The purest intentions can stir up the darkest obsessions.
In this prequel to Mary Shelley’s gothic classic, Frankenstein, 16-year-old Victor Frankenstein begins a dark journey that will change his life forever. Victor’s twin, Konrad, has fallen ill, and no doctor is able to cure him. Unwilling to give up on his brother, Victor enlists his beautiful cousin Elizabeth and best friend Henry on a treacherous search for the ingredients to create the forbidden Elixir of Life. Impossible odds, dangerous alchemy and a bitter love triangle threaten their quest at every turn.
Victor knows he must not fail. But his success depends on how far he is willing to push the boundaries of nature, science, and love—and how much he is willing to sacrifice.
In this prequel to Mary Shelley’s gothic classic, Frankenstein, 16-year-old Victor Frankenstein begins a dark journey that will change his life forever. Victor’s twin, Konrad, has fallen ill, and no doctor is able to cure him. Unwilling to give up on his brother, Victor enlists his beautiful cousin Elizabeth and best friend Henry on a treacherous search for the ingredients to create the forbidden Elixir of Life. Impossible odds, dangerous alchemy and a bitter love triangle threaten their quest at every turn.
Victor knows he must not fail. But his success depends on how far he is willing to push the boundaries of nature, science, and love—and how much he is willing to sacrifice.
Recommended: Yes, recommended!
Recommended Ages: 15 and Up
I read This Dark Endeavor with limited knowledge of Mary
Shelley’s Frankenstein. (The type of knowledge you get by reading the Primary
School version). This may not have let me pick up on the subtler hints in This
Dark Endeavour that lead to Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein; but in no way did that
lesson my enjoyment! If anything, it might be best to read This Dark Endeavor before the original Frankenstein – that way the inevitable tragedies that occur
in Frankenstein don’t rattle around in your mind whilst reading!
This Dark Endeavor follows Victor Frankenstein as a young man. (For those of you who don’t know,
Victor Frankenstein is the doctor who creates the monster in Mary Shelley’s
Frankenstein). The story gives a clearer picture of Victor’s character and the
motives that lead him as an adult to his obsession with creating life.
Characters that appear in Mary Shelley’s novel pop up through the book – as
well as some who don’t. Such a character is Victor’s twin brother Konrad.
Konrad is a very likable character – as are most of the other characters in the
book. They are all realistic characters who you can sympathize with and relate
to, except for the person who is actually telling the story – Victor.
Victor is not a bad
character, nor is he unlikable He just seems to dwell on the worse parts of
his character and the good parts seem to be shown via his actions – and even
they are sometimes questioned by Victor himself.
All in all, this was
a good book, with action from practically the first page! I’d give it 6 ½ out
of 10.
About the Blogger-Jesse Ivanoff
I live in Australia, I love books - especially paranormal, YA, Urban
fantasy... you get the picture. Love anime and manga, sometimes I try
and draw it. Currently studying Japanese.