Unnatural Creatures

 

Unnatural Creatures

Kris Waldherr

Publication date: October 4, 2022 by Muse Publications

Genre: Horror, Gothic, Historical 

Rating: 5 👢👢👢👢👢

Summary: For the first time, the untold story of the three women closest to Victor Frankenstein is brought to life in a dark and sweeping reimagining of Frankenstein by the author of The Lost History of Dreams. 

The Mother
Caroline Frankenstein will do anything to protect her family against the nightmarish revolutions engulfing 18th-century Europe. In doing so, she creates her own monster in the form of her scientist son, Victor, whose obsession with conquering death leads to forbidden realms. 

The Bride
Rescued by Caroline as a four-year-old beggar, angelic Elizabeth Lavenza understands the only way she can repay the Frankensteins is by accepting Victor’s hand in marriage. But when Elizabeth’s heart yearns for someone else, the lives of those she most loves collide with the unnatural creature born of Victor’s profane experiments.

The Servant
After an abusive childhood, otherworldly Justine Moreau is taken in by Caroline to serve the Frankensteins. Justine’s devotion to Caroline and Elizabeth knows no bounds … until a family tragedy changes her irrevocably. Her fate sets her against Victor’s monster, who is desperate for a mate—and desperate to wreak revenge against the Frankensteins.

Stunningly written and exquisitely atmospheric, Unnatural Creatures shocks new life into Mary Shelley’s beloved gothic classic by revealing the feminine side of the tale. You’ll never see Victor Frankenstein and his monster the same way again.

My thoughts: This book far exceeded every expectation I had going into it. From page one Waldherr pulls the reader in with a sinister undercurrent that carries throughout the entire book. The writing is immersive, electrifying, and intoxicating in its descriptive style. Having never read Frankenstein I had no preconceived notions as to how the characters could have been developed to support a female perspective of the story. In giving Caroline, Elizabeth, and Justine a voice Waldherr furthers the narrative of the Frankenstein lore. 

Waldherr doesn't usurp the original story but utilizes the core of that ground breaking work of literature to create a book that pays homage to the horror and gothic genre. A brilliant read and one that will make readers fall in love with both Frankenstein and Waldherr.

My thanks to Muse Publications and the author for an advanced copy of this title.