adarklingplain

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A Darkling Plain

Philip Reeve

Reeve, Phillip. A Darkling Plain. EOS Publishers. New York, New York. 2006

A Darkling Plain is a fiction story by master author Phillip Reeve. Reeve paints a fantastical tale but the point and underlying moral are very true to real life. Filled with much excitement on each page, this book is captivating and will keep readers intrigued until the end!

Luke Arnsen was a farmer child in the small village of Gax. He lived in isolation from the rest of the world for his life, but longed for adventure on the great seas of Kyrnn. One day, when Luke was out tilling the soil for planting, Gax was raided by the Shadow Reapers, a rouge group of mercenaries led by the evil Lord Sharlk. Luke heard the alarm sound and ran to help his town but just as he entered, he was kidnapped by the raiders.

Knocked out, Luke is taken aboard a Reaper Ship, “The Lord of Hyvryll”. Kept in the dingy prison hold, Luke waited for what would happen to him. He waited for weeks, hoping that he will be saved, but nothing happened. As he was about to give up hope, there was an explosion on board. A Royal battleship, “Flyer”, of King Fren, was chasing down the Reaper ship. Luke watched in awe as the Flyer assaulted the Hyvryll. The Flyer blew a hole in the prison hold and Luke climbed through to board the Flyer.

After the engagement, which proved devastating for the now retreating Hyvryll, Luke made clear his presence and met the captain. He learned that they were on a mission to destroy the Night-Stone, the machine that powers the Reaper conquest. They said that they had found a map that would lead them to the Darkling Plain, where the Night-Stone is hidden, and intended to destroy Lord Sharlk once and all. Luke decided that he should avenge his village and family and joins the Royal Fleet. Will Luke and his new allies be able to defeat the powerful Sharlk?

A Darkling Plain is a great novel and will keep you suspended until it is done. This fast-paced novel is an enticing read and well worth your time.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

Contributed by M. Schoenfeld

May 25th, 2011