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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 STARS
- Plot / Setting
The plot has no big twists and proceeds slowly, since the author focuses a lot on introspection and on the various aspects of what is happening. However the story flows like water and the slowness mentioned above does not feel in a negative way (and I say this as a person who hates slow books).
The setting is not very thorough, perhaps because Oppel starts from the assumption that whoever reads the book has already read Frankenstein. This made my nose turn up a bit, 'cause I'd preferred more information, but I appreciated that he concentrated on the historical aspect, citing the events that were taking place in France at the time.
- Originality
I haven't found any flaws, just some minor inconsistency that most affects the characters. Instead, there are plenty of clichés and although at the beginning they may seem badly inserted the more you go on the more you realize that they are either perfectly calculated or Oppel has made fun of us (aka it's not what we expected). I must say that when I got to about 70% of the book I had not yet understood where it would go, 'cause everything was so unpredictable as to prevent me from making logical conjectures. And a few pages from the end, when I thought I had understood by now, I found myself having to think again. In short, Oppel likes to troll.
- Narration
The narration of events and actions is well done, in fact the reading flows in a fluid and easy to understand way. The descriptions are a little fluctuating, both as regards characters and places, but being us from Victor's point of view this makes perfect sense: Victor is anything but poetic and often gets lost in his reasoning or to observe something in particular (coff coff Elizabeth coff coff) so watching the landscape is the least of his thoughts.
The dialogues are sometimes strange, I can't explain how, it's a personal feeling, but they are completely logical and reflect the era quite well. The storytelling style is first person in the past and I must say that I really liked it, it exudes character and it is as if the real Victor was telling us his story.
- Characterization
I perceived the characters in a very real way. Victor is a complex protagonist, since his morality is a little swinging - plus a wheel of fortune, if you are lucky he treats you shit, if it goes wrong you don't want to know - and he has a bad temper. The reader sees that Victor is no good and that he never does things because of a good Samaritan instinct, and he often does truly questionable actions, but at the same time one cannot help but love him. His humanity exudes so much from the pages that when he is sad we feel sad too, when he is angry we agree with him and when Elizabeth shows that she prefers Konrad we also feel hurt. Few times it has happened to me to feel so close to a character, to feel him so alive, and for this I have to congratulate Oppel, because this is knowing how to write.
The other characters also perceive themselves as very real, especially Elizabeth, Henry and Konrad.
Polidori is another secondary but very important character, whose true role remained obscure to me until the last part of the book.
Even the extras, like Victor's parents and the housekeeper, although less important, have their own personality, which is not easy to achieve given the few direct interventions.
- Style / Conclusions
As for the writing style, I must say that Oppel writes really beautifully. This dark endeavor isn't his first book I read (I have also started Every hidden thing, a retelling of Romeo and Juliet with dinosaur fossils - let's talk about it), and what I already thought here has been confirmed. Oppel's writing is great and he knows how to structure a book, and if EHT turns out to be as good as TDE, well... I would say that he'll become one of my favorite authors.
- Plot / Setting
The plot has no big twists and proceeds slowly, since the author focuses a lot on introspection and on the various aspects of what is happening. However the story flows like water and the slowness mentioned above does not feel in a negative way (and I say this as a person who hates slow books).
The setting is not very thorough, perhaps because Oppel starts from the assumption that whoever reads the book has already read Frankenstein. This made my nose turn up a bit, 'cause I'd preferred more information, but I appreciated that he concentrated on the historical aspect, citing the events that were taking place in France at the time.
- Originality
I haven't found any flaws, just some minor inconsistency that most affects the characters. Instead, there are plenty of clichés and although at the beginning they may seem badly inserted the more you go on the more you realize that they are either perfectly calculated or Oppel has made fun of us (aka it's not what we expected). I must say that when I got to about 70% of the book I had not yet understood where it would go, 'cause everything was so unpredictable as to prevent me from making logical conjectures. And a few pages from the end, when I thought I had understood by now, I found myself having to think again. In short, Oppel likes to troll.
- Narration
The narration of events and actions is well done, in fact the reading flows in a fluid and easy to understand way. The descriptions are a little fluctuating, both as regards characters and places, but being us from Victor's point of view this makes perfect sense: Victor is anything but poetic and often gets lost in his reasoning or to observe something in particular (coff coff Elizabeth coff coff) so watching the landscape is the least of his thoughts.
The dialogues are sometimes strange, I can't explain how, it's a personal feeling, but they are completely logical and reflect the era quite well. The storytelling style is first person in the past and I must say that I really liked it, it exudes character and it is as if the real Victor was telling us his story.
