Behemoth (Levithan #2) by Scott Westerfeld

Goodreads:
The behemoth is the fiercest creature in the British navy. It can swallow enemy battleships with one bite. The Darwinists will need it, now that they are at war with the Clanker powers.

Deryn is a girl posing as a boy in the British Air Service, and Alek is the heir to an empire posing as a commoner. Finally together aboard the airship Leviathan, they hope to bring the war to a halt. But when disaster strikes the Leviathan's peacekeeping mission, they find themselves alone and hunted in enemy territory.

Alek and Deryn will need great skill, new allies, and brave hearts to face what's ahead.

I loved this book as I have loved everything that Scott Westerfeld has written that I have read.  The action started right away with none of the "warm-up" needed like the first book since the characters are already known.  I enjoy the time that Deryn and Alek spend together and I like their relationship.  Sure it's built on secrets and lies but other than that, it's great.  They are a dynamic team and have a good rapport.  I can't wait to see what happens in the next book between the two of them. 

I love the alternative history that is going on and I'm glad that Westerfeld includes a "fact or fiction" at the end of the story because I really haven't brushed up on my World War I history in a while.  The science of both the Clankers and the Darwinists is impressive and it's fascinating to see how societies can focus on one thing and how it can effected their way of life.  I feel like Leviathan had a lot of the Darwinist way of life and Behemoth had more of the Clanker way so that was cool. 

And, as always, the illustrations are gorgeous.  I love the artwork so much and wish it was reflected more in the cover art.  The propaganda poster on the inside of the book is amazing, just like the map was on the inside of Leviathan.  This is one series worth physically owning (as opposed to e-book) because the illustrations are so great.

Illustrated by Keith Thompson

I just want to add this.  I don't love the cover.  It doesn't really match the first one that I have and I like it when covers match.  And I'm not fond of the picture of Deryn, mostly because I am not a fan of people on covers in general.  I like the old covers.

German cover that I also like

Hogwarts: Fight or Flight mini-challenge
Off the Shelf

Leviathan

I did try to write a summary of my own, but all the words I wanted to use were all ready in the summary on Goodreads so there ya go.
Goodreads:
Prince Aleksander, would-be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battletorn war machine and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

With World War I brewing, Alek and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way…taking them on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure that will change both their lives forever.

They were afraid of fabricated species, and worshipped their mechanical engines.  Did they think their mob of walking contraptions and buzzing aeroplanes could stand against the Darwinist might of Russia, France, and Britain?  p.115

I bought this book when it first came out and then never got around to reading it.  Finally I decided I really needed to otherwise it would be a waste.  Man, I wish I'd read it sooner.  It was so good!  I like steampunk in general but don't read a lot of it and I love the alternate history world Westerfeld created.  The idea of machines versus engineered animals was so interesting and a little horrifying, honestly.

Told in alternating voices between Alek and Deryn, Leviathan shows both sides of the beginning of the war.  I like how he took the historical events of WWI and changed them to suit the story's need.  Brilliantly done!  I liked both Aleck and Deryn and thought they were great, strong characters.

And, of course, the illustrations are freaking amazing.  This book was worth reading for them alone.  The map on the inside cover and all the drawings were so beautiful.  Keith Thompson is a wonderful illustrator.  I really can't wait for Behemoth.  And I will really and truly read it right away.



And if you've never seen the trailer, it is one of the best I have ever seen.

Hogwarts: Defence Against the Dark Arts
Twentyten
Another Chance
YA

Teaser Tuesdays - Leviathan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

Without hesitation, without a thought of what Jaspert had said about not drawing attention, and with the last squick of nerves in her belly gone, Deryn Sharp took one step forward.
"Please, sir. I'd like to fly."

p.104 Leviathan Scott Westerfeld

Touching Darkness (Midnighters #2)

The Midnighters find they are in danger not only from the darklings who exist in that hour, but from some humans during regular time too.  While they try to figure out the secret history of their town and past Midnighters, the enemies begin closing in on what they really want, one of the Midnighters.

*highlight for spoilers*

The second in the Midnighters series, Touching Darkness, was really good.  The action picks up a little more and some of the mysteries from the first book are solved while introducing new ones.  There is less to do with Jessica in this book and I have a feeling her backstory and powers will be more important in the third book than they were here.  Rex and Melissa play more key roles while Dess and Jonathan sort of slide into the backstory.  I really didn't like Melissa in the last book, but by the end of this one I was more sympathetic to her and to Rex.  I realize her powers must be awful to have.  But I was surprised at how the touching between her and Rex was akin to sex and orgasms and how much it helped her.  I don't know how much teens will catch of that, but it is definitely implied.  Interesting.

There is much more about other Midnighters though not as much as I would have liked and the secret hidden in the town (the old Midnighter, Madeline) was interesting.  I hope they clear up more of that story and what happens to Rex now that he is a halfling.  That plot was horrifying, but will make for an interesting third book. 

The Secret Hour (Midnighters #1)

Jessica Day moves to the small town of Bixby, Oklahoma with her family when her mom gets a new job.  At first, everything seems normal.  That is until midnight rolls around and the world around her freezes.  Jessica learns she is a "Midnighter," one of the handful of teens in town who can live in the blue time between midnight and 1 am.  But something about Jessica is different and she attracts trouble in the form of the darklings who live in the blue time, ancient creatures who are out for Jessica.  With the help of the other four Midnighters, Jessica must fight the darklings and learn why they want to kill her so much.

"Something about you is so ... 11:59.  You don't belong." p.124

So this is Scott Westerfeld's first young adult book.  I've read all the rest except this series and Leviathan, which just came out.  It was really good and I enjoyed it.  The concept is great though less original than his later books.  It came across as appropriately chilling and suspenseful and occasionally funny and moved along at a nice pace.  I liked Jessica and Jonathan and Dess and I'm not real sure about Melissa but Rex was okay.  I've always found the idea of ancient creatures intriguing (must be why I'm a Buffy fan) and the mythology is great in this book without being too overwhelming, just enough to tantalize. I got a good image out of the book and I could definitely see it as a movie.

Teaser Tuesdays - The Secret Hour

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

 

In a daze, she stepped out into the suspended rain.  The drops kissed her face coolly, turning into water as she collided with them.

p.24 The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld

Scott Westerfeld Mini-Challenge - COMPLETE

I am joining another challenge. This one is the Scott Westerfeld Mini-Challenge hosted by Becky. The challenge is to read at least two Westerfeld books, but I've read most of them already. So my challenge is to read the Midnighters series or at least the first two books. Here I go.
January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009.

1. The Secret Hour (Midnighters #1)
2. Touching Darkness (Midnighters #2)

DONE 12.9.09