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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great third book!
Warning: Spoilers throughout.
Some people say character progression took a nose dive. I disagree. Hester and Tom were still only children in the last book, both extremely flawed in their own ways. Tom a complete walkover, a hopeless romantic. Hester a cold-hearted killer, unhealthily attached to the only person to ever show her love and kindness, the only person to ever accept her for who she was.
That attachment was highlighted from the get-go, Hester insecurities that Tom would potentially love someone equally or more than he did her, surfacing through her tense relationship with Wren.
Usually I don’t like call backs to previous books; they’re usually cheap, easy and convenient, without much explanation. This was the case with Dr. Zero’s finding of Shrike, but it seemed a rather minor nitpick in the grand scheme of the story. The rest seemed to fit in seamlessly (the return to Grimsby, meeting Pennyroyal, finding the Jenny Haniver). This is something I really appreciate in a story: when the plot points don’t just feel convenient, like they were written in order for a character to reach the end.
Speaking of the end, I thought this was a well written ending, and I am usually very critical of story endings. Dr. Zero’s weapon was not something I expected at all, and it was an amazing idea. Shrike’s conflict of interest throughout hinted at this, but subtly enough to give nothing away. Hester’s choice might have seemed like character regression, but it seems to me that it was simply 15-ish years of silent resentment and anger at her situation, mixed with the guilt of selling Anchorage out to Masgard in the last book, along with the further guilt of hiding it all these years, finally coming to the surface.
Her turning on Wren was really just the release of all of these emotions, stopped only by the one thing that had ever mattered to her: her love for Tom. She could not hurt Wren, not because she couldn’t herself, but because of how it would have made Tom feel.
Her submitting to Shrike was her way of showing acceptance that Tom did not love her for who she was anymore. Her insecurities took over and she gave up.
In terms of the adventures in-between, I found them rather entertaining and relatively fresh. Brighton was an interesting addition to the growing list of cities, and I always get a laugh when Nimrod Pennyroyal is about.
Overall, I have to give this book 4.25 stars. Great read, would recommend. Excited to read A Darkling Plain!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Murder, War
Moderate: Infidelity
Wow. That was quite epic. I’m gonna be the most inappropriately excited adult around if this ever gets turned into a movie
I really enjoyed book 3. I didn't realize there would be a time jump, but after getting into the story, I completely understand why the author decided to do so, and I'm so glad he did. Philip Reeve's writing style is simple but so powerful. He does a fantastic job of switching between the ages of the different characters telling the story while still retaining his own writer's voice. I also appreciate that his plot decisions, especially regarding Tom and Hester's relationship, feel real and authentic instead of glossed over and too perfect to be possible. I'm excited to see how the series ends with book 4!
Reviewed by a 6th grader: A few years after the Anchorage has found America, a submarine shows up at the now stationary Anchorage. The pilot offers to take Wren, Tom and Hester's daughter to a different place. All she has to do is steal a book made of tin, also known as the Tin Book. On the way back where the man came from, a floating city is luring the man's friends into slavery. The sub shows up at the city and Wren is put into slavery. Tom and Hester now have to look for Wren.
It was well written and was very interesting.
Recommended for optional purchase.
It was well written and was very interesting.
Recommended for optional purchase.
Really enjoy these books. Hester's character, especially, is great and complicated. On to the next one!
I read the last 100 pages all at once; definitely action-packed, definitely full of twists and turns! I am simultaneously looking forward to and dreading finishing this series!
As is evident by the 3 star rating, to me Infernal Devices had both positive and negative notable features.
To begin with the positives :
- I just adore this universe. From an engineering point of view the concept of traction cities is so interesting. I always love exploring this world and finding out more.
- The storyline was interesting and action packed, as always. The pace never got unbearably slow (as some books tend to do) and although I did see a couple of the twists coming some completely surprised me. So overall an interesting story in an interesting world.
Now the negatives (in no particular order) :
- I feel that the quality of the character writing has gone downhill throughout this series. The two protagonists I fell in love with in the first book seem to be becoming less like themselves, and also less intricate. Additionally the side characters in the later books seem flat and sometimes leave me questioning why the POV is following them. Whereas in the first book Katherine and Bevis were developed characters who had an interesting and very relevant part in the plot.
