What a fantastic end to a fantastic trilogy! I didn't want this book to end, but at the same time I found myself racing through it as the pace of the story pulled me on. The whole premise of the trilogy is such an original one, with spirits of the Gods inhabiting humans (whether good or evil). The books are so descriptive, I could almost taste the salt on the air from the sea! The characters were well drawn, and I felt really invested in all of them. I shall miss them all. A brilliant middle grade adventure, full of heart and a fair bit of danger! I cannot recommend this highly enough.

The final installation of the Orphans of the Tide. I'm so sad to have said goodbye to Ellie, Seth, The Enemy!

Struan manages to continue the story but also to remind us of key moments of the previous books. I love the addition of another diary and how it propels the story forward, I kept saying one chapter more but was unable to just stop! I was on the edge of my chair and just had to continue.

A brilliant conclusion, I couldn't have asked for anything more. There is no disappointment, just a sense of satisfaction when everything comes together.

I adore this series. The world building, the best antagonist, it's both imaginative and immersive.

The gang make their way back to The Enemy's City with the Queen of Shipwreck island in pursuit with an invasion planned. Her desire for power driving her army. But she faces the full ugly reality of war as the City's Inquisition want power just as much she does,
Anna leads this story, which is a nice change as I loved this character in the first book. The City has been drained due to Seth parting the sea, so there are twisty streets lined with muscles and silt to explore.
The Enemy is back, more outrageous, ambitious and cruel than ever before but, he is so compelling and charismatic, a joy to read.
But there are lessons to be learned for those in power and fear is the best control of all. While Ellie has to tackle her own memories and emotions to survive as The Vessel, The City faces attack from The Queen, The Enemy and its own Inquisition while Anna tries to protect those she loves most.
A great finale to this fantastic series. A must read. Struan Murray is the best Children's writer out there right now. Adults would enjoy this series too.

Wow! This was a book I had been eagerly awaiting for so long, especially given the huge cliff hanger at the end of Shipwreck Island. The first two books were just brilliant so Eternity Engine had a lot to live up to, but it was just as good as I had hoped!

With the seas now parted and Kate marching towards The City with her army in tow, a terrible war looms. The Inquisition begin to prepare for battle, however the real war is being waged between Ellie and the Enemy, both determined to use the legendary Eternity Engine for their own means. Will the Enemy finally be defeated or will the world as they know it be lost forever?

This is such a fantastic series and one I recommend to my Year 5 and 6 pupils so often. They (and you) will not be disappointed in the final instalment, I am sure.

A fantastical ending to a great trilogy of books.
Picking up right where we left off, the adventure continues and we are straight into the action.
There are twists and turns along the way, but I don't want to spoil anything here.
The book is so well written and suspenseful as well as full of action.
There's not much more else I can say except that this is a truly satisfying end to a brilliant series.

4 tides out of 5.

An absolutely epic conclusion to the Orphans of the Tide trilogy. Throughout this series I have found myself completely immersed in the world and the story. Struan Murray's writing and worldbuilding is fantastic. I really didn't see the twists coming!

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!

This is the third book in the series, and I would recommend refreshing your memory of the first two before diving in to this one.
It picks off right where the 2nd book ends, with the sea having receded and an army heading right to the island.
All of the main characters from the previous books return here, and are scrambling to defeat the enemy, whilst protecting those who they love.
Lots of twists and turns and a good pace. A satisfying ending too.

What a thrilling conclusion to a brilliant trilogy. I have been hooked on this series ever since reading the very first chapter of Orphans of the Tide and this final instalment lived up to all of my expectations and more. All of the threads from the previous two books were drawn together with some totally new ingredients thrown in for good measure.
All of the characters are vivid and memorable but Ellie in particular is a character who will remain in my memory for a long while. However, I also have a very soft spot for Molworth who is obviously destined for great things.

This book takes the reader on a giant roller coaster of a ride as the Enemy’s plans draw ever closer to completion. The plot swings from certain disaster to the possibility of a happy ending and then back again as it twists and turns in totally unexpected ways. The ending is totally satisfying. and I loved every minute of it.

Eternity Engine is the gripping conclusion to the Orphans of the Tide trilogy. Overflowing with incredible world building and fascinating technology, Struan Murray combines intricate characters and a complex plot. I love how the two worlds of Orphans of the Tide and Shipwreck Island collide. Ellie returns to the city to save it from the power-hungry queen. Still battling her demon, she struggles to put things right. Her dear friend Anna meets the charming Molworth as touches of humour lighten this high-stakes adventure.

I loved this final conclusion. It was a great end to a journey with the characters that I have enjoyed seeing develop since the start of the trilogy. Ellie's journey of self discovery and self acceptance has been a page-turner. Seth, Kate, Anna, Molworth- all have their roles to play in this dramatic final battle against The Enemy, whose form has never been so scary. Ellie needs each of her friends, and even some of her arch enemies from her past, along with guidance from her mother (in the form of her journal) to face her final showdown with The Enemy, whose power continues to grow.

