Leviathan Book Review

Let's Play I-Spy!

Leviathan has an interesting premise.  It is set in the early 1900's and portrays a fantastical version of World War I in the which the Central Powers (Germany, Autria-Hungary, etc.) have sophisticated, walking war-machines that have earned them the name "Clankers."  Conversely the Allied Powers (Britain, France, etc.) are known as the "Darwinists" for their use of genetically modified creatures.  While both of these technologies have yet to be reached even today, the fact that the book takes place in the past gives it a nice "retro meets future" type of feel, and also makes it one of the more interesting works in the alternate history genre.  Having learned about World War I last semester in history it was interesting to see how the world of Leviathan connects with the actual events that led to the war.  That said, knowing your history isn't required to enjoy the story, but it certainly enhances the experience.
     The story follows two characters; Deryn Sharp, a Scottish girl who poses as a boy in order to get into the navy, and Prince Alek, the fictional son of Archduke Ferdinand who is on the run after his father is killed.  I'm really glad that there is a main character for each side of the war, as it gives the reader a well rounded view of Leviathan's universe, both politically and technologically.  While the Germans are unceremoniously referred to as the villains, it was still nice that the point of views and concerns of both the Clankers and the Darwinists are given an equal amount of depth.
     The book switches between the adventures of Deryn and Alek almost every chapter, and while it isn't until the end that they finally meet, it still feels pretty satisfying when they do.  That said, it is a bit disappointing that the war is the only thing tying them together, and even that connection is blurred since they are on opposing sides.  Fortunately this is the first book in a series, so there's plenty of time for their characters to grow off one another.
Conclusion:  Leviathan is a nice sidetrack from the typical fantasy and sci-fi's that constantly swarm the bestseller lists and bookstore shelves.  It has an original take on World War I that historians should appreciate, and some interesting characters to boot.  If you're sick and tired of starships and magic than you owe it to yourself to check this out.
Rating:  9/10 "Awesome"
Favorite Moment:  The book's namesake comes from a Darwinist airship that is actually a gigantic living organism.  It was fun whenever the book explained how the Leviathan actually worked, with all of the fabricated creatures that lived on it doing everything from feeding it to acting as weapons during battle.  The Clanker's mechs are cool and all, but you have to give the Darwinists credit for originality.