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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
I wasn't entirely sure if I was going to enjoy this book going into it.
Based on the MC you would expect it to be more weird science (which is why I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it), but it was more along the lines of supernatural/occult practices which is a bit more to my personal tastes.
The story is kind of an adventure plot. When his twin brother gets seriously ill, and Victor stumbles upon a secret room in his family home (called the dark library), he starts this quest to make a potion to cure his brother's illness from a recipe he found in one of the books. Along the way he makes a questionable partnership with a man who promises to help him make the potion if Victor can gather the ingredients required for it.
So essentially the whole book is a series of small adventures as Victor and his posé gather the required ingredients. And then there's all the twists after the potion is made and the race to get it to his brother before he dies from his illness.
The one thing I will say about this book is that the MC (16 year old Victor Frankenstein) is not a likable person. He's arrogant, childish, spoiled, a liar-liar-pants-on-fire, and just overall kind of aggrivating. There wasn't really a moment that I liked his character, and even when he tried to let on that he was doing this for his brother, it was very clear that he was only doing it for his own fame and glory. So there's that.
It's rare for me to be able to enjoy a book written in 1st person where the MC is such an unlikable dick, but even with the unlikable narrator I still enjoyed the book and the story (despite my frustrations with baby-yet-to-get-his-Doctorate-in-weird-science-Frankenstein), though I felt that the ending was a bit sudden for me.
It was an okay read overall.
Based on the MC you would expect it to be more weird science (which is why I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it), but it was more along the lines of supernatural/occult practices which is a bit more to my personal tastes.
The story is kind of an adventure plot. When his twin brother gets seriously ill, and Victor stumbles upon a secret room in his family home (called the dark library), he starts this quest to make a potion to cure his brother's illness from a recipe he found in one of the books. Along the way he makes a questionable partnership with a man who promises to help him make the potion if Victor can gather the ingredients required for it.
So essentially the whole book is a series of small adventures as Victor and his posé gather the required ingredients. And then there's all the twists after the potion is made and the race to get it to his brother before he dies from his illness.
The one thing I will say about this book is that the MC (16 year old Victor Frankenstein) is not a likable person. He's arrogant, childish, spoiled, a liar-liar-pants-on-fire, and just overall kind of aggrivating. There wasn't really a moment that I liked his character, and even when he tried to let on that he was doing this for his brother, it was very clear that he was only doing it for his own fame and glory. So there's that.
It's rare for me to be able to enjoy a book written in 1st person where the MC is such an unlikable dick, but even with the unlikable narrator I still enjoyed the book and the story (despite my frustrations with baby-yet-to-get-his-Doctorate-in-weird-science-Frankenstein), though I felt that the ending was a bit sudden for me.
It was an okay read overall.
2.25/5
I was expecting a backstory to Frankenstein that captures the feel of Mary Shelley's work, but that essence was almost non-existent. This Dark Endeavor did get more interesting around the last third, but it was too late. I was already bored to death by Victor's infatuation with Elizabeth, and the disappointingly bland atmosphere of the book.
While Victor was somewhat of an interesting anti-hero (just barely), I couldn't believe that a sixteen year-old would be so passionate about a girl. Speaking of Elizabeth, I felt like Kenneth Oppel just added her for the sake of including a token female character. She was only used a foil for Victor and his brother.
OVERALL: Unfortunately, This Dark Endeavor failed in its execution of an interesting idea. I will not continue with the sequel.
Being a huge fan of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, I was beyond excited to find out there was going to be a series detailing the life of a teenage Victor Frankenstein. So, I had enormous expectations going into reading this book, and I am happy to say that Kenneth Oppel did not let me down at all.
Victor and his twin brother Konrad are 16 and staying at the family house in Geneva along with their cousin Elizabeth and close friend Henry. One day, they discover a hidden passage way that leads down to a secret room that the friends dub The Dark Library. Shortly afterward, Konrad falls mysteriously ill and Victor becomes obsessed with creating The Elixir of Life, a potion found in a book from the Dark Library, and sets out on a quest with Elizabeth and Henry to track down it's ingredients.
From the beginning, the 4 friends are pretty much isolated from everyone other than Victor and Konrad's parents, so they only have each other to rely on. And Victor uses a tiny cell in the basement of the family's chateau as his first laboratory. The Dark Library itself is completely underground and cut off from the rest of the house, and all of these things combined create this wonderfully creepy, claustrophobic feel.
