Behemoth (Leviathan Book 2)

I found the Leviathan by accident - it was on sale. But i paid full price for Behemoth and it just keeps getting better. At 70 years of age, i bought my first audio book with Leviathan and was sure it was a flash in the pan. but it was not. It is "barking brilliant". Nuff said. Don't miss it. The reader is a stand out, so that may make a difference. But join Mr. Sharp in Constantinople!

I read and loved Scott Westerfeld's "Leviathan," a steampunk novel about an alternate WWI fought with mechanical walkers and airships on one side, and bio-engineered monsters on the other. Its heroes were plucky and well-developed, and sympathetic enough to make me cheer for them throughout. A rollicking and exciting story, good characters, and a fascinating world were accompanied by richly detailed illustrations as well, and all that combined made for one of the most exciting alternate-history novels I've ever read. And I had high hopes that the sequel would deliver just as well, tying up some of the plot threads of the previous novel or at least serving as a nice bridge to the inevitable final volume.

My hopes were well-founded -- "Behemoth" is just as exciting and fascinating a ride as its predecessor, and continues the adventures of Deryn, Alek, and their allies and foes in an entirely new land with new dangers.

The Leviathan and her precious cargo have finally reached the Ottoman Empire, where a scientist aboard the airship hopes to make a gift of a precious egg to the sultan in order to mend strained relations between the Ottoman Empire and Great Britain. But the German army has already made great headway in the Empire, and the Leviathan and her crew must buy precious time in order to make a daring strike against a blockade that could destroy their greatest ally, Russia. In the meantime, Austrain prince and archduke Alek and his comrades make a daring escape... and in the process, both Alek and Deryn, the girl in disguise as a boy in order to serve in the military, find unexpected allies in a band of rebels seeking to overthrow the sultan. Can this young man and woman combat German walkers, Ottoman treachery, and a way-too-enthusiastic American newspaper reporter in order to help both the Rebels and the Leviathan in their quests? And can either of them manage it without blowing their secrets?

Like its predecessor, "Behemoth" takes a war that gets relatively little attention in comparison to other historical conflicts such as the Civil War or World War II, and breathes new and imaginative life into it. Also like its predecessor, he does take some liberties with historical fact -- not just in accelerating both mechanical technology and genetic engineering, but in the dates and events of the war. The author does point out what's accurate and what's fiction in the afterword, and seeing as this is clearly an alternate history I can forgive this. Not to mention that Westerfeld gives us a whole new land to explore in this book -- the Ottoman Empire, which will eventually become Turkey, and its ornate mechanical walkers designed to look like animals, gods, and mythic creatures.

Deryn and Alek remain sympathetic and likable characters as well, and it's nice to see both of them evolve over the course of the book -- Deryn forced to take on leadership roles and growing into them, and Alek letting some of his spoiled-snob tendencies wear away. I did start to roll my eyes when a love triangle seemed to be developing between the two of them and a teenage girl among the Turkish rebels... but said triangle took a rather startling and even refreshing twist toward the end, one I won't spoil but made me forgive its inclusion almost immediately. (Can you tell I get a little tired of every single teen novel containing a love triangle?)

The descriptions of the Clankers' steampunk tech and the Darwinists' modified "beasties" are always a treat... and supplemented with gorgeously detailed black-and-white illustrations. Said illustrations remind me greatly of Tony DiTerlizzi's work in the "Spiderwick Chronicles," another series where he takes the fantastic and renders it in such vivid detail that it looks almost realistic.

Just as good as the first, "Behemoth" is an excellent continuation of "Leviathan," and together both books are a treat for fans of alternate history, steampunk, or just anyone who enjoys a rip-roaring adventure story. I look forward to the final book in the trilogy, "Goliath," with great anticipation, and hope that it continues the streak of high-quality work.

I'm still enthralled with this alternate world Westerfeld has built. It is quite possibly one of my favorite adaptations of the world that is clearly different from the norm, and I have a feeling it will remain in my top favorite alternate worlds... period. If you pull in the scope of all fictional worlds I've read... it's in the top ten, at least. It's so easy to just fall into the setting that I could probably be hapy reading stories of everyday people just going about their business in a place like this. It's so intriguing and wonderful that I can't imagine anyone not liking it.

As for the characters and plot, both are great. The events in this book are logical and fulfilling, their progression makes sense, and I can't help but want to rave about it more. The characters, as I mentioned in my review of Leviathan, are all people. That should say enough about them. They are real people, as far as I'm concerned. Westerfeld clearly has a strong understanding and relationship with each character in his crew, and it shows in their actions and his writing. This is simply some exemplary wordcraft.

As the world plunges into The Great War, the Leviathan travels to the Ottoman Empire in hopes of keeping the peace with the Emperor. Follow Deryn and Alek as they travel around the world. These books abound with secret missions, new beasts and machines, hidden lies and truths that are (FINALLY) revealed and many historical figures encountered. As you may have guessed, I have a problem with binge reading. When I find a series that I am IN LOVE with, I won't stop until I am finished! However, most of the time I need to wait six months to a year before the next installment. Thankfully that was not the case with Mr. Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan Trilogy. My favorite beastie by far is the perspicacious loris. This picture is pretty close to how I envisioned it. I want one!!! It was so much fun reading this alternate history of WWI. Learning a few interesting details about the war that did in fact happen along the way. Although Mr. Westerfeld has made some definite changes to history in this book, it was very entertaining and engrossing. I love the whole idea behind this series.

The second book in Scott Westerfeld's steampunk Leviathan trilogy continues his action-packed story of two youngsters caught up in an alternative-world version of World War I in which real figures and events of the period are mingled with Westerfeld's own imaginative ideas.

In his take on 1914 Europe, the Allies and the Central Powers are not only divided by war but by their opposing technologies: the German states are known as Clankers due to their mastery of steam-driven machinery, whilst the Allies follow the teachings of Charles Darwin, who discovered a way to manipulate "the threads of life" and design genetically engineered "fabricated beasts" to function as anything from messengers to living airships.

The book's chapters alternative between the two protagonists: Aleksander, son of the assassinated Archduke of Austria-Hungary, and Deryn Sharp, a girl who has disguised herself as a boy to fulfill her dreams of flying in the British Air Service. As Alek is a prince posing as a commoner, and Deryn is a girl posing as a boy, both clutch tightly to their secrets, knowing that the revelation of their true selves is a matter of life or death. Yet despite Alek not yet knowing about Deryn's gender, the two became fast friends over the course of the last book, resulting in Clanker and Darwinist technology being merged together to get the Leviathan airship out of a sticky situation.

