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Fever Crumb #1
Fever Crumb
Fever Crumb is a girl who has been adopted and raised by Dr. Crumb, a member of the order of Engineers, where she serves as apprentice. In a time and place where women are not seen as reasonable creatures, Fever is an anomaly, the only female to serve in the order. Soon though, she must say goodbye to Dr. Crumb-nearly the only person she's ever known-to assist archeologist Kit Solent on a top-secret project.
328 pages, Hardcover
First published May 4, 2009
About the author
Philip Reeve
131 books2,621 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.
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January 10, 2022
Fever Crumb
(Fever Crumb Series #1)
by Philip Reeve
A girl named Fever is raised with Architects and the only female to do so. She shaves her head like the men. Has been brought up to shun all luxury, even tea in her hot water! But things go sideways when there is an uprising and Fever ends up on the streets on her own. She is a target for those fighting.
This is a middle grade book that is enjoyable. We see all of the good and bad side of people and how Fever has to cope and adapt.
(Fever Crumb Series #1)
by Philip Reeve
A girl named Fever is raised with Architects and the only female to do so. She shaves her head like the men. Has been brought up to shun all luxury, even tea in her hot water! But things go sideways when there is an uprising and Fever ends up on the streets on her own. She is a target for those fighting.
This is a middle grade book that is enjoyable. We see all of the good and bad side of people and how Fever has to cope and adapt.
May 10, 2011
It's an odd world we live in, is it not? Otherwise how can Philip Reeve write about using 'Cheesers Chrice' as a curse and 'blogger' as an insult? Or about people who think a persisting skin mutation is a sign of racial superiority and then those who hunt them out of jealousy but say it's in the name of peace? And what about those technomancers who play with dials and screws while chanting to the machines like they're gods? So many things that Reeve presents to us are written in such a way that they should remind us of us--and they do.
But Fever Crumb is a celebration--or should I say a mocking?--of technology as much as it is a self-discovery journey punctuated with tidbits of social satire. Sure, you see no mad scientists or inventors in the likes of Fogg. Instead you see scavengers, of ancient technology, of burnt-out love, of memories that are not your own.
I think I've made my point--the world is different from ours, but not so different at all. When you read Fever Crumb you can't help but get a little excited over the tiniest thing you discover because not only are you an explorer of a world at its end...you're also an archaeologist trying to work out what this used to be--what it should be in this world that we live in right this moment.
When it comes to characterisation, however, Reever does get a little stereotypical. But I expect I'll probably retract this statement upon my second-or third-reading.
And the stalkers...man they're scary.
But Fever Crumb is a celebration--or should I say a mocking?--of technology as much as it is a self-discovery journey punctuated with tidbits of social satire. Sure, you see no mad scientists or inventors in the likes of Fogg. Instead you see scavengers, of ancient technology, of burnt-out love, of memories that are not your own.
I think I've made my point--the world is different from ours, but not so different at all. When you read Fever Crumb you can't help but get a little excited over the tiniest thing you discover because not only are you an explorer of a world at its end...you're also an archaeologist trying to work out what this used to be--what it should be in this world that we live in right this moment.
When it comes to characterisation, however, Reever does get a little stereotypical. But I expect I'll probably retract this statement upon my second-or third-reading.
And the stalkers...man they're scary.
November 10, 2010
Lately a lot of people have been lamenting the state of young adult novels. The heroine is too stupid, the parents are absent, the boyfriend or love interest wants to kill the heroine. None of that nonsense is prevalent in this book. Instead, we are treated to an original story about a very special girl in a very imaginative world.
Fever Crumb is the story of a girl named Fever. Fever was found by Dr. Crumb when she was an infant. He brought her to his home and into the Order of Engineers. Fever is the only female in this Order. They live in a big, giant head – yes, a big, giant head - in a futuristic London, a London without technology.
For all of you steampunk fans out there, this book is a dream. There are so many clever and inventive contraptions. There are paper boys, a kind of paper thin robot boy that can slip through the smallest spaces. There are the usual and also the most unusual flying machines. There is even a city that moves from place to place kind of like a cruise ship on land, only much, much larger and full of steam. I really wish these books would come with pictures or photos of these contraptions, just to help visualize these neat gadgets.
I really liked Fever. Fever is a fourteen years old orphan. She has shaved off her hair, because hair is not necessary. She has two different colored eyes, which may be a hint as to her parentage. Fever is the youngest engineer in the Order. She is very rational, yet at the same time a little naïve. When she is exposed to other young children, she doesn’t understand why they would need a bedtime story because she did not think it was rational. At some points, I felt that Fever was very similar in personality to a Vulcan or perhaps Seven of Nine from Star Trek. Fever is incredibly resourceful and when there is a revelation about her background and parentage in the middle of the book, her responses to the situation were rather interesting and unexpected.
To continue with my Star Trek analogy, there was even a part when a character died and his body was used to create a kind of Borg-like robot that would serve the Movement. Part human, part machine, this robot being did not have any memories of his human past.
Apparently this book is part of a series. It is the prequel to the Hungry City Chronicles. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
If you like steampunk, dystopian worlds of the future, and a heroine who is rational, then this book is for you.
Fever Crumb is the story of a girl named Fever. Fever was found by Dr. Crumb when she was an infant. He brought her to his home and into the Order of Engineers. Fever is the only female in this Order. They live in a big, giant head – yes, a big, giant head - in a futuristic London, a London without technology.
For all of you steampunk fans out there, this book is a dream. There are so many clever and inventive contraptions. There are paper boys, a kind of paper thin robot boy that can slip through the smallest spaces. There are the usual and also the most unusual flying machines. There is even a city that moves from place to place kind of like a cruise ship on land, only much, much larger and full of steam. I really wish these books would come with pictures or photos of these contraptions, just to help visualize these neat gadgets.
I really liked Fever. Fever is a fourteen years old orphan. She has shaved off her hair, because hair is not necessary. She has two different colored eyes, which may be a hint as to her parentage. Fever is the youngest engineer in the Order. She is very rational, yet at the same time a little naïve. When she is exposed to other young children, she doesn’t understand why they would need a bedtime story because she did not think it was rational. At some points, I felt that Fever was very similar in personality to a Vulcan or perhaps Seven of Nine from Star Trek. Fever is incredibly resourceful and when there is a revelation about her background and parentage in the middle of the book, her responses to the situation were rather interesting and unexpected.
To continue with my Star Trek analogy, there was even a part when a character died and his body was used to create a kind of Borg-like robot that would serve the Movement. Part human, part machine, this robot being did not have any memories of his human past.
Apparently this book is part of a series. It is the prequel to the Hungry City Chronicles. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
If you like steampunk, dystopian worlds of the future, and a heroine who is rational, then this book is for you.
March 25, 2012
Honestly, it’s more like a 2.5 stars. It’s not badly written but it is not my thing. This is my second book by Reeve, who is considered a steampunk master, but I didn’t really like either of them that much and I do see things repeating in his stories (very depressing far-future dystopias and cities that walk around under their own power).
Fever, however, is an interesting character which is why I even finished the book. Fever Crumb it the titular character, a fourteen year old girl who was a foundling. She was raised by the Order of Engineers as one of their own even though she’s a girl and everyone knows women aren’t reasonable creatures (it literally says so in the book). She’s raised by Dr. Crumb to be an Engineer and to have a Vulcan-like approach to emotions. The Engineers live in Godshawk’s Head, a remnant of a mile-high statue to Auric Godshawk, the last of the Scrivener kings on the outskirts of London.
