Airborn is a fantasy adventure book set in an alternate world at some point in the early twentieth century. Most of the action takes place aboard airships, which are the only forms of air transport, since aeroplanes have not yet been invented. The airships are given lift by gas cells filled with an incredibly light imaginary gas called hydrium.
The main characters are Matt Cruse, cabin boy aboard airship Aurora, and the wealthy and wilful Kate de Vries, who is on a quest to prove that the mysterious flying creatures seen by her grandfather are real.
The story is written in the first person, from Matt’s perspective. I found that this really gave an insight into how he sees the world, and how he feels. The whole book is action-packed, involving clashes with air pirates and daring escapes from perilous situations. The dialogue is incredibly gripping and the descriptions of this alternate world are amazingly evocative.
The good news is, there are two sequels: Skybreaker, and Starclimber. I have read them both and they are as enthralling as the first book. I highly recommend this trilogy to people who enjoy reading fantasy and adventure.
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