Best of the Month: August 2015: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (Leviathan #1)

onyxdarkling
Aug 28, 2015
2 min read

In a steampunk 1914, war is brewing, and two young teens are about to find themselves thrown into it headfirst. Alek, the scorned prince of Austria-Hungary, finds himself on the run after his parents are murdered. Alek is soon being chased across Europe by his supposed allies with only a small band of loyal soldiers to protect him. Meanwhile, Deryn, a London girl, disguises herself as a boy and enrolls into the air force to satisfy her dreams of flying only to find herself in the morally difficult position of a soldier at war. Aboard the living airship Leviathan, Deryn is recruited to take care of a mysterious cargo that the enemy desperately wants to get its hands on. When the Leviathan is badly damaged in an attack, Alek and Deryn find themselves working together to escape with both ship and cargo intact before the enemy finds them first.

The first things I noticed among the two main characters while evaluating them were their similarities. Both Alek and Deryn are brave and kind, but also stubborn, sometimes hotheaded. They put on a brave face even when they're scared out of their mind, and they're very resourceful. If others won't help them, they'll take matters into their own hands. However, they also have their differences to keep things interesting. Deryn craves adventure, while Alek, despite his bravery, is vulnerable. Deryn is curious about everything around her, and Alek, despite his position of royalty, has very little idea about how his country is actually governed. I think that Westerfeld has spot-on voices for both characters and does a remarkable job producing the perfect voice - young and untarnished.

I thoroughly enjoyed Leviathan. A world in which complex machines and genetically engineered beasts live side by side, highlighted by gorgeous illustrations, was a pleasure to explore. The plot had no shortage of action with a hint of intrigue, humor, and heartwarming. I loved the characters, too. One thing that made Alek and Deryn stand out was their youth in comparison to the heroes of other YA novels - they're relatively young, fourteen and, if I remember, fifteen. Rather than look up to them, I viewed them with affection, like I would a younger sibling. Leviathan is a very unique book, as well as a delightful read, and I can't wait to continue the trilogy! 5/5 stars!