Title: A Darkling Plain
Author: Philip Reeve
First published March 20, 2006
533 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780439943468 (ISBN10: 0439943469)
Rating: 4.17
Overview
In the final installment of Philip Reeve’s Mortal Engines Quartet, the once great Traction City of London lies in ruins, a lifeless and poisonous wreck. But Tom Natsworthy and his daughter Wren stumble upon a secret hidden in its dark heart, a secret that could finally end the war.
Racing against time, Tom and Wren risk everything to bring peace to their world. Meanwhile, a dangerous child with a deadly secret embarks on a journey that could lead to the destruction of all humanity.
Will Tom and Wren be able to save their world before it’s too late? Find out in A Darkling Plain.
About the Author
Brighton native Philip Reeve spent several years working in a bookshop while simultaneously collaborating on no-budget theatre productions. He later transitioned to illustration and has contributed cartoons to nearly forty children’s books, including the highly successful Horrible Histories, Murderous Maths, and Dead Famous series.
Reeve’s latest book, Railhead, will be available in the UK this October through Oxford University Press. His most recent work, Pugs of the Frozen North, co-authored with Sarah McIntyre, is currently available for purchase.
Editoral Review
In A Darkling Plain, Philip Reeve delivers a thrilling, action-packed conclusion to the acclaimed Mortal Engines quartet. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where cities roam the Earth on giant wheels, the series explores themes of power, technology, and morality through the eyes of a diverse cast of characters.
Reeve’s writing is sharp, engaging, and imaginative, and he deftly weaves together multiple plotlines and perspectives to create a complex and satisfying finale. The book picks up where the previous installment, Infernal Devices, left off, with the world on the brink of war.
The main characters Tom, Hester, Wren, and others are caught up in a dizzying array of conflicts, both personal and global. There are battles between cities, betrayals within alliances, and internal struggles over love, loyalty, and identity.
Reeve expertly balances these disparate threads, building tension and revealing surprises without losing sight of the emotional stakes. One of the strengths of A Darkling Plain is its character development.
Over the course of the series, Reeve has created a rich and varied cast, and in this book, he gives them all room to shine. Tom and Hester, the core couple, have matured and grown more complex, grappling with past traumas and uncertain futures.
Wren, their daughter, takes on a more prominent role, and her coming-of-age story is both poignant and empowering. Other characters, such as the charismatic leader Anna Fang and the conflicted scientist Dr. Oenone Zero, also get moments of depth and nuance.
Another strength is Reeve’s world-building. The concept of mobile cities may seem outlandish at first, but Reeve makes it feel believable and lived-in.
He imbues each city with its own culture, history, and quirks, and the descriptions of the landscapes they traverse are vivid and evocative. There are also fascinating glimpses into the past and future of this world, including mysterious technologies and ancient ruins.
However, A Darkling Plain is not without flaws. The pacing can be uneven at times, with some sections feeling rushed and others dragging.
Some plot points are resolved too easily or conveniently, and there are a few leaps of logic that stretch credulity. Also, while the series as a whole can be read as a commentary on imperialism, capitalism, and environmentalism, the themes in this book are sometimes muddled or underdeveloped.
Overall, though, A Darkling Plain is a thrilling and satisfying conclusion to a standout series. It showcases Reeve’s strengths as a writer his knack for action, his empathy for characters, and his imagination and cements his place as a master of YA speculative fiction.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer to the Mortal Engines universe, this book is a must-read. Rating: 8/10
