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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Interesting book, very clever take on a young Frankenstein.
Originally posted on Cozy Up With A Good Read
Can I just start by saying OH MY!!! This book was impossible to put down. I am so glad that Cory over at Harper Collins suggest I pick it up. Everything about this book was absolutely amazing. I really love the thought put into this, the idea of a prequel to Frankenstein and Kenneth Oppel does a great job introducing readers to Victor and the idea of how he becomes immersed in the sciences. I love how they show how interested Victor is in finding out the secret to the elixir and showing that he is a great scientist.
I also really enjoyed how Kenneth shows the relationship of Victor and Konrad. He really touches on a lot of things that many sets of twins feel, which made the story seem much more real. He touches on how one brother is better than another at almost everything yet they still respect each other. I loved the relationship of all the characters with one another. The main female character, Elizabeth, is written a strong character who knows how to handle herself (I love books with strong female characters rather than one who takes a back seat to the action).
Kenneth Oppel fills this story with so much action that I felt myself jumping up at times and was on the edge of my seat throughout a lot of it. I couldn't stop reading and wanted the adventures to keep coming. Kenneth also does a great job of throwing some loops at the reader. Just when I thought I had everything figured out and could guess what was coming, something else comes along and I was just like WHAT?!
The ending... wow, I so was getting ready to throw this book against a wall when I came to the last chapter. I really can't see where Kenneth will take this series in the next book!
Can I just start by saying OH MY!!! This book was impossible to put down. I am so glad that Cory over at Harper Collins suggest I pick it up. Everything about this book was absolutely amazing. I really love the thought put into this, the idea of a prequel to Frankenstein and Kenneth Oppel does a great job introducing readers to Victor and the idea of how he becomes immersed in the sciences. I love how they show how interested Victor is in finding out the secret to the elixir and showing that he is a great scientist.
I also really enjoyed how Kenneth shows the relationship of Victor and Konrad. He really touches on a lot of things that many sets of twins feel, which made the story seem much more real. He touches on how one brother is better than another at almost everything yet they still respect each other. I loved the relationship of all the characters with one another. The main female character, Elizabeth, is written a strong character who knows how to handle herself (I love books with strong female characters rather than one who takes a back seat to the action).
Kenneth Oppel fills this story with so much action that I felt myself jumping up at times and was on the edge of my seat throughout a lot of it. I couldn't stop reading and wanted the adventures to keep coming. Kenneth also does a great job of throwing some loops at the reader. Just when I thought I had everything figured out and could guess what was coming, something else comes along and I was just like WHAT?!
The ending... wow, I so was getting ready to throw this book against a wall when I came to the last chapter. I really can't see where Kenneth will take this series in the next book!
Really enjoyed this, particularly the atmosphere and the characterizations.
Prior to reading This Dark Endeavor, my only knowledge of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein came from watching Frankenweenie and Young Frankenstein. I knew the bare minimum of the plot – a mad “scientist” creates a monster out of spare body parts and uses electricity to bring said monster to life with disastrous results – but that was it. I didn’t really have a desire to learn any more, either, and I never had any real interest in reading Shelley’s iconic work for myself.
All of that changed after I read This Dark Endeavor, a prequel to Frankenstein that shows Viktor Frankenstein taking the first steps on his path to knowledge and power. Even I, knowing as little as I did about the original story, was captivated by Kenneth Oppel’s teenage Frankenstein. Young Viktor is an incendiary combination of inquisitiveness, pride, jealousy, and brilliance, and it was fascinating to see the first sparks of wonder and desperation that would eventually set his world aflame.
Viktor Frankenstein is a memorable character if ever there was one. He’s dramatic, theatrical, and mercurial, with an excitable imagination and a hunger for adventure and renown. He loves his family and friends with all his heart, but darkness and jealously lurk beneath his surface. He simultaneously adores and envies his twin brother Konrad, who is Viktor’s dearest friend as well as his greatest rival.
