Identify Books During This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein #1)
| Original Title: | This Dark Endeavour |
| ISBN: | 1442403152 (ISBN13: 9781442403154) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Series: | The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein #1 |
| Characters: | Elizabeth Lavenza, Henry Clerval, Konrad Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein |
| Setting: | Chateua Frankenstein, Bellerive(Switzerland) Geneva(Switzerland) |
| Literary Awards: | Bram Stoker Award Nominee for Best Young Adult Novel (2011), Milwaukee County Teen Book Award Nominee (2012), Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People Nominee (2012), Governor General's |
| Literary Awards: | / Prix littéraires du Gouverneur général Nominee (2011), Canadian Booksellers Association Libris Award for Young Readers’ Book (2012) Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book Award Nominee (2012), Carnegie Medal Nominee (2013), OLA Forest of Reading Red Maple Award Nominee for Fiction (2013) |
Kenneth Oppel
Hardcover | Pages: 298 pages Rating: 3.83 | 10969 Users | 1694 Reviews
Specify Containing Books This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein #1)
| Title | : | This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein #1) |
| Author | : | Kenneth Oppel |
| Book Format | : | Hardcover |
| Book Edition | : | Anniversary Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 298 pages |
| Published | : | August 23rd 2011 by Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers (first published August 1st 2011) |
| Categories | : | Young Adult. Fantasy. Historical. Historical Fiction. Horror. Fiction |
Commentary In Favor Of Books This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein #1)
Light, fluffy and completely forgettable.Don’t miscomprestand me, there’s some diversionary entertainment value here and the pace is pretty perky, but I still reached the end with "what's the point?" swirling in my head causing a nagging itch that the book never scratched. It left me with a mild case of the Mehs. Granted, not a full dose of Meh, but Meh nonetheless.
Call it Meh-lite.
Now I shan’t go a-bashing as the book committed no major literary felonies. It's just all the pre-release hyping had teased my expectations with its seductive, titillating premise and then left me cold, unsatisfied and sporting a painful case of blue brains. I ended up having to rub my scalp for an hour to release the tension…it was like High School all over again.
PLOT SUMMARY
Konrad and Victor Frankenstein are a pair of privileged 19th century Winklevoss twins living the dream in Chateau Richboy.
Konrad, the older twin (by several minutes), is the darling social butterfly that excels at everything and basks in the warm glow of the people’s admiration. Victor is the brilliant, conversationally awkward “also ran” who broods in the shadow of his brother’s perfection. When Konrad develops a life-threatening disease, Victor is desperate to save him. His search for a cure leads him to the Bibliotheca Obscura (i.e., Dark Library) of his family where he eventually discovers an encrypted recipe for the mysterious “Elixir of Life” rumored to cure any illness. Thus, begins Victor’s journey into the world of the forbidden.
*yawn*
From there the story becomes a very, very, VEEEEEEERY by the numbers YA quest tale of clue-searching, mini-mysteries, some dangerous
It’s well written and the characters are decent, but I never really connected or engaged with any of them. My favorite would have to be Victor and Konrad’s cousin,
A seriously wasted opportunity.
Overall, I was just disappointed that there was not more of substance to this story and I can’t see recommending it except as a quick bit of distraction. If your looking for a little Young Frankenstein, might I suggest:
It’s smarter, funnier and has an enormous Schwanzstucker…but "that goes without saying."
2.0 to 2.5 stars.
Rating Containing Books This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein #1)
Ratings: 3.83 From 10969 Users | 1694 ReviewsDiscuss Containing Books This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein #1)
Although I believe Endeavor has promise (and deserves five stars), I will only give it three.I began the first chapter with some knowledge of Victor Frankenstein already. I'd read about twenty pages of Mary Shelley's version and knew enough about his childhood to recognize a few names.Of course, Oppel's work is not a true retelling. For instance, the "real" Frankenstein was the oldest of his siblings, and he did not have a twin. However, he did have some characteristics of the Victor we know,I really loved this book. I'm a huge Frankenstein fan. After reading the synopsis of this book, I decided to give it a try. I was not disappointed. The story takes place in young Victor Frankenstein's teenage years. Describing his personality and how he was to become later in life, fascinated with science, transmutation, alchemy, and his personal struggle with if there is a God.I really loved how this story kept me wanting more. There was danger, adventure, and deception. Also love real genuine
Light, fluffy and completely forgettable. Dont miscomprestand me, theres some diversionary entertainment value here and the pace is pretty perky, but I still reached the end with "what's the point?" swirling in my head causing a nagging itch that the book never scratched. It left me with a mild case of the Mehs. Granted, not a full dose of Meh, but Meh nonetheless. Call it Meh-lite. Now I shant go a-bashing as the book committed no major literary felonies. It's just all the pre-release hyping
This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein #1) by Kenneth Oppel is definitely an underrated prequel to Mary Shelley's classic Frankenstein. Personally, I think it was a great decision to begin reading this novel after watching The Ghost of Frankenstein on Svengoolie. If you're a fan of retellings and prequels, I highly recommend starting this duology. Now, I need to read book two, Such Wicked Intent.
This YA book starts off slow but picks up a little before the middle. This story is about the Frankenstein's during Victor's teenage years, when he first learns of alchemy. It was ok.
Most people know my obsession with Frankenstein so I wanted to give This Dark Endeavour a go; since the author Kenneth Oppel calls this a prequel. Victors brother Konrad, has fallen ill and no doctor has been able to cure him. Victors determination to save his brother has turned to alchemy to find the forbidden Elixir of Life and save his twin brother. With the help of his beautiful cousin Elizabeth and best friend Henry; Victor pushes the boundaries of nature and science in a treacherous search
3.5 starsI read Scarlett as a teen and I decided it had put me off this prequel/sequel written by someone else business for life. (Really, can you blame me? That book is the worst.) Then they went and made Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story and I could have rage-cried from the whole have we learned nothing?! of it. And yet here I am, reviewing a prequel to Frankenstein, and as far as Im concerned, Kenneth Oppel can have at it because this was good and it really works as a YA complement
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