“You aren’t a hero, and I’m not beautiful, and we probably won’t live happily ever after,” she said. “But we’re alive, and together, and we’re going to be all right.”
😭😭❤️ Oh. My. Gosh. I was NOT expecting to love this book as much as I did. I’ll have a full review on my blog this week, but for now I’ll just say this is going to be a series I eat up faster than a hungry traction city. 😉 ( )

This is my own personal opinion, not a fact.

If you plan to read this book, do not watch the movie first! I watched the movie first and absolutely loved it, but when I started the book I noticed all the differences, as it usually happens. That's not to say that the book is bad or the movie isn't any less amazing.

I don't prefer one over the other, I thought they were both brilliant (though the movie has a slightly happier ending, mind you).

It feels like it's two different stories that take place in the same world, like two different realities running parallel to one another.

One more thing I will say: the book paints Valentine out to be more human than the movie does, so you'll probably have mixed feelings about him if you do both.

When I started the book, I was thinking it was a solid three stars, but the book didn't disappoint and bumped itself up to four! ( )

I loved this book. It balanced it's exciting action, complex characters with some intense social messages and warnings about our potential future. The setting was very unique and the writing good. Actually, there was nothing I didn't like about it. Ok maybe there were some predictable outcomes, but that didn't really yak anything away. One of the things I liked most, while reading it in its YA context was the ability of the characters to have a change of heart and mind, I think it was an excellent exploration into the ways social justice and compassion can grow in someone who previously had not given it any thought. ( )

Story: 6 / 10
Characters: 7
Setting: 8
Prose: 6

Definitely one of the youngest target audience books I've had to read. Nevertheless, the steampunk setting was brilliant. Generally loved the book and the traction city concept. However, the story was a bit too simple. Obviously, this is a result of the 11 age target. I will not continue with the series. ( )

My first read/listen from author Ditter Philip Reeve. My eightyh-grader had an assignment to read this book so I bought it to read along with him. Narrator Barnaby Edward’s talented narration adds greatly to the book’s enjoyment. I'm a big fan of dystopian and post-apocalyptic novels as well as steampunk & thetre's elements of all in this book. There's something I really enjoy about a story with characters trying to survive in a world that's moved on. I don't restrict myself to a particular genre. I'm a sucker for anything with memorable characters and a story that keeps me guessing. The recipe for my perfect novel? A dash of backstory, a pinch of character, and a whole heaping of plot that keeps me turning the page long after I should have called it a night. Well-written romantic sci-fic/suspense, with well-developed characters. I’ll be reading more in this series. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).