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2 1/2

This is yet another book that I wasn't going to pick up, but then was talked into it by multiple recommendations and all the positive buzz about it, only to end up being tepid about the whole thing.

This is something which should, theoretically, be right up my alley - a YA steampunk adventure book pitting machines vs. bio-engineered beasts.

Well, for one, I had some trouble swallowing the beasties. There's a lot of suspension of disbelief in this book, because not a lot is really explained, including the real workings of the beasties. You're given general ideas, but it's a bit thin on the details.

But, mostly, I just went with it.

I think the biggest problem is that the characters are only marginally likable, though I did like Deryn more than Alek (even if the girl posing as a boy thing is wearing a bit thin), but even where they are likable they're not really developed very well. They're just sort of there and they are who they are the whole time.

Also, the adventuring was a bit, well, underwhelming and the pacing kind of haphazard.

All-in-all it's not a bad book. It's certainly not the worst I've ever read or anything, but I wasn't excited to be reading it, and I'm not remotely compelled to continue with the series.

Speaking of continuing with the series, another big issue with the book is that it feels mostly like set-up. Once things finally started to get interesting the book ended in a giant cliffhanger-esque "you must read the next book to find out wtf the first book set you up for" thing. Not impressed.