The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein – Kiersten White

Delacourte Press | Hardcover | Sept. 25, 2018

Dark. Delectable. This novel delivers.

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein follows Elizabeth Lavenza in her quest to ensure she will not fall victim to destitution. It is a novel that dives into the psychological and emotional impact maneuvering an objectifying society can have on young women.

Whether or not this was White's intention, she has created a sharp-witted, calculating character who is determined to win the chess game that is heavily stacked against her - at any cost. It is the reason Elizabeth deals in half-truths and has become no stranger to getting her skirts dirty - and it is certainly why we are so willing to follow her. By adding a character like Elizabeth to a twisted plot, White was able to create a fast-paced read that will haunt readers long after they've finished the last page.

While the novel as a whole is exciting, I would like to call special attention to Part II where White does a superb job of not only maintaining, but also escalating tension. Quite often, the middle of a novel can grow stagnant because the story relies too heavily on the conflict(s) introduced at the beginning of a novel. As a result the tension can begin to coast to glacial pace and, in turn, make the novel drag.

But although White certainly has a ton of conflict threads to feed off, from Part I of the novel, she continues to layer in new conflicts and challenges Elizabeth must deal with. Some of these conflicts readers may see coming, while others may completely blindside them. Either way, by incorporating new layers into the middle of the novel, White is able to keep readers on their toes and make them want to keep reading.