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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Review also published on my blog StudentSpyglass
Source: Borrowed from the Library
Plot: ★★★★
Characters: ★★★
Readability: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★
This Dark Endeavour is the first of Kenneth Oppel’s prequel to Frankenstein series. Victor Frankenstein, a young ambitious man, is driven to alchemy and science when his twin, Konrad, falls critically ill.
There are some clear differences between Kenneth Oppel’s prequel series and the original Frankenstein. Perhaps the most obvious is the invention of a twin, Konrad. Whilst this might seem like a severe diversion from the original text, it works remarkably well. Konrad, the more charming, less ambitious, generally more likeable twin, manages to both complement and contrast with Victor. Victor loves his twin, obviously, and it is his desperate concern for Konrad that allows alchemy to entice him. Despite their close bond, the two are very different, and these differences make it easy to see how Victor could grow into the man we ultimately know he will become.
Elizabeth Lavenza also adopts a somewhat different role in This Dark Endeavour compared to Frankenstein. I found her much more likeable in This Dark Endeavour, with an intelligent, feisty nature that never showed in Frankenstein. As Elizabeth is the object of affection for both Konrad and Victor, This Dark Endeavour does have a love-triangle. However, while many love triangles feel like nothing more than ticking the boxes for a standard YA, this love triangle is used to drive the plot and characters. Victor’s jealousy of Konrad is exacerbated by their rivalry for Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s charm and limitless patience make Konrad seem the obvious choice but her feisty nature and somewhat impulsive decisions also sometimes make Victor appear a good match. Despite my general dislike of love-triangles, this one is well done, and I actually care about the outcome without having decided instantly on my personal preference.
As well as great characters and plot, This Dark Endeavour is beautifully written, with a dark, gothic feel that reflects the inspiration brilliantly. Kenneth Oppel manages to bring to life characters who were only briefly mentioned in Frankenstein, with references to the original text interwoven masterfully throughout the novel.
Source: Borrowed from the Library
Plot: ★★★★
Characters: ★★★
Readability: ★★★★
Overall: ★★★★
This Dark Endeavour is the first of Kenneth Oppel’s prequel to Frankenstein series. Victor Frankenstein, a young ambitious man, is driven to alchemy and science when his twin, Konrad, falls critically ill.
There are some clear differences between Kenneth Oppel’s prequel series and the original Frankenstein. Perhaps the most obvious is the invention of a twin, Konrad. Whilst this might seem like a severe diversion from the original text, it works remarkably well. Konrad, the more charming, less ambitious, generally more likeable twin, manages to both complement and contrast with Victor. Victor loves his twin, obviously, and it is his desperate concern for Konrad that allows alchemy to entice him. Despite their close bond, the two are very different, and these differences make it easy to see how Victor could grow into the man we ultimately know he will become.
Elizabeth Lavenza also adopts a somewhat different role in This Dark Endeavour compared to Frankenstein. I found her much more likeable in This Dark Endeavour, with an intelligent, feisty nature that never showed in Frankenstein. As Elizabeth is the object of affection for both Konrad and Victor, This Dark Endeavour does have a love-triangle. However, while many love triangles feel like nothing more than ticking the boxes for a standard YA, this love triangle is used to drive the plot and characters. Victor’s jealousy of Konrad is exacerbated by their rivalry for Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s charm and limitless patience make Konrad seem the obvious choice but her feisty nature and somewhat impulsive decisions also sometimes make Victor appear a good match. Despite my general dislike of love-triangles, this one is well done, and I actually care about the outcome without having decided instantly on my personal preference.
As well as great characters and plot, This Dark Endeavour is beautifully written, with a dark, gothic feel that reflects the inspiration brilliantly. Kenneth Oppel manages to bring to life characters who were only briefly mentioned in Frankenstein, with references to the original text interwoven masterfully throughout the novel.
I was a little unsure about this one going into it but I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. I find it bears little resemblance to the story it’s based on but I find the story is more interesting this way. Retellings often resemble the original too much to be enjoyable and that was far from the case with this story.
I would have liked to see a little more about alchemy, those were by far the most interesting parts of the story and what really drew me into it. I find the idea fascinating and it’s definitely a big part of why I enjoyed this book so much.
The only reason it got four stars and not five is that the sudden appearance of a love triangle quite bothered me. It kind of came out of nowhere and in all honesty, brought nothing to the story. It was completely unnecessary and quite random.
I would have liked to see a little more about alchemy, those were by far the most interesting parts of the story and what really drew me into it. I find the idea fascinating and it’s definitely a big part of why I enjoyed this book so much.
