Review: Such Wicked Intent by Kenneth Oppel

* This review may contain spoilers for the previous book, This Dark Endeavor. *

Such Wicked Intent (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein #2)
By Kenneth Oppel
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

To Sum It Up: Victor has failed and now Konrad is dead. In a fit of frustration and grief, Victor and his father burn all of the books from the Dark Library and begin to seal up the entrance. Victor spares a single book from the fire, which claims to hold the secret of bringing the dead back to life. Victor sees his second chance and vows that he will not fail his brother again. Soon enough, Victor, Elizabeth, and Henry are on a quest to save Konrad a second time. But, this adventure is far more dangerous than the last, and the stakes are much higher.

Review: I have to say, I think I liked Such Wicked Intent better than This Dark Endeavor. I found the story line to be more gripping and original. The spirit world of the Frankenstein mansion was terrifying and new. The plot is what really made both of these books. I find it hard to communicate how awesome it was, so instead, I'll just keep saying that it was awesome. I also felt like it was a seamless continuation of the first book. The sequel wasn't just an afterthought to continue on with the characters; it was the continuation of a fantastic story.

I did continue to have trouble connecting with Victor, which made me a little sad because it's supposed to be easier to love characters when you keep reading about them, but it was only more difficult. I also really came to dislike Elizabeth. I was upset because I kind of liked her in the previous book. I thought a lot of her actions were very uncharacteristic of the person she was in the first book. Then again, the more I think about it, the more I question whether or not I know who she was/is. She flip-flops all the time, and it’s weird and frustrating. I did continue to like Henry and Konrad.

Once again I was frustrated with the ending. I felt like it wasn't good enough for the end of such a magnificent adventure. However, I can begrudgingly understand how it may be fitting when you take a step back and reevaluate things.

All in All: Although I did enjoy this book more than the first, I felt like it shared the same exact problems. The plot line was sooooo good, but these issues kept it from being half as great as it could have been. It was a very enjoyable read despite my criticism.

Review: This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein #1)
By Kenneth Oppel
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

To Sum It Up: Twins Victor and Konrad Frankenstein live in the magnificent Frankenstein mansion along with their ultra liberal parents, their two younger brothers, and their distant cousin, Elizabeth. The Frankenstein manor is filled with hidden passages and rooms. Konrad, Victor, Elizabeth, and their best friend, Henry, have found many of its secrets but not all of them. One day, the four adventurers stumble upon a secret library within their own library. The Dark Library is filled with books on magic and alchemy. Victor and Konrad's father finds out and forbids them from returning to the Dark Library, claiming it is all foolishness, but when Konrad falls ill and the doctors cannot help, Victor, Elizabeth, and Henry turn to the Dark Library in order to save Konrad's life.

Review: First off, the Frankenstein mansion is amazing (I want to live there!). Secrets galore! Now to business. The book had a very dark feel to it, and that was something that really appealed to me. My favorite part of the book was, hands down, the story line. The plot was inventive and creative, and that is something I value heavily in a book. And yes, I say it alllll the time, but it’s only because it is absolutely true! There was so much intricate complexity, the book felt like an antique desk with hundreds of secret compartments. It was easy to see how much forethought went into the story. That being said, the story wasn't at all confusing. That also being said, it wasn't at all boring.

I wasn't crazy about the characters. I found that I could not connect with them because I felt some of them lacked a lot personality-wise. I did not hate them, and I felt like they had the potential to be lovable characters. Victor for instance was not a perfect guy, but he did love his brother. I felt like I could have understood Victor a lot better if he hadn't seemed to completely forget about his brother every other chapter. I mean, the things he went through for his brother really were admirable, but it seemed like he was only fully devoted to his brother at irregular intervals. I could identify with the sibling rivalry, but sometimes it felt like he was talking about an acquaintance and not his brother, Konrad. I also felt Elizabeth was rather irregular. At times she was very likable, kind of a tomboy, and very determined. Other times she was practically a completely different character! The inconsistency of these characters is what kept me from becoming attached to them. Konrad and Henry were far more likable, but they were only minor characters.

The end was disappointing to say the least. It vaguely reminded me of how absolutely enraged I was with the ending of The Alchemist. (Note to self: write rant about The Alchemist.) All I can say is, it fit, but it didn't. I have very mixed feelings about it. I wish I could dive into a whole analysis of it, but that would give away everything. So I'll shut up for now, and if I feel especially motivated about it, I may write a rant.

All in All: This was a very clever book. The biggest issue was that the characters were only so-so. Otherwise, I really enjoyed it.