- Characterization
I perceived the characters in a very real way. Victor is a complex protagonist, since his morality is a little swinging - plus a wheel of fortune, if you are lucky he treats you shit, if it goes wrong you don't want to know - and he has a bad temper. The reader sees that Victor is no good and that he never does things because of a good Samaritan instinct, and he often does truly questionable actions, but at the same time one cannot help but love him. His humanity exudes so much from the pages that when he is sad we feel sad too, when he is angry we agree with him and when Elizabeth shows that she prefers Konrad we also feel hurt. Few times it has happened to me to feel so close to a character, to feel him so alive, and for this I have to congratulate Oppel, because this is knowing how to write.
The other characters also perceive themselves as very real, especially Elizabeth, Henry and Konrad.
Polidori is another secondary but very important character, whose true role remained obscure to me until the last part of the book.
Even the extras, like Victor's parents and the housekeeper, although less important, have their own personality, which is not easy to achieve given the few direct interventions.
- Style / Conclusions
As for the writing style, I must say that Oppel writes really beautifully. This dark endeavor isn't his first book I read (I have also started Every hidden thing, a retelling of Romeo and Juliet with dinosaur fossils - let's talk about it), and what I already thought here has been confirmed. Oppel's writing is great and he knows how to structure a book, and if EHT turns out to be as good as TDE, well... I would say that he'll become one of my favorite authors.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This Dark Endeavor follows a young Victor Frankenstein and his adventures with his brother Konrad, his cousin Elizabeth, and his friend Henry Clerval. He delves into the forbidden alchemy to save his brother from a mysterious sickness.
Let's get the bad stuff out of the way, shall we? My first issue is none of the characters appealed to me. They all annoyed me with their decisions and how they reacted with the other characters. Elizabeth was a bit too obnoxious with her insistence on there being a god when it wasn't really a central theme in the book? Konrad was annoying in that he seemed to be better in everything and wasn't afraid to take control all the time. Henry was too timid. Victor, the main character, almost had NO REDEEMING QUALITIES. He was arrogant and disgusting most of the time. The only thing that I can see that might be a little good that he did was his devotion to his brother. Basically the characters were a mess.
The love triangle between Elizabeth, Konrad, and Victor was annoying. That's all the book would ever talk about when it clearly wasn't that important! Not when you're messing with alchemy to cure your brother from an illness! I think I might have liked it if Oppel wouldn't have made it so repetitive.
The book also got a bit slow at times, I felt. I don't know if it was the constant reiteration of the love triangle, but it was an issue for me.
HOWEVER, there was quite a bit I DID like. I've read Frankenstein, so this was an interesting read on seeing how what he did when he was young affected him in his adulthood. (I know that this wasn't written by Mary Shelley and that everything written is Oppel's take, but I like how he used the original novel, okay?) It explained Victor's fascination with death and bringing things back to life.
The book was very addicting. Even though I had no love for the characters, I always wanted to find what stupid decision they would make next.
I don't recommend this book actually unless you're starving for more Frankenstein literature. Overall, kind of meh.
Let's get the bad stuff out of the way, shall we? My first issue is none of the characters appealed to me. They all annoyed me with their decisions and how they reacted with the other characters. Elizabeth was a bit too obnoxious with her insistence on there being a god when it wasn't really a central theme in the book? Konrad was annoying in that he seemed to be better in everything and wasn't afraid to take control all the time. Henry was too timid. Victor, the main character, almost had NO REDEEMING QUALITIES. He was arrogant and disgusting most of the time. The only thing that I can see that might be a little good that he did was his devotion to his brother. Basically the characters were a mess.
The love triangle between Elizabeth, Konrad, and Victor was annoying. That's all the book would ever talk about when it clearly wasn't that important! Not when you're messing with alchemy to cure your brother from an illness! I think I might have liked it if Oppel wouldn't have made it so repetitive.
The book also got a bit slow at times, I felt. I don't know if it was the constant reiteration of the love triangle, but it was an issue for me.
HOWEVER, there was quite a bit I DID like. I've read Frankenstein, so this was an interesting read on seeing how what he did when he was young affected him in his adulthood. (I know that this wasn't written by Mary Shelley and that everything written is Oppel's take, but I like how he used the original novel, okay?) It explained Victor's fascination with death and bringing things back to life.
The book was very addicting. Even though I had no love for the characters, I always wanted to find what stupid decision they would make next.
