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Mortal Engines Quartet #1-4
Mortal Engines #1– #4 Pack - Mortal Engines, Predator's Gold, Internal Devices & A Darkling Plain.
Murderous cities that move—and hunt! Tom and Hester must confront terrifying weapons in a vast, ongoing battle that threatens to destroy their world. Books 1 - 4; Mortal Engines, Predator's Gold, Internal Devices & A Darkling Plain.
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About the author
Philip Reeve
168 books2,714 followersPhilip Reeve was born and raised in Brighton, where he worked in a bookshop for a number of years while also co-writing, producing and directing a number of no-budget theatre projects.
Philip then began illustrating and has since provided cartoons for around forty children's books, including the best-selling Horrible Histories, Murderous Maths and Dead Famous series.
Railhead, published by Oxford University Press, will be published in the UK in October 2015
Pugs of the Frozen North, written with Sarah McIntyre, is out now.
Philip then began illustrating and has since provided cartoons for around forty children's books, including the best-selling Horrible Histories, Murderous Maths and Dead Famous series.
Railhead, published by Oxford University Press, will be published in the UK in October 2015
Pugs of the Frozen North, written with Sarah McIntyre, is out now.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 7, 2019
This book was not really my type but my favourite character was Katherine I also liked that there was surprised around every corner.It also sets off to a slow start.
October 28, 2019
This is a really emotional book for me, and there are surprises around ever corner. It starts of a but slow but after like 3chapters you can't put this book down. That's why I give this book 4 stars.
March 1, 2022
Crumbling bricks and clay tablets are not the only record left by long-dead civilizations.
Speaking directly to us across the reaches of time are their stories, the poignant echoes of lessons
learned too late. Details change with generations of re-telling, but their themes recur intact in
every culture. We call them folk tales and tuck them away in quaint picture books, relics of
childhood left behind with the tooth fairy and Easter Bunny. We would do well to dig them out
of the closet and listen.
One of the most enduring themes, retold in lively variations world-wide, evokes the
precautionary principle so eloquently articulated by Ronald Wright. We know it best as a Disney
cartoon of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, but the moral – take heed lest the blessing become a curse,
the wonderful tool unleash disaster -- is likely as old as the first cave dweller to burn his bed
making fire. Whether the tool be a broom, a hoe, a salt mill, or a spear that kills game until
there’s nothing left to eat, the message across the millennia is the same. In one African variant, a
race of giants who choose to bear only sons blesses itself into extinction.
Today’s boldest storytellers dare to tell the stories our own civilization might bequeath its
ragged survivors. Philip Reeve’s Hungry City series vividly portrays a planet still blighted
thousands of years after the legendary global crash of the twenty-first century. With most of
Earth’s surface too depleted and toxic to support life, humanity survives on giant mobile traction
cities, cannibalizing other roving towns for resources in the grotesque exercise of Municipal
Darwinism.
Fittingly, Reeve’s hero, Tom, is an apprentice historian assigned to sift the debris of an
ancient catastrophe so total that not even its stories survived (though there is an unconfirmed
legend about pot noodles). The exalted role of the Historians’ Guild is to retrieve useful
technologies of the past and study what went wrong to prevent it ever happening again. Human
nature, however, has advanced little since Cro-Magnon annihilated Neanderthal. In a shattering
moment of truth, Tom discovers the hidden agenda of his guild’s beloved master, who is secretly
reconstructing the very weapons and technologies that destroyed the ancient world. The lethal
sirens of wealth and power once more drown the warnings of history.
Hair-raising chases, humor, a dash of romance, and explosive reversals lend Tom’s
adventures all the elements of a classic thriller. What distinguishes the non-stop action is its
settings, the achingly familiar landscapes corrupted beyond redemption, the jeweled planet now
tarnished and befouled. With a Dickensian eye for brutal, unsparing detail, Reeve gleefully
charts our trajectory into a nightmare future, romping through the mess with the guilty
astonishment of an unhousebroken puppy.
Reeve’s books are billed as young adult fare, an ironic commentary on the hardened,
formulaic arteries of the adult market. His most endearing characters do not fit readily into
categorical pigeonholes of good and evil, hero or villain; at their worst and their best, they are
imperfect beings groping toward some ideal of the human, with every blunder leaping for a
chance to get it right next time. If that’s a childish world view, it’s time we stopped growing up.
