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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
This review can also be found on Reading Between Classes
Cover Impressions: I love the dark feel of this cover. The scratched keyhole and the black on black outfit are contrasted against the blue sky as Victor Frankenstein takes his first steps on the road toward his destiny. On the back, as if scratched into the dark wood, is the line: "There is a passion in you that scares me". Which perfectly sums up the conflicting feelings that Elizabeth and I share of Victor's character.
The Gist: Years before the events that were recorded in Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, Victor lived his days in peaceful playtime with his brother Konrad, cousin Elizabeth, and dear family friend Henry. While exploring, they stumble upon a hidden Biblioteka Obscura: The Dark Library. It is full of strange books condemned by both the church, and Victor's father. When Konrad falls gravely ill, Victor decides to use these materials to find a cure and sends himself and his friends on a perilous journey into the heart of Alchemy.
Review: I haven't read any other Kenneth Oppel books (although I do stock some in my classroom library) but, when I read about a prequel to Frankenstein, I knew I had to get my hands on this one. I love modern takes on classic novels, especially when they aren't trying to re-tell the same story but are using it as literary fodder for their own dark imagination. I was particularly hoping for a book that would appeal to teen boys and I was not disappointed. This Dark Endeavour is full of mystery and excitement. It was one of those page-turning books where I found myself thinking "one more chapter and then I will go to bed" until I had turned the last page and stayed up far past my bedtime.
The characters are a little one dimensional, but enjoyable. I cheered along as Elizabeth asserted herself and laughed at Henry's myriad of fears. Konrad was just a perfect enough to dislike and I reveled in Victor's first, tentative steps into villainy. It is interesting to watch the dichotomy between the boys and I was left wondering if this is a case of the "good" twin and the "evil" twin.
Oppel's pacing is spot on. There is absolutely no lag in the story and the excitement builds quickly. There are many action scenes and they demand the readers attention in a way that I know appeals particularly to young boys. In order to truly enjoy this novel, the reader does have to suspend disbelief in the fact that everything the characters need to acquire in their quest is within walking (or riding) distance and that some information comes a little too quickly and conveniently.
While this book will not change your life, it will provide a few pleasant hours and, perhaps, the catalyst to explore the original Frankenstein further. I am excited to place this novel in my classroom and into the hands of those boys who crave adventure stories.
Teaching/Parental Notes:
Age: 12 and up
Gender: Either
Sex: None
Violence: Amputation of fingers, violent death to animals
Inappropriate Language: None
Substance Abuse: None
We all know the story of Victor Frankenstein and his monster, but do have you even wondered what made Victor the way he was? This Dark Endeavor delves into the story of the young Frankenstein and his introduction to alchemy and the dark arts. Will be reading the next book.
My students will love this! The first chapter is a a major hook. So many good, dark adventures. If you are YA who likes mystery with adventure with a dark undertone and love, then be prepared to turn the pages. I will be sharing with my students after break.
I have a love/hate relationship with literary prequels/sequels. I usually dislike them but I can’t seem to stay away. This one I didn’t hate. I didn’t love it either and honestly, this did not have to be about Victor Frankenstein to make it work and that, to me, is a weakness. Oppell very obviously did study the source material (though there is one detail I wonder if it was there but it’s been forever since I’ve read the book). The family is right for the character with the exception of the addition of Victor’s twin brother, Konrad.
They are identical in all ways. Together they find a hidden ‘Dark Library’ in a hidden vault within the honeycomb of secret passages in Castle Frankenstein. Alphonse Frankenstein, their father, warns them and their cousin and constant companion, Elizabeth from ever going there again. It’s too tempting for Victor how has a fascination with the alchemy and sorcery he finds there.
However, when his twin falls gravely ill from something that looks suspiciously like an autoimmune disease or leukemia (though the symptoms don’t quite fit), Victor turns to the Dark Library once more. In the actual Frankenstein book, Victor did have a deep interest in alchemists such as Cornelius Agrippa, Von Honheim (Paracelsus), and Albertus Magnus and this book gives him reason to. Victor finds the hidden, half burned tome that will decode the Gibberish alchemy texts were coded in.