Now the airship floats toward Istanbul (or Constantinople), a city in the midst of the Ottoman Empire which is on the brink of joining the war - but not necessarily on the Allies' side. It is the Leviathan's peacekeeping mission to deliver Doctor Nora Barlow to the Sultan's palace so that she might offer him compensation for the ships confiscated by Winston Churchill, a dilemma that has been lifted directly from history in which the famous First Lord of the Admiralty decided to seize a warship that the Ottoman Empire had already commissioned and paid for. This slight may well push the Empire into allying itself with Germany, and only Doctor Barlow's mysterious fabricated eggs hold any hope in repelling German forces already exercising their power over the Sultan.

As the assassination of Alek's parents is what started the war in the first place, Alek feels a certain sense of responsibility in facilitating its conclusion, whilst Deryn struggles every day with her secret - not helped at all by the fact that she's gradually falling in love with Alek. Both characters go through a huge amount of development over the course of "Behemoth" - with Alek challenging the authority of his guardian Wildcount Volger, arguing over the specifics of their escape attempt, and unexpectedly finding himself in charge, whilst Deryn becomes part of a secret mission to weaken the Empire's defenses and has to think on her feet as it spirals out of control. When both are set adrift in the melting pot of cultures that make up Istanbul, they are caught up amongst revolutionaries (complete with a wonderful new female character called Lilit, who provides a spanner in the works of what is already a confusing love triangle) and find themselves in a position to act upon information known only to them.

Westerfeld is best compared to Philip Reeve, author of the Hungry Cities books and Philip Pullman, of His Dark Materials fame. All three authors have highly-imaginative world-building, vivid characterization, swift and suspenseful plotting and a clear, concise writing style. The chapters whizz by, and there's not really much you can critique: every page is bursting with witty lines or a shocking twist or a clever conceit. Westerfeld plays fast and loose with history, combining elements such as the ironclads Breslau and Goeben, Admiral Wilhelm Souchon and the Orient Express with his own imaginative strength: walking mechanical beds, taxies that scuttle about like scarab beetles, and a living ship that contains its own eco-system, complete with lizards that mimic the voices of others in order to deliver messages and flechette bats that can rain down tiny metal spikes on enemy forces.

Oddly, Nora Barlow's mysterious eggs are not as important as one was led to believe from the first book. Though they hatch into some rather delightful creatures over the course of the story, their role in the narrative is a bit of an anti-climax after the huge build-up in the first book. Yet this is more an observation than a criticism and hardly detracts from the story. From the streets of Istanbul to the icy wastelands of Russia, encompassing colourful characters ranging from the meddling journalist Eddie Malone to the beautiful and lethal revolutionary Lilit, as well as containing dozens of black-and-white illustrations by Keith Thompson, "Behemoth" is my favourite book of the three.

The Leviathan trilogy blew me away with its creativity and verve; books that explore politics, relationships, duty and progress, all taking place in an ingenious steampunk setting, where two people can forge a friendship (or perhaps more) despite being on different sides of one of the greatest conflicts in history. Be sure to have the final book Goliath on hand.

The long awaited sequel to "Leviathan" picks up right where Westerfeld left his main characters: on the verge of Constantinople/Istanbul. It is this `jumping-in' that makes "Behemoth" a novel that should only be read after the first in the series. Westerfeld expects the reader to have a certain amount of familiarity with this world so he does not need to spend many sentences re-explaining facts/events.

If you are reading this review and know nothing regarding the mythology that Westerfeld has created, here is a brief (spoiler-free) initiation.

Although the world of "Behemoth" has many parallels to our own, its differences are striking.' Like our own history, 1914 Europe is on the eve of The Great War.' The power is divided between the alliances of Germany/Austria-Hungary and that of England/France/Russia. The war is ignited after the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This is the kind of history we learn in our first year of secondary school. It is at this point that Westerfeld takes a leave from fact and delves into fiction.

Germany and Austria-Hungary are populated by people dependant on machines and mechanization. These masters of technology are the so called, Clankers.' Their engineers have perfected huge mechanized battle walkers, capable of impressive large scale assaults. The people of England/France/Russia have become devoted to a different form of technology, namely bio-tech. Known as Darwinists, these engineers have learned to manipulate DNA, creating new species capable of amazing things: metal devouring bats, message repeating lizards, giant floating whale-like airships, etc.

The story of "Behemoth" follows Deryn and Alec as they do their best to both blend-in and stay alive. Their respective heritage (Darwinist and Clanker) provides the classic `odd-couple' backdrop, but does not fall into the realm of cliché. Westerfeld gives his characters their own voice and motives which do not feel forced, but rather flows naturally. His description of the great city of Constantinople/Istanbul is rich with detail. In fact, Westerfeld's style allows the reader to become instantly comfortable with the varying history, to the point that it feels natural and accurate.

Readers of "Leviathan" will be delighted with this addition to the series and will wait with anticipation for the third book, "Goliath" (Oct 2011). If you have not read "Leviathan", I highly recommend it. Steampunk history books are becoming hotter by the month and Westerfeld's series is a great introduction into this genre.
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Disclaimer- I received a FREE copy of this book in order to write my review. All reviews are my honest opinion. I did not receive money for my review. I was not expected to write a positive review.

Book TWO in the "Leviathan" series.

This is another intriguing installment and flows seamlessly from the first book.

This story line deals more with the politics of the war than with Walkers and the Leviathan itself. The story centers in Istanbul, which is not yet part of the war, but desired by both sides, and full of its own unrest.

Alek must decide how much involvement he wants to take in the actual shaping of the war, or if he should hide out and wait for it to end before he makes his move. Similarly, Deryn must figure out if she can help Alek, if she should, and if she's helping or hurting the Darwinists by doing so.

I really appreciate that Westerfeld presents the various sides of the war, and the differences between the Clankers and the Darwinsits and the prejudices they both hold. And I love that Deryn and Alek show how perhaps the two sides share more similarities than one would expect, and that perhaps the war isn't as black and white as they would have previously believed.

Westerfeld has created some fabulous new imagery for this book, new Clanker machines, new Beasties, and all the details in Istanbul. There's some vivid new characters and I appreciated the growth of the returning ones.

Deryn didn't feel as annoying and snooty as she had in the first book, which is nice. And Alek starts to step up his leadership abilities.

