Love! Dark, eerie and packed with atmosphere, this was just my cup of tea. A must for anyone who loves the Gothic genre.

4 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Muse Publications for my ARC.

This was an easy 5 star read for me. It was gothic, romantic, emotional and haunting. You don’t need to know the story of Frankenstein to read this book. I loved the strength we get to see from Caroline, Elizabeth and Justine. It’s not just about Dr. Frankenstein and his monster, but those who impacted him. This book truly makes you feel like you have gone back in time, witnessing it all right with the characters. The ending of the book…chills. If you enjoy retellings, I would highly recommend this one.

I absolutely adored reading about the perspectives of the women in Victor Frankenstein's life. The book was well-written and struck a perfect balance between honoring Mary Shelley's novel and being its own thing. Fans of historical fiction and authors like Alma Katsu will enjoy Unnatural Creatures.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for a review.

Ultimately I had a really hard time with reading this one as it didn't hold my interest.

Unnatural Creatures is a book I received through Netgalley and tells the story of Frankenstein, but through the eyes of the women (Victor’s mother, Justine and Elizabeth). And I can’t find any more words to say about this book than that I loved it. The author takes a very few liberties, mainly involving things taking places ‘behind the scenes’, which then serve to enhance and explain certain events in the original. Waldherr has done a wonderful job of portraying these women true to original, but also making them wonderfully interesting and complicated. The writing is rich and authentic, with a modern readability and less of prudence. There are several content warnings for this book (including miscarriage, death of a child, abortion, domestic/child abuse, suicide), though nothing too unexpected when familiar with the original book and Shelley’s life. This was a fabulous read, a definite favourite. It made me want to reread Shelley’s book, and then come back to this one again already.

𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬, 𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤!

First of all, let’s talk about that gorgeous cover, loved it, but this book is also gorgeous on the inside; a fantastic retelling of one of my favorite gothic stories and beloved monster. It was everything I was expecting and more. I don’t want to spoil anything, just read it!

Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.

𝗨𝗻𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 by Kris Waldherr released October 4, 2022.

This is a reimagining of Frankenstein told in four parts. Three of the parts are told by the women who were closest to Victor Frankenstein: his mother, Caroline; his betrothed, Elizabeth; and a household servant, Justine. The fourth part of the book concludes the story and is titled “The Monster”.

Even though the book is broken down into the four parts, the story flows without feeling choppy.

I’m not sure I can express in writing how much I loved this book. It is atmospheric not just in the description of the Frankenstein household and it’s inhabitants but also about the political climate of the time period of 1790s in Geneva. That history completely fascinated me and I appreciated learning about that as I wove my way into this book.

These women and their stories are the centerpiece of this novel. Their love and devotion for each other keep the story moving forward. Through love, pain, heartache, death, and what at many times feels like a curse this book had me completely absorbed.

I want to give a quick plug to the monster. Victor’s son. Made from man with complicated emotions which emanates through the pages to the reader.

I’m already grinding my teeth at people calling this a ‘feminist retelling’ because Frankenstein was an amazingly feminist work that looked at the lot of women in its contemporary time and at how men are rarely held responsible or accountable for their actions, AND merely changing the POV does not make something feminist. But anyway, this was fine. Well written, engaging with likeable if off the peg and unchallenging characters. What the author did best was capture the gothic atmosphere of the original and breath some fresh life into it. Overall worth a read although I preferred Kiersten Whites ‘The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein’.

Maybe its because I recently re-read Frankenstein, but the characters in this felt slightly off. As a stand alone book it is really intriguing and engaging, but because I had Frankenstein fresh/on the back of my mind I couldn't help but feel somewhat disconnected from this reading experience.

When one considers classic horror, there are a few tales that leap to the forefront so rapidly as Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Written in 1818, the tale was originally spun at an 1816 summer gathering of literary giants along the shores of Lake Geneva as a campfire ghost tale, if you will. Many tributes have been paid to the original Frankenstein in print and film, yet here is a sparkling, standout gem of a companion novel written by Kris Waldherr that pays proper tribute to both the radical author and her disturbing tale, but with a twist. Unnatural Creatures spotlights the women of the Frankenstein story.

