The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands cover art

The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands

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The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands

By: Sarah Brooks
Narrated by: Katie Leung, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
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About this listen

 The breathtaking historical fantasy set onboard the Great Trans-Siberian Express

'Imagine a crossover between Murder on the Orient Express, Game of Thrones and Paradise Lost . . . Brooks has serious talent' SUNDAY TIMES

'I was completely transported by this book . . . I urge everybody to pick up a copy' STUART TURTON

'Breathtaking . . . Abounding with mysteries and marvels' SAMANTHA SHANNON

'Exceptional. Strange, addictive, immersive, it's a steampunk Piranesi meets His Dark Materials' JENNIE GODFREY

'Mysterious and clever and brilliant' NATASHA PULLEY


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 . . .©2024 Sarah Brooks (P)2024 Orion Publishing Group Limited Epic Fantasy Historical Fiction Horror Science Fiction Steampunk Supernatural Thriller & Suspense Exciting Fiction
All stars
Most relevant
the ending might be a tad predictable but the story to that point?! my Golly gosh is it well well well worth hearing! you are in for a treat!

fantastical journey

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The narrator gabbled her way through the story. She seemed to be reading it for herself rather than for her listeners. Many words were lost in her rush to get to the end.

Poor narration spoiled a well written story.

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Agree with other comments about narrator, but I listened on 0.9 speed and it was much better.

Suboptimal narrator

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This may be a great book and one that I will have to read in book format to know. The quick fire narration for this audio book spoilt the story. I felt like I was being annunciated at by an angry primary school teacher.

Possibly a great story badly told

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Intriguing story… wonderful characters, an explanation about the deep connection between all things on our planet.

Compelling listen.. like being on the train and unable to get off..

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