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onewinternight's review against another edition
3.0
It was pretty good, though slow to start. It took off after the first half.
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.