Behemoth, by Scott Westerfeld

So I've been sitting here a while trying to figure out how to start this blog post. My last idea was, "Behemoth is a novel."

So obviously I'm having a little trouble.

I think it's because I'm not really sure what I think of this novel. I love the ideas of the novel, the setting, the writing, and for the most part, the characters. But there is something that makes me dislike the novel and I have absolutely no idea what it is. This should be one of my favorite novels! It's steampunk, taking place during World War I with the Darwinists, those that fabricate animals to use as machines (for example, the Leviathan is a whale airship), versus the Clankers, those that use actual machines. It's fascinating and rather brilliant, but after reading Leviathan and Behemoth, I didn't feel that great about either novel. Which is odd, because I've loved some of Westerfeld's other novels, like the Uglies series. 

It's just very frustrating that I cannot figure out what I dislike about this book!

If I had to choose something it would be the characters. Both Alek and Deryn, the main characters, do not seem to go through much, if any, character growth. Alek is still relatively whiny and sure he will always get his way, and Deryn stays her tough, soldier-y self. Both of them seem like they would be likable, however, but I have a hard time liking them. 

Some possible reasons.

• They have swapped gender roles, which is hard to get used to. Deryn ("Dylan") acts like the guy that Alek always wanted to be, but I think there is a similar gender role swap in The Hunger Games with Katniss and Peta that was not off-putting, so I don't think that's it.
• They're predictable. Deryn of course falls in love with Alek fairly quickly but is not going to tell him because, as in all novels/tv shows/movies, telling people would be too easy. Alek is a prince that wants to be "one of the guys" but is never going to achieve it because of his station in life. While this is a possibility, both characters are far from being boring or dull, so it seems less likely.
• I'm going crazy and the characters and everything is amazing. This is probably the answer.

I think Behemoth is a novel that anyone who likes YA fiction could enjoy, especially fans of steampunk. I don't know what my problem is; many people love this book and highly recommend it, so I will too. But start with Leviathan! You could read Behemoth on it's own, but I wouldn't suggest it. I know I will read the final novel, Goliath, for at least the plot, and hopefully to figure out what is wrong with me!