Frankenstein

by Mary Shelley, Guillermo del Toro (Introduction)

Obsessed with creating life, Victor Frankenstein plunders graveyards for the material to fashion a new being, which he shocks into life with electricity. But his botched creature, rejected by Frankenstein and denied human companionship, sets out to destroy his maker and all that he holds dear. This chilling gothic tale, begun when Mary Shelley was just nineteen years old, would become the world’s most famous work of horror fiction, and is now the inspiration of a film adaptation written and directed by Guillermo del Toro and starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Mia Goth.

Genres: Horror, Classics, Science Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 2025

About the author

See Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Reviews

[sofia damer-salas · Rating 4 out of 5]

so interesting reading this after watching the movie, and seeing which choices guillermo del toro made for what to keep or what to change.

one of my favorite moments was reading how mary shelley described the monster discovering how humans communicate their feelings to each other through body language and through words, how a few sounds can have such a ripple effect on another person.

frankenstein is actually such an idiot though. i feel like many things could have been avoided if he just didn’t leave the monster loose in his apartment. towards the beginning, he leaves him there and says “hope he’s not there when i get back!” you idiot!! and lo and behold he’s gone, but at what cost?

definitely wordy and nothing is ever to the point, but i think one reason for this could be the long letters written between family members expressing love and affection, something that the monster goes completely without. i found the part where frankenstein talks about his appreciation for his best friend, henry, particularly compelling.

[Quincy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guillermo’s Frankenstein would make Mary so proud. I love this introduction to the novel, and I love the movie Guillermo made.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Matt Dechaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Shelley was ahead of her time!! Victor’s chapters were a pain to get through. For The Creature… I simply couldn’t get enough. There’s so much beauty in the way he discovers the world for himself. Del Toro’s adaptation was a masterpiece in my eyes and reading this only solidified my appreciation for this tale and the film.

[Joseph Fertitta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah this book is incredible. I haven’t read a “classic” in a bit and I think this may get me back into them. I loved the prose of the book and was also surprised to see how much different Frankenstein is in the book compared to what popular media and movies cut him out to be.

I never knew that this was called the “the modern Prometheus” and though I don’t think it’s 1:1 and think the comparison falls off a hair when comparing the two, it was still a really cool connection.

Overall, this book rocked. It’s a really easy quick read and is a new favorite. HIGHLY recommend. Very philosophical. Can’t wait to see the Del Toro movie!

[Isla ⭐️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

kinda makes me mad that it took me a month to read this, however the fact that I was battling through the end of my first uni semester justifies it lowkey…

Not bad, I appreciate the ways in which the film was accurate to the book. But then at the same time the two were different enough that I didn’t regret watching the movie first which is a rare occurrence

[Natalie Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

For as old as this book is, and difficult to decipher what’s being said through the old language at times, this was a very good book! Victor’s drive to do something remarkable ultimately led to his downfall. Frankenstein was a creature whose existence should have never been created. I truly felt to him and how lonely and miserable he was. But ultimately, his decision to die to find peace was the best decision. I’m glad to have read it be able to compare it to the Del Toro movie.

[Ethan Woods]

A cautionary tale about why you shouldn’t bottle things up and bury your head in the sand. Look yourself and your problems in the eye.
The aching desire for friendship oozes out of every seem of this book

[Emily Tosson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. this story is just too good. i almost wish i didn’t see the movie first bc i was just imagining a sad oscar isaac and vengeful jacob elordi the whole time.

i really loved reading this. i also like how guillermo del toro tweaked it from the source material. ugh frankenstein is goooooood

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

[Frida Santana · Rating 5 out of 5]

De las mejores relecturas de este año, me emcanta la forma en que las mujeres hablan sobre el amor y lo he conlleva este sentimiento. Una joya, igual que su nueva adaptación.

[Isabella Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believe me, Frankenstein, I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone?

[Tiffany 🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

So that just broke my heart 😔💔

[Pres Goos · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I required kindness and sympathy, but did not believe myself utterly unworthy of it”