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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
I've been hearing for months from everyone who's read this book that it's phenomenal- something unique nad refreshing in the world of YA, for a multitide of different reasons.
But for some reason, this seems to be a book that's often overlook and doesn't seem to be talked about much. And that is a travesty, because all the hype was right!
But for some reason, this seems to be a book that's often overlook and doesn't seem to be talked about much. And that is a travesty, because all the hype was right!
Historical YA with a paranormal twist:
There really isn't that much historical YA out there, but more of them seem to be incorporating a paranormal twist which can definitely add something to a book, and I think it works really well in this one. And by using the term "historical" I'm referring to the time period it's set in, rather than the characters (who have always been a work of fiction). But it's also interesting because it works as a sort of prequel to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and tells of the early life of Victor Frankenstein. In that respect, it makes a really great back story to a classic tale. But it isn't as heavily influenced by the paranormal aspect as most other new books are, which is a tad refreshing.
A story without a guaranteed happy ending:
Things aren't wrapped up with a pretty little bow; and people aren't always as nice or kind-hearted as one might hope. It's a dark world, with some unhappy twists and discoveries but they really help paint the picture of the circumstances Victor went through before he became the infamous Dr. Frankenstein with his own creation and monster.
Fabulous writing:
Kenneth Oppel has been writing books for a while, and this book is no exception to his talent. I found myself truly engrossed and attached to the story and characters, and much of this was thanks to the exceptional writing. Kenneth has a way with words that does more than paint a picture, but brings the pages to life. And THAT is something rather uncommon.
Widespread appeal:
This really is a book that just about any reader of fiction will enjoy; it isn't limited to just fans of YA, or a specific gender, or even to fans of a certain genre. It can easily crossover to a wide span of ages and interests, with something for every reader to appreciate whether it's romance, action, mystery, dark mysteries, and realistic consequences.
Copy won in giveaway from HarperCollins Canada.
Meh, interesting yet by the time I closed the book I had little interest to pick up the next book in the series. Good idea for a book series but ultimately I cared little for the characters.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not my usual type of book but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
Summery
Victor and Konrad Frankenstein are twins brothers are nearly inseparable, and with their feisty cousin Elizabeth life is imaginary adventure after adventure. Until one day the adventures become all too real. The trio stumbles upon the Dark Library and discover secret books of alchemy and ancient remedies. Victor and Konradโs father forbids them from ever going there again, until one day when Konrad falls mysteriously. Determined to save him, Victor, Elizabeth and their best friend Henry goes to the Dark Library to try to find the author of the books. With danger, lies, and love, this book will having you guessing what will happen until the last page.
My Review
I would recommend this book PG-13 because their are some subjects that would be hard for younger kids to understand. I would rate this book 4.5/5 stars, but only because there is some love triangles going on, and Iโm not really into that romantic stuff.
Victor and Konrad Frankenstein are twins brothers are nearly inseparable, and with their feisty cousin Elizabeth life is imaginary adventure after adventure. Until one day the adventures become all too real. The trio stumbles upon the Dark Library and discover secret books of alchemy and ancient remedies. Victor and Konradโs father forbids them from ever going there again, until one day when Konrad falls mysteriously. Determined to save him, Victor, Elizabeth and their best friend Henry goes to the Dark Library to try to find the author of the books. With danger, lies, and love, this book will having you guessing what will happen until the last page.
My Review
I would recommend this book PG-13 because their are some subjects that would be hard for younger kids to understand. I would rate this book 4.5/5 stars, but only because there is some love triangles going on, and Iโm not really into that romantic stuff.
I hated Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. With a burning passion. Reading that book literally made me feel like I was slowly losing mental capacity with every passing minute, and my brain was turning to mush. So even though I absolutely love Kenneth Oppel, and I've been dying to read this book since I first heard about it, I wasn't sure if it would change my mind about Frankenstein.
Well, it didn't change my mind about Shelley's version, but I sure as heck liked This Dark Endeavor.
Victor Frankenstein's twin brother, Konrad, has fallen ill of a deadly disease that no doctor can seem to cure. Desperate to find a solution, Victor turns to alchemy, a practice that his own father made illegal in their home country of Geneva. He sets out with his good friend Henry Clerval and his beautiful cousin Elizabeth to create the Elixer of Life, in hopes of saving Konrad before it's too late. The quest soon becomes a perilous race to collect the ingredients in time.
