By Sarah Brooks
** Publication Date 18 June 2024 ** 5 stars / This review will be posted on goodreads.com today. There is only one way across the Wastelands, the Trans-Siberian Express. The Wastelands are a mysterious and dangerous place. Passengers of the train are trying to get from China to Russia or back again, though they also want to have the experience of the Wastelands and its magical creatures. Weiwei is the child of the train. Born to a dying mother on the train, she has been raised by the entire crew, from the cook to the captain. Weiwei is as much a part of the train as the engines. As the train ventures from Beijing for Russia once again, with both first and third class full, Weiwei finds a stowaway. A young girl, about Weiwei’s age, Elena seems to know more about the Wastelands than anyone. Weiwei is torn whether to report Elena to the captain or help her stay hidden away. On the last passage, something went wrong. Neither Weiwei nor the other crew nor the frequent travelers remember what happened. Which causes Weiwei, the child who knows more about this train than anyone, to be somewhat afraid. With her stowaway friend’s help, perhaps Weiwei can solve some of the mysteries and get the train safely through the Wastelands to Russia. Truly a magical story about a special young girl and her friend, and a quite incredible train. Each character’s piece of the story belongs. These pieces are so well interwoven to create this incredible fantasy of the wildness that can consume us all. If you’re a fantasy fan, you should love this tale of an unbelievable place and the people that cross it.
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By Kimi Cunningham Grant
** Publication Date 18 June 2024 ** 4.25 stars / This review will be posted on goodreads.com today. How does it feel to have your life pulled out from under you? To lose your way in life. To feel like you have to leave everything behind and start over. The Nature of Disappearing tackles this for one young woman. Emlyn has run away from life more than once. She learned it well, from her mother. And then in college, Janessa befriends her and turns her life upside down. Suddenly the reclusive, shy Emlyn is wearing fancy clothes and visiting clubs and going to exclusive parties. All because of Janessa. Then Emlyn meets Tyler. Who also turns her life upside down. It also causes Emlyn and Janessa to no longer speak. So when things go wrong with Tyler, Emlyn has nowhere to go but away and start her life over, yet again, this time as a wilderness guide in a small town. Until Tyler shows up in Emlyn’s new life and begs her to help him find Janessa. Janessa has gone off grid and Tyler is thinking the worst. Because Emlyn is Emlyn, she agrees to help Tyler try to find Janessa in the wilderness. What Emlyn doesn’t expect is for things to go terribly wrong. Loved this suspenseful novel about love and loss and fighting for your life - not only the physical life, but your heart and soul as well. Emlyn is someone that you want to fight for. She’s fought so hard in the past and present - as the novel does flip back and forth. Janessa is a wealthy social media star, but she has some very tough girl qualities that can make her endearing. This is a good one. |
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