The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

The Cartographers
by Peng Shepherd 
⭐⭐ 

Nell Young, at one point on track to be a specialist in cartography at the New York Public Library, is working a job that she isn't completely fond of and hasn't spoken to her father since the day he fired her and destroyed her entire career. One day, Nell's father is murdered, but not only is the killer a mystery, there was also no way in and no way out of her father's office, except for one door, where a security camera captured absolutely no visitors. Nell starts on a journey to uncover some clues that inevitably lead her down a path that rewrites her past, or at least, the one she remembers. 

I wanted to like this book so badly but it just didn't work for me. I loved the dark academia vibes and the story was moving in a really unique direction, but there just wasn't enough magic for me. Nell as a main character is fine, but her personality tended to be controlling, stubborn, condescending, and she often had tunnel vision. It became frustrating after a while, especially when the right answers are so plainly visible. The twists were also predictable and slightly underwhelming. 

Despite these criticisms, this story was unique and the research done into the art of cartography added so much depth to this book. The Cartographers was generally fine, but it just wasn't a favorite of mine. If you're interested in the synopsis, however, definitely give it a try!