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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Being a huge fan of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, I was beyond excited to find out there was going to be a series detailing the life of a teenage Victor Frankenstein. So, I had enormous expectations going into reading this book, and I am happy to say that Kenneth Oppel did not let me down at all.
Victor and his twin brother Konrad are 16 and staying at the family house in Geneva along with their cousin Elizabeth and close friend Henry. One day, they discover a hidden passage way that leads down to a secret room that the friends dub The Dark Library. Shortly afterward, Konrad falls mysteriously ill and Victor becomes obsessed with creating The Elixir of Life, a potion found in a book from the Dark Library, and sets out on a quest with Elizabeth and Henry to track down it's ingredients.
From the beginning, the 4 friends are pretty much isolated from everyone other than Victor and Konrad's parents, so they only have each other to rely on. And Victor uses a tiny cell in the basement of the family's chateau as his first laboratory. The Dark Library itself is completely underground and cut off from the rest of the house, and all of these things combined create this wonderfully creepy, claustrophobic feel.
Content Warning
Even though this book deals with teenagers, and has been lumped into the YA genre, in my opinion it is much more of an adult read. Some of the scenes, especially towards the end are quite intense, and I also feel the need to point out, Victor ends up being portrayed as quite the horny teenager (something that only intensifies in the sequel [b:Such Wicked Intent|13063098|Such Wicked Intent (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, #2)|Kenneth Oppel|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1321411633s/13063098.jpg|18228583]). So you know...just keep that in mind. ;)
My one complaint...and it truly is a bit nit-picky on my part: The love..quadrangle. I could understand having the conflict of Victor and Konrad both being in love with Elizabeth (though if I'm being honest, the fact that she was their cousin skeeved me out. Yes, I know it was much more common back in those days, but still...), but the addition of Henry also being smitten? Not really necessary.
The actual ending of the book was a bit of a surprise, though it probably shouldn't have been, but it still packed an emotional punch.
This was a truly wonderful, and atmospheric gem that is definitely deserving of a spot on my keeper shelf.
My YT Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/Bookgasmic
My blog: http://ravingbookaddict.blogspot.com/
Victor and his twin brother Konrad are 16 and staying at the family house in Geneva along with their cousin Elizabeth and close friend Henry. One day, they discover a hidden passage way that leads down to a secret room that the friends dub The Dark Library. Shortly afterward, Konrad falls mysteriously ill and Victor becomes obsessed with creating The Elixir of Life, a potion found in a book from the Dark Library, and sets out on a quest with Elizabeth and Henry to track down it's ingredients.
From the beginning, the 4 friends are pretty much isolated from everyone other than Victor and Konrad's parents, so they only have each other to rely on. And Victor uses a tiny cell in the basement of the family's chateau as his first laboratory. The Dark Library itself is completely underground and cut off from the rest of the house, and all of these things combined create this wonderfully creepy, claustrophobic feel.
Content Warning
Even though this book deals with teenagers, and has been lumped into the YA genre, in my opinion it is much more of an adult read. Some of the scenes, especially towards the end are quite intense, and I also feel the need to point out, Victor ends up being portrayed as quite the horny teenager (something that only intensifies in the sequel [b:Such Wicked Intent|13063098|Such Wicked Intent (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, #2)|Kenneth Oppel|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1321411633s/13063098.jpg|18228583]). So you know...just keep that in mind. ;)
My one complaint...and it truly is a bit nit-picky on my part: The love..quadrangle. I could understand having the conflict of Victor and Konrad both being in love with Elizabeth (though if I'm being honest, the fact that she was their cousin skeeved me out. Yes, I know it was much more common back in those days, but still...), but the addition of Henry also being smitten? Not really necessary.
The actual ending of the book was a bit of a surprise, though it probably shouldn't have been, but it still packed an emotional punch.
This was a truly wonderful, and atmospheric gem that is definitely deserving of a spot on my keeper shelf.
My YT Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/Bookgasmic
My blog: http://ravingbookaddict.blogspot.com/
This book was a bit of a balancing act with me. I am not sure what I expected, starting it. I have never read Mary Shelley's original novel (and knowing it has a tragic ending, I probably never will!), though I am aware of the gist of the story. (Who's not??)I do, however LOVE LOVE Oppel's "Airborn" series so picked this up fully expecting to love it as well.
Well, all in all, I DID like like it. It had great pacing, lots of adventure (some of its a little cliche, but it was interesting to read so I'm not complaining. Cliche doesn't mean bad!), and I loved the overall 'gothic' atmosphere. It was enough to be a bit broody and gripping but not enough to be 'dark' or 'depressing'.
