For some reason, the first time I read this book, I didn't like it. I put it down, convinced that Scott Westerfeld was vastly overrated, seeing as how I didn't like his Uglies series either. And then, recently, I picked it up again - major love. I don't know what I didn't see in it the first time around, but it's an inventive, thrilling steampunk YA novel and the illustrations are fantastic. Can't wait to get the rest of the series.