Content Warning
Even though this book deals with teenagers, and has been lumped into the YA genre, in my opinion it is much more of an adult read. Some of the scenes, especially towards the end are quite intense, and I also feel the need to point out, Victor ends up being portrayed as quite the horny teenager (something that only intensifies in the sequel [b:Such Wicked Intent|13063098|Such Wicked Intent (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, #2)|Kenneth Oppel|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1321411633s/13063098.jpg|18228583]). So you know...just keep that in mind. ;)
My one complaint...and it truly is a bit nit-picky on my part: The love..quadrangle. I could understand having the conflict of Victor and Konrad both being in love with Elizabeth (though if I'm being honest, the fact that she was their cousin skeeved me out. Yes, I know it was much more common back in those days, but still...), but the addition of Henry also being smitten? Not really necessary.
The actual ending of the book was a bit of a surprise, though it probably shouldn't have been, but it still packed an emotional punch.
This was a truly wonderful, and atmospheric gem that is definitely deserving of a spot on my keeper shelf.
My YT Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/Bookgasmic
My blog: http://ravingbookaddict.blogspot.com/
Victor and his twin brother Konrad are 16 and staying at the family house in Geneva along with their cousin Elizabeth and close friend Henry. One day, they discover a hidden passage way that leads down to a secret room that the friends dub The Dark Library. Shortly afterward, Konrad falls mysteriously ill and Victor becomes obsessed with creating The Elixir of Life, a potion found in a book from the Dark Library, and sets out on a quest with Elizabeth and Henry to track down it's ingredients.
From the beginning, the 4 friends are pretty much isolated from everyone other than Victor and Konrad's parents, so they only have each other to rely on. And Victor uses a tiny cell in the basement of the family's chateau as his first laboratory. The Dark Library itself is completely underground and cut off from the rest of the house, and all of these things combined create this wonderfully creepy, claustrophobic feel.
Content Warning
Even though this book deals with teenagers, and has been lumped into the YA genre, in my opinion it is much more of an adult read. Some of the scenes, especially towards the end are quite intense, and I also feel the need to point out, Victor ends up being portrayed as quite the horny teenager (something that only intensifies in the sequel [b:Such Wicked Intent|13063098|Such Wicked Intent (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, #2)|Kenneth Oppel|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1321411633s/13063098.jpg|18228583]). So you know...just keep that in mind. ;)
My one complaint...and it truly is a bit nit-picky on my part: The love..quadrangle. I could understand having the conflict of Victor and Konrad both being in love with Elizabeth (though if I'm being honest, the fact that she was their cousin skeeved me out. Yes, I know it was much more common back in those days, but still...), but the addition of Henry also being smitten? Not really necessary.
The actual ending of the book was a bit of a surprise, though it probably shouldn't have been, but it still packed an emotional punch.
This was a truly wonderful, and atmospheric gem that is definitely deserving of a spot on my keeper shelf.
My YT Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/Bookgasmic
My blog: http://ravingbookaddict.blogspot.com/
Simply divine. This is a sublime introduction to gothic literature for all YA, as well as for any adult who was not swept up by Frankenstein, Wuthering Heights, et. al in high school. The dialogue is perfect, the pacing is swift and exciting, and the ending is the perfect cliffhanger. Onward, young Victor! You have much work to do...
Nice prequel to the legend of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, explaining the origins of his drive to create life. The reader will dwell in the dark arts, lots of exciting adventure and action, a love quadrangle (proper Victorian style of course), and great writing. Descriptive sentences are not too too flowery or overblown, and do well to help the reader imagine the scene. I don't know if Oppel intends a sequel or not. It certainly doesn't need one and can stand alone. This would make a great intro to Shelley's Frankenstein novel, as kids could compare the two and decide if Oppel's idea could be plausible.
An engaging prequel to Frankenstein, this tells the story of how Victor Frankenstein came to be obsessed with bringing people back to life. Interesting family dynamics; Victor is a polarized character, by turns loving and selfish, it is interesting to follow his development throughout the book.
Death. Alchemy.
Death. Alchemy.
Ever since my academic years I have had a fascination with Frankenstein. When I found Oppel's accounts of the young Victor, I knew I had to read his novel. I believe Shelley would appreciate this tale that introduces and develops the Frankenstein we meet in her novel.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
This was great. The storyline was entertaining and the characters were believable. I loved the allusions to the original work, as well.
A criticism is the language. There were parts where the narration and the dialogue felt too modern - to the point that I found myself questioning the time period on more than one occasion. Another critical observation is that I felt like the plot was broken up between sections too clearly. It seemed to focus on one part of the story exclusively for a period, conclude that part, then move on to the next part.
On the other hand, it could be written that way sure to the young adult target audience.
Overall, I loved it. And I'm off to find book #2!
A criticism is the language. There were parts where the narration and the dialogue felt too modern - to the point that I found myself questioning the time period on more than one occasion. Another critical observation is that I felt like the plot was broken up between sections too clearly. It seemed to focus on one part of the story exclusively for a period, conclude that part, then move on to the next part.
On the other hand, it could be written that way sure to the young adult target audience.
Overall, I loved it. And I'm off to find book #2!