Review: Goliath by Scott Westerfeld (Leviathan #3)

Title: Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

Published: September 20^th, 2011 by Simon Pulse

Source: Purchased

Format: Hardcover book

Challenge (s): TRB pile

Grade rate: A

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 as it seems in this thunderous conclusion to Scott Westerfeld’s brilliant trilogy.

My Review

Barking spiders!  What an amazing book!  Goliath is the perfect ending to the series (although I still want more!) and it’s so sad to say goodbye to all these beloved characters and a wonderful steampunk world.

You can see my review for Behemoth, book #2 in the series here.  I love these characters!  Deryn is our intrepid heroine and she remains a fascinating, brave, loyal girl that pretends to be a lad.  Alek, you are NOT a waste of hydrogen.  You are loyal, loving, and most importantly, you have your priorities straight.  Alek did a lot of ‘growing up’ in this installment, making some difficult decisions, but I’m sure that it will all be worth it.

The always perspicacious Bovril is my favorite bestie.  I just love how he helped Alek figure out the truth about Deryn, even though we’ve heard him say Mr. Sharp many times before. In this novel, we get introduced to a few new characters, such as the loony Mr. Tesla, and we also get to see the always indiscrete and meddlesome Mr. Malone. 

The plot is incredible in its imagination.  The story is fast-paced, never boring, and SO good. Mr. Westerfled, if you can hear this plea I’m sure that all your fans would love you forever and ever if you were to write about Deryn and Alek again.  I’m sure there are many more adventures for this wonderful couple, Dr. Barlow and Bovril.  Thank you for the ‘extra chapter and drawing (you can find it here), but I need more :) Okay, I’m done begging.  A truly incredibly outstanding story and characters, please read this series!