liesthemoontells's review

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

A wonderfully creepy fictional account of a mad scientist at the turn of the 20th century. 

The first part of the book is a tragic biography, exploring the relationship between science, power, and madness through one man's personal, professional, and mental rise and descent. It is an excellent imitation of a real historical biography, both in terms of style and narrative - much of the story is gleaned from the gaps between "evidence" left behind.

The second half of the book was a bit disappointing - I was hoping for longer, more fantastic descriptions of animals and I found the scientific illustrations a bit underwhelming and repetitive.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ichor_tears's review

Go to review page

challenging dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This is not a book for people who cannot handle animal cruelty and or experiments performed on animals and humans a like. The story is interesting and hard to put down, deeply disturbing, and does not have many traditionally "good" characters. I liked it, and the second half of the book was fascinating and read much more easily due to it's scientific nature. Do not go into this book without reading the potential trigger warning.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

halloween_writes's review

Go to review page

dark emotional informative mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

3arth2kaye's review

Go to review page

dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated

4.25


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

marla_a's review

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

mirto's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

juph's review

Go to review page

mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings
More...