Philip Reeve

Raised by a member of the Order of Engineers, apprentice Fever is dispatched to assist archaeologist Kit Solvent with a top-secret project that causes Fever to recall bizarre memories that raise questions about her origins. By the author of the award-winning Here Lies Arthur.

Fever Crumb

Sarah Sammis

Fever Crumb is the prequel to Philip Reeve's Hungry City series. I haven't read the other books but I plan to check out the first of them, Mortal Engines.

Fever is the adopted daughter of Dr. Crumb, a leading member of the order of Engineers. Fever is the only female in the order, an anomaly. Living in such an ordered society, Fever isn't interested in feminine pursuits, choosing instead to focus on her work and research.

All of that changes though when she is forced to leave to work instead with an archeologist. She must help investigate a site tied to the original invasion by the Scriven.

Coming into an established series, set in the far future of a post apocalyptic London, Fever Crumb seems to assume that the reader is familiar with the world and its history. While I liked having Fever live her life and address her problems, I frequently felt like I needed just a little bit more explanation of things. It is my curiosity over Fever's London that has made me want to read at the least the first book in the series.

Readers who enjoy slow-burn character studies with philosophical themes might find this book more engaging than I did.

Fever Crumb

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