I don't recommend this book actually unless you're starving for more Frankenstein literature. Overall, kind of meh.
Who doesn't know the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young Swiss student of chemistry and natural philosophy, who, obsessed with the concept of creating life, began a series of experiments that lead to creation of a "monster"? We've all heard the story, some of us have read Mary Shelley's book, the rest have probably watched the excellent James Whale/Boris Karloff's film adaptation of it. Shelley's novel is a true classic of science fiction, dark fantasy and horror, a chilling, deeply disturbing and absolutely heart-breaking tale that has well earned its place in popular culture. But have you ever wondered what lead Victor Frankentein to do all these things? What drove him? What sparked his obsession with finding the ultimate cure for death, what fed his madness? If you did, then this is the right book for you. In This Dark Endeavor Kenneth Oppel answers some of the nagging questions we as readers have had over the years. He takes us on an incredible journey back in time to Victor's teenage years, and, through the magnificent 19th century-sque beautiful, ornate language, skillfully recreates the fascinating adventures and gut-wrenching events that lead to his future as Dr. Frankenstein.
Sixteen years old Victor leads a sweet life. He is a son of privilege. Together with his twin brother, Konrad, and beautiful cousin, Elizabeth, he enjoys all the advantages that come from being the heir to a wealthy and well-respected family. These three have everything they could possibly want. Victor's parents provide them with the highest quality, progressive education. They pass their time playing in the garden, acting in plays, horseback riding, fencing and exploring all the hidden passages and secret rooms in the splendid Frankenstein chateau. One day, when spending time in their father's library, they accidentally stumble upon yet another mysterious passageway hidden behind the bookshelves. At the end of the long, dingy corridor they discover what turns out to be the Biblioteka Obscura - the Dark Library, full of books written in ancient, strange languages, containing forbidden knowledge. Before they get a chance to further explore the contents, their father forbids them from entering the library ever again, making it very clear that it's not a good place and should remain hidden and forgotten. It isn't until Konrad falls victim to a deadly illness that Victor decides to re-visit the Dark Library in hope of finding the recipe for the legendary Elixir of Life. Desperate to save his brother's life, young Frankenstein will stop at nothing. Together with Elizabeth and their friend, Henry, they'll set out on a dangerous journey, one that will change their lives forever.
Enthralling and beautifully shaped - This Dark Endeavor is a remarkable book. I loved every second of it. Kenneth Oppel's lyrical language resembles Mary Shelley's writing style so much that you practically can't tell the difference. At the same time it feels even more fluent and smooth, giving the impression of effortlessly flowing river of words. Mesmerizing, bewitching and deliciously dark - every passage of this book begs to be quoted, to be read aloud, to be re-read over and over again (and possibly shared on Twitter). It's truly a masterpiece and I'm in awe of Oppel's writing. I'm in awe of his exquisite storytelling skills. I'm in awe of the beauty, tenderness and clarity of his words. I honestly can't believe I haven't read any of his previous books - where have I been not to come across any of them before?!
This is an incredibly compelling story. Victor comes across as a charismatic, intelligent, ambitious, full of potential but also very spoiled and self-centered young man. Oppel did a fabulous job depicting his personality. He's such a vivid, well-drawn character. Jealous of his brother, but at the same absolutely devoted and ready to do just about anything it takes to protect him. He is curious, eager to explore, bold (bordering on arrogance) and charming. And then there are those moments when his darker nature shines through, when his wild desires take over and he looses control for just a moment - that's when you realize that this is the same obsessed, obnoxious Dr. Frankenstein that you are reading about. I found it fascinating to get to know him and the motives behind his actions.
I loved the dark, Gothic atmosphere of this book. It was thick and omnipresent on every page. Spellbinding. The setting was fabulous: a three hundred years old fortress near Geneva, surrounded with forests and lakes, with countless chambers, ballrooms, undiscovered passages and murky dungeons. The way Kenneth Oppel combined the elements of horror and romance was utterly masterful. A bitter love triangle, a suspicious alchemist, a forbidden book and an ultimate sacrifice that will change Victor's life forever - the suspense never lets up. The ending will leave you gasping for breath, disturbed but also touched, shattered to pieces. It's a perfect read for long Winter evenings - I highly recommend it!
