In 2033 America, cities are hotbeds of violence, looting and rioting are everywhere, and civil war seems imminent. A terrible virus has killed huge numbers of people across the world and a mysterious phenomenon called the Vanishing has caused countless artworks, including books and poetry, to disappear as if they had never existed. This is the disturbing backdrop for the unsettling new novel from Susan E. Sage.

In the midst of this madness, Cassie Navrone takes a job in which she must captain a luxury houseboat down an iconic American river (possibly the Mississippi, but never named) on a journey of almost 2,000 miles, to return the craft to its owner. Silver Lady is the boat’s name, but it could easily refer to 62-year-old Cassie herself. She’s curious, open to new experiences, and a keen observer of people. She’s courageous, too, undertaking an adventuresome trip with only her good sense and her hand-picked crew of five women and men—all younger than she, most of them active in the arts—to see the job through. And oh my goodness, what a trip it turns out to be.

The story is told mostly through the first-person captain’s log that Cassie keeps. In it, she describes the river’s scenery and occasional ports of call, dissects her traveling companions, and confides truths about herself. One of the most revealing is that she feels her age renders her, for all practical purposes, invisible. She takes advantage of this, reflecting, “It can be great fun to spy on others without being seen. You can lurk, pick your nose, say and do outrageous things and others won’t pay much attention.” Her candor makes her seem to me a mostly reliable narrator, and I believe her version of events, even when they appear to be impossible.

Eerie, inexplicable scenes greet Cassie and her crew again and again, and the journey begins to seem like one long hallucination that sometimes edges into nightmare territory. They see strange tableaux and peculiar creatures along the riverbanks and in the water; they hear odd sounds that appear to come from the river itself. What is real? What is illusory? Why are their maps suddenly unreliable? Perhaps most unnerving of all, Time at some points collapses in on itself like a house of cards.

Susan E. Sage’s Silver Lady is a standout novel in the genre of magical realism, which is very tricky to write successfully. The story is impossible to encapsulate. No description can possibly do it justice. It must be read to be experienced.

This is the first book I've read by this author. Silver Lady by Susan E Sage is a post-apocalyptic novel set in a world on the brink of disaster. The first thing that caught my eye was the amazing cover. I love boats, so I was immediately drawn to this book. I admit, post-apocalyptic books are not my usual read, but I love adventure, and this looked like it would be a great adventure full of surprises, and I was right.

I always pondered what it would be like to captain a boat, and that's what Cassie Navrone gets the opportunity to do. But along with the excitement of being captain, there is also the great responsibility to those on board, not to mention the quick wit you must have during storms, or when someone may have plunged overboard. These are the things Captain Navorone has to contend with, and she does it quite well.

But the book also slips into a world she and the crew have never faced before. Strange happenings as if they were in another dimension of time, where nothing is the same as what they knew.

This is a unique, character-driven book with plenty of unexpected twists. For those who love mystical, magical adventures, this is the book for you.

The year is 2033 and Cassie Navrone, protagonist and narrator, is taking a houseboat south, down the Mississippi River. Also aboard are five other passengers— her crew— though they are hardly that. And this is no ordinary journey.

All the while the rest of the world is falling apart slowly but surely. Numerous plagues and pandemics have already hit the country, the nation is breaking up, curfews, looting, and riots are commonplace, and people are simply vanishing into thin air; artwork as well— paintings and sketches dissolve into nothingness, written works simply go blank and disappear. And there is no explanation.

Captain Cassie is an older woman and a fairly tortured soul. She’s seen a lot in her long life and it’s left scars. She overthinks everything, she’s insecure, and she asks a lot of questions— all the time. As a self-described “non-creative,” her ramblings cannot be considered “deathless prose.”

She struggles to keep her passengers safe, and struggles with her own interactions. They are a mixed bunch: poets, artists, musicians and one rebel. Nor do they get along with each other much, but they are all well-crafted and memorable.

Every day further down the river, things get stranger and stranger, more and more bizarre, to the point where the characters can no longer trust themselves, or the reality around them.

This is one of the quirkiest books I’ve ever read, but enjoyed it through and through, except for the rather quiet ending.

First off, if you are someone looking for excitement and action, you will be disappointed. This is a cerebral 'diary' written from a woman's perspective, so be prepared.

That said, it was sometimes entertaining in an Alice in wonderland way from the shrinking village to other similarities to 'that' book.

