This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, #1) by Kenneth Oppel

Nov 09, 2011 karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: meowch-bad-kitty, my-biggest-fear, why-yes-i-ya, distant-lands, upstairs-neighbors

huh. i had never heard of this kenneth oppel fellow, but i guess he's some big deal in YA publishing. i have so much to learn.

i liked this book very much. but more important than my enjoyment, this is going to be a great book for reluctant boy readers. that's a big problem in the world of educators and librarians: "why won't the boys reeeeead??" and from where i'm standing, i get it. most of the YA stuff is all girls girls girls. and although there are some fantastic books for boys, i have read...more
huh. i had never heard of this kenneth oppel fellow, but i guess he's some big deal in YA publishing. i have so much to learn.

i liked this book very much. but more important than my enjoyment, this is going to be a great book for reluctant boy readers. that's a big problem in the world of educators and librarians: "why won't the boys reeeeead??" and from where i'm standing, i get it. most of the YA stuff is all girls girls girls. and although there are some fantastic books for boys, i have read a bunch of them, there need to be more, all the time, to keep up with all the unicorn hunters and vampire love triangles that may as well be push-up bras and powder puffs and make boys feel outnumbered, when confronted with a YA fiction department in a bookstore or library...

this book is perfect for those poor overwhelmed boys. don't get me wrong, girls are going to love it, too, but it's just full of adventure and alchemy and monsters and it all leads up to frankenstein. eventually, i guess. not so much in this book.

this book is about victor frankenstein, aged 15. and his twin brother konrad and their cousin, elizabeth. when konrad becomes deathly ill, victor and elizabeth secretly become involved with a creepy doctor and the quest to mix up the elixir of life to save him.

there are...difficulties.

his writing is great - it takes the suspenseful bits and drags them out enough to be gripping, but not so much that it frustrates one of those reluctant boy readers. it's good stuff, truly. there are some great action scenes, and some more tender moments, and all the characters come alive in their own way. the beginning part reminded me of the peggy parish books i used to love, in which liza, bill, and jed had their adventures and followed the clues to wonderful conclusions. that is high praise - those books saw me through many years of my youth.

my only grump with this is the discomfort i feel when dealing with the fictitious childhood of a fictitious character, where there are streets named wollstonekraft alley and doctors named polidori. it's cute to have these references, but it complicates things a little, no?? but, then i remember that this book is intended for ages twelve and up, and i should stop thinking too hard and just enjoy this as a well-written adventure story with some great takes on loyalty and love, and the complications therein.

this book of his looks very good - i am definitely going to check it out as well.Half Brother. but you read this one, yeah?(less)

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Oct 30, 2011 Stephen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, signed-first-or-limited-edition, audiobook, mad-scientists, ya, fantasy, retellings-reimaginings-and-mashes

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 ha...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Reynje rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, read-2013, unexpectedly-liked, young-adult, held-me-captive

3.5 stars

I 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 I’m concerned, Kenneth Oppel can have at it because this was good and it really works as a YA complemen...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Michael rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, 2011, science-fiction, gothic

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. Victor’s brother Konrad, has fallen ill and no doctor has been able to cure him. Victor’s 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 sear...more 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. Victor’s brother Konrad, has fallen ill and no doctor has been able to cure him. Victor’s 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 for the ingredients to help Konrad.

This is book one in The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein series which I believe is being made into a trilogy. My first thoughts were; a YA novel about Victor Frankenstein was that this is never going to work, but then after a bit of a look at the book I decided to give it a go anyway. I thought maybe if he’s research of Frankenstein is in-depth enough and he keeps to the dark and gothic elements of the original classic it might work. I really should have stuck to my first thoughts because from the very start I hated this book.

First of all this book follows the same old paranormal young adult formula; which means not so much dark and gothic elements but lots and lots to do with a love triangle. I really hate love triangles in books at the moment that felt like the entire plot of this book. Sure they search for the Elixir of Life but there was more to do with Victor’s feelings toward Elizabeth than the actual alchemy.

Personally I wish I never read this book, it really did nothing for the Frankenstein story and love triangles are always annoying. There is a small steampunk element in this book but that felt like the author was jumping on the bandwagon to help market this book to the readers that want Steampunk, Paranormal, Love Triangle filled Young Adult romance. If want gothic and dark YA like I do, then this book is not for you. But if you like the idea of a romance with paranormal elements in it, then maybe give this book a go. (less)

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Mar 28, 2011 Allie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was interested in reading this book partially because of the hype. This first I’d ever heard of this title came in the form of an announcement that Summit Films had acquired the screen rights. You can read that here.

I also liked the cover (sorry, it’s a weakness). But you have to admit, it’s just kind of a cover just made to appeal to a bookstalker like me, with a keyhole to peep through and everything. And the plot also appealed to my bookstalking nature…a forbidden library! Yeah! This one ha...more I was interested in reading this book partially because of the hype. This first I’d ever heard of this title came in the form of an announcement that Summit Films had acquired the screen rights. You can read that here.

I also liked the cover (sorry, it’s a weakness). But you have to admit, it’s just kind of a cover just made to appeal to a bookstalker like me, with a keyhole to peep through and everything. And the plot also appealed to my bookstalking nature…a forbidden library! Yeah! This one had my name written all over it.

I’ve never been that into the Frankenstein story—it’s not one of my personal favorites. However, I finished This Dark Endeavor wanting to revisit Mary Shelley’s classic. I have a feeling many teens will finish this book and go on to read Frankenstein for the first time. Any book that encourages kids to read a classic is a good thing, but This Dark Endeavor is also good in its own right.

