ONA
Description
Deryn Sharp is a fifteen-year-old Scottish girl from Glasgow who serves as a midshipman in the British Air Service during an alternate version of the First World War. She was born in late 1898 or 1899 to a family with a strong connection to aviation. Her father, Artemis Sharp, was a hot-air balloonist who took Deryn and her older brother Jaspert on flights from a young age, fostering in her a deep and abiding love of flying. When Deryn was twelve or thirteen, her father died in a ballooning fire after pushing her to safety, an act of heroism for which he was posthumously awarded the Air Gallantry Cross. Following his death, Deryn was raised primarily by her mother and aunts, who disapproved of her tomboyish personality and interests.
Determined to return to the skies and serve her country, Deryn devises a plan to join the Royal Air Service. Since women are not permitted to serve in the military, she disguises herself as a boy named Dylan Sharp, presenting herself as a fictional male cousin of her brother Jaspert, who helps her enlist. This disguise places her in constant danger of discovery, forcing her to maintain a masculine appearance and demeanor at all times. She has short, sandy blonde hair and blue eyes, and is notably tall and thin for her age, which aids in her deception. She carefully tailors her own uniforms to better fit her frame and maintain the illusion.
In terms of personality, Deryn is strong-willed, impulsive, and exceptionally brave. She is known for her quick thinking and ability to find solutions to difficult problems, whether it is surviving a storm while flying a Huxley or jumping from an airship to save a fellow crewman. She never hesitates to do what she believes is right, even when it means putting herself in harm's way or disobeying orders. Despite her tough exterior and her efforts to present as a confident young man, she is also kind and caring at heart, showing deep loyalty to her friends and allies. Her speech is punctuated by colorful catchphrases and insults typical of the era, such as barking spiders, blisters, and bum-rag. When she becomes agitated or angry, she sometimes forgets to modulate her voice, causing it to rise in pitch and risk exposing her secret.
Deryn's primary motivation is her desire to fly and to honor her father's memory. Joining the Air Service is her way of getting back into the air, which she sees as her true calling. She is a brilliant airman with what is described as sharp skills and air-sense, meaning she keeps her wits about her even in the most dangerous situations. She takes great pride in her abilities and works hard to prove herself among the male crew members of the Leviathan. Additionally, she is motivated by a sense of duty to Britain and the Darwinist cause, though she is not blindly obedient and will question orders when her conscience demands it. Her love of drawing leads her to sketch the various fabricated beasties and Clanker machines she encounters during her travels.
Within the story, Deryn serves as one of the two protagonists, alongside Prince Aleksandar von Hohenberg. She is assigned to the HMA Leviathan, a massive genetically engineered whale-like airship that serves as the pride of the British fleet. After passing the midshipman's test, she becomes a temporary member of the crew and later earns a permanent position. She also becomes the unofficial cabin boy to Dr. Nora Barlow, a top British scientist, which involves running errands and assisting with the scientist's mysterious cargo of eggs. Her role places her at the center of the conflict between the Darwinist powers, who use fabricated animals as weapons, and the Clanker powers, who rely on steam-driven iron machines.
Key relationships shape much of Deryn's journey. Her most significant relationship is with Prince Aleksandar, whom she first encounters after the Leviathan crashes in the Swiss Alps. Though she initially has him captured, the two slowly develop a deep friendship built on mutual trust and respect. Deryn develops romantic feelings for Alek, describing him as handsome and feeling an odd tingling sensation when he hugs her, but she keeps these emotions hidden because he believes she is a boy. Throughout the series, she struggles with the desire to reveal her true identity to him balanced against the fear of rejection and the danger it would pose to her position. Another important relationship is with Dr. Nora Barlow, who takes a liking to Deryn and becomes one of the few people aware of her secret. Deryn also has a contentious relationship with Count Volger, Alek's mentor, who initially threatens her but later comes to a mutual understanding with her after she proves her worth and trustworthiness. Her friendship with her fellow midshipman Newkirk is also notable, as she risks her life to save him when his Huxley is shot down.
Deryn undergoes significant development over the course of the narrative. She begins as a young girl who is determined but somewhat naive about the challenges of maintaining her disguise. As she faces increasingly dangerous situations, she grows more confident in her abilities and more adept at navigating the complex social dynamics of life aboard an airship. She learns to balance her duty to her country with her personal loyalties, often finding herself caught between following orders and protecting Alek, who is technically an enemy of Britain. Her emotional development is also evident as she comes to terms with her feelings for Alek and the complications they present. Eventually, her true identity is revealed, leading to a period of tension between her and Alek, but the two ultimately reconcile and confess their love for one another, choosing to face the future together despite the obstacles of their different stations in life and opposing sides of the war.
Regarding notable abilities, Deryn is an exceptional airman with what is referred to as air-sense, an intuitive understanding of flight and the behavior of airships that allows her to remain calm and effective during emergencies. She is skilled with a rigging knife, which she uses both as a tool and as a weapon, and she has no patience for formal fencing, preferring more practical combat methods. She has a natural way with fabricated beasties, getting along well with the various Darwinist creatures she encounters due to her upbringing and innate affinity. She is also a quick thinker and adept at improvisation, whether she is using spices to stop hijackers or figuring out how to destroy underwater defense nets with vitriolic barnacles. Her ability to maintain her disguise under pressure, even in intimate or dangerous situations, demonstrates remarkable discipline and presence of mind.
