The Cartographers

A Novel

De: Peng Shepherd

Narrado por: Emily Woo Zeller, Nancy Wu, Karen Chilton, Ron Butler, Neil Hellegers, Jason Culp, Brittany Pressley

From the critically acclaimed author of The Book of M, a highly imaginative thriller about a young woman who discovers that a strange map in her deceased father’s belongings holds an incredible, deadly secret—one that will lead her on an extraordinary adventure and to the truth about her family’s dark history.

What is the purpose of a map?

Nell Young’s whole life and greatest passion is cartography. Her father, Dr. Daniel Young, is a legend in the field, and Nell’s personal hero. But she hasn't seen or spoken to him ever since he cruelly fired her and destroyed her reputation after an argument over an old, cheap gas station highway map.

But when Dr. Young is found dead in his office at the New York Public Library, with the very same seemingly worthless map hidden in his desk, Nell can’t resist investigating. To her surprise, she soon discovers that the map is incredibly valuable, and also exceedingly rare. In fact, she may now have the only copy left in existence… because a mysterious collector has been hunting down and destroying every last one—along with anyone who gets in the way.

But why?

To answer that question, Nell embarks on a dangerous journey to reveal a dark family secret, and discover the true power that lies in maps...

Perfect for fans of Joe Hill and V.E. Schwab, The Cartographers is an ode to art and science, history and magic—a spectacularly imaginative, modern story about an ancient craft and places still undiscovered.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Peng Shepherd (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Could be better

It's a great idea for a story, but many of the character interactions and dialog don't really ring true

Just Go With It…For the Most Part

It’s true. Any thinking person can drive a truck through the plot holes in The Cartographers. I got to a point where I just let that go so I could try to enjoy the ride and that sort of worked—until the end of the book. It’s like the author just stopped making any effort to have logic apply. It’s lazy. I didn’t hate this as much as many do and the underlying concepts are interesting to me so I’m glad to have read it. I just wish the execution had not failed the imagination.

A unique premise, decent story

This was engaging and the whole map and background was unique to things I've read before. There were a few "mysteries" that were easily solved too early in the story for my liking, and at times it read like a television rendition with stereotypical good vs. bad encounters and motivation explanations. But overall entertaining

Tough listen...

The main narrator is a weird female mix of William Shatner and a robot. This audio book took me forever to finish because I would take long breaks from listening.
The book would probably be better off read than listened to but I'm too bitter to try and re read at this time.

The cartographers is about more than maps

The idea that maps in reality may be interrelated, or maybe not related was an interesting promise

Curious Cartographers

I love the curiosity and quest for knowledge portrayed in the book. the characters all had flaws, many leading to broken friendships, lost opportunities, crimes and deaths. There are some unbelievable aspects but just let it go and enjoy this imaginative story about the magical meeting modern reality.

The main narrator and the accent narrators were fantastic. seriously some of the best I've heard. I slowed the pace down, turned the volume down, and listened at bedtime sometimes for a relaxing read.

this is the kind of sci-fi that will tickle your fantasy, not work your brain.

I hope there's a sequel?

LOVE LOVE LOVE

This is the first book I read by Peng Shepherd and it will not be my last. I love her writing style, the flashbacks, explaining people and situations. So well done. Some authors leave wired gaps and hole in their story, she did not! The mystery was so well cared for I feel Peng had a white board or a cork board with red strings and pictures of who and what and why. Making sure all questions a reader might have was answered. I like that theCartographers went to school with each other and became found family. Bear trying to keep them together, Romi being betrayed (explains so much), Wally having the obsession with the map and Tam, Daniel and Tam and Nell being this beautiful family, the “happenings” between Francis and Eve! This was so put together, I was one VERY happy reader. I also love the open ending, I hope there will be a sequel to this book, it could take off in so many different directions. I’m excited for the next story!

Great idea. Little too romance-y.

So the concept of the story is very unique. I won’t disclose it here as it’s a bit of a spoiler. And I really liked that.

But there’s a lot of unnecessary drama. People being avoided at the cost of one’s own quality of life, enormous self-sacrifices when there are other pretty obvious solutions, etc.. Those are the things that drive soap operas, and there was a lot of that.

If you dig that kind of experience tho, this one is very much for you!

The great original premise makes you want the circumstances of the book to be true.Something that you could enjoy as well

Incredibly creative original idea which I believe got bogged down by a lot of exposition

Tedious

Imaginative and interesting but too much repetition in the story presentation which results in a tedious reading