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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
A story in which I found myself greatly interested in what the lead character would do. Knowing his flaws and still fighting with himself to get through with what is necessary. Not taking matters laying done and charging into the unknown. A great adventure to be taken on and I would gladly read more of Oppel's works.
I got this book for my teenage son who never got around to reading it; so I read it. It started off like all the other teenage fantasy books, lighthearted fun adventure, but this book turned much more dark and sinister. The decisions of the teens had real-life effects-good and bad. I expected a happy-ever after in this book, but I did not get it. I recommend highly!
Anyone who knows me knows that I have a deep passion for pretty much anything even remotely related to Mary Shelley's classic, Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus. I have reviewed a few sequels to the book, but This Dark Endeavor goes in a completely new direction. Titled a prequel, it's really more of a reimagining of the story of a mad scientist and his creation. This, this right here is how you do "reboots" or "remakes", you come at the subject from a different view point and try to see how it can be reinvented, examined from a new perspective. Not only that, Oppel's descriptive, florid writing isn't overbearing, instead bringing a level of intelligence I've come to expect in anything that wants to try and stake a claim on the Frankenstein legacy.
In Oppel's version, Victor is born with a twin brother, Konrad. The two are identical and inseparable, and along with their cousin Elizabeth and good friend Henry Clerval, this band of intelligent young people spend their days in a lap of luxury. Henry is an aspiring writer (though he knows that it will never amount to much if he wishes to truly support himself) and writes plays that his friends perform. Victor is an arrogant, rash young man, setting himself clearly apart from his twin, who is not only the elder, but the more charismatic, intelligent, and generally well liked of the two. One might think that this would lead to enmity between the brothers, but in truth they work together like two sides of the same coin. Elizabeth, the only female of the group, and the main female character of the book, keeps up with the boys with little issue, able to add in their debates and even taking part in their learning as a part of the Frankenstein's liberal household.
A thirst for knowledge runs deeply in the group, and they stumble upon a hidden library in the house; a Dark Library, full of occult knowledge and alchemy spells. Victor and Konrad's father discover the group in the library, and ban them from ever entering it again, for alchemy is illegal in Geneva and he would not have his children mixed up in something as sodden as "magic". Victor's interest is piqued, but he is content to leave well enough alone until Konrad mysteriously falls ill. He continues to worsen, even as treatment after treatment is given to him. Victor finds that the only solution may be an Elixir of Life, described in one of Agrippa's books (Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, a German magician and alchemist). But the text is written in code, and in order to break it, Victor, Elizabeth, and Henry are force to seek out one who is familiar with the craft of alchemy. This search leads them to Julius Polidori, undoubtedly named for Lord Byron's doctor, who was a well-known companion of Bryon, Percy Shelley, and Mary Shelley.
The book follows Victor's adventures in collecting the three items needed to create the elixir - and in the discovery of alchemy, Victor learns much, much more about himself that he ever thought he would. Not only does he have a gift for crafting alchemical potions, but he comes to learn that he and his brother are at odds over the subject of Elizabeth's heart. I personally enjoyed seeing the usual young adult love triangle told from the perspective of one of the suitors; it was also good that the romance did not make up the bulk of the novel. The true focus of the book is on the relationship between Konrad and Victor. Its easy to see where the sequel, Such Wicked Intent (due out in August of this year), is going to head, but I loved that the book played with similar elements as that of the British stage play version of Frankenstein, put on by the National Theater. It's the thought that Victor and his Creation are two sides of the same coin, complementing and completing each other in a richer way than any romance or relationship could.
Homages to the original novel abound throughout the book, popping up with delight for the reader who can spot them. It certainly lays out where the story can go, but I trust Oppel to make it quite a journey to get to the end - for in the telling of any story, it's more about the obstacles that the protagonist must pass through in order to reach their ending rather than the ending itself. For a young adult novel, this book was gripping, and I had it finished within days of finally locating it. If you're looking for a great, quick read, I highly recommend this book.
In Oppel's version, Victor is born with a twin brother, Konrad. The two are identical and inseparable, and along with their cousin Elizabeth and good friend Henry Clerval, this band of intelligent young people spend their days in a lap of luxury. Henry is an aspiring writer (though he knows that it will never amount to much if he wishes to truly support himself) and writes plays that his friends perform. Victor is an arrogant, rash young man, setting himself clearly apart from his twin, who is not only the elder, but the more charismatic, intelligent, and generally well liked of the two. One might think that this would lead to enmity between the brothers, but in truth they work together like two sides of the same coin. Elizabeth, the only female of the group, and the main female character of the book, keeps up with the boys with little issue, able to add in their debates and even taking part in their learning as a part of the Frankenstein's liberal household.
