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ARC provided by Random House in exchange for an honest review.
“Some nights, when even my child’s heart knew that what I had been asked to endure was too much, I would stand on the edge of the lake, lift my face to the stars, and scream. Nothing ever called back. Even among the creeping things of the lake’s night, I was alone. Until Victor.”
Kiersten White wrote this book to honor the fact that 2018 is the 200th anniversary of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley! It has been ten years since I picked up Frankenstein, and even though I didn’t completely love this with my whole heart, Emily May’s review not only made me want to pick it up again this fall, but it also made me realize that I probably missed a ton of beautiful homages within these pages!
So, my review is coming to you from someone that’s no longer familiar with the source material. My rating is pretty much strictly based off the story that Kiersten White crafted. And even though I loved how beautifully feminist this was, and I was completely enthralled with the writing, tone, and setting, I just didn’t love the actual story.
The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein stars young Elizabeth who finally feels safe living in the Frankenstein home. And she will do anything to ensure he place in the family, so she can continue to have that safety. And she does this by getting close to the oldest son of the manor, Victor Frankenstein himself. Victor is prone to outbursts of anger, and Elizabeth is the only one that can keep him calm. But Victor has been away for a while, and Elizabeth is scared to lose her place in the family. Therefore, her and the governess, who is also her good friend, go on a hunt to find Victor and bring him back home!
“I have waded through hell to deliver you heaven.”
And that governess? Justine Moritz is honestly the star of this book. I love her with the sum of my being. Kiersten White did such a wonderful job really fleshing out her character and making me feel even more for her. I truly think Mary Shelley would be so damn proud. My other favorite is the bookseller that is cutely and conveniently named Mary! These two girls were easily my favorite and probably the reason this book is getting three stars instead of two. And if I were Elizabeth I would have been doing everything in my power to date either or both of them.
“I do not fear to die. I do not want to live in a world where devils can take such perfect, beautiful innocence without punishment.”
But them going to retrieve Victor is truly only the first part of this story. There are two others that hold within them the events that take place when they return back home. Also, this story is told with constant flashbacks to events from the past, so you are kind of able to see why everyone acts the way they do.
Sadly, I just feel like the biggest problem with this novel was the predictability. Again, it has been a hot second since I’ve read Frankenstein, but I don’t even remember everything being as obvious as it was in this. And again, I know this is an homage to the book, but I feel like the book still has to sort of hold up on its own for today’s audience, regardless of their familiarity to the original source material.
“I dreaded another flash of lightning for what it might reveal of the person in the trees watching me. He stood at least seven feet tall, a hulking and unnatural creature. Fear drained my fury…”
And that truly is the biggest problem with the book, for me. I really enjoyed the rest, and I feel like the setting of this book was completely mastered. And the writing? It’s wonderful. This is a relatively short book, but I was able to pull over twenty quotes that I could have used for that review. That’s seriously impressive. Kiersten White’s beautiful prose really shines through, and I think she really is a master crafter of words.
And as I touched upon before, the feminism in this book is so very beautiful and so very unapologetic. In general, I think the inclusion of just creating Elizabeth, and making her the star of this tale, was genius. But, I mean, women still aren’t truly considered equal to men in 2018, but in the 1800s? Lord, help me. Elizabeth goes from one abusive home to another, but they are just very different kinds of abuse. This story constantly shows how women are only truly safe with protection from a man. Yet, even then, a woman can be institutionalized and put away in an asylum if they do anything to cross the man that is supposed to protect them.
I feel like this story really shines a spotlight on toxic love, and how it can be the most destructive thing on Earth. The cycles of abuse that Victor shows, is something that I wish I could highlight for all young kids to see. Sometimes it’s very hard for the person being abused to see, acknowledge, and realize that they are being abused. This story really showcases that and gaslighting and how hard it is to break the cycle and those abusive relationships, in the 1800s and in the 2000s.
“You are mine, Elizabeth Lavenza, and nothing will take you from me. Not even death.”
Trigger and content warnings for child abuse and abuse in general, medical experimentation, murder, death, heavy dictions of surgical practices especially different cutting and sewing procedures, animal abuse, animal cruelty, animal death, and talk of suicide.
Overall, I was a little let down by this, because I truly did expect to love this. Yet, I think there is something here for every human to appreciate reading this retelling. Also, I think big fans of Frankenstein will probably really appreciate this rendition even more. Lastly, I just want to remind you all how much of a badass Mary Shelley, the queen of horror and science fiction, really was. What a damn blessing to literature, 200 years later, and for all the rest of time.
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The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
Buddy read with Elise (My French Spider Queen)! ❤
meltotheany 
I wasn’t a huge fan of Frankenstein when I had to read it in school but I still appreciate the story and the fact that a woman wrote it in the time that she did. This book sounds pretty interesting! The cover looks sort of creepy. It sounds like it would make the best October read around the time of Halloween! I’m glad you seemed to enjoy it for the most part, Mel!
