This book delves into the background of the character known as Doctor Frankenstein. He was a pretty scary child, and in a time when very little mental help was available, his parents took in the street urchin Elizabeth Lavenzia, in the hope that she would be his friend, and help him grow into a man his father would we proud of and love. Elizabeth, is a girl who was told she was once nobel, but doesn’t really believe it because all she remembers is life with her keepers mean and pinching children. She knows if she can not be what the Marqueese and her family need, she will be on the street with no food, water, or place to sleep. It’s a challenging proposition for a young child to take on. But she does an admirable job. And 10 years later Victor is missing, Elizabeth is in his home with his younger brothers, the Nanny Justine, and a father figure that means nothing to her, except the possibility of being homeless.

In her time at the Frankenstein household, Elizabeth has learned to be the soothing presence that Victor not only needs but wants. How ever it is always in the back of her mind, that if she is not useful they will get rid of her. She was raised as a wealthy companion, not as a made, not as a nanny, but not as a lady propper either. If she can not settle things, and become a permanent Frankenstein, she may once again go back to an uncomfortable life. You see, Victor is missing. He has not written in years!. She sent their best friend Henry to find him and make him write, but all she got was a letter from Henry saying basicly Victor sucks and hes going on an adventure. So she does the only thing she can think of, she convinces Justine to help her find victor and henry and drag them back home for marriage. The adventure continues from there.

This dark adventure is LONG!!!! It just drones on, and on, and on. It’s a character study, and I don't like any of the the characters. Justine and Henry serve as the “normal” or “well adjusted” characters who can laugh and play, and find fun and happiness anywhere. Elizabeth is a user. She knows she's a user. She will do anything to keep Victor, but she does it for comfort, not for love. I give her credit for being adventurous, and willing to do what she needs to do, but she is also an airhead, ignoring things that she knows are wrong, because she doesn’t want to upset the status quo.

Victor is an abuser. He is possessive and dominating. He is a characterture of a man with toxic masculinity. He must be the protector and the provider. He must keep things from his little woman. He must save humanity so that he is never parted from his possession, that is exactly how he sees Elizabeth. A possession. Or a puppet to do his bidding.
This story is at once a Florence Nightingale syndrome where the patient can not be without his nurse, and also Stockholm syndrome where the captive, is drawn to stay with a protect her captor. And in this case the captor is not just Victor, but also his father.

I said this book was long, and it certainly felt that way. Except for the ending. I saw the main twists coming miles away. But everything wrapped up so quick. I can't say why without giving away the ending, but it was just knock knock, whos there, end. Ughhhhh. You made me read all that character development for that!!! Yeah, to me the ending was not worth the travel to get there.

The idea of the story, overall I like. The original Frankenstein tale celebrates its 200th birthday this year, and the author wanted to look at things from a woman’s point of view. How would the story change if the original book had a strong female character. However, to this reader, the strong female character is NOT Elizabeth. It’s not the lady who hid from the truth, and acted as a possession, but rather the supporting characters in Justine, and Mary. Mary is the main strength in this book. That is the strong woman, not Elizabeth. Adam is a strong character, and the type of man this world needs more of, instead of men like Victor. Want to know who these characters are? Read the book.