The plot kept me guessing, and I thought a lot of the turning points were quite clever.

While much of this book is very "PG" it doesn't exactly shy away from the destruction of war. There's a few paragraphs that, while nothing gruesome, are enough to let you know that people die in war -- and on both sides. Part of me wanted more reflection on this from Alek and Deryn, but I was glad that it was at least mentioned.

All in all another great addition to the series! And Bovril does not disappoint! :) I plan to read the third book very soon! :)

Scott Westerfeld continues his Leviathan trilogy with the second volume, 2010's Behemoth. I'll be trying to avoid spoilers for anyone who hasn't read the first book in this review. But trust me - go read Leviathan and come on back.

In Behemoth, we find our heroes Deryn Sharp and Prince Alekzander in Istanbul, at the heart of the Ottoman Empire and vital to the efforts to prevent the Ottomans from entering the Great War on the Clanker side.

Alek escapes the airship Leviathan and ends up getting entangled with the opposition to the Ottoman sultan, playing a pivotal role in what transpires in Istanbul. The young prince does a lot of growing up in this book, and you can see him begin to mature into a leader. Meanwhile, Deryn finds herself on a secret mission of a military nature, but the two do reconnect in Istanbul and work together to accomplish their military and political goals. Also, there's a love triangle, which gets very interesting.

In this volume, the Darwinist creations aren't as prominent as the first book, as the action takes place in the mostly Clanker, if officially neutral, Ottoman Empire. The title creature behemoth makes an appearance, of course, and we finally find out what is in Dr. Barlow's mysterious new eggs. The Clanker technology, on the other hand, is a lot more interesting in this book than it was in Leviathan, owing to the amazing variety of machines to be found in cosmopolitan Istanbul.

Istanbul itself plays a large role in the book, as much of the action takes place there. Westerfeld does a great job of making the wondrous metropolis come alive, with the people, politics, and intrigue deep and believable. Just as Westerfeld created a thriving ecosystem with the airship Leviathan in the first book, he crafts a complex city with Istanbul in Behemoth.

Alan Cumming performs Behemoth, and he delivers an excellent performance, just as he did in Leviathan. Any audiobook fan will enjoy Cumming's work on this book.

If you enjoyed Leviathan, you probably already plan on reading Behemoth. Definitely do so, as the second volume is just as good as the first. I'm eagerly moving on to Goliath now, and can't wait to see how this fantastic series ends.

In Leviathan the story took place in Britain, Austria, Switzerland and for a majority of the time in the air but in Behemoth now that Alek and Deryn have met they continue on their journey on the Leviathan to the Ottomon Empire where Dr. Barlow's secret mission is finally revealed. Things never run smoothly when you're in the middle of a war however and before the two can set their eyes on their destination it's revealed that Britain is officially at war with Austria, pushing everyone to make difficult decisions.

I have never read a book that was set in Istanbul, all of the historical fiction I've read has been set in Britain or America and all of the steampunk I've heard about seems to be set in Europe but Istanbul was a refreshing change of scenery and it was enjoyable to read about the hodgepodge of cultures living in this cosmopolitan. Behemoth is an altered history of course but from the author's afterword where he talks about what was true and what was changed I believe he remained quite true to the culture and feel of this country.

The setting isn't of course what had me excited to read Behemoth, now that we've already been introduced to the world of Scott Westerfeld's Darwinist versus Clanker war we are delving further into the plot and after the events in Leviathan I was ready to see what else was going to happen to our brave protagonists. Deryn, the girl disguised as a boy in the Royal Air Service who continues to shine in dire situations, still hasn't told anyone her secret despite almost telling Alek in the previous book and this deceit wasn't a problem before until Alek started trusting Deryn with secrets of his own and now the guilt is getting to her.

Alek, the Austiran prince on the run who continues to grow humble and independent, still has the German army looking for him. And even if they can't find him, now that Britain is at war with Austria he and his crew aren't too far away from becoming prisoners of war even if everyone on board the Leviathan aren't treating them differently (yet).

Just like Leviathan there were no dull moments to be found in Behemoth and I chewed through this book in about half the time it took me to get through its predecessor (even though its longer). There were new beasties, clanker creations, dynamic characters, and a revolution. And of course there were the two main characters barreling down their own paths that at many times flowed together and other times (to my detriment) drifted apart. If Leviathan made me a fan, Behemoth made me obsessive and I desperately need the next book.

This series is one of my favorites at the moment. I haven't read much steampunk, and so anything in that genre is new to me. I think everything is so creative-the Clankers, the Darwinists, how everything blends into the historical setting. I also love Deryn's girls-are-as-good-as-boys attitude, Alek's stuck-up princeliness, and the funny little creatures the Darwinists come up with.

There are pictures scattered throughout this book, and they're beautiful as well as helpful. At some points I'd hear a description, attempt to picture it, and fail. Turning the page, I would usually see what it was imagined to look like. And when it comes to huge machines resembling pagan godesses and monsters that can swallow a ship whole, I need a lot of help.

The point of view alternates between Deryn and Alek. I like how one person from each side of the war is selected. Each tells the story in their own biased way, and then the reader is left to decide-which is better, Darwinists or Clankers?

I personally prefer the Darwinists. I'd take wee little beasties over smelly old machines any day.

Behemoth, the second installment in the Leviathan trilogy, gets 5/5 stars. I can't wait for the third book, Goliath! I think it comes out in September...

The sequel to Leviathan does not disappoint. The war continues, and Deryn and Alek are still in the middle of it. Where most of the first book dealt with bringing Deryn and Alek together, Behemoth follows their adventures both aboard the airship and in the streets of the Ottoman Empire. The captain gives Deryn a secret mission involving the behemoth. Alek and his Clanker comrades are forced to escape after a supposed mutiny. And Dr. Barlow offers up the airship itself to the leader of the empire, creating a basket of troubles on all sides.

I was enamored by the first book, but the second book is even better. The problems I had with Leviathan were non-existent in the sequel. If you remember, my inner animal activist surfaced while reading Leviathan, but the treatment of animals in Behemoth is less appalling; the author toned it down quite a bit. The Ottoman Empire is supposed to be neutral, but its makeup is strictly Clanker, funded and maintained by Clanker powers. Behemoth brings out more of the steampunk qualities than Leviathan did.

