bookla's review against another edition
3.0
Particolare rivisitazione del Frankenstein di Mary Shelley, piena di misteri, intrighi e un po' di romance, con il protagonista che da creatore, diventa la creatura ed una protagonista femminile che combatte per la sua indipendenza.
Ucciso perché aveva scoperto dei segreti, Victor si risveglia con un braccio non suo e capisce di essere stato trasformato in un biomeccanico, una sorta di zombie che obbedisce a semplici comandi, esseri usati soprattutto come soldati in guerra, o come servi, privi della loro personalità, ma a differenza degli altri biomeccanici, lui ha conservato la capacità di pensare e, con un piccolo aiuto, lentamente riacquista capacità fisiche, intellettive, emozioni ed anche la memoria.
La protagonista femminile è una giovane donna che cerca di farsi largo in un mondo di uomini, dove molte cose le sono precluse in quanto donna, ma lei non si arrende, sa quello che vuole e fa di tutto per ottenerlo. Quando scopre le capacità di Victor decide di aiutarlo a tornare quello di prima e a scoprire cosa gli è successo.
Una bella lettura, che mescola elementi classici ad altri più moderni e con un mistero da svelare
Speriamo arrivi in Italia anche il secondo volume
Ucciso perché aveva scoperto dei segreti, Victor si risveglia con un braccio non suo e capisce di essere stato trasformato in un biomeccanico, una sorta di zombie che obbedisce a semplici comandi, esseri usati soprattutto come soldati in guerra, o come servi, privi della loro personalità, ma a differenza degli altri biomeccanici, lui ha conservato la capacità di pensare e, con un piccolo aiuto, lentamente riacquista capacità fisiche, intellettive, emozioni ed anche la memoria.
La protagonista femminile è una giovane donna che cerca di farsi largo in un mondo di uomini, dove molte cose le sono precluse in quanto donna, ma lei non si arrende, sa quello che vuole e fa di tutto per ottenerlo. Quando scopre le capacità di Victor decide di aiutarlo a tornare quello di prima e a scoprire cosa gli è successo.
Una bella lettura, che mescola elementi classici ad altri più moderni e con un mistero da svelare
Speriamo arrivi in Italia anche il secondo volume
cuddlesome's review against another edition
DNF at 20%, I'm so bummed out because this screamed that it would be my type of thing. Instead I'm just bored out of my wits. I'm a fifth of the way in and nothing has endeared me to any of the characters. Everything moves at a crawl. The attempts at feminist commentary are ham-fisted. I'm kind of aghast at how Henry Clerval is characterized and it's left me wanting to reread the OG book because I don't remember him being a caricature like this.
I would definitely recommend [b:The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein|38255342|The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein|Kiersten White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1518635930l/38255342._SX50_.jpg|58014825] over this if you want a feminist retelling of Frankenstein. It has its own issues, mostly the near-moustache-twirling nature of its antagonist, but it's a lot more exciting than this ho-hum mess.
I would definitely recommend [b:The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein|38255342|The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein|Kiersten White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1518635930l/38255342._SX50_.jpg|58014825] over this if you want a feminist retelling of Frankenstein. It has its own issues, mostly the near-moustache-twirling nature of its antagonist, but it's a lot more exciting than this ho-hum mess.
clesh01's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
storiedadventures's review against another edition
4.0
Full review on my blog, Storied Adventures
This was such a fun retelling of Frankenstein. It was historical fiction mixed with steampunk mixed with a retelling mixed with a bit of a romance. I thought Victor and Lizzie's romance was adorable and gave you the warm fuzzy's. I liked how strong of a character Lizzie was.
One of my favorite retellings so far!
This was such a fun retelling of Frankenstein. It was historical fiction mixed with steampunk mixed with a retelling mixed with a bit of a romance. I thought Victor and Lizzie's romance was adorable and gave you the warm fuzzy's. I liked how strong of a character Lizzie was.
One of my favorite retellings so far!
alistofsydneys's review against another edition
5.0
I was expecting to love this book and it totally lived up to my hype. I've been following this book since it was first announced and so happy I've read it and loved it!
usbsticky's review against another edition
4.0
Alternate time line kind of book where bio-mechanicals are a thing in Victorian England. Bio-Mechanicals are reanimated dead bodies used as low level servants and being developed as soldiers so people don't have to be killed in war.
A lot goes on in the beginning. We are introduced to Lizzie, a lone female and American medical student starting medical school in Victorian England. A medical school that also has a bio-medical department. It's a promising beginning but the strong start fizzles out as there are too many plot lines to follow: An American in England, a female student in a Victorian male dominated field, bio-mechanicals in general, the top rated but somehow isolated school, the story line of developing bio-mechanicals for war, Lizzie's background, etc.