We quickly learn that this is thousands of years after the ‘Downsizing’ an apocalyptic event. Several hundred years ago the Scriveners took over London. They’re basically genetically altered humans with inky spots on their skin who consider themselves superior to humans. At the end, the Skinners, normal human Londoners, killed them off, skinning them as proof of their deeds. Of those only Bagman Creech is around and his brand new apprentice Charley.
Fever is raised apart from the rest of the superstitious (and therefore silly) Londoners with the shave-headed engineers until one day Kit Solvent, an archeologist appears and asks for her specifically to help him with one of his digs. Kit has two young kids, Ruan and Fern. Fever goes with them, perplexed by the normal family situation in a not-so-normal house. The house turns out to contain a passageway to Godshawk’s long-lost lab. However, Fever’s mismatched colored eyes are noticed and she is taken as a Scrivener.
All heck breaks loose and violent riots erupted, timed unfortunately as a gypsy group known as the Movement, arrive to take over London. In the midst of this, Fever learns her true heritage and is thrust into the middle of the conflict from which she may not survive (seriously, Reeve does kill off characters with ease).
While Fever is likeable and a good female heroine, I had some serious problems with the book. For one, I don’t find it tremendously credible that in a few thousand years all we managed to rebuild was to like a turn of the 20th century tech level while borrowing high tech things. It’s stated repeatedly no one knows how this stuff really works (electricity for example is sporadically generated by things like treadmills) even though they have books they know how to read. Think about all we achieved from 1900-2000 a mere 100 years. Does it seem likely we’d never rebuild in thousands of years with remnants of old tech and the design specs lying around? Surely someone could have at least figured how to reestablish hydroelectric dams.
But even if I bought into this bit of world building, I had issues with what starts the whole drama moving forward (and it’s character driven since there isn’t much of a plot here other than Fever finds out who she is and people want to take over London). Kit Solvent should know that Londoners are a superstitious bunch ready to kill any Scrivener. Dr. Crumb should know it too, especially when his past is revealed. They both should know that Fever’s mismatched eyes would be seen as a sign she’s a ‘dappleskin’ and that she’d be hunted and killed. But no one even tries to hide it. She’s spotted literally the moment she steps off the transport at the London station. If they had tried to hide it and she was discovered I would have had a lot less trouble believing in the whole story but that was dumb and I spent half the novel thinking ‘boy that was dumb.’ I doubt I’ll look for the next book in the series. Fever was interesting but the rest of it, not so much.
Fever, however, is an interesting character which is why I even finished the book. Fever Crumb it the titular character, a fourteen year old girl who was a foundling. She was raised by the Order of Engineers as one of their own even though she’s a girl and everyone knows women aren’t reasonable creatures (it literally says so in the book). She’s raised by Dr. Crumb to be an Engineer and to have a Vulcan-like approach to emotions. The Engineers live in Godshawk’s Head, a remnant of a mile-high statue to Auric Godshawk, the last of the Scrivener kings on the outskirts of London.
We quickly learn that this is thousands of years after the ‘Downsizing’ an apocalyptic event. Several hundred years ago the Scriveners took over London. They’re basically genetically altered humans with inky spots on their skin who consider themselves superior to humans. At the end, the Skinners, normal human Londoners, killed them off, skinning them as proof of their deeds. Of those only Bagman Creech is around and his brand new apprentice Charley.
Fever is raised apart from the rest of the superstitious (and therefore silly) Londoners with the shave-headed engineers until one day Kit Solvent, an archeologist appears and asks for her specifically to help him with one of his digs. Kit has two young kids, Ruan and Fern. Fever goes with them, perplexed by the normal family situation in a not-so-normal house. The house turns out to contain a passageway to Godshawk’s long-lost lab. However, Fever’s mismatched colored eyes are noticed and she is taken as a Scrivener.
All heck breaks loose and violent riots erupted, timed unfortunately as a gypsy group known as the Movement, arrive to take over London. In the midst of this, Fever learns her true heritage and is thrust into the middle of the conflict from which she may not survive (seriously, Reeve does kill off characters with ease).
While Fever is likeable and a good female heroine, I had some serious problems with the book. For one, I don’t find it tremendously credible that in a few thousand years all we managed to rebuild was to like a turn of the 20th century tech level while borrowing high tech things. It’s stated repeatedly no one knows how this stuff really works (electricity for example is sporadically generated by things like treadmills) even though they have books they know how to read. Think about all we achieved from 1900-2000 a mere 100 years. Does it seem likely we’d never rebuild in thousands of years with remnants of old tech and the design specs lying around? Surely someone could have at least figured how to reestablish hydroelectric dams.
But even if I bought into this bit of world building, I had issues with what starts the whole drama moving forward (and it’s character driven since there isn’t much of a plot here other than Fever finds out who she is and people want to take over London). Kit Solvent should know that Londoners are a superstitious bunch ready to kill any Scrivener. Dr. Crumb should know it too, especially when his past is revealed. They both should know that Fever’s mismatched eyes would be seen as a sign she’s a ‘dappleskin’ and that she’d be hunted and killed. But no one even tries to hide it. She’s spotted literally the moment she steps off the transport at the London station. If they had tried to hide it and she was discovered I would have had a lot less trouble believing in the whole story but that was dumb and I spent half the novel thinking ‘boy that was dumb.’ I doubt I’ll look for the next book in the series. Fever was interesting but the rest of it, not so much.
July 17, 2013
If I had a Steam Punk shelf this would go on it without question. The thing is I have never really found a Steam Punk novel I "really" like. This one is no different. I'm given to understand this is a prequel. I don't plan to read the books it sets up.
We're traveling well trodden ground here. Mockery of our own technological society is front and center. Twisted and partial memories lead to to some odd beliefs and assumptions. We are also again dealing with a minority vs. a majority persecution set up.
This is (another) post-apocalyptic world. In one "twist" there is an assumption that a persistent skin pigment mutation is a sign of superiority (skin pigmentation signaling a superiority in "species" or...race. Now who'd take that seriously?).
All in all a fair book (though of course others like it greatly). I never got interested in it and was just as glad to be out of it. If you like YA post-apocalyptic fantasy might be for you. Try it yourself. I don't plan to follow the series.
We're traveling well trodden ground here. Mockery of our own technological society is front and center. Twisted and partial memories lead to to some odd beliefs and assumptions. We are also again dealing with a minority vs. a majority persecution set up.
This is (another) post-apocalyptic world. In one "twist" there is an assumption that a persistent skin pigment mutation is a sign of superiority (skin pigmentation signaling a superiority in "species" or...race. Now who'd take that seriously?).
All in all a fair book (though of course others like it greatly). I never got interested in it and was just as glad to be out of it. If you like YA post-apocalyptic fantasy might be for you. Try it yourself. I don't plan to follow the series.
July 24, 2017
Read by the author.
Fever is a nice enough character (just too bland), and the book isn't bad writing-wise. In fact I feel bad for giving this just two stars, but it's exactly that - an 'ok' read.
