The alchemy side was incredibly interesting to me and I loved the way it played out. We see Victor, Elizabeth, and their friend Henry go on many quests in order to obtain the proper ingredients for the elixir as deciphered for them by the outcasted, former Alchemist Polidori. This story brings us the tale of alchemy and the Elixir of Life. THIS DARK ENDEAVOR more of a glimpse into Victor and how he ended up spiraling on such a dark path. THIS DARK ENDEAVOR is the very, very beginning of VIctor Frankenstein’s story so I think it’s important for readers to know that you do NOT see Frankenstein’s monster in this book nor his work on it - this is more of a prequel to Mary Shelley’s classic FRANKENSTEIN (which I also had to Wikipedia - so shamefully!!! - because I really remember ZERO details from when I read it as a freshman in high school… To be fair, that was over 10 years ago). The plot explanation is important for this review because without it, you may be tempted to think that this is a teenaged Victor Frankenstein already working on his monster. When Konrad falls perilously ill, Victor decides that the only way to save him is by making the Elixir of Life. There are books of all sorts there, of course, all forbidden, especially the ones about alchemy.

(I know, I know, very distant cousin, but still… why even make it a cousin? It always throws me off and gives me the heebie-jeebies.) The plot ultimately thickens when all of the kids find a secret passage and an entirely secret room extending from the library of the Frankenstein Mansion dubbed “The Dark Library”. They live in Switzerland and naturally have a few quarrels being brothers and all, of course one of which is over a girl - their cousin Elizabeth. So, THIS DARK ENDEAVOR is the story of a teenaged Victor Frankenstein and his twin brother Konrad. I’m so glad Alyssa got me this book for All Hallow’s Read because I had been curious about it for quite a while! The Apprenticeship of VIctor Frankenstein?! SO excited to see “how it all started”! Admittedly, it started out a little bit slow, but I think the ending was super strong!

With friends Elizabeth and Henry, he scales highest trees in the Strumwald, dives deepest lake caves, and each sacrifices a body part. In the forbidden Dark Library, Victor finds an ancient formula, and seeks an alchemist to recreate the Elixir of Life. Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein and inseparable until Konrad falls gravely ill. Genres: Historical Fiction, Horror, Young Adultįind it on the web: Buy from Amazon // Goodreads Date Completed: October 25, 2013 Title: This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein #1)

This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel