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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
Not as fast paced as the previous novel and the ending was a big booooooo but excellent nevertheless
This was a much more engaging installment than the previous one! It was refreshing to have some new character perspectives, but I also like how it tied in older characters' stories. The pacing was snappy and I feel like the balance between the different perspectives and stories was good. Reeve does have a quirk of being in one character's perspective for the whole chapter, and then having one paragraph from a different character's POV randomly in there--not so much a fan of that, but it didn't detract too much. I also appreciate how he's handled Hester's character. There's a lot that about her that isn't likable, but it's all understandable, and while I don't agree with much of her actions, I'm not frustrated by them like I was in the previous book.
It is always interesting to read when we meet a new character in WoME. At first, I have to admit I was not a huge fan of Wren, but the more I read, the more she matured as a character and the more I came to like her. It's still a bit hard to believe that so much time has passed between books two and three of this series. Many of the characters I had come to love in the previous books are all grown up!
Speaking of characters, Hester really bothered me in this book. I can see that she is going through some character development, but the further the book progressed the less I liked her. On the other hand, I was very happy to hear that Shrike is back in the series. He remains to be my favorite character in the book, and I was so glad that he is back in action!
In terms of the plot and storyline, INFERNAL DEVICES does not disappoint. I would have loved to read this book in one go, but time constraints prevented me from otherwise. At some points I would forget why I loved Philip Reeve and WoME so much, but I only had to read an action sequence to remember. INFERNAL DEVICES is action-packed - full of explosions, warfare, and fights. There are so many plot twists that kept me on my toes until the very end. It is such an exciting read!
I felt like there was a slight shift in the target audience for the book. While for the most part, I think it is still considered young adult, there is a lot of focus on Tom and Hester, who are nearing - if not already in - their forties. I personally had no problems with this because I do want to know how these characters are faring, but it definitely was a huge leap in terms of character age between PREDATOR'S GOLD and INFERNAL DEVICES.
Overall, the ending did nothing to satiate my hunger for the World of Mortal Engines. More than anything, I would love to devour A DARKLING PLAIN right this instant, but I promised that I would get through another book before I tackle the massive tome. I can't wait to find out what happens to Tom, Wren, Shrike, and - sigh - Hester.
Speaking of characters, Hester really bothered me in this book. I can see that she is going through some character development, but the further the book progressed the less I liked her. On the other hand, I was very happy to hear that Shrike is back in the series. He remains to be my favorite character in the book, and I was so glad that he is back in action!
In terms of the plot and storyline, INFERNAL DEVICES does not disappoint. I would have loved to read this book in one go, but time constraints prevented me from otherwise. At some points I would forget why I loved Philip Reeve and WoME so much, but I only had to read an action sequence to remember. INFERNAL DEVICES is action-packed - full of explosions, warfare, and fights. There are so many plot twists that kept me on my toes until the very end. It is such an exciting read!
I felt like there was a slight shift in the target audience for the book. While for the most part, I think it is still considered young adult, there is a lot of focus on Tom and Hester, who are nearing - if not already in - their forties. I personally had no problems with this because I do want to know how these characters are faring, but it definitely was a huge leap in terms of character age between PREDATOR'S GOLD and INFERNAL DEVICES.
Overall, the ending did nothing to satiate my hunger for the World of Mortal Engines. More than anything, I would love to devour A DARKLING PLAIN right this instant, but I promised that I would get through another book before I tackle the massive tome. I can't wait to find out what happens to Tom, Wren, Shrike, and - sigh - Hester.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This series keeps the quality up.
http://recenseernogeenkeer.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/infernal-devices/
http://recenseernogeenkeer.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/infernal-devices/
Infernal Devices, by Philip Reeve, is the third book in the author’s Predator Cities Quartet. This is a series of fantasy adventure stories aimed at young adults but enjoyable for all competent readers.
In this instalment, Tom and Hester have settled in the now static city of Anchorage where it came to rest on the Dead Continent, presumed sunk by all who knew of its existence. Their daughter, Wren, was born here and has known nothing but a peaceful if rather lonely existence in her fifteen years. Having grown up listening to the tales of her parents’ adventures she dreams of experiencing some excitement for herself.