Behemoth is less militaristic as well, and the story is more about the relationship between Deryn and Alek. Deryn begins to develop feelings for Alek, though she can't admit them because she is posing as a boy. Alek's status as a noblemen is known, but no one realizes he is the son of the assassinated Arch-duke, or that he is the mandated heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. Should the Darwinists aboard Leviathan find that out, then Alek will be imprisoned. There is much less of Dr. Barlow and Count Volger, but in the Ottoman Empire, they meet an American journalist who is quite colorful. Also, turns out the Americans take the best of the Darwinist and Clanker inventions.

This is a bit of a garbled review, I understand, but I didn't want to give much of the plot away, especially since this is the second installment. I originally gave Leviathan five stars, but after reading Behemoth, Leviathan hardly compares. I bumped Leviathan down.

If you like anything steampunk, historical science fiction, militaristic, or adventure novels, please pick up the Leviathan series. I promise you that the books are amazing, and you'll love them.

You know what book I really loved? Leviathan. You know what book I liked even better? Behemoth. Leviathan was my first foray into steam punk and WOW. It was awesome. The sequel did not disappoint. Full of action and intense emotional drama, this book blew me away. If you haven't read the first book I suggest you stop reading now because there will be spoilers from the first book but definitely check it out, it is worth a read.

Let me recap book one... After Alek, who is secretly next in line for the throne to Austria, and his companions save the Leviathan and its crew, they are still under suspicion being that they are Clankers so Deryn is ordered to keep a watchful eye on them. In this alternate past set to be similar to WWI, Clankers are all things steam powered and mechanical headed by the germans while the darwinists take a more "green" approach using living engineered beasts like the ship-- Leviathan and if I'm not mistaken they have more British origins. Oh and there are mysterious eggs that needed to get to Istanbul aka Constantinople and even though the Leviathan picked up a few extra passengers, the journey needed to continue. In the meantime, Deryn still hasn't told alek (or anyone else for that matter) that he is in fact a she. What makes this even more frustrating is that she has developed feelings for Alek. Yikes!! Alek is on the run from pretty much everyone so no one besides his companions know he is the heir to the Austrian throne and needs to find a way of avoiding trouble. DOUBLE YIKES!!

Now in the second book they journey to Istanbul, encountering their first true taste of the war on the way. It gets intense for a moment there and I don't want to spoil it so that's all I'm going to say about that. Alek needs to get off the Leviathan, so when they land in Istanbul he makes plans to escape trusting only Deryn to know of his departure. BUMMER for her since she has feelings for him. She's busy though anyway because she has a top secret mission. A mission that lands her in Istanbul alone until she rendezvous with guess who?? Alek!! YAY!! Oh and those mysterious eggs?? They hatch. DUN DUN DUN!! But the real question is.... now what do they do? Both, while they trust each other, are keeping secrets.

The relationship between Deryn and Alek is so lovably frustrating. Both dealing with their own issues while in the middle of this huge war. I love Scott Westerfeld's use of history mixed in with fiction. It makes the story feel more real. He obviously did some intense research. Not to mention his writing is fabulous. I finished the book thinking, "oh, that wasn't as long as I thought." But in reality it's 485 pages and I just didn't notice because I breezed right through it. The crush Deryn has on Alek makes for some entertaining situations in this book that will have you laughing out loud.

If you loved Leviathan as much as I did, you will want to read this one. It has double the action of the first book with all the characters you've grown attached to.

Everyone should listen to this audio. Alan Cumming is absolutely amazing at making this story come to life in a way that I never could just reading it in my head. Each character has a distinct voice that so perfectly corresponds to the character. Deryn has a bit of a scottish lilt to her voice, Count Vulger has a ominous, yet sarcastic tone. Eddie Malone's New York accent was so spot-on and hilarious that I kept waiting for him to show up in the book again so I could hear it. It was an absolutely delightful audio to listen to. My husband loves the series, and really enjoyed the audio as well. We often found ourselves repeating words or phrases in the accents of the characters.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the author's note at the end. I am a little more than rusty on my World War I history, and I really felt like the history that was integrated into this book was so interesting. Especially since it was all told from a European, not American, point of view.

Beyond that; however, the story was well-crafted and compelling. Both Deryn and Alek's stories were fast-paced and thrilling. As they work through the challenges that face their relationship, they form a close bond, but a very delicate one. It will be interesting to see what happens in the final book when some of their secrets will be revealed.

One of the things I missed in the audio were the great illustrations that are included in the book. Mr. Westerfeld has created some amazing machines and creatures, and I am absolutely inspired by his creativity. Each creature and machine has a little bit of reality mixed in with a hearty dose of fantastic. I went through the book after I listened to it on audio and looked at the great illustrations.

I really hope that with the popularity of this series that we'll see more stories like this. I'm still relatively new to the steam-punk genre, but if I can get my hands on more books like this, I'll be a fan.

If you're looking for some good young adult reading material, this is a fine series. Westerfield's setting is a re-imagining of the world at the time of World War I, but with the two sides armed with fantastical steampunk technology. The British and their Darwinist allies use fabricated (genetically engineered) creatures, such as living airships, while the Clanker Germans and Austrians rely on sophisticated machinery.

Behemoth, the second book in the series, continues at the same rolicking pace as the first, this time in the Ottoman capital of Istanbul. The story's two protagonists, a young British airman (who is actually a girl in disguise) and a deposed teenage heir to Austria's throne, are both appealing characters, and play off one another in a fun way. Westerfield does a decent job of blending the real-life history of World War I with his own world creation, using the ideological differences between the Darwinist and the Clanker powers as part of the story's backdrop (one wonders if his version of America, which apparently follows both paths, will feature in the next book). However, compared to its predecessor, this is a more straight-up adventure story, and I was slightly disappointed that some of the tragic historical resonance that I liked about Leviathan seemed to get lost among the gadgets and creatures.

Still, the young target audience is unlikely to mind. If you happen to be a parent looking for reading material for your children, there's no profanity or sex, and I can't say that the violence would get more than a PG rating. Also, the audiobook reader does a pretty good job with voices. His portrayal of Deryn's Scottish accent and Alek's Austrian one are now part of the charm for me.

Behemoth is Scott Westerfeld's follow-up to Leviathan, the first book in a new steampunk series set in an alternative Europe on the edge of WWI with the Austro-Hungarians and Germans ("Clankers") using steam-driven machines and the British and their allies ("Darwinists") using genetic engineering. Leviathan was one of my best reads of 2009, and Behemoth would have been on my list for 2010 had I gotten around to reading it by the time I compiled my list. It has all the usual Westerfeld strengths and keeps this series rolling along.

