by Samantha Sotto Yambao
4.8 · 4 reviews4 reviews
Similar territory, warmer execution. I loved it.
The episodic structure means a couple of the middle stops feel like variations on the same idea. The ending pulls it together well.
Every stop reveals more about the protagonist than the destination. Structurally clever and genuinely moving.
Sotto Yambao writes wonder without whimsy, which is a narrow line to walk. The carriages and the passengers are gorgeous inventions and the emotional core is grief handled beautifully.