Speaking directly to us across the reaches of time are their stories, the poignant echoes of lessons
learned too late. Details change with generations of re-telling, but their themes recur intact in
every culture. We call them folk tales and tuck them away in quaint picture books, relics of
childhood left behind with the tooth fairy and Easter Bunny. We would do well to dig them out
of the closet and listen.
One of the most enduring themes, retold in lively variations world-wide, evokes the
precautionary principle so eloquently articulated by Ronald Wright. We know it best as a Disney
cartoon of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, but the moral – take heed lest the blessing become a curse,
the wonderful tool unleash disaster -- is likely as old as the first cave dweller to burn his bed
making fire. Whether the tool be a broom, a hoe, a salt mill, or a spear that kills game until
there’s nothing left to eat, the message across the millennia is the same. In one African variant, a
race of giants who choose to bear only sons blesses itself into extinction.
Today’s boldest storytellers dare to tell the stories our own civilization might bequeath its
ragged survivors. Philip Reeve’s Hungry City series vividly portrays a planet still blighted
thousands of years after the legendary global crash of the twenty-first century. With most of
Earth’s surface too depleted and toxic to support life, humanity survives on giant mobile traction
cities, cannibalizing other roving towns for resources in the grotesque exercise of Municipal
Darwinism.
Fittingly, Reeve’s hero, Tom, is an apprentice historian assigned to sift the debris of an
ancient catastrophe so total that not even its stories survived (though there is an unconfirmed
legend about pot noodles). The exalted role of the Historians’ Guild is to retrieve useful
technologies of the past and study what went wrong to prevent it ever happening again. Human
nature, however, has advanced little since Cro-Magnon annihilated Neanderthal. In a shattering
moment of truth, Tom discovers the hidden agenda of his guild’s beloved master, who is secretly
reconstructing the very weapons and technologies that destroyed the ancient world. The lethal
sirens of wealth and power once more drown the warnings of history.
Hair-raising chases, humor, a dash of romance, and explosive reversals lend Tom’s
adventures all the elements of a classic thriller. What distinguishes the non-stop action is its
settings, the achingly familiar landscapes corrupted beyond redemption, the jeweled planet now
tarnished and befouled. With a Dickensian eye for brutal, unsparing detail, Reeve gleefully
charts our trajectory into a nightmare future, romping through the mess with the guilty
astonishment of an unhousebroken puppy.
Reeve’s books are billed as young adult fare, an ironic commentary on the hardened,
formulaic arteries of the adult market. His most endearing characters do not fit readily into
categorical pigeonholes of good and evil, hero or villain; at their worst and their best, they are
imperfect beings groping toward some ideal of the human, with every blunder leaping for a
chance to get it right next time. If that’s a childish world view, it’s time we stopped growing up.
September 25, 2024
I am writing my review of the entire series here. Some major spoilers are mentioned; I am marking individual paragraphs with spoiler indicators so that I do not have to hide the entire review.
Writing style.
The writing is easy to read and captivating, helped by the well written plot. Although sometimes there is bizarre punctuation, and a few typos within the editions I read.
World building and Plot.
World building for this series is phenomenal. There is thought in every aspect of the world, and it is a truly interesting society and setting to read about. The world building and plot is heavily intertwined, with a large chunk of the overarching story from book 3 onwards revolving around the politics of the traction cities and the ever brewing war and struggle for power. For those who enjoy books with these themes they will love this series.
The world of this series clearly spent years in the making, and it really shows amongst the series. The plot and world building make up for the character flaws present, to the point i still recommend the books despite the lack-luster character writing and can even ignore the weird character writing for the most part.
Character arcs and development.
This series is extremely plot focussed. One thing left to be desired is the way the characters "grow". Unfortunately, characters are quite stagnant in their personalities and decision making; it seems their first appearance is their full potential as a character. The only character who really changed was Hester, and it really could have been done with more finesse.
Characters in this series do not learn from their experiences, or if they do, conveniently abandon their knowledge when it suits the plot best. This sometimes makes the characters feel unrelatable and unrealistic; real people would not navigate the world as these characters do. They are black and white representations of people. Which is such a shame, as the world and events of the story leave so much room for beautiful, complex characters.
