For the most part I rather enjoyed this read. It kept me interested from the beginning and was a well written book. I will say that I was unfortunately left with a few questions that went unanswered, I feel if answered I would have enjoyed this read a bit more.

Thank you kindly to Netgalley and publisher for the electronic copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for the DRC!

I've been a long time fan of J.S. Barnes' writing having read The Somnambulist, The Domino Men and Cannonbridge awhile back. His latest which is a sequel but perhaps more of a reimagining of Shelley's original novel, is overall stylish, eerie, gothic, and unsettling. Barnes touches upon similar themes and topics seen in the original Frankenstein as he gives us a set of new characters and scenarios. While the world Barnes gave us is intriguing, the pacing of the story at times could get overly long with some perspectives in need of tighter editing. Still, this is a worthwhile read for any fan of Shelley's novel.

I would like to extend a thank you to the author, J.S. Barnes for helping me to get a copy of his upcoming novel, Frankenstein’s Monster, and to NetGalley for providing the ARC.

I had been previously reading his other novel, Dracula’s Child, which is why I was so interested in reading it.

What the book blurb calls a sequel, I would consider more of a reimagined version of Mary Shelley Wollstonecraft’s most famous piece of literature.

Barnes’ story is told through both written letters to/from various characters, and personal narrations as well. While at first, I was drawn into this addition to the infamous horror legend of Frankenstein, and his “monster”, I eventually started to lose interest. I think this was in large part by the character’s never ending stories, that felt like they could have been much more condensed than presented. The other struggle I had was that when a character started to tell something that felt very compelling and was pregnant with anticipation of what was about to be told, they would say something along the lines of “well you could guess what happened” or “I would tell you but you don’t want to know those details. Yes! Actually I do!!!! This happened throughout the entire novel. It caused a lot of frustration for me as a reader. The author was dangling what possibly could have been some very exciting reading material, and then snatched it away. Was this a writing strategy? Was this lack of conceptual follow through? I still don’t know for certain. But, using said author’s own clear strategy is this…

What I know for certain is that I am glad that I did not DNF this book. While the story had small bits and pieces that were compelling, the abysmally painful lengths of how the characters (author) chose to tell stories actually did pay off in the end. At the very literal end. At parts I began to think I wasn’t even reading the correct story any longer. I thought maybe this is more about Victor Frankenstein, than his monster. And frankly, in some parts, a lot of the middle through the end, it was. The original Creature does make some special guest appearances, the story focuses more on an elderly Frankenstein (Victor, not the monster), and his story after he “died” in Shelley’s version.

Barnes does incorporate the sense of dark dread and despair, such as Shelley did, and continues to use her for inspiration in his adaptation. While there are some characters who make guest appearances from the original story, there are also a handful of new ones who help to extend this gothic, grotesque classic horror story into the 20th century era.

Rating wise, if it were up to me, I would give this a 2.5 stars. But since Goodreads and NetGalley use an odd numbered rating system, I am forced to round it up to a solid 3.

I would advocate that this is a book great for those who loved the original, fans of reanimated corpses/Reanimator (movie), and fans of any of the original classic horror monsters. The author has additionally written a book on Doctor Moreau which could be further reading if one enjoys his writing/this story.

I am curious to find out if I will enjoy Dracula’s Child more, as vampires are my main focus for reading. Will I prefer it over this? Stay animated and find out!

The book is short and easy to read. I also really enjoyed the narrator’s voice. I think it’s perfect for those who love historical fiction. The darkness of the era, memories, letters...

This is an ARC review. I appreciate receiving this copy from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Titan Books for this eCopy to review

I just finished Frankenstein’s Monster by J.S. Barnes, and it’s a chilling, atmospheric sequel that honours Mary Shelley’s original while carving out something bold and unsettling of its own.

Set in 1840s England, the story begins with folklorist Nathaniel Greene retreating to the countryside with his wife, Alice, hoping to finish his latest book. Their marriage is strained, and Alice’s longing for a child adds emotional weight to their isolation. When a bedraggled stranger arrives delirious, mysterious, and oddly compelling. Alice welcomes him in. What follows is a slow descent into obsession, scientific horror, and moral ambiguity.

By 1850, Greene is in Newgate prison, accused of murder. The story unfolds through the investigations of philanthropist Jesse Malone and psychic Hubert Crowe, who must piece together Greene’s unbelievable account: monstrous creations, experiments in a hidden laboratory, and echoes of Victor Frankenstein’s legacy that refuse to die.

