"We had snatched fire from the gods and it was only a matter of time before we began to burn."

I wish I could give 3.5 stars because this wasn't bad, it just lacked something for me. There were moments of amazingly poetic writing and then others of frustrating nonsense. I have to be honest... I'm a stem cell scientist. But I'm also a horror lover. Which means that I can get past horror that doesn't scientifically make sense, but only if you just tell us to accept an alternate reality and don't try to describe the "science" of why it makes sense. McGill tried to do the later and it drove me nuts because none of it checked out.

I do suggest this one for readers who want Victorian era historical fiction without a lot of action. Most of the "action" was in the science and as I said, I wasn't on board for that. However, I could see many liking this one and don't want to completely discourage potential readers!

“A monster is simply something irregular.” Which pretty much sums up this book. It’s not really about anything scary but rather about how this “irregular” woman was trying to rise the ranks in the scientific field during the Victorian era, when she was very much not welcome. Gotta say... thank god I work in this day and age!

The only thing that Mary knows about her great uncle, Victor Frankenstein, is that he went missing in mysterious circumstances in the Arctic, other than that she knows nothing - well not yet anyway!

We’re transported back to the 1850’s, where Mary is desperate to make a name for herself and her geologist husband Henry in the world of science, but in a time where wealth and the right connections count for everything, (neither of which they have), they’re unlikely to have any success at all, added to that is the fact that women weren’t even allowed as members of these great scientific societies, so wouldn’t even be heard.

However, their luck could be about to change, when Mary discovers old family papers pertaining to great uncle Victor Frankenstein’s disappearance, together with an earth shattering secret - a secret so profound that it could change not only the future of the world, but their own future too, with unimaginable wealth and great renown.

In ‘Our Hideous Progeny’ we certainly get a sense of how poorly women were treated way back in the 1850’s, especially in the world of academia, but Mary makes for a strong protagonist, very much prepared to argue her point, having had years of experience in paleaeontology.
Although the story seemed to drag a little at times, it was nevertheless beautifully written, and was a great homage to Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ with a wonderfully gothic feel to it, and an engaging atmospheric storyline. Recommended.

Mary knows that her great uncle vanished in mysterious circumstances in the Arctic, but doesn’t know why he disappeared, or what exactly he was doing there in the first place. That is until she discovers some hidden family papers, documenting what her great uncle, Victor Frankenstein was really up to in the freezing wastelands of the Arctic.

London in the 1850s is awash with scientists, producing many theories, discoveries and being involved in much debate. Mary and her geologist husband Henry aspire to be revered in the field of palaeontology, but with no wealth or connections to their name, their desired recognition escapes them. When Mary deciphers Victor’s papers, and brings them to Henry, they are convinced this is their method to a scientific breakthrough that will make their names. Well perhaps just Henry’s, as women are still but a footnote in the scientific field. Mary burns to be recognised as a peer, so as she and Henry throw themselves into their new project, she will stop at nothing to get what she wants. Or so she thinks. Henry’s sister, Maisy, kindly allows them conduct their work on her property, believing them to be conducting studies into rat poison. Little could she guess the real truth. As Mary and Henry continue their work with the aim of producing a scientific showcase the likes of which London has never seen before, ambition and obsession overshadow all, until their world takes an unexpected turn.

This story is written almost as a sequel to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. It is an excellent gothic style mystery novel, very well written. It covers the growth of the sciences in the 1850’s really well, and just how women were treated in the field. At most a footnote in a paper or book to thank them for their ‘illustrations’ in the work. Mary is a strong character, frustrated by her station in life, and her inability to make it as a woman of science, in such a male dominated world. The story developed Mary and her struggles very well, and we can see how she ended up where and how she did. Love, loss, frustration, passion, despair, betrayal and more, how much can one woman take? I really enjoyed this read. The story was a bit slow and drawn out at some points, which loses a star for me, but overall, watching Mary take her steps in her great uncles footprints was an enthralling journey.

*I received this book from NetGalley for review, but all opinions are my own.

I just taught Frankenstein to a group of 14-year-olds for the first time, and I really disliked the novel. So when I saw this title, I was intrigued to find out if I would have any more interest in a different version, one not written in the interminable, long Victorian sentences of the original.

It turns out I did. This was fascinating scientifically and historically, although I thought it was far too long, especially in the run-up to the creation of the creature. I liked the fact that in this version the creator loves the creation, but that the moral quandary is only made more complex by that.

A reimagining of Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, it is a gothic mystery that is an homage to the original. Beautifully written and atmospheric.

This was a brilliantly gothic read. Thoroughly enjoyed. Five stars, Grateful for the opportunity to read the ARC via NetGalley.

It's 1853 in London, Victor Frankinstein Great niece Mary believes she has desccoved something about her great  uncle disappearance that could change the science communities view on what happened forever.

Mary and her husband Henny can no longer be ignored as they know how to create life after tey constant the creature.

It has a strong female figure at the core which I've neve seen before in other  Frankinstenin inspired novels. 
Unfortunately that was all a really liked about this noel.