Overall the characters needed more fleshing out. There needed to be more growth. If the characters had better arcs in this regard, the series would easily have been a 5 star read. It is the ONLY thing holding it back.
---MAJOR SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT---
Some dynamics are left entirely unexplored.
Hester and Wren were such wasted potential, an absolutely beautiful arc could have occurred between the two of them with reconciliation and with both characters learning how to better themselves and developing further understanding of the other. Instead this opportunity was missed.
Tom and Hester, namely book 3 onwards, was some bizarre relationship writing. It is a pure example of how the characters do not learn from their own or others actions. There was hope for them for book one and two, but it all collapsed. Tom's feelings for Hester are left with no justification. Why does he like her? how? By the end of the story there is no redeeming qualities about her. Tom was angry with Hester, and Hester treated Wren poorly and dismissed Tom and his feelings many times, but then he just forgave her suddenly? It just doesn't make sense. Tom even admits he should've gone for Freya; which is the only time he grows a spine when it comes to Hester.
Hester sees limited consequences for her actions. A chunk of the plot is dedicated to Wren and Tom thinking Hester is a terrible person (she is), but the consequences for Hester's character beyond feeling sad that Tom doesn't like her anymore, are nearly nonexistent. Her derailment into the "valentines daughter" arc didn't make sense. It is confusing that she begins the story as Number 1 Valentine hater, but eventually takes pride in being like him. Not only this, but her motivations largely surround around making Tom happy. She is so codependent on Tom that (if i remember correctly) she views her own daughter as an obstacle in her and Tom's relationship. In fact, she is so codependent on Tom she kills herself over him. Hello? Did you forget about your literal daughter? Tom would've wanted you to go and fix your relationship with Wren, not stab yourself in some kind of Romeo and Juliet situation.
Tom is the most naively stubborn man ever. How has he learned nothing? The fact he is so willing to forgive Hester, in my opinion, makes him almost as bad as her. How do you forgive your wife who is willing to murder? Who enjoys murdering? Who sold Anchorage to Arkangel to attempt to wildly manipulate you into liking her again? How do you forgive her for telling your daughter that she wishes she were never born? I would have loved to see how to forgive someone like that... but no room in the plot is left for that. For a man who spent a good chunk of time complaining about how everything is unfair, he has a limited sense of justice when it comes to Hester and her actions.
Wren was an improvement in this regard. She has a lot more agency than her parents, and a better head on her shoulders. I don't have much to say about her.
These are my only qualms with the series. Other than that, I loved this series.
Writing style.
The writing is easy to read and captivating, helped by the well written plot. Although sometimes there is bizarre punctuation, and a few typos within the editions I read.
World building and Plot.
World building for this series is phenomenal. There is thought in every aspect of the world, and it is a truly interesting society and setting to read about. The world building and plot is heavily intertwined, with a large chunk of the overarching story from book 3 onwards revolving around the politics of the traction cities and the ever brewing war and struggle for power. For those who enjoy books with these themes they will love this series.
The world of this series clearly spent years in the making, and it really shows amongst the series. The plot and world building make up for the character flaws present, to the point i still recommend the books despite the lack-luster character writing and can even ignore the weird character writing for the most part.
Character arcs and development.
This series is extremely plot focussed. One thing left to be desired is the way the characters "grow". Unfortunately, characters are quite stagnant in their personalities and decision making; it seems their first appearance is their full potential as a character. The only character who really changed was Hester, and it really could have been done with more finesse.
Characters in this series do not learn from their experiences, or if they do, conveniently abandon their knowledge when it suits the plot best. This sometimes makes the characters feel unrelatable and unrealistic; real people would not navigate the world as these characters do. They are black and white representations of people. Which is such a shame, as the world and events of the story leave so much room for beautiful, complex characters.
Overall the characters needed more fleshing out. There needed to be more growth. If the characters had better arcs in this regard, the series would easily have been a 5 star read. It is the ONLY thing holding it back.
---MAJOR SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT---
Some dynamics are left entirely unexplored.
Hester and Wren were such wasted potential, an absolutely beautiful arc could have occurred between the two of them with reconciliation and with both characters learning how to better themselves and developing further understanding of the other. Instead this opportunity was missed.
