Book of the year so far for me. I’ve always wanted to learn more about the Eurasian countries and thanks to this book I’ve gotten an excellent introduction to this unique corner of our world. Erika balances her adventures with descriptions of cultures and traditions; while also spending significant time on the history of each country, both recent and ancient. It’s an engrossing read and thanks to Erika’s writing it moves at a quick pace.

Important caveats: read this as an introduction to the region, not an in-depth history. There’s too much information between the 5 countries that Erika doesn’t have time to go into each time. As a result, some sections feel underdeveloped or rushed; with the Kazakhstan section suffering the most in this regard.

Still, a great intro to a fascinating world.