Sixteen years old Victor leads a sweet life. He is a son of privilege. Together with his twin brother, Konrad, and beautiful cousin, Elizabeth, he enjoys all the advantages that come from being the heir to a wealthy and well-respected family. These three have everything they could possibly want. Victor's parents provide them with the highest quality, progressive education. They pass their time playing in the garden, acting in plays, horseback riding, fencing and exploring all the hidden passages and secret rooms in the splendid Frankenstein chateau. One day, when spending time in their father's library, they accidentally stumble upon yet another mysterious passageway hidden behind the bookshelves. At the end of the long, dingy corridor they discover what turns out to be the Biblioteka Obscura - the Dark Library, full of books written in ancient, strange languages, containing forbidden knowledge. Before they get a chance to further explore the contents, their father forbids them from entering the library ever again, making it very clear that it's not a good place and should remain hidden and forgotten. It isn't until Konrad falls victim to a deadly illness that Victor decides to re-visit the Dark Library in hope of finding the recipe for the legendary Elixir of Life. Desperate to save his brother's life, young Frankenstein will stop at nothing. Together with Elizabeth and their friend, Henry, they'll set out on a dangerous journey, one that will change their lives forever.
Enthralling and beautifully shaped - This Dark Endeavor is a remarkable book. I loved every second of it. Kenneth Oppel's lyrical language resembles Mary Shelley's writing style so much that you practically can't tell the difference. At the same time it feels even more fluent and smooth, giving the impression of effortlessly flowing river of words. Mesmerizing, bewitching and deliciously dark - every passage of this book begs to be quoted, to be read aloud, to be re-read over and over again (and possibly shared on Twitter). It's truly a masterpiece and I'm in awe of Oppel's writing. I'm in awe of his exquisite storytelling skills. I'm in awe of the beauty, tenderness and clarity of his words. I honestly can't believe I haven't read any of his previous books - where have I been not to come across any of them before?!
This is an incredibly compelling story. Victor comes across as a charismatic, intelligent, ambitious, full of potential but also very spoiled and self-centered young man. Oppel did a fabulous job depicting his personality. He's such a vivid, well-drawn character. Jealous of his brother, but at the same absolutely devoted and ready to do just about anything it takes to protect him. He is curious, eager to explore, bold (bordering on arrogance) and charming. And then there are those moments when his darker nature shines through, when his wild desires take over and he looses control for just a moment - that's when you realize that this is the same obsessed, obnoxious Dr. Frankenstein that you are reading about. I found it fascinating to get to know him and the motives behind his actions.
I loved the dark, Gothic atmosphere of this book. It was thick and omnipresent on every page. Spellbinding. The setting was fabulous: a three hundred years old fortress near Geneva, surrounded with forests and lakes, with countless chambers, ballrooms, undiscovered passages and murky dungeons. The way Kenneth Oppel combined the elements of horror and romance was utterly masterful. A bitter love triangle, a suspicious alchemist, a forbidden book and an ultimate sacrifice that will change Victor's life forever - the suspense never lets up. The ending will leave you gasping for breath, disturbed but also touched, shattered to pieces. It's a perfect read for long Winter evenings - I highly recommend it!
This book makes me want to reread Frankenstein. Gripping and I finished it within two days, which is probably a record for me in the past few months.
Review originally found on my blog, Starting the Next Chapter
I am about to make a shameful confession: I am not a big fan of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. You may ask, "Why read this book, then?" The main reason I wanted to read this book is the subject matter. Every time I have read Frankenstein, I have wondered, "What led Victor Frankenstein to do these things? What drives him?" Kenneth Oppel tackles these questions with great skill and imagination in This Dark Endeavor.
In this very inventive prequel, we are introduced to a fifteen year old Victor; his twin brother, Konrad; their fiery cousin, Elizabeth; and their timid, poetic friend, Henry Clerval. Life is pretty good for this young quartet. They are educated in a liberal, progressive fashion by Victor and Konrad's parents as they explore the mysterious passages of their chateau. It isn't until Victor, Konrad, and Elizabeth stumble upon a library hidden beneath the floors of the chateau that things begin to change. This dark library houses ancient tomes detailing alchemical processes and elixirs, all of which pique Victor's curiosity. When Konrad falls victim to a mysterious illness, Victor is determined to save him by discovering the formula needed to create the mythical Elixir of Life. Can he overcome the dangers involved in creating the potion and save his brother?
This book is extremely action-packed. There were several passages that had me literally sitting up in anxiety, wondering if Victor, Elizabeth, and Henry would escape unscathed. There is just the right amount of terror to make the book hearken back to Mary Shelley's classic work. In addition, there are some amazingly intense scenes that place our protagonists in grave dangers and will very nearly have you biting your nails in anticipation. From lammergeirs (bearded vultures) to a seemingly supernaturally intelligent lynx, there are creatures galore that add to the overall excitement.