Caul, the former Lost Boy, inadvertently presents her with opportunity when she stumbles across a secret meeting he attends in the dead of night. She turns thief in exchange for passage away, but when events turn deadly, ends up being sold as a slave.
Appalled by this unexpected reminder of their past, Tom and Hester set out to rescue their child. Assuming that she will have been taken to the Lost Boys’ hidden headquarters at Grimsby, Caul goes with them. He wishes to be reunited with Uncle, the closest he has ever had to a parent. This desire the young burglars feel to belong to a mum or dad has been their undoing. Wren is not the only freshly captured slave.
The action moves to the pleasure city of Brighton where the wily Pennyroyal continues to spin his web of deceit. Unbeknownst to all, just as Tom and Hester launch their rescue attempt, powerful forces are about to be unleashed. The Green Storm has set its sights on Brighton, although its stalker leader is not telling her minions why.
As with the previous two books, there is plenty of action and many imaginative contraptions that playfully mock the terms and technology we enjoy today. Beneath this humour lies an unavoidable dark truth, that man’s greed, selfishness and lust for power overrides any semblance of sense.
An entertaining romp that plays fast and loose with coincidence, bravery and luck, not that this detracts from the enjoyment of the tale. Amidst the carnage there lies much for the reader to consider. A fun but also poignant read.
In this instalment, Tom and Hester have settled in the now static city of Anchorage where it came to rest on the Dead Continent, presumed sunk by all who knew of its existence. Their daughter, Wren, was born here and has known nothing but a peaceful if rather lonely existence in her fifteen years. Having grown up listening to the tales of her parents’ adventures she dreams of experiencing some excitement for herself.
Caul, the former Lost Boy, inadvertently presents her with opportunity when she stumbles across a secret meeting he attends in the dead of night. She turns thief in exchange for passage away, but when events turn deadly, ends up being sold as a slave.
Appalled by this unexpected reminder of their past, Tom and Hester set out to rescue their child. Assuming that she will have been taken to the Lost Boys’ hidden headquarters at Grimsby, Caul goes with them. He wishes to be reunited with Uncle, the closest he has ever had to a parent. This desire the young burglars feel to belong to a mum or dad has been their undoing. Wren is not the only freshly captured slave.
The action moves to the pleasure city of Brighton where the wily Pennyroyal continues to spin his web of deceit. Unbeknownst to all, just as Tom and Hester launch their rescue attempt, powerful forces are about to be unleashed. The Green Storm has set its sights on Brighton, although its stalker leader is not telling her minions why.
As with the previous two books, there is plenty of action and many imaginative contraptions that playfully mock the terms and technology we enjoy today. Beneath this humour lies an unavoidable dark truth, that man’s greed, selfishness and lust for power overrides any semblance of sense.
An entertaining romp that plays fast and loose with coincidence, bravery and luck, not that this detracts from the enjoyment of the tale. Amidst the carnage there lies much for the reader to consider. A fun but also poignant read.
wtf
braves choices with hester but I'm not a fan. liked wren but it took me awhile, I'm so tired grammar isn't happening.
"Some of the finest literature of our age is being written for the under-fives…” made me giggle
braves choices with hester but I'm not a fan. liked wren but it took me awhile, I'm so tired grammar isn't happening.
"Some of the finest literature of our age is being written for the under-fives…” made me giggle
I would give the book like 3.5 stars, to be honest, but I am way too angry about what happened to Hester. (WARNING: spoilers ahead)
I mean, it's one thing that when you go through a series of traumas and such a strange childhood like hers, it's completely understandable that she slips back to old habits and her often cruel survival instinct kicks in at the first sight of danger. I actually really liked that, and I also liked how even after all these years with Tom, she still has the same insecurities, although not as strong (in the beginning of the book), that he doesn't really love her and never will. It's subtle in the first half of the book, because it HAS been 16 years, come on, but as the plot unfolds and she starts fearing that Tom might find out what she did years ago, these insecurities hit her again with full force and ultimately lead her to do what she does at the end of the book. That's awesome, truly.
