Mortal Engines: Bridge of Storms
By Philip Reeve
Reviewed by Mia Macrossan
Philip’s first book was the epic YA steampunk Mortal Engines, 2001, which created a world of ‘municipal Darwinism’, where rampaging motorised towns and cities are on the move, attacking and eating each other, prowling around looking for prey. That book was followed by two sequels and three prequels, each one peopled by memorable characters and remarkable conflicts. His 2007 novel, Here Lies Arthur, based on the legendary King Arthur, won the Carnegie Medal.
His books are noteworthy for their vivid imaginative settings where people are pitted against almost overwhelming odds but through a combination of grit, teamwork and luck manage to win through. These are not just adventure stories but touching portraits of flawed human beings struggling to survive in a cruel and challenging world. Bridge of Storms is a sequel to Thunder City, set in the Mortal Engines world and features the main characters from that story, although it is not necessary to have read Thunder City to enjoy Bridge of Storms.
Reeve drops us straight into the action. The team:Tamzin Pook, an ex cage fighter; Max Angmaring, scion of a noble ruling family; Hilly, a former teacher; Oddington Doom, a piratical adventurer; and Vespertine, now a fearsome Revenant, have agreed to help the people of Museion, a gentle academic town filled with priceless artefacts, get to London and safety. Unfortunately they are beset by raiders, eager for plunder. Plans go awry, fearsome villains threaten and a traitor is aiding the enemy in an action packed plot that is a joy to read.
Reeve takes us inside his characters, they are not just action figures responding to outside forces. Max, in particular, is developed and explored futher in this novel. He is not built to be a physical fighter although he wants to be one, but his strengths lie in other directions and it is a pleasure to accompany him on his journey of self- discovery. His relations with the prickly Luka Voss, the head engineer of Museion, are an example of the rocky road to gradual discovery from initial prejudice to understanding and esteem. Tamzin also learns and grows and, an added bonus, there is a touching love story off stage.
These events are set far into the future and our known world was lost long ago but that doesn’t stop Reeve from giving us the occasional humorous easter egg. His writing is polished and poetic, he can go from edge of your seat action to lyrical description to inner turmoil in one paragraph. The ending here does hint at another instalment and I very much hope that more adventures await Tamzin and her team.
For readers 10+
