A Review of “Unnatural Creatures” by Kris Waldherr (audiobook)

As I’ve mentioned before in my reviews, I love a good adaption of the great works of fiction from our literary past. I’ll link at the bottom to a couple of other reviews that fall into this category. “Unnatural Creatures” by Kris Waldherr is inspired by and closely follows the action of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.” Instead of coming from the point of view of Victor or the creature, it is told from the three women involved in his life: mother Caroline, adopted “cousin” and betrothed Elizabeth, and the maid Justine. 

The story is told in three parts, each one focused on one of the women, but also shifting on occasion. Each woman is haunted by the creature at some point, often blamed as a trick of the eye in the dark, a misidentified shadow, or a dream. If you’ve read “Frankenstein,” you’re going to know much of what goes on; we just get it here in a different perspective...until the end. The author takes some exciting liberties there, and it’s worth getting to the finish line to find out what they are.

This book was very well written and entertaining, even with having a solid background in the source material. I enjoyed the changes and perspective the author made. 

The voice artist, Barrie Kreinik, also did a nice job with the narration and voices, though I did have one question as a result of the performance: Why do English voice actors, when voicing characters that are supposed to be speaking another language, like French or German, give lower-class characters, who would also be speaking French or German, a Cockney-like accent? I know there are “low class” accents in all languages, but do we need to default to that stereotype? It’s just a musing listening to this story prompted. 

I enjoyed this book and will seek out others by this author. I received the audiobook from NetGalley. 

Other reviews of books based on canon literature: 

“Within these Wicked Walls” by Lauren Blackwood, source material “Jane Eyre” 

“The Daughter of Doctor Moreau” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, source material “The Island of Doctor Moreau”