One of the things I really loved about This Dark Endeavor was the pacing. There is no lag in the middle. Action scene follows action scene, and the suspense in some of them is painful. Oppel hooks you from the opening scene and does not let go until the conclusion. Dark, claustrophobic caves! Giant, should-be-extinct aquatic creatures! Nightmarish scavengers! Preternaturally clever mammals! Secrets, plots, betrayals! Whew…

Victor and Konrad are both sympathetic characters. Victor’s motivations, given his personality and complex feelings for his brother, are believeable. Konrad is almost angelic in his goodness, generosity, and fair-mindedness, but Victor has plenty of flaws to balance Konrad out. Elizabeth, the distant cousin the boys’ age who was adopted into the family, is as fiery and strong-willed as you could want a heroine to be—and it’s believable that both Konrad and Victor would fall for her. Their parents are the kind of progressive thinkers that cook dinner for their servants once a week and stress the importance of an equal education for Elizabeth, despite the fact she is female. The reader gets enough of a glimpse into this loving, seemingly perfect family that we can appreciate how devastating it is for all of them when their beloved Konrad falls ill.

I can’t say much more about the plot without spoiling it. I will say I really did not like one scene due to what happened in it—but the scene was not gratuitous and part of the reason I was upset is because Oppel wrote it so skillfully. So I can’t fault him for it even if it did make me mad. It served the story.

Conclusion? I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves gothic stories, enjoys books like The Monstrumologist and its sequel, and for fans of Shelley’s Frankenstein. Die-hard fans may not approve of what Oppel has done with the story—as with any fans approaching a new take on something they feel strongly about—but I think they will find it compelling nonetheless.

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Oct 31, 2011 Cathy Keaton rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: movies-tv, i-own, faves, read-in-2011, reviewed, epic, frankenstein-fic

Favorite YA read from 2011.

This review is also on my blog at: http://abnormallyparanormal.blogspot....

I love this book SO much, I can't write a deserving review. I can't quite convey all of my emotions. It is so much more than I was expecting it to be, and leads me down two distinct paths. On the one hand, it's magical, adventurous, dramatic, and romantic. And, on the other, terrifying, heart-breaking, and absolutely tragic. I feel almost gutted. It got under my skin and in my head in a way that...more

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Aug 09, 2011 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, ya, historical-fiction

My knowledge of Frankenstein is pretty much limited to the Boris Karloff movie which I had to watch like 600 times for this motion picture class where it was our main focus/comparison film and bits and pieces of the movie Young Frankenstein. I haven’t read the original source, yet. After picking up This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel, I just may try Mary Shelley’s classic.

Read the rest of my review here

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Jul 28, 2012 Dorianna rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, book-series, young-adult-children, fluffy, obnoxious-love-triangle, retelling-reinterpretations

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The story, as a whole, was decent. I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more, riddled with cliches though it was, if not for one little problem. At some point, the love story hijacked the plot, doing everything in its power to be as annoying as humanly possible.

The irritating love story is mainly between Victor’s twin brother, Konrad, and their distant cousin, Elizabeth. The rest is an invention of Victor’s mind. Actually, everyone is in love with Elizabeth. I’m not sure if it’s her “wild cat...more The story, as a whole, was decent. I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more, riddled with cliches though it was, if not for one little problem. At some point, the love story hijacked the plot, doing everything in its power to be as annoying as humanly possible.

The irritating love story is mainly between Victor’s twin brother, Konrad, and their distant cousin, Elizabeth. The rest is an invention of Victor’s mind. Actually, everyone is in love with Elizabeth. I’m not sure if it’s her “wild cat fury” (groan) that makes her so appealing or if Switzerland ran out of young women and she was the last one left.

Somewhere in the middle of the story, Victor is the last person to come to the not all that shocking discovery that Elizabeth and Konrad are in love. Now suddenly Victor is determined to make Elizabeth his, whether she likes it or not. There were already hints dropped here and there in the story that imply that Victor may have some sort of feelings for Elizabeth, but if these urges went any deeper than “I have a boner for this girl because she can climb trees and she bit a vulture’s neck this one time.”, I must have missed the cues.

This element to the story isn’t unforgivable. This is young adult fiction, after all. You expect some hormone crazed teen to fall in love with another hormone crazed teen somewhere down the line. And the description in the back of the book did mention a “bitter love triangle”. I saw it coming. But the way it was jammed into the storyline just doesn’t make sense. It completely interrupts the story instead of becoming a part of it. To make it more eye roll inducing, Victor and Konrad aren't really people I could see Elizabeth falling for. While Konrad is the more, well, mentally stable brother, he often acts like he's never met the progressive and adventurous Elizabeth before. He's constantly expecting her to faint and cry weakly for help at every turn of the story, so that he can protect her from every and any possible danger. It's condescension masked as chivalry. Victor, who to his credit at least gets that Elizabeth is no shrinking violet, is just not stable. He's controlling, possessive, and manipulative. Victor's "love" for her is unhealthy, as he views Elizabeth as another beautiful and powerful thing that he can't have and damn it he wants it. The least the author could have done was make one of the brothers a partner she could live with.

The bitter love triangle does help to show certain aspects of Victor’s character. His new obsession with Elizabeth does demonstrate the resentment he has for his twin brother. It also does a good job to show Victor’s desire for power, praise, and admiration to feed his ego. Maybe that was the whole point of it. Maybe I’d actually care if it weren’t so annoying.

By the end of it, I was left with the uneasy feeling that the series is going to continue into a scenario where the originally intelligent and tough Elizabeth turns into a sniveling twit over an abusive guy who is obsessed with her because apparently Switzerland is also short on young men to choose as partners.
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Jun 09, 2012 Amelia, the pragmatic idealist rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, best-characters-ever, favorite-books, ya-kids-teen, simon-schuster, mc-guy

This Dark Endeavor is an incredible book! I don't know where Kenneth Oppel got the idea to write a prequel to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein starring a teenage version of the eponymous character, but what an ingenious idea!