The characters were very stereotypical and predictable (which I don't necessarily mind) but not in an interesting way sadly. There's just not enough development I guess, barely enough to interest middle grade kids maybe. It's evident that there's further potential, I just won't be staying around for book two.
Fever is a nice enough character (just too bland), and the book isn't bad writing-wise. In fact I feel bad for giving this just two stars, but it's exactly that - an 'ok' read.
The characters were very stereotypical and predictable (which I don't necessarily mind) but not in an interesting way sadly. There's just not enough development I guess, barely enough to interest middle grade kids maybe. It's evident that there's further potential, I just won't be staying around for book two.
October 29, 2011
I have to say that I really enjoyed this book, mostly because it was one of the most original YA books I've read in a while. I mean, we in the Middle School teaching racket are used to the latest flux of novels that have come out the past 4 or so years. Female protagonist, futuristic setting, something sci-fi-y, sometimes a setting that takes place in the past, but remains SF, etc. etc. etc. Well Reeves was able to take the whole SF thing and twist it into an old-school setting. Think steampunk meets post-apocalyptic times. All the tech is there, the characters just don't know how to use it. Yes, there is a female protagonist, but even she is taken and turned into something quite different; an androgynous protagonist who isn't really herself, but is, and has the memories of her grandfather jammed packed in her brain, but also, she has some sort of nanotechnology that works its way around her organs and stuff. I mean, there's the SF. However, no one can explain anything, so it makes it like Dickens. This is SF Dickens my friends. If Oliver Twist possessed the knowledge of the future you would sort of have Fever Crumb. For this reason, FC scores a five star from me. One of the first in while for me I might add. It is a great read and has some great characterizations in it as well. FC is a sweet read with heart, SF action, and a weird Dickensian flair to it. Rock on Reeves, Rock on.
September 20, 2012
Fever Crumb is a prequel to the Hungry City books. Basically, this will set out how the world of municipal darwinism was built. You don't need to have read the entire Hungry City quartet (I had only read the first when I started the audiobook) nor will you be spoiled for that series by anything that happens here. There are some subtle connections in here, but they're mostly in the way of bonuses for fans of the previous series.
The London here is rather different from the London of Mortal Engines, though you can see how it will end up there. The story mainly involves Fever herself, and her past, which is rather more interesting than she'd probably thought. It's also about a major upheavel in London, putting the city a step closer to municipal darwinism. It reads very much like the Hunger City books that I've read, with maybe a slightly lighter tone through most of it.
The audiobook is read by the author, and he did a good job of it. The audiobook also includes a bonus scene of baby Fever (a nice scene, but one that wouldn't have worked in the story as a whole) and a few minutes of Reeves talking about the inspirations for Fever and why he revisited the Hungry City world.
The London here is rather different from the London of Mortal Engines, though you can see how it will end up there. The story mainly involves Fever herself, and her past, which is rather more interesting than she'd probably thought. It's also about a major upheavel in London, putting the city a step closer to municipal darwinism. It reads very much like the Hunger City books that I've read, with maybe a slightly lighter tone through most of it.
The audiobook is read by the author, and he did a good job of it. The audiobook also includes a bonus scene of baby Fever (a nice scene, but one that wouldn't have worked in the story as a whole) and a few minutes of Reeves talking about the inspirations for Fever and why he revisited the Hungry City world.
October 20, 2009
As the description says, this book is a prequel to the Mortal Engines series, which I have not read. Luckily, it is written so well that prior knowledge of the events of Mortal Engines isn’t needed to enjoy the heck out of this book.
Fever Crumb was raised by Dr. Crumb in the Order of Engineers and is a very rational girl. However, her commitment to the Engineers’ rationality is strongly tested when the secrets of her past begin to resurface and she finds herself in the middle of a dangerous search for ancient technology.
While the characters themselves are fascinating and well-developed, what I found most enjoyable about this book was the setting. It is set in London, but it took me a while to figure out exactly when it takes place. The current technology is almost steampunk in feel, but there are constant references to “Ancient” tech that is basically the technology of our time. I love the feel of the book, as if our world is recovering from a massive catastrophe and is hanging onto the old technology found by archaeologists, even though they haven’t the faintest idea of how to reproduce it.
The little details that Reeve throws in both enhance the regressed future setting as well as making the book pretty darned funny. Fever is nearly run over by a group of religious practitioners wearing “robes and pointed hats… chanting the name of some old-world prophet, ‘Hari, Hari! Hari Potter!‘” I was actually reading this while my class did group work, and I got some very strange looks when I snorted with laughter. Little touches, too, like B@ttersea, a pub called the Blogger’s Arms, and the use of ‘blog’ and ‘blogger’ as a swear word on par with ‘bugger’ are graceful additions to the place and time that barely remembers our time.
And Reeve’s writing is often just funny on its own. My personal favorite line, in a scene where Engineers are leaving the giant statue head that is their headquarters:
…But by then a whole crowd of Engineers were coming out of Godshawk’s nostril like a highly educated sneeze…
The only major complaint I have about this book is that the plot feels rushed at times. Fever is immediately thrust into her new duties, which is actually an excellent way to begin a book, by tossing the reader right into the action, but the rest of the events in the book seem to happen at a breakneck pace, especially when rushing toward the climax. It’s a bit exhausting, and I found myself wishing it had been drawn out just a bit more.
But overall, I very much enjoyed this book, and I’m currently on the hunt for the Mortal Engines series. I love the setting and want more!
Fever Crumb was raised by Dr. Crumb in the Order of Engineers and is a very rational girl. However, her commitment to the Engineers’ rationality is strongly tested when the secrets of her past begin to resurface and she finds herself in the middle of a dangerous search for ancient technology.
While the characters themselves are fascinating and well-developed, what I found most enjoyable about this book was the setting. It is set in London, but it took me a while to figure out exactly when it takes place. The current technology is almost steampunk in feel, but there are constant references to “Ancient” tech that is basically the technology of our time. I love the feel of the book, as if our world is recovering from a massive catastrophe and is hanging onto the old technology found by archaeologists, even though they haven’t the faintest idea of how to reproduce it.
The little details that Reeve throws in both enhance the regressed future setting as well as making the book pretty darned funny. Fever is nearly run over by a group of religious practitioners wearing “robes and pointed hats… chanting the name of some old-world prophet, ‘Hari, Hari! Hari Potter!‘” I was actually reading this while my class did group work, and I got some very strange looks when I snorted with laughter. Little touches, too, like B@ttersea, a pub called the Blogger’s Arms, and the use of ‘blog’ and ‘blogger’ as a swear word on par with ‘bugger’ are graceful additions to the place and time that barely remembers our time.
And Reeve’s writing is often just funny on its own. My personal favorite line, in a scene where Engineers are leaving the giant statue head that is their headquarters:
…But by then a whole crowd of Engineers were coming out of Godshawk’s nostril like a highly educated sneeze…
The only major complaint I have about this book is that the plot feels rushed at times. Fever is immediately thrust into her new duties, which is actually an excellent way to begin a book, by tossing the reader right into the action, but the rest of the events in the book seem to happen at a breakneck pace, especially when rushing toward the climax. It’s a bit exhausting, and I found myself wishing it had been drawn out just a bit more.
But overall, I very much enjoyed this book, and I’m currently on the hunt for the Mortal Engines series. I love the setting and want more!
