The Elsewhere Express

Embark on a magical journey in this wistful, Ghibli-esque fantasy from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Water Moon – perfect for fans of Spirited Away, Dallergut Dream Department Store and The Starless Sea. This first edition hardback features interactive endpapers with a scene you can colour in - available while stocks last! ' Wondrous and wonderful, lovely and tender , The Elsewhere Express is a lyrical feast for the imagination! ' —Sarah Beth Durst, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Spellshop Raya is a lost soul, going through the motions of life without a dream of her own. One night, on her subway ride home, Raya’s thoughts wander too far. She wakes on the Elsewhere Express, a magical train that offers its passengers a sense of purpose, peace, and belonging. The journey is a chance for Raya to reimagine her life – but only if she finds her compartment before time runs out. Once aboard, Raya meets an intriguing artist named Q and together they race to find their place on the train, through a boarding car carpeted in meadow grass and along a dining carriage where passengers picnic on lilypads. But a mysterious stowaway has boarded with them, and with it a dark, malignant magic that threatens to destroy the train. The closer Raya comes to uncovering the stowaway's identity, the nearer she draws to the ultimate question: What is her life's true purpose – and is it a destination the Elsewhere Express can take her to? Praise for The Elsewhere Express ' A delicately layered dream of a book that glimmers with the promise of hope after grief, The Elsewhere Express will carry you to the stars. ' —Molly O'Neill, author of Greenteeth 'This book had me sobbing on the beach. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough . The Elsewhere Express is a gorgeous story about finding your place somewhere in between two great inevitabilities: love, and loss.' --Sydney J. Shields, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Honey Witch ' The Elsewhere Express reads like a Ghibli movie . I loved following these deeply hurt, broken, and lost characters on this Alice-in-Wonderland-esque adventure with a Miyazaki flair. Its musical prose, vast imagination, and exploratory storytelling will spirit you away.' --Charlie N. Holmberg, bestselling author of the Whimbrel House series 'With its poetic , descriptive prose, The Elsewhere Express takes the reader on a magical ride exploring loneliness, life’s purpose and ultimately human connection through a playful, surreal tale. Without question, the book will delight fantasy enthusiasts as they nestle into this perfect escape … a story that whisks them from the mundane and into an imaginative wonderland they might not want to leave.' --J.Penner, Author of A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic ' ' The Elsewhere Express is nothing short of exquisite . Luminous and soulful , it will enchant you with its dreamy, whimsical charm even while it carries you through an exploration of such profound subjects as loss and the purpose of life. I am dazzled by Samantha Sotto Yambao's extraordinarily beautiful imagination.' -- India Holton, author of The League of Gentlewomen Witches ' A unique and beautiful fantasy novel' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'A whimsical and immersive [Studio] Ghibli-esque adventure' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'Every leg of the journey unfolded with its own distinct charm ' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'The world building [is] so exquisite ' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ' What stood out most for me is how the book mixes whimsy with heartache ' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