How even to describe this book? It's as mysterious, addictive, and strange as most of Helen Oyeyemi's work but this time packed with even more queer characters than ever! Xavier and Otto Shin are given tickets to a train called The Lucky Day for their sort-of honeymoon. They step aboard with their pet mongoose, Arpad XXX, without knowing their route or destination and by a mishap leave half of their luggage behind on the station. The Lucky Day is the permanent residence of a reclusive musician, Ava Kapoor, and two others... all of whom have somewhat odd and seemingly coincidental connections to Xavier and Otto's pasts. As the couple explore the train's many exquisitely decorated carriages (including a library, kitchen, garden, sauna, post-office and many guest rooms) they begin to unravel pieces of the puzzle behind the presence of every being on the train, and the troubling consequences of staying on it for too long. I've now read seven of Oyeyemi's books and I think this one is my second favorite after the short story collection What Is Not Yours is Not Yours!