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a_chickletz's review against another edition
4.0
Last year, around this time, I read a very awesome series by Kenneth Opel. By chance, I discovered this series and after reading this book, I'm excited to continue on!
I like time-period of the story, the locations, and the world.
The reason why I rate this book down a star is because nothing much 'happens'. I found this book to be a bit 'stretched' in terms of plot.
I liked the characters: Deryn, Alek, and the mysterious Dr. Barlow and Count Volger.
Already started book two!
I like time-period of the story, the locations, and the world.
The reason why I rate this book down a star is because nothing much 'happens'. I found this book to be a bit 'stretched' in terms of plot.
I liked the characters: Deryn, Alek, and the mysterious Dr. Barlow and Count Volger.
Already started book two!
shaaziahmed's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
earthsflare's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
zeller's review against another edition
The main female protagonist was irritating me. Also I don't think YA is for me.
thehawk72's review against another edition
I couldn't finish it. I ended about halfway through. I disliked it so much I couldn't read it anymore. I read the Uglies series and thought that it was amazing, but I was very disappointed in this.
ellie_bronte's review against another edition
3.0
The book alternates between two stories; Aleksandar who is orphaned at the book's beginning and is on the run with his most trusted servants, and Deryn who poses as a guy to join the Air Service. I'm a fan of books that bounce between points of view, to tell the story in a different manner from what is considered to be fact, and the specific personality that tells it. Weird enough, it took me about 8 weeks to finish this book and not because it was a difficult read, but I just wasn't compelled to pick it up. Finally, around page 150 things picked up and I finished it all in a matter of hours, but beforehand I was a little lost. In a world that is fabricated the reader is thrown into the story without much explanation, needing to pick clues from what is being said in order to piece together the world. Maybe that's what took me so long to get into it... But the illustrations was a smart idea to keep me hooked, visualizing the creatures and machines so not too much of the book was focused on explanation.
The story concept itself is amazing, the conflict between the Darwinists and Clankers. I was both fascinated and disturbed by the flying sea creatures and the talking lizards, and it's always a plus to feel conflicted over an idea. Once I got over the 150 page hurtle Alek and Deryn were great characters; I didn't have a problem with anyone in the cast. I especially loved when the two narrators finally met because it was then I noticed how different they were, from mannerisms to dialect. One of the problems I had with it was toward the end, where things one after the other just kept happening to the cast, creating victims of circumstance instead of people who were driving the story. I know a war is very random, and being victimized frequently happens but I found myself dozing off when it became one blow after the next. But besides that, my favorite aspect of the writing were the voices, which again, was amazing with the two points of view.
First books a lot of the time are a little boring since everything is trying to be established, but I can't wait to get my hands on the next book now that I plowed through the first.
The story concept itself is amazing, the conflict between the Darwinists and Clankers. I was both fascinated and disturbed by the flying sea creatures and the talking lizards, and it's always a plus to feel conflicted over an idea. Once I got over the 150 page hurtle Alek and Deryn were great characters; I didn't have a problem with anyone in the cast. I especially loved when the two narrators finally met because it was then I noticed how different they were, from mannerisms to dialect. One of the problems I had with it was toward the end, where things one after the other just kept happening to the cast, creating victims of circumstance instead of people who were driving the story. I know a war is very random, and being victimized frequently happens but I found myself dozing off when it became one blow after the next. But besides that, my favorite aspect of the writing were the voices, which again, was amazing with the two points of view.
First books a lot of the time are a little boring since everything is trying to be established, but I can't wait to get my hands on the next book now that I plowed through the first.
fortunesdear's review against another edition
3.0
Listened to this for the narrator who was amazing. The book though was just okay.
meginsanity's review against another edition
4.0
As an introduction to the world of steampunk and alternative history, set in a time period that doesn't get much attention (World War I), I thought this book succeeded. It certainly kept me reading, and the characters were entertaining. Knowing that it is the first of a trilogy, I can pretty much forgive the heavy-handedness with which the various machinery and creatures are portrayed. Any introduction into a world is going to be complex and kind of overwhelming. However, there were a couple issues I had with this book that I just couldn't get past enough to give it five stars.
Firstly, I thought the plot was overlooked too much in favor of the descriptions I mentioned. If you take the paragraphs about the machinery, the animals, and the surroundings out you are left with a barebones story that could be told in a few chapters. It's obvious Westerfeld put a lot of thought into the way the steampunk machinery and the hybrid animals would function and be used by military and civilians. But, especially since this is a trilogy it could have been stretched out over the three books, and the repetitive details about the Leviathan could have been cut - especially since the book is illustrated.
And secondly, I couldn't believe that the "Darwinists" could really develop hybrid animals with DNA strands and eggs the way it was portrayed. The "Clanker" machinery, yes - easily believable, if a bit ahead of its time as Westerfeld admits in the afterword. But just because Charles Darwin came up with the theory of evolution doesn't mean you can make an instantaneous jump from that to directly hybridizing and shaping DNA strands of animals for your own purpose. Not in 1914. It's a cool idea but it would have worked better in a futuristic setting, or if the technology was shown in its bare infancy.
Now for what I really liked:
The illustrations were wonderful. They captured the mood and feel of the book well and complemented the story. The old-fashioned captions added to the time period.
The characters were very well done, along with the dialogue. I liked seeing things from both Alek and Deryn's point of views. Though at times they seem a bit young for 15 and 16, most of the time they are well-rounded and interesting characters with unique personalities. I would've liked it if the entire book was about Deryn alone. Deryn is awesome.
The quality of the book is also great. It's very substantial and heavy with thick pages and color maps. Very steampunk and cool.
All in all - I'm going to have to wait for the next two books to give my final verdict, but definitely worth the read.
Firstly, I thought the plot was overlooked too much in favor of the descriptions I mentioned. If you take the paragraphs about the machinery, the animals, and the surroundings out you are left with a barebones story that could be told in a few chapters. It's obvious Westerfeld put a lot of thought into the way the steampunk machinery and the hybrid animals would function and be used by military and civilians. But, especially since this is a trilogy it could have been stretched out over the three books, and the repetitive details about the Leviathan could have been cut - especially since the book is illustrated.
And secondly, I couldn't believe that the "Darwinists" could really develop hybrid animals with DNA strands and eggs the way it was portrayed. The "Clanker" machinery, yes - easily believable, if a bit ahead of its time as Westerfeld admits in the afterword. But just because Charles Darwin came up with the theory of evolution doesn't mean you can make an instantaneous jump from that to directly hybridizing and shaping DNA strands of animals for your own purpose. Not in 1914. It's a cool idea but it would have worked better in a futuristic setting, or if the technology was shown in its bare infancy.
Now for what I really liked:
The illustrations were wonderful. They captured the mood and feel of the book well and complemented the story. The old-fashioned captions added to the time period.
The characters were very well done, along with the dialogue. I liked seeing things from both Alek and Deryn's point of views. Though at times they seem a bit young for 15 and 16, most of the time they are well-rounded and interesting characters with unique personalities. I would've liked it if the entire book was about Deryn alone. Deryn is awesome.
The quality of the book is also great. It's very substantial and heavy with thick pages and color maps. Very steampunk and cool.
All in all - I'm going to have to wait for the next two books to give my final verdict, but definitely worth the read.
belwood303's review against another edition
3.0
I found Westerfeld's Uglies series to be more enjoyable than the Hungry Games and I wasn't disappointed with this Steampunk series by him. Sometimes the girl hiding as a boy plot device can be terribly unrealistic but it didn't bother me so much here, an enjoyable young adult novel - I may even read the sequal.
dcnarvaez's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5