The only reason it got four stars and not five is that the sudden appearance of a love triangle quite bothered me. It kind of came out of nowhere and in all honesty, brought nothing to the story. It was completely unnecessary and quite random.
I liked this. Not a favourite, but I loved the set up and the idea. It made me want to read Frankenstein and I this I will. I think the dialogue could've been better, because I felt hew as trying to make them sound old fashioned, but then it took some of the excitement out of the conversations. (He needs some help from Cassandra Clare)
Overall though I enjoyed it a lot and I recommend it!! :D There are some deliciously chilling and creepy parts.
Overall though I enjoyed it a lot and I recommend it!! :D There are some deliciously chilling and creepy parts.
This review was written for The Review Diaries: http://reviewdiaries.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-this-dark-endeavour-by-kenneth.html
This book was one of my most anticipated reads of 2011, to the point that I was terrified that it wouldn’t live up to the high expectations I had for it. I mean that cover, the blurb! And the pages in between more than live up to the high standard those two set.
Oppel has perfectly captured the arrogant tone of Victor as portrayed in the original Frankenstein. In fact he has perfectly captured everything – the tone, the language, the character so that the entire thing feels as though it could quite easily be a prequel to the original. Indeed it fleshes out the character of Victor so that I actually felt for him and cared about him – despite his arrogance – in a way that I never felt able to with the older Victor.
Oppel takes the original characters and backstory and inserts into them this idea of the twin brother Konrad, the perfect creature of good and kindness as the opposite of Victor in every way except physicality. This provides the perfect opportunity to explain Victors obsession with science, with alchemy and later resurrection. It allows him to have a greater depth and emotion, exploring the love and rivalry that exists between two siblings, and also the idea that he would do anything for his twin – even abominations against science and existence.
The writing is pitch perfect to mimic the original Frankenstein – it has the same gothic tones, precise voice and elegant language of the period, as well as a crushing sense of doomed inevitability that stalks every page, even when everything seems as though it might go well.
The outcome is obvious from the start – after all this plots the descent of a pampered boy in Geneva into the sort of experiments that would awaken the dead and return loved ones to him. But that certainty of where this is going doesn’t diminish the incredible journey it takes the reader on to get there. It treads the same fine line between reality and fantasy faultlessly and is an incredible epic adventure in search of knowledge, and the power of love in all its forms.
I cannot recommend this enough. It’s not essential to know the original Frankenstein although it does make an interesting comparison for those that have. However on its own it’s a brilliant young adult historical novel with a compelling story and a brilliantly flawed central character at its heart.
This book was one of my most anticipated reads of 2011, to the point that I was terrified that it wouldn’t live up to the high expectations I had for it. I mean that cover, the blurb! And the pages in between more than live up to the high standard those two set.
Oppel has perfectly captured the arrogant tone of Victor as portrayed in the original Frankenstein. In fact he has perfectly captured everything – the tone, the language, the character so that the entire thing feels as though it could quite easily be a prequel to the original. Indeed it fleshes out the character of Victor so that I actually felt for him and cared about him – despite his arrogance – in a way that I never felt able to with the older Victor.
Oppel takes the original characters and backstory and inserts into them this idea of the twin brother Konrad, the perfect creature of good and kindness as the opposite of Victor in every way except physicality. This provides the perfect opportunity to explain Victors obsession with science, with alchemy and later resurrection. It allows him to have a greater depth and emotion, exploring the love and rivalry that exists between two siblings, and also the idea that he would do anything for his twin – even abominations against science and existence.
The writing is pitch perfect to mimic the original Frankenstein – it has the same gothic tones, precise voice and elegant language of the period, as well as a crushing sense of doomed inevitability that stalks every page, even when everything seems as though it might go well.
The outcome is obvious from the start – after all this plots the descent of a pampered boy in Geneva into the sort of experiments that would awaken the dead and return loved ones to him. But that certainty of where this is going doesn’t diminish the incredible journey it takes the reader on to get there. It treads the same fine line between reality and fantasy faultlessly and is an incredible epic adventure in search of knowledge, and the power of love in all its forms.
I cannot recommend this enough. It’s not essential to know the original Frankenstein although it does make an interesting comparison for those that have. However on its own it’s a brilliant young adult historical novel with a compelling story and a brilliantly flawed central character at its heart.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this, but I thought it was great! It was an impulse bargain buy, and it was worth more than what I paid, to be honest. It had great twists and made you care for the characters. I also loved that the main character wasn't a self-righteous goody, as many seem to be these days. I give kudos for characterization, plot, and vocabulary. (Am I strange for actually caring about that?) I would have liked a little more description of setting, but I loved what was described.