Tom and Hester, namely book 3 onwards, was some bizarre relationship writing. It is a pure example of how the characters do not learn from their own or others actions. There was hope for them for book one and two, but it all collapsed. Tom's feelings for Hester are left with no justification. Why does he like her? how? By the end of the story there is no redeeming qualities about her. Tom was angry with Hester, and Hester treated Wren poorly and dismissed Tom and his feelings many times, but then he just forgave her suddenly? It just doesn't make sense. Tom even admits he should've gone for Freya; which is the only time he grows a spine when it comes to Hester.
Hester sees limited consequences for her actions. A chunk of the plot is dedicated to Wren and Tom thinking Hester is a terrible person (she is), but the consequences for Hester's character beyond feeling sad that Tom doesn't like her anymore, are nearly nonexistent. Her derailment into the "valentines daughter" arc didn't make sense. It is confusing that she begins the story as Number 1 Valentine hater, but eventually takes pride in being like him. Not only this, but her motivations largely surround around making Tom happy. She is so codependent on Tom that (if i remember correctly) she views her own daughter as an obstacle in her and Tom's relationship. In fact, she is so codependent on Tom she kills herself over him. Hello? Did you forget about your literal daughter? Tom would've wanted you to go and fix your relationship with Wren, not stab yourself in some kind of Romeo and Juliet situation.
Tom is the most naively stubborn man ever. How has he learned nothing? The fact he is so willing to forgive Hester, in my opinion, makes him almost as bad as her. How do you forgive your wife who is willing to murder? Who enjoys murdering? Who sold Anchorage to Arkangel to attempt to wildly manipulate you into liking her again? How do you forgive her for telling your daughter that she wishes she were never born? I would have loved to see how to forgive someone like that... but no room in the plot is left for that. For a man who spent a good chunk of time complaining about how everything is unfair, he has a limited sense of justice when it comes to Hester and her actions.
Wren was an improvement in this regard. She has a lot more agency than her parents, and a better head on her shoulders. I don't have much to say about her.
These are my only qualms with the series. Other than that, I loved this series.
March 26, 2021
Amazing series and I highly recommend it. It follows the story of two characters who got stuck lost from their city. It is futurized and a wonderful imagining of what the world could be like! Moving cities??? It has many references to the world we live in now and the relationship and bond between the characters is amazing!!!
The Mortal Engines Quartet
Philip Reeve
The Mortal Engines Quartet
Philip Reeve
April 28, 2021
This is an idea that at face value doesn't make much sense, and the worldbuilding is a little incomplete, but that's why it works.
I think what I like best about it is that Hester is never really a 'good' character. As odd as that sounds. Everyone is in different shades of grey, and the stalkers are appropriately sinister, and there's a lot to be enjoyed.
There's a lot more going on than the surface level, and to me that makes it worthwhile. I appreciate the sequel series, too, and Shrike/Grike and the changes and how each story has its own piece to play out and it's own meaning and that the author doesn't really mix details or lose sight of the threads of his story.
I think what I like best about it is that Hester is never really a 'good' character. As odd as that sounds. Everyone is in different shades of grey, and the stalkers are appropriately sinister, and there's a lot to be enjoyed.
There's a lot more going on than the surface level, and to me that makes it worthwhile. I appreciate the sequel series, too, and Shrike/Grike and the changes and how each story has its own piece to play out and it's own meaning and that the author doesn't really mix details or lose sight of the threads of his story.
December 31, 2018
These books were good, but some things I didn't like about it regarded the world. First of all, that far into the future, most races and cultures should've dissolved into each other to the point where the term melting pot is an understatement. Particularly British culture, it's so prominent, it's even present on non-British cities (Anchorage). In addition to that, it's not well explained how the cities get food and water. It's also not well explained how exactly the process of city eating works, but whatever, it's not like that's a major component of the books or anything.
January 2, 2022
Sometimes books take you to a new, more interesting place altogether. Into another community. Into another world. This is one of them where you visualise the book cinematically coming to life as you turn every page and read every word.
Mortal engines is a new, fresh type of book taking you nose deep into a futuristic world with a steampunk aesthetic. Packed with adventure, a great storyline through time and relationships that develop although they seem unlikely.
