Review - Eternity Engine by Struan Murray

 Review - Eternity Engine by Struan Murray

The seas have parted to reveal the remains of humanity's lost empire and opened a path from Shipwreck Island to the Enemy's City. Now only Ellie Lancaster and her orphan friends can prevent a terrible war.

As Kate marches north at the head of her army, panic infests the City as the Enemy's strength grows. For the parting of the seas has also uncovered the Eternity Engine, a dreadful machine from before the Drowning, with the power to remake the world - or destroy it forever . . .

I've loved the first two books of this trilogy and the finale was definitely not a disappointment!

Picking up right where book two left off, Kate is marching with an army across a dry sea bed. Ellie is fleeing ahead of her to the Enemy's City, where she's hoping to prevent the war and finish off the evil god inside her for good.

The storytelling mechanics of this work really well, as we switch character points of view, seeing events unfold from multiple angles, and a flashback is used brilliantly. Smaller flashbacks, through the use of Ellie's mum's diary, are absolutely fascinating too, showing us a very different time in the city and giving us a deeper perspective on some of the key players in the drama.

There's a literal Deus ex machina in this, and it is utilised incredibly effectively. This is a story about gods battling for the future of the whole world, and watching their schemes, manipulations, and best efforts in another realm being mirrored in the main one are exciting and thrilling.

But this is also a story about ordinary people, ordinary conflict, and that's even more fascinating. This is a story about how good people can be led down bad paths, through fear, through hate, through manipulation. It's a story about individuals going astray, but also about whole populations being lied to, whipped up into a fanatical mob capable of terrible atrocities, or led to war against complete strangers because they've been taught to fear them. This is such a vital, powerful message and it is delivered in a captivating and enthralling plot with deep, complex, and ultimately likeable characters.

Such an impressive ending to a constantly entertaining trilogy!

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

Eternity Engine by Struan Murray is out now, published by Penguin.

I was given a review copy via Netgalley in return for an honest review.