October 14, 2015
I give "Fever Crumb" a 10 out of 10. I gave it a 10 because Phillip Reeve just planned the book out perfectly. The characters fit the story so well. Having Fever being the only girl engineer was a good idea showing how important she is in the story. Also, I gave it a 10 out of 10 because of Fever's background with being left behind with only one little note saying "her name is Fever." That made the the plot so much better. I would recommend this book to people who like fantasy, suspense and just a weird and twisted plot. I would not recommend this book to people who don't like to not know whats going to happen next. The books is basically about a young girl engineer who doesn't really know her actual identity. She lives with the order and eventually goes to the house of archaeologist Kit Solent to figure out the mysterious room that once belonged to Auric Godshawk and she somehow knows the to the vault. Without spoiling the book Fever Crumb is a very intresting book with many twists and turns that will leave the reader on the edge. I 100% have faith that almost anyone would like this book.
March 7, 2016
So this is this steampunk of which they mention...this is a new genre for me. I was delighted, at the beginning with the ease, the fluency, and intuitiveness of the words. I thought we have here a winner. But this type of book needed a few strong twists. Instead, we get predictable plots, lazy devices which are excuses for shifting this and that character around without much invention(no pun). I have the two sequels of this trilogy ready to be read. But this book relied too much on a parables like preach. The book supports themes. Like childhood, innocence, coming of age, responsibility, history, legacy, genetics etc. For this book to turn on its head(again, no pun), it had to be just a bunch of original and exciting things that simply happened. Instead, it's not.
October 15, 2012
Bland. Boring. Sub Par. Waste of my time. Confusing at times. Weak. Just not worth a read in any way.
I picked it up thinking that I love Phillip Reeve's other series, Larklight, and so I might enjoy this one. Not at all. In no way.
I picked it up thinking that I love Phillip Reeve's other series, Larklight, and so I might enjoy this one. Not at all. In no way.
December 19, 2012
Oh. My. Goodness.
I got chills after finishing this book.
I couldn't do anything but mutter, "Where is the next book? Where Is The Next BOOK?!" Several times when I was reading I would be so startled by the plot that I would exclaim, "What? No way! I can't believe you did this!" and just sit there, trying to process all the wild thoughts running through my head. Philip Reeve had so many plot twists I never saw coming. And when he introduced old characters and you saw someone from the older books and realized who they were, well, it was mind-blowing.
I was completely hooked from the very beginning. I could feel pieces of the story sliding around in my head and I tried to figure out what was going to happen...always feeling like I was on the edge of a breakthrough and then something totally crazy would happen in the story and I would be thrown for a loop. This book definitely fits the dystopia genre. It reminded me of The Secret Under My Skin and had elements of The Giver and a whole slew of my other favorite fantasy/sci-fi novels.
The way Philip Reeve wove in old characters that I knew from the previous novels was amazing. I would be reading, paying attention to the plot and all of a sudden he would give you one sentence that gave one piece of information and everything would click into place and you would go, "AAHH! That's what's his face! That's how he came into being! Oh my goodness, I can't believe it."
I loved the world. I was fascinated by the city and its inhabitants. I think I read this book in one sitting and after I was done I couldn't do anything but try and wrap my mind around the story. I would totally recommend this book. I felt like it was even more thrilling than the Hungry City Chronicles.
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2010...
I got chills after finishing this book.
I couldn't do anything but mutter, "Where is the next book? Where Is The Next BOOK?!" Several times when I was reading I would be so startled by the plot that I would exclaim, "What? No way! I can't believe you did this!" and just sit there, trying to process all the wild thoughts running through my head. Philip Reeve had so many plot twists I never saw coming. And when he introduced old characters and you saw someone from the older books and realized who they were, well, it was mind-blowing.
I was completely hooked from the very beginning. I could feel pieces of the story sliding around in my head and I tried to figure out what was going to happen...always feeling like I was on the edge of a breakthrough and then something totally crazy would happen in the story and I would be thrown for a loop. This book definitely fits the dystopia genre. It reminded me of The Secret Under My Skin and had elements of The Giver and a whole slew of my other favorite fantasy/sci-fi novels.
The way Philip Reeve wove in old characters that I knew from the previous novels was amazing. I would be reading, paying attention to the plot and all of a sudden he would give you one sentence that gave one piece of information and everything would click into place and you would go, "AAHH! That's what's his face! That's how he came into being! Oh my goodness, I can't believe it."
I loved the world. I was fascinated by the city and its inhabitants. I think I read this book in one sitting and after I was done I couldn't do anything but try and wrap my mind around the story. I would totally recommend this book. I felt like it was even more thrilling than the Hungry City Chronicles.
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2010...
October 28, 2016
Big fan of Philip Reeve's Mortal Engines Quartet, and this prequel to the world of the Traction Era was a good but not as good. I do wonder whether this and its sequels was the result of the publisher/editor pressuring for the backstory to be told, rather than any burning desire to do so on Mr Reeve's part.
Ah but I do miss the Traction Era; the lazy whine of the Rotwang engines on a distant airship, the earth-shaking rumble as a predator city passes by, the threat of painful death by Stalker...
Ah but I do miss the Traction Era; the lazy whine of the Rotwang engines on a distant airship, the earth-shaking rumble as a predator city passes by, the threat of painful death by Stalker...
November 12, 2014
This book was well written, with an interesting fictional world. I couldn't get into the main character though. She'd been trained to be emotionless, and it's hard to like someone who is that way. I could have overlooked it, perhaps, but I really began to dislike her when she told Kit's children than he was dead. She bluntly told them, and then when they asked if he had gone on to the next life, she told them that there was no such place. Training or no, it's something only a heartless person would do to little children. (Remind me never to ask Philip Reeve to break bad news to someone.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2022
I loved seeing how things started before Mortal Engines. The characters were great!
March 29, 2015
Steampunk novels remind me of surreal art. This book made me feel like Salvador Dali's "Sleep," painting where I mistook the crutches holding up a sleeping head as needles piercing it. I thought the lips were sewn shut. It is a creepy painting, straight from my nightmares. Steampunk oftentimes has a surreal, nightmarish dark side that slurps me into the plot. I can't seem to put down the book even when I want to. If you like science fiction, then you'll like this book. Philip Reeve's world building is detailed and hard to visualize only because it is so darn odd. Barges on wheels. Robot men made from supposedly dead people. Paper boys that can fold into small squares and squeeze through small apertures. Plop down with this crazy, disorienting story with its multi-layered themes and strong character development that shows a child going from dependency on a parent to independence and self-discovery. This is a prequel to the Hungry City Chronicles and can be read without knowing that series.
Fever Crumb is an orphan raised by engineer Gideon Crumb in London. As the only girl in the Order of Engineers, a group that spurns emotions and pleasure as the two lead to irrational behavior, Fever works hard to follow the rules. When she is sent to assist an archeologist, Kit Solvent, it sets in motion a plot to kill her thinking she is a Shriven, or nonhuman. The fanatical Bagman Creech who led the previous riots that overturned the Shriven with commoners committing genocide makes for a fascinating character study. Creech believes in what he does and feels it is right. He doesn't see Shriven as humans because of the spots on their skin. This could launch discussions on fanaticism and terrorism. The Shriven were an elitist group that held all the power and money while oppressing the Londoners. As Fever works with Kit, the scents and sights trigger memories that she can't understand. As Creech chases after her and threatens those she cares about, she finds out more about herself and her odd background that makes for an action-packed story.
