The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

The Frankenstein family hires Elizabeth Lavenza to befriend their toxic, unhinged son, Victor. Abused and penniless as a child, Elizabeth soon realizes that to survive, she must manage Victor’s temper and psychotic behavior. But she is hardly the victim. Elizabeth is a nuanced, morally gray character who makes difficult decisions, knowing her survival depends on making herself indispensable to Victor and his family. Kiersten White retells Mary Shelley’s classic from the perspective of a woman who is desperate, intelligent, and manipulative, completely redefining the nature of Victor and Elizabeth’s relationship from the original. The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein’s gothic atmosphere and riveting characters weave through gaps in the original tale while creating an entirely new story told from a fresh perspective.