A thirst for knowledge runs deeply in the group, and they stumble upon a hidden library in the house; a Dark Library, full of occult knowledge and alchemy spells. Victor and Konrad's father discover the group in the library, and ban them from ever entering it again, for alchemy is illegal in Geneva and he would not have his children mixed up in something as sodden as "magic". Victor's interest is piqued, but he is content to leave well enough alone until Konrad mysteriously falls ill. He continues to worsen, even as treatment after treatment is given to him. Victor finds that the only solution may be an Elixir of Life, described in one of Agrippa's books (Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, a German magician and alchemist). But the text is written in code, and in order to break it, Victor, Elizabeth, and Henry are force to seek out one who is familiar with the craft of alchemy. This search leads them to Julius Polidori, undoubtedly named for Lord Byron's doctor, who was a well-known companion of Bryon, Percy Shelley, and Mary Shelley.
The book follows Victor's adventures in collecting the three items needed to create the elixir - and in the discovery of alchemy, Victor learns much, much more about himself that he ever thought he would. Not only does he have a gift for crafting alchemical potions, but he comes to learn that he and his brother are at odds over the subject of Elizabeth's heart. I personally enjoyed seeing the usual young adult love triangle told from the perspective of one of the suitors; it was also good that the romance did not make up the bulk of the novel. The true focus of the book is on the relationship between Konrad and Victor. Its easy to see where the sequel, Such Wicked Intent (due out in August of this year), is going to head, but I loved that the book played with similar elements as that of the British stage play version of Frankenstein, put on by the National Theater. It's the thought that Victor and his Creation are two sides of the same coin, complementing and completing each other in a richer way than any romance or relationship could.
Homages to the original novel abound throughout the book, popping up with delight for the reader who can spot them. It certainly lays out where the story can go, but I trust Oppel to make it quite a journey to get to the end - for in the telling of any story, it's more about the obstacles that the protagonist must pass through in order to reach their ending rather than the ending itself. For a young adult novel, this book was gripping, and I had it finished within days of finally locating it. If you're looking for a great, quick read, I highly recommend this book.
This, and other reviews can be found on my blog Just a Lil' Lost...
A sixteen-year-old Victor Frankenstein spends his privileged life being home-schooled with his twin brother Konrad and cousin Elizabeth. Often accompanied by their family friend Henry, the foursome spend their days playing and exploring around the Frankenstein estate when not learning from their father. When Konrad suddenly falls seriously ill, the remaining three companions stumble upon an old library full of strange languages and recipes. They are convinced that if they manage to figure out how to concoct the Elixir of Life, it will save their friend. The trio must race against time and danger to gather the only 3 ingredients required, before it's too late for Konrad.
This book has so much of what I love that I'm kicking myself for how long it took me to get to it. A touch of alchemy with a dash of action and adventure, this book was reminiscent of Harry Potter if Harry & the gang were a rebellious trouble-making bunch. (Well, I guess that can be debatable...) There were so many moments in This Dark Endeavour that brought back great memories of the J.K. Rowling series, from the 2-guys, 1 girl dynamic to the strange creatures and alchemy "magic" that are encountered. There is that same sense of peril & mystery-solving in a more-than-meets-the-eye kind of world.
The depiction of the brother dynamic was also really well executed. The love/hate relationship that Victor and Konrad have with each other feels so real. Whether it's competing with one another to intense jealousy to unrequited brotherly love, anyone with a sibling, let alone a twin, can attest to having at least some of those emotions about each other at some point. I felt this sibling love/rivalry that Oppel described was so well played where siblings can be angry and fight about anything but as soon as something jeopardizes that, blood always comes first. Another major topic of This Dark Endeavour was the debate between science vs faith, which I likened to the long-running theme on Lost. With Victor's desire to find a solution rooted in alchemy to cure his brother, Elizabeth was equally as passionate in praying for Konrad's health at mass. Oppel lays out both arguments in a fair manner, not necessarily leaning towards one way or the other which allows the reader to take from it what they will. Rather than make a potentially controversial declaration that one was more correct than the other, Oppel shows the highs and lows of both sides.
Once again, drawing from another literary source comparison, I loved that this was a backstory to a pre-existing, well-known tale. I thought of Gregory Maguire's Wicked, where everyone thinks they know the story of the Wicked Witch of the West, but Maguire illustrates so much more depth and history to Elphaba. Oppel achieves the same effect with this book, giving new life and backstory to the man who eventually creates Frankenstein's monster. A fantastic beginning to an edge-of-your-seat series that will leave readers gasping with shock and crying out in surprise.