Oh, loved this book! There was adventure, and yeah, I just want to read the second book now!
This Dark Endeavour – The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein was written by Kenneth Oppel and originally published in 2011 by Harper Trophy Canada
Most people have heard of Dr. Frankenstein and his monster; if not from Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein ‘or the Modern Prometheus’, than from one of the many movie adaptations that have been made since the books 1818 release. I was lucky enough to be assigned Frankenstein when I was in University and really enjoyed the book though I really must revisit it since it has been too long and details escape me. When I first heard that Kenneth Oppel was writing a prequel series I knew I had to read it because I love a good origin story. And when is a better time to pick up a gothic thriller than October?
First I want to have a quick chat about the cover. I own the redesigned cover with Victor standing in front of a building which I actually enjoy. I like the choice of font and that the outline of the picture is blurred. The shadowed face looks dark and ominous and everything seems to fits the theme of the book. I also listened to the audiobook; I think the actor did a good job but nothing stood out or wowed me about the performance.
Victor and his identical twin Konrad have always done everything together. With the help of their distant cousin Elizabeth and their friend Henry they put on extravagant plays as well as challenge each other in fencing. They live an easy life in the Chateau Frankenstein nestled in the woods of Geneva. They have had a very loving and liberal upbringing which has shaped their personalities. Konrad is the older twin by only two minutes, but he couldn’t be more different from his twin. He is charming and adored by everyone for his wit and athletic ability. Victor on the other hand is curious by nature with an arrogance that makes him work hard to live up to his brother. When Konrad suddenly falls ill with a strange disease Victor will stop at nothing to help him get better. Doctor after doctor attempt to cure him without success, so when science fails him he turns to the “Bibliotheca Obscura,” the Dark Library buried deep in the castles secret passageways and off limits to them by their father. Searching the many ancient tomes he comes across a recipe for the “Elixir for life.” He seeks the help of the shunned alchemist Polidori to interpret the strange alphabet, and his friends to help find the obscure ingredients necessary to save his brothers life before it’s too late.
This book grabbed my attention from the very beginning as almost immediately lives are put in danger. After being sucked in you won’t be able to put the book down because there is action, adventure and creepiness in every chapter. This book stays true to its source material as it is gothic and gritty and just plain good.
There is something about Victor that makes you feel for him and wins you over. Even though he is arrogant and often jealous of his brother, he is at the same time charming and passionate about everything he does. He definitely has a weakness and vulnerability when it comes to his brother, and will make great sacrifices to ensure his safety. Even going against his father’s wishes when he tells him, “You must abandon this dark endeavour” Throughout the book you can also start to see the dark side of Victor, and knowing the eventual path he takes to becoming an evil genius this is not surprising.
I enjoyed the book and finished it very quickly because I needed to find out what was going to happen in the end especially after hearing from others that the ending was gory and gross. I will definitely be checking out the second book called Such Wicked Intent soon to find out what happens next. I also think that I will be picking up Frankenstein again shortly. If you haven’t read this yet you should to. It’s a classic for a reason
Check out http://bibliophilesisters.wordpress.com/ for more reviews.
Most people have heard of Dr. Frankenstein and his monster; if not from Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein ‘or the Modern Prometheus’, than from one of the many movie adaptations that have been made since the books 1818 release. I was lucky enough to be assigned Frankenstein when I was in University and really enjoyed the book though I really must revisit it since it has been too long and details escape me. When I first heard that Kenneth Oppel was writing a prequel series I knew I had to read it because I love a good origin story. And when is a better time to pick up a gothic thriller than October?
First I want to have a quick chat about the cover. I own the redesigned cover with Victor standing in front of a building which I actually enjoy. I like the choice of font and that the outline of the picture is blurred. The shadowed face looks dark and ominous and everything seems to fits the theme of the book. I also listened to the audiobook; I think the actor did a good job but nothing stood out or wowed me about the performance.
