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kskidmore7's review
5.0
Remember, it's a gothic novel.
It's definitely bittersweet but I'm glad I read it.
It's definitely bittersweet but I'm glad I read it.
rusticreadingal's review against another edition
5.0
I had high hopes for this novel and I'm happy to say it lived up to my expectations. Exceeded them, even. Frankenstein is one of my favorite classics and this story was a great homage to it. This gothic tale was dark at times, but it was also brimming full of hope and love. It was such a thought-provoking read. I know I'll be thinking about it for a long time to come.
I became so wrapped up in this story that the real world faded away and I felt as though I was right there back in 1815 England with these wonderfully endearing and realistic characters. All the characters, even the despicable villain, were fully fleshed out and three-dimensional. Colin has to be one of my favorite characters in recent memory. He'd faced a lot in his life, been dealt a hard blow, but he was such a good guy, so kind. I hoped, prayed, wished so desperately for a good outcome for him.
I can't say enough good things about this novel. It's one of the best books I've read this year. I highly, highly recommend it and am eager to read more from Michelle Griep.
I won this book in a giveaway and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.
I became so wrapped up in this story that the real world faded away and I felt as though I was right there back in 1815 England with these wonderfully endearing and realistic characters. All the characters, even the despicable villain, were fully fleshed out and three-dimensional. Colin has to be one of my favorite characters in recent memory. He'd faced a lot in his life, been dealt a hard blow, but he was such a good guy, so kind. I hoped, prayed, wished so desperately for a good outcome for him.
I can't say enough good things about this novel. It's one of the best books I've read this year. I highly, highly recommend it and am eager to read more from Michelle Griep.
I won this book in a giveaway and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.
laurazdavidson's review against another edition
4.0
A little romance... and a twist on Frankenstein. I really enjoyed this well-written (and well-researched) gothic regency.
Many thanks to the publisher (and Goodreads) for a free Kindle version of this novel.
Many thanks to the publisher (and Goodreads) for a free Kindle version of this novel.
ogggc6's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
morgangiesbrecht's review
4.0
I’ve wanted to read this book for some time and was so excited when the notification appeared that it was available at my library!
I really loved the characters; Graham and Amelia have great chemistry, and Colin is such a sweetheart - his care and concern for his sister’s happiness is touching, and his scenes with Nemo. Precious.
The story had all the chilling and fascinating Gothic feelings. The weaving in of the Mary Shelly plot line was an interesting touch. I’ve studied some of the medical work of this era, and I always disgusted at the inhuman medical practices and experiments that passed as legal treatment. Griep realistically portrayed this.
That ending…I wanted to cry; it was heartbreaking!
Content: semi-detailed kisses; disturbing medical practices; woman pregnant outside wedlock; asylum patients who are “insane”
I really loved the characters; Graham and Amelia have great chemistry, and Colin is such a sweetheart - his care and concern for his sister’s happiness is touching, and his scenes with Nemo. Precious.
The story had all the chilling and fascinating Gothic feelings. The weaving in of the Mary Shelly plot line was an interesting touch. I’ve studied some of the medical work of this era, and I always disgusted at the inhuman medical practices and experiments that passed as legal treatment. Griep realistically portrayed this.
That ending…I wanted to cry; it was heartbreaking!
Content: semi-detailed kisses; disturbing medical practices; woman pregnant outside wedlock; asylum patients who are “insane”
inspiretruth's review
3.0
“He was soon borne away by the wave and lost in darkness and distance.” Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
As the nights grow colder and the days shorter, there is nothing better than curling up by the fire with a gothic novel full of eerie characters that will send shivers down your spine. In her latest release, Lost in Darkness, Michelle Griep channels Mary Shelley’s famous novel, Frankenstein, for a prequel-like story that will battle the forces of light and darkness until a champion is declared.
Amelia Balfour has created a successful career as a travel writer; however, just as she receives the opportunity to travel to Cairo, a city she’s always dreamed of visiting, her plans are brought to an abrupt halt after the sudden death of her father. Forced to return to the home she loathes to fulfill her father’s final request, Amelia is reunited with her monstrously-sized younger brother, Colin. Will the revolutionary surgery her father organized truly restore her brother’s appearance, giving him a life outside of the shadows, or will the risk prove more deadly than anyone realized? And, what of Amelia’s ticket to Cairo? Will she make it to her ship in time, or will being home shift her prospects in ways she hadn’t anticipated?
Graham Lambert is a surgeon with a reputation to rebuild. After sowing all of his life’s savings into a partnership with the renowned surgeon, Mr Peckwood, Graham is given a peek behind the curtain and begins to wonder if he’s made the right choice. In a never-ending tug-of-war struggle with his heart and a past that continues to haunt him, Graham tries not to make any hasty decisions; however, as he assists with Colin Balfour’s pre-operation treatments, Graham’s reservations continue to grow. Will Graham take action before it’s too late, or will the darkness of his heart continue to cloud the light that is trying to seep in?
