venation's review against another edition
4.0
Leviathan is the reinvented and re-imagined story of WWI, but in full steampunk galore. It's the parallel story of Alek, son of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Deryn, a girl disguised as a boy to join the British Air Force. With the sudden catalyst of the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, Alek's life is suddenly in danger, and is on the run. Deryn, meanwhile, is thrust in the middle of the largest ship the Leviathan. As their fates intertwine and the war progresses, Deryn and Alek both have their worlds redefined by the changing times.
I do love what Leviathan has to offer, historical fiction in a more fanciful setting - the various references to facts: the Darwinist ideas, evolution, the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. It's a good book for any history lover that likes to dream a bit, I suppose.
Leviathan really shines because it features two characters that are very different and need to adapt to a whole new world and new changes. Deryn and Alek are young, and they've got a lot to learn but that's what defines the novel - it's like a coming of age story in the midst of one of the most chaotic times in history.
Yet, Westerfeld's writing is just as fluid, just as strong as the idea. There is no awkwardness, no loss of voice, he is clear and distinctive in every line, every sentence (which is really admirable in the YA market, I've seen some bad writing out there). And the wonderful illustrations in every chapter just add to the book's enjoyability.
Leviathan may not have blown me away, but it is such a solid and good book to read. In the midst of the ever changing YA genre, Leviathan is a story that deserves to be read and loved.
I do love what Leviathan has to offer, historical fiction in a more fanciful setting - the various references to facts: the Darwinist ideas, evolution, the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. It's a good book for any history lover that likes to dream a bit, I suppose.
Leviathan really shines because it features two characters that are very different and need to adapt to a whole new world and new changes. Deryn and Alek are young, and they've got a lot to learn but that's what defines the novel - it's like a coming of age story in the midst of one of the most chaotic times in history.
Yet, Westerfeld's writing is just as fluid, just as strong as the idea. There is no awkwardness, no loss of voice, he is clear and distinctive in every line, every sentence (which is really admirable in the YA market, I've seen some bad writing out there). And the wonderful illustrations in every chapter just add to the book's enjoyability.
Leviathan may not have blown me away, but it is such a solid and good book to read. In the midst of the ever changing YA genre, Leviathan is a story that deserves to be read and loved.
fortunesdear's review
3.0
Listened to this for the narrator who was amazing. The book though was just okay.
carmenhartjensen's review against another edition
3.0
This is a 3.7 stars for me because of the cool historical/alternate universe setting. Plus, I like how spunky Deryn is how she so wonderfully uses the word "barkin".
kadaroli'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
5.0
aaronfromkansas's review
3.0
An entertaining scenario set in an alternate World War I, where the Central Powers use mecha and the Triple Entente genetically breeds monsters.
This book is really fun. It's genuinely cool to read Alek stomp about Europe in basically an AT-ST from Star Wars. It also gives a good look at the fragile, multicultural state of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Meanwhile, the British side of the book rather lags in these same areas. The Leviathan is an airship made of whale whose DNA was spliced with a jellyfish and has a flock of birds and bats that it uses as weapons. That's very cool, but I felt like it poorly reflected the state of the post-Victorian British Empire, largely because it didn't mention the Empire. Perhaps the other books get to that.
On a character note, I found it a little unbalanced. Alek, the Austrian hero, is the son of Franz Ferdinand and it follows him on the run from Germans who want to kill him because Franz Josef II didn't like Ferdy's wife. Alek can barely turn around without tripping over his own shoelaces. On the other side of the plot, we follow Deryn, a girl-disguised-as-a-guy enlisted in the British air force. In sharp contrast to Alek, she can do no wrong. Everyone likes her, and all decisions turn out to be the right ones.
I read this on a long car ride, and it easily kept my attention for hours, but the total contrast between the two characters threw me off in the end, though I would recommend it to anyone interested.
This book is really fun. It's genuinely cool to read Alek stomp about Europe in basically an AT-ST from Star Wars. It also gives a good look at the fragile, multicultural state of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Meanwhile, the British side of the book rather lags in these same areas. The Leviathan is an airship made of whale whose DNA was spliced with a jellyfish and has a flock of birds and bats that it uses as weapons. That's very cool, but I felt like it poorly reflected the state of the post-Victorian British Empire, largely because it didn't mention the Empire. Perhaps the other books get to that.
On a character note, I found it a little unbalanced. Alek, the Austrian hero, is the son of Franz Ferdinand and it follows him on the run from Germans who want to kill him because Franz Josef II didn't like Ferdy's wife. Alek can barely turn around without tripping over his own shoelaces. On the other side of the plot, we follow Deryn, a girl-disguised-as-a-guy enlisted in the British air force. In sharp contrast to Alek, she can do no wrong. Everyone likes her, and all decisions turn out to be the right ones.
