Book Review: Goliath

Author: Scott Westerfeld
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Series: Leviathan #3
Release Date: September 20, 2011
Pages: 543
Read it in: 3 days
Source: The library

Summary: Alek and Deryn are on the last leg of their round-the-world quest to end World War I, reclaim Alek’s throne as prince of Austria, and finally fall in love. The first two objectives are complicated by the fact that their ship, the Leviathan, continues to detour farther away from the heart of the war (and crown). And the love thing would be a lot easier if Alek knew Deryn was a girl. (She has to pose as a boy in order to serve in the British Air Service.) And if they weren’t technically enemies.

The tension thickens as the Leviathan steams toward New York City with a homicidal lunatic on board: secrets suddenly unravel, characters reappear, and nothing is at it seems in this thunderous conclusion to Scott Westerfeld’s brilliant trilogy.

LC's Take:

What else can I really say about this series that I haven't said already? It is absolutely-- incredible. It's one of those series that you just can't put into words how good it is, so all you can really say to your fellow readers is: "PLEASE!! Go out and get these books, you will love them!!

In this last installment, Deryn and Alek are sailing on the Leviathan towards Siberia, where they meet the famous inventor, Nicola Tesla. In this alternate history, Tesla turns out to be a maniacal genius who has created a weapon of mass destruction called "Goliath," which he plans on using-- hopefully only as a scare tactic-- to stop the war. But in the meantime, the Leviathan has to bring Mr. Tesla back to New York City in order to end once and for all the Great War, begun by Alec's own noble family. And so the last piece of the Leviathan's whirlwind adventure begins...

Deryn is probably one of the most endearing characters I have ever read about. You just can't help but love her. Disguised as a boy so that she can join the Air Service and go off to fight in the war, Deryn is all spirit, strength and heart, with a quick-witted tongue and dare-devilish attitude. A girl who was born to be an airman and a soldier, Deryn has overcome all odds to save lives and stop revolutions, while secretly falling in love with her comrade on Leviathan, Alek, heir to the Astro-Hungarian throne.

The world -building of Goliath, like the other two books before it, is both flawless and effortless. I mean it is just so well-done that you start thinking the world must be real, because there is nothing fake or forced about it. Everything is wonderfully imaginative and complete, down to the last detail.

Another thing I love about this series, and that I noticed especially in this book, is that the airship itself has become a character-- this is truly a testament to what an amazing author Scott Westerfeld is, that he can take inanimate objects and create them into characters, that you actually know you are going to miss when you leave them behind. Think about how J.K. Rowling created Hogwarts to be like a character, and you'll get the idea.

This is one of those series that I fell in love with in the first few chapters, and never wanted it to end. I know that I will look forward to reading them again one day, and am positive that I will love them just as much!

~Cover Talk~

I absolutely LOVE the cover for Goliath. I mean, I've liked pretty much all the covers in this series, but I really love being able to see Alek and Deryn's characters in real-life-- and when I look at this cover, I think to myself, yeah that probably is how they look! The artwork in this series is incredible, and I can't say enough good things about Kent Thomas and his illustrations. This cover, like the one for Leviathan and Behemoth before it, really do the story justice in my opinion!

LC's Rating:

I could only give this final book in an amazing series 5 stars, and it totally deserves it! I would absolutely recommend these books to pretty much anyone who loves to read-- they will take you away to another world and not let you go until the very last page, only to leave you wanting more!