The Elsewhere Express

Embark on a magical journey in this cosy and inspiring fantasy from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Water Moon - perfect for fans of Spirited Away, Dallergut Dream Department Store and The Starless Sea. 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 train's endless journey is a chance for Raya to reimagine her life - but only if she finds her compartment before time runs out. On board, Raya meets a charming, handsome 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 and everything in it. 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 might Q be connected to it? Praise for Samantha Sotto Yambao 'Full of adventure and marvellous creativity, Water Moon surprises and delights with every turn of the page' -- Megan Bannen, bestselling author of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy 'A spell-binding journey into a magical Ghibli-esque world. Endlessly inventive, this haunting and enchanting tale is not to be missed.' --A.Y. Chao, author of Shanghai Immortal 'Water Moon is unlike anything I've ever read, full of wonders and terrors...a haunting, half-remembered dream of a book.' --Gareth Brown, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Book of Doors 'An engaging, dreamy fantasy with an atmosphere reminiscent of a Studio Ghibli production' -- Guardian 'Water Moon is a dreamy, ethereal fantasy, set in a fascinating faerie tale world with appropriately dark corners. Fans of Hayao Miyazaki will love this one.' --Olivia Atwater, author of Half a Soul 'Whimsical, poignant, thought-provoking, and wildly adventurous, Water Moon will bend your imagination in the very best of ways.' --Mikki Brammer, author of The Collected Regrets of Clover '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' - - - - -

Samantha Sotto Yambao is a professional daydreamer, aspiring time traveller, and speculative fiction writer based in Manila. She is the author of Before Ever After, Love and Gravity, A Dream of Trees, and The Beginning of Always. Her latest novels, Water Moon and The Elsewhere Express, were both instant Sunday Times bestsellers.