A sixteen-year-old Victor Frankenstein spends his privileged life being home-schooled with his twin brother Konrad and cousin Elizabeth. Often accompanied by their family friend Henry, the foursome spend their days playing and exploring around the Frankenstein estate when not learning from their father. When Konrad suddenly falls seriously ill, the remaining three companions stumble upon an old library full of strange languages and recipes. They are convinced that if they manage to figure out how to concoct the Elixir of Life, it will save their friend. The trio must race against time and danger to gather the only 3 ingredients required, before it's too late for Konrad.
This book has so much of what I love that I'm kicking myself for how long it took me to get to it. A touch of alchemy with a dash of action and adventure, this book was reminiscent of Harry Potter if Harry & the gang were a rebellious trouble-making bunch. (Well, I guess that can be debatable...) There were so many moments in This Dark Endeavour that brought back great memories of the J.K. Rowling series, from the 2-guys, 1 girl dynamic to the strange creatures and alchemy "magic" that are encountered. There is that same sense of peril & mystery-solving in a more-than-meets-the-eye kind of world.
The depiction of the brother dynamic was also really well executed. The love/hate relationship that Victor and Konrad have with each other feels so real. Whether it's competing with one another to intense jealousy to unrequited brotherly love, anyone with a sibling, let alone a twin, can attest to having at least some of those emotions about each other at some point. I felt this sibling love/rivalry that Oppel described was so well played where siblings can be angry and fight about anything but as soon as something jeopardizes that, blood always comes first. Another major topic of This Dark Endeavour was the debate between science vs faith, which I likened to the long-running theme on Lost. With Victor's desire to find a solution rooted in alchemy to cure his brother, Elizabeth was equally as passionate in praying for Konrad's health at mass. Oppel lays out both arguments in a fair manner, not necessarily leaning towards one way or the other which allows the reader to take from it what they will. Rather than make a potentially controversial declaration that one was more correct than the other, Oppel shows the highs and lows of both sides.
Once again, drawing from another literary source comparison, I loved that this was a backstory to a pre-existing, well-known tale. I thought of Gregory Maguire's Wicked, where everyone thinks they know the story of the Wicked Witch of the West, but Maguire illustrates so much more depth and history to Elphaba. Oppel achieves the same effect with this book, giving new life and backstory to the man who eventually creates Frankenstein's monster. A fantastic beginning to an edge-of-your-seat series that will leave readers gasping with shock and crying out in surprise.
While the writing was at a higher level than many YA books I've read recently, there were a few things I couldn't stand about this book.
(Be advised that my opinion may be further affected by the fact that I listened to the audio rather than reading the print edition.)
1. Elizabeth is lame. When you develop a love interest, at least make her alluring and/or cool. I just didn't care for her at all. I didn't care for Konrad, for that matter, either.
2. If I heard the phrase "no doubt" or the word "tome" used one more time, I may have gone insane.
3. Overall antiquity of the language here lends to a very period tone, but it wasn't my flavor.
I did enjoy Victor's character development (arc?), and might be interested to hear what happens to him next. Only problem? I didn't care about ANY of the other characters. Bummer.
Oh, and the lynx was cool. More YA books should feature big cats.
(Be advised that my opinion may be further affected by the fact that I listened to the audio rather than reading the print edition.)
1. Elizabeth is lame. When you develop a love interest, at least make her alluring and/or cool. I just didn't care for her at all. I didn't care for Konrad, for that matter, either.
2. If I heard the phrase "no doubt" or the word "tome" used one more time, I may have gone insane.
3. Overall antiquity of the language here lends to a very period tone, but it wasn't my flavor.
I did enjoy Victor's character development (arc?), and might be interested to hear what happens to him next. Only problem? I didn't care about ANY of the other characters. Bummer.
Oh, and the lynx was cool. More YA books should feature big cats.
damn such a good book, fell in love with the characters the plot didn't slow down till the last word... and the book made me cry! Wow!
I first picked up this book because my book club at school had it as required reading. I wasn't very excited about it when I began. It didn't sound like something I would be very interested in. I'd never read Frankenstein and I was a bit worried it would affect my reading experience.
That being said, I fell in love with this book from the very first page.
I completely fell into this story. The writing style was amazing. Despite the different era this story is set in, there was no confusion when reading. I actually really enjoyed the differences in the way Victor and the rest of the character spoke and the older vocabulary. It made the story more believable and just allowed me to sink into the story the way I wanted to!
