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This Dark Endeavour [Hardcover]

Kenneth Oppel (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: 6 Oct 2011 | Series: This Dark Endeavour (Book 1)

The purest intentions can stir up the darkest obsessions.

In this prequel to Mary Shelley's gothic classic, Frankenstein, 16-year-old Victor Frankenstein begins a dark journey that will change his life forever. Victor's twin, Konrad, has fallen ill, and no doctor is able to cure him. Unwilling to give up on his brother, Victor enlists his beautiful cousin Elizabeth and best friend Henry on a treacherous search for the ingredients to create the forbidden Elixir of Life. Impossible odds, dangerous alchemy and a bitter love triangle threaten their quest at every turn.

Victor knows he must not fail. But his success depends on how far he is willing to push the boundaries of nature, science, and love - and how much he is willing to sacrifice.

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 384 pages
  • Publisher: David Fickling Books (6 Oct 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0857560123
  • ISBN-13: 978-0857560124
  • Product Dimensions: 14.4 x 3.4 x 21.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 534,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Review

Adventures do not come more thrilling, gorgeously-written or absorbing than this. (Amanda Craig The Times 20111030)

I truly can't recommend This Dark Endeavour highly enough. It's a sophisticated novel with a classic feel, it has real drama and tragedy and a morally ambiguous but charismastic character. And the writing is top notch. This book doesn't just appeal to fans of Gothic fiction - it's for anyone who likes a classic read. Don't miss it. (www.thebookbag.co.uk )

[A] captivating gothic novel for 13+ about the future Dr. Frankenstein and his competitive love for his twin brother. Books this good are for life, not just Christmas. (Amanda Craig The Times 20111126)

A brilliantly layered exploration of what made Victor Frankenstein become the man he became.... Victor's struggle to pit fraternal love against his baser emotions, particularly his animal attraction to their cousin Elizabeth, who loves Konrad, gives a compelling psychological edge to this richly imagined Gothic thriller. (Dinah Hall The Sudnday Telegraph 20111127)

This is a wonderfully atmospheric story, the sort to get lost in, for 12s and above. (Philip Womack The Daily Telegraph 20111210)

Book Description

The first book in a pair of dark, gothic thrillers that tell the story of young Victor Frankenstein's life - everything that happened before he became the creator of THAT monster.
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Customer Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
40 reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Frankenstein prequel 11 April 2012
By H. Ashford VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
In this fascinating prequel to Frankenstein, the young Victor Frankenstein sets out on a quest to obtain ingredients that will enable him to create an Elixir of Life, in an attempt to fund a cure for the mysterious illness that threatens the life of his twin, Konrad. Victor, his close friend Henry and his lovely cousin Elizabeth set out together on an adventure which leads them to explore arcane knowledge and confront terrifying forces.

I enjoyed this a lot. The story is well told and in a modern and accessible language which should appeal to teenage readers. The characters are convincingly drawn, both the male and the female lead, and it should appeal to readers of both sexes.

The story itself isn't gruesome exactly, but is quite dark and has a fairly grim ending. This, I think, increases the appeal to teenagers - no nice easy solutions here!

Overall, a fascinating YA read, which will appeal to adults too.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Young Frankenstein 4 Nov 2011
By Paul Tapner TOP 500 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
First in a pair of books that are a prequel to Frankenstein (Wordsworth Classics): Or, the Modern Prometheus.

This one runs for three hundred and seventy seven pages and is divided into seventeen chapters.

And it's the story of things that happened to Victor Frankenstein when he was a teenager.

He narrates it in the first person.

Shortly after having discovered a secret library at the family home, Victor then sees his brother fall sick. With medicine seemingly unable to offer a cure, Victor and his cousin Elizabeth plus their friend Henry search the library for a cure. And seemingly find what they're looking for.

But it's forbidden knowledge. And as they go through several trials and tribulations to get what they need to help his brother, Victor has to face another problem that isn't easy to solve.

Unrequited love.

Managing to be both a period piece and very modern in it's style with it, this is supremely readable from the off. And is one of those books where little happens early on because it's setting the scene, and yet the pages do turn swiftly.

Steadily, it does become a very involving read. It's marketed for young adults. The ideal age would probably be fourteen and up. There's nothing desperately scary in here, but there are a few scenes that are mildly disturbing. And teenagers of the aforementioned age will be able to relate to some of the things that Victor goes through.

The ending does pack a very strong emotional punch, all of which leads to some strong character development.

Whilst it's pretty much self contained there will be another book to follow that takes the story further. On the basis of this, it should be worth a look.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Adds an extra dimension to the original 6 Aug 2012
By Book Angel Emma VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
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 dark path; not only that but he is perfectly willing to take everyone with him if he believes it will help him achieve his goals. Whereas Victor is surrounded by darkness, his twin Konrad is everything light. Victor is increasingly jealous of Konrad although he does love him, his quest for power is greater than brotherly love. Victor pays little heed to the consequences not only for himself but for everyone else.

The teenage characters Kenneth Oppel has created are a stroke of genius. Their relationships and interactions add layers to the original story. I adored the portrayal of Victor's father especially; his passionate teaching, modern thinking and moral code make him a wonderful magistrate as well as a terrific father. Proving that in Victor's case it is definitely nature rather than nurture to blame for the path he takes. He has been given such positive role models in his life making his later actions more shocking. It is easy to see how the events portrayed in this book act as a catalyst for Victor.

The way in which the elements of modern science and healthcare were woven into the narrative provided a stark contrast to the alchemy Victor dabbled in.

The Gothic imagery and atmospheric tension within the plot pay homage to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and I commend Kenneth Oppel on his ability to add that extra dimension to the original tale.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars Bit of an insult to the original...
This book started out quite weak and didn't really strengthen as the story went on. By page 16 we'd had Victor fall off a balcony and then Harry, Ron and Hermione discovers a... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Miss Victoria Ramage
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting glimpse into the young Victor
This is a young adult book telling the early story of Victor Frankenstein, but I'm sure it would appeal to older ages too. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Michelle Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars A good introduction to Frankenstein for younger readers
This is the story of Victor Frankenstein as a boy, along with his twin brother Konrad. It's this relationship with his brother which provides some of the clues and motives to... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Fiona Mccaw
5.0 out of 5 stars Great prequel to the classic story
This and its sequel Such Wicked Intent: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, Book Two promise to be great introductions to some of the themes explored in Frankenstein... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Arkgirl
4.0 out of 5 stars Very good for ages 13+
This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel

The book grabs your interest from the onset making it a real page turner. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Aremess
3.0 out of 5 stars Gothic Jr.
This is a teen friendly prequel to the legendary gothic book Frankenstein. The language is much more accessible than Mary Shelley's text, which is ideal considering the audience... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Sockymon
4.0 out of 5 stars [3.5 stars]
It took me a while to get into this book. The prose felt oddly formal and a little dry, and overall it took me several weeks to finish reading. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Chantal Lyons
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping from the outset
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. It is the first in a duology acting as a prequel to Mary Shelley's `Frankenstein'. Read more
Published 14 months ago by SJSmith
4.0 out of 5 stars Gripping Gothic
The subtitle to `This Dark Endeavour' is `The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein' and as such it betrays the storyline. Read more
Published 15 months ago by D. Elliott
4.0 out of 5 stars Atmospheric YA prequel to FRANKESTEIN
Although 16 year-old Victor Frankenstein has always felt second-best to his twin brother Konrad, together they lead a happy life in a chateau near Geneva with their parents,... Read more
Published 15 months ago by I Read, Therefore I Blog
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