This Dark Endeavor - (Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein) by Kenneth Oppel (Paperback)

About the Book

When his twin brother falls ill in the family's chateau in the independent republic of Geneva in the 18th century, 16-year-old Victor Frankenstein embarks on a dangerous and uncertain quest to create the forbidden Elixir of Life described in an ancient text in the family's secret Biblioteka Obscura.

Book Synopsis

Bravery, danger, and intense passion. How does obsession begin?

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 discover secret books of alchemy and ancient remedies. Father forbids them from ever entering the room again, but when Konrad falls gravely ill, Victor is drawn back to the Dark Library where he uncovers an ancient formula for the Elixir of Life. Victor, along with his beautiful cousin Elizabeth and friend Henry, immediately set out to find a man who was once known for his alchemical works to help them create the formula.
Determined to save Konrad, the three friends scale the highest trees in Strumwald, dive into the deepest lakes, and even make an unthinkable sacrifice in their quest for the elixir's ingredients. And as if their task was not complicated enough, a new realm of danger--that of illicit love--threatens to end the ordeal in tragedy.

Review Quotes

"Adventures do not come more thrilling, gorgeously written or absorbing than this."

--"The London Times"

""This Dark Endeavor "may renew interest in "Frankenstein", but it also stands alone as an original and welcome addition to the world of young-adult fiction."--Kelley Armstrong, author of the Darkest Power series

"A dark and dramatic back story for Shelley's tormented creator."--"Kirkus Reviews"

"Brash, jealous, and arrogant, Victor is sweet relief from today's introspective YA protagonists, and one can easily visualize how this teen becomes the mad genius of Shelley's Frankenstein."--"Booklist"

"Oppel grapples with the human duality of animal and soul in ways that recall (but don't repeat) Shelley's similar thematic explorations as he revitalizes the classic horror tale for a new generation."--"Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books", STARRED review

"Oppel has reinvented the gothic thriller for modern readers. The narrative crackles with tension, emotions run high, and the atmosphere is perfectly dark and brooding. The Shelleys would be proud. I definitely recommend you check out the book when it's published August 23. I anticipate "This Dark Endeavor" will get a lot of attention, and rightly so."--Rick Riordan

"Oppel's novel is a gripping tale of undying devotion, mixing hope with foreboding."--"The Horn Book" in a STARRED review

"Oppel's tale is melodramatic, exciting, disquieting...a delicious mix."--"Publisher's Weekly" in a STARRED review

"Sharp readers will find allusions to Mary Shelley, her literary circle, and classic horror films; for those simply wanting a good story with plenty of action, this book will not disappoint."--"School Library Journal"

"The action and suspense begin on page one and let up very little in this excellent work of gothic science fiction."--"VOYA"

About the Author

Kenneth Oppel has published more than fifteen books for children. In 1995, he won the Air Canada Award for the best Canadian writer under the age of thirty. Formerly Books for Young People Editor at Quill & Quire magazine, he now writes full time. He lives in Toronto, Ontario, with his wife and children.