Scan barcode
kricketa's review against another edition
5.0
truly exciting and beautifully written adventure of matt cruse, cabin boy to the airship aurora, and kate de vries, a wealthy passenger on a mission of exploration. her late grandfather left documentation of a new species of strange winged creatures spotted during his fateful balloon trip, and kate intends to find the creatures. matt becomes her rather unwilling partner in the mission, as pirates hijack the airship and force a landing on an uncharted island.
i love the details in this story- that the hydrium keeping the airship aloft smells like mangoes, the way oppel drops foreshadowing in smooth as silk. it was a good time to start reading, as the third in the trilogy was just released. can't wait to get my hands on book 2.
i love the details in this story- that the hydrium keeping the airship aloft smells like mangoes, the way oppel drops foreshadowing in smooth as silk. it was a good time to start reading, as the third in the trilogy was just released. can't wait to get my hands on book 2.
pagesofpins's review against another edition
2.0
Matt Cruse is cabin boy on an airship who loves being airborn and hopes to follow in his father's footsteps. He sees an old man unconscious in a balloon and the airship rescues him, but he's raving insanely about the "beautiful creatures". On the next voyage, the old man's granddaughter Kate is aboard, determined to prove that the creatures exist. Reminicent of Treasure Island with a light touch of steampunk.
There's some great action sequences at the beginning, and the book seemed fairly well written, but Kate's character is exactly like every other outspoken Victorian female, and Matt is fairly flat other than his passion for the skies. This book also turns from adventure story to a lot of focus on the discovery of new creatures, and I was expecting more action and twists and turns. (Also, white cats that fly: what an odd choice for an imaginary creature!) I liked the world created, but a bit more complexity would not go amiss.
Recommending for tweens, especially those whose parents want "clean" reads.
There's some great action sequences at the beginning, and the book seemed fairly well written, but Kate's character is exactly like every other outspoken Victorian female, and Matt is fairly flat other than his passion for the skies. This book also turns from adventure story to a lot of focus on the discovery of new creatures, and I was expecting more action and twists and turns. (Also, white cats that fly: what an odd choice for an imaginary creature!) I liked the world created, but a bit more complexity would not go amiss.
Recommending for tweens, especially those whose parents want "clean" reads.
catread2023's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nikki92's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to like this book but it was so hard to get into. The main character was the biggest problem. He didn't have much sense for adventure or doing anything that didn't involve airships. His lack of enthusiasm and whining about everything made me consider more than once giving up on the book altogether, but once I had already come more than half way I decided to just finish.
And I'm glad I did. The last 3/4 of the book really picked up and I found myself reading faster than I had before. I was going to give this book two stars but I bumped it up to three solely for the awesome climax and satisfying ending.
And I'm glad I did. The last 3/4 of the book really picked up and I found myself reading faster than I had before. I was going to give this book two stars but I bumped it up to three solely for the awesome climax and satisfying ending.
irfansyahril's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
guitavla's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rens_bookshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
roseice's review against another edition
5.0
I love Matt's passion. I love how he can't stand to be grounded, how he has this crazy drive to live for and it overtakes him. This book was surprisingly fantastic. It was super fun without a dull moment! Being plopped into the lives of a bunch of brilliant kids was pretty exciting, too. Matt and Kate are ridiculously smart for their ages, but that made it all the better. I loved the airship setting, the main character, the villains, the island, the cloud cats! And I must mention the snake chase, because that was just hilarious:
“I whirled to see the snake springing up from the ferns and bouncing towards us, fast. This time we turned and ran. Every time I looked around, the snake was still there. I wanted to laugh and scream at the same time. The little creature was ridiculous. It was terrifying, and it was also gaining on us.”
"I looked over my shoulder and there was our little red friend, sailing towards us and only needing two or three more leaps before we had a happy reunion."
I don't know why this whole scene just cracked me up; the melange of ridiculousness and horror, I suppose. But it was excellent. xD
Also, Matt and Kate are so fun. I loved their banter, Matt's impatience with her, her ridiculous suggestions and expectations. Hee.
“I'm glad being shipwrecked appeals to you."
"Captain Walken made a point of avoiding that word."
"Well, he was trying to keep everyone jolly, wasn't he. It's no good having everyone running around screaming and eating each other."
"I wouldn't run around screaming," she said. "I can see eating someone in a pinch, though. If it really came down to it, I mean."
"I don't doubt it."
"Come on, Matt Cruse, don't you find it just a bit exciting, being here?"
"No."
