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tinky47's review against another edition
5.0
Elizabeth is an orphan, brought into the Frankensteins’ home as a ward to be a companion to their troubled oldest son, a young man whose fits of rage hold the family in terror. Elizabeth knows her situation is precarious; not wanting to return to her abusing caregiver, she becomes the friend that Victor needs, the only one who can soothe his terrible temper, and cover the traces of his terrible hobbies. As they grow older, the family as well the the household grows, and nothing is more terrible to Victor than Elizabeth’s attention being shared. Told in a series of events and flashbacks, this story is gothic and tells of terrible choices people make when they try to protect the ones they love.
justinkhchen's review against another edition
3.5
Thematically spot on, but the plot suffers, The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein perfectly captures the hazy gothic atmosphere, and its first-person perspective makes sure the emotion is front and center, claustrophobic in an intense, hypnotic way. The pivotal theme of monster is well explored, as Kiersten White cleverly utilizes her cast of morally gray characters to dissect the varying type of monsters, and their relationship to the (sometimes involuntary) makers.
While I enjoy the heightened melodrama and the protagonist's psychological arc, the finer detail of its plot feels less refined, as if Kiersten White had the outline, but couldn't come up with anything intriguing to connect the dots. One of the novel's 'reveal' is so obvious, yet we have to wait until 2/3 into the book to have it out in the open. The last quarter of The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein is also where its YA root is the most obvious, suddenly becomes a jovial, adventurous story, in contrast to the earlier, more melancholic tone. Lastly, there are multiple places where the book should've ended, and every time it resumes, it becomes less provocative, and more cliché. I get it, there's a punchline the author really wants to hit, but the dragged-out closure definitely tarnish my overall impression.
Overall The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein is a very thorough 'remix' with a feminist bent, but its enthusiasm to flip the narrative is sometimes in the way to its own success: too many scattered thoughts packed in without a closer lens at telling its own story. It does remind me conceptually of A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson (another classic retold from a female perspective, in fist-person); if you're a fan of one of these titles, I would recommend checking out the other.
While I enjoy the heightened melodrama and the protagonist's psychological arc, the finer detail of its plot feels less refined, as if Kiersten White had the outline, but couldn't come up with anything intriguing to connect the dots. One of the novel's 'reveal' is so obvious, yet we have to wait until 2/3 into the book to have it out in the open. The last quarter of The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein is also where its YA root is the most obvious, suddenly becomes a jovial, adventurous story, in contrast to the earlier, more melancholic tone. Lastly, there are multiple places where the book should've ended, and every time it resumes, it becomes less provocative, and more cliché. I get it, there's a punchline the author really wants to hit, but the dragged-out closure definitely tarnish my overall impression.
Overall The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein is a very thorough 'remix' with a feminist bent, but its enthusiasm to flip the narrative is sometimes in the way to its own success: too many scattered thoughts packed in without a closer lens at telling its own story. It does remind me conceptually of A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson (another classic retold from a female perspective, in fist-person); if you're a fan of one of these titles, I would recommend checking out the other.
cody8801's review against another edition
3.0
This book was fucking amazing. At first I had some weird feelings but then I realised the feelings were purposeful? I don’t know if that makes sense but whatever yeehaw you should read this book
P.S i Love Mary and Elizabeth and Justine, we Love a Book Full of well developed women
P.S i Love Mary and Elizabeth and Justine, we Love a Book Full of well developed women
elizabethmalousek's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
peggy_brm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
guillevaldata's review against another edition
3.0
No se si fue por mi bloqueo o que, pero tarde veintemil años en leerlo y me dejo una sensación de 🤷🏻♀️
No sabía que era un retelling! Me quede sorprendida cuando lo deduje al final.
De todas formas, si bien fue entretenido y considero que es un buen libro, no me cautivo tanto como al resto.
Ni idea. 3.5
No sabía que era un retelling! Me quede sorprendida cuando lo deduje al final.
De todas formas, si bien fue entretenido y considero que es un buen libro, no me cautivo tanto como al resto.
Ni idea. 3.5
bookb1itch's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
a nice homage to the classic, told through a female voice. Creepy-scary, like a gothic story should be. At times i wondered if Elizabeth was an unreliable narrator. Mary from the book shop was probably my favourite character though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Medical content, and Blood
Minor: Forced institutionalization
wollstonecrafty's review against another edition
reshaped families at the end of the world! kiersten white tracing out the female homosocial in frankenstein and saying hmmm what if we talked about this more!
dr_aimz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0