{Review} Dr. Frankenstein's Daugther by Suzanne Weyn

Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters
by Suzanne Weyn
Pages: 245
Release Date: January 1, 2013
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A new generation is creating a monster....
Giselle and Ingrid are the twin daughters of Doctor Victor Frankenstein, but they are very different people, and when they inherit his castle in the Orkney Islands, Giselle dreams of holding parties and inviting society -- but Ingrid is fascinated by her father's forbidden experiments.

*A copy was provided by Scholastic for review purposes*

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book like this one…and that is totally not a good thing.  I haven’t ever read a book where I couldn’t figure out why on earth it was even written, but I have now.  This book was POINTLESS!  There was absolutely no reason to write this book, because hello!  Books actually have a story line that goes somewhere.  This one, however, didn’t.  I really, really loved the idea and how it connected with the original Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (which I HAVE read *pats self on back*).  I also liked the writing style and how it was consistent with how people would have talked back then.  But after that, this book went downhill – fast.  First off, there was insta-love.  INSTA-LOVE, INSTA-LOVE, INSTA-LOVE GALORE!  Ugghhhh, it drove me nuts.  At first I didn’t really mind that the two characters in question (not gonna say who) liked each other, but when they professed their undying love for each other after only a bit, I was like “Hell no!”  And then, after that, there are a lot of pointless events like Ingrid and Giselle going to London, and then Giselle wanting to plan a party, and then there’s talk about the dad, and then the Creation, and then there are murders.  What really annoyed me was that I feel like Weyn wimped out on this story, was just like “Okay, I’m trying to finish this as fast as I can, so I’m just going to half-ass the ending”.  And I hate to say that because I appreciate authors and all they work they put into their books, but that’s really how I feel.  She completely drops the whole Creation part of the story, and then takes the easy way out choosing who the murderer is!  Those of you who have read this book know what I’m talking about and who the murderer is, and I really hope you agree with me.

Also, just wondering, but is there going to be a sequel to this book?  Because there are SO MANY loose ends and plot holes in this book and the ending.  Nothing was resolved, and it was all a pile of bologna, so is there going to be a follow-up?

This is usually the part in my review when I discuss the characters, but I’m not going to waste my time, because they have about as much personality as a block of wood.  So, instead, I’m going to talk a bit about the horrible staging and all the “lucky” things that happened in this book.

Here we go!  CAUTION: Spoilers!!!!!!

Okay, so this is at the end of the book when Giselle is remembering all the things that had to do with someone (the Creation????) trying to kidnap her and Ingrid.

#1: “The next time I saw him I was in a park in Edinburgh.  He grabbed me and knocked me down.  Lucky for me there was a rock nearby.  I pounded him in the head until he stopped struggling, and then I rolled him in a nearby river.”

~Page 243, uncorrected ARC edition

#2: “His piercing, hate-filled eyes gave him away.  He whispered evil things to me, and I knew as soon as he had the chance he would try to kill me.  When he sailed into a hidden bay where no one could see him strike, I knew it would be a fight to the death.  He capsized the boat and would soon kill me if I hadn’t acted boldly and wrapped the sailing line around his neck.”

~Page 243, uncorrected ARC edition

#3: “He asked me to join him in a pub but I knew what he really wanted – a chance to get me alone to murder me.  Luckily I spied rat poison in the kitchen and was able to slip inside to grab some.  While he tried to woo me with sweet words I slipped it into his ale, thereby making my escape.”

~page 244, uncorrected ARC edition

#4: “He made his way to Gairsay where he tried again as I walked home, only this time he was in a wagon and got out to kidnap me.  Fortunately I possessed a letter opener, which I used to fight him off.”

~Page 244, uncorrected ARC edition

#5: “The last time I saw him he was sitting up on a bed in a hospital or somewhere like it.  I’m not sure what it was.  Ingrid was there and he was attacking her this time.  I saved us both that day.”

~Page 244, uncorrected ARC edition

*Deep breath*.  Okay.  I’m just going to go through by number.

#1: No offense to women, but if there is a monsterish, super-strong something attacking you, I don’t think you’ll be able to fight him off, even if a rock is so conveniently right beside you.  And would that nearby river be, by any chance, THE THAMES!?

#2 & 3: Wow, so lucky that Giselle was so bold and smart and strangled him…even though he’s still stronger.  And how freaking lucky that POISON was just lying around, and Giselle was able to sneak into a kitchen, even though her “date” was probably escorting her.

#4: Oh, yes Giselle, I too carry around a letter opener wherever I go.  I didn’t know anyone else did that!  It’s really convenient! *rolls eyes*.

And finally, #5: How freaking lucky that Giselle is a freaking superwoman - and isn’t she humble too everyone? – and was SOMEHOW able to save herself and her twin.  Everyone bow down to Giselle!

To everyone who reads my reviews, I really don’t enjoy writing these negative reviews, and I totally don’t enjoy ripping an author’s hard work, but some books I just hate, and unfortunately this was one of them.  I also apologize for my swearing – I get worked up.  But please keep in mind that not everyone is the same, so even if I didn’t like this book, that doesn’t mean you won’t!

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