His mother’s head maid turns him onto Dr. Polidori, someone who had been a successful alchemist until someone died and Victor’s own father barely saved the man from hanging. Polidori is now crippled and wheelchair bound with Krake, a lynx, as his companion. Polidori promises to help decode the text and make the Elixir of Life for Victor.
In his quest to make the Philosopher’s Stone, Victor, accompanied by the fiery Elizabeth and his poet friend, Henry, have to track down three nearly impossible ingredients and they have to do it before Konrad dies.
In the middle of this, it takes a dark bounce when Victor realizes he and his twin are in love with Elizabeth (and if you’ve read the source material you know how this turns out). However his is a devious and jealous manipulative love which frankly takes him down several pegs in my eyes. This, along with the very dark and over the top ending took it from four stars down to three. That said, it ends right where I figured it would. Warning both man and beast suffer greatly at various points so it’s not for the sensitive. It’s going to be a movie (well kudos for not being yet another 70’s TV show option) and there is another book to come. Also kudos to the author for the in-joke with the alchemist being named Polidori. If you don’t know who John Polidori really was, I’ll let you explore the joke on your own.
They are identical in all ways. Together they find a hidden ‘Dark Library’ in a hidden vault within the honeycomb of secret passages in Castle Frankenstein. Alphonse Frankenstein, their father, warns them and their cousin and constant companion, Elizabeth from ever going there again. It’s too tempting for Victor how has a fascination with the alchemy and sorcery he finds there.
However, when his twin falls gravely ill from something that looks suspiciously like an autoimmune disease or leukemia (though the symptoms don’t quite fit), Victor turns to the Dark Library once more. In the actual Frankenstein book, Victor did have a deep interest in alchemists such as Cornelius Agrippa, Von Honheim (Paracelsus), and Albertus Magnus and this book gives him reason to. Victor finds the hidden, half burned tome that will decode the Gibberish alchemy texts were coded in.
His mother’s head maid turns him onto Dr. Polidori, someone who had been a successful alchemist until someone died and Victor’s own father barely saved the man from hanging. Polidori is now crippled and wheelchair bound with Krake, a lynx, as his companion. Polidori promises to help decode the text and make the Elixir of Life for Victor.
In his quest to make the Philosopher’s Stone, Victor, accompanied by the fiery Elizabeth and his poet friend, Henry, have to track down three nearly impossible ingredients and they have to do it before Konrad dies.
In the middle of this, it takes a dark bounce when Victor realizes he and his twin are in love with Elizabeth (and if you’ve read the source material you know how this turns out). However his is a devious and jealous manipulative love which frankly takes him down several pegs in my eyes. This, along with the very dark and over the top ending took it from four stars down to three. That said, it ends right where I figured it would. Warning both man and beast suffer greatly at various points so it’s not for the sensitive. It’s going to be a movie (well kudos for not being yet another 70’s TV show option) and there is another book to come. Also kudos to the author for the in-joke with the alchemist being named Polidori. If you don’t know who John Polidori really was, I’ll let you explore the joke on your own.
Victor Frankenstein stumbles upon "The Dark Library" hidden in his family's estate. Although he is forbidden to enter the library again, he does so in order to save his twin brother from death. Victor goes to extraordinary lengths and blurs the line between life and death.
Parts of this book made me hold my breath. I was impressed by the suspense near the end. Will certainly read the sequel!
This Dark Endeavor is a fun, Gothic read, a sort of prequel to Shelley's Frankenstein. This is the story of Victor Frankenstein as a teen and his twin brother, Konrad. Oppel expertly explores Victor and how he could have come to be the character we all know from literature.
I enjoyed Oppel's writing and world building -- he made the world of chemistry, alchemy, and philosophy of the time vivid and come to life. It all feels authentic and dark and rich.
Then there was the development of Victor and his relationship with his brother and Elizabeth. We feel for Victor, but also can see his flaws and the dichotomies of his personality. I love these kinds of explorations of someone's psyche, trying to figure out what makes them tick.
This Dark Endeavor will appeal to middle grade and young adult readers who are looking for something dark and Gothic, almost steampunk.
