The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein
Written by: Kiersten White
Ember
2019
A dark and delicious fantasy, The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein is a “retelling” Mary Shelley would applaud.
The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein is a unique new take on the tale of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein that made Elizabeth the star and highlights the madness that swallows Victor.
Storytelling
I love the way White made Elizabeth the star of the novel. Any person who has ever read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein knows Elizabeth as the love interest of Victor Frankenstein, who is killed by the monster.
But White has decided to make Elizabeth the star of the story and focus on highlighting what we all know: that Victor is the real monster of the story.
I love how the story plays out; Elizabeth attaches her life and value to that of Victor. She went from a cold and cruel life to one of luxury and full meals. But it came with a cost. By making herself indispensable to the Frankenstein family as the only one who understands Victor, she has tied herself to him without thought. And Victor has decided he can’t live without her, leading to his experiments and madness.
The way the plot unfolds is incredible, slowly creeping on the reader developing that madness in a way that catches the reader off guard. Of course, the novel does not unfold similarly; it takes on its own life. And that is what makes it so incredible. The pacing is incredible, and the way it builds up the tension and plot to create this eerie and gothic tale.
Amazing Characters
Once again, I love how White made Elizabeth the novel’s star. Elizabeth is a thoughtful and careful character. Her voice rings throughout the novel and resonates with the reader. She captures the period wonderfully, the way women are regarded as of little value.
But Elizabeth is clever and brilliant in how she outsmarts Victor, the supposed genius and monster of the story.
I also must note the way White created the “monster” and the gentle voice she gave him. It was done brilliantly and captures the idea of Shelley’s original piece. It works in this retelling and honors the original piece.
The added character Mary was just another brilliant addition. White gave Mary Shelley a part in her own work of art. Mary sounds like I imagine the real Mary Shelley would sound. A brilliant woman who works as a bookseller and helps Elizabeth outsmart Victor repeatedly was a fantastic element of the story that further held my attention.
Final Thoughts
The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein is such a fantastic retelling. It makes Elizabeth more than a side character, turning her into a star, all while honoring the original classic.
A Mary Shelley Approved Retelling | The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein Review
A dark and delicious fantasy, The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein is a “retelling” Mary Shelley would applaud.
Cynthia Ayala
Cynthia Ayala-Bujnicki majored in Writing and Publishing from Emerson College. Editor-in-chief of Cyn's Workshop, she loves to read and write while tending to her pepper plants. She currently lives in South Florida with her husband, two kids Dante and Selene and two furbabies Mr. J the Kitten who Thinks He's Batman (yes, that is his full name) and Nyx.
