A review by mrstephenconnor
Infernal Devices by Philip Reeve

5.0

Almost twenty years on from where we last saw Tom and Hester, we quickly learn that they have loved a relatively boring, simple life on Anchorage, away from the hungry cities and warring factions.

All is well...until their daughter Wren becomes bored and is tempted by an offer from Gargle, now in charge of the Lost Boys.

Wren disappears, leaving Tom and Hester to chase after her, meeting characters old and new.

If not already the case, the main protagonist here is Hester, who shows love, hatred, selflessness, selfishness, determination and fear through the course of her actions. Perhaps her true colours are revealed here, which in turn show Tom’s too. Together they make a solid team, but as individuals, they are polar opposites - and this bears out towards the end of the book.

Pennyroyal is up to his old tricks, we meet Shrike and Anna Fang once more, and Caul has an important part to play. These side characters all have their stories sewn up neatly, leaving the final book of the quartet firmly facing Hester’s next steps....

Enthralling stuff!