The setting for Behemoth has shifted to Constantinople/Istanbul (depending on who is speaking, and I defy you not to have the They Might Be Giants song not playing in your head as you read) as both the Clankers and the Darwinists try to get the upper political hand in this integral location. The worldbuilding opens up not just geographically but also with regard to the two competing technologies as we see wonderfully inventive new creations from both, such as the "Spottiswoode Rebreather . . .woven from salamander skin and tortoise shell . . . a set of fabricated gills that had to be kept wet even in storage."

We're back with the two main youthful characters, Alek and Deryn, who continues to be engaging and interesting characters, sharply defined and realistically developed, both as individuals and in their burgeoning relationship. One of my favorite aspects of this book is how Westerfeld keeps their characters fresh by forcing them out of their familiar culture and into the opposing one: in the first book, Alek is forced into the Darwinist world of the Leviathan (the ship, not the book), while in Behemoth, Deryn ends up in the Clanker-dominated city amidst a group of Clankers. Alek, though, isn't spared having his point of view challenged as one of the Darwinist creatures attaches itself to him, forcing him to deal with it on an ongoing basis. The creature is also of interest in that it not only challenges Alek's point of view but Deryn's as well: the Clanker ugliness is easy to see (noise, grime, pollution, cold mechanization) but the darker side of Darwinism is more subtle. Westerfeld does a nice job using the creature as a means of showing that dark side. New characters are a bit more diverse than in Leviathan, as one might expect in a cosmopolitan Istanbul that sits astride two cultures/continents. The new ones are efficiently drawn and interesting in their own right as opposed to simple plot devices, so much so I wouldn't have minded seeing more of them, perhaps even in another point-of-view narration.

Westerfeld writes books that are exactly as long as they need to be (oh for more like him!) and Behemoth is no exception: the plot is fast-paced and rollicking, a tightly constructed adventure story with action scenes coming at the reader regularly, finally building up to a spectacular confrontation, a sequence one would love to see on film. That isn't to say it's all speed; he knows when to slow things down for a telling detail, as when he describes the long trunk of a giant Clanker walker that "pushed carts aside, and even rescued a child's fallen toy from being crushed by the walker's giant feet." There are some excellent twists and turns, a balanced mix of humor and tragedy, and a surprising love interest.

As mentioned with regard to Leviathan, don't be put off by Behemoth's YA label--this is a fun, smart series suitable for all ages. Highly recommended.

This is the only series besides Hunger Games trilogy where I have actually been excited to read the next in the series. So many books are trilogy format, but I never go beyond book one. I could not wait for this to come out and when I recieved my book package from Simon and Schuster with this book I instantly stopped all reading to tackle this book.

I will tell you upfront that you must read Leviathan first. This is not stand alone. You must understand the prior storyline for this to take off. I will also be honest and tell you that this is not a light read. I have to focus and really pay attention to the plot and characters. Essentially, it is an alternative history/steampunk story of WW1. I love history and am so amazed and barking blown away how he takes real events, military crafts, people and create subtle shifts and characters into his own story. The Clankers have the coolest machines ever. I was so fascinated by the designs, but I am even more impressed by the Darwinist animal/creature devices. Never in my life have I been so excited to study the pictures in a book.

It was such a breath of fresh air to read a complicted YA story. No bad complicated, but one where I actually had to use my brain and not just glaze over while college basketball plays on the TV. I needed my coffee, silence, and my comfy chair to absorb the scope of this book.

Now I must wait for the final installment. ARGH!!

For a much more detailed review I highly recommend checking out The Book Smuggler

Oh yeah, this book just went on my working shortlist and forcing me to drop off some titles. This book appeals to a mass audience of primarily male readers who love history, battles, creatures, and really every aspect of middle grade boy life. Now, when will Alek realize that Deryn is in fact a .........

The war is still raging: In this sequel to Westerfeld's Leviathan, World War I is still raging across Europe. And yet again, Deryn and Alek are on another adventure. Westerfeld keeps the excitement flowing through this second book as the airship, Leviathan, heads for the Ottoman Empire. I loved the action in this novel and Westerfeld's attention to detail, especially concerning the variety of cultures when they arrive in the Empire. It really added life to the story

Details, details, details: One of the best things about this novel, in my opinion, is the attention to detail. Those little descriptions here and there really made things seem realistic despite the alternative view of the world during that time period.

Pictures!: I thought I grew out of picture books but the illustrations throughout Behemoth really provided a great visual for some of the stranger aspects of the novel. What Westerfeld didn't describe was depicted beautifully in the pictures. After finishing the novel, I actually went back to look at them all.

Once again, Westerfeld leaves me wanting more, but we'll all have to wait for Goliath until September.

Behemoth is the sequel to Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan, an alternate history of World War I, filled with steampunk machines, biological monster-machines and exotic locations.

After being taken as a British prisoner of war, young Alek, heir to the Hapsburg empire, is taken to Istanbul, capital of the declining Ottoman Empire. Though the country has thus far been neutral in the war, both sides have begun to woe the sultan. When the Leviathan is attacked, Alek and his escorts must survive in Istanbul, which is crawling with Germans. I exotic Istanbul, Alek and co. join an underground revolutionary organization dedicated to overthrowing the Sultan in order to protect themselves and find their way back to the Leviathan. Chalked full of high-octane adventure and tones of political intrigue, readers will get caught up in Alek's story.

Behemoth is just as good as, if not better, than Leviathan. Westerfeld's phenomenal prose shines through and the lush detail with which he paints his exciting world is amazing. With exciting adventure, truly unique visuals and great characters, Behemoth is a must-read. Can't wait for the next book.

Westerfeld really knows how to deliver. The fantastically fun alt-universe of his 'Leviathan' series takes a solid turn in book #2, where the politics of war and revolution become critical for our heroes Deryn and Alek. Despite a lot of subterfuge, planning and conversation about who plays what part in the burgeoning alt-WW1, 'Behemoth' still barrels along like the dragon-headed Orient Express. Bustling with truly amazing creatures, both organic and mechanik, the world of 'Behemoth', although occasionally convenient in terms of plot motivation, remains a delight. This is going to sound strange coming from an illustrator, but I'm knocking one star off for Keith Thompson's illustrations in this sequel: not only were there an inordinate number - making me wonder if this might have served just as well as a teen graphic novel rather than a novel with a lot of real estate taken up by drawings - but a lot of these images were much darker and muddier than the illustrations in 'Leviathan.' If the illustration is there to enhance the imaginative story, often I found myself skipping past because I couldn't really tell what was going on in the picture, versus Westerfeld's tight, economic descriptions.