The only problems I had was the whole sense of 'something bad is going to happen' that sort of seemed to loom over Victor. Maybe it does, eventually - in the classic novel? But yeah, Victor sort of seems set up to doom - mostly by his own attitudes and choices, granted. Though he was doing a more or less heroic thing trying to save his brother.
I also HATED HATED thefact that the cat was killed. And in such a horrible fashion too. I LIKED the cat. Probably more than any of the people characters. )(Ok, I did like Elizabeth too - and Konrad seemed nice, though he's sort of out of the book most of the time. But that cat. . .I loved it!!) I sort of get why it had to go - but surely that scene could have ended better??
Other than those two points I rather quite enjoyed the book. It did leave me feeling a little...indignant at the ending. But I believe this is only book one, so a sequel might help wrap things up a trifle. Or at least not leave us feeling quite so much up in the air. (or maybe I really do need to read the original classic? . . .nah! Think Ill find a spoiler for that instead.)
Well, all in all, I DID like like it. It had great pacing, lots of adventure (some of its a little cliche, but it was interesting to read so I'm not complaining. Cliche doesn't mean bad!), and I loved the overall 'gothic' atmosphere. It was enough to be a bit broody and gripping but not enough to be 'dark' or 'depressing'.
The only problems I had was the whole sense of 'something bad is going to happen' that sort of seemed to loom over Victor. Maybe it does, eventually - in the classic novel? But yeah, Victor sort of seems set up to doom - mostly by his own attitudes and choices, granted. Though he was doing a more or less heroic thing trying to save his brother.
I also HATED HATED the
Other than those two points I rather quite enjoyed the book. It did leave me feeling a little...indignant at the ending. But I believe this is only book one, so a sequel might help wrap things up a trifle. Or at least not leave us feeling quite so much up in the air. (or maybe I really do need to read the original classic? . . .nah! Think Ill find a spoiler for that instead.)
i cannot express how utterly terrible this book is.
What most upsets me, other than the love triangle between VICTOR, HIS TWIN, AND THEIR COUSIN, is that this unlikeable little goblin gets everything he wants in the end, apart from his brother dying. It’s also implied that the reason he makes his monster is to bring back Konrad, which is singlehandedly the most insulting thing about this book. All of these characters are completely unlikeable, including the love interest, who has no flaws whatsoever and has a harem of male main characters after her. The one good thing about this book is the environments and the “magic.” I swear, Mary Shelley is spinning in her grave.
EDIT: also I forgot most of the descriptions Victor has of Elizabeth are??? Super rapey??? He keeps talking about stealing her from his brother when she CLEARLY DOESNT LIKE HIM and then keeps talking about her “womanly body” 🤮 AND THEN SHE KISSES HIM AT THE END??? WHAT???
thank god im reading a good book after this to cleanse my soul
What most upsets me, other than the love triangle between VICTOR, HIS TWIN, AND THEIR COUSIN, is that this unlikeable little goblin gets everything he wants in the end, apart from his brother dying. It’s also implied that the reason he makes his monster is to bring back Konrad, which is singlehandedly the most insulting thing about this book. All of these characters are completely unlikeable, including the love interest, who has no flaws whatsoever and has a harem of male main characters after her. The one good thing about this book is the environments and the “magic.” I swear, Mary Shelley is spinning in her grave.
EDIT: also I forgot most of the descriptions Victor has of Elizabeth are??? Super rapey??? He keeps talking about stealing her from his brother when she CLEARLY DOESNT LIKE HIM and then keeps talking about her “womanly body” 🤮 AND THEN SHE KISSES HIM AT THE END??? WHAT???
thank god im reading a good book after this to cleanse my soul
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Victor Frankenstein's backstory is a great read for October. Dark, twisted, and interesting. Victor will do anything to keep his twin brother alive. He starts dabbling in alchemy to heal his brother from a mysterious illness.
A fun read, but I am so over YA love triangles.
A fun read, but I am so over YA love triangles.
Kenneth Oppel has already proven his writing abilities with his other books, but with this work he has taken his art to a new place and it is one of dark fascination. I have been a Mary Shelley devotee for many years and was at first leery of a work that had been labeled as the prequel to her amazing saga. However, Oppel's journey into the dark landscape of the mind of young Victor Frankenstein provides deep insight and plausibility for what follows later in Shelley's work. And Oppel does not shy away from the frightening and bizarre rituals that fuel the alchemical process that so absorbs Victor in his quest for love and power. Highly recommended.
It was a great creepy adventure novel, but really didn't seem to have much of anything to do with the classic it's supposed to lead up to.