Is There A Sequel Planned For 'The Cartographers'?

I keep up with publishing news like a hawk, and while there's no official announcement yet, the ending of 'The Cartographers' totally leaves room for more. The way Nell solved her father's mystery but uncovered even bigger secrets about the mapmaking guild screams sequel bait. Author Peng Shepherd has mentioned in interviews that she loves exploring hidden worlds, so I wouldn't be surprised if she's already drafting. The underground network of phantom settlements they discovered could fill three more books. If you liked the blend of mystery and magical realism, check out 'The Library of the Unwritten' while waiting - it's got that same vibe of ordinary objects holding extraordinary power.

As someone who dissected every clue in 'The Cartographers', I think a sequel isn't just possible - it's necessary. The novel drops too many unresolved threads about the Agloe conspiracy and the true nature of phantom settlements to be a standalone. That final scene where Nell receives an envelope with coordinates to another hidden town? Textbook sequel setup.

Peng Shepherd's worldbuilding deserves expansion. The concept of mapmakers manipulating reality through their craft has barely been explored. Imagine a follow-up where Nell's team battles rival cartographers creating dangerous imaginary territories, or discovers ancient societies that predate the current guild. The magic system's rules weren't fully defined either - can cartographers erase places from existence? What happens when multiple maps contradict each other?

For fans craving similar themes, 'Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore' offers another secret society guarding impossible knowledge. The pacing's quicker than 'The Cartographers', but the puzzle-solving satisfaction is just as strong.

From a writer's perspective, the structure of 'The Cartographers' practically demands continuation. The protagonist's arc wraps up neatly, but the larger mythology remains wide open. Those shadowy figures observing Nell in the epilogue? Classic franchise seeds. Publishers usually wait to gauge sales before greenlighting sequels, and given how this novel hit bestseller lists, odds look good.

What fascinates me is how Shepherd could escalate the stakes. Book one dealt with a single phantom town - imagine a sequel where entire countries begin flickering in and out of existence due to cartographic warfare. The emotional core could shift from Nell's personal quest to a global crisis, maybe introducing new POV characters from different mapmaking factions.

While we wait, 'The Starless Sea' delivers comparable labyrinthine mysteries with gorgeous prose. Both books treat their respective art forms - cartography and storytelling - as literal magic systems.