The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein

Title:  The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein

Author:  Kiersten White

Publisher:  Delacorte Press

Date Published:  September 25, 2018

Genre:  Young Adult, Horror

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My Thoughts:

-    4.5 stars

-    As a child, Elizabeth was abused and neglected. A lady offers to free her from her situation if she can be a good companion for her son. Victor is an odd boy who can become dangerous if his temper isn't kept in check. Elizabeth decides that she can become whatever Victor needs to calm his moods. Over the years, Elizabeth settles into her role as Victor's "cousin" and constant companion, until he goes to school and no one hears from him for a while. Elizabeth is scared the Frankensteins will kick her out if she doesn't prove her usefulness, so she travels to London in search of Victor. 

-    I read this back in October as one of my spooky reads, and I can't stop thinking about it. To me, it was almost a perfect book. 

-    Kiersten's retelling is hauntingly tragic and really captures the mood of the original story. Knowing what is happening behind the scenes does not detract from the story, in fact, it makes Elizabeth's story even more compelling. 

-    I loved the theme of not letting people around us define our value. I loved the author's note at the end, and why she wrote this book. It was a wonderful tribute to Mary Shelley. 

-    I have mixed feelings about a couple things at the end of the story, but overall I loved it. 

My Thoughts in a GIF:

Kiersten White

Jenni, Brittany, and I went to see Kiersten White at The King's English last week. She was promoting Now I Rise, the second book in her Conqueror's Saga.

Funny and witty as ever, Kiersten covered a myriad of topics.

She talked about her research and trip to Romania. She also delved into historical customs and how they would appear to us today.

She was excited to tell us about her upcoming Buffy book, Slayer. She said she has been auditioning for the job since Paranormalcy, and she was excited to create her own Slayer.

She talked about comic con and how she got engaged to Dan Stevens.

She talked a lot about writing and how she has WAY too many projects right now, and it is rough. She talked about her writing process, and balancing family life.

She covered a lot of other stuff, but this is what I remember.

Jenni is the only one who bought a book and got it signed. All of my Kiersten books are already signed, and I'm trying to be better about buying books I haven't read yet.

We stopped at Olive Garden for dinner on the way home, and it was awesome!

It was a very fun evening, and I'm glad I have a great bookish community and great bookish friends.

In the Shadows

Goodreads Synopsis:    From the remarkable imagination of acclaimed artist Jim Di Bartolo and the exquisite pen of bestselling author Kiersten White comes a spellbinding story of love, mystery, and dark conspiracy, told in an alternating narrative of words and pictures. 

Cora and Minnie are sisters living in a small, stifling town where strange and mysterious things occur. Their mother runs the local boarding house. Their father is gone. The woman up the hill may or may not be a witch. 

Thomas and Charles are brothers who’ve been exiled to the boarding house so Thomas can tame his ways and Charles can fight an illness that is killing him with increasing speed. Their family history is one of sorrow and guilt. They think they can escape from it . . . but they can’t.

My Thoughts:

-    I bought this on a whim, and I'm glad I did. I was at a Kiersten White event for a different book, but when I flipped through this and saw the pictures, I knew I had to buy it!

-    The illustrations are stunningly beautiful but also very eerie. It is awesome but disturbing at times.

-    The pictures and the text work together so well to create a very atmospheric and haunting tale.

-    I really enjoyed the story that the illustrations told, and I kept trying to figure out how it tied in with the written story. All things were revealed at the end, and I felt like I had to go back and read this again. I didn't, but I definitely want to reread this again.

-    The written story was intriguing and mysterious. I liked the characters, but I think there were too many of them. It didn't bug me, but I just thought they all weren't needed.

-    This whole book is an amazing and unique work of art! I wish there were more books out there like this! 

Illusions of Fate

Goodreads Says:    “I did my best to keep you from crossing paths with this world. And I shall do my best to protect you now that you have.”

Jessamin has been an outcast since she moved from her island home of Melei to the dreary country of Albion. Everything changes when she meets Finn, a gorgeous, enigmatic young lord who introduces her to the secret world of Albion’s nobility, a world that has everything Jessamin doesn’t—power, money, status…and magic. But Finn has secrets of his own, dangerous secrets that the vicious Lord Downpike will do anything to possess. Unless Jessamin, armed only with her wits and her determination, can stop him.

My Thoughts:

-    It was good, not as good as I wanted it be, but good.

-    I liked and didn't like Jessamin. I wanted to like her, but something about her made me not like her. "I can't put my foot on it right now."

-    There was a lot of Howl's Moving Castle elements in this book. It kinda had the same feel as well, but not as amazing. I want to call it a rip off, but it really isn't. 

-    I feel really wishy washy about this book.

-    I'm not exactly sure what happened in the end. I liked the little twist though.

-    I love the cover! I think it is perfect for this book.

-    This is probably the best Kiersten White book I've read. Her writing seems different than the Paranormalcy trilogy. To me, her writing has grown and improved a lot. 

-    Would I recommend it everyone? I don't know, but I'm glad I read it, and I'd probably read it again.

Kiersten White and Ally Condie

There are so many author events going on!!!

Kiersten White at Teen Book Fest

Kiersten had a fun presentation. She talked about how we don't live in a book, and we aren't the chosen one, but it's okay.

Kiersten never got a letter from Hogwarts

She never developed cool mutant powers and joined the X-men. 

She never got to choose a faction and be divergent (and date Theo James).

