Horn Book Review
What if Victor Frankensteins beloved Elizabeth were not the angelic, guileless helpmate of Mary Shelleys Frankenstein but a master manipulator, her every move calculated to maintain her precarious position in the (here dysfunctional) Frankenstein household? What if Victor were not the benign inventor who came to regret the creation of his monster but instead a dangerous psychopath? In Whites novel, Victor considers Elizabeth his property, and his obsession with the re-animation of body parts is in service to his ultimate goal of keeping Elizabeth and himself alive forever. And what if Victors creation were no bitter monster bent on revenge but a kind and gentle being? (Or beingsthe monsters identity is one of this novels most brilliant conceits.) With Elizabeth as narrator and true protagonist, this electrifying re-visioning (re-animation?) of the classic horror tale explores themes such as power and powerlessness, freedom and captivity, feminism, friendship, and the nature of self. White here somehow reinvents Shelleys story into something wholly new and original but alsoeven with all the role reversals and identity twistssticks closely to Shelleys plot. She even manages a redemptive endingthough this time it is for Elizabeth, not Victor. The prose is crisp and clean but with a definite Gothic flavor, recalling but not mimicking Shelleys style. This novel indeed descends to dark and hellish depths, but captivated readers will avidly plumb them in the company of the complicated and compelling Elizabeth Frankenstein. martha v. parravano January/February 2019 p 107(c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
White's (Bright We Burn, 2018, etc.) timely retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is told from the point of view of 17-year-old Elizabeth Lavenza, ward of the Frankensteins and caretaker of Victor Frankenstein.Elizabeth's childhood was full of loss and despair. In the Frankenstein home she was cared for as long as she socialized Victor and kept him calm, but he has gone off to study and fallen out of contact. Without him, she feels her future is uncertain, as he was the reason for her existence in his family's home. Fearing that she will be once again destitute, Elizabeth convinces her friend Justine to travel with her to find Victor and bring him back. What Elizabeth finds rocks her to her core, and, fearing for Victor's safety and future, she does all she can to protect him. But what if the monster she truly fears is not the misshapen monstrosity of Victor's creation but something with a more human form? White creates an exciting tale with strong, witty, and certainly flawed, white female protagonists. Readers will ponder whether monsters are beings that are outwardly frightening or if it is one's soul, or lack thereof, that makes one a true monster. Those familiar with the original story will enjoy the references to it scattered throughout. An all-around win for readers who enjoy (not too scary) horror, thrilling tales, and contemplating the deeper meaning of life. (Fiction. 15-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