Philip Reeve loves to play with words. The dictator's name is Auric Godshawk. He has an aura about him and likes to play God while preying on the dead. Bert Atkinson is spelled, Bert @kinson. The villain curses, "That's a load of blog," or "you great soft blogger," are an interesting look at how the world has changed in the future. The Internet no longer exists but the words reflect the past, but are used different. Reeve's play on words is constant. My favorite was "technomancer" or "technomancy" like "necromancer" or "necromancy." The person with that title was the one that brought dead men to life using technology. He also describes technology without using the word so it was fun guessing what was braces, or tanks, or cars, or hovercrafts were when they are introduced in the story.
Fever begins as a young girl that is dependent on Gideon and happy to be home with him. When she gets her first assignment she is scared and doesn't want to go, but because she is an engineer she has learned to ignore her emotions. She shaves her head like all the other engineers so she is not distracted by pleasures or vanity and feels safe within the rigid order of life at the Engineerium. It isn't until she meets Kit who acts as her foil, that she starts to think for herself and become independent. At the end when she questions the cruel intentions of people using machines, it shows a girl who is becoming her own self. She considers the ethical issues of creating Stalkers who at times show the conscience of their former self and go "mad." She feels that the practice is morally wrong and requires more research.
The floating barge is run literally by slaves on treads. The politics shows different factions trying to take control with one person succeeding at the end. The end has the next ruler of London being bent toward an aristocratic government and a colonization of other cities that is similar to the British Empire. This sets up for the Hungry City Chronicles government that seems to be more of a plutocracy, but is driven to colonize others as the world becomes depleted of natural resources. Some terrific twists and turns make this story original, memorable, and the questions left at the end will have me scrambling for book 2 when it is released for publication.
Fever Crumb is an orphan raised by engineer Gideon Crumb in London. As the only girl in the Order of Engineers, a group that spurns emotions and pleasure as the two lead to irrational behavior, Fever works hard to follow the rules. When she is sent to assist an archeologist, Kit Solvent, it sets in motion a plot to kill her thinking she is a Shriven, or nonhuman. The fanatical Bagman Creech who led the previous riots that overturned the Shriven with commoners committing genocide makes for a fascinating character study. Creech believes in what he does and feels it is right. He doesn't see Shriven as humans because of the spots on their skin. This could launch discussions on fanaticism and terrorism. The Shriven were an elitist group that held all the power and money while oppressing the Londoners. As Fever works with Kit, the scents and sights trigger memories that she can't understand. As Creech chases after her and threatens those she cares about, she finds out more about herself and her odd background that makes for an action-packed story.
Philip Reeve loves to play with words. The dictator's name is Auric Godshawk. He has an aura about him and likes to play God while preying on the dead. Bert Atkinson is spelled, Bert @kinson. The villain curses, "That's a load of blog," or "you great soft blogger," are an interesting look at how the world has changed in the future. The Internet no longer exists but the words reflect the past, but are used different. Reeve's play on words is constant. My favorite was "technomancer" or "technomancy" like "necromancer" or "necromancy." The person with that title was the one that brought dead men to life using technology. He also describes technology without using the word so it was fun guessing what was braces, or tanks, or cars, or hovercrafts were when they are introduced in the story.
Fever begins as a young girl that is dependent on Gideon and happy to be home with him. When she gets her first assignment she is scared and doesn't want to go, but because she is an engineer she has learned to ignore her emotions. She shaves her head like all the other engineers so she is not distracted by pleasures or vanity and feels safe within the rigid order of life at the Engineerium. It isn't until she meets Kit who acts as her foil, that she starts to think for herself and become independent. At the end when she questions the cruel intentions of people using machines, it shows a girl who is becoming her own self. She considers the ethical issues of creating Stalkers who at times show the conscience of their former self and go "mad." She feels that the practice is morally wrong and requires more research.
The floating barge is run literally by slaves on treads. The politics shows different factions trying to take control with one person succeeding at the end. The end has the next ruler of London being bent toward an aristocratic government and a colonization of other cities that is similar to the British Empire. This sets up for the Hungry City Chronicles government that seems to be more of a plutocracy, but is driven to colonize others as the world becomes depleted of natural resources. Some terrific twists and turns make this story original, memorable, and the questions left at the end will have me scrambling for book 2 when it is released for publication.
November 22, 2017
See my other reviews at Never Enough Books
Fever Crumb is an anomaly. Adopted and raised by Dr. Crumb, she serves as his apprentice in the order of Engineers. She is also the only female as women are considered flighty and are not seen a reasonable creatures. Soon though, Fever finds herself leaving Dr. Crumb to help archaeologist Kit Solvent with his new project. However the more she learns about this project the more she is plagued by odd dreams and memories that are not her own. Solvent seems to have a particular interest in this and Fever quickly realizes he knows more about her and her past than he’s telling.
Fever Crumb is an interesting book. The way the world is set up, at first you think perhaps the story takes place in a kind of alternate universe London. A sort of steampunk kind of world. It is only as the story goes on do you realize that it’s actually set in the future! The little clues sprinkled throughout make the ‘Aha!’ moment when you realize this all the sweeter, in my opinion. Time has caused the names of city areas to change, and having been to London I found it a bit of a fun challenge to try and reconcile the actual names with the new slightly different names in the books.
The characters themselves also bear mention. Raised in the order of Engineers, Fever has a strictly logical mind. It reminds me a good deal of the character Mr. Spock, or any one of the Vulcan race, from the Star Trek series. Logic and the search for knowledge is tantamount and everything else just gets in the way. Watching Fever as she encounters a vibrant feeling world and struggles with it makes her growth that much more satisfying. She does not change completely – that would far too out of character – but she does change, at least a little bit.
With a vibrant world, changing yet still holding on to its past, Fever Crumb is an excellent introduction to Philip Reeve and his writing. Considered by most a sort of prequel to his Hungry Cities/Mortal Engines series, it continues the story by going back to the beginning. Those who enjoy steampunk type books will likely enjoy this, as will nearly any one who likes the ‘coming of age’ tales. A strong female protagonist makes this a good book for the young women readers out there as well.
Fever Crumb is an anomaly. Adopted and raised by Dr. Crumb, she serves as his apprentice in the order of Engineers. She is also the only female as women are considered flighty and are not seen a reasonable creatures. Soon though, Fever finds herself leaving Dr. Crumb to help archaeologist Kit Solvent with his new project. However the more she learns about this project the more she is plagued by odd dreams and memories that are not her own. Solvent seems to have a particular interest in this and Fever quickly realizes he knows more about her and her past than he’s telling.
Fever Crumb is an interesting book. The way the world is set up, at first you think perhaps the story takes place in a kind of alternate universe London. A sort of steampunk kind of world. It is only as the story goes on do you realize that it’s actually set in the future! The little clues sprinkled throughout make the ‘Aha!’ moment when you realize this all the sweeter, in my opinion. Time has caused the names of city areas to change, and having been to London I found it a bit of a fun challenge to try and reconcile the actual names with the new slightly different names in the books.