In Behemoth, Westerfeld returns to the alternate history he began in Leviathan, continuing the story of Deryn Sharp, a girl posing as a boy in the British Air Service, and Alek, the exiled and hunted heir to an empire. This alternate world is home to Darwinist countries, including Britain, who are at war with the Clanker countries, led by Germany. Darwinists have mastered genetic engineering, breeding "beasties" that are adapted to perform as living machines, while Clankers call such creatures abominations and base their technology on steam-driven machines.

Though Behemoth is the second book in a trilogy, it has its own vital storyline and does not fall into the middle book trap of serving only as a bridge between the first and last volumes. Deryn's and Alek's adventures in Istanbul radically impact the Ottoman Empire's government and the balance of power in the war. Deryn's ongoing masquerade as Dylan becomes ever harder to sustain. And Alek's escape from Leviathan leads him to a partnership with a local revolutionary group. Deryn's growing attraction for Alek also entangles her in the rebel conspiracy leading to an explosive climax.

Westerfeld's characterizations are vivid, with even minor characters fully developed and engaging. Readers will be hard pressed to forget the shrewd Nene in her clockwork bed. The setting comes to life with dynamic descriptions of Istanbul and the various beasties and machines Alek and Deryn encounter. One minor criticism is that the portrayal of Deryn's double identity occasionally feels strained. Overall, however, Westerfeld has again produced an exiting, well-written adventure that will leave fans eager for the next installment. (I'd really give it 4 1/2 stars if the site would let me.)

The second novel in Scott Westerfeld's steampunk retelling of World War I is an improvement over book 1, which didn't develop its two main characters into likable people until the very end. Here it's easier to root for them right from the start, give or take a needless love triangle along the way. The worldbuilding continues to impress, and I look forward to seeing how the story concludes.

If Leviathan was setting up World War One with mechs and genetically engineered creatures, Behemoth was expanding upon the political ramifications. The book primarily centers on the political machinations between the Darwinist English and the Clanker Germans vying for the favor of the kind-of-sort-of Clanker Ottoman Turks in Istanbul. In the middle of this is Alek, son of the nobles whose assassination lit off the whole mess, and Deryn/Dylan the crossdressing girl serving on the English airship Leviathan and crushing over Alek.

I'm pretty sure that this could fall into the category of middle book syndrome for some people, but it didn't happen for me. I felt that the ending was a good spot to take a break. I also really like how the story is shifting locations from one aspect of the "war to end all wars" to another. I'm already decently familiar with the Western Front and it's nice to the see the scene shifting into more interesting and unfamiliar territory. Alek gets himself involved with some of the politicking using the time honored, traditional method of displaced nobles everywhere: revolution and rebellion.

The pace of action is pretty quick and there are quite a few new people introduced. It has a quite a bit of backroom dealing going on and the action doesn't get in the way of character development. Instead each big conflict is used to highlight an internal conflict as well, from Alek's and Deryn's differing reactions to the loss of a parent to what role each of them see themselves filling in the war. I especially want to see how Alek's suspicion that he could help end war the plays out.

The plotting was pretty good and made sense to me. Alek's decision to start taking an active role in events happening around him made him into less of a lost little princeling whose actions are dictated by his father's last wishes or Wildcount Volger. It was a nice little bit of character growth. I liked him more for it. I would even go so far as to say that Alek is changing from a lost and frightened kid into someone who could be a leader. I hope his instinct for people doesn't fail him and his ability to trust at all is a nice contrast to Volger's constant state of suspicion.

Deryn/Dylan also improved for me this time around. Rather than being slightly annoying, she managed to start having conflicts between her crushing on Alek and her sworn duty to ship and country, thus becoming more interesting. Also, the introduction of Lilit gives a splendid foil to Deryn, as Lilit is every bit as capable as she but not trying to hide her gender. I rather like Lilit's parting shot to Deryn. I thought the reactions on both sides really funny.

After this installment I eagerly await the next one all the more.

Behemoth starts off pretty much where Leviathan ended: the Leviathan is making it's way to the Ottoman Empire with help from the Clanker engines. There is an uneasy truce between Alek's men and the British, but Alek and his companions are still basically prisoners.

There are more adventures, German threats (including a new Tesla cannon), anarchists, new allies and enemies, some secrets are revealed, and the stakes are raised. There are also fantastic mechanical creations and new beasties too.

Once again, the worldbuilding is phenomenal. Very good action sequences too. Alek is making more decisions regarding his life, and it's good to see a strong sense of responsibility developing here. Deryn is still keeping her secret. She's thriving as a middy (totally, completely kicks butt), but knows it will all be taken away if it is discovered that she is a girl.

I cannot wait for book 3.

This series keeps getting better and better. I waited to read this one until Goliath came out because I knew I'd want to head straight for it. The world that Westerfeld created within our own past is a piece of perfection.

Characters, characters, characters. I feel right at home with these. It is like we all have went to school together since kindergarten and know each others' every move. The relationships take sweet little twists and turns this time around. Ins and outs are shown and we learn more about our little friends this time. Now, in fear of releasing to much, I will say that Goliath will definitely epic on this level...

The storyline will keep you on the edge of your seat in this one. There's many plot lines going on at the same time, but they intertwine in some small and big ways. And, oh, the tangled web we weave as Alek and Deryn are both challenged to stand up into positions that are way beyond their years. Their shortcomings and successes make this a definite win for anyone!

Listened to the audiobook again, and I just love it! The narrator does a brilliant job, and the book just flew by.

This book is definitely fast paced, a lot happens, but it never seems overwhelming. All of the characters were wonderful, and I really liked the introduction of the American reporter, and the revolutionaries.

I liked Alec and Daryn getting closer, and Alec revealing all of his secrets! Can't wait for Daryn's reveal in the next book.

My main wish is that there was more Count, because I love him.

The second book in the Leviathan trilogy was just as good as the first. Genetically altered or fabricated creatures and steam powered robots all set in World War I. Westerfeld paints a picture so vivid that you think you are there, wonder what is real and what is fantasy, and wishing some of the fantasy could be reality.

