Deryn Sharp is a commoner, who disguises as a boy to serve in what she loves to do, the British Air Service. Her father taught her well, and she is among the best airman. But she is in constant peril because her secret could be discovered. Alek is the son of Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie. When they are murdered, Alek becomes an orphan and Alek and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way.
The book takes place in the summer of 1914. Europe is on the brink of war. When Aleks parents are murdered he has to run from his own people. Although he is not in line for the monarchy because his mother was a commoner, his very existence becomes an issue. The chapters alternate between Alek's story and Deryns, until they converge in the most unlikely place.
Leviathan is an alternate history, which makes World War I a war of technologies and ideologies based on those technologies. The Clankers (Germans) use huge machines which are in the realm of possibility. But the Darwinists, have turned living creations through the maniupulation of DNA into amazing genetic creations. The Leviathan is a huge, crewed, flying Whale fueled by hydrogen-farting bacteria living in its stomach.
This book definitely is a cliffhanger, with the sequel not due out until October 2010.
Verdict: Amazing story which I would recommend to YA and adults alike who enjoy science fiction.
Rating: 10
Reading Next: Gone by Michael Grant
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