train and a mystery.

It's kind of got the vibe of Senlin Ascends. Maybe because it's a "guide" to a place that's laced with peril.

I don't know. This book took me forever to get through but not because I didn't enjoy it, just because of life, but every time I went to pick it up, I was more than happy to do so.

There's something kind of lovely and cozy about this book even though it is not a cozy story at all. I can't explain it.

I loved it. Highly recommend to anyone/everyone.

The concept of The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands had me intrigued. It's a gothic historical fantasy set on a train through the Wastelands from China to Russia. In this story we follow multiple passengers who board the train on the first journey since a horrific accident that occurred on the train with each character holding their own secrets.

However, I was left a bit disappointed by the overall execution. The atmosphere was spot on with being spooky and unsettling. However, the characters and the plot where what fell flat for me. I struggled to engage with the characters as they all felt at a distance from the reader. The plot is very slow moving as well. Typically I enjoy a slower moving plot, but without the character connection it fell flat for me.

I think if you enjoy books that are more vibes only, this may be for you. But if you are looking for a fast paced plot, it could be disappointing for you.

2.5 stars rounded up

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

The Cautious Guide... is a pleasant story, full of mystery. It has a cozy vibe for me and I enjoyed it overall. The whole experience was destroyed by the narration, because it was very much uneven. The narrator used commas in random places, and periods didn't exist for her. It was easy to get lost and become irritated on the way how the story was presented.

I didn't know much about this one before I started listening, but I was quickly sucked into this steam punk sci-fi story. Rich development of a world but still manages to highlight the ever present battle between environmentalists and corporations. Well suited for the audiobook format, as well.

Audiobook ARC from the publisher via NetGalley, but the opinions are my own.

The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands was an excellent listen. It was a fun romp with a great case of characters. I loved the adventure.

For fans of:
- Thornhedge

This book follows a mismatched group of strangers as they ride through Siberia from Beijing to St. Petersberg on a curious train. On this journey, readers watch these characters and the relationships they build with each other, the train, and the Wasteland, which calls to the travelers like a siren song. This book has themes of conservationism and greed, and brings the Wastelands to life in a tangible way. As they dive into each of the characters with their unique stories and motivations, readers will embark on their own journey of a lifetime.

This book includes:
- ensemble cast with several POVs
- found family
- a quest through a foreign land
- a little bit of class politics
- themes reflecting on human modernity's impact on nature
- commentaries on capitalist/corporate greed

I have never read a book like "The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands." This book has such a mesmerizing, dreamy feel that draws a reader in, much like how the Wastelands draw in the travelers. I found the book to be excellently written, with powerful prose and compelling character motivations. I particularly loved Maya and the cartographer character, IYKYK. The deeper themes were poignant, topical, and beautifully intertwined with the narrative without being overstated. I am deeply enamored by this story and the more I think about it, the more I love it. I am excited to share this book with my friends and followers.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Sarah Brooks for the opportunity to review this book. This review is also available on my GoodReads - check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863

I wanted to love this book, but it was trying to do too many things at once. It is hard to be mystery, fantasy, horror, and literary fiction on their own, let alone together- it never found its footing for me. The pacing was also quite slow until about the 70% mark when it just flew.

Both Katie Leung and Kobna Holbrook-Smith are brilliant narrators, and I wouldn't have stuck it through without them.

Pace was too slow for me to be fully invested in the characters and adventure. Which was a let down. The book had amazing bones! And an incredible description! I hope it does well!

Sarah Brooks' "The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands" weaves together historical fantasy, sci-fi, and horror in a gripping tale of a treacherous train journey through the mysterious Wastelands. With vivid, immersive descriptions and a plot that delves into madness and memory loss, the story is both eerie and captivating.

Katie Leung and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith’s narration brings the characters and the eerie setting to life, though the dense writing and slow plot progression might feel overwhelming at times. Despite this, the unique setting and genre blend make it a compelling listen for fans of richly detailed worlds.

This feels like it was written by an AI that was provided with descriptions of recent popular fantasy books and asked to replicate them programmatically. The pieces are mostly there - a vaguely magical train, characters with mysterious past, an evil corporation…. But there is no attempt to flesh out any of the multiple characters into someone whose goals are worth rooting for (or even fully understood). And the particular evils perpetrated by the villainous company are so poorly defined and generic that I was genuinely surprised that there was not a scene of tying a damsel to the train tracks. Give this one a miss - there are too many great, good, and even OK books along the same lines that are a better use of your time.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

2.5 stars

I expected this book to be a hit for me. I adore historical fantasy, and the premise sounded unique and fresh.

The Trans-Siberian Express traverses the Wastelands, where mythical creatures live. A lifelong passenger, Zhang Weiwei can’t remember what happened on the last trip but knows it was harrowing. As the train prepares for a new voyage, several new passengers have secret agendas to carry aboard. Weiwei soon learns the Wastelands aren’t as dangerous as the passengers on the train.

I’m not much of a DNFer, especially with audio, but several times I toyed with the idea of calling it quits. I loved the bits of atmosphere and whimsical nature, but I was bored. The story is mostly contained to the passengers, leaving little time to build what the Wastelands are truly like.

Because of how many characters there are, they all felt surface-level. Even WeiWei, my favorite of the bunch, was still flat. If the character’s motivations or end goals had been more aligned with each other, it would have worked better in my opinion.

Despite my disappointment, I will check out the author’s future works. She has so much potential; this is only her debut.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advance copy! All opinions and thoughts expressed are my own.

This is an absolutely terrific concept for a fantasy novel, and in some ways I think the book really achieved what it set out to do. In other ways, it doesn’t quite get there.

The premise is excellent and the atmosphere and sense of place is really well-rendered, which is probably the most important thing in a story like this. The characters were a mixed bag, though I really loved the idea of a train “lifer” and her role as both protagonist and, in a way, being a sort of human equivalent to being part of the train.

It feels inevitable in a book like this that eventually the outside will get in, so to speak, and also that said outside won’t be quite what it was believed to be. To that end the plot falls a bit short, as it goes pretty much as you would expect it to, and it lacks a big moment at the climax of the story that feels fresh and unique. I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t more to this than what there appeared to be, but it’s a lovely piece of immersive fiction that really captures the concept of a magical and slightly menacing train journey very well.

Fantasy is not my usual genre and I felt out of my depth with this title. I suspect it has its audience but it is not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley aan the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.