le book review number fifty-eight ~ this dark endeavor

title: this dark endeavor
author: kenneth oppel
series/standalone: series (book #1 in The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein series)
personal star rating: 5/5 stars

from the inside cover:
The purest intentions can stir up the darkest obsessions

Sixteen-year-old Victor Frankenstein leads a charmed life. He and his twin brother, Konrad, and their beautiful cousin Elizabeth, take lessons at home and spend their spare time fencing and horseback rider. Along with their friend Henry, they have explored all the hidden passageways and secret rooms on the palatial Frankenstein chateau. Except on.
The Dark Library contains ancient tomes written in strange languages and filled with forbidden knowledge. Their father makes them promise never to visit the library, but when Konrad becomes deathly ill, Victor knows he must find the book that contains the recipe for the legendary Elixir of Life.
The elixir needs only three ingredients. But impossible odds, dangerous alchemy and a bitter love triangle threaten the 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.

thoughts on the cover:
This book was a gift so I'm not sure what prompted the initial buying. However, I'm a big fan of the cover design. The concept of the key is intriguing. I like it a lot. And the guy on the cover has wicked awesome hair that reminds me a lot of Andrew Garfield.

review:
I actually read the book about a couple weeks ago but I haven't written a review because I want to express my love of this book. However, I'm going to try and say something that will make it sound as good as it is. This novel is a prequel to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, but I don't think it matters if you've read that. I think you might want to know at least a little about it, but I haven't read the original of that book as of yet so I couldn't tell you if it was extremely relevant anyway. I did read an abridged version and a graphic novel at one point in my life so I do know the story. I digress. Anyway, the characters are great creations. The writing was phenomenal, the word choice and phrasing was impeccable and I quite loved how surprising and shocking everything was. This book was like nothing I've ever read and I am quite certain that if I read it again, I'd enjoy it.