She looked at me as if I'd suggested we stop breathing for a few hours.
I love Kenneth Oppel's writing. I think I need more.
“I whirled to see the snake springing up from the ferns and bouncing towards us, fast. This time we turned and ran. Every time I looked around, the snake was still there. I wanted to laugh and scream at the same time. The little creature was ridiculous. It was terrifying, and it was also gaining on us.”
"I looked over my shoulder and there was our little red friend, sailing towards us and only needing two or three more leaps before we had a happy reunion."
I don't know why this whole scene just cracked me up; the melange of ridiculousness and horror, I suppose. But it was excellent. xD
Also, Matt and Kate are so fun. I loved their banter, Matt's impatience with her, her ridiculous suggestions and expectations. Hee.
“I'm glad being shipwrecked appeals to you."
"Captain Walken made a point of avoiding that word."
"Well, he was trying to keep everyone jolly, wasn't he. It's no good having everyone running around screaming and eating each other."
"I wouldn't run around screaming," she said. "I can see eating someone in a pinch, though. If it really came down to it, I mean."
"I don't doubt it."
"Come on, Matt Cruse, don't you find it just a bit exciting, being here?"
"No."
She looked at me as if I'd suggested we stop breathing for a few hours.
I love Kenneth Oppel's writing. I think I need more.
doomi's review against another edition
4.0
This book should really be made into a movie. Although I incline that reading is way better than watching movies, since it gives your brain a great deal of work, the movie would be a real treat. Aside that, this book is truly a brain starter. Every chapter has you imagining all kinds of things, from airships to tropical forests and never before heard animals.
The story... Well, the story is a little more than typical sea voyage plot, everything goes well, then pirates appear, crash landing and so on. The real good thing about this particular book is its setting. The world is roughly the same as ours, in terms of geography and living things. Roughly. That's mostly where the resemblance ends. The rest is a more or less fantasy world. Airships all over, no planes, and what's more dazzling, there's an even more weightless gas than hydrogen. The only thing in don't like about that gas is the name. Hydrium... It sounds like it has any resemblance to water, though it most probably doesn't. The rest is as it should be. Airships going through the sky, crew running aboard, and a vast amount of space where to unfurl the mind's sails.
Descriptions are dazzling. If your mind works, you'll get a true movie out of this book. Even more than a movie, cause the mind works way better than a screen and some lights. Imagination is the only thing needed so that this book is a delight. The characters are well developed, the story keeps you on waiting another incredible thing to happen and the bad guys don't make you feel sick of how cheesy they are. I've met books where they did, honestly.
For those who love this kind of thing, the airships and the flying part, I'd recommend one little piece of work, called Last Exile. Maybe not in the liking of people for it's an animated story, but to those who will go through it, I promise a true delight. Here's a little teaser, so you'd know what to expect.
If you're into anime, you're sure to like this one.
The story... Well, the story is a little more than typical sea voyage plot, everything goes well, then pirates appear, crash landing and so on. The real good thing about this particular book is its setting. The world is roughly the same as ours, in terms of geography and living things. Roughly. That's mostly where the resemblance ends. The rest is a more or less fantasy world. Airships all over, no planes, and what's more dazzling, there's an even more weightless gas than hydrogen. The only thing in don't like about that gas is the name. Hydrium... It sounds like it has any resemblance to water, though it most probably doesn't. The rest is as it should be. Airships going through the sky, crew running aboard, and a vast amount of space where to unfurl the mind's sails.
Descriptions are dazzling. If your mind works, you'll get a true movie out of this book. Even more than a movie, cause the mind works way better than a screen and some lights. Imagination is the only thing needed so that this book is a delight. The characters are well developed, the story keeps you on waiting another incredible thing to happen and the bad guys don't make you feel sick of how cheesy they are. I've met books where they did, honestly.
For those who love this kind of thing, the airships and the flying part, I'd recommend one little piece of work, called Last Exile. Maybe not in the liking of people for it's an animated story, but to those who will go through it, I promise a true delight. Here's a little teaser, so you'd know what to expect.
If you're into anime, you're sure to like this one.
circularcubes's review against another edition
5.0
I couldn't get enough of this book, and this was the third or fourth time I've read it! Oppel did a fantastic job of creating the world of this book, and I devoured every detail, from the exciting tumult of take-off to the dining room mealtime din. As a child, I was thoroughly enchanted by the Hidenburg and the Titanic, and this book perfectly captures what fascinated me about those ships. I only wish the book could come illustrated like Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan Trilogy.