A fun read; an amalgamation of genres, to include a bit of Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Art History, and peppered with lots of humor.

It includes real characters like psychiatrists, Sigmund Freud, and Carl Jung; Painters, Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele; and fictional literary characters of Victor Frankenstein; and even a scene that shows Adolf Hitler as a buffoon.

The humor and banter is very witty and adds to the delight of the story, so if the reader is a Christopher Moore fan, he or she will enjoy this newest novel. The premise/plot of this is one that is chaotic in nature, but comes together well throughout its reveal. Although it did have some slow moments throughout, the pace just seemed to work.

Thank you to author, Christopher Moore, publisher William Morrow, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are wholly my own. It is available on May 13th, 2025.

Unfortunately, this was a real disappointment.

I've been a reader of Christopher Moore's novels for a long long time. He has always been somewhat hit and miss for me but the highs are always very high and the lows are at least funny. The trouble with Anima Rising is that it is very dark and not really very funny at all. If you're looking for hijinks and laugh out loud moments...this isn't going to be it. But likewise, if you're looking for profound insights on art and humanity...this also...isn't it.

I was a huge fan of Sacre Bleu when I read it - I still believe it to be some of Moore's finest work. I also lived in Vienna, Austria for a portion of 1994 and have a particular love of that quixotic city as well as the era of "Fin de siècle" pre-war Vienna. There was a good novel to write about that time (there are several already) - a funny novel about art and music and culture. Likewise, I've often enjoyed the Frankenstein story - there was a good novel to write about it. And there was an interesting novel to write about the mythology of the innuit. The trouble with Anima Rising is that Moore tries to do all three. And also to explore agency of women. It just never gels together. None of the characters are ones you find yourself rooting for (even Wally, whom Moore clearly adores as a character) - even Klimt and Judith are hard to love.

I think the worst sin is that for such interesting premises...it manages to be boring. I found myself thinking "Oh...it'll get good." But it never did. I went into this expecting something on the level of Sacre Bleu...but came up with something far less. It isn't a bad book - clearly Moore has done his homework and has a love for the material, but it manages to be less than the sum of its parts. It isn't particularly funny. And I felt that it didn't manage to capture Vienna in the way Paris was captured. Just a disappointment. It isn't bad...just wasn't my cup of tea. 3 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for a chance to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are uncompensated.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Anima Rising by Christopher Moore is a third person-POV speculative historical set in the early twentieth century and featuring many famous psychology, political, art, and literary figures. When Gustav Klimt finds a young woman in a canal who appears to be dead, he immediately starts drawing her. But when she wakes up, he takes her to his home and tries to get her sessions with Dr. Sigmund Freud.

The vast majority of the leads are real historical figures, including Egon Schiele, Walburga “Wally” Neuzil, Gustav Klimt, Sigmund Freud, and Carl Jung. The mystery woman goes by the name of Judith and was resurrected to be the wife of Adam aka Frankenstein’s Monster. I had never heard of Egon Schiele or Wally Neuzil before this book and I cannot say that I am interested in learning much more about Egon even though his art is interesting. Of all of the characters, Judith was the most detached but also the center of absolutely everything, making her the real heart of the book.

There is a lot of uncomfortable content in here, much of which is based on historical facts as noted by Christopher Moore in the author’s notes. There are mentions of Schiele’s romantic interest in his younger sister, of the fact that Klimt seemed to have slept with every single woman he hired as a model and that was the norm at the time, and there is sexual assault. There is even a depiction of Hitler, who was a contemporary of Schiele. Much of the book is from the POV of Wally and Judith, who are survivors of much of the worst parts of the actions of these men, which does add some critique to their actions. There are also some mentions of the Inuit and the book uses the term that was common in the early twentieth for them. I cannot say with any authority what is and is not true regarding their practices, but Christopher Moore does appear to have drawn from academic texts.

The real highlight for me was the use of art throughout. Klimt’s and Schiele’s paintings are strategically placed within the narrative to add a little visual to what is happening on page. I’m a fan of Klimt’s more famous work, especially ‘The Kiss’, so seeing some paintings by him I haven’t seen before was an unexpected but delightful surprise.

Content warning for depictions of sexual assault, anti-Semitism and the use of racial slurs

I would recommend this to fans of historicals with light speculative elements and readers who prefer speculative fiction that aspires to be as historically accurate as possible while recognizing when something is morally reprehensible

Christopher Moore does it again with a laugh out loud, reinterpretation of history. It was a joy to read!

"Anima Rising" is an interesting plot in Christopher Moore's trademark style. Witty, outlandish, and well-paced.

Set in Vienna in 1911, the story follows painter Gustav Klimt, who finds a nearly drowned woman in the Danube canal. Instead of seeking help, he sketches her, discovering she’s alive. Named Judith, she has no memory of her past.

