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Fever Crumb
Written by Philip Reeve
Narrated by Philip Reeve
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Fever Crumb has been adopted and raised by Dr. Crumb, a member of the Order of Engineers, where she serves as an apprentice. At a time when women are not seen as reasonable creatures, Fever is an anomaly, the only girl to serve in the Order. Soon, though, she must say good-bye to Dr. Crumb to assist archaeologist Kit Solent with a top secret project.
The assignment involves a mysterious room that once belonged to Auric Godshawk, the last of the Scriven overlords, and Fever must help unlock it. The Scriven, not human, ruled the city some years ago but were hunted down and killed in a victorious uprising by the people.
As Fever’s work begins, she is plagued by memories that are not her own, and Kit seems to have a particular interest in finding out what they are. All Fever knows is what she’s been told: She is an orphan. But whose memories does she hold? And why are there people chasing her, intent on eliminating her? Is Fever the key to unlocking the terrible secret of the past?
Haunting, arresting, and astonishingly original, Fever Crumb will delight and surprise listeners at every fast-paced, breathless turn.
Book Actions
Start ListeningBook Information
Fever Crumb
Written by Philip Reeve
Narrated by Philip Reeve
Description
Fever Crumb has been adopted and raised by Dr. Crumb, a member of the Order of Engineers, where she serves as an apprentice. At a time when women are not seen as reasonable creatures, Fever is an anomaly, the only girl to serve in the Order. Soon, though, she must say good-bye to Dr. Crumb to assist archaeologist Kit Solent with a top secret project.
The assignment involves a mysterious room that once belonged to Auric Godshawk, the last of the Scriven overlords, and Fever must help unlock it. The Scriven, not human, ruled the city some years ago but were hunted down and killed in a victorious uprising by the people.
As Fever’s work begins, she is plagued by memories that are not her own, and Kit seems to have a particular interest in finding out what they are. All Fever knows is what she’s been told: She is an orphan. But whose memories does she hold? And why are there people chasing her, intent on eliminating her? Is Fever the key to unlocking the terrible secret of the past?
Haunting, arresting, and astonishingly original, Fever Crumb will delight and surprise listeners at every fast-paced, breathless turn.
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Reviews
Fever Crumb is the prequel to one of the best YA series of books in a long time. The original 4 books in the series are fun, scary, fast paced and excellently written, and Fever Crumb does not disappoint in this area. The main character is likeable with the baddies being suitably terrifying. The main place that Fever Crumb disappoints is the name. After the excellent names of Mortal Engines (taken from Othello) Predators Gold, Infernal Devices and A Darkling Plain, Fever Crumb is somewhat childish and silly. This can be said about the story as well, it seems to be aimed at a younger audience than the first 4 and that lets it down a bitHaving said that, Philip Reeve still delivers a brilliant book and it is well worth reading, providing you have read the previous books from the Mortal Engines series.
I read the three books in this series in quick succession. Quality-wise, the work is fine. The plot holds together, the language is consistent, the world is reasonably complete as a concept.I do see the series as a step back from Mortal Engines, mostly because (1) Characters are more static in development and fewer in number; (2) the plot is slower with less at stake; (3) it fills in some history of the world without expanding; (4) familiar names are constantly tossed in to reference the future events of Mortal Engines, but largely without consequence. In the end, it really took three books to get one roving city built?
This young adult novel set millennia after the Downsizing in the London a of steampunk ice age still retaining more recognizable place names than we have of Roman Britain. B@tersea? really? There is humor and some interesting characters and a bit too much in the way of challenges for our young heroine Fever, a rather high body count, and it is hard to see the point. It fails of the joy of youth set loose in a fantastic world and doesn't convince of youth with quest.
This sets the scene very nicely for the Mortal Engine series. A well written prequel, with an outcome you'll never predict. Well worth reading, but definitely read it AFTER you've read the four Mortal Engine books.
Fever Crumb is the first in an installment of Steampunk fiction for teens. Whereas I really enjoyed the sci/fi technology descriptions I had a hard time relating to Fever as a character. She seems more propelled by events that happen around her rather than taking action herself. Getting both sides of the story through multiple view points was interesting, but some characters lacked enough dimension for me to enjoy reading their thoughts. Hints about the previous "Dark Age" being the fall of our current society was a little irritating as the idea tries to be clever without being obvious, but fails at both. I would recommend this for anyone who likes steampunk, boy or girl, but don't get to excited about it.
