Comment

This Dark Endeavor

the Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein
Oct 04, 2013
This Dark Endeavour – The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein was written by Kenneth Oppel and originally published in 2011 by Harper Trophy Canada Most people have heard of Dr. Frankenstein and his monster; if not from Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein ‘or the Modern Prometheus’, than from one of the many movie adaptations that have been made since the books 1818 release. I was lucky enough to be assigned Frankenstein when I was in University and really enjoyed the book though I really must revisit it since it has been too long and details escape me. When I first heard that Kenneth Oppel was writing a prequel series I knew I had to read it because I love a good origin story. And when is a better time to pick up a gothic thriller than October? First I want to have a quick chat about the cover. I own the redesigned cover with Victor standing in front of a building which I actually enjoy. I like the choice of font and that the outline of the picture is blurred. The shadowed face looks dark and ominous and everything seems to fits the theme of the book. I also listened to the audiobook; I think the actor did a good job but nothing stood out or wowed me about the performance. Victor and his identical twin Konrad have always done everything together. With the help of their distant cousin Elizabeth and their friend Henry they put on extravagant plays as well as challenge each other in fencing. They live an easy life in the Chateau Frankenstein nestled in the woods of Geneva. They have had a very loving and liberal upbringing which has shaped their personalities. Konrad is the older twin by only two minutes, but he couldn’t be more different from his twin. He is charming and adored by everyone for his wit and athletic ability. Victor on the other hand is curious by nature with an arrogance that makes him work hard to live up to his brother. When Konrad suddenly falls ill with a strange disease Victor will stop at nothing to help him get better. Doctor after doctor attempt to cure him without success, so when science fails him he turns to the “Bibliotheca Obscura,” the Dark Library buried deep in the castles secret passageways and off limits to them by their father. Searching the many ancient tomes he comes across a recipe for the “Elixir for life.” He seeks the help of the shunned alchemist Polidori to interpret the strange alphabet, and his friends to help find the obscure ingredients necessary to save his brothers life before it’s too late. This book grabbed my attention from the very beginning as almost immediately lives are put in danger. After being sucked in you won’t be able to put the book down because there is action, adventure and creepiness in every chapter. This book stays true to its source material as it is gothic and gritty and just plain good. There is something about Victor that makes you feel for him and wins you over. Even though he is arrogant and often jealous of his brother, he is at the same time charming and passionate about everything he does. He definitely has a weakness and vulnerability when it comes to his brother, and will make great sacrifices to ensure his safety. Even going against his father’s wishes when he tells him, “You must abandon this dark endeavour” Throughout the book you can also start to see the dark side of Victor, and knowing the eventual path he takes to becoming an evil genius this is not surprising. I enjoyed the book and finished it very quickly because I needed to find out what was going to happen in the end especially after hearing from others that the ending was gory and gross. I will definitely be checking out the second book called Such Wicked Intent soon to find out what happens next. I also think that I will be picking up Frankenstein again shortly. If you haven’t read this yet you should to. It’s a classic for a reason Check out http://bibliophilesisters.wordpress.com/ for more reviews.