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dembury's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful romp of a finale to this series! It was not quite what I expected, but I very pleased with how things wrapped up for everyone. This book had a lot of the same adventurous, globe-trotting feels that the first book had, plus a few things came veryyyy full-circle, which was nice to see play out. I'm going to miss this word of airships and Stalkers and adventures...
mrs_bonaventure's review
5.0
I really, really enjoyed this in the end! I read the series at the prompting of my son and, wanting to share the experience with him, I ploughed through books 2 and 3, thinking the first book (which was made into a movie) was the strongest. However this one, twice the length of the others, properly takes its time to explore the backstory and psychology of all the characters and their fates are gradually and believably interlinked.
Without spoilers, the ending is both epic (in the original sense) and poetic. I loved it.
Without spoilers, the ending is both epic (in the original sense) and poetic. I loved it.
coil90's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I've ever read, with a simply beautiful ending. Read the others first though!
proudtobeabookaholic's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Tom thinks his old home town London is totally ruined and that noone can live there any more, but he and his daughter Wren discover that's not the case. At the same time the war continues, but maybe they can find a solution in London.
It's been a long time since I read the three previous books in the series, so I have to confess that I've forgotten a lot and it took me some time to get into the story. I had totally forgotten about Tom and Hester having a daughter, but here she's all grown up and play a big part in the events that follow.
I believe I liked the first book best (although I've graded all the same). It's also the book I remember most, probably because I've watched the movie too. "A Darkling Plain" would have gotten a lower grade if it weren't for the narrator Barnaby Edwards (a pleasure listening to) and the fact that I still enjoy the steampunk world. At least I can now cross this series off my list!
It's been a long time since I read the three previous books in the series, so I have to confess that I've forgotten a lot and it took me some time to get into the story. I had totally forgotten about Tom and Hester having a daughter, but here she's all grown up and play a big part in the events that follow.
I believe I liked the first book best (although I've graded all the same). It's also the book I remember most, probably because I've watched the movie too. "A Darkling Plain" would have gotten a lower grade if it weren't for the narrator Barnaby Edwards (a pleasure listening to) and the fact that I still enjoy the steampunk world. At least I can now cross this series off my list!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Violence, War, Medical trauma, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Slavery
nika_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
nikkohlkaleah's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.75
A very satisfying conclusion. There were many moments that asked the reader to suspend their belief: from intertwining narratives to plot armor. However, seeing where the story ends is truly rewarding.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
creadsagain's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
breakfastgrey's review
4.0
Reviewing the last book of a series is always a bit difficult because you want to both talk about the book itself and the series as a whole.
Reeves does a beautiful job sticking the landing on this series. As with any series, each book adds more pieces to the whole, all of which need to be tied up. It's one of the reasons why I honestly would not be shocked if A Song of Ice and Fire never actually finishes. Reeves navigates this problem beautifully, though, knowing when to cut to the different parts of the plot and having a good sense of what can happen off screen.
Unfortunately, because he needs to tie everything off neatly, this book isn't as exciting as the others. The stakes are bigger, but the risks are non-existent. Massive plot twists and a constant level of threat to characters gave the earlier books a sense of danger this book lacks. It's very safe, which is a bit disappointing.
Looking at the series as a whole, though, this safety serves its purpose. There are certain stories that needed to be told and a thematic unity to be achieved that constant twists would've endangered. Viewing it as Act 4 of a larger arc alleves some of that disappointment.
The same applies to the rest of the novels, as well: even though I only gave one of the four books a five star rating, I would have no hesitation calling this a five star series. Individual pieces have some flaws, but its impact is so much more than that. I am absolutely in love with this world and these characters in a way that few twixt series outside of Harry Potter or His Dark Materials have managed. I'm going to miss it terribly.
Reeves does a beautiful job sticking the landing on this series. As with any series, each book adds more pieces to the whole, all of which need to be tied up. It's one of the reasons why I honestly would not be shocked if A Song of Ice and Fire never actually finishes. Reeves navigates this problem beautifully, though, knowing when to cut to the different parts of the plot and having a good sense of what can happen off screen.
Unfortunately, because he needs to tie everything off neatly, this book isn't as exciting as the others. The stakes are bigger, but the risks are non-existent. Massive plot twists and a constant level of threat to characters gave the earlier books a sense of danger this book lacks. It's very safe, which is a bit disappointing.
Looking at the series as a whole, though, this safety serves its purpose. There are certain stories that needed to be told and a thematic unity to be achieved that constant twists would've endangered. Viewing it as Act 4 of a larger arc alleves some of that disappointment.
The same applies to the rest of the novels, as well: even though I only gave one of the four books a five star rating, I would have no hesitation calling this a five star series. Individual pieces have some flaws, but its impact is so much more than that. I am absolutely in love with this world and these characters in a way that few twixt series outside of Harry Potter or His Dark Materials have managed. I'm going to miss it terribly.