When Konrad falls ill, Viktor determines to do whatever it takes to keep his brother alive, no matter the cost. Aided by his childhood companions Elizabeth and Henry, Viktor embarks on a dark quest for a cure, a quest that ignites Viktor’s curiosity and lays the groundwork for the events of Shelley’s novel.
This Dark Endeavor has a deliciously gothic feel that made me shiver and grin while reading it. Viktor and his accomplices discover secret passageways, explore hidden libraries housing forbidden tomes, and creep through dank cellars. There are portentous dreams, sleepwalking maidens, and beakers full of organs and fluids. The pages burst with alchemy, magic, and elixirs whose ingredients must be gathered in darkness. It’s not a frightening book, but it is an atmospheric one, and I enjoyed this very much.
Something else that I loved, though it may seem silly, was the precise, specific language in the book. How often does one get to read about characters who use words like “scoundrel,” “apparatus,” “ghoulish,” and “phantasmagorical?” Rather than coming across as tedious and contrived, Oppel’s diction feels authentic and right, and it pleased me greatly.
I may not have had any desire to read Frankenstein previously, but after finishing This Dark Endeavor the first thing I did was high-tail it to Google to search for anything about Frankenstein that I could get my hands on. I applaud Oppel for interesting me in Shelley’s classic at last and can’t wait to find out what I’ve been missing out on all these years.
This review can also be found on my blog, Angela's Library.
All of that changed after I read This Dark Endeavor, a prequel to Frankenstein that shows Viktor Frankenstein taking the first steps on his path to knowledge and power. Even I, knowing as little as I did about the original story, was captivated by Kenneth Oppel’s teenage Frankenstein. Young Viktor is an incendiary combination of inquisitiveness, pride, jealousy, and brilliance, and it was fascinating to see the first sparks of wonder and desperation that would eventually set his world aflame.
Viktor Frankenstein is a memorable character if ever there was one. He’s dramatic, theatrical, and mercurial, with an excitable imagination and a hunger for adventure and renown. He loves his family and friends with all his heart, but darkness and jealously lurk beneath his surface. He simultaneously adores and envies his twin brother Konrad, who is Viktor’s dearest friend as well as his greatest rival.
When Konrad falls ill, Viktor determines to do whatever it takes to keep his brother alive, no matter the cost. Aided by his childhood companions Elizabeth and Henry, Viktor embarks on a dark quest for a cure, a quest that ignites Viktor’s curiosity and lays the groundwork for the events of Shelley’s novel.
This Dark Endeavor has a deliciously gothic feel that made me shiver and grin while reading it. Viktor and his accomplices discover secret passageways, explore hidden libraries housing forbidden tomes, and creep through dank cellars. There are portentous dreams, sleepwalking maidens, and beakers full of organs and fluids. The pages burst with alchemy, magic, and elixirs whose ingredients must be gathered in darkness. It’s not a frightening book, but it is an atmospheric one, and I enjoyed this very much.
Something else that I loved, though it may seem silly, was the precise, specific language in the book. How often does one get to read about characters who use words like “scoundrel,” “apparatus,” “ghoulish,” and “phantasmagorical?” Rather than coming across as tedious and contrived, Oppel’s diction feels authentic and right, and it pleased me greatly.
I may not have had any desire to read Frankenstein previously, but after finishing This Dark Endeavor the first thing I did was high-tail it to Google to search for anything about Frankenstein that I could get my hands on. I applaud Oppel for interesting me in Shelley’s classic at last and can’t wait to find out what I’ve been missing out on all these years.
This review can also be found on my blog, Angela's Library.
First of all, this book does not contain horror, despite being a sort of prequal to Mary Shelley's great work. It's more of a suspense novel. It has a few brief moments that hint at something spookier, but nothing comes of it. A bit of a letdown, if you ask me.
