The Rundown
In this alt.history post World War setting, Briley Bannatyne is a feisty machinist who lives in the shadow of her big brother, a soon-to-be enrolled cadet in the Air Militia forces. However, when her brother is wounded in an accident, Briley has no choice but to take his place and try to follow in their father’s footsteps as a fighter pilot. With Air Pirate activity on the increase, and the stirrings of war in Europe, Briley soon finds herself on the front lines of combat.
The Recommendation
As far as war adventures go, Darkest Hour shoots straight and fires true, hitting all the targets you’d expect. Though the story is a little slow to start, it’s not long before the reader is dropped smack bang in the middle of nail biting dog fights and terrifying blitzes. The action in this book is definitely its strongest suit, and despite its YA leanings, no punches are pulled. When it comes to high flying suspense, Briley makes Biggles look like a crusty old crop duster.
The Alt. history setting allows for a steam punk re-imagining of post Great War Britain, where pirates ride air ships and Sky City takes the place of the now destroyed London as the nation’s capital. If anything, the steam punk potential of the novel’s environment is underplayed. There are tantalizing hints at a different world that are rarely expanded on, and most of the technology isn’t far removed from what you’d expect from a World War 2 era story. I might say that these things being only casually addressed is forgivable in light of the story’s quick pace, but I think its more accurate to say that the alt.history/steampunk packaging of Darkest Hour serves only as an excuse to tell an exciting war story without getting bogged down too much in realism.
When the bullets aren’t flying, Darkest Hour mostly focuses on the familiar YA path of a youngster embarking on a hero’s journey, and the heroine’s encounters with sexism and classism make up just as much of the story as her encounters with pirates and spies. Briley’s arc is a satisfying one, and the novel lives up to its name as she faces down personal and national tragedy with grim resolve. There’s no question the book is written for younger audiences, but Russo makes no bones about the horrors of war, and the story has the kind of stakes most thriller audiences would appreciate.
Above all you’ll find that Darkest Hour is a balanced tale. If you don’t appreciate a young woman’s melodrama, there’ll be a fistfight along any second now. Likewise, if you’re dizzy from dog fights, there’ll soon be a budding romance to bring you back down to earth. It’s a story that welcomes all.
Darkest Hour is a swinging haymaker of a tale, maybe lacking a little in nuance, but certainly landing the punch. I recommend this for younger readers and those of you nostalgic for the days of the Red Baron and plucky young Brits giving two fingers to Jerry (I assure you that last sentence actually means something.)
The Rating
4 Stars (out of 5): Recommended. For the right audience, this book is a great read. It can hold its own against any traditionally published novel in its genre.
The Pros & Cons
Pros: Characterization, Page TurnerCons: Starts slow
The Links
The Reviewer
Steve Wetherell
Visit Steve Wetherell‘s website.Above all you'll find that Darkest Hour is a balanced tale. If you don't appreciate a young woman's melodrama, there'll be a fistfight along any second now. Likewise, if you're dizzy from dog fights, there'll soon be a budding romance to bring you back down to earth. It's a story that welcomes all.
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