Review: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
December 28, 2009 in Children's & Young Adult, Fantasy
It’s 1914 and Prince Aleksander Ferdinand, and commoner Deryn Sharp’s lives are about to collide in spectacular fashion!
Alek’s parents have just been assassinated, and along with his parents most trusted advisors, he is on the run. Abandoned by his own people, he must cross Europe and reach safety.
Deryn, is a talented airman, with only one problem. Only boys can join the British Air Service. She is noting if not determined though, and after successfully disguising herself as a boy, she finds herself serving onboard the flagship, Leviathan.
Alek and Deryn’s story is told against the relentless backdrop of a drive towards war in Europe. A war between the Darwenists and the Clankers, two very different ideologies…
The Darwenists follow the teachings of Charles Darwin, and breed their technology, their weapons, transport, and communications are all alive. It is on one of these airships that Deryn lives and serves.
The Clankers, the world from which Alek hails, are firmly grounded in the mechanical, packed with cannons and guns and covered in armour, their machines are still unlike anything you have come across before, the tanks walk for one thing!
Scott Westerfeld is one of my favourite discoveries this year, I started with Parasite Positive/Peeps and haven’t looked back since!
So, when I started to see snippets of this one; an alternate history of WW1, with elements of steampunk and some fantastic illustrations by Keith Thompson, it instantly became of my my most anticipated books of the year!
Thankfully it more than lives up to it.
I’ve mentioned the fantastic illustrations and the book is packed with them (I believe there are around 50!) and along with the excellent writing, really do add something special to the novel.
Due to their upbringing, when the two do eventually meet, the differences are immediately apparent, not only from what we have already learned about them, but alson from their reactions to each other.
But their are similarities, as well, Deryn is a talented airman and Alek is pretty skill full and driving a Cyklop Stormwalker, himself. It is soon clear that there is a natural affinity between the two (and yes the first signs of something more).
With tanks that walk, lizards that carry messages, fantastic characters, and allsorts of other steampunky goodness this is book that is just made of awesome!
Rating: 
Other Reviews to Consider
- My Favourite Books
- Fyrefly’s Book Blog
- Karin’s Book Nook
- Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog
- Book Nut
- Bermudaonion’s Weblog
- The Infinite Shelf
- The Written World & The Zen Leaf
Check out the Fantastic Trailer!
Buy: Leviathan by Scott Westefeld from The Book Depository
Kailana (37)
Clover (14)
Alyce (13)
Amanda (10)
Carl V. (10)
Nikki-ann (9)
I’m glad you enjoyed it. I love Westerfeld and have now read all his YA novels since first reading Uglies in January.
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..Purge =-.
I’ve not quite read them all, but I’ve had a good go
I listened to the audiobook, (which I really enjoyed, so not to put it down…), but it looks like I really missed out on the illustrations – they’re lovely! If I could trust myself to go into a bookstore, I’d have to go browse to see all that I missed.
.-= Fyrefly´s last blog ..Joss Whedon – BtVS S8, Vol. 5: Predators and Prey =-.
Go on, enter that bookstore, you’ll be fine…
I haven’t read any Westerfeld yet but I want to start with Leviathan. You wrote a great review. Can’t wait to get my hands on this.
.-= Vasilly´s last blog ..Sunday Salon: A Year of Blogging Deliberately =-.
I think it is a good choice to start with, either that or The Midnighters. (Uglies is excellent too, but possibly a bit too stylised for a first read, at least I think so…)
I really want to read Leviathan! I loved his Uglies series, and also love the fact that he decided to do something completely different. Can’t wait to get my hands on it.
.-= Carrie K.´s last blog ..Found in the pages of Bookmarks Magazine, January/February 2010 issue =-.
I love the fact it is so different from his other stuff.
I’ve been reading so many good reviews of this book that I have already added it to my wish list. I hope I get to read it soon!
.-= Alyce´s last blog ..December Bookshelf Cleaning Winners! =-.
I think you’ll enjoy it when you do!
I still haven’t gotten around to Uglies – and didn’t know there was so much more to Scott. I love the fact that you think the book is ‘made of awesome’ – that’s got to be my book blogger quote of 2009
Happy belated birthday BTW
.-= Clare Swindlehurst´s last blog ..Shotgun Shopping – How to Materialize Anything You want Through the Metaphor of Shopping by Sheevaun Moran =-.
I really liked this book! It was just overall great. Not just the writing, but it was so pretty!
.-= Kailana´s last blog ..7 Things I Love (Aside from Books) =-.
This was one of my favorite books this year. I read Westerfeld’s Uglies series, too, but wasn’t quite as enthusiastic about them as this. Can’t wait for the next installment in the series – Behemoth!
.-= Celia´s last blog ..teaser tuesday (25) =-.
My husband read this and enjoyed it, but didn’t think it lived up to Westerfeld’s Uglies series. (I haven’t even had a chance to read Uglies yet.) Thanks for linking to my review.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..2009: The Year in Review =-.
Great review! After devouring the Uglies series, I went and saw Scott Westerfeld at an Author’s Appearance at a local Chapter’s and was absolutely fascinated. He talked a lot about Leviathan (and the amazing illustrations) and it’s been on my wishlist since. If you ever get the chance to see him in person, GO! I really wished I had the opportunity to just sit and talk with him for hours.
.-= Jody´s last blog ..Book Chat – Holiday Recap =-.
Thanks. Yes Mr Westerfeld really needs to get himself over to the UK at some point!
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