As Klimt and his model Wally care for her, Judith recalls traumatic experiences involving Victor Frankenstein and a journey to the Underworld, with help from Freud and Jung. Her mysterious past attracts danger, including a giant dog named Geoff. This imaginative blend of history, art, and fantasy keeps readers captivated.

How does Christopher Moore do it every time? I've been reading his books for twenty years and he STILL makes me laugh. So if you've ever read a Christopher Moore book, you know how absurd, irreverent, and silly they can be. They're also genuine, funny, and astute. One of my favorite things about Moore is his ability as a writer to capture both the sincerity AND the absurdity of the human condition, and Anima Rising does just that...just in a weird way. This book has:

--Klimt, the Austrian painter, and his various, hilarious muses
--the "bride" of Frankenstein (whom he names Judith)
--various spoofs of the Frankenstein story
--Freud and Jung doing their thing
--a giant dog that loves croissants
--early 20th century references

Does that sound crazy, but delightful? It truly is. There's really no way to describe the plot of this story, so I'll just say it's a combination of absurd historical fiction, bits of a horror novel, and enough laughs to have you cackling out loud. I love the way Moore writes women, as well. They're always whip smart--either book-smart or street-smart--and they have a tendency to really stick it to the men in the novel.

Seriously, if you're looking for a wild-ride-of-a-novel, you need to give this one a shot. (Then go back and read the rest of Moore's books because they're awesome.)

I hate when it takes me 3 freaking weeks to read a Chris Moore book, but here we are. I'd call myself a "butt puddle", and deserve it for taking so long. I actually really liked this book and thought it was a great addition to the last several books Moore has written, these books that take place in history with real characters (having lived or been created by authors, painters, etc.). Anima Rising is no different. It's fun, silly, and visually entertaining. I approve wholeheartedly of the story, the mystery, the supernatural behaviors, etc. This was a slam dunk.

I knew of many of the people referenced in this book, aside from the painters. I would suggest everyone read the afterward, as Moore goes into detail explaining his research and purpose for using certain elements of each of the characters. Judith was the best, Wally was second best. Geoff is up there as well. The artist, well, let's just say, they may have been geniuses, but they were cocky, ego driven, cocky cocks. Not my favorite, even if they meant well. Regardless, it all works in this book, and it's a fun little ride to boot. Enjoy!

Gustav Klimt’s life takes a bizarre turn when he rescues a nude woman from drowning in the Danube. Amnesiac Judith claims to be a century-old experiment of Victor Frankenstein. Now, Klimt must help her recover her memory and evade a host of pursuers in this fantastical adventure.

I don’t even know what to say about this book. First, take the content warnings seriously. The humor is very dark. The story is experimental and bizarre, but it was also strangely addicting once I figured out what was going on. If you’ve never read a Christopher Moore book, I recommend reading LAMB before delving into this one. ANIMA RISING is brilliant and thought-provoking, but it can also be challenging on several levels.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Well that was... interesting. A quirky writing style, some Gilmore Girls banter, and a dog obsessed with pastries. I don't quite know how I feel about it. I didn't enjoy the casual mentionings of rape and the excessive shaming of sex workers (even if it was meant in a teasing manner). But it was well written and I liked how he wrapped everything up at the end. I can see how others would enjoy the story, but it missed the mark for me a bit.

Ideal for readers who enjoy darkly comedic, genre-blending tales that weave historical figures with fantastical elements and irreverent humor.

Anima Rising is a romp through Vienna on the. eve of WWI where Gustav Klimt rescues a not-dead young woman from a canal setting off a chain of events both bizarre and absurd. The past of the unidentified girl Klimt eventually names Judith is told in flashbacks beginning in the Arctic aboard the Prometheus where Frankenstein is rescued from the ice. He is dragging a crate containing his apparatus and a not-dead girl and pursued by Adam..Along the way we meet Geoff, the not-quite Malamute, a dead Dutch policeman and others, in pursuit of Judith. Freud, Jung, and other luminaries of the time plus Klimt's nubile young models give a free-spirited, typical Moore flavor to this thoroughly surreal tale. The pleasure is in the details but be sure to read the trigger warning. Thanks go to NetGalley and the publishers for this advance reader copy.

Like Christopher Moore’s other works, there is a great humor and fun here that makes the story really shine. I will say to absolutely follow the trigger warnings, because the subject matter is darker if you’re used to older stories like Bloodsucking Fiends. It is still a well written and very enjoyable read if you’re ok with the content.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A fan of Moore, but sadly, not this novel.

I adore Christopher Moore. His book, Lamb, is perhaps one of my favorite novels. I was thrilled, therefore, to be chosen to read an advanced copy of his latest novel, “Anima Rising”.

I wanted to love this book. I tried to live this book. But I found it fell short as compared to his previous novels.

