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somewheregirl7's review against another edition
1.0
I discarded this book after only a couple chapters. The writing is too clunky and stilted and I just couldn't get into the story. The author falls into the common trap of being so eager to introduce us to his world he info-dumps on every page. The result is a disconnected story that is mostly passive and past tense.
grandgranini's review against another edition
3.0
This was fun. Steampunk for the under fifteen set. I liked the "Mortal Engines" young adult books by Reeve, but for this series he aims at a slightly younger demographic. The plot moves at a fast pace and the ideas are many, colorful and bizarre (A rich industrialist is replaced by a mechanical alter ego piloted by a small alien creature, space is not empty but filled with aether that's breathable, the rings of Saturn are spun into a "world wide web" (heh) by giant spiders). Perfect reading for an evening spent at the airport waiting for a connecting flight.
emilyhardy's review against another edition
5.0
WOW. This book is amazing. If you haven't read it, then go read it...Like, now.
jasonfurman's review against another edition
3.0
I read the Mortal Engines quartet by Philip Reeve with my children and loved it. This book was written before it and was not nearly as good. It is in the silly scifi genre with a tinge of steampunk, like a worse Douglas Adams. Set in an alternative history where Isaac Newton discovered a powerful anti-gravitational engine powered by alchemy, the British Empire has all of its ossified traits but is now spread throughout the solar system. A brother and sister enter into a mortal battle with white spiders based on the planet Saturn and team up with an interplanetary pirate named Jack. You get the idea. Was genuinely witty at times, but the "adventures of" genre has its limits in terms of a genuinely suspenseful plot and the silliness undermines the world building and the characters are all pretty stock. But not terrible or anything and my children liked it.
melhara's review against another edition
3.0
This was a cute children's sci-fi book about two kids, Art and Myrtle, who live in Larklight, a house that floats in space somewhere 'north' of the moon (where is north when you're in outer-space?)
On an unfortunate afternoon, Larklight came under attack by giant evil space spiders, forcing Art and Myrtle to escape to the moon. There, they meet Jack Havock and his alien pirate crew. Together, they travel through space to find a way to save Larklight.
I wasn't too fond of the whole 1800's setting and weird 'science' that took place in [b: Larklight|287892|Larklight (Larklight, #1)|Philip Reeve|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1438032062s/287892.jpg|3981653]. [a: Philip Reeve|27379|Philip Reeve|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1436868938p2/27379.jpg] describes space as if it were a body of water where spaceships look like ships. Where you can find space-whales and space-squids and Icthyomorphs (or alien fishes) swimming freely across the aether. Where humans can survive in space and swim from one point to another. Quite nonsensical, really. But I imagine it would be a highly enjoyable world for a child to read about.
What I did enjoy, were the wonderful illustrations. Kudos to [a: David Wyatt|70032|David Wyatt|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] for the beautiful ink drawings.
On an unfortunate afternoon, Larklight came under attack by giant evil space spiders, forcing Art and Myrtle to escape to the moon. There, they meet Jack Havock and his alien pirate crew. Together, they travel through space to find a way to save Larklight.
I wasn't too fond of the whole 1800's setting and weird 'science' that took place in [b: Larklight|287892|Larklight (Larklight, #1)|Philip Reeve|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1438032062s/287892.jpg|3981653]. [a: Philip Reeve|27379|Philip Reeve|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1436868938p2/27379.jpg] describes space as if it were a body of water where spaceships look like ships. Where you can find space-whales and space-squids and Icthyomorphs (or alien fishes) swimming freely across the aether. Where humans can survive in space and swim from one point to another. Quite nonsensical, really. But I imagine it would be a highly enjoyable world for a child to read about.
What I did enjoy, were the wonderful illustrations. Kudos to [a: David Wyatt|70032|David Wyatt|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] for the beautiful ink drawings.
curiouslibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
This is a 3.5 from me. It's basically steampunk and old style serials for kids. It is rollicking, imaginative, adventurous fun. You have people riding around in wooden, open-air, aether-ships. With Victorian mores. Trying to defeat giant spider-like aliens. With help from space-pirates. Really, what more could you want?
I did find that I couldn't read more than a few chapters in a sitting without getting bored. But when I read a few chapters, put the book down, and picked it up later or the next day, it was always exciting. And the pen and ink illustrations kept adding just the right imaginative touch.
Good fun for grades 5-8.
I did find that I couldn't read more than a few chapters in a sitting without getting bored. But when I read a few chapters, put the book down, and picked it up later or the next day, it was always exciting. And the pen and ink illustrations kept adding just the right imaginative touch.
Good fun for grades 5-8.
elusivesue's review against another edition
5.0
If this is a young adult version of 'steampunk,' maybe I should give that genre a closer look. I really enjoyed this quick-moving book -- the author balanced details of the setting (and explanations for all the science) with the story and characters. Although the relationships between a couple of the main characters were very predictable, I didn't mind, as some things that happened were very unpredictable.
It reminded me at times of a good serial with lots of cliffhangers.... I would definitely read this aloud to a class of 4-6 graders (if I had an english class to read to...).
It reminded me at times of a good serial with lots of cliffhangers.... I would definitely read this aloud to a class of 4-6 graders (if I had an english class to read to...).
amberacks12's review against another edition
3.0
It was cleverly written and I loved the little illustrations throughout, but the story wasn't very exciting or gripping. Just mildly diverting.
abigailbat's review against another edition
4.0
http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/2008/05/book-review-larklight.html
Check out my review on my blog!
Check out my review on my blog!