kmjmg's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Absolutely amazing!!! I can't even begin to explain how great this book was.
rfelt's review
5.0
OH MY GOODNESS! This is such an amazing series. Oppel is a genius. It was so hard for me to put the book down and it all ties in so well. It obviously is a little unbelievable but at the same time you just accept it. Usually I would scoff at some of the ideas but not in this book. I want it!
roseice's review
4.0
Highly enjoyable. This is an incredible series; it arrested my mind and will stay with me for a very long time, I think. If there is a third book, I'll certainly read it, but if not, I'm content with how it ended.
Such Wicked Intent, through all its weird and disturbing moments, was very well written. I don't think I've read anything quite like it. There were many differences between it and This Dark Endeavour (the latter of which could do no wrong in my eyes); it was much more strange and 'magical' (in a dark, disturbing sense), and outlandish. But it was so well written, the plot so engaging, that I couldn't resist it.
Such Wicked Intent, through all its weird and disturbing moments, was very well written. I don't think I've read anything quite like it. There were many differences between it and This Dark Endeavour (the latter of which could do no wrong in my eyes); it was much more strange and 'magical' (in a dark, disturbing sense), and outlandish. But it was so well written, the plot so engaging, that I couldn't resist it.
littlefoot10's review
3.0
I'd give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars! Was still paced well and definitely the ending was very good.. the middle could have maybe been cut shorter to allow more action at the end of the novel. The last 4 chapters is where this book really gets interesting -- with possession, bones (and what that means to the characters and a monster?), the spirit world and what the truths are... more of that would have made this book a 5 out of 5. I really enjoyed this series and it sets you up nicely to jump into Mary Shelley's Frankenstein novel! The one thing that I really found perplexing was the fact that the first novel uses Canadian spellings for words... and then this novel it doesn't!
perfectlymisaligned's review
3.0
I was a HUGE fan of the first book of The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein series, [b:This Dark Endeavor|9779094|This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, #1)|Kenneth Oppel|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1339610786s/9779094.jpg|14668834]. That book was chock full of genuinely creepy surprises, and I loved the whole Gothic, claustrophobic feel of the story.
Unfortunately, this book seems to suffer from "2nd Book Syndrome". Which is what I call the annoying trend of sequels never living up to the awesomeness of the first book in a series. I have been running into this quite a bit lately, and it's more than a little depressing.
While the overall story was enjoyable, there were several times that I did find myself rolling my eyes while reading about the adventures of Victor, Henry and Elizabeth. While the first book did have it's intense moments, I feel like Such Wicked Intent went more for the gross-out factor, then for the much more satisfying uber-creepiness that was found in TDE.
Victor was a cocky SOB from the beginning, but his un-likability level went up a bit in this book, and I found it hard to root for someone so hell-bent on self-destruction.
But, even though i did have several issues with the book...this series is still quite entertaining, and one that I hope the author decides to continue.
My YT Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/Bookgasmic
My blog: http://ravingbookaddict.blogspot.com/
Unfortunately, this book seems to suffer from "2nd Book Syndrome". Which is what I call the annoying trend of sequels never living up to the awesomeness of the first book in a series. I have been running into this quite a bit lately, and it's more than a little depressing.
While the overall story was enjoyable, there were several times that I did find myself rolling my eyes while reading about the adventures of Victor, Henry and Elizabeth. While the first book did have it's intense moments, I feel like Such Wicked Intent went more for the gross-out factor, then for the much more satisfying uber-creepiness that was found in TDE.
Victor was a cocky SOB from the beginning, but his un-likability level went up a bit in this book, and I found it hard to root for someone so hell-bent on self-destruction.
But, even though i did have several issues with the book...this series is still quite entertaining, and one that I hope the author decides to continue.
My YT Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/Bookgasmic
My blog: http://ravingbookaddict.blogspot.com/
aheartenflamed's review
5.0
I devoured this book in two days. From the first word to the last, I was engulfed in the continued story of Victor Frankenstein and his friends. It soared above and beyond that of the first book, [b:This Dark Endeavor|9779094|This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, #1)|Kenneth Oppel|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339610786s/9779094.jpg|14668834], with a faster paced, dark and twisted plot line that brings the reader into that of the Spirit realm.
