Saturday, May 18, 2013

This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 298pgs

The Story

Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein. They are nearly inseparable. Growing up, their lives are filled with imaginary adventures...until the day their adventures turn all too real. They stumble upon The Dark Library, and secret books of alchemy and ancient remedies are discovered. Father forbids that they ever enter the room again, but this only piques Victor's curiosity more. When Konrad falls gravely ill, Victor is not be satisfied with the various doctors his parents have called in to help. He is drawn back to The Dark Library where he uncovers an ancient formula for the Elixir of Life. Elizabeth, Henry, and Victor immediately set out to find assistance in a man who was once known for his alchemical works to help create the formula.

Determination and the unthinkable outcome of losing his brother spur Victor on in the quest for the three ingredients that will save Konrad's life. After scaling the highest trees in the Strumwald, diving into the deepest lake caves, and sacrificing one’s own body part, the three fearless friends risk their lives to save another.

The Review

If you are familiar with Mary Shelley's masterpiece of Frankenstein, then you'll know this series and the events that follow it will lead to some sort of tragedy. So when I found out about this series and the fact that it followed a young Victor Frankenstein in his teenage years, I've been dying to read it not to mention been meaning to start the series a few years ago since I love Frankenstein, but in the end I just never got around to it. Until now that is. But now after reading the book, I can see what all the fuss is about and I became so addicted to it all!

Staying true to the original source of science, love, betrayal and the darkness that comes with all forbidden and out-of-this-world alchemical creations, THIS DARK ENDEAVOR writes itself up to become this fantastic Gothic tale by retelling a classic and telling a new one with the whole search Victor, his friend Henry and Victor's distant cousin Elizabeth go on for the Elixir of life in order to save Victor's twin brother from death. Just let me tell you this book was just so . . . fascinating and I certainly enjoyed every bittersweet moment of it.

I think out of everything what I loved about this book was Victor. I guess that comes from loving him already from Mary Shelley's classic book. So despite this Victor being not the easiest character to like or even love, but I still loved his angsty personality and seeing him as this part-innocent and part-dark teenager, and how it all began for him before the actual events of Frankenstein. In the book, I found, you can definitely see why and how he came to be this God-like scientist who takes risks despite their dangerous consequences. You could see how obsessed he had become which I secretly loved (because they were pretty dark obsessions)! I also came to love the other characters too - including Victor's friend, Henry, who was very charming and funny, and Victor's distant cousin, Elizabeth, who is quite a force to be reckoned with and I can understand why Victor was seeing something special about her.

Overall, THIS DARK ENDEAVOR was quite a surprising little read and any fan of Frankenstein or pretty much any fan of any other Gothic-like tale will be damned to miss out on this book right here! It was such an awesome read and I hope there are more books to come. Loved it!

The Rating
4 1/2 / 5 stars

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