Review
There are four main reasons why I would recommend this book. First is the art work. Each picture in the book has such fantastic detail and is drawn with precision. The pictures help create a better image of the story in one's mind. These exceptionally drawn pictures give the reader a way to understand what the author has written down. A perfect example would be the stormwalker. The author tries to describe the machine; "It stood taller than the stable's roof, its two metal feet sunk deep into the soil of the riding paddock. It looked like one of the Darwinist monsters skulking in the darkness. This wasn't some training machine---it was a real engine of war, a Cyklop Stormwaker. A cannon was mounted in its belly, and the stubby noses of two Spandau machine guns sprouted from its head, which was a big as a smokehouse."(pg. 8) The author does an excellent job describing the machine, but the visual just makes it easier to understand and see what the machine looks like.
There are four main reasons why I would recommend this book. First is the art work. Each picture in the book has such fantastic detail and is drawn with precision. The pictures help create a better image of the story in one's mind. These exceptionally drawn pictures give the reader a way to understand what the author has written down. A perfect example would be the stormwalker. The author tries to describe the machine; "It stood taller than the stable's roof, its two metal feet sunk deep into the soil of the riding paddock. It looked like one of the Darwinist monsters skulking in the darkness. This wasn't some training machine---it was a real engine of war, a Cyklop Stormwaker. A cannon was mounted in its belly, and the stubby noses of two Spandau machine guns sprouted from its head, which was a big as a smokehouse."(pg. 8) The author does an excellent job describing the machine, but the visual just makes it easier to understand and see what the machine looks like.
The second reason I would recommend this book is the descriptive writing. Even if there were not any pictures it would still be easy to imagine what Mr. Westerfeld is describing. For example, "A huge airbeast was emerging from the gray clouds behind her, its reflective silver topside glistening in the sunlight. The thing was gigantic---larger than St. Paul's Cathedral, longer than the oceangoing dreadnought Orion that she'd seen in the Thames the week before. The shining cylinder was shaped like a zeppelin, but the flanks pulsed with the motion of its cilia, and the air around it swarmed with symbiotic bats and birds." (pg. 69) Just reading those words one can imagine what the airbeast looked like and how big it was.
The third reason I would recommend this book is the actual story itself. The creativeness of the book is amazing as Scott Westerfeld created a futuristic past. Even some of the events in the book are true and did happen during the World War I era. ""Alas not, Your Highness," Count Volger said. "Your parents are both dead, murdered this night in Sarajevo."" (pg. 18)
Unfortunately this actually happened in history; on June 28th, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated by a Yugoslavian nationalist in Sarajevo.
The fourth and final reason I would recommend this book is because of the relationship between Deryn and Alek. During
Leviathan, Alek does not know that Deryn is a girl and thinks she is a boy. The relationship between them does not evolve until the 2nd and 3rd book of the series but you can tell Deryn has feelings for Alek. "She suddenly had that feeling again, the same as when Alek had told her his parent's story---a crackling in the overheated air. Her skin tingled where he'd hugged her." (pg. 425) This quote shows that Deryn feels a certain spark when she is with Alek; she is falling in love with him. One will have to read the other two books in the series to find out what happens to them.
The third reason I would recommend this book is the actual story itself. The creativeness of the book is amazing as Scott Westerfeld created a futuristic past. Even some of the events in the book are true and did happen during the World War I era. ""Alas not, Your Highness," Count Volger said. "Your parents are both dead, murdered this night in Sarajevo."" (pg. 18)
Unfortunately this actually happened in history; on June 28th, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated by a Yugoslavian nationalist in Sarajevo.
The fourth and final reason I would recommend this book is because of the relationship between Deryn and Alek. During
Leviathan, Alek does not know that Deryn is a girl and thinks she is a boy. The relationship between them does not evolve until the 2nd and 3rd book of the series but you can tell Deryn has feelings for Alek. "She suddenly had that feeling again, the same as when Alek had told her his parent's story---a crackling in the overheated air. Her skin tingled where he'd hugged her." (pg. 425) This quote shows that Deryn feels a certain spark when she is with Alek; she is falling in love with him. One will have to read the other two books in the series to find out what happens to them.
Works Citied:
Westerfeld, Scott. "The Great War". Image. n.d. Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan. Web. 27 Oct. 2012
< http://boingboing.net/2009/10/06/scott-westerfelds-le.html >
Westerfeld, Scott. "Stealing Away", Image. n.d., Interview with Scott Westerfeld, Airship Ambassador, web, Accessed Octerber 5th 2012, < http://airshipambassador.wordpress.com/2011/09/18/interview-with-scott-westerfeld/ >.
Westerfeld, Scott, "Crash Landing", drawing, n.d., Scott Westerfeld, Scott Westerfeld, web, accessed October %th 2012, < http://scottwesterfeld.com/books/leviathan/
Westerfeld, Scott. "The Great War". Image. n.d. Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan. Web. 27 Oct. 2012
< http://boingboing.net/2009/10/06/scott-westerfelds-le.html >
Westerfeld, Scott. "Stealing Away", Image. n.d., Interview with Scott Westerfeld, Airship Ambassador, web, Accessed Octerber 5th 2012, < http://airshipambassador.wordpress.com/2011/09/18/interview-with-scott-westerfeld/ >.
Westerfeld, Scott, "Crash Landing", drawing, n.d., Scott Westerfeld, Scott Westerfeld, web, accessed October %th 2012, < http://scottwesterfeld.com/books/leviathan/