Truth be told, I never had read Frankenstein in school (my class was on a different track and I had a teacher who made the famous declaration to our class that he'd rather teach 'that Dumas man' than teach Frankenstein. (view spoiler)...more This Dark Endeavor is an incredible book! I don't know where Kenneth Oppel got the idea to write a prequel to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein starring a teenage version of the eponymous character, but what an ingenious idea!

Truth be told, I never had read Frankenstein in school (my class was on a different track and I had a teacher who made the famous declaration to our class that he'd rather teach 'that Dumas man' than teach Frankenstein. (view spoiler) Basically, my knowledge of the source material has come from Kenneth Branagh's film version, and Mel Brooks.

Still, even I could recognize the level of detail, skill and panache that Kenneth Oppel put into this fascinating novel. And for those of you who did read Frankenstein, have you ever wondered what might have happened to make Victor Frankenstein the man who actually dared to create life? Here, it's simple: Victor has a brilliant, charismatic and practically perfect twin brother, Konrad. Light to his shadow, and all that. When Konrad falls ill with a rare condition, Victor takes it upon himself to find a cure, believing that practical science has failed. His course of study is the dark arts of alchemy - the first of many such introductions into dark and creepy arts. Joining him in his "studies" are his cousin, Elizabeth Lavenza (yes, *the* Elizabeth Lavenza...(view spoiler)) and best friend Henry Clerval (yes, *the* Henry Clerval...not like we don't know what eventually...oh, you know).

I loved the way Oppel chose to portray Victor. It must have been hard to try and make one of literature's most megalomaniac characters into a sympathetic boy, eager-to-please and desperate for attention. I actually liked the guy! It was easy to root for him in his endeavors (dark and twisty as they may be) and I found myself even making excuses for him on several occasions. Even though you know, ultimately, that Victor Frankenstein is a completely doomed character, you still want him to succeed. That's powerful writing, and hats off to Kenneth Oppel for making me care about a character I never thought I could admire. And I loved seeing Victor gradually become more and more twisted, more aggressive, more desperate, and *still* remain sympathetic. I guess I'm drawn to characters with delusions of grandeur who want to prove their worth. Those must be the characters that leave an impression on me. :)

This Dark Endeavor was simply unputdownable, and I rarely say that. My little ADD-self can put down the most thoroughly interesting of books, too, so that should say something to this novel's overwhelming power of intrigue. If you haven't yet, I highly recommend picking up this novel. It clocks in at slightly under 300 pages, so it would be a quick read. And like I said, it's practically unputdownable (view spoiler)(less)

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Aug 06, 2012 Book Angel Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics-carnival

Really interesting look at the teenage Victor and the catalyst to Victor's later actions in creating the monster.
Ingenious weaving of the original Frankenstein narrative into this story

A unique and very interesting insight into the mind of Victor Frankenstein. Told in first person from Victor's perspective giving a wonderful spin to the original; one that should entice readers to try the original tale if they haven't already.

From the very first meeting, you can sense Victor is heading down a d...more

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Jun 16, 2012 Brandi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone who wants a lead-in to Frankenstein

Shelves: history-of-magic

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, in...more

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Oct 18, 2011 Alex rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favourites, paranormal, sci-fi

Let me just say... I LOVED THIS BOOK. It's got everything; love, death, adventure, with a mix of paranormal/sci-fi thrown in. I have never seen the Frankenstein movie or read the book, so I picked up this novel mainly because of the hype.

I found myself really liking the main character, Victor Frankenstein, and was also drawn to the complex relationships he has with those around him. It didn't feel like a prequel, but a stand-alone novel. I also liked the writing style. I found that readers were...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Angela Gaskell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, first-reads, reviewed

I thought this book was fabulous. I received my free copy from the publisher, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, through the First Reads/Goodreads marketing lottery. Even though I'm thirty years old I still enjoy reading young adult fiction every now and then. "This Dark Endeavor" is equally appealing to adults as it is to young readers. Its like the Harry Potter series with alchemy, caves, strange animals, and danger. The adventures in this book keeps the reader glued. The characters a...more

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Jan 05, 2012 Alison rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bildungsroman, dark, fantasy, fiction, historical-fiction, horror, mock-printz, teen

This book was basically Frankenstein fan fiction. It's not bad, and I think would make an easy recommendation for teens (especially boys) looking for a little darkness and suspense. But I would've been so much happier if it had captured even a hint of the magic and power of the original Frankenstein, some of the social and political context, for example, or the rich language. Writing a prequel to one of the most classic works of horror is an ambitious undertaking, and I think Kenneth Oppel could...more

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Jan 18, 2012 Spark740 rated it 3 of 5 stars