The characters themselves also bear mention. Raised in the order of Engineers, Fever has a strictly logical mind. It reminds me a good deal of the character Mr. Spock, or any one of the Vulcan race, from the Star Trek series. Logic and the search for knowledge is tantamount and everything else just gets in the way. Watching Fever as she encounters a vibrant feeling world and struggles with it makes her growth that much more satisfying. She does not change completely – that would far too out of character – but she does change, at least a little bit.
With a vibrant world, changing yet still holding on to its past, Fever Crumb is an excellent introduction to Philip Reeve and his writing. Considered by most a sort of prequel to his Hungry Cities/Mortal Engines series, it continues the story by going back to the beginning. Those who enjoy steampunk type books will likely enjoy this, as will nearly any one who likes the ‘coming of age’ tales. A strong female protagonist makes this a good book for the young women readers out there as well.
April 6, 2010
Fever Crumb follows fourteen year old Fever Crumb as she's sent away from the only home she's ever known to work for a former Engineer. While away from her haven, she learns about her past and that she's more than she ever could have imagined.
After I received Fever Crumb for review, I discovered that it is intended as a prequel to the Hungry City Chronicles, which I have never read. I was concerned that I would be completely lost during Fever Crumb, but I needn't have worried. It stands alone perfectly well, and while reading the Hungry City Chronicles may enhance the experience, the novel is entertaining and explanatory enough to enjoy without doing so.
I chuckled several times during this book. The middle-aged male Engineers are dry and unintentionally funny. Fever herself has her moments of comedy; she's rational to a fault, which may seem absurd to the reader, but it's endearing. Having never struggled with emotions before--believing them to be useless--Fever makes a few mistakes as she works to figure out who she truly is inside after learning that the memories in her brain might not be hers.
The Scriven seemed to be a terrifying people, but the common folk of London were almost as terrifying in their intent of wiping out the Scriven at the expense of the innocents. I would've liked to have learned more about the Scriven and the Movement that opposes London, but those may be topics explored in chronologically later novels.
This is a great novel for younger readers; all of the so-called swearing is in futuristic terminology. For example, the denizens of London worship an ancient deity named Hari Potter. Fever Crumb is filled with such puns as everyday language for the common Londoners, much to my amusement. Older readers will enjoy the story as well; it's thoughtfully constructed and complicated enough to feel meaty.
After I received Fever Crumb for review, I discovered that it is intended as a prequel to the Hungry City Chronicles, which I have never read. I was concerned that I would be completely lost during Fever Crumb, but I needn't have worried. It stands alone perfectly well, and while reading the Hungry City Chronicles may enhance the experience, the novel is entertaining and explanatory enough to enjoy without doing so.
I chuckled several times during this book. The middle-aged male Engineers are dry and unintentionally funny. Fever herself has her moments of comedy; she's rational to a fault, which may seem absurd to the reader, but it's endearing. Having never struggled with emotions before--believing them to be useless--Fever makes a few mistakes as she works to figure out who she truly is inside after learning that the memories in her brain might not be hers.
The Scriven seemed to be a terrifying people, but the common folk of London were almost as terrifying in their intent of wiping out the Scriven at the expense of the innocents. I would've liked to have learned more about the Scriven and the Movement that opposes London, but those may be topics explored in chronologically later novels.
This is a great novel for younger readers; all of the so-called swearing is in futuristic terminology. For example, the denizens of London worship an ancient deity named Hari Potter. Fever Crumb is filled with such puns as everyday language for the common Londoners, much to my amusement. Older readers will enjoy the story as well; it's thoughtfully constructed and complicated enough to feel meaty.
September 11, 2010
Fever Crumb came highly recommended by one of my best friends, and although I didn't love it, I did enjoy it and I can definitely see why she liked it. The characters are fun and likable (or, in the villains' cases, distinctly unlikable), the story-world is very well-developed, the story is intriguing, and it's funny. One thing I particularly liked: in this new post-apocalyptic world, they use a lot of our words to mean different things, and "blog" is a swearword! Also, someone has discovered Harry Potter and decided that he is an "old world prophet." I was so amused.
At the start of the story, Fever is the only female apprentice to the Order of Engineers, and she's been recruited by an archaeologist to help him with a very secret project. Engineers are trained to always be rational and ignore all emotions, so living with Kit and his children is appalling to Fever: they're the most unreasonable people she's ever met. But she's becoming unreasonable too, it seems, because she keeps remembering things that she's never seen before.
Her strange memories aren't the only thing strange about her. Fever's eyes are two different colors, and those that remember the reign of the Scriven are convinced that she is a Scriven, returning to destroy them. The only logical solution is to destroy her first.
There were a lot of times in this book where I wanted a better idea of what Fever was thinking and trying not to feel - I wanted to see more character development and I felt like the story was kind of predictable in places. But that aside, Fever Crumb was a fun futuristic story with an interesting take on post-apocalyptic England and characters that are endearing and enjoyable. I'm not recommending it with all the love in my heart, but I do think it's a worthwhile read.
At the start of the story, Fever is the only female apprentice to the Order of Engineers, and she's been recruited by an archaeologist to help him with a very secret project. Engineers are trained to always be rational and ignore all emotions, so living with Kit and his children is appalling to Fever: they're the most unreasonable people she's ever met. But she's becoming unreasonable too, it seems, because she keeps remembering things that she's never seen before.
Her strange memories aren't the only thing strange about her. Fever's eyes are two different colors, and those that remember the reign of the Scriven are convinced that she is a Scriven, returning to destroy them. The only logical solution is to destroy her first.
There were a lot of times in this book where I wanted a better idea of what Fever was thinking and trying not to feel - I wanted to see more character development and I felt like the story was kind of predictable in places. But that aside, Fever Crumb was a fun futuristic story with an interesting take on post-apocalyptic England and characters that are endearing and enjoyable. I'm not recommending it with all the love in my heart, but I do think it's a worthwhile read.
June 18, 2017
Who is Fever Crumb?
I have to admit, I'm relieved to be finished reading this book. I borrowed it from my school library because it wasn't being checked out and I wanted to see if I could find readers for it. I need to know a book to really promote it. However, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. Which is sad because I hear so many good things about the Mortal Engines series by Philip Reeve.
I didn't realize this was a prequel series until I looked into the next book on Amazon. And why would I look into the next book in the series considering my experience with this book? Honestly, the best part of the book was the last 26 pages.
Up until that point, I found all of the characters to be selfish and self-serving. Fever, the main character, has been taught to hide her emotions because they are foolish and irrational. This makes it difficult to connect with her or even like her. The engineer Fever is sent to help (Kit) seems more in touch with his emotions, but even he has selfish motives for asking Fever to work with him. The Scrivens and the skinners seem like two awful sides of the same coin. Apparently even in the future, society is ruled by hate and fear.
So, I'm torn. I may read the next book in the series or skip right to the Mortal Engines series or even just give up on it completely. If any of you have read the series, I would love to hear your input. :)
I read this book as my second Memorial Day extra roll, space Paradise Pier 28, a book tagged steampunk on GR.
I have to admit, I'm relieved to be finished reading this book. I borrowed it from my school library because it wasn't being checked out and I wanted to see if I could find readers for it. I need to know a book to really promote it. However, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. Which is sad because I hear so many good things about the Mortal Engines series by Philip Reeve.