The characters are so believable. Even though there is a large cast, Westerfeld describes them all so well that nobody gets lost in the shadows.

Westerfeld definitely created another page turner as you wonder if Prince Aleksander will be caught and by whom, will Dylan's secret identity be discovered and what on earth Dr. Barlow's fabricated creature is.

Anyone who likes science fiction from middle grade and up should check out the Leviathan trilogy.

Dylan and Alek continue to grow their friendship during the Darwinist/Clanker war in Behemoth. Things become more complicated as Alek and his men try to escape the Leviathan, Dylan gets sent on a secret mission to compromise Istanbul's defenses and they both become tangled in a rebel plot to overthrow the sultan. I am very much enjoying reading Westerfeld's series. He has a great voice and his descriptions of the machines and animals in the books are vivid. The artwork throughout the chapters is a wonderful supplement to the story as well.

At the end of Leviathan, the Clankers and the Darwinists did actually manage to work together in order to save all their lives. But... you know that couldn't possibly last. And things immediately get tense in Behemoth, a steampunky adventure story filled with political intrigue and Middle-Eastern grandeur -- and Scott Westerfeld expands his story far beyond the main characters.

It doesn't take long for Alek to realize that he and his companions are about to be imprisoned by the British, once they're no longer useful. Fortunately, they're headed to the Ottoman Empire. But when the Leviathan lands in Istanbul (NOT Constantinople, Dr. Barlow reminds us!), it becomes obvious that all is not well. England's autocratic "borrowing" has angered the sultan, who is more inclined to favor the Germans... who also happen to be in the area.

In the meantime, Deryn is being sent off on a secret mission that may give the British a triumph over the Ottoman navy, even as Count Volger blackmails her with her little gender secret. And Alek has escaped to somewhere in Istanbul, where he falls in with a small band of rebels -- which could lead to a shocking shift in power.

The first book was all about escaping from the Germans/Austrians, but "Behemoth" focuses on a the political upheaval of war. Scott Westerfeld spends a LOT of time on diplomatic and political matters in this book, and the delicate balance of nations. But don't worry, politics doesn't make this book boring.

Instead, Westerfeld makes this story into a steampunk thriller, with smoothly-intertwined subplots and some tense action scenes (being chased through the Istanbul streets on a giant mechanical beetle!). His prose is strong, smooth and detailed, and Westerfeld painstakingly explores some new technology, both Darwinist ("living" diving armor!) and clanker (mecha elephants!).

Downside? I was a little disappointed by the revelation of what was in Barlow's eggs. I just... expected something a bit more epic.

And the characters are given a lot more development as well. Alek has grown into a young man who is more cautious, sensible and more open-minded; and Deryn is sent on dangerous secret missions while trying to keep her gender a secret. Westerfeld drops some hints that romantic feelings are blooming between these two, although Deryn ends up in an awkward love triangle of Shakespearean proportions.

Scott Westerfeld spins up a solid, suspenseful adventure story in "Behemoth," and lays the groundwork for a brilliant climax. Absolutely brilliant.

I devoured this entire series over a vacation, and loved it. This is definitely "young adult" fiction that is great for young adults and old fogies like me. Great, nuanced characters, emotional complexity, good plotting, totally top notch. The steampunk ideas are sophisticated, well thought out and consistent; the "science" bits of this series are definitely technology, and not magic. I'm not generally a huge fan of alternate history, as it tends to embody the downsides of genre fiction, but in this series I think it's handles exceptionally well, and the afterward sneakily turns the whole thing into an enjoyable history lesson.

I think this was the best book in the trilogy, only slightly better than the first one. The final part is not as wonderful, but still great.

Oh steampunk. From my first taste of you with The Golden Compass to the utter delightful nerdiness of Leviathan, you have never let me down, and this book is no exception. You spent a week torturing me in the form of Behemoth from the window of Rainy Days Bookstore, with its pretty illustrations of corsets and goggles and beasties, and promise of crazy science fair adventures just as intense as the first book, until I had to cave in and buy it before it went to paperback. The pace picked up from the first book, it continued to dazzle me with a fine addition to your steampunky world of awesome, and I hoped it would never end even as I turned the last page. I may dress up for the Renaissance Faire every year, I am a book geek fangrrl, but nothing has quite tickled my geeky fancy the way you have, steampunk, and for that I thank you.

This book is still sitting on my bedside table even though I finished it three weeks ago just so I can pore over its cosplay-esque corset-and-swashbuckling illustrations and my favorite scenes over and over again. The writing still isn't high literature, but in a way, that makes it better. These books make me nostalgic for the days when science and math were Shiny New Things that held limitless possibilities, and not things that made me bang my head against the wall repeatedly. Don't get me wrong, I plan on majoring in science (botany!) and it still gets me all excited to read up on new discoveries, but algebra...kind of kills things, just like WWII did in the collective Western psyche. Steampunk is all about recapturing that optimism about the future that we lost with postmodernism, and Scott Westerfeld somehow makes it about kids growing up, too. *tear* (Damn you, Toy Story 3! Andy! Sob! WHY AM I GETTING SO OLD??? Waaah.)

Beyond that little tangent, it's hard to sum up exactly what I like about these books. Is it the campy pseudo-swears? ("Barking spiders!" "Dummkopf!" These guys might as well be saying "Aw shucks!") The whole alternate-universe thing that you wish had actually happened? (Yes! Yes! I want a giant metal elephant! And my own Bovril!) The sweet, not-quite-believable-but-still-adorable Dylan/Deryn and Alek romance? (Which begins to dip its toes quite cheekily and hilariously into even campier waters in this novel. Has he guessed? Or is he...gay? Oh, forget it, I love him anyway! Aw shucks! was pretty much what 95% of Deryn's internal dialogue boiled down to, whereas Alek was just clueless.) If there's one thing Scott Westerfeld is great at, it's making me giggle while simultaneously making me gag (Peeps) or roll my eyes (So Yesterday) or go oh bubbly (Uglies) or have a geeky spazz attack (these books). This and Leviathan, while they do have their own following, are seriously, seriously underrated by and large, and I can't recommend them more highly. Behemoth is every bit as good as Leviathan, and I am counting down the days until Goliath.

Behemoth starts about two days later still on the Leviathan heading for Istanbul. But, on the way there they encounter two German ships that have a Tesla cannon and are ready for the Leviathan! The Leviathan gets an unexpected jolt and everything seems to go down hill from there for Deryn and Alek. The war continues on with more countries entering and Alek finds himself among the enemy on the Leviathan with the British on the other side of the war and Alek must find a way to escape but nothing goes to plan!