I've tried reading Kenneth Oppel before, one of his bat books - totally did not work for me. I really lost track of what the bat was doing in the underworld with glowing stuff and something to do with his father, etc. Anyways, decided to try this one, not considering the author. To start with the good stuff: great action. Pulls you along like a horseshoe magnet. (Bad simile there.) That alone is what prompts one to finish the book. Seriously, gets your heart beating, and there's variance in what...more I've tried reading Kenneth Oppel before, one of his bat books - totally did not work for me. I really lost track of what the bat was doing in the underworld with glowing stuff and something to do with his father, etc. Anyways, decided to try this one, not considering the author. To start with the good stuff: great action. Pulls you along like a horseshoe magnet. (Bad simile there.) That alone is what prompts one to finish the book. Seriously, gets your heart beating, and there's variance in what exactly the action comes from. (Giant vultures, giant fish, someone getting fingers cut off, etc.) So points for that, and the people at Hollywood making a movie of it now probably agree. However, I have some things to say about characters and motives. They weren't very strong throughout the whole book. The female lead is your run-of-the-mill heroine, no personal issues or anything, just strong and sassy and brave throughout. So she was OK. But the male lead has flaws besides, you know, the flaws meant to be there. First of all, he can't quite decide if he's a vampire or a werewolf. (He isn't, but Oppel keeps alluding to the creatures' respective instincts and it gets the reader off track.) Personally, I think the book could do without cheap marketing ploys like that. Also, I found it hard to believe that right after Vicor has a fight with his (ill) brother over Elizabeth, the girl who he is madly, madly, madly in love with, he does not pause to consider the alchemist's proclamation of "you must cut off two fingers to save your brother!" or whether he will do it or not. Now since halfway through Victor has been faking and lying and bribing admiration out of Elizabeth, which shows total disregard for his brother's engagement to her.. And seriously, he's just like, "Yeah, let's chop off my fingers now" without, first of all, considering the alchemist's integrity (even I was getting suspicious after the third "your humble servant") and, second of all, thinking "I'm deeply in love with Elizabeth and I basically hate my brother . . . OH WAIT!!" So that really bugged me and put the whole story off. Additionally, at the end, he suddenly decides not to like Elizabeth anymore. Which is fine with me, and I like the struggle showcased there, but why? Why on earth would he suddenly fall out of love with her on purpose? Also, for some Victor-tricking-Elizabeth-into-making-out-with-him content, I'm gonna knock a few points off.

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May 04, 2013 Noah rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 peaks Victor's curiosity more. When Konrad falls gravely ill, Victor is not be satisfied with the various doctors his parents have called...more 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 peaks 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 Konrads 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.

When I first heard what This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel was about, I was a little reluctant to read it. I was never a huge fan of Frankenstein and had very little interest in the story. I knew the basics of what it was about, but none of the finer details. However, This Dark Endeavor had a strange appeal to it and finally I gave in and read it. Lets just say that the first page kept me reading the rest.
The main thing that peaked my interest with this novel was the main character, Victor Frankenstein. He isn't the usual protagonist in the sense that he is a very twisted good guy. Victor through out the entire novel is a dark character with a immense amount of love for those closest to him, but his strong passion for power, the spotlight and his own selfishness twists the goodness of his character. He is a character with the purest of intentions, but the darkest obsessions.
I wasn't completely absorbed into the world created by Kenneth Oppel in This Dark Endeavor, but I was always interested. It was a good concept and an interesting read. It was interesting to see an idea for how the story behind Frankenstein could have gotten started. (less)

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Apr 23, 2013 Pinkie Pie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

I don't know what it is, but I've been reading mostly great books lately, and Kenneth Oppel's This Dark Endeavor does not disappoint. I've wanted this book for a while now, based solely on the title, but when I read the synopsis I knew I had to have it. Being a fan of classic horror, any type of retelling is on my automatic to-read list.

This isn't the strictest retelling I've ever read, though it is very, very clever. Oppel incorporates many of the characters and themes from the original (and t...more I don't know what it is, but I've been reading mostly great books lately, and Kenneth Oppel's This Dark Endeavor does not disappoint. I've wanted this book for a while now, based solely on the title, but when I read the synopsis I knew I had to have it. Being a fan of classic horror, any type of retelling is on my automatic to-read list.

This isn't the strictest retelling I've ever read, though it is very, very clever. Oppel incorporates many of the characters and themes from the original (and the original's inspiration) into this new, fresh voice. This series chronicles the younger years of Victor Frankenstein, before he became the mad doctor that we all know and love. We get to know Victor intimately, understand the workings of his mind, and yes, we do get to watch his descent into madness. It all starts when he, his cousin, and his twin brother discover a dark cellar housing a library, full of books dedicated to the alchemical arts. From here, it's easy to guess where the story is going, but I would say it is much more about the journey than it is about the destination.

Victor was a wonderfully complex character. He simultaneously loved and envied his twin brother, Konrad. He feels an intense brotherly connection of course, but his whole life he felt as though he was always in his brother's shadow. Constantly having to fight tooth and claw to be Konrad's equal has harbored feelings of resentment within Victor. It's an intense ride, watching Victor struggle with his darker, jealous side, even while Konrad is on his death bed. These conflicting emotions intensify even more once Victor discovers he is in love with Elizabeth, their distant cousin who was raised alongside them, and even more - Konrad is in love with her too.

I loved how the typical love triangle of YA was turned on its head. We usually are witness to a girl's mind while she decides which boy she'll pick. But this time, we were stuck in Victor's head, through his agony at seeing his brother and his love being together. And it was really easy to see why the boys loved Elizabeth - she was smart, and feisty, and strong as well as nurturing, and caring, and a great friends. Elizabeth was truly my favorite character, though that isn't to say I didn't love Victor, Konrad, or their best friend Henry.

This Dark Endeavor is full of action. We follow Victor, Elizabeth and Henry along a series of adventures to find the ingredients for the Elixir of Life. I absolutely loved watching the three friends struggle and work hard together, using each other's strengths to their potential. There is a mystery, a life or death situation, and close brushes with danger. The entire novel is so well-paced that even the parts where the kids were stuck at home were still riveting. This book is compulsively readable.

I found a few flaws within the book, though. Sometimes the wording was off - the language was at times too modern. But other than that, This Dark Endeavor was wonderful.

