Peaces

The premise for this book is that Otto and Xavier have publicly declared their love for each other, and Xavier's aunt has booked them a trip on a sleeper train (formerly used for smuggling tea) in celebration. Beyond that, all bets are off. The pair board the train with their pet mongoose, Arpad, and immediately begin to encounter strange, ambiguous events. The proprietor of the train is an heiress who may or may not be a prisoner or delusional, the heiress has a past entanglement with a man whose son may or may not exist, friends of Xavier's may or may not be interfering in their lives for nefarious purposes. The train itself is fantastical, with furniture fixed to the ceiling, bazaar full of outlandish wares and tricky vendors, portrait gallery car, shower car, and library car.

There isn't much to cling to in this book. It raises many more questions than it answers, but it's an enjoyable read if you have a high tolerance for not knowing what's going on.