Utterly Dark and the Tides of Time

Utterly Dark #3

by Philip Reeve

Utterly Dark promised the sea she would return. And when she does, she learns the ocean is hiding more secrets than she could have ever imagined. About herself, about her past, about the possibility of travelling through time . . .

Another stunning novel from the unique imagination of master storyteller Philip Reeve, about nature, magic, friendship and found family.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Middle Grade, Childrens, Historical

Paperback

Published September 7, 2023

About the author

Philip Reeve was born and raised in Brighton, where he worked in a bookshop for a number of years while also co-writing, producing and directing a number of no-budget theatre projects.

Philip then began illustrating and has since provided cartoons for around forty children's books, including the best-selling Horrible Histories, Murderous Maths and Dead Famous series.

Railhead, published by Oxford University Press, will be published in the UK in October 2015

Pugs of the Frozen North, written with Sarah McIntyre, is out now.

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This read very much like a conclusion to the Utterly Dark series. Time travel and battling elementals are added to the usual splendid Reeve offering, along with the occasional moving moments in the narrative. Different characters find very different homes, and it is all rounded off very satisfyingly.

[Bookish Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Utterly, Egg, Aish and Will. ♥️ This rather felt like an ending??? I hope not! Reeve's writing is magical, as always, and there is a love for nature in there that speaks to my very bones.

[Kyle Theobald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was torn between giving this 4 or 5 stars, may even change my mind later. A deliberate theme throughout this series has been that the way magic works doesn't really have any logic to it, indeed I even heard Philip Reeve indicate in an interview that he wanted to rebel against the idea of having a "magic system," and for the most part that works fine. However in this case the inciting incident hinges on the Gorm's power being limited in the "sea that will be," and this is not treated consistently throughout the book which is kind of a problem.

The reason I'm only knocking off one star for this is that to me Utterly Dark is less plot driven and has a more mood and vibes aesthetic as a series anyway. The REAL conflict of the story you could say is Utterly coming to terms with the transient nature of things and that the world will change and she can still find her place in it. In terms of these themes, and as a coming of age narrative, the book succeeds and is really quite beautiful, and even now I'm talking myself back into giving it 5 stars. That said the introduction of time travel as an element into the series feels a bit out of left field to me, even if it was seeded and hinted at briefly in the previous book. I'll give bonus points for referencing Doctor Who though.

[Jenny Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

What could have been a lyrical but ultimately forgettable story of a plucky semi-supernatural kid, some brave humans, and ancient forces gets a banger of an ending here. I'm not sure how any reader who is actually the age of Utterly and Egg would take it, but I rather loved the closing theme of "change happens. Change is not all bad. Some people will love it. It is best to find the place you are meant to be in".

...Quite how you apply that to real life when the suggestions all seem to involve finding a magical door to another time or plane, I'm not sure. But it was definitely interesting to have a fantasy series wrap up with such an unexpected ending, and a Penguin wrapper.

[Candy Wood]

Maps of Wildsea in 1812 and 1971 both confirm the early nineteenth-century setting of the first two books and prepare for time travel in this one. Utterly is trapped by a 1970s research team, whose leader seeks power. The boy Egg follows to rescue her, and they both are amazed at the changes in Wildsea. In a fitting conclusion to the trilogy, Utterly returns to the ones she loves in 1812 but not to childhood, knowing that her future will involve an ability to experience both times; in an unusual development, Egg feels more at home in 1971 and chooses to stay there.

[Vonprice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant final book in the Utterly Dark trilogy. You can read my full review and a Q&A with the author here:

http://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home....

[KatieK · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed all 3 of the books in this series and I think this is my favourite as it draws on all the others and brings all the elements together - sea, land, magic and time. The ending tied the whole trilogy together beautifully.

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third in the trilogy - but I do hope it's not the last we will hear of Utterly and her fantastical worlds.

[V.S. Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think I've ever read a trilogy that ended so perfectly. This book was an utter joy.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best one yet! Like the others, it is a first rate read-aloud. We were on the edge if our seats, rooting for all our favorite characters. Reeve is a master at world-building, vivid descriptions and believable characters. We are always completely immersed in the story and talk about the characters long after the book has ended. We even named our dog The Gorm!