Great book, but I don't think it should have been called Behemoth. Since the Behemoth only makes a small appearance in the book. I think it should have been called Bovril! But, maybe the Behemoth will be more prominent in the next book.

This book does answer some questions from the previous book, but not thoroughly. The question of what is in the egg is semi-answered in my opinion. You find out what is in it but not exactly what it is capable of. Also, there is Deryn situation, and whether or not to tell Alek she is a she. That is an ongoing problem for Deryn and it gets a little more complicated for her as well. I love the things Deryn says, she calls herself a "daft lassie mooning at a village dance" when she relates to her problem. She is quite funny.

There are some new characters that pop up in the book. They are not on the Leviathan for that long so they have some on ground friends as the book progresses. But, still all the old favorites are still there.

And of course, the book ends with you wanting more.

I absolutely LOVED this book! Especially that one particular scene between Deryn and Lilit on the cliff towards the end of the book. Now that was one scene that had me grinning! Behemoth was a fabulous addition to the Leviathan and an excellent steampunk novel. It had a little of just about everything in it; romance (LOL), history, steampunk-ness, sci-fi, interesting creatures, a bit of German, suspense, drama, and an inside look of opposite views on the same world as told by the two main characters. One missing Austrian prince posing as a commoner and one English girl, pretending to be a boy so she could serve in the Air Service. Their paths collided in the Leviathan and this is the tale of the two growing closer and their friendship becoming intricate as they slowly reveal a few of their secrets. Also the boy, Alek, is a "Clanker" who fights with machines while the girl, Deryn, is a Darwinist who fights with "fabricated beasties". Together they make their mark on history during the time of WWW I and face down everything from a new girl, to lightening,to the troubles of a pesky reporter. A great sequel!

I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in the Leviathan triology, Leviathan and Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld. They were my first introduction to "Steam Punk" and I have to say I love the mix. These books had the added twist (or maybe it is a staple of Steam Punk) of being set in an alternate history. It took place at the beginning of World War I and featured many characters that were based off of real, historical figures. The whole "Clanker" vs. "Darwinisits" aspect was rather cool too. I would highly recommend these books and I look forward to the last one, Goliath, coming out in September of this year.

The, book Behemoth is a sifi novel the main characters are a boy and girl the fight a on forgiving war ravaging the earth fight for land and money against Russia and England and they will not stop till they get it all and the beast are scarier than before and anything in their way so all in all the book has action suspense great book I just want to read them all and I look toward and forward to the next one if you are a kid like me you will love this book at the end the book is sad surprising but to coterie a twisted end the book is great for all ages and I approve this book.

The book begins where Leviathan left off and it will take you through a few gasps, chuckles, and a pile of chewed up fingernails. It brought the charm of Alek and Deryn with a few new characters. Some of the supporting characters had more significant roles and it wasn't too complicated where you didn't know who was who.

Unlike Leviathan, the characters are growing, a few faster than others and a love interest has sprouted by the end. The only thing that bugged me was Alek. I found myself losing interest in him a couple times. He is maturing and has so much responsibility put on him, little of the witty, spoiled heir translated or was left. Not that it was a bad thing, I enjoy a subdued Alek, my frustration was primarily concentrated at him in the first book. There was nowhere or no one to turn my burst of anger toward.

Overall, this is a must read and will keep you begging for them. Westerfeld, once again, created a continuance to a beautiful story.

Another most excellent story from Scott Westerfield, and again the richly developed background that is an alternative history is only a backdrop for a wonderful tale which could take place anywhere, at any time. It's just plain fun to read as Deryn Sharp, aka Dylan Sharp, aka Mister Sharp, getting herself in and out of trouble. Another romp in an exotic locale with fun characters and lots of action, exactly my kind of story. Quite looking forward to reading Goliath next.Behemoth (Leviathan)

I enjoyed Leviathan but Behemoth I couldnt put down!
The plot thickens, but isn't repititive like I've seen in other series. New and exciting characters are introduced, I won't give any details, but they are interesting. The romance department slowly picks up, givimg the story intrigingness.
Even if you didn't like Leviathan, still read Ehemoth. You won't regret it.
E3

I love this book (series)! It actually got me reading again. I developed Narcolepsy when I was in 5th grade and it went undiagnosed until i was almost out of high school. Falling asleep after a paragraph really discouraged me from reading. I literally had not read a whole book since the 5th grade (I was 24 when I found these books). It's great to know that I am capable of reading through a book without falling asleep or getting easily distracted (now that I'm on medicine for Narcolepsy).

A fantastic second installment to this exciting steampunk/biopunk series that is just bursting with action, more beasties and more Clanker contraptions! I enjoyed BEHMOTH nearly as much as LEVIATHAN and am anxious to get started on the final book, GOLIATH... to find out what the future holds for Deryn and Alek.

Scott Westerfeld's imagination is phenomenal. I love the fabricated beasties! Mr. Sharp is so wonderfully cool under pressure. And Keith Thompson's illustrations are a grand addition to the book.

I liked Behemoth even better than Leviathan. In fact, after finishing this one, I had to rush out and buy the third one, Goliath, the very next day, which means I had to drive for over an hour--one way--to get it! I was NOT going to wait three days plus for it to arrive in the mail.

Second in what is turning into a riveting series, Behemoth adds a new layer to the world Westerfeld has created. While Leviathan had its characters isolated in hidden castles or aboard the mighty flying beast, this new adventure takes place in a city, which introduces great new characters and a beautifully imagined landscape. The writing is as great as ever, and everyone is interesting and likable.

Also - I love the addition of a talking animal that *isn't* at human level intelligence. He managed to make Bovril realistic, which I find quite impressive.

Although not quite as entertaining as the first, this is a solid sequel. There's a touch of predictability (it was obvious the creatures in the eggs were going to 'impress' on whoever happened to be tending them), and I don't like the change to Deryn once she realises her feelings. This seems to reduce her to second fiddle.

But still endlessly entertaining, very clever use of 'golems', and more lovely pictures.

Honestly, this is the second book in a series where the third can`t get much better. The first book was amazing and the same can be said for the second. What Scott Westerfeld writes is believable and realistic with a truely awesome way of crafting a story. He writes amazingly well and the way he unfold a plot is impressive indeed. Definitely a great book. I can`t wait for the third one.