I highly recommend This Dark Endeavor. It's cleverly written, tying in pieces of the original Frankenstein while being wholly original and fun to read. Filled with colorful, complex characters, and an intriguing plot, This Dark Endeavor is sure to be a favorite of horror, historical and romance readers alike.(less)

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Apr 19, 2013 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, horror, fantasy, sci-fi, teen

Award-winning novelist Kenneth Oppel has written a remarkable prequel to Mary Shelley's classic novel, Frankenstein. This Dark Endeavor introduces readers to the teenaged Victor Frankenstein, a curious young man interested in the natural sciences, and in the mysteries hidden in his family's Swiss chateau. Victor has a twin brother named Konrad who develops a mysterious illness. Victor's desperation to heal his brother may have planted the seed which bore such terrible fruit in Mary Shelley's 19t...more

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Apr 11, 2013 Daniela rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, canadian, fantasy, fiction, horror, realistic-fiction, science-fiction, young-adult

Summary:
When Konrad, Victor’s twin brother, becomes deathly ill, Victor knows he must try everything to save him. Even if it means disobeying his father and taking some pretty big risks.

Konrad’s salvation might be found in the legendary Elixir of Life, a cryptic recipe hidden in a secret room in the Frankenstein chateau. Only three ingredients are needed, but it will be no easy task to get them. With his cousin Elizabeth and friend Henry, the fearless trio set out to save Konrad from the brink o...more

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Apr 08, 2013 Cornerofmadness rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I have a love/hate relationship with literary prequels/sequels. I usually dislike them but I can’t seem to stay away. This one I didn’t hate. I didn’t love it either and honestly, this did not have to be about Victor Frankenstein to make it work and that, to me, is a weakness. Oppell very obviously did study the source material (though there is one detail I wonder if it was there but it’s been forever since I’ve read the book). The family is right for the character with the exception of the addi...more I have a love/hate relationship with literary prequels/sequels. I usually dislike them but I can’t seem to stay away. This one I didn’t hate. I didn’t love it either and honestly, this did not have to be about Victor Frankenstein to make it work and that, to me, is a weakness. Oppell very obviously did study the source material (though there is one detail I wonder if it was there but it’s been forever since I’ve read the book). The family is right for the character with the exception of the addition of Victor’s twin brother, Konrad.

They are identical in all ways. Together they find a hidden ‘Dark Library’ in a hidden vault within the honeycomb of secret passages in Castle Frankenstein. Alphonse Frankenstein, their father, warns them and their cousin and constant companion, Elizabeth from ever going there again. It’s too tempting for Victor how has a fascination with the alchemy and sorcery he finds there.

However, when his twin falls gravely ill from something that looks suspiciously like an autoimmune disease or leukemia (though the symptoms don’t quite fit), Victor turns to the Dark Library once more. In the actual Frankenstein book, Victor did have a deep interest in alchemists such as Cornelius Agrippa, Von Honheim (Paracelsus), and Albertus Magnus and this book gives him reason to. Victor finds the hidden, half burned tome that will decode the Gibberish alchemy texts were coded in.

His mother’s head maid turns him onto Dr. Polidori, someone who had been a successful alchemist until someone died and Victor’s own father barely saved the man from hanging. Polidori is now crippled and wheelchair bound with Krake, a lynx, as his companion. Polidori promises to help decode the text and make the Elixir of Life for Victor.

In his quest to make the Philosopher’s Stone, Victor, accompanied by the fiery Elizabeth and his poet friend, Henry, have to track down three nearly impossible ingredients and they have to do it before Konrad dies.

In the middle of this, it takes a dark bounce when Victor realizes he and his twin are in love with Elizabeth (and if you’ve read the source material you know how this turns out). However his is a devious and jealous manipulative love which frankly takes him down several pegs in my eyes. This, along with the very dark and over the top ending took it from four stars down to three. That said, it ends right where I figured it would. Warning both man and beast suffer greatly at various points so it’s not for the sensitive. It’s going to be a movie (well kudos for not being yet another 70’s TV show option) and there is another book to come. Also kudos to the author for the in-joke with the alchemist being named Polidori. If you don’t know who John Polidori really was, I’ll let you explore the joke on your own.
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Mar 29, 2013 Deborah Takahashi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen-fantasy

In this haunting tale is the Victor Frankenstein's first lesson in the ways of alchemy and science. What most readers don't know about Victor Frankenstein is that his inspiration for creating his Frankenstein began with an accidental discovery. When Victor, Konrad (his twin brother), Elizabeth, and Henry stumble upon a secret passage in the Frankenstein mansion that lead to an abandoned library. What they don't realize about this collection of old books is they are all about alchemy, magic, and...more In this haunting tale is the Victor Frankenstein's first lesson in the ways of alchemy and science. What most readers don't know about Victor Frankenstein is that his inspiration for creating his Frankenstein began with an accidental discovery. When Victor, Konrad (his twin brother), Elizabeth, and Henry stumble upon a secret passage in the Frankenstein mansion that lead to an abandoned library. What they don't realize about this collection of old books is they are all about alchemy, magic, and science that have been outlawed for quite some time. As they explore the contents of the Biblioteka Obscura (Library of the the Obscure) they discover a book entitled Occulta Philopsophia, which contains the famous "Elixir of Life." Unfortunately, this discovery is short lived when Alphonse Frankenstein, Victor and Konrad's father, finds them exploring the innards of this dark place. Although the twins are unsure why their father would keep these items, they learn that their family has actually dabbled in Alchemy, which had left a dark shadow. Victor has never really taken his studies seriously, but, when his twin falls gravely ill, his obsession to create the "Elixir of Life" is heightened by fear and his infinity for recklessness. What Victor realizes is that his pursuit for the elixir will cost him a lot more than he thought, which leads to tragedy.