It was a fun speech. Since we don't live in a book and aren't the chosen ones, our choices won't destroy the world, we won't have a crappy 2nd book, and we aren't in peril. She also talked about choosing ourselves and becoming whoever we want to be.

Kiersten signing my book. I'm so excited to read this one!

Ally Condie's Launch Party

Ally talked about her new book, Atlantia.

It is a Little Mermaid retelling in a Dystopian world. I'm really excited to read it!

Here is me and Jenni talking to Courtney.

Suey and me and our books!

Jenni won an extra copy of Atlantia, and she gave it to me!!! SO AWESOME! Jenni is the best! (And not because she gave me a book)

The three musketeers!

These two have become my besties! Love these ladies!

Ally signing her book!

Upcoming Events:

Shallee McArthur's Launch Party

Orem Library @ 6:30

Nov 4

Jessica Day George

Provo Library @ 7

Nov 13

Mind Games

Goodreads Bit:    Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future. 

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

My Thoughts:

-    This was a very different book for Kiersten White. I never would have thought she had something like this in her. I was impressed that she was able to shift gears and write something different.

-    I didn't feel like this was a whole book. I felt like this was the middle of a story. It needs a prequel and a sequel. There is a lot of story missing.

-    I couldn't figure out Fia. One minute she is a panicky mess and the next she is calm, in control, and knows exactly what to do.

-    I felt like Fia and Annie made up one person. They didn't seem like two different girls, but more like 2 halves.

-    We really didn't get to meet the "villian", and that bugged me. 

-    I had to make sure I read the chapter titles and descriptions, or I was really confused on who's perspective I was reading and what time frame.

-    I liked how the story jumped from the present to the past, but at the same time, it was kinda confusing, and I didn't like it.

-    I didn't like James at all. I thought his relationship with Fia was inappropriate.

-    To sum it all up, I was kinda confused, kinda weirded out, and I wanted more details/story. 

Endlessly

From Goodreads:    Evie's paranormal past keeps coming back to haunt her. A new director at the International Paranormal Containment Agency wants to drag her back to headquarters. The Dark Faerie Queen is torturing humans in her poisonous realm. And supernatural creatures keep insisting that Evie is the only one who can save them from a mysterious, perilous fate.

The clock is ticking on the entire paranormal world. And its fate rests solely in Evie's hands.

So much for normal.

My Thoughts:

-    I like the color use on the cover!  The purple is pretty.

-    Disaster strikes in the first 100 pages!  The book really takes off in the beginning, and it never really slows down!  It is great!

-    I liked this one WAY better than the second.  There was more going on.  It was a great wrap up to the trilogy.

-    Evie's Christmas present to Lend was lame!  I would like to know what Lend got Evie.  He still owes her.

-    Lend and Evie's relationship was better in this book.  I got a little upset with them in the second book, but it all came together.  It got a little mushy, but most of it was fun to read.

-    This was filled with humor!  I laughed at so many things.  I loved Vivian's character.  She cracked me up.  I especially loved how she made fun of Lend and Evie at the end!  

-    I feel for Reth.  I feel bad for the guy.

-    I wish there had been an Epilogue or something.  It would have been nice to see if life went well for everyone, and if Evie's life was finally "normal". 

-    Overall, this was a fun and humorous read!  It was a great ending to a fun trilogy.  I look forward to more books from this author! 

Supernaturally

Goodreads Synoppsis:    Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be...kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

My Thoughts:

-    I can relate to Evie's rebellious side.  When someone pushes me in one direction, I want to do the exact opposite!

-    How the heck to you pronounce Grnlllll?  What kind of name is that?

-    Evie makes all sorts of bad decisions in this one!  Seems like a theme in second books.  

-    The unicorn bit made me laugh!  I loved it!

-    I also loved the part where they mock Twilight!  SO HILARIOUS!!

-    Evie is a tad too dramatic in this one.  Everything is just TOO MUCH!!  wah!  I'm glad she gets a kick in the butt and comes to her senses in the end.

-    We get to see a new character in this one.  Jack was annoying yet funny.  I couldn't decide if I hated him or liked him.  I think I know now though ;)

-    I feel like Reth is really misunderstood.  I kinda like the guy.

-    I really liked that we got to know more about Evie and where she came from and what she is. 

-    This one wasn't as good as the first.  Paranormalcy was so funny and a great read, but this one was lacking in the story area.  I wish there had been more evil plotting, and less worrying about relationships and making dumb decisions.  

Paranormalcy

Goodreads Bit:    Evie's always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours.

But Evie's about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

My Thoughts:

-    The book is filled with humor.  I love Evie's descriptions of the paranormals.  It cracked me up every time!  The Little Mermaid thing was really funny.  I completely agree, and I think I might have to dedicate a blog to Ariel one day.  I also like the sigh interpretations, such a teenage girl thing.  

-    Evie was a very believable teenage girl.  I really liked her (except for the pink).  She was a fun character.  I felt like was reading a tv sitcom, like Sabrina the Teenage Witch or something. 

-    Reth reminded me of Arial from Eyes Like Stars.  I like Arial much better though. 

-    The book is a very clean read.  I was really impressed and happy about that.  I loved how the characters said "bleep" in place of curse words, so funny!

-    This is a very refreshing take on the paranormal genre.  I liked it.  

-    It was like Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Hellboy meets Eyes Like Stars meets Gallagher Girls.  

-    The romance got a little mushy for me, and I kinda felt like "oh brother."  

-    The ending was good, and there wasn't a cliffhanger.  There are still things left undone, but I got some closure.

-    There were a few bits that were annoying, but overall it was a good/light/fun read.