Victor and his identical twin Konrad have always done everything together. With the help of their distant cousin Elizabeth and their friend Henry they put on extravagant plays as well as challenge each other in fencing. They live an easy life in the Chateau Frankenstein nestled in the woods of Geneva. They have had a very loving and liberal upbringing which has shaped their personalities. Konrad is the older twin by only two minutes, but he couldn’t be more different from his twin. He is charming and adored by everyone for his wit and athletic ability. Victor on the other hand is curious by nature with an arrogance that makes him work hard to live up to his brother. When Konrad suddenly falls ill with a strange disease Victor will stop at nothing to help him get better. Doctor after doctor attempt to cure him without success, so when science fails him he turns to the “Bibliotheca Obscura,” the Dark Library buried deep in the castles secret passageways and off limits to them by their father. Searching the many ancient tomes he comes across a recipe for the “Elixir for life.” He seeks the help of the shunned alchemist Polidori to interpret the strange alphabet, and his friends to help find the obscure ingredients necessary to save his brothers life before it’s too late.
This book grabbed my attention from the very beginning as almost immediately lives are put in danger. After being sucked in you won’t be able to put the book down because there is action, adventure and creepiness in every chapter. This book stays true to its source material as it is gothic and gritty and just plain good.
There is something about Victor that makes you feel for him and wins you over. Even though he is arrogant and often jealous of his brother, he is at the same time charming and passionate about everything he does. He definitely has a weakness and vulnerability when it comes to his brother, and will make great sacrifices to ensure his safety. Even going against his father’s wishes when he tells him, “You must abandon this dark endeavour” Throughout the book you can also start to see the dark side of Victor, and knowing the eventual path he takes to becoming an evil genius this is not surprising.
I enjoyed the book and finished it very quickly because I needed to find out what was going to happen in the end especially after hearing from others that the ending was gory and gross. I will definitely be checking out the second book called Such Wicked Intent soon to find out what happens next. I also think that I will be picking up Frankenstein again shortly. If you haven’t read this yet you should to. It’s a classic for a reason
Check out http://bibliophilesisters.wordpress.com/ for more reviews.
This Dark Endeavor was the first novel I've read by Kenneth Oppel and I found myself impressed. While I didn't always agree with Victor's actions, especially those regarding Elizabeth, he came across as a human being with feelings, some that weren't always charitable to his character.
When Victor's identical twin, Konrad, falls ill with a mysterious sickness, he sets out with friends Henry and Elizabeth to find a cure through alchemy, seeking the Elixir of Life. It can only be made using three key, hard-to-get ingredients, and the novel focuses on their efforts to gather them and present them to an alchemist who knows how to use them.
I wish that Henry had been more present in the plot. The main trio of Victor, Elizabeth and Henry were no Harry, Ron and Hermione. Their skills and abilities were not split as equally, with the result that Henry faded a bit when placed next to the other two. Konrad was somewhat more interesting than him, even though he was much less present at the key moments of the first half.
Nevertheless, it's not a bad book. I will be reading Such Wicked Intent in the future, and I'm interested to explore more of Mr. Oppel's work, because This Dark Endeavor left a good impression overall.
When Victor's identical twin, Konrad, falls ill with a mysterious sickness, he sets out with friends Henry and Elizabeth to find a cure through alchemy, seeking the Elixir of Life. It can only be made using three key, hard-to-get ingredients, and the novel focuses on their efforts to gather them and present them to an alchemist who knows how to use them.
I wish that Henry had been more present in the plot. The main trio of Victor, Elizabeth and Henry were no Harry, Ron and Hermione. Their skills and abilities were not split as equally, with the result that Henry faded a bit when placed next to the other two. Konrad was somewhat more interesting than him, even though he was much less present at the key moments of the first half.
Nevertheless, it's not a bad book. I will be reading Such Wicked Intent in the future, and I'm interested to explore more of Mr. Oppel's work, because This Dark Endeavor left a good impression overall.
Read more of my reviews at Cornerfolds.com!
Confession: I have never read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. I've also never been a huge fan of Frankenstein apart from maybe Young Frankenstein, which I watched way too many times growing up, thanks to my parents. Recently I watched Victor Frankenstein (there's probably a review of that coming soon) and really, really wanted to read more about Frankenstein's story. When I saw the gorgeous cover of This Dark Endeavor and saw that it was a prequel story, I knew I had to read it!
This is the story of Victor and Konrad Frankenstein, along with their cousin, Elizabeth, and good friend, Henry. Although each of these characters is important in their own way, Victor is undoubtedly the star of the show and he is incredible in the strangest way. I knew going in that Victor would be a... unique character. I wasn't disappointed.
Victor is passionate and odd and has just a little bit of darkness in him. He wants what he wants and does not let anything stand in his way. At times I wondered whether he was entirely stable or whether he lacked the ability to truly care about anyone other than himself and sometimes he even made me a little uncomfortable. But despite all of his shortcomings, he was a wonderful character to get to know. His love for his brother could not be doubted, even if he had a strange way of showing it at times.