This was an absolute page-turner of a book which had me reading so quickly, my eyes could hardly keep up. A brilliant ending to a super trilogy. If you enjoy epic adventures, unlikely heroes and mind-boggling plot twists then you'll love this.

Following the events of the previous novel, the great seas have parted and a pathway between Shipwreck Island and the Enemy’s City has appeared. It’s up to Ellie and her friends to prevent a terrible war between Kate and the City. The Enemy feeds on the terror of those who live in the City as their panic grows seeing the soldiers of Shipwreck Island approaching. But there is a chance…a secret weapon…the Eternity Engine which could either save the world or destroy it forever!

What a glorious conclusion to a thrilling trilogy! Struan Murray has done it again with Eternity Engine. Building upon the phenomenal world building of the previous two novels, the final instalment ramps up the excitement immensely and delivers exactly what I hoped and expected to read (given how good the others were!) Eternity Engine was filled with twists and turns and I was left guessing all the way – just how I like it. Orphans of the Tide is a truly outstanding trilogy, perfect for year 6 and beyond.

Once again, the author creates vivid and real characters with serious depth and personality. Ellie continues to be endlessly fascinating and we get a real insight into her mother which I have been looking forward and hoping for since we learnt how much like her Ellie is. The appearance and development of the other gods fleshes out the world even further and answers left over questions from the previous novel. I particularly enjoyed Molworth and his moral quandaries in this story. I loved him in Shipwreck Island – come on, a kid as a pub landlord – what’s not to like! But his real dilemma in this novel is trying to comes to terms with the fact that his beloved queen may not in fact be perfect and his anguish is so well realised. What a fabulous cast of characters.

Truly phenomenal – I can’t wait to see what Struan Murray writes next. 5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Children’s UK and NetGalley for the e-book review copy.

Man, what a way to end an amazing trilogy. I adored this story, its adventures, the journey and all of the ingenuity. Struan Murray is a master story weaver and I am so incredibly sad that Orphans is over, but I can’t wait for everyone to read this. Just incredible. I love Ellie and the rest of her crew and this world just brings me so much joy. From the first book, to this one, there’s just so so much to enjoy.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 (5.5/5)
Age recommendation: 9+

The seas have parted and Kate and her army are marching towards the City to get rid of the Inquisition once and for all. Only Ellie Lancaster and her friends can prevent a terrible war. But both sides have got another Enemy to fear. And then there's the dreadful machine that the parting of the seas uncovered - the Eternity Engine, with the power to remake the world - or destroy it forever...

Where do I start? I approached the book with a mixture of dread and anticipation. Dread because this is the final book in the series and I wasn't sure if I was ready to say goodbye; anticipation because I couldn't wait to find out how the story ends. Oh my! What an absolutely perfect ending to my favourite MG series ever.

'Eternity Engine' encapsulates everything a brilliant MG book should be - the world-building is superb, the characters are vividly brought to life, the plot is captivating and the story sweeps you away from the very first page. And there are so many layers to this story - it's a perfect proof that a well-written MG book can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

I can't really find any faults with this book. I love the characters Struan Murray created (it was so lovely to have Anna and the orphans back in the story) and I will miss them dearly. All my questions were answered, all loose ends tied and the story is just soooo gooood (oh, the twists)!

The story has been brilliantly brought to life by the absolutely incredible illustrations by Manuel Sumberac. Every single one of them is a masterpiece that I'd love to have as a print.

Unputdownable. A series I will keep returning to many times for sure.

Another brilliant book by Struan Murray. My son has begged me long and hard to get my hands on this book.
Struan Murray has excelled himself with this finale in the trilogy set in The (Enemy’s) City, after the tides rose, and after The Drowning.
Full of drama, tension and excitement, Ellie Lancaster works to try to defeat the enemy. Will she succeed? Will life ever be the same again?

An absolute belter of a book, an edge-of-your seat, hold your breath book suitable for 10+ years,
Would highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Yes! Ten stars out of 5


Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review

I remember picking up a copy of Orphans of the Tide last year and devouring it. I absolutely loved the characters, the setting and the constant twists and turns that Struan Murray had manufactured.

Then I remember how excited I was when Shipwreck Island hit the shelves. Again, I devoured it. I loved the progression of the characters and the change of scenery. Once again, Struan Murray produced a wonder story of twists and turns.

Once more, I was overjoyed to hear about Eternity Engine; the big finale. I was brimming when I managed to get my hands on an advanced copy, with thanks to NetGalley.

With many series, I often need a recap but this wasn’t the case with any of the Struan’s books. The worlds he paints and the stories he tells are so vivid, I was able to instantly jump in each time.

And now, here I am. I’ve finished Eternity Engine and I’m so incredibly pleased with how it all turned out. Questions I had after Shipwreck Island were all answered.

The only question I’m left with after reading Eternity Engine is, where do I go from here?

