Book review: The Cartographers

I read The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd on my phone. Normally I don't read fantasy on e-reader, because I find the sensation of holding a physical book to be critical to being able to sink into another world. However, I found myself with a bad case of allergies while in Nashville and couldn't focus on the non-fiction book I'd packed for the trip. Off to hoopla I went, and this was the first book I found that I'd heard of before.

I'm so glad I read this book, even if I'm pissed. While I've never seen anything comping The Cartographers to Brigadoon, it's totally a modern Brigadoon. I'm too late. Alas! This is the risk of retellings: no one owns ideas, and anyone can write a story based on the classics. Maybe someday I'll think of another way to bring a new twist to my old favorites.

All jokes aside, I really liked this book. I thought the interstitial POV's from the parent's friends were really clever. I also felt like this book hit that perfect mix of reader experience: I knew who the villain was before the characters, and I love it when authors pull that off.

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Audely Bensen Writes

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