Finally, human nature plays a huge part in this story. Such themes as jealousy, love, greed, and loyalty can be found in abundance, several of which are housed in Victor simultaneously. He is, indeed, the most conflicted character of the lot and has a lot of weight to bear as he struggles with each emotion. I was riveted as I waited to see which emotions would win Victor over and how he would deal with each one. I could definitely see shades of the character he would become in the pages of Frankenstein.
This Dark Endeavor is a highly entertaining read and is a must for fans of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Even if, like me, you are not a fan, I would still recommend giving this book a try. I truly enjoyed it and am glad to have read it. If you are fond of variations on classic literature, you should definitely read this book. I give This Dark Endeavor 4 hoots.
Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge by the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. Many thanks to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for the opportunity of reviewing this book.
I am about to make a shameful confession: I am not a big fan of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. You may ask, "Why read this book, then?" The main reason I wanted to read this book is the subject matter. Every time I have read Frankenstein, I have wondered, "What led Victor Frankenstein to do these things? What drives him?" Kenneth Oppel tackles these questions with great skill and imagination in This Dark Endeavor.
In this very inventive prequel, we are introduced to a fifteen year old Victor; his twin brother, Konrad; their fiery cousin, Elizabeth; and their timid, poetic friend, Henry Clerval. Life is pretty good for this young quartet. They are educated in a liberal, progressive fashion by Victor and Konrad's parents as they explore the mysterious passages of their chateau. It isn't until Victor, Konrad, and Elizabeth stumble upon a library hidden beneath the floors of the chateau that things begin to change. This dark library houses ancient tomes detailing alchemical processes and elixirs, all of which pique Victor's curiosity. When Konrad falls victim to a mysterious illness, Victor is determined to save him by discovering the formula needed to create the mythical Elixir of Life. Can he overcome the dangers involved in creating the potion and save his brother?
This book is extremely action-packed. There were several passages that had me literally sitting up in anxiety, wondering if Victor, Elizabeth, and Henry would escape unscathed. There is just the right amount of terror to make the book hearken back to Mary Shelley's classic work. In addition, there are some amazingly intense scenes that place our protagonists in grave dangers and will very nearly have you biting your nails in anticipation. From lammergeirs (bearded vultures) to a seemingly supernaturally intelligent lynx, there are creatures galore that add to the overall excitement.
Finally, human nature plays a huge part in this story. Such themes as jealousy, love, greed, and loyalty can be found in abundance, several of which are housed in Victor simultaneously. He is, indeed, the most conflicted character of the lot and has a lot of weight to bear as he struggles with each emotion. I was riveted as I waited to see which emotions would win Victor over and how he would deal with each one. I could definitely see shades of the character he would become in the pages of Frankenstein.
This Dark Endeavor is a highly entertaining read and is a must for fans of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Even if, like me, you are not a fan, I would still recommend giving this book a try. I truly enjoyed it and am glad to have read it. If you are fond of variations on classic literature, you should definitely read this book. I give This Dark Endeavor 4 hoots.
Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge by the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. Many thanks to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for the opportunity of reviewing this book.
I am a huge Frankenstein fan, maybe I have read too much. Until now I have really enjoyed Kenneth Oppel's books and would not hesitate to recommend them. Now I have to be more careful.
I did not buy the relationship between the twins because no other Frankenstein books made any reference to a twin, nor did Oppel make a case for why we had not heard of him before.
I did like the action and adventure, the searches for the bits of the elixir and the helps. It did feel to me as though these were contrived for the story yet I enjoyed them.
I had great hopes and I am disppointed.
I did not buy the relationship between the twins because no other Frankenstein books made any reference to a twin, nor did Oppel make a case for why we had not heard of him before.
I did like the action and adventure, the searches for the bits of the elixir and the helps. It did feel to me as though these were contrived for the story yet I enjoyed them.
I had great hopes and I am disppointed.
I liked this book so much, it had all the right elements. First of all, I liked the characters. I liked Viktor so much because I could actually communicate with him. I found myself hidden in the depth of his character. The rest of the characters were pretty much great, I liked the whole modern conception that his family had even if this is set in the Victorian era.
The setting and the plot itself were so good. It surprised me right from the first pages, it was so unpredicable and I could never guess what would happen next. I liked this book so so much I can't even put it in words.
The setting and the plot itself were so good. It surprised me right from the first pages, it was so unpredicable and I could never guess what would happen next. I liked this book so so much I can't even put it in words.