- Toms' loss of characterisation came mostly in the lack of insight. Whenever the narrative followed him, we only really saw his actions and didn't get many descriptions of what he was thinking/feeling. When we did he was portrayed as quite naive - in the first book I could understand that as he lived a very sheltered life aboard London, however by this point I really think he should have developed out of that. At times I also felt he was reduced to "the man kind enough to love the disfigured woman" which carries such misogynistic implications of a woman's appearance being her only value/the only reason a man would like her, which was damaging to both Tom's and Hester's characters. There were times when this description of Tom implied that he was only with Hester out of pity, which completely nullifies the development of their very genuine relationship and that made me quite angry.
- Hester's character deterioration was, to me, even worse. It began in Predators Gold but has gotten more severe in Infernal Devices. She is portrayed to have an unhealthy dependence on Tom, everything she does being "for Tom". It's removing her own feelings and thoughts so she can act in his benefit, essentially making redundant any opportunity for development. I love this couple, and I was overjoyed when at the beginning of Predators Gold I found out that they had become an established "power-couple". However now the dynamic has been changed significantly, and not for the better.
Her mindset within these actions is also something I'd like to address. At the end of Predators Gold, Hester referred to herself as two parts : Hester and Valentine's Daughter. I liked that because it differentiated between the Hester that loves Tom and the one that killed the Huntsmen of Arkangel, showing that she could be both compassionate and violent. However that differentiation has been lost, making Hester seem completely ruthless and creating a distance between her and her family.
Furthermore, Hester's relationship with Wren could certainly have been written much better. I'll preface this by saying that I know parent-child relationships are not always perfect. Some people just aren't really cut out to be parents for a myriad of reasons (and if you consider Hester's childhood it is very understandable why she is less emotionally available then other characters). And also just because someone is your parent/child doesn't automatically mean you have to get on well, some people just aren't compatible and it's sad when they are tied by blood and feel an obligation to have a good relationship when they really struggle to do so. That being said these themes, while prevalent, were not crafted well - in my opinion. I can't pull a specific example as it is weaved throughout the book, however if you're looking to write a disharmonious parent-child relationship my advice would be don't follow this blueprint.
- The ending connfused me a lot. It was going completely fine until the last 3 pages where everything just went to sh*t (that being the best way to describe it). It was very emotional - that being the characters were very emotional - but while they were displaying emotions there was a severe lack of being receptive to them. Wren's actions annoyed me, she did not have to say what she did. It was completely unnecessary and not even relevant because it happened 16 years ago - plus when it happened there were no long lasting negative consequences (and some might even say there was a positive one as Arkangel sinking saved many ice towns from it's tyranny). Hester's reaction was understandable but I feel she had already made up her mind of what she would do and so wasn't paying attention to Tom's reaction - which to me didn't seem to be what Hester had expected and thus planned her actions around. I think this could be classed as miscommunication and I HATE that trope, so I was not pleased. I also felt it was Hester embracing the Valentine's Daughter part of herself as her main part, whereas previously she had rejected it and only seen it as "doing what she had to" to protect the people she cares about. Also Hester going with Shrike in the emotional state she was in right at the end has made me make a painful prediction for something that might happen (and actually is definitely not impossible) in the final book, and I am dreading that.
- Finally, this isn't really relevant to the plot or writing but it annoyed me nonetheless: the writer doesn't seem to have a very good concept of aging. I would like to know why multiple characters in their 30s are described to seem physically much older - with grey and/or thinning hair and wrinkled skin. Genetically some people do age faster then others but it seems too much of a coincidence that EVERY character in their 30s (main, side, has two lines and that's it - ALL of them) are described like this. Because to me people in their 30s are not "old" like that.
I will read the final book to complete this series, however the quality has gone downhill and so I don't have sky-high expectations.
To begin with the positives :
- I just adore this universe. From an engineering point of view the concept of traction cities is so interesting. I always love exploring this world and finding out more.
- The storyline was interesting and action packed, as always. The pace never got unbearably slow (as some books tend to do) and although I did see a couple of the twists coming some completely surprised me. So overall an interesting story in an interesting world.
Now the negatives (in no particular order) :
- I feel that the quality of the character writing has gone downhill throughout this series. The two protagonists I fell in love with in the first book seem to be becoming less like themselves, and also less intricate. Additionally the side characters in the later books seem flat and sometimes leave me questioning why the POV is following them. Whereas in the first book Katherine and Bevis were developed characters who had an interesting and very relevant part in the plot.
- Toms' loss of characterisation came mostly in the lack of insight. Whenever the narrative followed him, we only really saw his actions and didn't get many descriptions of what he was thinking/feeling. When we did he was portrayed as quite naive - in the first book I could understand that as he lived a very sheltered life aboard London, however by this point I really think he should have developed out of that. At times I also felt he was reduced to "the man kind enough to love the disfigured woman" which carries such misogynistic implications of a woman's appearance being her only value/the only reason a man would like her, which was damaging to both Tom's and Hester's characters. There were times when this description of Tom implied that he was only with Hester out of pity, which completely nullifies the development of their very genuine relationship and that made me quite angry.
- Hester's character deterioration was, to me, even worse. It began in Predators Gold but has gotten more severe in Infernal Devices. She is portrayed to have an unhealthy dependence on Tom, everything she does being "for Tom". It's removing her own feelings and thoughts so she can act in his benefit, essentially making redundant any opportunity for development. I love this couple, and I was overjoyed when at the beginning of Predators Gold I found out that they had become an established "power-couple". However now the dynamic has been changed significantly, and not for the better.
Her mindset within these actions is also something I'd like to address. At the end of Predators Gold, Hester referred to herself as two parts : Hester and Valentine's Daughter. I liked that because it differentiated between the Hester that loves Tom and the one that killed the Huntsmen of Arkangel, showing that she could be both compassionate and violent. However that differentiation has been lost, making Hester seem completely ruthless and creating a distance between her and her family.
Furthermore, Hester's relationship with Wren could certainly have been written much better. I'll preface this by saying that I know parent-child relationships are not always perfect. Some people just aren't really cut out to be parents for a myriad of reasons (and if you consider Hester's childhood it is very understandable why she is less emotionally available then other characters). And also just because someone is your parent/child doesn't automatically mean you have to get on well, some people just aren't compatible and it's sad when they are tied by blood and feel an obligation to have a good relationship when they really struggle to do so. That being said these themes, while prevalent, were not crafted well - in my opinion. I can't pull a specific example as it is weaved throughout the book, however if you're looking to write a disharmonious parent-child relationship my advice would be don't follow this blueprint.
- The ending connfused me a lot. It was going completely fine until the last 3 pages where everything just went to sh*t (that being the best way to describe it). It was very emotional - that being the characters were very emotional - but while they were displaying emotions there was a severe lack of being receptive to them. Wren's actions annoyed me, she did not have to say what she did. It was completely unnecessary and not even relevant because it happened 16 years ago - plus when it happened there were no long lasting negative consequences (and some might even say there was a positive one as Arkangel sinking saved many ice towns from it's tyranny). Hester's reaction was understandable but I feel she had already made up her mind of what she would do and so wasn't paying attention to Tom's reaction - which to me didn't seem to be what Hester had expected and thus planned her actions around. I think this could be classed as miscommunication and I HATE that trope, so I was not pleased. I also felt it was Hester embracing the Valentine's Daughter part of herself as her main part, whereas previously she had rejected it and only seen it as "doing what she had to" to protect the people she cares about. Also Hester going with Shrike in the emotional state she was in right at the end has made me make a painful prediction for something that might happen (and actually is definitely not impossible) in the final book, and I am dreading that.
- Finally, this isn't really relevant to the plot or writing but it annoyed me nonetheless: the writer doesn't seem to have a very good concept of aging. I would like to know why multiple characters in their 30s are described to seem physically much older - with grey and/or thinning hair and wrinkled skin. Genetically some people do age faster then others but it seems too much of a coincidence that EVERY character in their 30s (main, side, has two lines and that's it - ALL of them) are described like this. Because to me people in their 30s are not "old" like that.
I will read the final book to complete this series, however the quality has gone downhill and so I don't have sky-high expectations.