I enjoyed Oppel's writing and world building -- he made the world of chemistry, alchemy, and philosophy of the time vivid and come to life. It all feels authentic and dark and rich.
Then there was the development of Victor and his relationship with his brother and Elizabeth. We feel for Victor, but also can see his flaws and the dichotomies of his personality. I love these kinds of explorations of someone's psyche, trying to figure out what makes them tick.
This Dark Endeavor will appeal to middle grade and young adult readers who are looking for something dark and Gothic, almost steampunk.
This book was not what I expected it to be. The main character is very hauty, and more of an anti hero. Though, I think this stays true to the original character of Victor Frankenstein (from what i can remember from the classic novel). The ending is what really earned it the 3 stars rather than 4 though. I feel cheated now. I won't spoil the ending for anyone, but it didn't feel complete, or cared for at that point. I think the book could have ended with a similar outcome, but the way the author handled it felt like more of an afterthought.
It's no small task to write a prequel to a classic. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein has such big themes that capture the age it was written in. So I was skeptical of 'This Dark Endeavor'...I read it with very high expectations.
Victor Frankenstein is 16 years old when he discovers a secret alchemy library in his family's chateau on the edge of Lake Geneva. With his twin brother Konrad, cousin Elizabeth and friend Henry, he seeks to discover its mysteries. When Konrad falls deathly ill, only the library's recipe for the elixir of life holds the promise of his survival. Throughout the quest for the elixir's ingredients, author Kenneth Oppel portrays Victor as a pompous, ambitious and self-absorbed young man -- in line with Mary Shelley's older version. In my opinion the premonitions (of actions that occur in Shelley's Frankenstein) do not strengthen the story but rather try to create a false tie or perhaps test the reader of their Frankenstein knowledge.
The beginning of the novel does not engage the larger themes in Shelley's Frankenstein, but wait...once the love triangle between Konrad, Elizabeth and Victor emerges, the book takes on more interest, the pacing quickens and stronger themes develop. Secrecy, revenge, love, jealousy all play a part. The conflict between science, faith and magic becomes more prevalent. This Dark Endeavor builds to a satisfying climax, with interesting twists.
Victor Frankenstein is 16 years old when he discovers a secret alchemy library in his family's chateau on the edge of Lake Geneva. With his twin brother Konrad, cousin Elizabeth and friend Henry, he seeks to discover its mysteries. When Konrad falls deathly ill, only the library's recipe for the elixir of life holds the promise of his survival. Throughout the quest for the elixir's ingredients, author Kenneth Oppel portrays Victor as a pompous, ambitious and self-absorbed young man -- in line with Mary Shelley's older version. In my opinion the premonitions (of actions that occur in Shelley's Frankenstein) do not strengthen the story but rather try to create a false tie or perhaps test the reader of their Frankenstein knowledge.
The beginning of the novel does not engage the larger themes in Shelley's Frankenstein, but wait...once the love triangle between Konrad, Elizabeth and Victor emerges, the book takes on more interest, the pacing quickens and stronger themes develop. Secrecy, revenge, love, jealousy all play a part. The conflict between science, faith and magic becomes more prevalent. This Dark Endeavor builds to a satisfying climax, with interesting twists.
This book was... really well done, but also a hard read, for whatever reason. I really enjoyed our awesome characters of Victor, Konrad, Henry and Elizabeth and the world building in this novel just blew me away. But I just found myself aching for it to be done. I'm not sure why, it wasn't exactly a slow read, but it wasn't action packed the whole way through either. I reccomend this book though, I really do, because the writing was just spectacular either way. Perhaps if I was more into Frankenstien myself then I would love it even more.
Now, the ending was one that I really thought was well done, it was something that really tied into our origional story of Frankenstien by Mary Shelley and also made me excited for the sequel which is called "Such Wicked Intent" and is already out in hardcover. So I loved this book enough to definitly purchase the sequel when I can!
Now, the ending was one that I really thought was well done, it was something that really tied into our origional story of Frankenstien by Mary Shelley and also made me excited for the sequel which is called "Such Wicked Intent" and is already out in hardcover. So I loved this book enough to definitly purchase the sequel when I can!