Behemoth

By Scott Westerfeld

The behemoth is the fiercest creature in the British navy. It can swallow enemy battleships with one bit. The Darwinists will need it, now that they are at war with the Clanker powers. Deryn is a girl posing aas a boy in the British Air Service, and Alek is the heir to an empire posing as a commoner. Finally together aboard the airship Leviathan, they hope to bring the war to a halt. But when disaster strike the Leviathan’s peacekeeping mission, they find themselves alone and hunted in enemy territory. Alek and Deryn will need great skill, new allies, and brave hearts to face what’s ahead.

I really really like this series. This is the second book in a trillogy...yes another one. Scott Westerfeld also wrote The Uglies series, which was good, but I ended up not liking, so I'm giving him a second chance. In the first book, it was rather hard to get into the story, but as soon as you get a feel for the setting and the characters, a fondness for them leads you into a love for the story. Alek is a run-away prince with a secret: he's really the crown prince of Austria-Hungary. And Deryn is a plucky airman aboard the Leviathan, a massive whale-like airship, who has a secret too: He is actually a she. They both rely on each other and eventually Alek tells everything to Deryn, who he has come to trust more than anyone; but Deryn knows the moment she tells Alek she is a girl things will change between them and that just can't happen, he is a prince after all. This is a great story with lots of action and romance and just fun moments. The artwork is absolutely amazing and brings Westerfeld's world to life. This is one I'd recommend to anyone who is a fan of alternate history fantasy. Two thumbs up Mr. Westerfeld, but you better make Goliath just as good!