I also really adored the characters. Victor was so complex and real. He had my heart from the beginning. He was such an investigative and curious person. I enjoyed the way he pushed himself and others. He was never afraid of the consequences and he did everything wholeheartedly. Even when he didn't have the best intentions, he always did everything he could the get what he wanted. I liked the way he didn't try to be good, too. He was wicked and frankly a little broken. He was jealous of his brother but loved him dearly. Everything about him built up into a person who was interesting and totally captured my heart.
The other characters were also complex and fun to read about. Though I didn't like Konrad nearly as much as Victor, I thought it was interesting comparing them and seeing how they were different. They both thought the other was so much better. I loved their interactions and seeing how they were when they were together. We also had Elizabeth and Henry. I felt like Henry was nice for a bit of comic relief but he never really contributed to the story until the very end. Elizabeth, on the other hand, was such an interesting character. I felt like she was really suppressing who she was. With Victor, she was so adventurous and wild. With Konrad she was proper and rather boring. I'm excited to see how she grows as a character in the next book.
Along with having really great characters, this book also had an awesome plot. While it was fairly simple, it kept me engaged and hooked the entire time I was reading. I liked the adventures they took and how they went about going after what they wanted. The ending was very . . . surprising. I'm not sure exactly how I feel about it but the fact that that happened . . . well, I'm anxious to see what Victor does. I hope it's nothing too horrible.
If you have yet to read this book, I highly recommend you go out and get it. The premise was great, the plot made my heart race, and the characters captured my heart! Definitely a book I will be going back to over and over again!
That being said, I fell in love with this book from the very first page.
I completely fell into this story. The writing style was amazing. Despite the different era this story is set in, there was no confusion when reading. I actually really enjoyed the differences in the way Victor and the rest of the character spoke and the older vocabulary. It made the story more believable and just allowed me to sink into the story the way I wanted to!
I also really adored the characters. Victor was so complex and real. He had my heart from the beginning. He was such an investigative and curious person. I enjoyed the way he pushed himself and others. He was never afraid of the consequences and he did everything wholeheartedly. Even when he didn't have the best intentions, he always did everything he could the get what he wanted. I liked the way he didn't try to be good, too. He was wicked and frankly a little broken. He was jealous of his brother but loved him dearly. Everything about him built up into a person who was interesting and totally captured my heart.
The other characters were also complex and fun to read about. Though I didn't like Konrad nearly as much as Victor, I thought it was interesting comparing them and seeing how they were different. They both thought the other was so much better. I loved their interactions and seeing how they were when they were together. We also had Elizabeth and Henry. I felt like Henry was nice for a bit of comic relief but he never really contributed to the story until the very end. Elizabeth, on the other hand, was such an interesting character. I felt like she was really suppressing who she was. With Victor, she was so adventurous and wild. With Konrad she was proper and rather boring. I'm excited to see how she grows as a character in the next book.
Along with having really great characters, this book also had an awesome plot. While it was fairly simple, it kept me engaged and hooked the entire time I was reading. I liked the adventures they took and how they went about going after what they wanted. The ending was very . . . surprising. I'm not sure exactly how I feel about it but the fact that that happened . . . well, I'm anxious to see what Victor does. I hope it's nothing too horrible.
If you have yet to read this book, I highly recommend you go out and get it. The premise was great, the plot made my heart race, and the characters captured my heart! Definitely a book I will be going back to over and over again!
I don’t know what it is, but I’ve been reading mostly great books lately, and Kenneth Oppel’s This Dark Endeavor does not disappoint. I’ve wanted this book for a while now, based solely on the title, but when I read the synopsis I knew I had to have it. Being a fan of classic horror, any type of retelling is on my automatic to-read list.
This isn’t the strictest retelling I’ve ever read, though it is very, very clever. Oppel incorporates many of the characters and themes from the original (and the original’s inspiration) into this new, fresh voice. This series chronicles the younger years of Victor Frankenstein, before he became the mad doctor that we all know and love. We get to know Victor intimately, understand the workings of his mind, and yes, we do get to watch his descent into madness. It all starts when he, his cousin, and his twin brother discover a dark cellar housing a library, full of books dedicated to the alchemical arts. From here, it’s easy to guess where the story is going, but I would say it is much more about the journey than it is about the destination.
Victor was a wonderfully complex character. He simultaneously loved and envied his twin brother, Konrad. He feels an intense brotherly connection of course, but his whole life he felt as though he was always in his brother’s shadow. Constantly having to fight tooth and claw to be Konrad’s equal has harbored feelings of resentment within Victor. It’s an intense ride, watching Victor struggle with his darker, jealous side, even while Konrad is on his death bed. These conflicting emotions intensify even more once Victor discovers he is in love with Elizabeth, their distant cousin who was raised alongside them, and even more – Konrad is in love with her too.