For those looking for 'action', just don't. Even the pirates are nonviolent. I'm an action kind of guy and got bored more than a few times, but still slogged through. It was worth the effort to get through my normal comfort zone.

As an 'action' reader, there's no way I could give it a 5-star review, but I couldn't also slam it with a 3 or fewer number since I went in with my eyes wide open after reading other reviews.

Action guys... take a pass. Ladies, you'll enjoy this diary of a riverboat journey from a lady's point of view.

In a future, near apocalyptic world, Cassie Navrone, an older woman, has secured a job as captain of the 70-foot luxury houseboat, Silver Lady. Escaping disease, violence, and soul-crushing isolation, her job, should she choose to accept it – which she does – is to return the vessel to the owner who lives two-thousand miles away. Cassie is hearty, insecure, and funny. She is enthusiastic and equipped with river-faring good will. Needing help on the voyage, she gathers a group of young artists for the cruise of a lifetime. The crew consists of Kali, a wide-eyed innocent poet, Leon, a dark, rich poet with a flair for anger, Margot, a partially mute musician and protector of children, Vincent, a painter and sculptor filled with secrets, and Zona, sullen, snappy, with secrets of her own. They intertwine and play off subtle relationship dynamics on this river trip, making even the calmest waters vibrant and full of life. Each new river town brings a new and magical surprise. This delightfully enchanting river tale, full of woe and wonder, will keep you guessing what lives around the next bend. I often caught my breath at Susan E. Sage’s bright, lyrical writing. I laughed out loud several times and thoroughly enjoyed the trip down that River Road. Silver Lady: Travels Along the River Road, with all its mystical currents, is a wild and wonderful ride.

If you enjoy immersive, character-driven stories that unfold at a thoughtful pace, this book offers a marvelous journey through a not-so-marvelous future. The theme is dystopian in nature, where devastating virus has ravaged the planet, leaving a rogue government in its wake. Yet the Silver Lady endures as it sails downriver into unpredictable, unsettling, and unforgettable territory.

I'm a long-time fan of Susan E. Sage, but this book reaches new heights. The development of the characters brings them to life. The dialogue is alive and scintillating and gives the characters a three-dimensional feel. As I read, I was constantly pulled back and forth between being absorbed in the world of the book and wondering how Susan manages to come up with such vivid scenarios. I was drawn into it to the extent that I missed my train stop. I'm backing up my devices tonight lest my paintings and writing disappear! Kudos to Susan. Looking forward to more.

I love this book because it felt like being on the journey myself. It is adventurous, weird, and greatest of heart, with locations that both shocked and unsettled me. I’d cheerfully suggest it to my daughter, my dad, or my best friend such an impressive, thought-provoking ride.

The bleak reality of May 2033 paints a harrowing picture. Three years after the Strangler Virus claimed nearly a billion lives worldwide, the USA is plunged into the depths of the Great Collapse. With sky-high prices, scarce goods and services, nightly curfews, and daily eruptions of violence, including riots, looting, and mass shootings, society is teetering on the brink. As the nation unravels, whispers of an impending civil war grow ever louder.

Retired teacher and doula Cassie Navrone leads an isolated life. Her once-strong friendships have faded, and her adult daughter Melanie, paralysed by fear of the plague and violence, seldom leaves her home. Yearning for adventure, Cassie seizes the opportunity to captain a houseboat, embarking on a journey to deliver the Silver Lady to its owner 2,000 miles downriver.

Cassie, determined to find companions for her adventure, advertises and conducts interviews. She selects two artistic couples and an intriguing single woman. Socialising is difficult for Captain Cassie after 3 years of isolation, but she tries to bond with her crew.

Although the Great Collapse is most evident in the cities, the spectre of violence haunts the riverbanks as well. The crew faces not only physical dangers but also the enigmatic Vanishing – a mysterious phenomenon where paintings, poetry, and stories disintegrate and vanish without a trace. Over the month-long journey, fantasy weaves seamlessly with realism.

Surrealism saturates the River Road, as the people, creatures, and places they encounter grow increasingly bizarre. Presented in a matter-of-fact manner, the bizarre elements are met with a curious calm by the crew, who barely react to the absurdity. Logic is abandoned, and time itself seems to warp and twist in this strange, dreamlike world.