I read this on a long car ride, and it easily kept my attention for hours, but the total contrast between the two characters threw me off in the end, though I would recommend it to anyone interested.
derrickmitchell's review against another edition
3.0
It was pretty interesting. I will read the rest of the series.
sharonskinner's review against another edition
3.0
Very imaginative. Huge points for fabulous world-building. However, characters seem young for YA, more like MG. Also, I am not typically a fan of books, especially thick ones, that do not have a satisfactory conclusion, even when they are part of series.
juanamiglesia's review against another edition
3.0
La idea de ver la primera guerra mundial suceder de otra manera, bueno no de otra manera pero hilando hechos reales con giros creativos y fantásticos, me pareció intrigante. Lo suficiente como para que decida leer este libro.
Esta historia trata sobre Aleksandar, el hijo ficticio del archiduque Francisco Fernando, sobre Deryn Sharp, una jovencita escocesa que entra al servicio aéreo británico disfrazada como un muchacho y sobre la primera guerra mundial de una forma nunca antes vista: ambos lados se enfrentan en la batalla pero no de la forma en la que leemos en los libros de historia. Mientras que Alemania y el Imperio Austro-húngaro tienen en su arsenal tecnología mecánica de avanzada como tanques con piernas metálicas y vehículos capaces de correr y saltar, Francia, Gran Bretaña y posiblemente también Rusia, son Darwinistas y han logrado crear nuevas bestias a través de la mezcla de su ADN para enfrentarse a sus enemigos en la guerra, como resultado, una de sus creaciones es la bestia voladora (que vendría a asimilarse a un gran Zeppelin) Leviathan que tiene el cuerpo de una ballena y dentro de ella hay un sinfín de soldados y bestias que sirven como arsenal de guerra.
Lo que tiene en contra esta historia es que, si bien el telón de fondo de ambos personajes está bien desarrollado, la historia transcurre lentamente. Me encontré cansada de leer las primeras 230 páginas porque aunque Westerfeld explica detalladamente como funcionan los armamentos de ambos bandos, la historia se mantiene aburrida y poco interesante y los personajes principales parecen destinados a no encontrarse nunca. Esta gran porción del libro, si bien es posible que sea considerada útil, es terriblemente tediosa. Pero esto cambia para mejor una vez que Aleksandar y Deryn se encuentran y una verdadera historia empieza a cocinarse dentro de la gran bestia Leviathan.
Una de las mejores cosas que tiene esta historia es el punto de vista dual, sobre todo cuando los personajes principales empiezan a conocerse, porque esto le abre los ojos al lector y le permite ver la apreciación de ambos jóvenes de las distintas situaciones. Alaksandar tiene un punto de vista muy honrado y honorable y Deryn actúa de manera instintiva pero sin dejar de lado por completo a la lógica.
En fin, es una historia que se deja leer y si bien es muy lenta al principio, para cuando se llega al final uno quisiera tener a mano el segundo tomo de esta trilogía.
Esta historia trata sobre Aleksandar, el hijo ficticio del archiduque Francisco Fernando, sobre Deryn Sharp, una jovencita escocesa que entra al servicio aéreo británico disfrazada como un muchacho y sobre la primera guerra mundial de una forma nunca antes vista: ambos lados se enfrentan en la batalla pero no de la forma en la que leemos en los libros de historia. Mientras que Alemania y el Imperio Austro-húngaro tienen en su arsenal tecnología mecánica de avanzada como tanques con piernas metálicas y vehículos capaces de correr y saltar, Francia, Gran Bretaña y posiblemente también Rusia, son Darwinistas y han logrado crear nuevas bestias a través de la mezcla de su ADN para enfrentarse a sus enemigos en la guerra, como resultado, una de sus creaciones es la bestia voladora (que vendría a asimilarse a un gran Zeppelin) Leviathan que tiene el cuerpo de una ballena y dentro de ella hay un sinfín de soldados y bestias que sirven como arsenal de guerra.
Lo que tiene en contra esta historia es que, si bien el telón de fondo de ambos personajes está bien desarrollado, la historia transcurre lentamente. Me encontré cansada de leer las primeras 230 páginas porque aunque Westerfeld explica detalladamente como funcionan los armamentos de ambos bandos, la historia se mantiene aburrida y poco interesante y los personajes principales parecen destinados a no encontrarse nunca. Esta gran porción del libro, si bien es posible que sea considerada útil, es terriblemente tediosa. Pero esto cambia para mejor una vez que Aleksandar y Deryn se encuentran y una verdadera historia empieza a cocinarse dentro de la gran bestia Leviathan.
Una de las mejores cosas que tiene esta historia es el punto de vista dual, sobre todo cuando los personajes principales empiezan a conocerse, porque esto le abre los ojos al lector y le permite ver la apreciación de ambos jóvenes de las distintas situaciones. Alaksandar tiene un punto de vista muy honrado y honorable y Deryn actúa de manera instintiva pero sin dejar de lado por completo a la lógica.
En fin, es una historia que se deja leer y si bien es muy lenta al principio, para cuando se llega al final uno quisiera tener a mano el segundo tomo de esta trilogía.