Determined to return to the skies and serve her country, Deryn devises a plan to join the Royal Air Service. Since women are not permitted to serve in the military, she disguises herself as a boy named Dylan Sharp, presenting herself as a fictional male cousin of her brother Jaspert, who helps her enlist. This disguise places her in constant danger of discovery, forcing her to maintain a masculine appearance and demeanor at all times. She has short, sandy blonde hair and blue eyes, and is notably tall and thin for her age, which aids in her deception. She carefully tailors her own uniforms to better fit her frame and maintain the illusion.
In terms of personality, Deryn is strong-willed, impulsive, and exceptionally brave. She is known for her quick thinking and ability to find solutions to difficult problems, whether it is surviving a storm while flying a Huxley or jumping from an airship to save a fellow crewman. She never hesitates to do what she believes is right, even when it means putting herself in harm's way or disobeying orders. Despite her tough exterior and her efforts to present as a confident young man, she is also kind and caring at heart, showing deep loyalty to her friends and allies. Her speech is punctuated by colorful catchphrases and insults typical of the era, such as barking spiders, blisters, and bum-rag. When she becomes agitated or angry, she sometimes forgets to modulate her voice, causing it to rise in pitch and risk exposing her secret.
Deryn's primary motivation is her desire to fly and to honor her father's memory. Joining the Air Service is her way of getting back into the air, which she sees as her true calling. She is a brilliant airman with what is described as sharp skills and air-sense, meaning she keeps her wits about her even in the most dangerous situations. She takes great pride in her abilities and works hard to prove herself among the male crew members of the Leviathan. Additionally, she is motivated by a sense of duty to Britain and the Darwinist cause, though she is not blindly obedient and will question orders when her conscience demands it. Her love of drawing leads her to sketch the various fabricated beasties and Clanker machines she encounters during her travels.
Within the story, Deryn serves as one of the two protagonists, alongside Prince Aleksandar von Hohenberg. She is assigned to the HMA Leviathan, a massive genetically engineered whale-like airship that serves as the pride of the British fleet. After passing the midshipman's test, she becomes a temporary member of the crew and later earns a permanent position. She also becomes the unofficial cabin boy to Dr. Nora Barlow, a top British scientist, which involves running errands and assisting with the scientist's mysterious cargo of eggs. Her role places her at the center of the conflict between the Darwinist powers, who use fabricated animals as weapons, and the Clanker powers, who rely on steam-driven iron machines.
Key relationships shape much of Deryn's journey. Her most significant relationship is with Prince Aleksandar, whom she first encounters after the Leviathan crashes in the Swiss Alps. Though she initially has him captured, the two slowly develop a deep friendship built on mutual trust and respect. Deryn develops romantic feelings for Alek, describing him as handsome and feeling an odd tingling sensation when he hugs her, but she keeps these emotions hidden because he believes she is a boy. Throughout the series, she struggles with the desire to reveal her true identity to him balanced against the fear of rejection and the danger it would pose to her position. Another important relationship is with Dr. Nora Barlow, who takes a liking to Deryn and becomes one of the few people aware of her secret. Deryn also has a contentious relationship with Count Volger, Alek's mentor, who initially threatens her but later comes to a mutual understanding with her after she proves her worth and trustworthiness. Her friendship with her fellow midshipman Newkirk is also notable, as she risks her life to save him when his Huxley is shot down.
Deryn undergoes significant development over the course of the narrative. She begins as a young girl who is determined but somewhat naive about the challenges of maintaining her disguise. As she faces increasingly dangerous situations, she grows more confident in her abilities and more adept at navigating the complex social dynamics of life aboard an airship. She learns to balance her duty to her country with her personal loyalties, often finding herself caught between following orders and protecting Alek, who is technically an enemy of Britain. Her emotional development is also evident as she comes to terms with her feelings for Alek and the complications they present. Eventually, her true identity is revealed, leading to a period of tension between her and Alek, but the two ultimately reconcile and confess their love for one another, choosing to face the future together despite the obstacles of their different stations in life and opposing sides of the war.
Regarding notable abilities, Deryn is an exceptional airman with what is referred to as air-sense, an intuitive understanding of flight and the behavior of airships that allows her to remain calm and effective during emergencies. She is skilled with a rigging knife, which she uses both as a tool and as a weapon, and she has no patience for formal fencing, preferring more practical combat methods. She has a natural way with fabricated beasties, getting along well with the various Darwinist creatures she encounters due to her upbringing and innate affinity. She is also a quick thinker and adept at improvisation, whether she is using spices to stop hijackers or figuring out how to destroy underwater defense nets with vitriolic barnacles. Her ability to maintain her disguise under pressure, even in intimate or dangerous situations, demonstrates remarkable discipline and presence of mind.