In Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match by Sally Thorne, As her brother Victor’s long-time 
lab assistant, Angelika Frankenstein has never started an experiment of her own. But as she watches Victor with his latest creation–reassembling a man to then reanimate him–she decides to make a companion for herself. While both her brother’s and her own experiments survive, Angelika’s hopes to have a partner are dashed. For Will, as they call him for now, has no recollection of his former self. But he is very much intent on finding out first if he is free to reciprocate Angelika’s feelings before getting in too deep with the heiress.
“Why did you bring me back? Are you sure we were not in love? …The way you care for me, and look at me, I think we were. I’m sorry that I do not remember.”
“We were not in love,” Angelika told him as he sank into sleep’s black hold. “But I wish we would be.”
As Victor traipses across the countryside day in and day out searching for his wandering creation, leaving his new fiance, Lizzie, at home in Blackthorne Manor, Angelika tries to solve the mystery of Will’s past. While it’s clear they have a physical attraction and a bond with each other, something is keeping him from courting her. To add to the mayhem, Angelika enlists the help of a local military commander from the closest town to help investigate. The gentleman seems to take a shine to her as well. Unsure which way to turn, she makes blunder after blunder before learning what her heart truly wants–and how to also finally let her heart soar by helping those around her.
‘This much was painfully clear: Will’s brain abhorred her, but his body adored her. It was a pity that his upstairs faculties always won out.’
Something totally different from Sally Thorne, Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match was what I would consider to be an historical horror rom-com. Highly entertaining, it had dark Gothic undertones mixed with cheeky humor, but it was also filled with loneliness, familial bonds, and longing for love.
‘Once upon a time, Angelika Frankenstein yearned for adventure. If her past self could have seen her now, she would have let out a cheer. Finally, something is happening!
Action. Excitement. Romance.’
I will mention right away that this was not an exact retelling of Mary Shelley’s classic–and not completely historically accurate–but more of a spinoff or fan fiction that not only featured Victor Frankenstein creating/reanimating a man but also his younger sister doing the same. In Angelika’s case, it was in the hopes of creating the perfect man to be her partner in life. So in some ways she started off with selfish intent. Then again, she was a spoiled heiress with a lot of time on her hands. But Angelika and Victor had lived a very sheltered, lonely life since their parents died when the siblings were in their teens. They were both quite eccentric and grew even more so over time. However, there was a lot of love and respect between Victor and Angelika, which kept them going while holed up in Blackthorne Manor on the hill.
As with all of Thorne’s books, there were so many comical scenes–a lot of which were subtle in this case (love that dry British humor!) so you have to pay attention to what is said and how it is being said. The crazy plot and the love triangle was worthy of the big screen, and the offbeat characters certainly charmed me as I got to know them better. Like I said, it’s the type of mashup of genres where you basically need to suspend disbelief and go with it. But I had faith Thorne would pull in all the heartfelt moments and poignant lessons Angelika needed to learn by the end–which she most definitely did. So I think readers who like a wide range of book genres, including classic Gothic tales and quirky rom-coms, will enjoy getting to know the Frankensteins.
QOTD: Have you read the original Frankenstein or seen any of the various movies?
Book Info:
Publication: Expected publication: September 6th 2022 | Avon Books |
From USA Today bestselling author of The Hating Game Sally Thorne comes something a little unexpected… a historical rom-com that imagines Victor Frankenstein’s sheltered younger sister, and her attempts to create the perfect man.
For generations, every Frankenstein has found their true love and equal, unlocking lifetimes of blissful wedded adventure. Clever, pretty (and odd) Angelika Frankenstein has run out of suitors and fears she may become the exception to this family rule. When assisting in her brother Victor’s ground-breaking experiment to bring a reassembled man back to life, she realizes that having an agreeable gentleman convalescing in the guest suite might be a chance to let a man get to know the real her. For the first time, Angelika embarks upon a project that is all her own.
When her handsome scientific miracle sits up on the lab table, her hopes for an instant romantic connection are thrown into disarray. Her resurrected beau (named Will for the moment) has total amnesia and is solely focused on uncovering his true identity. Trying to ignore their heart-pounding chemistry, Angelika reluctantly joins the investigation into his past, hoping it will bring them closer. But when a second suitor emerges to aid their quest, Angelika wonders if she was too hasty inventing a solution. Perhaps fate is not something that can be influenced in a laboratory? Or is Will (or whatever his name is!) her dream man, tailored for her in every way? And can he survive what was done to him in the name of science, and love?
Filled with carriages, candlesticks, and corpses, Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match is the spooky-season reimagining of the well-known classic that reminds us to never judge a man by his cadaver!
