Review: Such Wicked Intent - Kenneth Oppel

Such Wicked Intent by Kenneth Oppel, published by David Fickling Books on 2nd August 2012

Goodreads synopsis:
When does obsession become madness? Tragedy has forced sixteen-year-old Victor Frankestein to swear off alchemy for ever. He burnd the Dark Library. He vows he will no longer covet Elizabeth, his brother’s betrothed. If only these things were not so tempting.

When Victor and Elizabeth discover a portal into the spirit world, they cannot resist. Together with their friend Henry, they venture into a place of infinite possibilities where power and passion reign. But as they search for the knowledgeto raise the dead, they unknowingly unlock a darkness from which they may never return.

Review:
*There may be spoilers from the previous book in the series.

I absolutely loved this book!  It's the sequel to 'This Dark Endeavour' and the series forms a prequel to Mary Shelley's classic novel 'Frankenstein'.  I adore gothic novels and this fits perfectly within this genre.  Gripping, thrilling and at times quite nerve-wracking, this was a fantastic read.

Bereft after the death of his twin brother Konrad, Victor vows to burn the Dark Library and leave his previous endeavours behind once and for all.  However, an unexpected discovery leads to him once more embarking on a new experiment to try and enter the spirit world and bring his brother back.  I don't want to give too much away about the plot, but Elizabeth and their friend Henry Clervall both become embroiled in Victor's quest and this may change their relationship for ever more. 

Victor's thirst for knowledge is unquenchable.  He has a scientific mind and is always pushing the boundaries of what is and isn't possible.  He generally has good intentions but his experiments don't always run smoothly and he does have a habit of drawing others into his plans.  He's always curious to see how things work which is an admirable character trait to have but it is this passion which causes a lot of problems for him and his friends.   

I read this book in one evening because the story was so gripping.  There are many elements to it which lead the reader one step closer to the events of 'Frankenstein' and these were fascinating to see unravel.  It had a truly explosive ending which had me on the edge of my seat and I'm now absolutely desperate to read the concluding part of the trilogy. 

Brilliant storytelling by Kenneth Oppel makes this a fitting tribute to a much loved classic.  I've heard that film rights to the series have been sold so I'm also looking forward to seeing it transferred to the big screen at some point in the future.