Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Leviathan - Bk. 1

Leviathan

by Scott Westerfeld

    Time: Summer, 1914 (alternate WWI)

    Location: Eastern Europe

    Situation: Tension filled

    Deryn Sharp is disguised as a boy to get into the British Air Service, to get a job as an airman. She serves on the Leviathan, until an accident causes it to crash in Switzerland.

    Prince Aleksandar's parents have just been assassinated and he is escaping from his people. Fleeing from Austria with a small group of loyal servants.

    In Switzerland their paths cross and together they embark on a round the world trip that will twine both plots into one acclaimed steampunk story.

    Steampunk is a 'new' frontier of alternate history /Victorian era/clockwork technology. Mostly becoming fashionable in adult sci-fi/fantasy novels, it is making some appearances in YA too.

    This may not be everyones cup of tea, but can lead to some fascinating worlds and characters.

    I have not read this book, but I have heard very little negative about it either. Most comments are just because people appear not to fond of the steampunk styling.

    While the main character roll is split over a male and female protagonist, Deryn from reviews appears to be the gutsy, heroic of the two.

    Good thing about steampunk? It tends to have a lot of action and a lot less 'fluff' than fantasy.

• Behemoth (Book 2)
• Goliath (Book 3) - Out September 2011

Australian/UK covers. Penguin.

Westerfeld, Scott. Leviathan, Camberwell, Vic. : Penguin Books, 2009