This was a great ending to an imaginative series. I loved the concept of these books, and the execution was very good too. This book neatly brought all the threads together for a final show down which does not dissapoint. ( )

This is the best out of the whole series. The second and the third had made me start to go off them and I only bought the book to complete the series. However this one was really good. The traction cities and the green storm are fighting more after stalker fang's death(who unknown to all has been resurectted by the lost boy, fishcake.) and Hester Shaw is still missing. Tom and Wren have been travelling in the 6 months since the experiences at Brighton and are surprised when Tom sees someone he recognises from London, of which he was the only survivor. They join a mission with the son of a traction town mayor and travell back to London, to look for more survivors... I'm not going to say more than that but it is really good and lots of stuff happens. Everything flows and there is not one boring moment. It finishes with all the ends tied up and you are left satisfied, but still thinking about it long after you have put it down. ( )

The last instalment in Philip Reeve's brilliant Mortal engines Quartet doesn't disappoint. Written for teens the quartet rivals many adult sci-fi/fantasy series & this last book ties it all off beautifully. ( )

I like this book because it's interesting and you never know what will happen next. I also like how it is about the future and an interesting view on what life might be like. ( )

A darkling inspiration.: Have you ever noticed that it is only once in a while that an artist with incredible ingenuity, creativity, articulation, and vivid imagination will somehow cross your path and enrich the precious moments of your leisure time? I love it when this happens, whether it be fine art, music, film, or in this case, literature. Philip Reeve has yet again brought me with him in this latest, and last, book in the Hungry City Chronicles quadrilogy: aptly hailed A Darkling Plain. I will not bore you with an overview, as it would be grossly wrong of me to spoil any of the treasures this work has waiting for you, the expectant reader.
Living in Alberta, Canada, British author Philip Reeve is not as well known, and so it was quite by accident that I discovered the first 2 books in the series: Mortal Engines and Predator's Gold. These 2 volumes, which very much remind me of the quality and craftsmanship of creating Star Wars and then The Empire Strikes Back, harken back the ideas of fantastic new worlds, innocence and discovery, high adventure, romance, tragedy and character resolution which unfailingly culminates in this last Darkling volume.
If you are familiar with this brilliant series, I wonder if I am alone when I honestly say that I was heartbroken with the direction Mr. Reeve took in the third volume, Infernal Devices. I did not want Tom and Hester to instantly jump into my own mid-thirties age bracket and thus becoming secondary characters to the supposedly young readers these books are aimed at. Although we grow to fondly care about their daughter and her friends, I felt a huge stab of pain (not unlike Tom) and loss at the sense that our original heroes were relegated to the back of the bus. I also share your grief and dissappointment that our dear friends Freya and Caul were allowed such an early retirement--Shame on you, Mr. Reeve.
Despite the third and leading-up-to volume, I will say that our intrepid storyteller redeems himself and restores our faith in his genious by his deliverance of this beautifully crafted and intricately laid fouth "chapter" of our long journey. I can't tell you how sorry I am that it is over for me, having just ordered and read this last novel directly from Scholastc U.K. Believe me, friend, you're in luck. Treat yourself to this book and the whole series, because like one of those rare vacations where you actually relax and enjoy yourself, and you are just a little sad to return home, this endeavor will simulate just that.
As a sidenote, I should mention that I was shocked to originally learn that these books were targeted towards 9 to 14 year-olds. Although there is no profanity or overt sexual descriptions, the brutality, gore, and death count has occassionally brought to mind certain other writers such as Stephen King and Robert McCammon--if these were derrived films, they would not get away with "PG-13" in North America. Also, if anyone else cares to write a review and knows, could you please explain why our everlasting father stalker "Grike" in N.A. is written as "Shrike" in the U.K.?
Read and enjoy, I think you shall also be inspired.