Opening Line
“This will be her third death since she became a monster.”
Loc. 83

Catalyst to Change and an Electrical Christmas
Set against the backdrop of late eighteenth century Geneva when revolution is rife, the Unnatural Creatures story opens with Caroline Frankenstein’s perspective.
Caroline was rescued from poverty by marrying her father’s friend, a man much older than herself. Alphonse holds an office in the Genevan government and some wealth which makes them part of the aristocracy and prey to those with revolutionary sentiments. Caroline is fearful even at their country manor where they have fled from Geneva to keep their family safe. Alphonse and Caroline Frankenstein share their home with of oldest son, Victor, and ward, Elizabeth Lavenza. Younger son, Ernest, is away getting treatment in the Alpine air for his weak lungs. Victor is intelligent and brooding, Elizabeth is bright and exquisite, and Caroline has motherly hopes to see them wed when they are older.
On a snowy day just before Christmas, Elizabeth discovers in the garden the abused grave digger’s daughter. Caroline tenderly cares for her needs and removes her from her abusive mother. Justine becomes Caroline’s loyal servant from day one.
“…Caroline heard the girl’s voice for the first time. Her voice was high-pitched, broad-voweled. Fated. “Madame, anything you need of me, I shall do for you. This I promise.” Loc 356
And, that Christmas season led by a soiree of their society acquaintances and a curious naturalist there to do a demonstration with electricity, Justine hurls her body in the path of an intruder bent on violence. Caroline repays this loyalty with a comfortable home and employment that include respect and education along with a mysterious request that Justine watch the household for her. It is good that she did because Justine discovers a dark, unnerving secret related to Victor.
“On the last page, he’d drawn a miniature man unlike anything she’d ever seen…Life created of man, not woman. An unnatural creature. Too upset to think clearly, Caroline immediately burned the journal.” Loc 1145

Scarlet Fever, Guilt and Grief, and the Secrets of Death… and Life?
Elizabeth Lavenza has become the lady of the house when Caroline succumbs to Scarlet Fever and fulfills the good lady’s wishes out of a sense of love, and guilt when Elizabeth becomes engaged to Victor. The engagement will be long as Victor is away at school in Ingolstadt, Germany and withdraws from family with long silences infrequently punctuated by terse, short missives. Alphonse grieves for Caroline and has brought Ernest home when they all learn that Ernest has some radical philosophical ideas that are in sympathy with the revolutionaries and he wants to be a soldier much to the consternation of his father. The revolutionaries have risen in Geneva so Alphonse reveals the secrets of Elizabeth’s past so that he might send her to the Italian Villa she inherited on the death of her birth parents. She takes young William, the child born not long before Caroline’s death, and they are escorted by hers and Victor’s childhood friend, Henry Clerval.

The Darkness or the Light
“Henry was like a poem. Victor was a storm.” Loc 1695
At the villa, life is golden with peace. Elizabeth is happy with the few servants, caring for young William, and spending her days conversing and walking with Henry. She comes to rely on him so much that she opens up and shares her darkest secret and learns his life-transforming one.
“After a moment, he replied. “You’re not as people believe, are you, Elizabeth Lavenza? You hide your sorrow behind your smile. You seek comfort by examining the shadows.” Loc 1704
She loves Victor as her nearest childhood companion, but with his emotional distance, this leaves room for the warmer, healthier love to spring up between her and Henry. She will need to decide what to do with this knowledge.
And, then there is the revelation of Victor’s secrets that are horrific and beyond her artistic imagination. What will come of that secret and the deadly danger it poses?
“Every so often, Elizabeth discovered Victor staring at her with an aspect bordering on pity. Whenever she caught him, he smiled, but it wasn’t his usual smile. It was the smile of someone with a secret they yearned to keep. A secret she feared to learn, especially now that she’d peeked inside that green journal.” Loc 4014

The Final Woman- Servant, Murderess, Monster
The final acts of the story have seen Justine’s adult life fill with little joy, but trials that prepare her for the climactic confrontation that is hers alone.
“Both created by Frankensteins. Monsters…”How certain you sound…” The monster’s voice turned caressing; this alarmed Justine more than his hands around her throat. “Tell me, what were you before the Frankensteins took you in?” Loc 5318

Natural Results
From the structure to the settings and cast of characters to the quotes and tone of the writing, I was satisfyingly, deeply emotionally vested and plunged into a companion novel that did not simply pay tribute to Frankenstein, but convinced me it could be missing parts to the story. I can offer no higher praise. I did not revisit the original tale which I last read years ago, and perhaps that would have enriched my reading experiences even more, but I found I could plunge into Unnatural Creatures just fine. I highly recommend it to those who love the Gothic and classic monster tales from a feminine perspective.

Waldherr’s Unnatural Creatures is not only a love letter to Shelley’s Frankenstein, it’s a story of bold women, devastating history, and impossible odds. Not to be missed if you want a deeper look at the women surrounding Viktor Frankenstein - his mother, wife, and servant- told in a way that will leave you forever changed.

Great spooky season reading, even better if you have already read Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, but good reading of you have not. Covers the back stories of the three women involved in the story.

Find what you love and let it kill you.
—attributed to Charles Bukowski
Bold and compelling with a remarkable drive to be heard, I didn’t want to put this down. This was a deep and rousing tale that was told to me with all the realism and truth I found of Mary Shelly’s novel. Heartbroken would be an understatement of this but definitely worth reading. I was there. I could smell and see everything in the brilliantly written story.
You can trust me when I say it was good. A perfect Halloween tale.
My thanks to the author, I loved it.
Thanks also to Muse Publication LLC via NetGalley.