I have to give Oppel major props for his ridiculously awesome writing style. While it was obvious that this novel is a modern effort, some of the language and sentence structures were very reminiscent of Shelley's Frankenstein, which was very interesting, and gave the book that sort of moody, Gothic feel.
I also need to say that Oppel did a great job interpreting the character of Victor Frankenstein. He kept him more or less as Shelley had written him - as a stupid, arrogant jerk. Although, you do get more of a sense in this book that Victor's heart is generally in the right place, what with trying to save his twin brother's life. That gave me more of a reason to sympathize with him.
Speaking of characters, the love triangle between Victor, Konrad, and Elizabeth was fantastic. So well-written and, in my opinion, believable. Once again, Oppel was right on with Victor's behavior (annoyingly possessive and jealous).
And boy oh boy, does Oppel know how to write a killer ending. The last 70ish pages of this book had my heart racing. I literally couldn't peel myself away from the book. I was actually surprised with the ending ending, and even though it had a certain note of finality, it certainly left me wanting more. Which leads me to my next point...
Who's stoked for a sequel? I was very excited to see the little "Book One" on the cover page of my book, and I just found out that the second book, Such Wicked Intent, comes out next August. Booyah. I'm very interested to see how it'll turn out.
In short, I'd definitely recommend this book. It'd be perfect for that middle school boy you know that never wants to read anything (provided, of course, he doesn't mind a little romance), or really anyone. And if you liked This Dark Endeavor I would also recommend reading some of Oppel's other books like his Matt Cruse series (the first installment is Airborn) or Half-Brother. I've read both, and loved them just a much.
Well, it didn't change my mind about Shelley's version, but I sure as heck liked This Dark Endeavor.
Victor Frankenstein's twin brother, Konrad, has fallen ill of a deadly disease that no doctor can seem to cure. Desperate to find a solution, Victor turns to alchemy, a practice that his own father made illegal in their home country of Geneva. He sets out with his good friend Henry Clerval and his beautiful cousin Elizabeth to create the Elixer of Life, in hopes of saving Konrad before it's too late. The quest soon becomes a perilous race to collect the ingredients in time.
I have to give Oppel major props for his ridiculously awesome writing style. While it was obvious that this novel is a modern effort, some of the language and sentence structures were very reminiscent of Shelley's Frankenstein, which was very interesting, and gave the book that sort of moody, Gothic feel.
I also need to say that Oppel did a great job interpreting the character of Victor Frankenstein. He kept him more or less as Shelley had written him - as a stupid, arrogant jerk. Although, you do get more of a sense in this book that Victor's heart is generally in the right place, what with trying to save his twin brother's life. That gave me more of a reason to sympathize with him.
Speaking of characters, the love triangle between Victor, Konrad, and Elizabeth was fantastic. So well-written and, in my opinion, believable. Once again, Oppel was right on with Victor's behavior (annoyingly possessive and jealous).
And boy oh boy, does Oppel know how to write a killer ending. The last 70ish pages of this book had my heart racing. I literally couldn't peel myself away from the book. I was actually surprised with the ending ending, and even though it had a certain note of finality, it certainly left me wanting more. Which leads me to my next point...
Who's stoked for a sequel? I was very excited to see the little "Book One" on the cover page of my book, and I just found out that the second book, Such Wicked Intent, comes out next August. Booyah. I'm very interested to see how it'll turn out.
In short, I'd definitely recommend this book. It'd be perfect for that middle school boy you know that never wants to read anything (provided, of course, he doesn't mind a little romance), or really anyone. And if you liked This Dark Endeavor I would also recommend reading some of Oppel's other books like his Matt Cruse series (the first installment is Airborn) or Half-Brother. I've read both, and loved them just a much.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐."
I was super excited for this one. It's a prequel to the classic by Marry Shelly, Frankenstein. ๐ It was definitely not a let down. This was such a good read! Full of adventures, monsters, alchemy, and a tiny bit of "romance".
"๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ค๐ง๐๐ฐ ๐ง๐จ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฉ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ง ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ , ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ง๐จ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ง๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ."
The early life of Victor Frankenstein was so wonderfully reimagined, and the world building was very well done. I found it to be very in line with the original story with a nice dash of Mr. Oppels imagination. I think this would be the perfect book to give to a boy who wants to get into reading. It has everything that draws boys to stories. The book is fast paced and packed with adventures.
Over all, if you like darker stories and literary retellings, then I think you will get lots of enjoyment from this book!
โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ 5/5
Book Preview at the (book) supplier: http://wp.me/p1D93k-pF
My coming across this book was a bit of pure luck, browsing the shelves at Waterstones and seeking something with a boy on the cover, or at least a boy protagonist along the girls that seem to dominate the YA genre. So when the book I picked up (actually Suck Wicked Intent, which I hadnโt realised was book two at the time) offered not only a boy on the cover but the promise of a thrilling dark and gothic prequel to the story of Frankenstein, I was rather excited.
Now letโs put it into context, I have never read much gothic horror, be it classical or modern, and my attempts at dipping my toes in the horror genre have never gotten me very far. I love the creepy, mysterious build ups but the endings always leave me disappointed, often bitterly so. I did, however, hope that a story set in a time period so very suited to the genre and mixing alchemy with the paranormal would be what I had been looking for.
Instantly, Victor (main twin and POV of both books) was my favourite of the twins: Konrad just seemed too damn good and too damn reasonable whereas Victor already promised all the greyness I like to find in my protagonists. So when Konrad falls mysteriously ill after he, his brother, and their childhood friend Elisabeth discover the familyโs hidden Dark Library which contains hundreds of tomes on alchemy, Victor isnโt willing to sit still and wait for the doctors to do something. Instead, helped by Elisabeth, for whom he is just about starting to develop feelings, and their friend Henry who has always been dragged into their โadventuresโ, he delves into the Dark Libraryโagainst his fatherโs wishesโto seek a cure for his brother. Thatโs how he finds himself in possession of the recipe for the Elixir of Life, the one thing that could save Konrad and restore his life once and for all.
With the help of the alchemist Polidori who lives in disgrace in the nearby city, the three teenagers set off on a quest to find the different ingredients needed for the Elixir.
I was glad I knew from the back of book two that Konrad was going to die (sorry for the spoiler!) because otherwise this book would have hit me where it hurt and I donโt know whether I would have found myself more upset or angry at it. Although I couldnโt quite get attached to Konrad (who I spent the latter half of the book when he wasnโt back to half dying wanting to smack around the head), I felt for Victor as he was forced, first by his father then by Konrad himself, to stop pursuing his dabbling in alchemy.
But with how two out of the three ingredients in his possession, Victor decides he canโt possibly give up now and manages to shake both Henry and Elisabeth out of their refusal to help and the three of them return to the alchemist to finish up the Elixir.
The end of the book left a bitter taste in my mouth and left me both very disappointed and unfulfilled. No reason is given as to why what happens happens, and not even in the second book do any of the characters question the why. Itโs a little frustrating, and I do feel that Oppel could have done better with this. There would be have been many different ways to end book one that would have been by far more shocking and yet far more appropriate, leaving the mystery open instead of taking part of it away.
Bar the ending, the book was fantastic. Victor is a flawed but believable character who, having just turned sixteen and possessed of passion. Having always come second best to Konrad, Victor feels that this is his time to shine, and where possible get the girl. But more than that, Victor craves the knowledge that comes to him, and with it the skill set that he is starting to acquire. Because Victor is good at alchemy, he seems almost intuitively skilled with it and for once he no longer feels as though he isnโt good enough. By his side is Henry, a friend from childhood who far prefers poetry to adventure but is steadfast in his loyalty to Victor and his brother. And there is Elisabeth, the pretty girl, distant cousin to the twins and the target or everyoneโs attention. Now, having already read and finished book two, I canโt quite remember what I though of Elisabeth in this book. I think she was okay although I really wanted to smack the over-religiousness she displays later on in the story right out of her (but that, I guess, is just a question of preference).