Such an amazing book series I will likely reread
Mortal engines is a new, fresh type of book taking you nose deep into a futuristic world with a steampunk aesthetic. Packed with adventure, a great storyline through time and relationships that develop although they seem unlikely.
Such an amazing book series I will likely reread
December 28, 2018
This book is a mixed bag for me. Conceptually, I loved the idea of municipal darwinism and the world Reeve created. The characters started to grow on me, but it took at least half the book for them to develop to a degree that you care about them or get to know them at all. Also too many characters disappeared just when you get to like them. It felt liked the plot moved slowly because it was super basic, but I didn't mind it anyway. Lots of potential but it just didn't wow me.
August 10, 2020
I often find dystopian novels copy-catting each other. The stories are too similar (I’m looking at you, The Hunger Games and Divergent trilogies). But Mortal Engines is very unique, and I appreciate that.
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Read more on our blog!
June 8, 2022
Fantastic read, futuristic post apocalypse world. Great for advanced young readers like 11 years old and up I'd say. But even for adults too, this series is fantastic. Haven't watched the movie yet. Big time gap between books 2 and 3 and usually I hate this, but this time, i truly enjoyed it! They're quick reads too.
Want to read
November 10, 2018I bought a set of this and there is actually no hardcover edition. This is all a set of redesigned paperbacks or softcovers.
April 24, 2019
I enjoyed these books although I felt that it took me forever to read them.
It portrays how humans can survive when all the odds are against them in the new 'evolved' world
It portrays how humans can survive when all the odds are against them in the new 'evolved' world
May 17, 2019
2.5*
eh, it was alright.
eh, it was alright.
February 5, 2020
Finished the first book, then watched the movie to see if it was any better - no it was not.
Very monotone and slow read.
Very monotone and slow read.
July 17, 2020
Master Storyteller of epic proportions. Some of it read like poetry.
December 27, 2020
So amazing, the story is incredibly interesting. I love everything character and the story they tell.
February 11, 2022
Nette Serie. Charakter manchmal fraglich.
Brauch aber nicht mehr davon.
Brauch aber nicht mehr davon.
October 15, 2019
I really liked this 📚
January 22, 2024
So good! These are a pretty dark look at a postapocalyptic world of cities that devour each other, with only occasional glimpses of hope. The world is awesome: municipal darwinism, killer zombie robots, steampunk gadgets.
I still think often of Brighton, the pleasure city where the middle class intellectuals lamented the state of the slaves and wrote poems and essays supporting them - but when the revolution came, those intellectuals all were hanged. After all, they hadn't actually done anything to help anyone.
And I think of the thin threads of nearly forgotten Christianity that motivate a few characters, who are intrigued by an obscure religion that worships a god so weak he was nailed to a tree.
The ending is just incredible, in the cycle of humanity's violence and bits of goodness.
I still think often of Brighton, the pleasure city where the middle class intellectuals lamented the state of the slaves and wrote poems and essays supporting them - but when the revolution came, those intellectuals all were hanged. After all, they hadn't actually done anything to help anyone.
And I think of the thin threads of nearly forgotten Christianity that motivate a few characters, who are intrigued by an obscure religion that worships a god so weak he was nailed to a tree.
The ending is just incredible, in the cycle of humanity's violence and bits of goodness.
June 16, 2014
This series of books were not a genre I usually read, Steampunk, the story revolves around a teenager named Tom Natsworthy, he has lived most of his life as an orphan in London a traction city. A traction city is a city that moves around in wheels and eats other smaller traction cities. Tom is thrown out of London and is forced to embark on the journey of his life. The novel's setting and theme makes it worthwhile. I recommend this quartet for all those who like adventure.
April 23, 2019
Its a good concept. I did find myself asking whether the whole thing was spun out of the linguistic cleverness of 'urbivore', but when the characters aren't having to tread around a set decorated with sub par Pratchett jokes, there are some insightful and touching moments.
March 15, 2019
One of my favorite authors. My favorite series is a children's series called, "Lark Light" by Philip Reeve. I do not like Fever Crumb in her own series.
March 26, 2020
The concept is ridiculous on the face of it, but Reeve makes it work. A terrific series, though perhaps best enjoyed at a formative age (not having read it as an adult I wouldn't know...).
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews