lucy_qhuay's review against another edition
1.0
When I read the blurb of this book, I thought the general concept of the book was pretty interesting but, unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations.
The world building was poor, to the point where I can't even define the genre of the book. I guess it was supposed to be horror but I don't even see the horror in it, except for the mentions to Dr Victor Frankenstein, the beast he created and a bunch of people that were killed by said beast.
There's also a bit of historic fiction, giving that the story takes place in the XIX century and a bit of romance.
The romance is absolutely ridiculous. I don't even consider that romance. More of an infatuation than anything.
The characters aren't well built either.
Ingrid is too naive for my liking, despite her substantial intellect and Giselle is vain, foolish and a snob.
I felt like rolling my eyes out everytime I read "From the diary of Baroness Giselle Frankenstein". Like people care that she is a baroness, for pity's sake!
Also, the fact that the book is presented as a series of diary entries didn't work for me.
Each chapter, that corresponded to a diary entry, was much too short and all those changes between the point of view of Ingrid and the point of view of Giselle were just boring.
What a disappointment!
The world building was poor, to the point where I can't even define the genre of the book. I guess it was supposed to be horror but I don't even see the horror in it, except for the mentions to Dr Victor Frankenstein, the beast he created and a bunch of people that were killed by said beast.
There's also a bit of historic fiction, giving that the story takes place in the XIX century and a bit of romance.
The romance is absolutely ridiculous. I don't even consider that romance. More of an infatuation than anything.
The characters aren't well built either.
Ingrid is too naive for my liking, despite her substantial intellect and Giselle is vain, foolish and a snob.
I felt like rolling my eyes out everytime I read "From the diary of Baroness Giselle Frankenstein". Like people care that she is a baroness, for pity's sake!
Also, the fact that the book is presented as a series of diary entries didn't work for me.
Each chapter, that corresponded to a diary entry, was much too short and all those changes between the point of view of Ingrid and the point of view of Giselle were just boring.
What a disappointment!
jacquilynn's review against another edition
DNF, I've had to read the original Frankenstein so many times for school I was interested to see a revamp of the story. I was willing to give this story a lot of leeway but it abused it and it was like an unfunny clueless meets Frankenstein. Couldn't finish it.
suzannedix's review against another edition
5.0
Victor Frankenstein, the brilliant though haunted scientist who brought to life the "Monster," had two twin daughters. When he realized that the Monster posed a threat to their safety, Victor hid the girls away with family and never interacted with them. Upon Victor's death, the seventeen year old girls are notified that they have inherited his vast fortune and Frankenstein Castle, on a small island off the coast of Scotland. The girls' lives are immediately changed forever. Giselle can become the Baroness she has always dreamed off, restoring the Castle and becoming the talk of society. Ingrid, a brilliant scientist in her own right, now has access to all of her father's notes on his experiments. The twins are truly happy though menace seems to linger in the air. Murders and disappearances of local men start tallying up. At the same time Ingrid begins a romance with a crippled and dying man who agrees to allow her to experiment on him in an attempt to cure him. The dark and brooding imagery of the setting along with the rumor that the Monster is still alive creates a fast-paced story of sisterly devotion, scientific discovery and and the dangers of family secrets.
An exceptionally well written book that alternates chapters between Giselle and Ingrid's writings in their diaries. While not as frightful as it is mysterious, this book will appeal to fans of Gothic era novels and lovers of Frankenstein science fiction lore.
Highly recommended for grades 7 and up. This is a wonderful modern revisiting of a classic story.
An exceptionally well written book that alternates chapters between Giselle and Ingrid's writings in their diaries. While not as frightful as it is mysterious, this book will appeal to fans of Gothic era novels and lovers of Frankenstein science fiction lore.
Highly recommended for grades 7 and up. This is a wonderful modern revisiting of a classic story.
katereads2much's review against another edition
2.0
An acquaintance of mine told me this book was "cute". I really can't say as I would describe this book as "cute" (this is what I get for trusting a person over the description on the back of the book).
This does have an interesting story concept. I also like that someone is writing creepy stories involving death and violence with girls as the main characters because I think all too often girls get fluff stories and boys get the grisly stories. I'm all for fluff. I love fluff. Fluff is my favorite. But, life is not fluffy. Girls need stories that reflect that life is rarely fluffy, even in - perhaps especially in - the science fiction, fantasy, and paranormal genres.
The author writes this book as diary entries mostly of the two sisters which is not my favorite style but does make for an interesting juxtaposition - diary entries which do include issues of daily life, romance, and throwing an epic party to end all parties with situations involving blood, guts, gore, dead bodies, violence, disease, and sexual harassment.