In This Dark Endeavor, Kenneth Oppel, has provided readers with a background that not only leads into the story of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, but gives us a picture of the innocent young man who became the creator of the monster we all and love. Oppel is well known for his Silverwing series, which is amazing, but his venture into the history of dark magic is well executed in this story. In fact, when I stumbled upon this title, I was incredibly excited because I love it when authors step outside of their comfort zone, but are still able to use their talents that set them apart from others; Oppel combines his ability to incorporate the elements of a great adventure that has serious consequences. Clearly, Oppel did his research in regards to Alchemy and Catholicism, which set the ominous tone for the story. Moreover, this story touches on issues that are very prevalent in the mind of a growing teenager: is it better to have faith or to see to believe. A lot of people struggle with this question and the fact that we have a choice in the matter. Although Elizabeth believes in the power of faith, Victor believes in the power of Science, which takes him down a road he never thought possible. Readers will enjoy this glimpse in Victor Frankenstein's adolescence and will want to pick up Frankenstein.
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Mar 24, 2013 Irial Libroriginal rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: People who know what to expect

Recommended to Irial by: Noboby

Shelves: re-makes

UNA OSCURA OBSESIÓN me ha resultado... UNA LIGERA DECEPCIÓN :(

... porque esperaba mucho de él y tenía grandes espectativas, tal vez demasiado grandes. Además, cuando leí la sinopsis me imaginé que el libro iría de como Victor crea a Frankenstein pero no (no os digo más porque os lo destripo) no lo hace. Sin embargo, una vez superadas estas trabas, Una Oscura Obsesión engancha y, de vez en cuando, sorprende; aunque también hay partes bastante predecibles

En cuanto a los personajes, es uno de los p...more UNA OSCURA OBSESIÓN me ha resultado... UNA LIGERA DECEPCIÓN :(

... porque esperaba mucho de él y tenía grandes espectativas, tal vez demasiado grandes. Además, cuando leí la sinopsis me imaginé que el libro iría de como Victor crea a Frankenstein pero no (no os digo más porque os lo destripo) no lo hace. Sin embargo, una vez superadas estas trabas, Una Oscura Obsesión engancha y, de vez en cuando, sorprende; aunque también hay partes bastante predecibles

En cuanto a los personajes, es uno de los puntos que más me han gustado. Aun tratándose de adolescentes burgueses y ñoños, cada uno tiene sus complejidades y actitudes características. Me explico. Victor, por ejemplo, es pasional haga lo que haga, tanto para bien como para mal. Tan pronto se pelea con Konrad con uñas y dientes como le intenta salvar la vida aun a costa de la suya. Por otro lado, su gemelo Konrad es más tranquilo, noble e inteligente; el típico príncipe azul. Elizabeth que, como ya se prevee en la sinopsis, tendrá que elegir entre ambos, deberá plantearse la siguiente pregunta:

¿Amor o pasión?

Además de los personajes, otro factor interesante es la ambientación. Debo reconocer que para ser un libro juvenil está bastante bien ambientado en tiempo y lugar, de forma que te haces fácilmente a la idea de cuál es el escenario de la trama.

Hasta ahora, todo han sido pros, de manera que ya va siendo hora de que salga con los contras. Como comenté al principio, no llegamos a ver a Frankenstein, lo que me dejó un poquito de malas pulgas, pero ya digo, la culpa es mía por presuponer. Más contras. Lo venden como un thriller juvenil romántico y yo ahí les llevaría la contraria porque creo que cualquier cosa le pegaría más. Para que sea thriller tiene que tener suspense y en Una Oscura Obsesión, salvo por un par de pequeños misterios, no hay más intriga que sacar; para que se le pueda llamar romántico, tiene que tener un romance, pero no un enamoriscamiento secundario en el cual podría contar las escenas románticas con los dedos de una mano. Y por último, creo que a "juvenil" habría que añadirle "infantil", ya que la trama tiene algunos dejes bastante ñoños que a mí, personalmente me gustan, pero a bastantes de vosotros no y ese "juvenil" en vez de "infantil/juvenil" os podría confundir.(less)

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Mar 18, 2013 Holly Kench rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

I really can't decide my own opinion of this book.

Oppel's writing is beautiful and quite hypnotic. The premise is interesting (a look into Frankenstein's teen years) and Oppel follows through with the concept really well. We get insight into Victor Frankenstein's understandings and changing opinions of science and religion, and how these things interconnect as belief systems. We also get fascinating insight into Victor's changing morality, the impact of love, understandings of truth, his questio...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Sherry rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2013

This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein #1), by Kenneth Oppel was a great read. I guess I should start out by saying that I have no fascination with Frankenstein. I bought this book for my son, but the premise sounded interesting to me. It did not disappoint. I thought it was gripping and powerful and very, very exciting.

The story is of the brothers Frankenstein, Victor and Konrad, twins who are alike in many ways but different, too. I’ve read it described as a prequel to F...more

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Mar 01, 2013 Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5/5

This review originally appeared on my blog on October 13th, 2012 and you can read it here!

So first off, I'm a huge sucker for historical fiction (shocker... not. I'm a history major!) and even hope to write an historical fiction of my own someday (first I have to finish my current book!). So yes, this book held much promise before I even read it. I've enjoyed Kenneth Oppel in the past, and I was excited to read his new offering.

Things I Didn't Like:
Okay. Can I just say I am SO TIRED OF POOR...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Elisa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Reseña en: http://vocesdeloslibros.blogspot.com....

Cuando vi esta novedad editorial no me pude resistir a ella. Aunque no me he leído la novela original, tenía muchas ganas de adentrarme en el mundo de Frankenstein. Y la verdad es que he salido bastante escaldada.

La novela comienza bastante bien. En medio de la adolescencia de Víctor, él vive cómodamente y libre de preocupaciones con su numerosa familia, pero siempre a la sombra de su perfecto hermano Konrad, que también se ha llevado el amor d...more Reseña en: http://vocesdeloslibros.blogspot.com....