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Awh, thank you so much, Amber! And I’m in the same boat as you. I read it so long ago, but I totally remember not loving it completely! Maybe I’ll try to reread this Halloween… we will see! Hahaha! But thank you for your kind words always! And I hope you’re having the happiest of reading, love! 💗xx
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I re-read Frankenstein five years ago during my summer abroad program in Scotland, but to be honest I still am not very familiar with the source material. I have a pending request for this one on NG and am hoping to have this one to read for my October-Spooky-Reads-Only desires.
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I feel like this one is going to be really polarizing, but the people who have the story fresh in their minds will enjoy it WAY more! I’m kicking myself for not reread. But.. this would be such a perfect October read, love! And I hope you love it! Happy reading, beautiful! 💗xx
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This sounds pretty interesting despite the setting being so much in the past. I like the topic, and the feminist stuff, but i don’t know if i would enjoy it as much as if it was set in the present.
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I think most people will enjoy this… I think… I don’t know.. it might be polarizing. This book makes me feel a lot of things. But the writing and themes? 6/5! Hahaha! I want you to read just so I can pick your brain! But happy reading regardless of what you pick up, beautiful! 💗xx
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I requested this one on NetGalley, but never got a response. Sounds like I might not have enjoyed it as much as I thought.
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I think people are really going to love this one, or dislike this one! Haha! I am honestly super curious and excited for its release! But I honestly think most people will enjoy! I hope life has been treating you kindly, sweetheart! Happy reading! 💗xx
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Wasn’t a fan of Frankenstein either
haha the writing samples really are beautiful but it’s been years since I read the source material and I don’t think I’ll ever get to it. I hope your next book blows you away 😀
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Book twins, forever and ever, Mary! And thank you, my love! I hope live is treating you kindly! Remember, you deserve the entire universe and all the stars within it! 💗xx
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So do you, Mel 🙂 Thank you for being such a wonderful, kind friend. I cherish you so much ❤
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Great review 😀 I am a massive fan of Frankenstein and it was the book that got me into gothic literature. I’m sorry to hear this didn’t meet all of your expectations but I’m glad some of it was still enjoyable 💜
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Thank you, babe! And oh I bet you’re going to LOVE this one! I can’t wait to talk about it with you!!! 💗xx
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You’re welcome and thank you 😄 it sounds like the perfect October read 💜
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This sounds like it could be an interesting read, although it’s been years for myself as well in reading the original. My GN book club will be reading Gris Grimly’s Frankenstein in a couple of months and I’m super excited for that and I also found a graphic novel depiction of Mary’s life that I can’t find at the moment for the title gah, so I think I’ll read all three later this year?? Also there’s a GN called Destroyer I am SUPER excited to read (also for my book club, the month after) that’s set in our time and a black female descendant of Victor resurrects her son who was shot and killed by police. That sounds brilliant and heartbreaking and I’m fairly certain it’ll be amazing. (Ahhh Octoberween come soon! (The only seasons I love, summer and Octoberween))
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Um… I am SO here for this, Shai! You have NO idea! Holy moly! Legit, it sounds like perfection! AND BIG MOOD FOR OCTOBERWEEN! Hahaha! I am so ready too. It’s only July, but I feel myself wanting thrillers more and more each week! Hahaha! Also, I’m excited to see what you’ll think of this one. It was such good atmosphere… I really wish I had just read Frankenstein again BEFORE picking this up! 💕xx
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I’ll definitely try to read the OG tome before The Dark Descent 😀
And I just remembered the title of the biography of Mary… It’s called Mary’s Monster lol, of course. It looks beautiful, just flipping through it, there are hundreds of watercolor illustrations around the text.
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Wonderful review, Melanie! 🙂
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Awh, thank you so very much, my love! 💖xx
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This was a great review! I’m a little intrigued by this, mostly because Victor Frankenstein is one of my favorite characters in Penny Dreadful, but I’ve also been hearing wonderful things about Kiersten White’s writing and I want to pick up one of her books.
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I have been meaning to watch Penny Dreadful FOREVER! And this… really makes me want to! I think you should totally still pick this up! It was a fun read regardless, but I think if you’re familiar with Frankenstein, you’ll REALLY like it! Happy reading, love! 💖xx
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I loved this book, and I’m also really curious to see if this ends up being more of a polarizing read for Frankenstein fans.
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Me too! I am very excited to see where everyone falls! But it really was a fun read for me! And I’m still kicking myself I didn’t reread Frankenstein first! 💖xx
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I absolutely love Frankenstein. But I’m still on the fence about this one. Ugh.
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I’m very curious how the book world is going to react to this book… but I won’t lie, I was a little disappointed! BUT I hope you enjoy and having happy reading, sweetheart! 💛xx
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