When describing the book, it almost sounds like a good joke; “what do you get when you mix early 20th century figures like Austrian painters, Hitler, Freud, Jung, and Frankenstein?”. But the result is just a decoupage lacking in lacquer.

Moores humor abounds, along with what feels like an urgent need to feel like an historic/gothic novel, combined with an art history textbook. Maybe it’s too heavy-handed in each, maybe it feel like it can’t decide which one it wants to be. But the resulting stew sat a bit too heavy in my mental belly.

There are some gems within perfectly embody the Moore feel; I hoped for more of those. My take: worth it for a fan of the author, but certainly not his best work.

I stopped reading this book at around 30%.
I was so excited to read this book because I am a huge fan of Christopher Moore, but this book seems to be full of all the worst parts of men. It includes themes of domestic violence, Sexual Assault, pedophilia, and Incest. In classic Christopher Moore there attempts of humor within these dark themes, however the jokes fell flat to me because the whole book is centered around how oppressed and abused women and teen girls were at this time.

There are trigger warnings in the beginning of this book. I thought it would be fine as I am not usually so sensitive to darker themes. Those dark themes aren’t just sprinkled in they are the entire theme of the book. As a woman and a mother, especially in this current political climate, I could not make it through the book. It was upsetting to read.

It is still written in classic Christopher Moore style and there were moments I found funny, but for me, the underlying theme was to serious to make light of. It will probably appeal to readers who aren’t as sensitive to the darker themes of this book as I am.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book.

I love Christopher Moore and I can't believe this is the first time I've reviewed one of his books. Honestly there were only two reasons this wasn't a 5-star read for me. The first isn't really on the author, but the publisher. Throughout the book there are copies of artwork by the various artists mentioned throughout the story. However, in the e-book version the images weren't showing properly. I did send a note to the publisher to let them know, so hopefully this gets fixed.

The other reason is that the third act fell a little flat for me. It felt too much like Moore didn't know where to end the story. I liked the characters and that the story did have a full circle arc, but I would have appreciated if there could have been more agency on Judith's behalf. Too much it felt like plot was just happening to her and she didn't really have any way to guide the story.

I did love the historical aspect of the story and all the research that went into the book. Wally was easily the best character. She fully understood the roles that were available to her as an unmarried lower-class woman in the early 20th century. Wally was such a practical character compared to Judith's more impulsive nature. I thought they made such a good pair, and I loved the depiction of their friendship. I also love that Moore used photos, letters, and therapy sessions to tell the story. It felt more real to me.

This is a fun novel and a great interpretation of the Frankenstein story. Moore also didn't shy away from how disappointing history can be. Sure, Gustav Klimt was a genius painter. But he also took advantage of his models.

If you enjoy a good historical fiction with humor and a little bit of science fiction, you'll love this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

What happens when you put Gustav Klimt, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Frankenstein together in one book? In the hands of author Christopher Moore it becomes an absolutely beautiful, mesmerizing tale.

It is 1911 in Vienna. Gustav Klimt is perhaps the best known artist in all of Austria. Late one night he discovers the body of a nude woman in the Danube canal. While the 'right' thing to do would be to call for a policeman, Klimt, taken with the sight, must first make a sketch of the woman. But while doing so, the woman coughs. Stunned that she's alive and not dead, Klimt gets her to his studio where his muse and model - a woman named Wally - tend to her.

The nearly-drowned girl doesn't remember anything about who she is or how she came to be in the canal, and her personality is quite animalistic. Klimt chooses to call her Judith and seeks the help of Sigmund Freud (who seeks the help of Carl Jung) to find out who she is. The answer, however, is unexpected and unbelievable.

I see Christopher Moore's books in the store all the time but I've only read one of his books, and I didn't much care for it. So I come to this book not as a fan of Christopher Moore, but because of the description of the story. And I'm so glad I did.

This is such a well-crafted, tightly-designed story. Any tangents manage to circle back and tie nicely in with the arc of the book.

One of Moore's trademarks is his humor (or so I gather) and the humor here is spot-on. It's often subtle or integrated into the narrative such that you can only take the moment to smile rather than laugh because you want to keep on reading.

Almost as good as the book itself is Moore's Afterword, detailing some the facts behind the figures and the work. Wally - the unsung hero in the story - was real?! How cool is this! (And damn the Nazis for burning the only painting of her!)

I just loved, loved, loved this book. My Kindle ARC includes some small B&W images of Klimt's work.

Looking for a good book? Anima Rising by Christopher Moore is a perfect tale.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Part history, part fantasy, and all creativity. I'm always fascinated to read new work from Christopher Moore. This book does not disappoint in its craft, research foundation, or capacity for imagination.

A fun read, full of jokes and surrealism that feels super disorienting but also engaging. Offputting in the best way!