Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Today is a buddy review with Amanda from The Zen Leaf. Amanda is another blogger that I am just getting to know this year. I am very happy we did a review together and hope there will be more in the future. I have the second part of the review today, so for this to make sense go to her blog and read her post first!

Kelly: I agree with you that the message was about cooperation being important for survival. I think that will continue to be an important part of the series. I also like to think he was saying that just because the technology is available to do something doesn't mean that we have to do it. I think it is an important message. What did you think about the characters? Were they believable?

Amanda: Now first I should qualify my answer - I read this book in the middle of the night during Readathon - but I personally found the characters very believable. Alek, the fumbling, sheltered 15-yr-old son of an Archduke trying to prove himself in the real world but mucking everything up. Deryn, a 15 yr old tomboy pretending to be Dylan, a 16 yr old midshipman applicant, fumbling with her attempts to act boyish when all she really wants to do is fly. And then there's the count and Dr. Barlow and all the rest - they all felt round and intricate, as if Westerfeld knew them personally. But I've always liked the way Westerfeld creates his characters. I think that's one of his strong points, as well as language play. I read in one of his books, I believe Bogus to Bubbly, that he refines his alternate-world slang by using it himself to make sure it sounds natural. It's so much fun to imagine him walking around saying, "Blisters!" when he swears or using words like "boffin" and "clart." Had you heard that?

Kelly: Yes, I believe it was in Bogus to Bubbly because I have read about that, too, and I read that book at some point this year. I think it is really great that he tries things out. There isn't really very much I want to say about the characters that you haven't all ready touched on. I thought they were written really well. I found myself, though, talking to them in my head because they really do some things that you know something bad is going to happen, but I think it is a mark of a good character when the reader gets caught up in the story so much that they are very invested in what happens to the characters. I look forward to future books to see what happens to them next and how their tentative friendship works out. Is there anything else that you want to talk about?

Amanda: Nope, I think that pretty much covers everything. I can't wait for Behemoth to come out next year. Supposedly it will be released in October. At the same time, though, I liked where this book ended - a cliff-hanger, but a mild one. You aren't automatically itching for the next one, like with The Knife of Never Letting Go. It works well as a standalone book, too. But yes, that's all. I love Westerfeld, and I think he did a magnificent job as usual for this book.

Kelly: Oh, good to know when the second book comes out. I haven't thought that far ahead to look into it! I am looking forward to it, too, but I don't have to rush out read it. I can wait. I much prefer that, actually. A promised sequel but not a huge book that is not wrapped up at all and then you have to wait a year to find out what happens next. Hopefully we will both still be blogging next year and then maybe we can review the sequel together, too! Thanks for reviewing this book with me. I look forward to next time!

Amanda: That's an excellent idea! I look forward to it, too.