Behemoth

by Scott Westerfeld, 485 pages

Behemoth is a ferocious beast used in the British Navy. Now that they are at war with the Clankers the Darwinist will need both the Behemoth and the Leviathan to battle. As Leviathan makes its way to the Ottoman Empire to deliver Dr. Barlow's mysterious eggs they run into trouble with the German Navy ship. They peacekeeping quest has failed and they find themselves alone in enemy territory.
Deryn and Alek struggle to maintain their friendship when it might mean they are being treasonous. Deryn is posing as girl aboard the British Air Services and is falling for Alek, who has no idea that she is a girl. While Alek is posing as a commoner in the Ottoman Empire when he is actually an archduke of Austria-Este. To bring this war to an end they will need each other, new allies and bravery to overcome what is ahead.

If you loved reading Leviathan, you will definitely love reading Behemoth. It is a steampunk adventure, full of nonstop action. The black and white illustrations by Keith Thompson enhance the story and capture the imaginary world Westerfeld has created. Leviathan focused a lot on the introduction of the characters and the setting, while Behemoth is full of constant action and character development. The Leviathan series is an awesome YA book and I would suggest it to anyone who is just starting to read steampunk books.