"The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein" by Kiersten White

What would you do if you fighting for your right survive in a world that you had no part of being in the first place? What would you do if you had nothing left to lose...?

As you may have read in my Frankenstein review post, I was less than enthused when I got to know the character of Elizabeth Lavenza — or, rather, the emotional-support cardboard cutout that was Elizabeth Lavenza. She was the ultimate benchwarmer, the kind of woman who is selfless, beautiful, elegant, and loyal to a fault to those whom she loves and is expected to love. It was a touch sad and ironic, considering that the person who decided that the only woman in the supporting cast would sit on the sidelines of the main action and conflict was herself a woman. I didn't even feel that sad when (spoilers) she gets killed toward the end of the story: if anything, I felt like it was a mercy on her part and mine. On the one hand, her narrative treatment of her character was over, and on the other, I didn't have to read about her without cringing for the momentary death of feminism — which, also ironically, Shelley's own mother was one of the early champions for — every time she appeared or was mentioned by other characters.

However, one author sought to fix this small problem: exactly 200 years after the publication of Frankenstein, Kiersten White's novel, The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, hits the shelves. What does she add to the Frankenstein narrative? Is it on par with the original tale? Does she manage to reclaim Elizabeth's character? Let's find out!

What's the book about?

Elizabeth Lavenza hasn't had a proper meal in weeks. Her thin arms are covered with bruises from her "caregiver," and she is on the verge of being thrown into the streets . . . until she is brought to the home of Victor Frankenstein, an unsmiling, solitary boy who has everything--except a friend. Victor is her escape from misery. Elizabeth does everything she can to make herself indispensable--and it works. She is taken in by the Frankenstein family and rewarded with a warm bed, delicious food, and dresses of the finest silk. Soon she and Victor are inseparable. But her new life comes at a price. As the years pass, Elizabeth's survival depends on managing Victor's dangerous temper and entertaining his every whim, no matter how depraved. Behind her blue eyes and sweet smile lies the calculating heart of a girl determined to stay alive no matter the cost . . . as the world she knows is consumed by darkness.

(Summary from Goodreads)

When did I read this?

October 14 - 21

Positives:

+ Elizabeth has a personality now!

+ More importantly, she has agency and motivation for why she is the way she is.

+ She's stubborn

+ She's obsessive

+ She's resourceful

+ There isn't anything she wouldn't do for her beloved Victor, even if it means cleaning up his messes.

+ She's a survivor of multiple cases of abuse and a society that won't care for her if she makes her way on her own.

+ She's a girl who will do what she thinks is right, no matter the consequences!

+ The terror and horror in the book is top-notch!

+ The suspense that stitches together the narrative kept me on the edge of my seat for multiple parts of this story.

+ Frankenstein is a straight-up blood psychopath...

+ Cuts multiple people as a child, cuts open and dissects a deer while it's still alive, etc.

+ Kiersten's Author's Note at the end is very sweet and heartfelt. I would definitely recommend that you check it out afterwards. ❤️

+ You can see how much she loved and respected the original work, and it shows both in The Dark Descent and in her Author's Note.

+ She even mentions how Mary Shelley made Elizabeth a benchwarmer in her story while also kind of being a benchwarmer in her own life and in the literary world compared to her contemporaries like Percy Shelley and Lord Byron.

Negatives:

- The monster's appearances were sadly lacking. I get that Elizabeth and the monster didn't have that many interactions in the original text (aside from the ending), but I kind of missed having the monster be a bigger part of the story, while also understanding and appreciating the subjects that Kiersten decided to focus on instead.

- The shift between Elizabeth's original goals and her new priorities during the last act of the book seemed to come out of nowhere. I don't know if that's actually how quickly it happens in the story or if I somehow spaced out at the turning point. I don't mind the priority shift at all: it just seemed to come up all of a sudden with little-to-no build-up to the moment and motivations which caused the priority shift.

Reality Check:

Abusive relationships, women's roles in patriarchal societies, death

Content Warning:

Blood, physical/emotional abuse, cutting, bodies, dismembered limbs, live dissection

Is it a truly litassociative experience?

Reading The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein was like going on a thrilling rollercoaster ride. In the beginning, you're following Elizabeth in her eternal and initially-obnoxious quest to be with Victor; then, before you know it, you're sliding down this flesh-and-blood-soaked slide of cleaning up horrendous messes made by other people and then you just keep going faster and faster until — woah! is that some good old child abuse I'm seeing? Oh, wait, is that what's been going on this whole time? Wait, is that a corpse getting mutilated?! Oh God, not RAMPANT, DESTRUCTIVE, MOTIVATIONALLY-QUESTIONABLE MURDERS!!!

If you're looking for an engaging adaptation of a piece of classic literature, full of motivated, likable characters that you would prefer not be quietly taken into that good night by a monstrous crime-against-nature and a great balance of suspense, intrigue, and horror, then this story might be the one you'll want to check out next!

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein can be found at your local library and/or your nearest bookstore.

Final rating: