A review by conanmacg
Infernal Devices by Philip Reeve

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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!
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