My expectations were incorrect and those expectations set this book up for ... well not failure but not success. I also felt that the book tried to straddle two very different tones and ended up not quite convincing me of either. In the end, my reaction to this book was "meh".
This does have an interesting story concept. I also like that someone is writing creepy stories involving death and violence with girls as the main characters because I think all too often girls get fluff stories and boys get the grisly stories. I'm all for fluff. I love fluff. Fluff is my favorite. But, life is not fluffy. Girls need stories that reflect that life is rarely fluffy, even in - perhaps especially in - the science fiction, fantasy, and paranormal genres.
The author writes this book as diary entries mostly of the two sisters which is not my favorite style but does make for an interesting juxtaposition - diary entries which do include issues of daily life, romance, and throwing an epic party to end all parties with situations involving blood, guts, gore, dead bodies, violence, disease, and sexual harassment.
My expectations were incorrect and those expectations set this book up for ... well not failure but not success. I also felt that the book tried to straddle two very different tones and ended up not quite convincing me of either. In the end, my reaction to this book was "meh".
melissasbookshelf's review
4.0
This is a great sequel/retelling of the classic Frankenstein. I really enjoyed the gothic feel to the novel and the way the book seamlessly fit into the classic.
This book is about the twin daughters of Dr. Frankenstein whom he hid away so that the monster would not destroy them. His first wife dies giving birth to them and they are sent to live with the mother's family. Sixteen years later, their uncle comes to give them their inheritance which includes an old castle on a forbidden Scottish Island where Dr. Frankenstein in the classic built and then destroyed the wife for the monster. The castle is an old creepy castle and seems haunted.
The story is told through journal entries of the two sisters. The two sisters have very different personalities. Giselle is the more beautiful of the twins and suffers from nightmares and sleepwalking. Ingrid, the other twin is the more intellectual of the two and has a strong curiosity about her father's work. When murders begin to happen around the island and people start to disappear, the book really starts to take off and you begin to wonder who is killing these people? Has the monster returned?
I highly recommend reading the classic before reading this book and I also recommend this for older teens because of a little bit of gore.
This book is about the twin daughters of Dr. Frankenstein whom he hid away so that the monster would not destroy them. His first wife dies giving birth to them and they are sent to live with the mother's family. Sixteen years later, their uncle comes to give them their inheritance which includes an old castle on a forbidden Scottish Island where Dr. Frankenstein in the classic built and then destroyed the wife for the monster. The castle is an old creepy castle and seems haunted.
The story is told through journal entries of the two sisters. The two sisters have very different personalities. Giselle is the more beautiful of the twins and suffers from nightmares and sleepwalking. Ingrid, the other twin is the more intellectual of the two and has a strong curiosity about her father's work. When murders begin to happen around the island and people start to disappear, the book really starts to take off and you begin to wonder who is killing these people? Has the monster returned?
I highly recommend reading the classic before reading this book and I also recommend this for older teens because of a little bit of gore.
heyshay07's review against another edition
4.0
This is a book that I think middle school and high school girls would like a lot. Its dark and Gothic without being too over the top. There are some murders with a little bit of surprise twist at the end that might not be great for younger children. There is plenty of romance and at times it goes a little overboard and the main characters just look like stupid, love struck teens which is in contrast to the rest of the book which feels more intelligent than the typical teen romance. I would recommend this book for a middle school or high school library.
thatonecatmom's review against another edition
2.0
I honestly very seriously had a problem with the fact that this didn't follow the timeline of Frankenstein exactly. It completely ignored that he only had one wife, though the author did try very hard to write in a first wife, then talked of Elizabeth as a second. I did like seeing some of the characters again, but at what cost? I did like the few twists present, but honestly it was underwhelming.
doodleb58's review against another edition
4.0
It was a pretty interesting and unique book. I'm glad the author took actually elements from the real Frankenstein and just added her own spin. I really didn't see the end of this book happening the way it had.
readingcat1228's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a good book because there is a lot of suspense and I enjoyed guessing what would happen next. I also enjoyed how the authour included some historical figures such as Percy Shelly and his wife, Mary Shelly and Dr. Jean-Baptiste Salandiere. I do not know if I would read more books like this in the future though.
yogisgirl16's review against another edition
2.0
I liked the first part of the story, but found it very easy to put down. The end was lacking, and ended abruptly. Something Im not a fan of. There didnt feel to be a resolution. Due to this I dont know if I would read any of the authors other works.