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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
Book 3 in the 'Mortal Engines' quartet by Philip Reeve, with an even bigger time jump than the last book. This time it's 16 years later, Tom and Hester have settled on the one traction city of Anchorage, now a static city on the edge of what used to be North America, and live their daughter Wren. The family dynamic between the three is not exactly homely. Wren gets on very well with her father, but the relationship between mother and daughter is frosty, to say the least! So after yet another argument between mother and daughter, Wren storms off, and by chance, meets a charming submarine pirate who offers her the chance of escape and a taste of the adventure she yearns for, if only she would do him a small favour and steal the Tin Book, a forgotten and mysterious book made out of metal. Doing so does indeed open up a new world of adventure for Wren, but just not in the way she had imagined.
Despite the big time jump, 'Infernal Devices' seems to be more linked in to the previous book, than book 2 was to the first. The lore and the world building are once again expanded upon, which is one of my favourite aspects of this series. Whereas the series all began with mostly just London and the Anti-Traction League, each book has added and built upon the world, with new locations, factions added as well as the machinations of how the overall world looks. We also have the reintroduction of familiar characters again, Freya, Caul, Gargle, Uncle, Pennyroyal, Stalker Fang and Shrike as well as new characters that add a good mix to the narrative.
Things pick up the pace when Wren and Fishcake get captured by Brighton, a raft-city pleasure resort with a certain Nimrod Pennyroyal as mayor, and with a burgeoning slave trade, and are immediately indentured into service. But when Tom and Hester finally catch up with their runaway daughter, all chaos breaks loose. It's here where we see the cold and merciless Hester Shaw doing what she has to do to rescue her daughter. I can see her point of view, but unfortunately the callousness of her character as she literally blasts her way through Brighton, goes dark very quickly and makes her very unlikeable despite her being one of the main protagonists, a trend that has gotten stronger as the series has progressed.
Overall though it's still a very enjoyable read. The new characters add a fresh breath to the familiar characters that have grown up and changed 'off screen', and it was great to visit the various locations. Now looking forward to seeing how the quartet gets all wrapped up in the final book.
Once again, I took the audiobook option, and Barnaby Edwards once again kills it with the narration. Superbly done, bringing the characters to life! Well worth the option.
Despite the big time jump, 'Infernal Devices' seems to be more linked in to the previous book, than book 2 was to the first. The lore and the world building are once again expanded upon, which is one of my favourite aspects of this series. Whereas the series all began with mostly just London and the Anti-Traction League, each book has added and built upon the world, with new locations, factions added as well as the machinations of how the overall world looks. We also have the reintroduction of familiar characters again, Freya, Caul, Gargle, Uncle, Pennyroyal, Stalker Fang and Shrike as well as new characters that add a good mix to the narrative.
Things pick up the pace when Wren and Fishcake get captured by Brighton, a raft-city pleasure resort with a certain Nimrod Pennyroyal as mayor, and with a burgeoning slave trade, and are immediately indentured into service. But when Tom and Hester finally catch up with their runaway daughter, all chaos breaks loose. It's here where we see the cold and merciless Hester Shaw doing what she has to do to rescue her daughter. I can see her point of view, but unfortunately the callousness of her character as she literally blasts her way through Brighton, goes dark very quickly and makes her very unlikeable despite her being one of the main protagonists, a trend that has gotten stronger as the series has progressed.
Overall though it's still a very enjoyable read. The new characters add a fresh breath to the familiar characters that have grown up and changed 'off screen', and it was great to visit the various locations. Now looking forward to seeing how the quartet gets all wrapped up in the final book.
Once again, I took the audiobook option, and Barnaby Edwards once again kills it with the narration. Superbly done, bringing the characters to life! Well worth the option.
I really enjoy the steampunk, dystopian world that the author created in this books. I love the characters and their adventures so very much!
This was touch and go at the start. Yet again. And it wasn't until after the 55% mark that it pulled me in so much I didn't want to put it down.
I wasn't really liking any of the characters and I think at some level, I knew what to expect. I'm definitely giving Hester the benefit of the doubt. I started not liking her partway through the last book, but her in this? What's happened to her!?
If this was something that would address such things, i'd give her the benefit of the doubt and seriously consider some sort of parental-related depression. Just in the way she's worried, not only that Tom doesn't love her, but that Tom loves Wren more than her. But that feels a bit too deep for Reeves. He might be out for making us think about it, but I can't see depression actually being addressed amongst all the wars and stalker building.
Anyway. So, nothing really gripped me about the beginning of the story. The characters all felt a bit tired and a bit tropey. I wasn't sure I was really going to get into a Next Generation story or empathise with Wren. But then the action happened, and I read mostly to find out next more than because I was enjoying the story, and I didn't see the ~Plot twist~ until it was right in front of my face, and then before i knew it, I'd carried on reading until the end. If it wasn't for the last third of the book, I would have just given this book three stars.
Poor Fishcake, though, what's he going to get into now?
I wasn't really liking any of the characters and I think at some level, I knew what to expect. I'm definitely giving Hester the benefit of the doubt. I started not liking her partway through the last book, but her in this? What's happened to her!?
If this was something that would address such things, i'd give her the benefit of the doubt and seriously consider some sort of parental-related depression. Just in the way she's worried, not only that Tom doesn't love her, but that Tom loves Wren more than her. But that feels a bit too deep for Reeves. He might be out for making us think about it, but I can't see depression actually being addressed amongst all the wars and stalker building.
Anyway. So, nothing really gripped me about the beginning of the story. The characters all felt a bit tired and a bit tropey. I wasn't sure I was really going to get into a Next Generation story or empathise with Wren. But then the action happened, and I read mostly to find out next more than because I was enjoying the story, and I didn't see the ~Plot twist~ until it was right in front of my face, and then before i knew it, I'd carried on reading until the end. If it wasn't for the last third of the book, I would have just given this book three stars.
Poor Fishcake, though, what's he going to get into now?
This book is obviously in a series. Book 1 was complete in itself. Book 2 obviously followed book 1, but didn't require a sequel. However, book 3 begs you to read book 4, but not in a way I appreciate. It feels unfinished.
3.5 stars, because it's really more a duology with 4 set in a pair or pairs with 1/2. That said, 2 set things up for 3, or 3 works on getting the plot. Maybe it should be that Hungry Cities is really a prequel and books 1-3. I would go with that- especially as the world- building of previous books is entirely absent fron this one.
3.5 stars, because it's really more a duology with 4 set in a pair or pairs with 1/2. That said, 2 set things up for 3, or 3 works on getting the plot. Maybe it should be that Hungry Cities is really a prequel and books 1-3. I would go with that- especially as the world- building of previous books is entirely absent fron this one.
I am trying to get through this because I like the first two sooo much. But I can just feel a bad ending coming...and I am only a third of the way through. Is it worth it? Is my favorite character --early rendition of Catniss-- going to die? I think she is I can't seem to read further. And I can't stand the daughter...so tell me, is it worth it?
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, Slavery
This was my favorite book in the whole series. I loved Wren and Theo, some of the other characters were so funny, and the plot intrigued me. The relationship between Tom and Wren was so sweet and sincere; but the ending absolutely broke me.
I will write a Full review once I’ve finished the series, I rarely rate a book less than 3 stars as I appreciate we all love different things, but the character assassination in this book just made me so cross.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was really holding out hope that 18 years of living with a lawful good husband would rub off on Hester, but NOO of course not.