Cuando vi esta novedad editorial no me pude resistir a ella. Aunque no me he leído la novela original, tenía muchas ganas de adentrarme en el mundo de Frankenstein. Y la verdad es que he salido bastante escaldada.

La novela comienza bastante bien. En medio de la adolescencia de Víctor, él vive cómodamente y libre de preocupaciones con su numerosa familia, pero siempre a la sombra de su perfecto hermano Konrad, que también se ha llevado el amor de su preciosa prima Elizabeth. Todo parece ir bien hasta que Konrad enferma gravemente y ningún médico parece tener la cura a sus males. Y a partir de aquí todo se va al traste.

No acabé de entender muy bien que es lo que intentaba hacer el autor. Creo que intentó mezclar la magia con la vida real, el problema es que lo hizo a trompicones y el resultado es un poco extraño. Víctor, con la ayuda de Elizabeth y su amigo Henry, comienzan la búsqueda de un remedio prodigioso para la enfermedad para su hermano. Para ello recurren a la alquimia (algo que ya en su época se consideraba como una patraña), buscan a un charlatán que ya fue condenado por el mal uso de esta “arte” y comienzan su búsqueda de ingredientes, cada uno más raro que el anterior y arriesgando la vida en el proceso. Uno no tiene que tener muchos dedos de frente para saber cómo va a terminar esta historia.

En cuanto a los personajes, hay muchos pero solo conseguimos conocer realmente a los gemelos, a Elizabeth y a Henry. La familia Frankenstein es muy liberal en cuanto a creencias y pensamiento, lo cual contrasta mucho con las decisiones de Víctor. Konrad se llevó todo lo bueno de los genes familiares, a excepción de su enfermedad claro. Elizabeth es toda una dama, con un genio de mil demonios y una personalidad de lo más interesante. En cuanto a Henry, es el amigo que todos queremos tener, pero no le pidas algo demasiado heroico con frecuencia. Pero el que más me sorprendió es Víctor, lejos de cómo me lo imaginaba, es un chico envidioso (culo veo culo quiero), encaprichado, mediocre y vago en todo, y solo se esfuerza cuando lo que busca es su propia gloria y reconocimiento.

La verdad, me decepcionó muchísimo y, a pesar de que está bien escrito, la historia flaquea en muchos puntos. Solo se pone interesante hacia el final, cuando más de una sorpresilla aligera la lectura.
El final también ayudó a salvar este libro de mi suspenso, porque me llevaba temiendo un hecho la mayor parte del libro y por fortuna el autor ratificó.

Supongo que mi error con este libro fue hacerme una idea preconcebida equivocada, y eso me impidió disfrutar el libro más.(less)

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Feb 02, 2013 Dennis rated it 5 of 5 stars

Book: This Dark Endeavor
Author: Kenneth Oppel

Publication Date: May 22 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Synopsis: Two twin brothers, Victor and Konrad Frankenstein, as well as their cousin Elizebeth, one day stumble across a secret library in their father's castle. Their father forbids them from returning, but when Konrad get extremely sick, Victor believes that there is no other option than to attempt to find and concoct the legendary elixir of life. Victor and Elizabet...more

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Jan 23, 2013 Suzanne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: peach-consideration

I actually started this once before and didn't finish, rate, or review, but I was determined this time. Three plus something probably fits my overall reaction best, but its teen appeal is limited, so I'll round down. On second thought, there might be readership among students assigned (or choosing?) to read Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN, so that's something further to recommend it.

Personally, I like me some good gothic, and the Frankenstein home has just the dark secret library of magic and alchemical...more I actually started this once before and didn't finish, rate, or review, but I was determined this time. Three plus something probably fits my overall reaction best, but its teen appeal is limited, so I'll round down. On second thought, there might be readership among students assigned (or choosing?) to read Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN, so that's something further to recommend it.

Personally, I like me some good gothic, and the Frankenstein home has just the dark secret library of magic and alchemical references, forbidden to Victor, his twin Konrad, their distant cousin Elizabeth, and best friend and school mate Henry by Geneva magistrate patriarch. Also wonderful are some of the tasks set for the three (sometimes four) teenagers to navigate whilst working with disgraced alchemist Polidori to obtain ingredients for an elixir of life to cure Konrad's grave illness, which even the most advanced doctor of the age can only seem to pause rather than cure completely. One ingredient sends them up the trunks of vast ancient trees at night, where they are at the mercy of vultures. A cool formulation for "wolf vision" heightens Victor's animal awareness of Elizabeth, providing conflict for a love triangle featuring the twin brothers, of whom Konrad is her declared favorite.

Another setting sends the ingredient seekers underground following the map of a deceased cave explorer for a fish thought to be extinct. Atmosphere is thick as they barely survive the challenges, which are many and inspire some vicarious thrill for readers.

I'm also talking myself into a higher rating as I think about the last ingredient and the twists in plot that have three characters racing away from Polidori's laboratory in hopes that it's not too late to save Konrad. There is a good bit of action and adventure, but somehow I never found myself fully engaged. For some reason, I kept my distance from the characters and their situations. More of a movie in the background than something I was experiencing on the edge of my seat. Could it be a gender thing? Hard to say. So many of the male teen readers I know want the adventure but don't care for an historical setting or the trappings of the romanticized style. I'll have to see if I can talk a thoughtful student into giving it a read.

