In the desolate, futuristic landscape where cities roam on wheels, devouring each other in a brutal practice known as Municipal Darwinism, "Mortal Engines" launches readers into an enthralling world of innovation and terror. Amidst this chaotic backdrop, the city of London, a massive predator on the hunt, harbors dark ambitions under the leadership of the cunning Lord Mayor Mangus Crome. The tale unfolds through the eyes of Tom Natsworthy, a lowly apprentice in the Guild of Historians, who finds his life irrevocably changed when he encounters Hester Shaw, a disfigured girl with a vendetta against Tom's hero, Thaddeus Valentine. Her quest for revenge reveals a web of deceit and corruption that threatens to unravel the very fabric of their society. Philip Reeve's masterful debut, "Mortal Engines," is a gripping saga of survival, betrayal, and the quest for redemption set against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic world unlike any other. As Tom and Hester are cast out into the vast wastelands, pursued by relentless enemies, they form an unlikely alliance that will test the limits of their courage and compassion. With its richly imagined setting and compelling characters, Reeve crafts a narrative that is both epic in scale and deeply personal, inviting readers to ponder the cost of progress and the bonds that define our humanity.