Thanks for the NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a complementary digital copy of this ebook in exchange for a full, frank and honest review.

Incredibly creative, this imagining of the grand-niece of Victor Frankenstein finding his journals and embarking with her husband on an endeavor to replicate his work is a very entertaining read. The novel also highlights the way women in the 1850s were treated as distinctly lesser-than compared to men, and the way their fortunes were so closely tied to their husband's success, as well as how difficult it could be to be an unmarried woman in those days. The middle of the story felt a bit drawn out at times, but the pace picked up towards the end with a couple of intriguing twists.

"Nature was the realm of women, so it was said, reason and science the realm of man"

4.5/5

I recently read Frankenstein, and when I saw this book, I thought, hell, I would love to read a retelling of the book, because despite the original being a drag, I thoroughly enjoyed the content.
I mean, who could say no to a novel that includes the resurrection of dinosaurs (you would think we would learn from Jurrasic Park and co that it might not be such a good idea but FOR SCIENCE).

Anyway. the idea behind this book was fantastic! And after reading the author's note I get it, it would be a catchy subject to write for creative writing purposes.

This book definitely gave me academic vibes, something my lector would shove down our throats in university and rant and rave about it for days on end (and I don't mean this in a bad way - this story will definitely stick with me for a long time.)

That being said, I did feel like there were certain aspects of the book that made it drag on for too long, but sitting and thinking about the process the book took, I am not at all upset. I mean resurrecting a dinosaur takes time!

I think my biggest issue with the era (not the book) is the fact that women never or rarely got credit for the things they created for science. It is a man's thing, right? *rolls eyes*.
I also don't know who I disliked more, Henry and how he never stood up for Mary (some husband material right there) or Clarke (pompous, that's the only way I can describe him)

Needless to say, I would not mind having this book on my shelf.

This book is basically Frankensteins sequel, in all the best ways possible. Poor Mary, a woman who is thought less of because of her gender and treated as if her passion for science is mere folly, rushed into a marriage to get away from an abusive grandmother and now stuck, her husband gambling away what little they had and losing his job. Until she finds her grandfathers notes, in which she finds a letter describing what Dr Frankenstein did, although vaguely, and decides this is the thing that will save her and her husband, make them money, further science, make her a name for herself and her jobless husband. If only things were that simple. Nothing ever goes to plan, and even when it seems to be it’s one betrayal away from destroying everything, Mary’s happy ending comes in the most unsuspecting way and it couldn’t be more perfect for her

(4.5 rounded up to 5.0.)

I loved this updated homage to Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'. It was beautifully written and clearly evokes the frustrations of intelligent women in Victorian life. As a woman and with a lack of formal education, our main character, Mary, is overlooked and underrepresented. She has a knowledge and passion in science and paleontology, like her spineless but ambitious husband, Henry. When she finds papers and letters from her great-uncle, Victor Frankenstein, hidden in her late father's belongings, they spark ideas to attempt to create a 'Creature' of her own. This would gain the couple a reputation in the scientific community.

I was rooting for Mary throughout the book and was annoyed, but unsurprised, at the way she - and women in general - were treated, even by their own husbands! Mary was a rebel of the highest order and I went through every single emotion with her. I loved her relationships with Maisie, her sister-in-law, and especially with the Creature. I loved the quotes from the original 'Frankenstein' at the beginning of each chapter.

I felt this book was sympathetic to 'Frankenstein' in terms of pacing, level of detail, the moral dilemmas of the main character, and the atmosphere. You don't need to have read the original to understand this work, just know the basics. (I love the book so I would encourage you to read it anyway!) Will there be a sequel to 'Our Hideous Progeny'? I hope so and I would jump at the chance to read it. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read.

I chose this ARC from a selection on NetGalley. I voluntarily, and honestly, read and reviewed this work. All opinions are my own. My thanks to the publisher, NetGalley, and the author.

I absolutely loved 'Our Hideous Progeny' by C. E.McGill. 'Our Hideous Progeny' follows Mary, a descendent of Victor Frankenstein as she tries to prove herself in the world of Science. Ever shadowed by her husband, Mary is left in the sidelines to create beautiful drawings and illustrations for her husband's scientific work. There are complex themes in this Gothic tale including potential LGBTQIA+ relationships with Mary, although they never truly manifest. There is a hint at the end of the novel that Mary and her sister in law elope to become companions but, this is very much left to the reader's imagination.
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As Mary tries to both establish herself and find out who she truly is after she is led to believe she is an orphan born out of wedlock, she finds the old journals from Victor Frankenstein's expedition and experiments. There is much debate about how the Plesiasorous, (an extinct dinosaur) looked and behaved. Her husband is laughed out by society when he goes against the believed theory. The pair work together to create the true Plesiasorous with Mary's illustrations and keen eye for research. In the aforementioned journals, Mary reads and absorbs this information to bring to a life a real 'monster', their Progeny.
A truly Gothic, feminist tale that has stayed with me. I particualty enjoyed the exerpts from Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' and John Milton's 'Paradise Lost' at the start of each chapter. A fantastic read, particularly for those with a love of Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'.

