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adriennegorra's review
3.0
An interesting take on Shelley's Frankenstein. As a fan of the original, I probably would not recommend this novel to a fellow fan. If I had tried harder to dissociate the two versions, perhaps my reading experience would have been better and the ending might not have left me feeling so disappointed.
quercus707's review
4.0
I was suspicious at first; there were so many parts of this book that felt deja vu lifted straight from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein - what could possibly be the original contribution of this novel? Well. It did not disappoint. Purporting to be the "true" story of Victor Frankenstein, from which Shelley got her version, this was a very satisfying, very creepy retelling of the classic. Most impressively, it was written in the language of the time: it reads just like Frankenstein, the original.
Basically, smash together two of my favorites - Frankenstein and Dr Jeykyll & Mr Hyde, and you get this book. Well done!
Basically, smash together two of my favorites - Frankenstein and Dr Jeykyll & Mr Hyde, and you get this book. Well done!
eddieboy's review against another edition
Was too slow paced to keep my interest, and missing a significant portion of my favourite parts of the cast of the original Frankenstein such as Henry clerval, I think three members of Victor's direct family, and Robert Walton though since he was narrative framing in the original I'm less upset about that one. not badly written, vaguely interesting in parts, but just not my thing. It lost a lot of the spirit of Mary Shelly's story. I may have found this easier to read, but that was more because instead of the flurry of emotions the original Frankenstein hits you with, I felt a dullness to all of it. When you read Frankenstein there are parts where you can truely feel Victor's devastation. Where you have to keep reading. Just to know the end of this terrible tale. This lacked that... energy. I read stories based on Frankenstein to try and find something with more of the intelligent, destructive monster of the original story, or even, though my doubts are high, a story with good retelling of Frankenstein's obvious depression. If I keep finding these dully lacklustre stories of a watered down victor with all the women turned two dimensional. In summary, I miss Henry, Henry Clerval is so painfully underused, as are a lot of the original Frankenstein characters.
Also of note is this: I do appreciate that he took out the incest between Victor and his adopted sister. I just think there's a thousand better ways to do that then killing off the most central woman in the original novel so early.
Also of note is this: I do appreciate that he took out the incest between Victor and his adopted sister. I just think there's a thousand better ways to do that then killing off the most central woman in the original novel so early.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Medical content
kwbridge's review
3.0
Through most of this book I was bored. It didn't really get interesting to me until about half way through. Nice twist at the ending though ...
the_sassy_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
What can I say, this was a cracking good read! A very interesting take on the Frankenstein story. I really enjoyed this one!
rainy_stardust's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
olivesnook's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
roxane's review
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
Kinda felt like the author was just writing in as many famous people as he could but also it did have a pretty good ending.
jaxgirl007's review
4.0
There was a lot that I liked about "The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein" but I wanted to like it even more. Ackroyd does a great job of creating a cast of interesting characters, not the least of which is the title character. He is a likable person and even when strange things start happening to him, you don't question his narration because it is so simple and straightforward. Of special delight is Victor's relationship with his servant Fred.
But the ending was abrupt and a bit too confusing. After being invested in Victor for 330 pages, his story cuts off in 20 pages with an ending that (I think) was supposed to be fairly obvious but to me came out of left field and wasn't flushed out enough. Maybe this was worked out in the final version (I had an Early Reviewer's copy).
Overall, a good idea that was made into an interesting read. For those who like historical fiction and a bit of mystery thrown in, this book is worthwhile.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
But the ending was abrupt and a bit too confusing. After being invested in Victor for 330 pages, his story cuts off in 20 pages with an ending that (I think) was supposed to be fairly obvious but to me came out of left field and wasn't flushed out enough. Maybe this was worked out in the final version (I had an Early Reviewer's copy).
Overall, a good idea that was made into an interesting read. For those who like historical fiction and a bit of mystery thrown in, this book is worthwhile.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review