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This Dark Endeavor The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein Kenneth Oppel Books

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This Dark Endeavor The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein Kenneth Oppel Books

Okay, so I have to agree with many of the other reviews that stated they felt the end was predictable. I get it, and I totally knew what was coming, even though I tried to convince myself otherwise. However, I recognize that I was trying to do that because of the way Oppel wrote the book. He perfectly executed the art of creating false hope for the reader, which is why I think this book deserves 5 stars.

This book was easy to get through, entertaining, and had great character development. You could clearly see the differences between Konrad and Victor. You could feel Victor's passion and could understand why he felt the way he felt in many of the events. Furthermore, I don't think this book dwelled any longer on any particular event than it needed to. Could some parts have been described better? Absolutely. But why waste time? The way this was written allowed the readers mind to wonder, and I loved that.

Perhaps my favorite thing about this book is the way that it played liked a movie in my head as I read it. When an author can do this for me, I simply love it. The only thing I'm depressed about is there are only two books in the series, and I'm already 10% through the second.

Bravo, Mr. Oppel. You have won me over!


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This Dark Endeavor The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein Kenneth Oppel Books Reviews

All knowledge begins as heresy, leads to accepted fact, and eventually becomes superstition. In that manner astrology led to modern astronomy and alchemy to modern science. The first to assert that the earth wasn't the centre of the universe was excommunicated and eventually burned at the stake.But then, 20% of Americans still believe the earth is flat. Beyond lie demons.

The Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel takes place in Frankenstein Castle in Geneva Switzerland. The extended family includes the parents, identical twin brothers, their two younger male siblings, a female cousin, and Henry whose mother died in childbirth. Twins have always been a matter of fascinataion and endless lore. Identical twins even more so. Their zygotes may have identical DNA but the differences begin immediately with their birth order, their naming, and their placement right to left. Twins often have their own unique methods of communication but as with all beings as they grow begin to assert their own individuality. If the first-born twin boy is also the family's first-born male heir yet another dynamic comes into play.

For those who know of Frankenstein only in the Hollywood version promulgated by the movies Frankenstein was the name of the scientist, not that of his creation. In this story, Victor, the younger twin sets out to find a cure for his older twin's illness, (leukemia?) After accidentally discovering an alchemist's library hidden in the family castle Victor sets out clandestinely to create that cure. His father, who has preserved this set of books is a magistrate who has banned its use. To complicate the plot throw in a love triangle involving the twins and a girl who at puberty ceases to be regarded as a sister. Finding the arcane ingredients throws in adventure, thrill-seeking, and danger--tree-climbing and spelunking.

Everything is woven together by Oppel's extraordinary imagination into a cohesive whole that creates a prequel to Mary Shelly's Frankenstein and makes this an impossible to put down page-turner. As the story unfolds the action comes thicker and faster and the tension continues to build. This is only book one of a trilogy. I can't imagine where the story will lead us as this young man matures into an adult.
Have you ever wondered what school was like for Harry before he became a wizard? Or what Hamlet was like as a kid? Do you think George protected other kids when he was young, just like he protected Lennie? Was Bella always so awkward, or was she only awkward in the presence of shimmery bloodsuckers? How did Sonny and Michael grow up so different in the same home and the same family? Sometimes a story doesn't give you the whole picture of the character and what they were like before the story takes place, but if you are lucky, someone got the bright idea to fill in the blanks like Kenneth Oppel did in This Dark Endeavor The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein. Because before there was a monster, there was a quirky, snarky, punk of a teenager ready to solve the biggest mysteries!

Victor is always just a step behind his twin brother Konrad, even in realizing he has a crush on the distant cousin who was brought to live with their family after her father abandoned her. Except, of course, when it comes to getting in trouble. Victor is a professional at mischief and mayhem, much to his family's dismay. When the kids stumble across a hidden library full of alchemy books, Victor is the first to start snooping around... until their father catches them and forbids them to ever enter the Dark Library again. But when Konrad falls gravely ill and no medicine seems to be making a dent, Victor is willing to try anything to save his brother.

Convinced alchemy is the only way, Victor finds a book that might contain the secret of the Elixir of Life. He tracks down the only alchemist known in the area only to find a man confined to a wheelchair who was forbidden to practice alchemy by Victor's own father. When Victor pleads for his brother's sake, the alchemist agrees to help them at least translate the code for the recipe. But as the code gets cracked and the ingredients are revealed, the alchemist is just as anxious to try the recipe himself. Being confined to the wheelchair, the kids must get the rare ingredients themselves, even if it risks their lives. But with Konrad's life hanging in the balance, no risk is too much for Victor.

Here is the thing about Victor Frankenstein... he is kind of a wise guy. He is an arrogant teen boy who isn't afraid to plod head on into situations despite the possible consequences... actually, without much regard for the possible consequences at all. But he loves his brother. And he is fallible. I liked this fun prequel to the Frankenstein we all read about in high school. I think it was a great way to explain the man he eventually became. It really made me think about Frankenstein differently, which is the reason this would be a fun series to give a young adult who is reading the classic Shelley story. It might also encourage them to write a little fan fiction of their own about their favorite characters from books or movies they have enjoyed! Add to that the beauty in the lesson of different perspectives, and you have quite a fun lesson on your hands!

This book is appropriate for any middle through young adult reader who likes to read about adventure, but it would mostly likely have the most impact on someone who has read Shelley's original. Therefore, an older student would probably get the most, but I wouldn't hold a kid back from this story if they hadn't read the original. In all honesty, other than the name, there isn't much keeping you from understanding this story without the original. It's a fun adventure filled with silly kids, emotions, and a mystery to be solved. You will most likely enjoy it just as much as I have, especially as Victor gets himself in and out of one tough spot to another!
Okay, so I have to agree with many of the other reviews that stated they felt the end was predictable. I get it, and I totally knew what was coming, even though I tried to convince myself otherwise. However, I recognize that I was trying to do that because of the way Oppel wrote the book. He perfectly executed the art of creating false hope for the reader, which is why I think this book deserves 5 stars.

This book was easy to get through, entertaining, and had great character development. You could clearly see the differences between Konrad and Victor. You could feel Victor's passion and could understand why he felt the way he felt in many of the events. Furthermore, I don't think this book dwelled any longer on any particular event than it needed to. Could some parts have been described better? Absolutely. But why waste time? The way this was written allowed the readers mind to wonder, and I loved that.

Perhaps my favorite thing about this book is the way that it played liked a movie in my head as I read it. When an author can do this for me, I simply love it. The only thing I'm depressed about is there are only two books in the series, and I'm already 10% through the second.

Bravo, Mr. Oppel. You have won me over!