REVIEW: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

The first in a trilogy, Leviathan explores an alternate, steampunk influenced history of the advent of WWI and the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand.  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.

Through many trials and tribulations Aleksander and Deryn's paths cross, forcing them to forge an alliance for survival. What follows it an epic, around the world adventure full of amazing machines and spectacular creatures.

Leviathan has been on my "to-read" radar for a long time. I love a good steampunk novel and this is truly a creative spin on a pivotal moment in history.  I am intrigued enough to continue the series; however, I did find it difficult to connect with the characters.

Overall, this is a well written and developed novel for readers interested in the genre or history. I recommend the audiobook narrated by Alan Cumming--he does a fantastic performance.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars