The Cartographers

I am so conflicted by this book. The idea and concept of it were great, but something in the execution just doesn't sit right. The way the story is told makes no sense and constantly brings you out of immersion. The people keep telling Nell a part of the story but others are also in the car, which is totally gloshed over. Or more pretends that its not true. But that makes the way everyone tell their bit really unrealistic and weird within the context. 

The way the world works with the maps and the fact her mother was stuck there also just makes no sense. So many things happened, and many characters died unnecessarily which makes the things that happen have no emotional pay off. 

I am happy this didn't end badly because I really thought it was going to. The story pretended that Nell was lost forever, as if the whole reason her mom stayed there for so long was still active. But of course it wasn't. And luckily it didn't end that way. It did leave me so utterly unsatisfied and disappointed though.