A series in the works. I do like the way the prequel approach helps lay the groundwork for the kind of mad scientist that Victor becomes. It provides a sort of psychological profile on the man who would animate the dead.(less)

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Jan 14, 2013 Alice rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This Dark Endeavour is another new take on the original Frankenstein story. It is narrated by a sixteen year old Victor Frankenstein, who lives in Geneva with with parents, two younger brothers Ernest and William, cousin Elizabeth and twin brother Konrad. Konrad contracts a strange disease, and Victor, Elizabeth and their friend Henry Clerval race against time to find a miraculous Elixir of Life to save him.

The book was exciting, tense and interesting. Right from the very first page there were...more This Dark Endeavour is another new take on the original Frankenstein story. It is narrated by a sixteen year old Victor Frankenstein, who lives in Geneva with with parents, two younger brothers Ernest and William, cousin Elizabeth and twin brother Konrad. Konrad contracts a strange disease, and Victor, Elizabeth and their friend Henry Clerval race against time to find a miraculous Elixir of Life to save him.

The book was exciting, tense and interesting. Right from the very first page there were action scenes and conflict, and that fast pace is maintained throughout the story. At times it did feel a little like a video game--the characters do this so they can do this so they can get this so they can progress to the next goal--but it didn't detract from the quality of the story-telling.

Some of the dialogue was a little stilted; at one point a character exclaims something like, "Oh how wonderful! A secret passage we haven't discovered yet!" which seemed very contrived, but it's a minor point and not really relevant to the novel as a whole. At first I disliked the way that Victor's parents were portrayed; often in historical fiction, the "good" characters have anachronistically kind views towards servants and women, and Victor's parents make a big point of educating Elizabeth above the normal standard for a girl of her situation. They also make dinner for their servants on a Sunday, which I thought rather improbable, but it does mention in the original Frankenstein novel that servants in Geneva were treated better than they would be in England, so I suppose it's not too much of an issue.

The characters, however, is where this book really stands out. Victor's voice is sympathetic and believable; although it took me a few chapters to really get into the story, Victor intrigued from almost the first page. He's proud, arrogant, driven and naive, but so sympathetic that I was torn between hoping he would succeed in his dark endeavours and wishing he would fail. Although Victor is meant to be dabbling in the dark sciences for Konrad's sake, Konrad isn't nearly as strong a character as Elizabeth, and it's plain that Victor's actions are fuelled by a desire for her interest as much as for Konrad's well-being. Although she is a tad overly feisty (especially when compared to the original Elizabeth, who couldn't have fought her way out of a wet paper bag), Elizabeth was another sympathetic and energetic character. What I particularly liked was her strong religious beliefs, which counterbalanced the more modern aspects of her personality and leant another dimension to her involvement with alchemy and almost-magics. Clerval was a bit of a let-down, though, as he is a little too much of a Sensible Friend foil who stays at the bottom of trees and protests that it's all Much Too Dangerous.

Overall, This Dark Endeavour was an exciting and intriguing read. I liked all the references to the original Frankenstein world; for example, one of the characters is called Polidori (after John Polidori who was with the Shelleys in Switzerland when the idea of Frankenstein started) who lives in Wollstonekraft Alley (Mary Shelley's mother's name was Mary Wollstonecroft). The characters are excellent, it's a well-told story, and an interesting new take on the Frankenstein world. (less)

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Jan 05, 2013 Kim Trotter rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: male-pov, tales-retold, ya, favorites

I was pretty surprised how much I enjoyed this book in the end. I didn't read the summary for this book (I know, not the best idea) but someone had told me it was a story about an apprentice of Victor Frankenstein. Of course, once I started to read it I realized that was wrong. Very wrong. It is really the tale of how Victor Frankenstein came to be. I'm not a big fan of re-telling of tales or spin-offs of already well known stories. I also loved Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN, so I didn't know if I...more I was pretty surprised how much I enjoyed this book in the end. I didn't read the summary for this book (I know, not the best idea) but someone had told me it was a story about an apprentice of Victor Frankenstein. Of course, once I started to read it I realized that was wrong. Very wrong. It is really the tale of how Victor Frankenstein came to be. I'm not a big fan of re-telling of tales or spin-offs of already well known stories. I also loved Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN, so I didn't know if I could really accept this veration...

Plus, the book begins with a false start. I hate false starts (dreams, plays, something that is intentionally misleading to add draw then pulls the reader out of it because "it was all just a dream!" or a play or something). In this case, the book starts with a play that Victor is playing with his cousin and twin brother. It was dramatic and attention grabbing, only to pull away and reveal it was just a play they were putting on for their house. Ugh was my frist reaction, then I stopped to read the premise of the book and felt another ugh coming on. I almost put the book down and walked away... almost.

I kept reading and it got better, much better. The start was slow, but as soon as Victor's brother falls ill and they began their dark endeavor, everything got better. I was so impressed with Oppel's characterization of Victor Frankenstein. There were hints to his dark desires and even perhaps unstable mind. In Shelley's tale, we're never truly sure whether Frankenstein has risen the dead or just thinks he did. I think Oppel's take is perhaps it's all in his head, but it could go either way. He also gives a great reason for Frankenstein to try it in the future.

The inner conflict Victor feels between his twin brother, Konrad, and him just added a great layer to the story. Victor has to try so hard to be Konrad's equal, I felt for him instantly. I can sympathize with his pain, since I have a brother that's just brilliant at everything instantly. The love triangle between Konrad, Elizabeth, and Victor wasn't one of those annoying ones that are just there to add drama -- it highlighted issues already shown in the story, it gave Victor new depths, and pain.

There was voice in the narration that fit the time period this story was set in. The writing was overall very good, but there were a few things I could have lived without. Oppel is adverb happy. Most saids seemed to be followed by an adverb and there were unnecessary tells where he had already showed us, but overall these flaws were minor.

Once you get fifty pages in, it's impossible to put the book down. And the ending... oh, it was good. Very, very good. (less)

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