A Web of Air
Philip Reeve
Published by Scholastic
ISBN 978 1 407117 59 1
Mortal Engines, Philip Reeve's steampunk novels set in a ruined world many centuries into the future, have already won many awards and fans all over the world. This highly impressive quartet stands out in recent youth fiction for its originality, creative settings and exciting storylines.
Two years ago, Reeve published Fever Crumb, a prequel to the series about a heroine named after the title, and now comes A Web of Air, the second adventure of the engineer heroine. Fever's aim is 'to make her own life and her own discoveries' in a dark world where engines and their inventors are quickly gaining power. She was raised by the Guild of Engineers in London but decides to escape their grip, leave the war-torn city and follow her own path.
At the beginning of A Web of Air, 16-year-old Fever arrives in a coastal town working as a technician in Ambrose Persimmon's acting company.
Her engineering talents are soon noticed by a reclusive young man called Arlo Thursday. Arlo has a secret; he is building a flying machine and needs Fever's help.
A Web of Air works perfectly well as a stand-alone novel, and is a good introduction to a notable youth fiction series. Reeve's novels are international bestsellers and his latest will delight existing fans and earn him many new ones.