Fever Crumb is a prequel to Reeve's Hungry City series, of which I have read the first book. Although Fever Crumb is well written and quite clever, I did not enjoy it nearly as much as I did Mortal Engines. The problem for me was that Fever is exceedingly difficult to relate to, which, admittedly, is as intended. Still, her own calm kept me from getting drawn into the story and really feeling for her predicament. This was one of those books where I simply didn't care how everything ended up, even when Fever was in serious danger. However, I did appreciate Fever's struggle to remain rational and emotionless in the face of whatever came her way (Yay! Spock reference!).
The best parts (for me) were the nifty references thrown into the future world Reeve has created. Early on, there is a mention of religious nuts worshiping their lord, Hari Potter. Now there is a religion I could really get behind. Haha. The British city of Battersea is spelled B@ersea. Little goodies like this are so delightful. They also force you to pay attention so that no hilarious little jokes pass you by.
The best parts (for me) were the nifty references thrown into the future world Reeve has created. Early on, there is a mention of religious nuts worshiping their lord, Hari Potter. Now there is a religion I could really get behind. Haha. The British city of Battersea is spelled B@ersea. Little goodies like this are so delightful. They also force you to pay attention so that no hilarious little jokes pass you by.
I had a hard time getting into this one, but by the end it had me. I like books that introduce big ideas for young readers, and it had a lot of good jokes in what the people in the distant future thought of our objects and culture. Fever gets easier to relate to by the end, and I would like to hear about what happens next.
Ahh, this is exactly what I've been wanting. Lots of changes in my life recently and very busy times. I don't want nonfiction. I don't want fiction of a certain variety. I WANT PHILIP REEVE. <3s so far.
Interesting future society that's not hard to understand or picture.
A mysterious machine in a young woman's brain, and memories that are not her own triggered by a mysterious locked door.
Squabbling factions in London and a futuristic/steampunk feel...
A main character who is infinitely adorable in a attempted stoicness.
Interesting future society that's not hard to understand or picture.
A mysterious machine in a young woman's brain, and memories that are not her own triggered by a mysterious locked door.
Squabbling factions in London and a futuristic/steampunk feel...
A main character who is infinitely adorable in a attempted stoicness.
Fever Crumb is a thrilling novel, telling the story of an orphan girl living among a group of male engineers. Fever was raised by Dr. Crumb, a fellow engineer, and believes emotions are irrational. Fever is asked by an archaeologist to assist him in a secret project. As she helps him discover the secrets behind a past powerful Londoner by the name of Godshawk, she unlocks secrets to her own past. Battling to think logically and keep her emotions at bay, Fever is overwhelmed with memories and feelings she knows aren't hers. She doesn't know who they belong to, but the newly acquired knowledge makes her powerful and wanted. This novel is intricate, twisted, and full of overlapping stories.
As much as I like fantasy, Steampunk and female protagonists, I just couldn't quite get my head around this book. I'd recommend it to high school kids, but I'm not sure about adults. And, I don't plan on reading the second book in the series.
Regular readers of this blog will be aware that I have something of a love affair with Philip Reeve's Mortal Engines series.There's obviously a fair degree of nostalgia involved, but I do honestly believe that his sprawling, swashbuckling, creative adventure series is one of the best young adult series every written, combining high adventure with a level of character development rarely seen in YA fiction (or any kind of science fiction or adventure fiction, for that matter).So I approached Fever Crumb fairly secure in the knowledge that it wasn't going to be as good, because nothing could live up to that (see also: Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive). Taking place a thousand years before the events of the Mortal Engines series, Fever Crumb is set in the squalid ruins of the once great city of London, where a primitive society lives amongst ancient buildings and landmarks. Formerly ruled by the Scriven, a race of genetically mutated humans, the novel begins fourteen years after the Scriven were overthrown and (supposedly) wiped out. Fever, an orphan girl, is being raised by a society of engineers living inside the hollowed-out head of a statue of the Scrivens' toppled king.Shades of the Mortal Engines future can be seen throughout the book. London is threatened by nomad hordes to the north, who travel about in hordes of moving citadels and "traction castles." This builds towards the novel's finale, which clearly sets out the legend of the foundation of London as the first Traction City. Most importantly, the nomad hordes operate the cyborg Stalkers that are still going into battle in the wars of the Mortal Engines series, and Fever Crumb is in part an origin tale of a returning character. (Since the book takes place a thousand years in the past, readers of Mortal Engines should be able to guess which one.) I wasn't sure how I felt about this; his origins didn't really need to be explored, although Reeve handles it well, and it does lead to one of the character's most touching moments.I can't find the exact quote, but Reeve mentioned somewhere on his blog that the Fever Crumb series probably wouldn't appeal to those who loved the Mortal Engines series for its big-screen drama, mayhem and explosions. That's not the only reason I loved the series, but it's true that Fever Crumb is generally a quieter, more muted story. It has a number of semi-comical scenes which suggest that it's either aimed at younger readers, or that Reeve is indulging in his childish side. (And some of those names made me cringe - B@ttersea and Ox-fart Circus? Really?) There are still a handful of strong moments where you can see the old Reeve shining through, like when the statue's head collapses or when, as I mentioned before, we have a poignant moment with an old character. But on the whole, this isn't anywhere as good as Mortal Engines, on both character and plot terms.It's still a good book. Philip Reeve is one of the era's finest writers of young adult fiction, and Fever Crumb is is a much better book than 95% of it cohorts. It's absolutely not a book anyone should read before the Mortal Engines series, and it's not as good, but I have heard that it picks up later in its own series. I'll be reading A Web of Air, the sequel, before long.
