Book Review: This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

Name: This Dark Endeavor
Author: Kenneth Oppel
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Released: 2011
Reviewed by: Prince

This Dark Endeavor - A book that will make you sit awake till you finish reading it. One of the excellent novel from Kenneth Oppel. This was my recent read and am happy with it.

To begin my review about this science fiction novel, let me start by introducing the main characters.

1. Victor & Konrad Frankenstein - 15-year-old twins

2. Elizabeth - Beautiful Cousin of Victor & Konrad Frankenstein

3. Henry - Close friend of Victor & Konrad Frankenstein

4. Julius Polidori - An alchemist, the villain

This Dark Endeavor

Yeah, these are the main characters in the novel. Now lets get into storyline, Victor and Konrad are very lovable and affactionate twins. They live a happy and peaceful life at Chateau Frankenstein. Treated with rigorous liberal education by their loving parents, and given the companionship of their distant cousin Elizabeth and neighbor Henry, at fifteen years of age, the twins wanted nothing more. It was the exploration of a secret place "The Dark Library" in Chateau that lits up the flame in the story. The Dark Library contains some of the ancient books (Books used by Alchemist) which are said to provide some extraordinary powers to human beings including "Elixir of Life".

Konrad, one of the twins gets sick suddenly and bedridden by a unknown disease. Many doctors were called upon to find out the cure. But their efforts in vain, none of them had an answer to the unknown disease. The family becomes much worried seeing Konrad bedridden and struggling to fight against the disease. Mr. Frankenstein calls for Dr. Murnav, a foreign doctor who examines Konrad for a week and suspects the disease to be connected with some activity in blood. He promises to cure Konrad with his further investigations. Meanwhile Victor, the twin brother is not satisfied with Dr. Murnav and sets his own exploration along with Elizabeth & Henry to save Konrad. He enters into Dark Library breaking the promise he made to his father to keep away from the Dark Library and the ancient books.

Meanwhile they come across the alchemist Julius Polidori, who suggests them that he can prepare "The Elixir of Life" that can certainly cure any disease in this world and give a new life. But to prepare the Elixir of Life, they need three rare ingredients. Will Victor along with Elizabeth & Henry bring those very rare ingredients to prepare the Elixir of Life? Will Victor save Konrad's life? The story takes you through the thriller path. Do expect some of the mind blowing twists and turns that you would have never imagined. Also there is portion of "Love & Jealous" between the twin's which you would feel really interesting.

I personally had a great time reading through this awesome book. I can't wait to read the next book in the series "Such Wicked Intent".. I would give a rating of 4.8 out of 5 for this mind twisting thriller.

Book Review: Skybreaker by Kenneth Oppel

Name: Skybreaker
Author: Kenneth Oppel
Publisher:HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Released: 2005
Reviewed by: Rithu


Skybreaker is a sequel to Airborne which is an adventurous novel by Mr.Kenneth Oppel.

Matt Cruse is a 2nd year student at the Airship academy. Kate-de-Vries, his love interest is a struggling biologist who fights hard to survive in the male dominated field. Unlike other ladies of her century Kate is not interested in fancy dressing and the like. She aspires to become a leading biologist and make new discoveries.

The real story begins when the airship in which Matt works as a part of his training, get caught in a cyclone named "The devil's fist" and reaches thousands of feet high in the air where no airship can reach, and spots 'Hyperion' the ghost airship which was rumored to have gone missing with a treasure inside since 40 years . Matt teams up with Kate, Miss Simpkins her annoying chapron, Mr.Slater the captain of Sagarmata(skybreaker) and a mysterious gypsi girl named Nadira to locate Hyperion with the map in Matt's memory and hunt for the treasure. But they are not the only ones who is back of ghost ship.

And they also encounter fierce unknown creatures of deep sky on the way. Will they overcome the fierce creatures and the unfavorable weather conditions on one side and the cruel enemies who stops at nothing to reach the ship on the other side, and reach their destination and find the treasure forms the rest of the story.

