Leviathan

I do not enjoy Steampunk novels, which Leviathan most definitely is. However, I have enjoyed Westerfeld's past novels, including the Uglies series and Peeps, immensely so I decided to give Leviathan a try.

In Leviathan, Westerfeld has created a rich alternate history that both embraces and transcends the Steampunk genre. There are enormous mechanical "walking machines" that the "Clankers" use in battle, to be sure, but the Clanker's opponents are the "Darwinists" -- societies where firepower and steam engines have been replaced with biological weapons such as genetically modified bats that poop spikes onto their enemies. The books title itself is the name of the Darwinist's biggest airship, a beast made of a whale, glow worms, and bees, among other things.

The characters are likable. The pacing is a bit clunky at times (it drags near the beginning, especially), but once it gets up to speed, Leviathan is a page turner. If you liked Westerfeld's other books, you'll love Leviathan. If you haven't read Westerfeld's other books, start here and work your way back.Get more detail about Leviathan.