All in all, This Dark Endeavour was a really good book, well written with the perfect imagery for its genre and believable flawed characters. Itโs just a pity the ending seemed to leave me wanting more of a resolution.
Now letโs put it into context, I have never read much gothic horror, be it classical or modern, and my attempts at dipping my toes in the horror genre have never gotten me very far. I love the creepy, mysterious build ups but the endings always leave me disappointed, often bitterly so. I did, however, hope that a story set in a time period so very suited to the genre and mixing alchemy with the paranormal would be what I had been looking for.
Instantly, Victor (main twin and POV of both books) was my favourite of the twins: Konrad just seemed too damn good and too damn reasonable whereas Victor already promised all the greyness I like to find in my protagonists. So when Konrad falls mysteriously ill after he, his brother, and their childhood friend Elisabeth discover the familyโs hidden Dark Library which contains hundreds of tomes on alchemy, Victor isnโt willing to sit still and wait for the doctors to do something. Instead, helped by Elisabeth, for whom he is just about starting to develop feelings, and their friend Henry who has always been dragged into their โadventuresโ, he delves into the Dark Libraryโagainst his fatherโs wishesโto seek a cure for his brother. Thatโs how he finds himself in possession of the recipe for the Elixir of Life, the one thing that could save Konrad and restore his life once and for all.
With the help of the alchemist Polidori who lives in disgrace in the nearby city, the three teenagers set off on a quest to find the different ingredients needed for the Elixir.
I was glad I knew from the back of book two that Konrad was going to die (sorry for the spoiler!) because otherwise this book would have hit me where it hurt and I donโt know whether I would have found myself more upset or angry at it. Although I couldnโt quite get attached to Konrad (who I spent the latter half of the book when he wasnโt back to half dying wanting to smack around the head), I felt for Victor as he was forced, first by his father then by Konrad himself, to stop pursuing his dabbling in alchemy.
But with how two out of the three ingredients in his possession, Victor decides he canโt possibly give up now and manages to shake both Henry and Elisabeth out of their refusal to help and the three of them return to the alchemist to finish up the Elixir.
The end of the book left a bitter taste in my mouth and left me both very disappointed and unfulfilled. No reason is given as to why what happens happens, and not even in the second book do any of the characters question the why. Itโs a little frustrating, and I do feel that Oppel could have done better with this. There would be have been many different ways to end book one that would have been by far more shocking and yet far more appropriate, leaving the mystery open instead of taking part of it away.
Bar the ending, the book was fantastic. Victor is a flawed but believable character who, having just turned sixteen and possessed of passion. Having always come second best to Konrad, Victor feels that this is his time to shine, and where possible get the girl. But more than that, Victor craves the knowledge that comes to him, and with it the skill set that he is starting to acquire. Because Victor is good at alchemy, he seems almost intuitively skilled with it and for once he no longer feels as though he isnโt good enough. By his side is Henry, a friend from childhood who far prefers poetry to adventure but is steadfast in his loyalty to Victor and his brother. And there is Elisabeth, the pretty girl, distant cousin to the twins and the target or everyoneโs attention. Now, having already read and finished book two, I canโt quite remember what I though of Elisabeth in this book. I think she was okay although I really wanted to smack the over-religiousness she displays later on in the story right out of her (but that, I guess, is just a question of preference).
All in all, This Dark Endeavour was a really good book, well written with the perfect imagery for its genre and believable flawed characters. Itโs just a pity the ending seemed to leave me wanting more of a resolution.
This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel is the first novel in the series The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein. One day while horse playing in their library Victor, his twin brother Konrad, and their cousin Elizabeth, discover a secret passage. This extremely steep passage stairs leads down to the Dark Library. Unlike the other library in the house, this Dark Library holds books that contain recipes of alchemy, and even a recipe for the Elixir of Life. On their search for ingredients for the Elixir of Life they are brought to an ancient forest. In the forest they must climb a hundred foot tall tree and use wolf vision to find the tree bark ingredient. While in the tree they encounter a dangerous vulture like bird, and must risk obtaining the ingredient or surviving.
This Dark Endeavor takes place at the Frankenstein manor and various locations around the Republic of Geneva. The time period for this novel is the 18th century. When Konrad falls ill, little is done to help cure him due to the time periods limited medical resources. Victor is desperate to try anything and goes in search of ingredients around Geneva.