In this book we pick up right where we left off, with Victor after the loss of his twin brother, Konrad. Grief stricken and consumed with guilt over his brothers death, Victor and his father burn all of the books from the Dark Library in an effort to rid Chateau Frankenstein from any more empty promises and allure that the study of Alchemy brings. After setting the books ablaze, the next morning Victor goes outside into the courtyard to take one last look at the charred remains. It is then that he notices a book completely unburned.
Victor, being Victor and unable to withstand temptation, slips the book into his pocket. He examines it in the privacy of his own bed chamber and is tempted again by what he finds inside. Instructions to build a Spirit Board and it's promise of allowing its user to converse with the dead. From here the story takes off.
We're brought into the spirit world, uncover more mysteries hidden under the chateau and experience Victors power hungry personality soar to a whole new twisted level. It was a breathtaking ride that kept me hanging onto every word until the very end. New and old characters come together in this novel to bring the reader on a twisted ride between the living and the dead in an attempt to play God resulting in dire consequences. Victor, Henry and Elizabeth each grow (for better and for worse) in this tale and I can only hope that we get to see Victors full transformation into that of Dr. Frankenstein in a third novel.
The final lines of the story sent a chill of excitement down my spine, leaving Oppel both room to begin another story or end the series here (and force you to go read Mary Shelley's [b:Frankenstein|18490|Frankenstein|Mary Shelley|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1381512375s/18490.jpg|4836639] if you haven't already!) :
CHILLS!
In this book we pick up right where we left off, with Victor after the loss of his twin brother, Konrad. Grief stricken and consumed with guilt over his brothers death, Victor and his father burn all of the books from the Dark Library in an effort to rid Chateau Frankenstein from any more empty promises and allure that the study of Alchemy brings. After setting the books ablaze, the next morning Victor goes outside into the courtyard to take one last look at the charred remains. It is then that he notices a book completely unburned.
How could a book not burn?
I swallowed against the heavy thump of my heart. Some birds trilled as they flew overhead. The courtyard was still empty, but it wouldn't be long before the servants came to start removing the debris. I seized a shovel, stepped into the ash, and carefully slipped the blade under the red object. I lifted it out and deposited it on the cobblestone. Kneeling, I saw its cover, wonderfully decorated with scrollwork but bearing no title or name. A book that would not burn.
Walk away.
Victor, being Victor and unable to withstand temptation, slips the book into his pocket. He examines it in the privacy of his own bed chamber and is tempted again by what he finds inside. Instructions to build a Spirit Board and it's promise of allowing its user to converse with the dead. From here the story takes off.
We're brought into the spirit world, uncover more mysteries hidden under the chateau and experience Victors power hungry personality soar to a whole new twisted level. It was a breathtaking ride that kept me hanging onto every word until the very end. New and old characters come together in this novel to bring the reader on a twisted ride between the living and the dead in an attempt to play God resulting in dire consequences. Victor, Henry and Elizabeth each grow (for better and for worse) in this tale and I can only hope that we get to see Victors full transformation into that of Dr. Frankenstein in a third novel.
The final lines of the story sent a chill of excitement down my spine, leaving Oppel both room to begin another story or end the series here (and force you to go read Mary Shelley's [b:Frankenstein|18490|Frankenstein|Mary Shelley|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1381512375s/18490.jpg|4836639] if you haven't already!) :
Spoiler
"You should come in now," Father said, joining us on the balcony. "You'll be soaked in a minute."
"That lightning," I ask him, "what form of matter is it?"
"Electricity," he said. "A discharge of energy between oppositely charged particles. It's a relatively new science, a potent and promising one."
A great fork suddenly impaled the lake. From the sky came a deafening crack, like someone taking a chisel to the very heavens. There was another flash, and about fifty yards along our shoreline a massive oak erupted into a stream of blinding fire. When the light vanished, the tree was nothing more than a blasted stump.
"Come inside, Victor," Elizabeth said from the doorway, and held out her hand to me. But I hesitated.
"Yes," I said, "in just a moment." And I turned back to the storm and thought: Such astonishing power.
CHILLS!
atomicwizard's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
lsoccer12's review
4.0
I really liked this book. Delightful character development and an original plot; can't expect any less from Kenneth Oppel. Cannot wait for the next book!