I loved how the typical love triangle of YA was turned on its head. We usually are witness to a girl’s mind while she decides which boy she’ll pick. But this time, we were stuck in Victor’s head, through his agony at seeing his brother and his love being together. And it was really easy to see why the boys loved Elizabeth – she was smart, and feisty, and strong as well as nurturing, and caring, and a great friends. Elizabeth was truly my favorite character, though that isn’t to say I didn’t love Victor, Konrad, or their best friend Henry.
This Dark Endeavor is full of action. We follow Victor, Elizabeth and Henry along a series of adventures to find the ingredients for the Elixir of Life. I absolutely loved watching the three friends struggle and work hard together, using each other’s strengths to their potential. There is a mystery, a life or death situation, and close brushes with danger. The entire novel is so well-paced that even the parts where the kids were stuck at home were still riveting. This book is compulsively readable.
I found a few flaws within the book, though. Sometimes the wording was off – the language was at times too modern. But other than that, This Dark Endeavor was wonderful.
I highly recommend This Dark Endeavor. It’s cleverly written, tying in pieces of the original Frankenstein while being wholly original and fun to read. Filled with colorful, complex characters, and an intriguing plot, This Dark Endeavor is sure to be a favorite of horror, historical and romance readers alike.
This isn’t the strictest retelling I’ve ever read, though it is very, very clever. Oppel incorporates many of the characters and themes from the original (and the original’s inspiration) into this new, fresh voice. This series chronicles the younger years of Victor Frankenstein, before he became the mad doctor that we all know and love. We get to know Victor intimately, understand the workings of his mind, and yes, we do get to watch his descent into madness. It all starts when he, his cousin, and his twin brother discover a dark cellar housing a library, full of books dedicated to the alchemical arts. From here, it’s easy to guess where the story is going, but I would say it is much more about the journey than it is about the destination.
Victor was a wonderfully complex character. He simultaneously loved and envied his twin brother, Konrad. He feels an intense brotherly connection of course, but his whole life he felt as though he was always in his brother’s shadow. Constantly having to fight tooth and claw to be Konrad’s equal has harbored feelings of resentment within Victor. It’s an intense ride, watching Victor struggle with his darker, jealous side, even while Konrad is on his death bed. These conflicting emotions intensify even more once Victor discovers he is in love with Elizabeth, their distant cousin who was raised alongside them, and even more – Konrad is in love with her too.
I loved how the typical love triangle of YA was turned on its head. We usually are witness to a girl’s mind while she decides which boy she’ll pick. But this time, we were stuck in Victor’s head, through his agony at seeing his brother and his love being together. And it was really easy to see why the boys loved Elizabeth – she was smart, and feisty, and strong as well as nurturing, and caring, and a great friends. Elizabeth was truly my favorite character, though that isn’t to say I didn’t love Victor, Konrad, or their best friend Henry.
This Dark Endeavor is full of action. We follow Victor, Elizabeth and Henry along a series of adventures to find the ingredients for the Elixir of Life. I absolutely loved watching the three friends struggle and work hard together, using each other’s strengths to their potential. There is a mystery, a life or death situation, and close brushes with danger. The entire novel is so well-paced that even the parts where the kids were stuck at home were still riveting. This book is compulsively readable.
I found a few flaws within the book, though. Sometimes the wording was off – the language was at times too modern. But other than that, This Dark Endeavor was wonderful.
I highly recommend This Dark Endeavor. It’s cleverly written, tying in pieces of the original Frankenstein while being wholly original and fun to read. Filled with colorful, complex characters, and an intriguing plot, This Dark Endeavor is sure to be a favorite of horror, historical and romance readers alike.
For some reason, Kenneth Oppel always writes books I think sound good, and even when I read them I think I should like them, but something is always missing for me. This is a prequel to Frankenstein, written through his eyes, so it was totally up my alley. It's not bad writing, characters are developed, I can't quite put my finger on why I wasn't totally into it. Maybe there's too much "action" scenes, which tend to be boring. It felt a little slow moving, but still interesting ideas-fairly predictable, though. That, and the fact that I kind of liked this Frankenstein character, while Frankenstein in the novel is pretty much a complete ass. I don't think this character would have ended up being what Frankenstein was, even with his more less desirable qualities, he wasn't cruel (and irresponsible and extremely cowardly), really, which is ultimately what Frankenstein is.
Oh, the cover to this book is great, though, very intriguing.
Oh, the cover to this book is great, though, very intriguing.