Several interesting threads are abandoned: Lizzie's education, her two friends, her two antagonists, etc. I had also expected to read about how bio-mechanicals were developed. Instead the story focuses on Victor (who just happens to have the non-English name of Frankenstein) and Lizzie. Victor is the other story line. His story starts abruptly in the very beginning of the book and fills in as we read on. He is also the only bio-mechanical who retains (partly) his consciousness.
As we read on, we discover the rest of Victor's story and Lizzie's developing relationship with him. There's also a bit about Queen Victoria but I found that part a bit contrived and not really interesting. I liked the book because it was well written and easy to follow. I liked the background and the backdrop of the story and the relationship between the protagonists.
So overall this is a romance with a Frankensteinian backdrop. The book doesn't end meaningfully and I'm sure there will be a sequel (or more) as many questions are left unanswered.
I got this as a free ARC.
A lot goes on in the beginning. We are introduced to Lizzie, a lone female and American medical student starting medical school in Victorian England. A medical school that also has a bio-medical department. It's a promising beginning but the strong start fizzles out as there are too many plot lines to follow: An American in England, a female student in a Victorian male dominated field, bio-mechanicals in general, the top rated but somehow isolated school, the story line of developing bio-mechanicals for war, Lizzie's background, etc.
Several interesting threads are abandoned: Lizzie's education, her two friends, her two antagonists, etc. I had also expected to read about how bio-mechanicals were developed. Instead the story focuses on Victor (who just happens to have the non-English name of Frankenstein) and Lizzie. Victor is the other story line. His story starts abruptly in the very beginning of the book and fills in as we read on. He is also the only bio-mechanical who retains (partly) his consciousness.
As we read on, we discover the rest of Victor's story and Lizzie's developing relationship with him. There's also a bit about Queen Victoria but I found that part a bit contrived and not really interesting. I liked the book because it was well written and easy to follow. I liked the background and the backdrop of the story and the relationship between the protagonists.
So overall this is a romance with a Frankensteinian backdrop. The book doesn't end meaningfully and I'm sure there will be a sequel (or more) as many questions are left unanswered.
I got this as a free ARC.
maggietokudahall's review against another edition
5.0
far more swoony than I'd have guessed any Frankenstein retelling had a right to be
ashleighbeanxo's review
4.0
A fun interesting take on the Frankenstein story, Cadaver & Queen follows Elizabeth Lavanza, as she enrolls into Ingold Medical School to be the first female medical student. Shortly after arriving, she meets Victor Frankenstein, former top student at Ingold who died under mysterious circumstances month prior. Victor is now a Bio-Mechanical, part-human, part-machine, a secret the teachers at Ingold are keen to keep hidden.
Ingold has been conducting experiments on Bio-Mechanicals for some time now, in an effort to build an army for Queen Victoria. But their methods have been less than.. ethical. When Lizzie realises that Victor still retains his human consciousness and memories, the two decide to work together to unearth the secrets that their teachers are keeping, and also solve Victor's possible murder.
Going into this book, I didn't think I would like it. I hated Lizzie in the beginning, she came across as arrogant and every time she said 'my father..', I inwardly groaned. We get it Lizzie, your father was a famous genius, you don't need to keep reminding everyone! But as the story progressed, and her character developed, I really grew to love her and Victor.
A slight problem I had was the ending.
Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this book and looking forward to picking up the companion novel!
Ingold has been conducting experiments on Bio-Mechanicals for some time now, in an effort to build an army for Queen Victoria. But their methods have been less than.. ethical. When Lizzie realises that Victor still retains his human consciousness and memories, the two decide to work together to unearth the secrets that their teachers are keeping, and also solve Victor's possible murder.
Going into this book, I didn't think I would like it. I hated Lizzie in the beginning, she came across as arrogant and every time she said 'my father..', I inwardly groaned. We get it Lizzie, your father was a famous genius, you don't need to keep reminding everyone! But as the story progressed, and her character developed, I really grew to love her and Victor.
A slight problem I had was the ending.
Spoiler
It seemed like everything was too nicely wrapped up. So Jack's personality NEVER resurfaced in Victor?? Lizzie and Victor are quite happy to go back to school where VICTOR WAS MURDERED and the whole school is in on a conspiracy involving the Queen and her death and because one bad guy was killed, everything's a-okay??? Hmm.Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this book and looking forward to picking up the companion novel!
impalalove's review against another edition
2.0
Good and enthralling, but quite frustrating for my taste. I felt
In addition to the frustration,
Spoiler
rather unsatisfied with that ending, particularly with how the bio-mechanical were "revealed" and accepted. (I was hoping for a rather satisfactory plan full of revenge; such as put the mad scientist in jail for conducting experiments on people.)In addition to the frustration,