Mr.Oppel is an excellent author and his novels are alive with a vivid range of imaginations. There is suspense with every turn of page. I bet once you start reading this book you will not feel like keeping it down till you had finished the ending line.

Book Review: Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel

Name: Half Brother
Author: Kenneth Oppel
Publisher:HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Released: 2010
Reviewed by: Prince

Half Brother, one of the  typical works of Kenneth Oppel filled with love, emotion and thrill. I would recommended this book to be one of the best novels for young adults,

The story revolves around two persons Ben Tomlin and Zan (A Smart Chimp). This fast moving novel kicks off from the beginning when on 13th birthday of Ben Tomlin's, his parents bring home a baby chimpanzee to be raised as human and teach it with American Sign Language(Project Zan). This project is to make the world realize the fact that chimp's can learn and speak languages like humans.

Initially Ben doesn't care about Zan and feels jealous that some stranger had stolen his place and love at home. But then as time goes by, love between Ben and Zan grew so rapidly that Ben feels Zan to be his half brother. Ben would do anything for Zan and Zan becomes more close to Ben than anyone in their family.

The authors captures their love in such a way that anyone reading this novel will love to have a brother like Zan. After few of pages of true brotherhood, now the thriller begins when Ben's father enlists a team of student researchers to teach Zan for their project. Ben begs his father to include him in the list but in vain. His father rejects him saying he is still a kid and should be focussed in getting good marks and completing his school. His father is a hard-minded scientist and hates anything very sentimental (Ben's affection on Zan).

Unlike Ben's father, his mother is lovable and cares more for Zan like her own child. As the training gets underway, Ben begins to feel that Zan is not treated as a human but as an animal tortured to learn sign languages. Ben begins to hate each and everyone who comes in between him and Zan. He wanted to save Zan from this torture

To Ben's relief, there comes a student researcher(Peter) who loves zan like him. Slowly Ben and Peter teach zan sign languages in a human way. As time goes by, their comes a day when project zan has to be completed and result to be shown to the world.

Real thriller starts here and suddenly Zan finds himself out of the Tomlin home and into a research facility in Nevada. Will Ben get back his brother Zan from the research facility where animals are treated badly.... Read rest of the story and enjoy the book.

Half Brother is fast-moving, smart and emotionally told. I personally felt really emotional on reading this wonderful book. Very heart touching and emotional drama. I would give a rating of 4.8/5 for this wonderful book

Book Review: Revolution 2020 by Chetan Bhagat

Name: Revolution 2020
Author: Chetan Bhagat
Publisher: Rupa & co
Released: 2011
Reviewed by: Supraja Suresh

A typical Indian tale, with pleasing sounds of water, the tranquil and serene appearance of the country’s one of the purest cities, written by an author whose each and every work deserves to be called a ‘Masterpiece’. Yes, here comes again our very own Chetan Bhagat with yet another sensational page-turner, the REVOLUTION 2020.

This is a pleasing story with a magnetic power to attract every single (especially young) reader. The tale, though not exactly a triangular love story, is more of its kind. Portraying a battle between love and career, it describes the transformation of a guy from an ignorant part of the Varanasi to almost an ‘idol’ of the same place. Trust me, there is no room for exaggeration in this.

This tale involves three main characters, Gopal, Raghav and Aarthi. The author smoothly explains how a childhood friendship turns into love, which in turn becomes hatred. He also shows to which extent one’s own interest and passion can influence one’s career.

The title ‘Revolution 2020’ is indeed apt for the tale as it marks the turning point of the story. The tagline ‘Love . Corruption . Ambition’ says how the life of a young girl swings among these three abstract elements. The story concludes by telling which of these elements wins the race and how the other two survive in it.

Post Script: You may not need a bookmark, as you are not going to close this book without finishing it.