Book Blurb
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 Wastelands: a terrain of terrible miracles that lies between Beijing and Moscow.
Nothing touches the Wastelands except the Great Trans-Siberian Express: an impenetrable train built to carry cargo across continents, but which now transports anyone who dares.
Onto the platform steps a curious cast of characters: 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 . . .
My Review
What first drew me to this book was the title, why is caution needed on a train journey, the idea of the journey across Wastelands and the beautiful cover, art deco inspired. Taking this into account I was excited to receive a copy to review from the kind people at Weidenfeld & Nicolson through the post.
Set in 1899 on board the The Great Trans-Siberian Express from China to Russia we go on a journey we will never forget. The voyage is told from the point of view of three very different characters, all of whom have their own reasons for taking this perilous journey across the toxic and hostile terrain of the Wastelands. Marie is using a false identity to look for answers of a previous journey that no one seems to remember. Dr Henry Grey, a disgraced scientist looking to redeem himself and his career and finally Weiwei, who was born on the train and continues to live there.
Sarah Brooks’s characters are fabulously drawn, with their own stories intertwined with that of the train. Weiwei was my favourite, I loved her energy for life, of being able to read people and get information and her oneness with the train. There is a fabulous cast of supporting characters like the Countess, the Professor and Suzuki who maps out the Wasteland.
Sarah Brooks captures the excitement and atmosphere of the train and its journey into the unknown. The detail of the Wasteland is imaginative and otherworldly, a place that is its own contained ecosystem, evolving and growing. Whilst portrayed as a place of hostility it also has a sense of beauty.
The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands is breathtaking and captivating read. The characters are memorable, the plot dark and atmospheric with a touch of claustrophobia that make this such an engaging and immersive read. If you fancy something a bit different then I highly recommend taking the Trans Siberian Express and seeing the Wastelands for yourselves.