Victor, the younger twin to Konrad, is the main character in the novel. He is very self-centered at the beginning of the novel, but when his twin brother falls ill he is willing to do anything to help. Victor turns away from his selfish ways and starts to truly care about others. He gets over his hatred for his โperfectโ brother and realizes that although he may have to work harder for what he wants he is just as important as his brother. The author develops Victor very slowly. Victor does change his ways but falls back into them at the end. Best friend Henry is a minor character in this novel. Henry lives with the Frankenstein family for most of the summer as his father is away on business. While out on adventures, Henry is afraid of most of their quests and instead is watch guard. Being a young poet and author, Henry can write any dangerous scenario but when it comes to actually being in one he shies away from them. Henry is developed faster than Victor. Henry decides to get over his fears and actually be a part of the adventures.
I felt that writing a prequel to Mary Shelleyโs famous Frankenstein, would not be an easy job. Kenneth Oppel did a good job writing how the famous Dr. Frankenstein got into alchemy. By starting out in Victorโs teenage years, Oppel shows us how Victor becomes so obsessed into learning how to bring the dead back to life.
One bad point is that the ages did not match up for me. This novel was written for twelve year olds or older. Victor, in the story is sixteen. Although Iโm pretty sure twelve year olds can handle reading about a sixteen year old, Victor did not act like a sixteen year old. Instead he acted more like a twelve year old. The novel does move a little slow and at times moves a little too fast to understand. In some parts I was so confused with the pacing of the scene that I had to reread what had just happened because I could not follow along.
The ending of this novel worked, if you know anything about Frankenstein you know how Victor will be like an adult. The kindle addition I got actually came with Mary Shelleyโs Frankenstein in the end. After finishing the novel, it made me want to read Frankenstein to see the similarities of Victor as a teenage to when he is an adult. What I got from the novel that Oppel is trying to point out is what happens in your youth can affect how you will be as an adult.
This Dark Endeavor takes place at the Frankenstein manor and various locations around the Republic of Geneva. The time period for this novel is the 18th century. When Konrad falls ill, little is done to help cure him due to the time periods limited medical resources. Victor is desperate to try anything and goes in search of ingredients around Geneva.
Victor, the younger twin to Konrad, is the main character in the novel. He is very self-centered at the beginning of the novel, but when his twin brother falls ill he is willing to do anything to help. Victor turns away from his selfish ways and starts to truly care about others. He gets over his hatred for his โperfectโ brother and realizes that although he may have to work harder for what he wants he is just as important as his brother. The author develops Victor very slowly. Victor does change his ways but falls back into them at the end. Best friend Henry is a minor character in this novel. Henry lives with the Frankenstein family for most of the summer as his father is away on business. While out on adventures, Henry is afraid of most of their quests and instead is watch guard. Being a young poet and author, Henry can write any dangerous scenario but when it comes to actually being in one he shies away from them. Henry is developed faster than Victor. Henry decides to get over his fears and actually be a part of the adventures.
I felt that writing a prequel to Mary Shelleyโs famous Frankenstein, would not be an easy job. Kenneth Oppel did a good job writing how the famous Dr. Frankenstein got into alchemy. By starting out in Victorโs teenage years, Oppel shows us how Victor becomes so obsessed into learning how to bring the dead back to life.
One bad point is that the ages did not match up for me. This novel was written for twelve year olds or older. Victor, in the story is sixteen. Although Iโm pretty sure twelve year olds can handle reading about a sixteen year old, Victor did not act like a sixteen year old. Instead he acted more like a twelve year old. The novel does move a little slow and at times moves a little too fast to understand. In some parts I was so confused with the pacing of the scene that I had to reread what had just happened because I could not follow along.
The ending of this novel worked, if you know anything about Frankenstein you know how Victor will be like an adult. The kindle addition I got actually came with Mary Shelleyโs Frankenstein in the end. After finishing the novel, it made me want to read Frankenstein to see the similarities of Victor as a teenage to when he is an adult. What I got from the novel that Oppel is trying to point out is what happens in your youth can affect how you will be as an adult.