Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve

Pages: 296

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Dystopian / Science Fiction / Action-Adventure

Notes for Parents: Contains violence and some mature scenes.

The Back Cover

Emerging from its hiding place in the hills, the great Traction City of London chases one terrified little town across the wastelands. If it cannot overpower smaller, slower prey, the city will come to a standstill and risk being taken over by another. In the attack, Tom Natsworthy, Apprentice Historian to the London Museum, is flung from its speeding superstructure into the barren wasteland of Out-Country. His only companion is Hester Shaw, a murderous, scar-faced girl who does not particularly want Tom’s company. But if they are to make it back to London before Stalkers or hungry cities get them first, they will need to help each other, and fast. If Hester is to be believed, London is planning something atrocious, and the future of the world could be at stake. Can they get back to London before it’s too late?

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first in a four-book series and has been made into a major motion picture scheduled for release in December 2018.

What’s good?

The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world where cities on wheels travel around “eating” other cities for salvage. The plot is simple, with some twists and turns, and the pace is good with lots of tension and bursts of action. The world building is excellent in this steampunk version of London in the future where old tech (computers, cellphones, etc.) are highly valued. Themes include sustainable living, social activism, political corruption, relationships, and vengeance. The short chapters make this a quick and easy read.

Best Part: Tom finds a “seedy.”

What isn’t good?

I never felt invested in the characters. There was no shortage of suspense and action, but the characters themselves were static and never really cared how they would fare through it all. Hester and Katherine displayed the “strong female character” traits in parts, but it wasn’t sustained long enough. It might be this lack of character development that makes the tone and writing feel juvenile. The relationships they have are complex but are never explored so what happened to them doesn’t really mattered.

Worst part: The occasional change of tense was awkward and had no purpose.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☻☻ (3/5)

I decided to read Mortal Engines because it’s been made into a movie that has received a lot of hype. The story wasn’t terrible, but I was surprised by the weakness of the storytelling. I liked the premise and plot, and I loved the steampunk world, but the characters and writing style felt juvenile. I didn’t mind that there wasn’t a lot of politics or history explained, but there was a sense of urgency missing. It’s like the characters knew what was happening, but had no emotional reaction to it.

Reeve, Philip. Mortal Engines. New York: Scholastic, 2018 ©2001