I didn't realize this was a prequel series until I looked into the next book on Amazon. And why would I look into the next book in the series considering my experience with this book? Honestly, the best part of the book was the last 26 pages.
Up until that point, I found all of the characters to be selfish and self-serving. Fever, the main character, has been taught to hide her emotions because they are foolish and irrational. This makes it difficult to connect with her or even like her. The engineer Fever is sent to help (Kit) seems more in touch with his emotions, but even he has selfish motives for asking Fever to work with him. The Scrivens and the skinners seem like two awful sides of the same coin. Apparently even in the future, society is ruled by hate and fear.
So, I'm torn. I may read the next book in the series or skip right to the Mortal Engines series or even just give up on it completely. If any of you have read the series, I would love to hear your input. :)
I read this book as my second Memorial Day extra roll, space Paradise Pier 28, a book tagged steampunk on GR.
November 8, 2010
Set a few hundred years after the fall of our own civilizations, London is still recovering from the revolution which freed the commoners of the oppressive rule of the Scriveners, a slightly mutated form of human. In this world, Fever Crumb is the first female to ever live in the prestigious Order of Engineers, known for their aesthetic lifestyle and adherence to logic. She has never much left the Order’s home until a former Engineer, Kit, requires her help at an archeological dig. For some reason, he thinks she has Scrivener knowledge in her memories — something that should be impossible.
By far, the best thing about this book is the world building Reeve has done. Don’t get me wrong. The characters are well-developed and the action is well paced, but the world is just fascinating. As the tale progresses, we can see where Reeve sees our own civilization going as well as his vision for the future after that.
And that future is still recognizable. In Reeve’s world, the technology may be disappearing and man may be moving down a different path than the one we’re on now, but the people still remain the same as folks now.
I would recommend this for older readers, ages 10 & up. The world Reeve creates is a harsh world and may be a little to much for younger or super-sensitive readers. However, this is a fascinating piece of science fiction which I would recommend right up there with the great hard science fiction writers of the past.
By far, the best thing about this book is the world building Reeve has done. Don’t get me wrong. The characters are well-developed and the action is well paced, but the world is just fascinating. As the tale progresses, we can see where Reeve sees our own civilization going as well as his vision for the future after that.
And that future is still recognizable. In Reeve’s world, the technology may be disappearing and man may be moving down a different path than the one we’re on now, but the people still remain the same as folks now.
I would recommend this for older readers, ages 10 & up. The world Reeve creates is a harsh world and may be a little to much for younger or super-sensitive readers. However, this is a fascinating piece of science fiction which I would recommend right up there with the great hard science fiction writers of the past.
May 18, 2012
This is a well-written book. I am skeptical of people writing a book from the perspective of a different gender, but the cover and description both were very intriguing, and the story wasn't written in first person, so I gave it a try.
and I am very glad I did. I found this book engrossing from beginning to end. I guess this is steam punk dystopian young adult? A fascinating world he created, terrifying and mesmerizing, all the more intriguing because it's set in London. I loved the references to my era as "Ancient", and found the idea of archaeologists digging for reusable plastic pieces and Ancient tech completely fascinating and believable.
I also really liked most of the characters, and hated the ones I was supposed to, as well. I found Fever charming--she reminds me of Temperance Brennan, on Bones. I also loved Dr Crumb. What a good guy! Even Kit and Charley and Bagman were likable, if extremely complex. the children were written well, too, which was a pleasure. Not made into mini adults. Not immaturity glorified. Just kids, plain and simple. Ted Swiney was just horrible. ick! the only character I didn't really care for, and couldn't understand Dr Crumb's reaction to/ feelings for was Wavey Gotshawk. I thought she seemed pretty obnoxious and unlikable. I found Fever's view of Wavey to be more realistic.
I see there are two more books to this series, and I'm looking forward to reading them.
and I am very glad I did. I found this book engrossing from beginning to end. I guess this is steam punk dystopian young adult? A fascinating world he created, terrifying and mesmerizing, all the more intriguing because it's set in London. I loved the references to my era as "Ancient", and found the idea of archaeologists digging for reusable plastic pieces and Ancient tech completely fascinating and believable.
I also really liked most of the characters, and hated the ones I was supposed to, as well. I found Fever charming--she reminds me of Temperance Brennan, on Bones. I also loved Dr Crumb. What a good guy! Even Kit and Charley and Bagman were likable, if extremely complex. the children were written well, too, which was a pleasure. Not made into mini adults. Not immaturity glorified. Just kids, plain and simple. Ted Swiney was just horrible. ick! the only character I didn't really care for, and couldn't understand Dr Crumb's reaction to/ feelings for was Wavey Gotshawk. I thought she seemed pretty obnoxious and unlikable. I found Fever's view of Wavey to be more realistic.
I see there are two more books to this series, and I'm looking forward to reading them.
December 5, 2023
Детальніше – у 16 випуску подкасту "небагатослів".
Це трилогія-приквел до "Смертних машин". Головну героїню звуть Фівер Крам - буквально Лихоманка Крихта (в постапокаліптичному світі дітям давали дивні імена). Вона живе в Лондоні й є єдиною дівчиною, яку виховували серед інженерів у дусі раціоналізму. Археолог Кіт Солент попросив у гільдії інженерів саме її в якості помічниці, щоб відкрити величезний сейф, залишений колишнім правителем Лондона. Водночас в місті зростає паніка чере�� те, що з півночі насуваються варвари (які насправді більш технологічно розвинені, просто їм бракує ресурсів).
Це трилогія-приквел до "Смертних машин". Головну героїню звуть Фівер Крам - буквально Лихоманка Крихта (в постапокаліптичному світі дітям давали дивні імена). Вона живе в Лондоні й є єдиною дівчиною, яку виховували серед інженерів у дусі раціоналізму. Археолог Кіт Солент попросив у гільдії інженерів саме її в якості помічниці, щоб відкрити величезний сейф, залишений колишнім правителем Лондона. Водночас в місті зростає паніка чере�� те, що з півночі насуваються варвари (які насправді більш технологічно розвинені, просто їм бракує ресурсів).
October 25, 2016
I love the steampunk/dieselpunk (result of being a post-apocalyptic setting) setting, and this is very engaging, with the right amount of action threaded together by descriptive language and a tinge of mystery. There's potential here, but this is very much a first book in a series. I'm curious about the rest in the series, and will probably check out the next one to see if the series starts fulfilling its promise. Although I liked the character of Fever Crumb, I enjoyed the characters in Reeve's Hungry City Chronicles more.
September 8, 2021
Finally! A well written, unique young adult novel that doesn't fall hazard to predictable boy/girl romance or silly unbelievable plot twists. Instead we get a unique universe set in a future London (the first book of the Fever Crumb trilogy is a prequel to another series which I'm looking forward to reading as well), an engaging plot, interesting family dynamics and a teenage female protagonist that I actually like. Also, Noodle Poodle.
Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
October 17, 2013
Fever Crumb is an orphan of mysterious origins...heard that before? Terrible cliche, right? But it doesn't matter because the writing is lovely and the story rapidly becomes intriguing.
THIS REVIEW HAS BEEN CURTAILED IN PROTEST AT GOODREADS' CENSORSHIP POLICY
See the complete review here:
http://arbieroo.booklikes.com/post/33...
