Genre: Young Adult - SciFi
My Rating: 9/10
I have to admit that I am a serious Westerfeld-fan (If you haven't read the Uglies series, get to a bookstore now. It's a MUST for any scifi fan), so when this book came out I immediately grabbed a copy even though I thought it sounded very odd. I had never heard of the 'steampunk' genre and when I did a little research it didn't seem like something I would like... Basically, 'steampunk' literature is set during the time when steam powered machines were common ~ often in Victorian England, but adds in a fantasy or scifi twist. In this book, Westerfeld sets the scene with an event that most people are familiar with - the assassination of Archduke Franz that set in motion events that would cause the start of World War I. The story is told from 2 different points of view - Prince Aleksandar (the current heir to the throne who is now in hiding from the angry masses) and Deryn Sharp (a girl who managed to sneak into the British Air Force by pretending to be a boy).
The story jumps back and forth between the two characters, allowing the reader to see both sides of the upcoming war and hinting that the two will somehow meet. Prince Aleksandar and his loyal crew are Clankers - they have huge walking machines that are powered by steam and loaded with heavy ammunition. As he flees his country, it becomes clear that he will have to find a safe place to regroup and try to recover his kingdom. Meanwhile, Deryn Sharp is flying high in the skies in Leviathan - a Darwinist airship creation which most closely resembles a flying whale. Even though Aleksandar and Deryn seem to have very different views on the war, they will soon be tossed together in an adventure that could change everything.
Besides having a fast-paced story line, the book is also enhanced by the incredibly detailed illustrations by Keith Thompson. Since some of the Clanker and Darwinist creations are quite outlandish, the pictures really help the reader get into the story and add to the amazing world that Westerfeld has created.
Order this from Inkwood Books HERE
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