My favorite aspect of this world Reeve created was that it was the future after some great plague and the people are using old technology that they don't understand anymore. But that technology is beyond what we have now. I also loved the slang that had evolved (googling meant looking for someone in a crowd) and the way they used obsolete objects (tiling the floor with old computer board keys). Fascinating.
An engrossing novel about a girl named Fever living in another one of those dystopian worlds. Fever is trying to be an Engineers, like the people who raised her. But she ends up in the middle of a war. The novel is the story of her attempting to briefly live a normal life as a governess, before the war comes to their doorstep as well. Apparently this is a prequel to a series I've never heard of, but I think I might check it out.
Reason for Reading: The plot was intriguing and this is my type of book.A foundling baby girl found by the Order of Engineers, a male society, is taken into the fold and raised to be one of them. The baby came with a note stating her name is Fever and since Dr. Crumb found her it was reasonable that he was the one who took the main caregiver role. 14 year-old Fever is now being sent off to assist an archaeologist, Kit Solent, in his home but when she arrives there she starts having memories of the place that are not her own. Kit seems to expect something from her and the memories become stronger. When riots hit the city, people come after her looking to kill her. She must escape but whose memories is she taking with her?This is the first book I have read by Reeve and I wasn't aware that this was the beginning of a prequel series to another series he has already written until I had started the book. That information does not hinder the reading of this book at all, though I'm sure others who have read the Mortal Engines series will probably have insider information that I am unaware of that may make the reading experience more enjoyable.I did enjoy the story. It is unique. Set in a future earth, so very far in the future in fact that our current time now is known as the Ancients and bits and pieces of our technology are traded and collected even when they are rusted pieces of junk. But anything that actually still works is highly prized and valued. Otherwise this future world is more or less of a medieval nature in culture and custom. Fever is a completely likable main character and I took to her right away. She grows as a person throughout the book starting off timid from a sheltered almost monk-like childhood. As she enters the world outside her boundaries she slowly gains confidence and a voice, strength, determination and becomes more in control of herself while shedding her timidity.My main problem with the book was that the plot line was slow. It started off well and interesting and then just seemed to lag for me. It took me a lot longer than it should have to read the book. I never totally lost interest but I often wanted it to hurry up and "get on with it!" When the pace picked up and the plot was advancing I was hooked but my interest did come and go. The ending was fast paced and went in an unexpected direction. It feels to me that book two will take Fever to meet many new characters and I'm certainly interested in where all the threads that have been left hanging will continue so I will be reading book 2. I'm just hoping the pace will be more consistent.
In a distant dystopic future, all technology is old technology and no one really knows how it works. Fever Crumb has been raised to be a rational engineer by the man who supposedly found her as an abandoned baby. Aged 14, she is sent to work with a London archeologist and is viewed by Londoners as a dangerous freak to be hunted down.
Fever Crumb takes place in a future London, but human society has actually regressed. Technology used by the 'ancients', like electricity, engines, and robots, are not fully understood and cannot be reproduced. London has just come out of a revolution against their rulers of 200 years, the Scriven. The Scriven considered themselves of another race, Homo superior. Fever Crumb is a teenager growing up in this London, and the book tells of her adventure there.I really liked the setting of the book, it was very interesting. The characters were well developed and complex. The plot was filled with twists and turns, with an unpredictable cliff hanger at the end.
Dr. crumb who is a Member of The order of engineers. Found Fever as an infant,He kept her as it was the rational thing to raise her. Fever is the only Girl that has every stay/in the Order Engineers. Dr. Crumb raise Fever to be rational, and grew her into a Engineer.The Story line really kicks off when she is asked To assist a Archeologist (Kit solent) on his findings. Fever Soon will begin to learn things about her and the past.Her life will turn around.Fever Kind of got on my nerves a little with the whole rational thing. She reminds me of a teen girl who just nags and just say, no i can't do this, i can't do that, Just because someone told her it was wrong to feel, grow hair,etc, because its Not rational to do so. Though you can't help but really feel for her. I fell in love with her as she want along in the story.I have never heard of Phillip Reeve before, until i found Fever Crumb.With the Reading of Fever crumb i got a thrill, that was unbelievable, with it's writing, and characters and the story line.That I want to see what else Phillip Reeve as to offer me. Witch i sure will be just as great.I really enjoy this book a lot.I can't wait to read A Web of Air by Reeve , sequel to Fever Crumb. Want to to hear more about Fever!
