Leviathan Wakes is a thematically rich and complex novel. It explores themes of aggression and war, colonialism, power and its relationship to humanity, and the destructive effects of certain actions by humanity. In Leviathan Wakes, Earth, Mars, and the rest of the solar system is a violent and aggressive place in which people have to struggle to survive. Part of that aggression comes in the form of humanity's colonialism and their attempt to control and have power over the solar system.
Above all, though, Leviathan Wakes is a novel meant to entertain its readers. Author James S.A. Corey has written an accessible novel which is not so technical that it can't be understood by lay people. Some science fiction novels focus heavily on technobabble; Leviathan Wakes does not. Instead, Corey has written a novel which values entertainment over scientific concept. The tone of Corey's novel reflects this: Leviathan Wakes is fun, serious but entertaining, and perhaps most importantly, energetic, which makes the novel (despite its hefty size) a quick and propulsive read.
The Canterbury, a spaceship en route from Saturn to Ceres, a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt, encounters a distress signal. In response, the crew, including first officer Jim Holden, investigates the source of the signal, only to find an abandoned ship, the Scopuli. Realizing it was a trap set by pirates, they quickly depart the ship but not before their own spaceship, the Canterbury, is destroyed by a Martian warship. Holden sends a message to the entire solar system, blaming the Martians for the destruction of the Canterbury.
However, Julie resists, and Joe faces challenges in completing his task. After Holden's message reaches Ceres, the station erupts in chaos, and Joe, in charge of security, tries to restore order. In his pursuit to find Julie, Joe learns she may have joined a terrorist group, the OPA. Despite being told to stop, Joe becomes obsessed with finding her.
Meanwhile, Eros Station gains its own consciousness and decides to destroy all life in the galaxy, with Earth as its primary target. Joe, being the only one capable, sacrifices himself by planting a bomb on Eros, causing it to crash into Venus and saving the galaxy.
