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A review by opticflow
This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel
4.0
There is a dark cave. There are dangerous creatures about to pounce. There is greed and obsession and sneaking around. There is a grisly amputation. There is the burgeoning interest in medicine and magic that makes you go, yeah, I believe this kid could turn into a mad scientist. It has all the markings of a so-so horror story.
What I know of Frankenstein comes from the Universal films, Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, and the Danny Boyle theatre adaptation. (Sorry Mary Shelley.) Compared to those adaptations, Ken Oppel has done a good job of keeping the bones of the story while making this interpretation entirely his own.
What gives this book an extra star is the super creepy way the author deals with twins. Victor and Konrad are best friends. When Konrad’s health fails, Victor will do ANYTHING to make him well again. When Konrad keeps a secret his love for their cousin Elizabeth (EWWW), Victor rages with jealousy and competition.
Victor is impulsive, he’s headstrong, he’s naïve. He makes some stupid decisions and just narrowly avoids doing something VERY, VERY BAD. At points, it was extremely uncomfortable to be in this kid’s head, and that is exactly how a good horror story should go.
What I know of Frankenstein comes from the Universal films, Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, and the Danny Boyle theatre adaptation. (Sorry Mary Shelley.) Compared to those adaptations, Ken Oppel has done a good job of keeping the bones of the story while making this interpretation entirely his own.
What gives this book an extra star is the super creepy way the author deals with twins. Victor and Konrad are best friends. When Konrad’s health fails, Victor will do ANYTHING to make him well again. When Konrad keeps a secret his love for their cousin Elizabeth (EWWW), Victor rages with jealousy and competition.
Victor is impulsive, he’s headstrong, he’s naïve. He makes some stupid decisions and just narrowly avoids doing something VERY, VERY BAD. At points, it was extremely uncomfortable to be in this kid’s head, and that is exactly how a good horror story should go.