A review by alex_watkins
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

4.0

I really liked the concept of this book. That is set at the outset of the WWI in a world where the triple alliance (Germany, Austria, and the Ottoman Empire) er just wikipedia'd that and the triple alliance actually included Italy, but they never joined the war on the side of Germany and Austria. Nevertheless, they all relay and fantastical machines that walk and have armor etc. The Triple Entente powers that is (more certainly) England, France, and Russia are armed by bioengineered animals, the titular one being a whale that has been made to breathe hydrogen and thus become a kind of living zeppelin (I know, awesome right?). Anyways it follows the fictional son of Franz Ferdinand as he escapes murder. On the other side it is narrated by a British girl disguised as a boy to join to the army. He has made up some words for her to use in this kind of alterna britian, which much like frack annoyed me at first (don't they all?). But her dialect grew on me as she is supposed to have a kind of low class british accent, so I just used the chaff from Misfit's voice and her character was instantly likable and amazing. And by the way Misfits is the most awesome show ever it's like Skins + Heroes Season 1. Also this book has pretty illustrations and like most really good books a map in the front.