This Dark Endeavour

Rating

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.

Promotional Information

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.

About the Author

Kenneth Oppel is one of the great contemporary storytellers. His first novel was published when he was eighteen years old. Since then, he has won extraordinary acclaim for his imaginative works, including the Silverwing trilogy and the Airborn series. The novel Airborn won both a Printz Honor and the Governor General's Award. His last novel Half Brother was named both Children's Book of the Year and Best Young Adult Book of the Year by the Canadian Library Association. Kenneth Oppel lives in Toronto with his family and can be found online at www.kennethoppel.ca

Reviews

"Adventures do not come more thrilling, gorgeously written or absorbing than this" * The Times * "A thrilling examination of a fictional character, packed with action, guilt and tension, and a useful intro to the original horror story" * Daily Mail * "Kenneth Oppel's brilliant creation of the early character-forming of Frankenstein is This Dark Endeavour and it is a superb extension and tremendous read which remains faithful to clues from the Mary Shelley original. A truly gripping, gothic page-turner" * The School Librarian *