Lost in Darkness is the perfect Fall/Winter novel. Though there is an air of spooky darkness that films the pages, hope and light push through the seams, creating an inward battle that only increases the further into the novel you travel. Pulling on the themes of faith, mistakes, love, loss, and family, Michelle Griep beautifully narrates this haunting tale.
While I applaud the author for her spectacular vocabulary and how she immersed her readers into the time era, I must admit that I had a hard time connecting with the story. Unlike her previous release, The Thief of Blackfriar’s Lane, I did not become as absorbed with this story or characters. Nevertheless, there is still a lot to admire and praise about Lost in Darkness. If you are a fan of gothic novels, you’re going to thoroughly enjoy this story! There is a book for everyone, and this might be the one for you!
*Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with a pre-release copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own!*
As the nights grow colder and the days shorter, there is nothing better than curling up by the fire with a gothic novel full of eerie characters that will send shivers down your spine. In her latest release, Lost in Darkness, Michelle Griep channels Mary Shelley’s famous novel, Frankenstein, for a prequel-like story that will battle the forces of light and darkness until a champion is declared.
Amelia Balfour has created a successful career as a travel writer; however, just as she receives the opportunity to travel to Cairo, a city she’s always dreamed of visiting, her plans are brought to an abrupt halt after the sudden death of her father. Forced to return to the home she loathes to fulfill her father’s final request, Amelia is reunited with her monstrously-sized younger brother, Colin. Will the revolutionary surgery her father organized truly restore her brother’s appearance, giving him a life outside of the shadows, or will the risk prove more deadly than anyone realized? And, what of Amelia’s ticket to Cairo? Will she make it to her ship in time, or will being home shift her prospects in ways she hadn’t anticipated?
"Everything shook. Her legs. The letter. The tickets to Cairo. In one hand she held her future. In the other, her past. And between lay the present’s ugly decision of who to disappoint—her editor, herself, or the man she’d called Father." ~ Michelle Griep
Graham Lambert is a surgeon with a reputation to rebuild. After sowing all of his life’s savings into a partnership with the renowned surgeon, Mr Peckwood, Graham is given a peek behind the curtain and begins to wonder if he’s made the right choice. In a never-ending tug-of-war struggle with his heart and a past that continues to haunt him, Graham tries not to make any hasty decisions; however, as he assists with Colin Balfour’s pre-operation treatments, Graham’s reservations continue to grow. Will Graham take action before it’s too late, or will the darkness of his heart continue to cloud the light that is trying to seep in?
"Danger may be real, but fear was a choice." ~ Michelle Griep
Lost in Darkness is the perfect Fall/Winter novel. Though there is an air of spooky darkness that films the pages, hope and light push through the seams, creating an inward battle that only increases the further into the novel you travel. Pulling on the themes of faith, mistakes, love, loss, and family, Michelle Griep beautifully narrates this haunting tale.
While I applaud the author for her spectacular vocabulary and how she immersed her readers into the time era, I must admit that I had a hard time connecting with the story. Unlike her previous release, The Thief of Blackfriar’s Lane, I did not become as absorbed with this story or characters. Nevertheless, there is still a lot to admire and praise about Lost in Darkness. If you are a fan of gothic novels, you’re going to thoroughly enjoy this story! There is a book for everyone, and this might be the one for you!
*Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with a pre-release copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own!*
meadowsofbooks's review
1.0
DNF and skipped ahead to confirm my suspicions. Actually, I was quite excited to read this since I thought it's a perfect read for the spooky season but sadly it was very predictable and the different storylines felt a bit all over the place.
sarahcoller's review
3.0
Most Christian fiction is mediocre, at best---I knew that going in. But, compared to a lot of Christian fiction I've read, this one does sit at the higher end. If I'm going to take the time to read fiction, I prefer the more lyrical and layered works, but sometimes a quick tune-the-world-out story is needed and this fit that bill nicely.
I enjoyed the imaginative play on how Godwin may have come up with her idea for Frankenstein, a story I've read three times and still can't bring myself to think of as "well-written". Ha! Does this make me a snob? I don't like Shakespeare either, if that helps...
I'm not sure how intentional this was, but the author really speaks to the atrocity of medical malpractice and modern physicians' heavy use of prescriptions to treat symptoms, as opposed to rooting out the source of an ailment. In a rant to the senior physician, Graham says:
"A bettering of lives? That's what you call it?...Is creating a dependency on you and your drugs any better than madness?...And what happens when your drugs run out?"
I try to avoid doctors as much as possible for this very reason. A few months ago, I had an appointment with a nurse practitioner I know and got teary-eyed talking about the recent death of my father. Her immediate response was to offer me "something for the depression and anxiety" when I could have done well with just a kind word and maybe a hug.
