I'm Not That Girl - Idina Menzel

Behemoth
Leviathan, Book 1

Author: Scott Westerfeld
Pages: 496
ARC Acquired from: Simon & Schuster @ ALA 2010

Brief Summary:
The Leviathan arrives in Istanbul (not Constantinople) only to discover that the Germans are controlling pretty much everything happening in the city, except for the rioting. The diplomats try to do their thing and convince the Ottomans that the British are better allies than those clankers or, if that doesn't work, to win the ensuing conflict. Meanwhile, Alec and his men are trying to escape the ship, fearing that their welcome will soon run out, despite having only done the best they could for the Leviathan. Dylan is doing well in her role as an airman, but struggles with her inner woman, who has fallen really hard for Alec...who will be leaving soon and is totally out of her league anyway, what with being a prince.

Review:
Scott Westerfeld writes some really strange stuff, some of which I love and totally want to high five him for. Others, though, I have been less impressed by. The Uglies series was interesting, but also highly frustrating to me. I loved his short story in Zombies vs. Unicorns and I really enjoyed Leviathan, the precursor to this book, although I was not sure whether that joy stemmed from Westerfeld's talent or Alan Cummings' as I listened to the audiobook version.

Having finished Behemoth, read on old-fashioned paper, I have to say that I really do like some of Westerfeld's stuff. His writing may not especially impress me, but he does have a crazy mind full of fantastic ideas. Of course, some of those ideas don't pan out (or so I've heard about what happens in Peeps). Anyway, I'm still totally digging this completely ridiculous and delightful revisionist history.

One nice thing about not having the audiobook, even if I do miss Cummings' vocal stylings, was getting to see the illustrations. They're really awesome and definitely a nice spice for the eyes (if you've read the book, you know what I did there).

Unlike the Uglies series, I also really like the characters, except for Dr. Barlow, who I still find annoying. Alek is a bit stodgy, but generally a nice kid, suffering only from his rather unique upbringing. Dylan is an awesome girl, who does not let mooning over a boy stop her from being a badass; she can moon and be a badass at the same time. My new favorite character, without a doubt, is Bovril, a perceptive new beastie.

If you enjoyed the first installment, you will not be disappointed by this one, unless you wanted more than five pages of the title beastie. Next up is the final book in the series. I am so ready!

"Don't dream too far
Don't lose sight of who you are
Don't remember that rush of joy
He could be that boy
I'm not that girl"