Mundie Moms

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Book Review: This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein


Published by: Simon & Schuster
To Be Released on: August 23rd, 2011
Source: ARC from publisher to review
5 stars- I Loved It! It's A Must Read

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 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. With their friend Elizabeth, Henry and Victor immediately set out to find assistance from 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.

Action, suspense, brotherly love, romance, adventure, jealousy, desire, and betrayal are just a few of the things that make This Dark Endeavor feel like you're reading a beloved classic. With it's perfectly paced story line and well developed, believable in-depth characters, this story about young Victor Frankenstein is both engaging and intriguing.

I was hooked form the moment I started reading this book. Everything about it captured and held my attention. I really felt drawn to Victor, Elizabeth and Victor's brother Konrad. They're closeness, and imaginative adventures had me wishing I was there to accompany around their Chateau Frankenstein in the beautiful outskirts of Geneva. There's a rich history both with the family Chateau and the surrounding area that I devoured. I also really liked the Frankenstein family. Victor's parents are high class, outstanding citizens who are also quite liberal and well educated for their time. I should say it was uncommon for a women to be liberal, have a voice and be as well educated as his mother is. That intelligence is passed on to Victor.

What starts out as a quest to save his brother leads Victor down an enticing, darker road that many of taken and few have walked away from unscathed. It was so easy for me to sympathize with Victor's motives for doing what he does. He's a very passionate character, who will do anything to save his beloved brother from dying of a mysterious illness. One of the things I loved about the brothers is their bond and the way they balance each other. Konrad is the laid back, easy going brother who's slow to temper, unlike Victor. Victor is a complex character who's head strong, stubborn and very competitive. One of my favorite characters is their distant cousin Elizabeth, who of course not only has the eye of both brothers, but she's well educated, loves an adventure and can be just as hot tempered as Victor. She's also a very strong heroine.

I wish I could talk about the plot with out giving away spoilers. I love the way the story is written. It's flawless, and well paced which made for a story I read in one sitting. Kenneth does a great job with how he writes a couple of his scenes, which could have easily become a little bit more gruesome had they been written differently. These scenes flowed effortlessly into the story's over all plot and were written into the story for a reason. One of the other things I really like about the story is that each scene has a purpose in the over all telling of Victor's story. It was really refreshing for me to read a book that didn't just feel well written, it felt complete.

Kenneth Oppel has done an amazing job at bringing to life what Victor Frankenstein's life was like as a teen. Staying true to the feel of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, I felt Kenneth captured the feel of this 18th century story beautifully with his detailed setting, the feel of the book and the characters themselves. There's something about this era that's always intrigued me and This Dark Endeavor has definitely fueled my need for more. You don't need to be die hard fan of Frankenstein to pick this book up. I wasn't a huge fan of Frankenstein, but I really loved this book. It's a fantastic story that I recommend picking up. In fact, it's one I think teachers can use in conjunction with Frankenstein in their classrooms.


Find out what inspired Kenneth Opal to write This Dark Endeavor watch his interview with Simon & Schuster here

In My Mailbox #86

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, where bloggers share what books they've received the previous week for review, bought, were gifted, borrowed or swamped. Here's what we received this week:


For Review:

* The Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor, published by Little Brown, to be released on 9/27/11

* The Shattering by Karen Healey, published by Little Brown, to be released on 9/5/11

* The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler, published by Razorbill, to be released on 11/21/11

* Ember by Carole Oates, published by Omnific, released on 7/19/11

* Blood, Book 1 of the Mercian Trilogy by K.J. Wignall, published by Egmont USA, to be released on 9/27/11

* Beautiful Days, A Bright Young Things Novel by Anna Godbersen, published Harper Teen, to be released on 9/20/11

* Dead End In Norvelt by Jack Gantos, published by Farrar Straus Girous, to be released on 9/13/11

* Bloodburn, An Other Novel by Karen Kincy, published by Flux, to be released on 9/8/11

* Unforgettable by Loretta Ellsworth, published by Bloomsbury Walker, to be released on 9/27/11

* The Pace by Shelena Shorts, published by Lands Atlantic, released on 9/19/09

* Red by Kait Nolan, self published, released on 8/14/11













Pictured: ( I really need to start doing vlogs so I can just show you guys everything instead doing pictures lol)

Along with the two books from Little Brown, we also received their cute Sergio beach towel, which my kids have already claimed.

Razorbill sent The Future of Us in a really cool Future of Us box.

Lands Atlantic sent The Pace in a box, who's top was a little beat up from the post office, but it has all the information about Selena's series.

I received a ton of awesome Firelight & Vanish postcards from Sophie Jordan (I only have one of each pictured), which I'll be giving away and including in all the giveaways I mail out. Along with the post cards I received a couple Team Draki wristbands, which I'll also be giving away.



Review:

* The Books of Elsewhere, Spell Bound by Jacqueline West, published by Dial Books For Young Readers, released on 7/12/11, signed

* Bye For Now, A Wishers Story by Kathleen Churchyard, Published by Egmont, to be released on 8/23/11

* Vordak The Incomprehensible, Rule the School by Vordak, published by Egmont, to be released on 8/23/11

Gifted:

* Winter girls by Laurie Halse Anderson, UK edition, signed, from Laurie Halse Anderson
* I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter, from Sophie
* Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter, from Sophie
* Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter, from Sophie


Thank you to Little Brown, Omnific, EgmontUSA, Penguin Teen, Harper Teen, Mac Kids, Flux, Karen Kincy, Loretta Ellsworth, Jacqueline West, Laurie Halse Anderson, Sophie and Lands Atlantic for this week's awesome reads.

What goodies did you receive this week?

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