The Iron Thorn: By Caitlin Kittredge

THE IRON THORN

SUMMARY

In the city of Lovecraft, the Proctors rule and a great Engine turns below the streets, grinding any resistance to their order to dust. The necrovirus is blamed for Lovecraft's epidemic of madness, for the strange and eldritch creatures that roam the streets after dark, and for everything that the city leaders deem Heretical—born of the belief in magic and witchcraft. And for Aoife Grayson, her time is growing shorter by the day.
Aoife Grayson's family is unique, in the worst way—every one of them, including her mother and her elder brother Conrad, has gone mad on their 16th birthday. And now, a ward of the state, and one of the only female students at the School of Engines, she is trying to pretend that her fate can be different.

REVIEW

I have mixed feelings on The Iron Thorn.

It had everything I usually like. The heroine, Aoife, is both strong and full of character. The other characters are interesting and diverse. The plot is full of both action and magic. And Kittredge does a fantastic job piecing together a larger story that is both complex and exciting. And yet I had trouble getting into the book.

I don’t know if it happened to be the time I read it or something, but I just couldn’t get into The Iron Thorn. It had almost all the attributes of books I love but I just never connected. Because of this, and the fact that I think it could be a great book and other might love it, I’m giving it a medium review, but all in all I wished I liked it more.

RATING

7.5 out of 10

INFO

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Published: February 22, 2011

Price: $17.99

Leviathan: By Scott Westerfeld

LEVIATHAN

SUMMARY

All the European powers are arming up for World War I. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet. Aleksandar Ferdinand is an Austro-Hungarian prince on the run. Deryn Sharp is a commoner. Their paths cross in the most unexpected way.

REVIEW

Leviathan is one of the best steampunk novels I’ve read.

Westerfeld, who has penned numerous other bestselling young adult novels including The Uglies and The Midnighters series, is back again with yet another sensational series.

Leviathan follows the actions and timeline of World War I, but with a few changes. First the Allies use bestial technology, creating large warships and other war technology by splicing together different animal DNA. And the Axis have developed mass war machines, far superior to even the machines we have today.

With astounding descriptions and nonstop action, Leviathan will amaze even the most jaded of young adult reader. Westerfeld paints a picture of early 20^th century Europe and the struggles that accompany these countries. He is surprisingly accurate in his portrayal of the beginning of World War I, and really offers up an exciting history lesson that will engross teens worldwide. (For the facts he does embellish he clears up at the end up the book in an appendix.)

But what I found most astounding about this book were the war machines that Westerfeld dreamt up. They show vast imagination, and really offer an original spin on the story. Of course these war machines (both Bestial and Machine), also offer excellent action sequences that fans of James Dashner’s The Maze Runner and Catherine Fisher’s Incarceron will eat up.

All in all this was a fantastic book that really surprised me. It was surprisingly accurate, as well as filled with fascinating and imaginative elements to the story that truly make it enjoyable and original. Besides this Westerfeld’s characters are well developed and relatable, and his story engrossing. Making this captivating and sensational book a must read before school starts this fall.

RATING

9 out of 10

INFO

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Published: August 10, 2010

Price: $9.99