Elizabeth is the love interest here, if there must be one. Yes, there is something of a love triangle, but I really didn't find that it detracted that much from the story. In fact, I thought it really added to my understanding of Victor as a character. Elizabeth was also a really interesting character to get to know. It seemed as if a bit of Victor's curiosity and passion had also rubbed off on her and she did not always know what to make of her own actions. I honestly cannot wait to get to know more about her in the second book in this duology.
I found the plot to be extremely intriguing. Perhaps some of Victor Frankenstein's backstory is given in the original book, but having never read that, I only have secondhand sources to go by. I knew that something had happened to Victor's brother, but to see Konrad's illness and Victor's determination to save him shed a lot of light on his later life. Admittedly, I don't know much about alchemy, but following along with Victor and Co. as they worked towards creating the Elixir of Life was both informative and exciting!
The setting that was painted by Kenneth Oppel was also really well done! I don't read much gothic fiction, but I definitely felt like he did a wonderful job of placing me into the Frankenstein house in Geneva. As a book worm, my favorite part was obviously the Dark Library!
The one bit I didn't really enjoy (which, unfortunately, was kind of a big part of the story) was the old alchemist who helped Victor create the elixir. I felt that he (along with his cat) was predictable and just a little too eccentric for the story. I feel like if his character could have been toned down just a bit, this would have been a much better read.
Overall I really enjoyed This Dark Endeavor! Although it wasn't a perfect read, I thought it was a fantastic prequel story to the Frankenstein I've grown up with through the movies. I can't wait to read the next one and, perhaps, even read the classic all of this was based on!
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Confession: I have never read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. I've also never been a huge fan of Frankenstein apart from maybe Young Frankenstein, which I watched way too many times growing up, thanks to my parents. Recently I watched Victor Frankenstein (there's probably a review of that coming soon) and really, really wanted to read more about Frankenstein's story. When I saw the gorgeous cover of This Dark Endeavor and saw that it was a prequel story, I knew I had to read it!
This is the story of Victor and Konrad Frankenstein, along with their cousin, Elizabeth, and good friend, Henry. Although each of these characters is important in their own way, Victor is undoubtedly the star of the show and he is incredible in the strangest way. I knew going in that Victor would be a... unique character. I wasn't disappointed.
Victor is passionate and odd and has just a little bit of darkness in him. He wants what he wants and does not let anything stand in his way. At times I wondered whether he was entirely stable or whether he lacked the ability to truly care about anyone other than himself and sometimes he even made me a little uncomfortable. But despite all of his shortcomings, he was a wonderful character to get to know. His love for his brother could not be doubted, even if he had a strange way of showing it at times.
Elizabeth is the love interest here, if there must be one. Yes, there is something of a love triangle, but I really didn't find that it detracted that much from the story. In fact, I thought it really added to my understanding of Victor as a character. Elizabeth was also a really interesting character to get to know. It seemed as if a bit of Victor's curiosity and passion had also rubbed off on her and she did not always know what to make of her own actions. I honestly cannot wait to get to know more about her in the second book in this duology.
I found the plot to be extremely intriguing. Perhaps some of Victor Frankenstein's backstory is given in the original book, but having never read that, I only have secondhand sources to go by. I knew that something had happened to Victor's brother, but to see Konrad's illness and Victor's determination to save him shed a lot of light on his later life. Admittedly, I don't know much about alchemy, but following along with Victor and Co. as they worked towards creating the Elixir of Life was both informative and exciting!
The setting that was painted by Kenneth Oppel was also really well done! I don't read much gothic fiction, but I definitely felt like he did a wonderful job of placing me into the Frankenstein house in Geneva. As a book worm, my favorite part was obviously the Dark Library!
The one bit I didn't really enjoy (which, unfortunately, was kind of a big part of the story) was the old alchemist who helped Victor create the elixir. I felt that he (along with his cat) was predictable and just a little too eccentric for the story. I feel like if his character could have been toned down just a bit, this would have been a much better read.
Overall I really enjoyed This Dark Endeavor! Although it wasn't a perfect read, I thought it was a fantastic prequel story to the Frankenstein I've grown up with through the movies. I can't wait to read the next one and, perhaps, even read the classic all of this was based on!
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
2.5
This book is for younger readers, I think - young teens. Also, I think it is preferred for boys as it is in a boy's point of view.
It has an interesting plotline, but it seemed to lack depth - it was easily predictable.