Also, they keep saying Victor is a hothead, but simply disagreeing with those around you is not reckless behavior. His biggest act of recklessness was saving his brother. Victor was a bit devilish, sure, but not much more. He was mostly harmless. In the same respect, Elizabeth says she loves Konrad because he was smart and kind. He was smart, that much is true, but I don't see him as any kinder or more generous than Victor. Konrad is really quite genaric. It's really a case of telling rather than showing.
The family harrasses Victor for being irresponsible, but most of the time his outbursts are just disaggreements. They wonder at this, but they are the reason for Victor being contrary. Konrad is clearly everyone's favorite, though I can't see why. The father passes judgement without even allowing Victor to speak up for himself, to explain his side of the story; or, he doesn't care what Victor says when he does get a word in edgewise. He is determined to scold Victor. Elizabeth and Konrad are in love, but they isolate Victor and plan things without him. It's no wonder Victor has these alleged outbursts.
Also, they keep saying Victor is a hothead, but simply disagreeing with those around you is not reckless behavior. His biggest act of recklessness was saving his brother. Victor was a bit devilish, sure, but not much more. He was mostly harmless. In the same respect, Elizabeth says she loves Konrad because he was smart and kind. He was smart, that much is true, but I don't see him as any kinder or more generous than Victor. Konrad is really quite genaric. It's really a case of telling rather than showing.
The family harrasses Victor for being irresponsible, but most of the time his outbursts are just disaggreements. They wonder at this, but they are the reason for Victor being contrary. Konrad is clearly everyone's favorite, though I can't see why. The father passes judgement without even allowing Victor to speak up for himself, to explain his side of the story; or, he doesn't care what Victor says when he does get a word in edgewise. He is determined to scold Victor. Elizabeth and Konrad are in love, but they isolate Victor and plan things without him. It's no wonder Victor has these alleged outbursts.
Despite the fact that I was expecting to dislike this book, due to my husband's poor opinion of it, I really enjoyed the characters' dangerous journey toward finding the ingredients for the Elixir of Life and found the last few chapters especially tense and riveting. I like the author's idea of exploring Victor Frankenstein's youth and what may have turned him into the man Shelley created. Now I want to reread Frankenstein :) Looking forward to reading the sequel, and I'll definitely recommend this book to my students who prefer their novels to be on the dark, intelligent side.
I had seen a number of great reviews for this book, so when I saw the ebook pop up in the christmas sales, I bought it. While it's certainly far from awful, I don't think it's as wonderful as many people claim.
The creation of a backstory for Victor Frankenstein is a heavy undertaking, and Oppel does it decently. The relationship between the twins and Elizabeth feels believable and relatable. I had the same love/hate relationship with my siblings when we were in our teens. Even if the distant cousin/adopted sister lover storyline is a little offputting, it reads true to the time the story is set.
The hidden library and its clever locking system grabbed me (hehe punny)and made me want to love this book. Parts of it were fantastic - the wolf vision adventure in particular sticks out, but overall, something felt like it was lacking. I can't put my finger on it, and that probably bothers me more than anything else. When I look at all the individual pieces, I enjoyed the book, but as a whole, I didn't love it.
The ending was a nice change from the typical YA novel ending, and was enough to make me willing the read the second book and see if it brings everything together. I'll take that one out from the library though, just in case.
The creation of a backstory for Victor Frankenstein is a heavy undertaking, and Oppel does it decently. The relationship between the twins and Elizabeth feels believable and relatable. I had the same love/hate relationship with my siblings when we were in our teens. Even if the distant cousin/adopted sister lover storyline is a little offputting, it reads true to the time the story is set.
The hidden library and its clever locking system grabbed me (hehe punny)and made me want to love this book. Parts of it were fantastic - the wolf vision adventure in particular sticks out, but overall, something felt like it was lacking. I can't put my finger on it, and that probably bothers me more than anything else. When I look at all the individual pieces, I enjoyed the book, but as a whole, I didn't love it.
The ending was a nice change from the typical YA novel ending, and was enough to make me willing the read the second book and see if it brings everything together. I'll take that one out from the library though, just in case.
