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A review by paskendus
Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve
adventurous
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I really hoped I would love this book, but it was just ok.
I enjoyed the world and it did feel well developed.
Everything else just was a bit meh. The story was predictable and there were so many plot conveniences I did not feel the stakes at all.
There were plenty of deaths and destruction but it left me indifferent because the characters felt flat and I did not connect with them or feel for them.
The writing was simple, it really felt like I was reading a middle grade, which is not bad, just an odd tone to have for a book with so many death scenes, that were described on page. The tense change between past tense and present tense in some chapters, kept pulling me out of the story. I understand it is a creative choice, but I did not vibe with it. Another thing that kept pulling me out of the story was - characters commenting on a character's scar without any good reason. Constantly. As if it decides a person's value.
I will probably continue with the series, because I want to know more about the world, but I do hope character work improves in the later books.
I enjoyed the world and it did feel well developed.
Everything else just was a bit meh. The story was predictable and there were so many plot conveniences I did not feel the stakes at all.
There were plenty of deaths and destruction but it left me indifferent because the characters felt flat and I did not connect with them or feel for them.
The writing was simple, it really felt like I was reading a middle grade, which is not bad, just an odd tone to have for a book with so many death scenes, that were described on page. The tense change between past tense and present tense in some chapters, kept pulling me out of the story. I understand it is a creative choice, but I did not vibe with it. Another thing that kept pulling me out of the story was - characters commenting on a character's scar without any good reason. Constantly. As if it decides a person's value.
I will probably continue with the series, because I want to know more about the world, but I do hope character work improves in the later books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying