Každý cestovatel Pustinami musí zaplatit jistou cenu, mnohokrát přesahující cenu jízdenky.Přes Pustiny se dá cestovat jen jedním způsobem: Transsibiřským expresem, vlakem proslulým jak svým luxusem, tak neznámým nebezpečím, které každou jeho cestu ohrožuje. Pustiny jsou neprobádané území, kde podle legend žijí bytosti děsivější než cokoli, co si pasažéři vlaku dokážou představit. Při poslední cestě došlo k tragickým událostem, které si však nikdo z cestujících údajně nepamatuje. Dokonce ani Čang Wej-wej, sirota, která strávila celý svůj život ve vlaku a myslela si, že zná všechna jeho tajemství.Nyní se vlak chystá vyrazit na svoji cestu z Pekingu do Moskvy znovu. Dokážou si však cestující navzájem důvěřovat, když jim hrozí, že je Pustiny pohltí? A dojede vlak do cíle?

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER The Great Trans-Siberian Express comes to life in a novel of wild imagination, perfect for fans of Piranesi, Babel, The Night Circus and Jessie Burton'Brooks's vivid, impressive debut is a turn-of-the-last-century steampunk fantasy set aboard the Great Trans-Siberian Express' FINANCIAL TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR'I urge everybody to pick up a copy' STUART TURTON'Be warned - once you step into The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands, you'll never want to disembark' SAMANTHA SHANNON'Wild and wonderful . . . completely captivating' JENNIFER SAINT'Mysterious and clever and brilliant' NATASHA PULLEYIt 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 19th 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 this abandoned wilderness except the Great Trans-Siberian Express, an impenetrable train built to carry cargo across continents but which now transports anyone who dares to cross the shadowy Wastelands.On to the platform steps a curious cast of characters: a grieving woman with a borrowed name, a famous child born on the train and a disgraced naturalist, all heading for the Great Exhibition in Moscow.But the old rules are changing, and there are whispers that the train isn't safe. As secrets begin to unravel, the passengers and crew must survive their journey through the Wastelands together - even as something uncontrollable seems to be breaking in . . .

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 PULLEYIt 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 . . .