This is a great book; the two main characters are very sympathetic, with many similarities and differences. Having each character get two chapters then switching to the other keeps things moving. The chapters are short and filled with interesting illustrations, lots of action… it’s good fun.
The two heroes are teens, and the book proves very teen friendly throughout. Young romance doesn’t enter the picture until near the very end, and is only alluded to. I suspect romance may blossom in the sequel, but for now it’s pure adventure.
Deryn Sharp is an adventurous, highly skilled girl, who conceals her gender to get into the royal air service. There is a lot of complexity to the character; she is tomboyish, fascinated by flight, and quite competitive. She comes from a relatively well off family, but it’s clear that the family fortunes are in decline.
Aleksander is the grandson of the Austria-Hungarian Emperor. His story begins in tragedy, and is filled with interesting twists. While he comes across as a bit coddled in the beginning, and his upbringing proves influential throughout the book, he is more than his title.
The other characters are well developed too. The crew of the Leviathan is sketched pretty well, with occasional deeper glimpses, and the compact crew of Aleksander’s walker are all detailed (though the Count and fencing teacher are much more on stage). Dr. Nora Barlow is the most impressive and insightful character in the book.
The technology is very cool; both sides are impressively advanced, but still have foibles. It’s a fast, fun read– one that I strongly recommend to book lovers of any age.