Leviathan By: Scott Westerfield

Overview:  Alek is thrust into a world of danger and adventure when his father Franz Ferdinand is assassinated and war breaks out in Europe.  Can he escape the Germans who are determined to capture him at all costs?  Deryn has always dreamed of becoming an airmen in the army but girls aren't allowed. Will her secret be discovered before her dreams of becoming an airmen can become a reality?  Leviathan tells the story of an alternate WWI where beast meets machine to create fabulous hybrids.  This book is fast paced and action packed and has something for everyone.  I really enjoyed it and am currently reading the second one which is just as good.

Review:  This was my first experience with steam punk and I was not disappointed.  I think this is Scott Westerfield's strongest book by far.  The characters were relatable and easy to connect with.  I couldn't put this book down and rushed to the library to get the second one the minute I was finished.  It has some really awesome illustrations that add a whole new dimension to the story.  It had a nice blend of history and fantasy.  This is definitely a book worth picking up!

Brisingr By: Christopher Paolini

Overview:  Eragon's action packed adventure continues in the third book of the series.  Will Roran be able to rescue Katrina?  Who will be the next dwarf queen?  Will the Varden finally destroy Galbatorix? Find out in the latest installment of the Inheritance series.  This book will appeal to guys who like fantasy and readers who are already a fan of the series.

Review:  I really liked the first book in the series and felt luke warm about the second installment which I felt was to long and was in need of some serious editing.  This book suffers from similar problems.  Paolini leaves no stone unturned which is a double edged stone.  You find out every little detail about every thing in the book which can get tiresome.  It started with a bang and ended the same way with a lot of boring uneventless pages in between.  That being said I did read the whole thing and while I was frustrated at times I'm glad I read it and will continue on and read the 4th book.  It has a very interesting concept and original ideas which I think make it worth trudging through some unneeded filler.

Fans of the series won't be disappointed while readers who were dissatisfied with the previous books should probably leave this one on the shelf.  There is some nice character development and we see a lot more of Roran and Katrina in this book which I think were the most interesting bits of the whole series.  It didn't wow me but overall it was an improvement from Eldest but a step down from Eragon.  Worth your time if you've stuck with the series so far.