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

What a marvellous and unusual read this was. An eco-historical-fantasy novel which is set at the end of the 19th century epic train journey across the perilous Wastelands on the Trans-Siberian Express from Beijing to Moscow. The Wastelands are a vast area of growth and mutations which are considered dangerous, but maybe there is more danger from the controllers of the train company…

The novel expertly creates a sense of dread, wonder and building tension as we follow several characters on the train. The main character is Weiwei, a girl who was adopted by the train crew and whose discovery of a stowaway presages the strange events to come. Other characters include Henry Grey, a scientist and collector who is desperate to study the Wastelands, and Marya, who is investigating a mystery connected with her late father. There are a variety of nationalities on board, with Chinese and Russian predominating as the train connects the two Empires. The historical and geographical details of the alternative Victorian era were well thought-out and seemed very real. This is Sarah Brooks’ debut novel. I am wary of trying authors I haven’t read before as the writing style is very important to my enjoyment of the book. I liked the style and although there was over-use of some descriptions (people are always freezing and then moving in quick succession!) I was impressed and would read more of her work.

Thank you to the publisher Orion for the advance copy via NetGalley. The book will be published on 20th June.