This book sort of picks up Frankenstein’s story/ legacy and runs with it. I had low expectations (I’ve read a lot of gothic style fiction lately and am a bit jaded with it) but this really surprised me. It was an intimate and very atmospheric story, full of cliches but also stunningly original. I read it all in one sitting and became completely immersed in the story. Mary and Maisie were both complicated and engaging women. Trying between them to answer the immortal (literally) question of what makes us human, or makes us monsters?
I really loved this book.

I couldn't get into the book so I didn't finish it. Don't let my lack of enjoyment from trying the book yourselves though!!

This story is really science fiction following up on the story of Frankenstein’s monster.
I found it rather long and drawn out with an enormous amount of detail without progressing the book. The last quarter contained more action and I began to anticipate the ending. The final chapters were more interesting but the underlying themes including aspects of the relationship between two of the main characters remain unresolved.

This book was the perfect homage to Frankenstein, and I have a feeling that Mary Shelley would have been quite proud to have inspired such a book.

The story follows the great niece of Frankenstein himself, though she does not know such for a long time. Neither does she know of his creation, not until herself and her (waster) husband have need of such information. Mary has a hard life until she marries, and even then things are not perfect. She discovers about her uncles experiments and she decides to attempt them on a smaller scale. But as in the original story, things do not go to plan.

The most horrific part of this story is really how women were treated back at the turn of the century. Expected to be of good breeding, to be a perfect wife, and not to have an opinion that was not first shared by their husbands. I had such empathy for Mary for most of the book, though there were times when I wanted to give her a slap. As well as half the men in the book, with a few notable exceptions.

It was a beautifully written piece, that never lets the original source material down.

Our Hideous Progeny is a novel that picks up after Frankenstein, as Victor's great-niece tries to recreate his work using Victorian palaeontology. Mary was raised by her grandmother, never allowed the Frankenstein name after the death of her father, but with the knowledge that her great-uncle disappeared in the Arctic a long time ago. She's escaped that now and fights to make a living with her husband in the palaeontological world in London, but they lack money and influence. When Mary uncovers the letters sent back to her family about Victor and his creation, she realises that following in his footsteps may bring her and her husband the discovery they need.

The book doesn't so much as retell Frankenstein as provide a sequel that explores similar themes, particularly around ambition, pride, and obsession, and draws out some of the complexities of motherhood that can be read from Mary Shelley's book. It is deeply situated within Victorian London's scientific life, especially the first parts of the novel, and I appreciated how well it followed on from Shelley's own interest in the science of the time around when she was writing Frankenstein, updating the stuff around electricity to also consider fossils and changing ideas about life and death. The philosophical ideas within the book also take up some of the elements of Frankenstein, particularly in Mary's relationship to her own Creature, and this was one of my favourite elements of the book.

The narrative itself is pretty predictable, following an adventure story with a clear villain and some commentary on the lives and freedoms (or lack thereof) of women in the period, and I did expect more twists and turns at the end (in particular, I thought that Mary's discoveries might end up being used for something more desperate and potentially monstrous), but the conclusion of the novel does seem to leave scope for a sequel, which may be the intention. It perhaps had a bit more historical adventure and a bit less of the ideas (scientific/philosophical/queer/etc) than I would've liked as someone who is more of a fan of Frankenstein than historical fiction, but I think that makes it suited to people who enjoy historical novels that explore some ideas of feminism and queerness without necessarily having to have read Frankenstein.

I appreciated that, in the author's note, McGill says they didn't enjoy Frankenstein when they first read it as a teenager, but later grew to like it more, as I had a similar experience and feel like it is a book that is sadly pushed upon teenagers who really need more of the scientific and literary history of the time to actually understand why Frankenstein feels slower and more contemplative than what they've heard. This book is quite different, with a slow pace at times due to the amount of historical detail, but more of an adventure focus, and something you could read alongside Frankenstein to think about how "retellings" might leave an original work as is and run with its ideas in another way. It also might just convince some people to give Frankenstein another go.

This is a lively reception of Frankenstein that takes inspiration from both Mary Shelley's life as well as her novel. McGill replays well-recognised themes of intellectual pride and over-reaching, as well as a more personal strand around female ambition in the face of patriarchy. The queer subtext to Frankenstein is made explicit, not just in Mary's relationship with Maisie, but in the wider sense of questioning maternity specifically and foregrounding a more generalised heterodoxy.

Nevertheless, I found this quite slow to get going and was never surprised by the narrative - it goes where we'd expect a modern, feminist-y re-writing of Frankenstein to go. I also felt the prose was more simple than I'd have liked - so more of a fun adventure-style romp than anything more thoughtful, but entertaining.

This novel is a retelling of Frankenstein that I really enjoyed reading, especially about the character of Mary, who is well portrayed. I would recommend the book and thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the novel.

This book is an absolute joy to read. A retelling of Frankenstein, so cleverly done. I will buy this for friends on its publication, just to make sure they read it. A triumph.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.