This story flowed well with just a few minor annoyances usually found when writers attempt 200 year old dialogue, but Graham's "curse words" were over the top. "Thunderation!" "Thunder and turf!" "Dashed headstrong woman!" "Blast!" Ugh...I hate reading actual profanity in otherwise tolerable novels, but "damn" and "damnable" are real words, for crying out loud, and the most commonly used then and now.
All in all, I don't regret reading it---but I won't read it again.
I enjoyed the imaginative play on how Godwin may have come up with her idea for Frankenstein, a story I've read three times and still can't bring myself to think of as "well-written". Ha! Does this make me a snob? I don't like Shakespeare either, if that helps...
I'm not sure how intentional this was, but the author really speaks to the atrocity of medical malpractice and modern physicians' heavy use of prescriptions to treat symptoms, as opposed to rooting out the source of an ailment. In a rant to the senior physician, Graham says:
"A bettering of lives? That's what you call it?...Is creating a dependency on you and your drugs any better than madness?...And what happens when your drugs run out?"
I try to avoid doctors as much as possible for this very reason. A few months ago, I had an appointment with a nurse practitioner I know and got teary-eyed talking about the recent death of my father. Her immediate response was to offer me "something for the depression and anxiety" when I could have done well with just a kind word and maybe a hug.
This story flowed well with just a few minor annoyances usually found when writers attempt 200 year old dialogue, but Graham's "curse words" were over the top. "Thunderation!" "Thunder and turf!" "Dashed headstrong woman!" "Blast!" Ugh...I hate reading actual profanity in otherwise tolerable novels, but "damn" and "damnable" are real words, for crying out loud, and the most commonly used then and now.
All in all, I don't regret reading it---but I won't read it again.
randikaye's review
4.0
I must admit that I don't tend to read a lot of gothic novels, and lately do tend to prefer much lighter reads... and yet, I found this to be a wonderfully written story that drew me in nonetheless. Michelle Griep does a wonderful job of creating these beautiful characters that draw the reader into the story, and into this time and place quite different than our own. While the style of this book was quite different than books I had read by the author in the past, her skillful storytelling came through every bit as beautifully just the same.
While I don't believe I've ever personally read Frankenstein, I-like most- am fairly familiar with the story anyway... so seeing that this was inspired by it certainly piqued my interest. A Christian fiction read inspired by Frankenstein? Seemed interesting...and Michelle Griep truly did pull it off beautifully. If you enjoy historical fiction, this is certainly a unique read worth checking out.
**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.
While I don't believe I've ever personally read Frankenstein, I-like most- am fairly familiar with the story anyway... so seeing that this was inspired by it certainly piqued my interest. A Christian fiction read inspired by Frankenstein? Seemed interesting...and Michelle Griep truly did pull it off beautifully. If you enjoy historical fiction, this is certainly a unique read worth checking out.
**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.
jazzyjan94's review
3.0
.Lost in Darkness was an interesting read, and I loved the connections to Frankenstein it makes, especially with Mary Godwin Shelley being a character that Amelia befriends. I also enjoyed learning more about what the medical field would’ve have been like in 1815.
I enjoyed getting to know the characters throughout the book, except I disliked Dr. Peckwood a lot, especially with how he talks down to Amelia because she is a woman. However, I wish we could have explored more of his nefarious dealings. I felt like it was only touched on what he was doing, but I’d kind of would have liked some more explanation.
While I enjoyed Lost in Darkness, my only complaint is that it took a while to get to the plot that is described in the synopsis, and it only lasts for the last 50 pages, I would have liked to see more of what Colin was like after his surgery. However, I could also see why the author chose not to do so, and it gave him a lot more dignity too.
Overall, I really liked Lost in Darkness and the elements it has in it from Frankenstein. I highly recommend this for fans of Gothic literature and Frankenstein, as well as novels set in the Regency era. 3.5/5 Stars
*I received a copy of this book from the author and Celebrate Lit in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed getting to know the characters throughout the book, except I disliked Dr. Peckwood a lot, especially with how he talks down to Amelia because she is a woman. However, I wish we could have explored more of his nefarious dealings. I felt like it was only touched on what he was doing, but I’d kind of would have liked some more explanation.
While I enjoyed Lost in Darkness, my only complaint is that it took a while to get to the plot that is described in the synopsis, and it only lasts for the last 50 pages, I would have liked to see more of what Colin was like after his surgery. However, I could also see why the author chose not to do so, and it gave him a lot more dignity too.
Overall, I really liked Lost in Darkness and the elements it has in it from Frankenstein. I highly recommend this for fans of Gothic literature and Frankenstein, as well as novels set in the Regency era. 3.5/5 Stars
*I received a copy of this book from the author and Celebrate Lit in exchange for my honest review.