Hardcover: 304 pages
Published: August 23rd 2011 by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
ISBN: 1442403152
Source: Publisher
Rating: ♥♥♥♥
Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein. They are nearly inseparable. Growing up, their lives are filled with imaginary adventures... until the day their adventures turn all too real.
They stumble upon The Dark Library, and secret books of alchemy and ancient remedies are discovered. Father forbids that they ever enter the room again, but this only peaks Victor’s curiosity more. When Konrad falls gravely ill, Victor is not be satisfied with the various doctors his parents have called in to help. He is drawn back to The Dark Library where he uncovers an ancient formula for the Elixir of Life. Elizabeth, Henry, and Victor immediately set out to find assistance in a man who was once known for his alchemical works to help create the formula.
Determination and the unthinkable outcome of losing his brother spur Victor on in the quest for the three ingredients that will save Konrads life.
My Thoughts:
This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel is a intense and riveting novel that gripped me within it's very first pages. It is a novel that will leave you haunted by the idea of how much you would sacrifice for the ones you loved and it is ever enough?
This story begins with two teenage boys, Victor and Konrad Frankenstein and although they may have been the same in looks they were of completely different temperaments. Konrad was thoughtful, kind and responsible while Victor was brash, reckless and quick tempered. (Put them together and you would have the perfect boy) Despite their differences they were inseparable along with their cousin Elizabeth. Together they accidentally encounter the dark library which houses a particular book that promises eternal life. Then the unthinkable occurs and Victor takes it upon himself to save his brother and this action leads him down a dark path that will forever change the course of his future.
I was mesmerized by Victor Frankenstein and his passion, his tenacity and his darkness...ahh his inner dark thoughts are what I found the most intriguing for it gave him depth and credibility to his otherwise spoiled personality. I could understand his motives although it would make me cringe and scream "NOOOOO! don't do it." I am not a big fan of a love triangle but Kenneth Oppel made this one work for me and although I knew how things should play out I still had alternate thoughts in my mind, which were bad. *smacks hand*
What I really enjoyed about this novel besides it's main character was the adventure that he embarked on to save his brother. It was intense and I was gripping my book in manner that reminded me of how I felt when Harry Potter set out to find the hoar cruxes made from hethatshallnotbenamed. Each mission seemed more impossible from the next and none of it could be attained without the help of his trusty crew. It was all well done and completely addicting.
At a certain point I had believed that THIS DARK ENDEAVOR was going to reach a conclusive ending, then the rug got rip from beneath me and I was stunned. Yet, true to Frankenstein form this story is far from over and I cannot wait to see what happens next in SUCH WICKED INTENT.
1 comment on "Review: THIS DARK ENDEAVOR by Kenneth Oppel"
This sounds awesome. I heard there was also a young Sherlock Holmes series that is out to. I am starting to be interested in the "young" stories of the classics.
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I would love to see what you have to say :)