Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

8 reviews

inkwellimps's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

2.75

I wouldn't recommend it to people who are fans of the original book. As a derivative work, I wasn't expecting to be so far astray from the original--Victor in particular I was very bothered by. To give one example early on in the novel,

there is a scene where Victor as a child comes to his senses after having hurt his younger brother and is wholly unconcerned that his brother is bleeding out

, which makes me wonder if Kiersten White and I read the same Frankenstein where Victor is filled with anxiety and dread over the thought of anything happening to his loved ones, where securing his family’s safety is his sole motivation after the creature’s creation. Like EVEN if we go with the "Victor is mad" theory, it is Victor's emotional investment in the wellbeing of his family that drives the tension and interest in Frankenstein. Additionally, in the original every death puts Victor in a deep despair where he stops engaging with the world and caring for himself until others intervene. In The Dark Descent, this is reduced to Victor being very sickly, and is entirely unrelated outside of giving Elizabeth a way to conveniently discover Victor's research.

I do genuinely believe there's a lot that could be said about Elizabeth, or anyone in her position, as someone taken in as a parentified only daughter (as Victor's parents seem to treat her in the original), but I don't think this book is the book to do it. I was eagerly anticipating how White would handle (spoilers for the original book)

Justine being accused of young William's murder and Elizabeth genuinely blaming her. In the original, this is a moment of real heartbreak for Elizabeth where she not only loses the child but believes momentarily her close friend is guilty of murder before Victor convinces her of Justine's innocence.

I was genuinely disappointed that the Elizabeth of The Dark Descent could not be--even momentarily--flawed and this Elizabeth for no moment doubted Justine's innocence, making the scene overall more boring.

For being billed as “The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein”, the majority of the novel portrays Elizabeth as a victim. The darkness in question is mainly Elizabeth trying to make herself appealing to Victor and ||convincing herself she is responsible for Victor’s murders via not knowing he was committing them||. She is rather hastily comforted by a side character, Mary,  that she is not at fault. Shortly before this, Mary straight up tells Elizabeth that she is a victim.

After taking charge, Elizabeth leads a more righteous life

—as much as the author’s note solidifies that this was written with the intent of being a feminist novel, it bothers me that all of the female protagonist’s choices cannot be caused by her own volition, but must instead be caused by the villainous male character. It’s just another caricature of femininity.

I did try to give this novel a chance as its own isolated narrative after getting over that initial surprise, but beyond what it borrows from Shelley, I found it to be mediocre. There was a small moment I was genuinely invested around the 3/4 mark where it is revealed that

Elizabeth still could inherent the Lavenza fortune and that this potential is the reason Judge Frankenstein kept her around,

but a couple scenes after that I found myself disengaged. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Child death, Confinement, Body horror, Child abuse, and Death

Minor: Medical content

A few of the "child abuse" instances involve religious abuse.

ahoyitsjoy's review

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Excellent "women's rights and women's wrongs" book. I loved White's version of Elizabeth. She was such an interesting and sympathetic character, compared to her existence as a stereotype in the original.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Child death, Body horror, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Misogyny, Murder, Death of parent, Gun violence, Violence, Sexism, and Gore

Minor: Vomit

4m0r's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I know this book is brilliant. But somehow I always forget how good it actually is. Elizabeth is the perfect protagonist, you know she's privilege by he looks, but that hasn't gotten her anywhere, it's here brain. How she adapts to survive, the lengths she goes to protect herself and the ones she loves. When everything breaks apart it's like that Elizabeth does no longer exist and we start getting glimpses of what is going to be the new Elizabeth, it's wonderful. K.White really is a genius for being able to write this mesmerizing book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Child death, Death, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Murder, Misogyny, Blood, and Violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Gun violence, Confinement, Classism, Abandonment, and Stalking

Minor: Grief, Stalking, and Kidnapping

apestforwrens's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

If you want “girlboss Frankenstein” this isn’t the book you want. If you want “Rebecca and Frankenstein had a weird kid” this is that book. It’s a really interesting take on the original that pays homage to both the story and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. Slow burn for a fascinating character journey

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Sexism

Minor: Excrement

It’s a gothic horror/thriller. This book contains genre typical violence, ethics, and actions

louisegraveyard's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Misogyny, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

andrikkk's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Classism, Deadnaming, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Animal death, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexism, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Gun violence

Minor: Drug use

raynestorm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Body horror, Violence, and Sexism

It gets very dark very fast once the turns come.

lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I have owned a physical copy of this book since it was released, and I am kicking myself that it took me so long to read! "The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein" is an amazing new take on Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein". This story follows Elizabeth, a young woman who is abused and nearly thrown to the streets by her caregiver, until Victor Frankenstein comes along. Elizabeth is adopted into the Frankenstein family, and she loves her new, affluent life. She spends a great deal of her time looking out for and covering up for Victor as a repayment for saving her. Suddenly Victor has gone missing and strange events are occurring, so Elizabeth finds herself on an adventure to save everyone from the monster Victor has created. 
This was a beautifully written novel and I felt it really stayed true to the time period it took place in. There are wonderfully executed themes of sexism, classism, and betrayal. "Frankenstein" is a highly praised classic, and I really loved seeing a new angle on it, from a new character's perspective! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Classism, Murder, and Child death