THIS REVIEW HAS BEEN CURTAILED IN PROTEST AT GOODREADS' CENSORSHIP POLICY
See the complete review here:
http://arbieroo.booklikes.com/post/33...
March 16, 2023
"It is irrational to build machines whose principles you do not understand and whose actions you cannot predict." -Philip Reeves, Fever Crumb
Fever Crumb is an interesting read set in a futuristic London, where a new job sets events into motion that spirals quickly out of control. Fever Crumb does read on the young side of YA, and it does have some darker themes and events. There is mystery and dread. There is a likable main character and intriguing supporting characters.
Fevered Crumb is told in multiple perspectives and sometimes broken timeline. The writing style has a very pleasant agreeableness that allowed very quick reading.
There is great characterization, and the mannerisms of the characters felt realistic.
I found it incredibly interesting of the ramifications of teaching Fever to withhold her emotions and how her mannerisms affected those around her.
I found Fever endearing and easy to read for.
The first half of Fever Crumb has a mysterious tone because the more events unfolded, questions arise as to who/what Fever is.
There are interesting twists to the story. I feel if you are well read and/or have great foreshadowing skills, said twists are not surprising, but no less interesting.
In some scenes, the sense of dread was heavy and captivating. Unfortunately, the feeling of doom was obviously quite awful for the characters or pertained to.
There are some tragic events.
Despite the fact that the tone of the story read quite young, there are some macabre/horroresque elements to the story. These aspects of the story I am most referring to would be the usage of corpses as tools/soldiers. When the corpses are used, it is in a manner that is near dishonorable and insensitive in the treatment of the corpses.
I can see Fever Crumb translating to the screen well.
The ending was left open-ended.
Overall, Fever Crumb was very well written and an engrossing read. I would recommend Fever Crumb to other readers who enjoy a mysterious coming of age story, featuring darker events, within a futuristic London setting.
Fever Crumb is an interesting read set in a futuristic London, where a new job sets events into motion that spirals quickly out of control. Fever Crumb does read on the young side of YA, and it does have some darker themes and events. There is mystery and dread. There is a likable main character and intriguing supporting characters.
Fevered Crumb is told in multiple perspectives and sometimes broken timeline. The writing style has a very pleasant agreeableness that allowed very quick reading.
There is great characterization, and the mannerisms of the characters felt realistic.
I found it incredibly interesting of the ramifications of teaching Fever to withhold her emotions and how her mannerisms affected those around her.
I found Fever endearing and easy to read for.
The first half of Fever Crumb has a mysterious tone because the more events unfolded, questions arise as to who/what Fever is.
There are interesting twists to the story. I feel if you are well read and/or have great foreshadowing skills, said twists are not surprising, but no less interesting.
In some scenes, the sense of dread was heavy and captivating. Unfortunately, the feeling of doom was obviously quite awful for the characters or pertained to.
There are some tragic events.
Despite the fact that the tone of the story read quite young, there are some macabre/horroresque elements to the story. These aspects of the story I am most referring to would be the usage of corpses as tools/soldiers. When the corpses are used, it is in a manner that is near dishonorable and insensitive in the treatment of the corpses.
I can see Fever Crumb translating to the screen well.
The ending was left open-ended.
Overall, Fever Crumb was very well written and an engrossing read. I would recommend Fever Crumb to other readers who enjoy a mysterious coming of age story, featuring darker events, within a futuristic London setting.
March 22, 2019
"Dr. Crumb's was watching but not speaking while he spreds out a thin wire skelotin on top of it. He look at window and stood there in salines". I gave Fever Crumb three stars because although I didn't love it I did enjoy it and I can definitely see why she liked it. The characters are fun and likable the story world is very well developed the story is intriguing and it's funny. One thing I particularly liked in this new post apocalyptic world they use a lot of our words to mean different things.
At the start of the story Fever is the only female apprentice to the Order of Engineers and she's been recruited by an archaeologist to help him with a very secret project. Engineers are trained to always be rational and ignore all emotions so living with Kit and his children is appalling to Fever they're the most unreasonable people she's ever met. But she's becoming unreasonable too it seems because she keeps remembering things that she's never seen before.
Her strange memories aren't the only thing strange about her. Fever's eyes are two different colors and those that remember the reign of the Scriven are convinced that she is a Scriven returning to destroy them. The only logical solution is to destroy her first.
I would recommend this book to anyone who like sci-fi and mystery It keep to me to the end and has a very cool ending.
At the start of the story Fever is the only female apprentice to the Order of Engineers and she's been recruited by an archaeologist to help him with a very secret project. Engineers are trained to always be rational and ignore all emotions so living with Kit and his children is appalling to Fever they're the most unreasonable people she's ever met. But she's becoming unreasonable too it seems because she keeps remembering things that she's never seen before.
Her strange memories aren't the only thing strange about her. Fever's eyes are two different colors and those that remember the reign of the Scriven are convinced that she is a Scriven returning to destroy them. The only logical solution is to destroy her first.
I would recommend this book to anyone who like sci-fi and mystery It keep to me to the end and has a very cool ending.
August 16, 2021
Fever Crumb may pre-date Reeve’s steampunk novel Mortal Engines by a few centuries, but it is thousands of years later than our present day. After a serious “Downsizing” of the human race the citizens of London live a life akin to our 18th century, but archaeologists have dug up old technology and are trying to fathom how the mechanisms were used. Meanwhile the Engineers use logic and reason to discover new possibilities such as ‘lectricity.
Fever was a foundling, adopted by the Engineers, and now their apprentice. She has been fed and taken care of but has grown up without any expressions of emotion. Now Dr Crumb tells her she should help Kit Solent in researching discoveries he has made beneath his house. Kit is a widower with two young children. He seems kind but his investigations into a long dead technomancer, Auric Godshawk, arouse horrifying memories for Fever which she does not understand. Soon Fever is in mortal danger, as she is suspected of being a Scriven, a superior race who once ruled London until they were overthrown.
Meanwhile the Movement, a vast, powerful group of Nomads are about to conquer London unless the populace can prevent it. Fever begins to understand more about her birthright but she also has responsibilities. She is an admirable, confused teenager trying to follow the best path in a chaotic, fascinating world.
This prequel could easily be read without starting with Mortal Engines. Although perhaps less stunningly inventive, the engaging heroine and other main characters made me feel totally involved in this alternative world and I am now starting to read the second part of this trilogy.
Fever was a foundling, adopted by the Engineers, and now their apprentice. She has been fed and taken care of but has grown up without any expressions of emotion. Now Dr Crumb tells her she should help Kit Solent in researching discoveries he has made beneath his house. Kit is a widower with two young children. He seems kind but his investigations into a long dead technomancer, Auric Godshawk, arouse horrifying memories for Fever which she does not understand. Soon Fever is in mortal danger, as she is suspected of being a Scriven, a superior race who once ruled London until they were overthrown.
Meanwhile the Movement, a vast, powerful group of Nomads are about to conquer London unless the populace can prevent it. Fever begins to understand more about her birthright but she also has responsibilities. She is an admirable, confused teenager trying to follow the best path in a chaotic, fascinating world.
This prequel could easily be read without starting with Mortal Engines. Although perhaps less stunningly inventive, the engaging heroine and other main characters made me feel totally involved in this alternative world and I am now starting to read the second part of this trilogy.
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