Leviathan

Back Cover: 

     Alek was a prince without a throne. On the run from his own people, he has only a fighting machine and a small band of men.

     Deryn is a girl disguised as a guy in the British Air Service. She must fight for her cause—and her secret—at all costs.

     Alek and Deryn are thrown together aboard the mighty airship Leviathan. Though fighting side by side, their worlds are far apart. British fabricated beasts versus German steam-powered war machines. They are enemies with everything to lose, yet somehow destined to be together.

Leviathan tells the story of two unlikely friends thrown together in an alternative World War I.  Alek is a young prince who, upon hearing of his parents’ death, must abandon all duties to hide, knowing his is the only hope for his country. He has only a machine and his trusted men for survival.

     Deryn—disguised as a boy to sneak aboard a ship—uses her brains and skills to keep the ship running. When a doctor of fabricated beasts boards the Leviathan, Deryn is desperate to know the doctor’s secret. But can Deryn keep her own?

     One simple act of kindness on Alek’s part throws the two young enemies together. They form a rocky friendship, but too many secrets stand between them. Alek and Deryn both struggle to conceal their identities—Alek as a prince, Deryn as a girl. But the constant threat of the looming war hangs heavily over their heads. Can the two manage to survive while risking their lives?

The Leviathan is one of those books that captivate you from the start. The two stories are narrated perfectly and blend beautifully. Scott Westerfeld is a veteran author who knows who to tell a story. Alek and Deryn are perfect heroes, with thoughts and feelings and fears as real as my own. Unlike most girl-disguised-as-a-guy novels, that isn’t really the main issue. Deryn is a smart, strong character who doesn’t think “woe is me, someone might discover my secret!” all the time. The action is in-depth and real. And the whole time, I rooted for Alek and Deryn to fall in love, despite their differences and the fact that Alek thought Deryn was a boy. Leviathan has you constantly engaged, whether over the constant action, suspense, or promise of romance.