Book Review: 'Mortal Engines: Book 4 - A Darkling Plain' by Philip Reeve

cover art by Ian McQue

And so the 'Mortal Engines Quartet' by Philip Reeve comes to a close with 'A Darkling Plain', and what an ending it has. There is a lot going on here! Plenty of thrills, spills and suspense to keep you gripped in the story.

It is a time of peace, with the Green Storm and Municipal Darwinists of the cities having brokered a tentative truce. But with the codes from the tin book memorized, the Stalker Fang is intent on using them to reawaken ODIN, a super weapon still in orbit from the days of the 60 Minute War with the means to destroy humanity. But Hester, Stalker Shrike and the rest are all in pursuit in an effort to stop the fanatical reanimated Anna Fang from destroying all life.

Considering how much is going on, most of the main characters, the Natsworthy's - Tom, Hester and their daughter Wren, Theo Ngoni, Dr Zero - now Lady Naga, Wolf Kobold, Nimrod Pennyroyal, Fishcake, Stalkers Fang and Shrike, still get plenty of 'screen time', carrying the story along at a good pace without feeling too cluttered or as feeling like there was too much filler. All memorable and complex characters, each with their distinct personalities coming through, which added a sense of depth to the narrative.

The world building, as it has been throughout the series, is excellent once more. We get to visit brand new locations and old ones again too, all the while getting a sense of the tensions between the different factions and their fragile truce.

The story, and series, also comes full circle, kind of literally, and without giving too much away, concludes in an emotional and bittersweet but ultimately satisfying way. Not quite the 'happy ever after' you might expect for a conclusion to a series, but it worked well, and I finished the book with a smile on my face.

Once again, I listened to the audiobook edition. Narrated by the once again superb Barnaby Edwards, his performance seems to tease out the personalities of each character, adding an extra dimension to the storytelling and world of Mortal Engines. Never once throughout the series, did the narration become confusing or a chore to listen through, just an absolute delight. It is one of the best acted / narrated series I've had the pleasure to listen to, and heartily recommend the audiobook option.

'A Darkling Plain' is an excellent end to an excellent series and is definitely recommended, especially the wonderful audiobook editions, and especially if the recent movie makes you want to find out more about the world of 'Mortal Engines'. And if you do want more, luckily there is more. 'Night Flights', a prequel collection of short stories about Anna Fang, and the three book 'Fever Crumb' series set around the time of the creation of the first traction cities, all of which will be added to my TBR list as I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the steampunk / dystopian world of 'Mortal Engines'.

Available from Amazon, Waterstones, Audible Audiobooks and all good bookstores.