Margot, a crew member in her early forties, is my favourite character. She's deeply in love with Vincent and, despite having lost her voice when she joins the boat, she brings beauty to the journey with her haunting flute melodies. Once a choreographer and dancer, she now mesmerises the crew with her music. My favourite riverbank oddity is the Land of Doze, where the crew spends a few nights in a haunted hotel with a pale pink façade and furnishings reminiscent of Victorian England.

In the acknowledgements, Susan suggests that ‘Silver Lady’ falls into the Magic Realism or Protopian genres – a classification I endorse. However, as in her work ‘A Mentor and Her Muse,’ which I adored, Susan's true brilliance shines through her profound character analysis. She meticulously reveals the thoughts and inner workings of all the main characters, offering readers unparalleled insight into their motivations and inner conflicts.

This is the third of Susan's books that has captivated me completely. It's a thrilling ride that will have you perched on the edge of your seat, breathlessly awaiting each twist and turn.

This book has  unique and magical story set in a future world that is shattering.The main character, Cassie, is an older woman who unexpectedly becomes the captain of a beautiful houseboat called Silver Lady. As she travels down the river, she is joined by a group of young artists, each dealing with their own problems.

The world around them is in trouble—there is a threat of war, and life is uncertain. But as they sail, they face strange events, mysterious experiences, and personal challenges. The journey is not just about traveling on the river; it is also about learning, growing, and discovering new things about themselves and each other.

Author writing makes the story feel real and magical at the same time. Her descriptions of the river and the places along the way are so realistic that it feels like you are right there with the characters. The story moves in a dreamy, poetic way, making it a unique reading experience.The story is full of surprises and moments that make you think.

"During the book I realised that everyone has their own struggle but the thing which make us different is by learning and taking lessons from our own struggle".

Whether you love poetic storytelling, strong characters, or meaningful stories, this book has something special to offer

Cassie is captain of the Silver Lady, her mission, to deliver her to her owner. She has five passengers aboard the houseboat: two are couples, Vincent and Margot, Leon and Kali; Zona is alone and secretive. I felt more connected with the characters in the chapters 'River Voices,' which gave the reader an insight into their thoughts and feelings, which were most enlightening, especially their opinions of Cassie! Strange events occur in this apocalyptic, dystopian world. Art works disappear as a visit to the old boat River Reads makes only too clear. The author uses some beautifully descriptive phrases. I particularly liked the elderly swimmers - 'blue veins trellis his limbs like ivy.' So visual! Lots of other lovely descriptive passages too. Weird and wonderful people and creatures appear, time slips occur... but I'll say no more for giving too much away. An enjoyable, mystical story.

The story takes place in future where world is moving towards the great collapse. Daily violence, riots, curfews are happening in the cities. Prices of Goods and services are sky-rocketing. Billion of people died with Strangler virus pandemic. Artworks, paintings vanished. Artists and poets continue to search for cold spots where creative works seem to last. Rivers are safer, at least to some degree. This is the story of Cassie, a retired teacher, mother and doula. After living in isolation throughout the pandemic and followed by her cat's demise, Cassie takes on a temporary job as a ship Captain with other 5 people (2 couples and an young woman). She interviews these 5 people herself. All of them were art lovers. Silver Lady is the name of a beautiful and giant ship they aboard. The 5 crew members also plays a crucial role in the story.Sage’s vivid storytelling and rich character development make this a captivating read, filled with suspense and wonder. It’s a tale that explores resilience, human connection, and the beauty of adventure in the face of uncertainty. A must read for fans of magical realism and thought provoking narratives. You will be easily hooked to this book for its beautiful writing and exceptional storytelling

"Silver Lady: Travels Along the River Road" by Susan E. Sage is a mesmerizing journey set in a chaotic, post-pandemic world where art is vanishing and society is on the brink of collapse. The story follows Cassie Navrone, a courageous older woman who captains a luxury houseboat, the Silver Lady, down a mysterious river with a crew of eclectic artists. As they navigate through surreal landscapes, strange creatures, and time-bending phenomena, the journey becomes a blend of magic, mystery, and self discovery. Sage’s vivid storytelling and rich character development make this a captivating read, filled with suspense and wonder. It’s a tale that explores resilience, human connection, and the beauty of adventure in the face of uncertainty. A must read for fans of magical realism and thought provoking narratives.