A review by coreenamcb
This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

5.0

This Dark Endeavor is a fun, Gothic read, a sort of prequel to Shelley's Frankenstein. This is the story of Victor Frankenstein as a teen and his twin brother, Konrad. Oppel expertly explores Victor and how he could have come to be the character we all know from literature.

I enjoyed Oppel's writing and world building -- he made the world of chemistry, alchemy, and philosophy of the time vivid and come to life. It all feels authentic and dark and rich.

Then there was the development of Victor and his relationship with his brother and Elizabeth. We feel for Victor, but also can see his flaws and the dichotomies of his personality. I love these kinds of explorations of someone's psyche, trying to figure out what makes them tick.

This Dark Endeavor will appeal to middle grade and young adult readers who are looking for something dark and Gothic, almost steampunk.