But. This book went further than that and destroyed every character development she had in the past or could have had in this one. There was so much potential in the plot, so many ways her character could have improved, not even necessarily becoming a better person, i'm not even sure i would have wanted that, but just... grow. And she didn't, which is annoying because logically it has been 16 years and to have zero things that changed about her in all those years is actually ridiculous and unrealistic. There were times I felt hope that we would see her grow as a character but unfortunately that didn't happen in this book. I still have that hope for book 4, though.
Anyway, Wren. I was worried at first because I genuinely did not like her. This was mainly because of the way she sees her mother: we spent two whole books growing to love Hester and then comes this brat and says Hester is ugly and weird and evil?? I was like, you know what, that might be true but show some respect young lady, she has gone through things you can't even imagine.
I was worried that I won't be able to like Wren at all, but then I realized that this is something Reeve has pulled in the previous two books too: first with Katherine, then with Freya. Bring in a pretty girl, paint her as kind of naive and shallow, and then slowly discover what she's actually capable of. I would have liked a tiny bit more growth in Wren, maybe more situations where she had to think quickly and get herself out of there, but what I truly wanted and still want for her is having to make a difficult decision which would make her relate to Hester.
This is by the way an ongoing issue with this book: even though it has been sixteen years, none of the characters changed much. I like what happened to Caul and Freya, that one, I'm okay with, but Hester and Tom should have been developed more.
Nevertheless, I really was unable to put the book down especially in the second half, and I'm sorry for ranting so much about the characters but I needed this lol. 3 and a half stars, and the half goes to Boo-Boo, whom I love very much and I hope we see her again because she's the fucking best. (Also, Theo?? Yes, please, I hope we get to know him more in book 4, because he also has a lot of potential, and i think he's a good love interest for Wren.)
I mean, it's one thing that when you go through a series of traumas and such a strange childhood like hers, it's completely understandable that she slips back to old habits and her often cruel survival instinct kicks in at the first sight of danger. I actually really liked that, and I also liked how even after all these years with Tom, she still has the same insecurities, although not as strong (in the beginning of the book), that he doesn't really love her and never will. It's subtle in the first half of the book, because it HAS been 16 years, come on, but as the plot unfolds and she starts fearing that Tom might find out what she did years ago, these insecurities hit her again with full force and ultimately lead her to do what she does at the end of the book. That's awesome, truly.
But. This book went further than that and destroyed every character development she had in the past or could have had in this one. There was so much potential in the plot, so many ways her character could have improved, not even necessarily becoming a better person, i'm not even sure i would have wanted that, but just... grow. And she didn't, which is annoying because logically it has been 16 years and to have zero things that changed about her in all those years is actually ridiculous and unrealistic. There were times I felt hope that we would see her grow as a character but unfortunately that didn't happen in this book. I still have that hope for book 4, though.
Anyway, Wren. I was worried at first because I genuinely did not like her. This was mainly because of the way she sees her mother: we spent two whole books growing to love Hester and then comes this brat and says Hester is ugly and weird and evil?? I was like, you know what, that might be true but show some respect young lady, she has gone through things you can't even imagine.
I was worried that I won't be able to like Wren at all, but then I realized that this is something Reeve has pulled in the previous two books too: first with Katherine, then with Freya. Bring in a pretty girl, paint her as kind of naive and shallow, and then slowly discover what she's actually capable of. I would have liked a tiny bit more growth in Wren, maybe more situations where she had to think quickly and get herself out of there, but what I truly wanted and still want for her is having to make a difficult decision which would make her relate to Hester.
This is by the way an ongoing issue with this book: even though it has been sixteen years, none of the characters changed much. I like what happened to Caul and Freya, that one, I'm okay with, but Hester and Tom should have been developed more.
Nevertheless, I really was unable to put the book down especially in the second half, and I'm sorry for ranting so much about the characters but I needed this lol. 3 and a half stars, and the half goes to Boo-Boo, whom I love very much and I hope we see her again because she's the fucking best. (Also, Theo?? Yes, please, I hope we get to know him more in book 4, because he also has a lot of potential, and i think he's a good love interest for Wren.)