Book Review: Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication date: September 2011
ISBN: 9781416971771
Source: e-book provided by GalleyGrab

*Possibly spoilers for the first two books - ye be warned*
Alek and Deryn are both far from home on a voyage around the world to stop World War I.  Alek, who feels duty bound to stop the war, places his hopes in a crazy scientist with a big plan.  Deryn's disguise as a boy member of the crew is getting more dangerous by the minute - especially since she's in love with Alek.  With new characters and danger lurking everywhere, the two may not end up quite where they expected.

Things I Liked:
I'm not entirely sure what my favorite thing about these books is.  Honestly, it's just so much fun to read them it's almost like being on an adventure myself.  Deryn is such a prickly, smart, sassy, vulnerable and hilarious girl that you can't help but love her.  I adore her "cussing" and the plain way she talks, especially when others are dancing around a topic.  Alek is interesting in different ways - trying to find his place, wondering if he can make a difference, torn between two worlds.  And, of course, the story is so fascinating, so unexpected, and so unique that you dive in and can't surface until the conclusion is finally reached.  I loved every minute of this book and especially the illustrations, which can make some tricky concepts come to life.  A favorite series and I'm sure it will delight tween boys and girls alike.

Things I Didn't Like:
Not much.  I think a few times I was annoyed by decisions characters made, but that doesn't make the book any less enjoyable.  I honestly can't think of other things I didn't like!

Read-alikes:
Read Leviathan and Behemoth first
Reminded me of Larklight by Philip Reeve
Airborn and sequels by Kenneth Oppel

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: ! 
maybe one or two, but most "cussing" came in the form of "bum-rag" and such like

mrg-factor: none 

v-factor: -> 
there is some action, but most of it is quite mild

Overall rating: ***** 

What do you think of steampunk: like it, hate it, don't know it?

Added bonus: Scott Westerfeld is visiting Arizona next week!  Check out the details for Oct 3rd visit at Changing Hands and the Barnes and Noble in Mesa for Oct 5th.

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld

Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication date: October 2010
ISBN: 978-1416971757
Source: e-book available from publisher

 

During an alternate history of World War I, this book picks up after Leviathan ends.  Prince Alek is being held prisoner aboard the Leviathan.  He and his men plan an escape when the ship reaches Istanbul, with the help of Deryn, who is still hiding her identity.  Both Alek and Deryn find themselves on dangerous missions among enemies.  Can the two find one another again and help to stop the war?

Things I Liked:
I'm really starting to love steampunk.  The fun way it clothes history and especially the note at the end of the book that explained what happened and what didn't, make it one of the best ways I know to learn history while being entertained.  Westerfeld has a gift for creating characters and an alternate world that seems plausible.  His creative vocabulary for the Darwinists and the Clankers and their slang always makes me adopt new words and phrases, most notably "barking spiders" and "bum-rags."  I was so glad also that the e-book ARC had the illustrations included.  These are gorgeous and completely capture the feel of the book.  Almost my favorite part of the whole series.  The story is quick and full of adventures and will surely appeal to both boys and girls alike looking for something that's a mix of fantasy, historical fiction, and action/adventure. 

This was nothing like Buckingham Palace, where Deryn had watched the changing of the Royal Lionesque Guard her first day in London.  That was four stories tall and as square as a cake.  But here the buildings were low and surrounded by colonnades, their arches decorated with checkerboards of black and white marble, as shiny as piano keys.  Steam pipes wound across the mosaicked walls lik message lizard tubes, sweating and huffing with the energies inside them. p 181 of ARC

As she drew, the whire and clatter of the machines around her, the sounds blending like the crash of distant waves.  Deryn wondered how the Clankers had managed it, translating questions into scatterings of holes in paper.  Did every wee sliver of knowledge have its own number?  The system was probably quicker than wandering through the ceiling-high shelves, but what other books might she have found, doing it herself? p 322 of ARC

Things I Didn't Like:
I kind of wish more had been resolved at the end, but I suppose that's what the next book is for!

Read-alikes:
Airborn and sequels by Kenneth Oppel
Larklight by Philip Reeve
Dreadnought by Cherie Priest
Definitely read Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld first

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none
just some barking spiders

mrg-factor: none
one rather interesting kiss...

v-factor: ->->
there are definitely battles, though not a lot of gore

Overall rating: *****

I'm so excited for Scott Westerfeld to visit our local library this month!  Any of you fortunate enough to meet him before?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Leviathanis an alternate history, steampunk story of World War I. Prince Aleksander is on the run from his so-called allies, when his parents are unexpectedly killed. Meanwhile, Deryn is joining the British Air Service, disguised as a boy, and ends up on the Leviathan, not your typical airship. When Alek's and Deryn's paths cross, they must learn to trust each other in order to survive.

Things I Liked:
What a fabulous story! This book is full of fun and fantastical creatures - the stuff that steampunk is made of - and wonderfully quirky characters. I became fascinated with the technology from the Austro-Hungarians and the creatures from the Britains. Deryn managed to be at once lovable and prickly, becoming one of my favorite heroines of all time. In addition, the book is filled with gorgeous and accurate (to the book's descriptions) illustrations that add so much to the text. Here are a few of my favorite humorous quotes:

"They endlessly competed to see who could spit farther, drink rum faster, or belch the loudest. It was bloody exhausting, being a boy." p 102-103

"Yes," Alek said. "A frostbitten bum would've been unfortunate." p 236

Things I Didn't Like:
I was only mildly annoyed the story didn't feel like it wrapped up much. Fortunately, this means sequels!

Read-alikes:
Reminded me very much of Airborn, Skybreaker, and Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel
Also, Airman by Eoin Colfer

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a very few

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
some mild fighting

Overall rating: *****

Got any favorite steampunk books?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage,
I will get a very small percentage