What I loved:

🧟‍♂️ The gothic tone is spot-on. Barnes writes in a style that feels true to Shelley’s original elegant, eerie, and emotionally charged.

🧪 The moral questions are compelling. What does it mean to play God? Can monstrosity be inherited, or is it created?

🕯️ Alice’s storyline is quietly heart breaking. Her vulnerability and emotional complexity added real depth to the horror.

🧩 The structure—shifting timelines and layered perspectives—kept me engaged. It’s a slow burn, but the payoff is worth it.

While some parts felt slightly overlong, the atmosphere and philosophical weight more than made up for it. This is a thoughtful, haunting continuation of a literary classic, perfect for fans of gothic horror and speculative fiction.

A Respectful, Atmospheric Sequel Worthy of Shelley’s Legacy

As a devoted fan of Frankenstein, I’ve seen my fair share of sequels, retellings, and reimaginings—most of which fall flat. This one didn’t.

Frankenstein’s Monster by J.S. Barnes doesn’t just revive Mary Shelley’s vision—it channels it. The prose is deliciously period-accurate without being overly ornate, and the gothic tension is unrelenting. The narrative is split across time and perspectives, creating a layered mystery that feels both literary and suspenseful.

Barnes brings both Victor Frankenstein and the Creature back to life in a way that feels credible and haunting. While some of the pacing slows in the middle and the subplot involving Alice could’ve had more depth, the overall atmosphere and horror elements are pitch-perfect for lovers of classic gothic fiction.

4/5 stars – A masterful homage to Shelley that kept me intrigued and unsettled from start to finish.

This is one of those books that I need to read in person to have the full experience because it’s written in such a unique older fashion that mimics the way that the first Frankenstein book was created and that in itself as an art form, but it also is very daunting and odd to read on an electric device something that is very modern day so that juxtaposition was a little weird on my brain. That being said, I loved this book immensely. Every page is just perfection.

I am very much a Frankenstein and Mary Shelley fan and this book has magic in it and I need it so I can just read it over and over again and keep it on my shelf for when I’m wanting my Frankenstein fix.

I will admit this book is definitely something that takes a lot of mental energy to read. It’s not an easy read, but it is packed full of action. Boredom is not something that you will be experiencing while reading this. It was difficult to put down and also just genuinely work of art.

I’m excited to buy this in stores and have it on my shelf once I’m able to just to be able to cherish.

Thank you for this ARC! I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily.

This is a well written, dark, and atmospheric sequel to Mary Shelley's classic tale. Written in a style that echoes the original, it has a brooding, gothic tone that brings the period to life.

The story primarily follows a writer and his wife, who have escaped to the countryside. Their lives are disrupted when a bedraggled stranger arrives on their doorstep. It is the arrival of this man and the wife's longing for a child which are the main driving forces of the plot. An American philanthropist becomes entangled in the story, determined to uncover the truth behind the mysterious events that took place at the house.

While it’s a relatively quick and engaging read, I found it difficult to warm to any of the characters. The narrative kept me reading, but at times felt disjointed, which made the plot harder to follow in places. Despite this, it’s still an enjoyable homage to Frankenstein.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

This novel contains everything I could ever ask for in a gothic story.
This is what a gothic story is supposed to be, it’s not just about the aesthetic there’s actual substance!
Frankenstein’s Monster is a really quick read depicted the fall of men into madness and the consequences on others when one yearns for too much power.
The writing was fantastic, the prose felt like the text cam from the nineteenth century and the way the story was pieced together like Shelley’s story made my heart happy.
If you loved Shelley’s novel you’ll love this one too.

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

This book evoked Frankenstein well. It takes very familiar characters and themes from the original book and builds them into a sequel of sorts. We are reading a tale of terror built from different peoples’ accounts and collated into the scrapbook of an American currently residing in London. I can’t decide whether I think it’s necessary to have read Frankenstein first, or if you could read this standalone. I felt I benefitted from having read Frankenstein first as it gave me recognition of characters and events that are alluded to. However it also meant I had some baggage from the original that influenced how I viewed the characters when they came up here.

I felt this book showed a lot of affection to the original whilst creating its own unique story. This is set years later and the core of it has two friends looking into the purchase of a menacing house, with a tragic story. While they look into the events that happened at the house, we learn from different witnesses and recollections of the history of this house and how the arrival of a man at this dark place, ruined lives and caused great suffering. Atmosphere was well done here and there was something very creepy created with this house.

I enjoyed this and found myself compelled to keep reading. I was heavily invested in the central story and it was fun spotting recognisable pieces from the original that the author had woven in.