I enjoyed this, but compared to Mortal Engines it didn't have the awe-inspiring depth and swoop. It didn't pick me up and hurtle me along to something surprising, shocking and wonderful.I'll certainly read more in this universe if Reeve writes it, because his world building is beyond compare, but I need a little more oompf in the character development department I think - it felt strangely emotionless.
I was slightly worried on buying this prequel that i'd be disappointed, and that it would ruin the rest of the quartet for me. Luckily I needn't have worried. Fever Crumb rose to all my expectations. The characters were interesting, funny and likeable and the plot exciting and fast paced. Finally, we learn about the rise of the traction city, and the origins of Shrike. I hope Reeve writes another book about the traction cities.
Starting with great narration, this story has engaging characters and dramatic events to move it forward. Fever Crumb was raised as an engineer, but she has not lost her ability to behave irrationally when the occasion arises. I enjoyed this world of scavenged technology mixed with imaginative innovations overlayed on a seventeenth century culture. I shall be looking for more books by this author.
This was an interesting book. I very much like that the author read it himself. I like his clipped, exact way of speaking - it seemed very fitting for Fever and Dr. Crumb.
Great to have the author read the book! Delved further into the world of Mortal Engines, huge fan!
enjoyable listen, gives a unique insight into the mortal engines world. I never really grew that attached to the characters but the story moves at a good enough pace to keep it interesting
Fever Crumb - I loved this book, the characters, and the idea of the world they live in. Cannot wait to get on with the next in the series!
The action, the sense of discovery for the characters, the struggle for existence in their ever changing lives, the determination to keep moving forward...what’s not to like about this story? Thank you for bringing this world to me, and I to it.
I LOVED IT!
Utterly charming and delightful tale of one young Fever Crumb, which takes place in Steampunk Victorian England. The author builds a dizzying world of mechanical oddities and other interesting characters, finely portrayed by the author himself as an outstanding narrator of his own invention. Although a different story all together, this book very much reminds me of Edward Carey’s “Little”, another great book with some overlapping themes.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this type of (Steampunk, etc.) genre. I plan to seek out other titles by this author! ☺️
Utterly charming and delightful tale of one young Fever Crumb, which takes place in Steampunk Victorian England. The author builds a dizzying world of mechanical oddities and other interesting characters, finely portrayed by the author himself as an outstanding narrator of his own invention. Although a different story all together, this book very much reminds me of Edward Carey’s “Little”, another great book with some overlapping themes.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this type of (Steampunk, etc.) genre. I plan to seek out other titles by this author! ☺️
Though it’s not on the top ten of my list , this easy read is quite enjoyable and entertaining. Dry humor and Monty Python style jokes. This was a fun read about an adopted girl having the mysterious key to a past scientist with a huge idea.
I loved it. The minor and major characters lept off the page !!
I loved it. The minor and major characters lept off the page !!
I was quite surprised but pleased to realize that this novel takes place in the same world created by Philip Reeve in the Mortal Engine’s Quartet. Although it occurs a couple of hundred years earlier, it provides contextual information about London’s development into a Traction City. Fever Crumb, a young foundling, is an interesting young girl who differs from her peers due to her upbringing by the School of Engineers where emotions are frowned upon & thought as irrational. The storyline deals with Fever’s first foray into London as an assistant to an archeologist. This experience introduces the young girl to the realities of the world that she lives in & she must quickly learn to ‘sink or swim” The author does a great job developing the main characters while building this world for us to explore. He does a wonderful job as narrator, having inside knowledge of how he wants his characters to sound like. I cannot wait for the next book in this series. Wish I’d read this before Mortal Engines. I would recommend this novel for fantasy readers ages 12-90+ If you listen to the audiobook, listen carefully, because there is humour interjected at unexpected places & tid-bits of unexpected character information.
VERY different, but a good and interesting story. I enjoyed the break into a different yet to come world.
Though it’s not on the top ten of my list , this easy read is quite enjoyable and entertaining. Dry humor and Monty Python style jokes. This was a fun read about an adopted girl having the mysterious key to a past scientist with a huge idea.
I loved it. The minor and major characters lept off the page !!
I loved it. The minor and major characters lept off the page !!