Those of you who have read the first two books shouldn’t hesitate to promote Eternity Engine to the top of your reading piles. If its a series you’ve not started yet, I highly recommend you stroll to your nearest book shop and get yourself a copy.

I’m aware that this review is vague on the details of the story, but with it being the third and final book in the series and with so much happening in that time, I’ve not wanted to give anything away. Not a single thing.

Thank you, Struan. I’ve loved every minute of your series.

I loved this series and as book two ended on such a cliff hanger, I couldn't wait to read book three. I was really invested in the characters of Seth and Ellie but I loved the way characters from Orphans of the Tide were cleverly woven into the third book and how characters backstories were developed. The smells and sounds of Shipwreck Island and The City loom large in all three books and rarely are worlds created as effectively to draws you in. I will be recommending this book to the children in my class as they will love the twists and turns. It is a perfect ending to a brilliant series and I can't wait to read what Struan writes next.

An absolutely amazing way to end the trilogy. I enjoyed all 3 books so much, I couldn’t put them down. Truly exceptional writing, thank you Struan Murray for bringing this to us!

Absolutely breathtaking, quite literally! Eternity Engine is completely unputdownable from start to finish. There is no let up with this final part of Struan Murray's exhilarating fantasy trilogy. More intense than the previous two books, the stories of the main characters twist and turn in a relentless dreamlike state as they wind their way to a final, satisfying resolution. Questions still remain though with Murray characteristically leaving the reader wanting just that little bit more at the very end. The turbulent friendships of Ellie, Anna, Seth and Kate are delicately explored to highlight a common thread running through all of the books - will good triumph over evil? Are the friendships strong enough to last distance, disaster and tragedy? Highly recommend reading to find out!

Warning: contains spoilers for Books 1 and 2.

Few series of books have made an impact quite like the Orphans of the Tide trilogy, with its incredible opening, brilliant characterisation and powerful narrative relating the adventures (although that scarcely seems a sufficient word to use) of Ellie Lancaster, fortysixth Vessel to the Enemy. Having left her at the end of Book 2 about to return to the City from Shipwreck Island, in her latest attempt to rid not only herself but all of humanity from the Enemy, expectations of this concluding title are high with readers asking if this will resolve the story satisfactorily.

Without wishing to give away huge spoilers, I believe it does. This is a strong ending, pulling together all of the threads from Books 1 and 2 and weaving them into a complex, fast-paced and highly original story that I pretty much read in a day – such was its hold over me – and one which firmly underlines Struan Murray’s reputation as a writer of the very best of children’s literature.

After being left behind by Ellie at the conclusion of the first part of the story, we reencounter her best friend Anna, together with some of her fellow orphans, on the Flats – searching for treasure. The only inhabitant of the City who knows that Ellie is still alive, Anna is forced yet again to defend herself against those who believe that she knew all along of her friend’s relationship with the Enemy but all of this is soon forgotten when the sea surrounding the City appears to completely drain away, revealing the land and many buildings it has been hiding for hundreds of years, leading Anna to decide to go in search of Ellie.

Unbeknownst to Anna, the water is under the influence of God of the Sea, Seth, who is being held prisoner by the queen of Shipwreck Island, Kate, who is determined to use his powers to allow her army to invade the City. Arguing with one another, Kate reveals her plans to Seth while he warns her that he has the power to bring back the water and hence drown her and her people – something that she counters that he will not do because it will also kill Ellie and his other friends, leaving them at stalemate.

Travelling towards Shipwreck Island, Anna encounters Viola and Molworth – friends of Ellie and Seth – who have escaped the island and are trying to track down Ellie, who then also appears – much to Anna’s delight. Telling Anna that she now has a plan to finally destroy the Enemy, the party returns to the City and Ellie sends Anna and her other friends out to collect the materials she needs to build a machine – one which is so secret she cannot reveal any information about it to anyone. But Ellie has changed in her time away and Anna cannot understand why. What is it that Ellie is building? How will it defeat the Enemy? And what will happen when Kate’s army reaches the City?

As in the previous books, there is a second thread running through the story in the form of a diary – this time that of Ellie’s mother Hannah. Revealing as much about the workings of the city itself as it does Ellie’s backstory, the entries that we read together with the main narrative throw up more questions than they answer so that the reader is constantly on tenterhooks and it is unclear all of the way through the story just how it will unfold and whether it will be Ellie or the Enemy who will be victorious.

I shall be very sorry to leave this trilogy behind, although it is one that I am sure I will return to at some point in the future – it is that good and it will be a treat to be able to read all three books in succession, something I would recommend you do ahead of this if you are able. This is certainly a book where you need to read the preceding titles before picking it up as there is far too much detail in the backstory for this to work as a standalone read.

I am very much looking forward to seeing what Struan Murray writes next; I know I will not be alone in this. Until then, an enormous thank you must go to publisher Penguin Random House Children’s UK and Net Galley for my virtual advance read ahead of publication on 17th March