A dark, Gothic imagining of the women in Frankenstein’s life. Each woman is given equal representation and the author does a great job of bringing them to life.

A gothic read that looks at the Frankenstein story through three women: his devoted mother, the orphan who feels obligated to marry him even though she loves someone else, and a servant rescued from an abusive family. Historical events are seamlessly blended in. There are strong connections to Shelly’s story and you’ll get the most out of this one if you’re familiar with the original.

This is a book filled with anxiety, generational trauma, and damaging secrets. At times gut wrenching and horrific. Even though a few plot points about the ending fell flat for me, I couldn’t put it down.

If books with happy characters and happy endings are your thing, this isn’t the one for you. This is a Gothic story to its core. There is a dash of romance and some lighter moments but for the most part, it’s just these characters suffering.

I really enjoyed all the characters but I especially liked Caroline, Victor’s mother, and Justine, the family servant. Elizabeth, Victor’s betrothed, was also a well written character but not always the most interesting. I found Caroline and Justine to have the most depth. However, the only reason I didn’t give this book five stars is because I was never able to form a strong connection with any of the characters. They’re well written but you only get to know them on a surface level; with a bit more depth added as the story goes on.

This book stands out because it explores the classic Frankenstein story from the feminine side of things. We see the events unfold from the eyes of Victor’s beloved mother, his perfect fiancée, and his unfortunate maid. All three women deal with the tragic events in their lives, often in silence and behind the scenes, to protect the men they love.

If you’re looking for an atmospheric Gothic read, I highly recommend this one.

I found this to be a compelling narrative of the lives of the women affected by Victor Frankenstein and his monster. The theme of monstrosity is perhaps more apparent in the women than in the actual monster - we expect Victor's creation to buck social norms and to act and behave as he wants, but not the women who are constrained by social expectations. So when they step outside these roles we can see how the system would have victimized and villainized them, and how it continues to do so. The narrative is told against a carefully researched historical backdrop which adds to the richness of the women's stories and heightens the themes Waldherr draws out from Shelley's original tale. Another insightful feminist retelling to set on your shelf alongside Madeline Miller and Natalie Haynes.

Gothic, atmospheric and dark. Unnatural Creatures: A Novel of the Frankenstein Women tells the tale of the women in Victor Frankenstein's life. There is a thin line between genius and madness as readers will find. This is a wonderful book that kept me turning the pages while wondering how things would play out in the end.

The Women:

Caroline Frankenstein is a loving mother who would do anything to protect her children. She has also made a habit of rescuing others in need of help. Her son Victor Frankenstein is obsessed with conquering death, and this has led him to forbidden realms. He experiments and creates an unnatural creature.

Elizabeth Lavenza was a small child when she was saved by Caroline Frankenstein. She believes that marrying Victor Frankenstein will repay her debt to the family. She may feel obligated to marry Victor, but her heart lies elsewhere.

Justine Moreau suffered abuse from her mother before Caroline Frankenstein took her in and gave her a better life. She is devoted to Caroline and Elizabeth. There is nothing she won’t do for Caroline. After tragedy, she is set on a collision course against Victor's creature. A creature who is out for revenge.

This was a very satisfying Gothic tale that looks at Frankenstein in a new way. The author chooses to focus on three women and their relationships with each other and with Victor Frankenstein. Don't worry if you have not read Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. You can still enjoy this one. But if you have read it, you may like (as I did) how the author made the women strong with equal footing. They have a voice in this book, and I enjoyed their story.

I also enjoyed the atmosphere in this book. The book takes place during a time of revolutions occurring in 18th-century Europe. There is danger, foreboding and tension. I found this to be a well written tale and I loved this take on Frankenstein, his monster, and the women in Victor Frankenstein's life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Muse Publications for the advance reader copy.

Really loved this take on the classic. So much depth added by viewing the story from the females' perspective. Beautifully written and incredibly satisfying.

This book starts like a light fog in the morning and then before you know it...It envelopes you. Thick and clingy. You can not see past what is right in front of you. As with a damp fog that last too long, Caroline, Justine, and Elizabeth will cling to your clothes and skin. All three women are staying true to their duties to repay those around them. Caroline serves her son and his wicked creations while holding the changing world outside their front door at bay. Elizabeth was taken in by Caroline and now feels that repayment has come due. Then Justine serves them all and she does so willingly, knowing how lucky she is.... until ONE day.
Then.....oh my. just wait till you read this novel.
All of the gothic goodness of tales such as "Wuthering Heights" while holding on to the monster's true nature as in the Shelley Original and even that of the original Jekyll and Hyde.
This Dark, clingy, page-turner will not let you stop half-way through.