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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4⭐️
This re-imagining of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is told from the point of view of Elizabeth Lavenza. A woman desperate to secure her future, she is flawed and morally gray, but we see who the true monsters are through her eyes. I had some issues with the pacing of the novel (especially in the beginning) and it took me a bit to get into the story, but it has all the dark, gothic vibes of its source material with the feminist punch I very much needed.
This re-imagining of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is told from the point of view of Elizabeth Lavenza. A woman desperate to secure her future, she is flawed and morally gray, but we see who the true monsters are through her eyes. I had some issues with the pacing of the novel (especially in the beginning) and it took me a bit to get into the story, but it has all the dark, gothic vibes of its source material with the feminist punch I very much needed.
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This retelling was very well done! I thought the plot was pretty interesting. I didn't devour the book, but I was interested enough to keep going, even though it felt kind of aimless for a bit. The last 1/3 or so was excellent though, even if the last chapter and epilogue felt rushed.
Getting in the minds of the characters was very unsettling.
Definitely worth the read!
Getting in the minds of the characters was very unsettling.
Spoiler
I felt so bad for Elizabeth because it was clear she was totally under Victor's control, and he was creepy as shit. I just wanted to shake her and tell her to WAKE UP! Of course she did finally, and that's when the book got great imo.Definitely worth the read!
4.5/5
Solid audiobook narration by Katharine Lee McEwan - matched the tone of the book perfectly. Darkly compelling with a strong sense of atmosphere. The writing was very propulsive, in my opinion. The ending was the weakest part, but overall, I really enjoyed it. Would recommend.
Solid audiobook narration by Katharine Lee McEwan - matched the tone of the book perfectly. Darkly compelling with a strong sense of atmosphere. The writing was very propulsive, in my opinion. The ending was the weakest part, but overall, I really enjoyed it. Would recommend.
I really liked this book, and the first half was definitely 5 stars. I was so drawn in by the character of Elizabeth and the realistic way she adapted to her situation. There were some pacing problems throughout, but they didn't bother me too much. My only real problem with the book is that way that Elizabeth's relationship with Victor is ended not because she realizes that forming your entire being around a single person and bending yourself to their tastes and constantly lying and feel afraid of losing your life if you leave them is BAD, but because Victor is a blood psychopath who murdered a toddler. I was pretty disappointed by the lack of moral grey in Victor after that reveal. I just feel that their relationship could have been played out with more realism and subtlety.
I did however love the fucking three muskateers bit toward the end with Mary, Elizabeth, and Adam. Very cute. I would read a whole novel of them fucking around and getting used to each other.
I did however love the fucking three muskateers bit toward the end with Mary, Elizabeth, and Adam. Very cute. I would read a whole novel of them fucking around and getting used to each other.
I think if the author were to cut out all of the parts where the narrator reminds us of her beauty while doing things “prettily,” this book would be much shorter and slightly better.
I’ve been trying to get around to this book for almost 7 years now, and I’ve finally done it! This, surprisingly, is also my first Kiersten White book. I was thrilled by just how much her writing felt like it belonged in the same time period as Mary Shelley’s original novel, and yet also managed to be in conversation with it at the same time. In this book, White affirms something astute readers of Frankenstein have known for years: Victor Frankenstein was always the monster. And in these pages, White leaves no room for doubt.
This book explores overtly feminist themes without reducing its female lead to stereotypes. In fact, for most of the first half of the book, Elizabeth is nearly unlikable, so deep is her devotion to the monster that she—at least in this telling—helped create. I enjoyed that White found a way to connect the two narratives in universe, explaining some of the deviations in this novel from the original in a compelling, satisfying way.
Mary Shelley’s questions endure in this work, which takes advantage of the death of a society where woman were not afforded the credit they deserve. Shelley invented science fiction several years before Jules Verne would get the credit for doing so. At least in this retelling, and in modern scholarship, it feels Shelley is finally getting her laurels.
I will make a special note not only about the beautiful prose of this novel, but about the vivid settings and richly drawn locales. The way White describes these places makes the setting come to life in such a way that it’s a character unto itself.
RATING RUNDOWN:
Character (4/5)
Plot & Pacing (3.5/5)
Setting & Surroundings (5/5)
Dialogue & Diction (4/5)
Craft & Voice (5/5)
Reading Experience (4/5)
Final Rating:
4.25/5
This book explores overtly feminist themes without reducing its female lead to stereotypes. In fact, for most of the first half of the book, Elizabeth is nearly unlikable, so deep is her devotion to the monster that she—at least in this telling—helped create. I enjoyed that White found a way to connect the two narratives in universe, explaining some of the deviations in this novel from the original in a compelling, satisfying way.
Mary Shelley’s questions endure in this work, which takes advantage of the death of a society where woman were not afforded the credit they deserve. Shelley invented science fiction several years before Jules Verne would get the credit for doing so. At least in this retelling, and in modern scholarship, it feels Shelley is finally getting her laurels.
I will make a special note not only about the beautiful prose of this novel, but about the vivid settings and richly drawn locales. The way White describes these places makes the setting come to life in such a way that it’s a character unto itself.
RATING RUNDOWN:
Character (4/5)
Plot & Pacing (3.5/5)
Setting & Surroundings (5/5)
Dialogue & Diction (4/5)
Craft & Voice (5/5)
Reading Experience (4/5)
Final Rating:
4.25/5
Really really really good read! So intriguing and so beautifully written. I adore the “rewrite” of Frankenstein, as well as the surprises and twists and shocking realities of life in the time of the original novel. Truly amazing.