Book Review: This Dark Endeavor

There will most likely be a decent number of book reviews on this blog. Reading books is kinda my job and a lot of them will be YA and Juvenile books- because that is my department within the library. So here is the first of what I'm sure will be many.

I originally picked up This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel (author of Airborn) because it was nominated for our Cafe Book program. Cafe Book is a program where librarians go to local middle schools during lunch breaks and the members of the Cafe Book group meet in the library to eat their lunch and discuss the selected books. My new job includes doing the behind the scenes work for this program which means that I was able to read the books and take part in the discussions during the selection committee meetings. This Dark Endeavor is the last of these books that I read. Ok, I listened to the audiobook, but it still counts and it was amazing. I ended up sitting in the car once I pulled into the driveway because I wanted to find out what happened next. Even with one of the committee members kind of ruining the ending for me, I still HAD to finish listening to it because I needed to know HOW it got to that ending. This is definitely a story that succeeded in sucking me in, but I guess you want to know what the story is actually about...

This Dark Endeavor  is the first book in what I imagine will be a series about the apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein. That is correct, the Victor Frankenstein from Mary Shelly's famous novel. It tells the story of how Victor turned to the study of alchemy, and I'm sure eventually human bodies and medicine, but this particular story is mostly about alchemy. I don't really want to go into more detail because I"m afraid that I will get carried away and end up spoiling the story for you, as it is some of what I say next might turn you off to the story, but I beg of you, despite how it might read as I write about it, give this book a chance.

It is pretty rare for me to say that there is something for everyone in a young adult novel. If you like romances, there is romance. If you like action and suspense, there is certainly that too. If you like stories that have a touch of reality, this story has that as well, specifically in the relationship between Victor and his twin brother, Conrad and Victor's irritation with having to follow his parents rules when he thinks he knows best (like so many teenagers think they do). If you like elements of fantasy, this book has that. Like I said, there really is something for everyone in this story. However, be prepared to be frustrated at the ending, because it is a frustrating ending. If you absolutely, positively, CANNOT stand to read a book that doesn't end with happily-ever-after, you probably shouldn't read this book- but then again, I normally say I can't stand non-happy endings but I simply adored this book and am looking forward to any future additions to this series.

This book made it into the Cafe Book final selections for the 2012-2013 school year program and I can certainly see why. If you aren't a "reader", try the audio book. Heck, even if you think you might HATE this book, try it, you might be surprised.

~)O(~ Elfie~)O(~