I can’t tell you how pleased I was to be able to grab an e-galley of this one from Simon & Schuster, I loved both Leviathan and Behemoth, so I dived into this one just as soon as I was able!

Alek and Deryn are on the last leg of their round-the-world quest to end World War I, reclaim Alek’s throne as prince of Austria, and finally fall in love. The first two objectives are complicated by the fact that their ship, the Leviathan, continues to detour farther away from the heart of the war (and crown).

And the love thing would be a lot easier if Alek knew Deryn was a girl. (She has to pose as a boy in order to serve in the British Air Service.) And if they weren’t technically enemies. 

The tension thickens as the Leviathan steams toward New York City with a homicidal lunatic on board: secrets suddenly unravel, characters reappear, and nothing is as it seems in this thunderous conclusion to Scott Westerfeld’s brilliant trilogy.

– Publisher’s Blurb

Goliath was everything I was hoping for from the last book in the trilogy and yet packed with plenty of wonderful surprises (and of course amazing illustrations by Keith Thompson!) .

It becomes more and more clear that the fate of WWI rests squarely on the shoulders of Deryn and Alek. Deryn’s secret however, could undermine everything should it come out (What? You think I’m going to let you know whether it does or it doesn’t, and spoil it for you? Nope. not going to that. You’ll have to get your spoilers elsewhere!**)

As the Leviathan, moves further and further away from the eye-of-the-storm, on what seems like a flag waving mission for the Empire, the war itself is as close as ever, when the inventor, Nikolia Tesla comes on board, with news of his latest invention, a weapon so powerful, its mere existence, will end the war.

Tension mounts as differing personal responsibilities, may mean Alek and Deryn may have to part ways, if they are to stop the war and stay loyal to their countries.

The characters of Alek and Deryn both continue to grow and evolve. They really have to work at their friendship, as the story nears the climax. The world’s changed and they’ve changed, a lot since they first met, and in a relatively short period of time, not forgetting Deryn’s ‘Big Secret’ which continues to lurk over them.

I normally get really angsty when good friendships are threatened with my favourite characters, but here it is needed, and I was always confident that the friendship was already strong enough that they would sort themselves out. It’s a really satisfying element to the story.

As you would expect from the rest of the series, Goliath has cracking page turning plot that changes direction, each time you think you know where it is going, and whilst all the loose ends are tied up, and the ending is clear, the last page will come as a shock. if only because you still want more and more, of this wonderful world!

–Possible spoilage depending on what you read into the next bit…
** I will say however, Westerfeld handles this, large and important part of the plot, with all the skill and inventiveness you’d imagine; keeping you guessing and waiting, without ever drawing things out too long.

Buy: Goliath by Scott Westerfeld from The Book Depository

Released: 20th September 2011