Absurd Sexist Commentary on the Fragility of the Mad Womankind
Christopher Moore, Anima Rising: A Novel: Klimt, Freud, and Jung Meet the Bride of Frankenstein (New York: William Morrow: HarperCollins Publishers, May 13, 2025). EBook, 6X9”. 400pp: Fantasy; Humorous Fiction. ISBN: 978-0-062434-15-9.
**
“…Deranged tale of a mad scientist, a famous painter, and an undead woman’s electrifying journey of self-discovery. Vienna, 1911. Gustav Klimt, the most famous painter in the Austrian Empire, the darling of Viennese society, spots a woman’s nude body in the Danube canal. He knows he should summon a policeman, but he can’t resist stopping to make a sketch first. And as he draws, the woman coughs. She’s alive! Back at his studio, Klimt and his model-turned-muse Wally tend to the formerly-drowned girl. She’s nearly feral and doesn’t remember who she is, or how she came to be floating in the canal. Klimt names her Judith, after one of his most famous paintings, and resolves to help her find her memory. With a little help from Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, Judith recalls being stranded in the arctic one hundred years ago, locked in a crate by a man named Victor Frankenstein, and visiting the Underworld. So how did she get here? And why are so many people chasing her, including Geoff, the giant croissant-eating devil dog of the North?”
The cover of this novel is one of the best in this set. It satirizes a canonical painting’s style, while adding amusing touches that include a pair of simplified hands drawing the scene, a black cat grabbing onto a character in the title, and a swampy flower-and-grass in water background. The mix of realistic details, glittering gold paint, and abstraction and simplification is skillfully executed. The name of the artist is not mentioned in this review copy.
The opening scene is certainly descriptively dense, as it draws a detail painting of what it is like for a painter to discover the body of a naked deceased woman floating: he stops to draw her instead of calling the police because he is mystified by her figure. This is a curious commentary about our cell-phone-video-catching culture that tends to stop at accidents, murders and the like to film it, instead of helping those in trouble. It is more important to make yourself important by catching a captivating image than to become a hero by helping those in need. But apparently this woman turns out to still be alive, and the painter proceeds to get to know her. Though once again the amnesia device is used to explain why no explanation is given for the nature of this central mystical character. She does not remember who she is.
Freud is first mentioned in a quote that refers to “young” women’s “despair” that he labeled as “hysteria”. This is a sexist psychological theory. And it is followed by a description of somebody jumping “naked”. In the next mention of Freud, he appears as a character, who is “reading from a brief and diligently not talking to his companion at the table”: probably Jung, though the next named character is Klimt.
Jung is quoted for his theory of the “shadow personality” before a question is raised if a character has exposed his privates to Judith.
Mentions of the Underworld are absurdist: in one there is a note that Judith was hungrier than others in the Underworld, so that she could “eat a whole walrus”, and so Sedna “healed her, gave her all the food she wanted.” The character this is related to asks: “Who is Sedna?” Apparently, no previous backstory had been offered. Instead of answering this simple question the character who mentioned Sedna asks several questions in return that avoid doing research into who Sedna is, or generally continuing the narrative in a logical, or readable way.
The reference to Geoff, the croissant-eating devil-dog in the blurb caught my interest. But the first mention of somebody eating a croissant refers to Wally, which deflates the symbolic significance of this particular snack as it relates to this special devil-dog. Later there are several references to croissants as payments that are being brought to a character who likes them. This reads like an ad for this snack, without any meaning overlayed over these dozens of references.
An unusually large part of this book is consumed by the “Afterword” that describes the author’s research into the historical alterations across the plot, including places where Freud, and Jung are mentioned.
While the blurb explains that amnesia prevents the initially naked female subject from explaining what happened to her, exposition is instead provided in lengthy, detailed letters, especially Letter #2 addressed to Margaret in 1799 from the “Far North”, which describes a thawing out male friend called Victor Frankenstein. But details such as that he is from the “landed gentry” are diverted with a paragraph about women being lucky not to “inherit… property” or to worry about “destiny”. Though the next paragraph notes Victor “studied… ancient alchemists at university”, specializing in “the Elixir of Life”, or “philosopher’s stone”. It is common in pop fiction to confuse alchemy (turning metals into gold), with life-extending sciences, as thus stones tend to be claimed to be life-giving, whereas the “elixir” was fluid in the early unreferenced texts.
The novel ends with a nonsense conversation where characters do not understand each other, as one of them is suggesting sexual things that are misread by another, and everybody just seems to be saying nonsense. For example, one of them asks if they should “be a talking squirrel”.
While the opening scene promised this will be a dark but literary mystical novel, the interior proves it is mostly full of nonsensical hot air. This novel should not be read. It will frustrate and confuse anybody who attempts reading it despite this warning.
Pennsylvania Literary Journal: Spring 2025 issue: https://anaphoraliterary.com/journals/plj/plj-excerpts/book-reviews-spring-2025

I had read several Christopher Moore books when I was twenty. I tried rereading one of them a few months ago and was embarrassed I ever liked that book.

Anima Rising is by far my favorite Christopher Moore book, and I intend to buy those I have not read, as there is a slight chance he has gradually improved every years of the last two decades until he deserved every word of praise I once lavished upon him.

Anima Rising might actually be one of my favorite books. I was in love with the premise, Judith and Wally, the weirdness, the spiritual elements. I laughed audibly. I cried a few times. I adored it so much that, upon finishing, I immediately skimmed Wikipedia entries to figure out how Moore could eventually write a sequel, which I decided was unlikely. That was all the Judith and Wally I would ever get.

All that said (and sincerely meant), I can’t recommend this book. I have tried repeatedly, but must throw in, “I mean, there is just a staggering amount of sexual assault. It’s not gross or anything, and it is not for titillation, but you should know.” At this point, my audience shakes their heads, as this is a no-go.

So, please, I beseech you, if you can possibly stomach a book that involves the occasional *checks notes* corpse rape, pick up this book.

The Bride of Frankenstein meets a “cluster of geniuses” in 1911 and undergoes a search for who she is, where she came from and how she came to be.

Based on real people this book was quite the history lesson as I spent a great amount of time googling people and places and enjoying the artwork from this time.

The story is told very much in the typical offbeat, slightly raunchy humor that is Christopher Moore, though I am pretty sure this is his first book that has come with trigger warnings even though I imagine most people would want to use headphones if they had small children or grandmothers present - well, my grandmother would have delighted in his work but I digress.

I received an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Harper Collins in exchange for my honest review.

'Anima Rising' is darker than most Christopher Moore novels and even has an author's note with trigger warnings. It centers around the discovery of the bride of Frankenstein's monster, known as Judith within the book. Even though there is dark subject matter, humor, both light and dark, shines through. There are also historical figures, such as Gustav Klimt, Freud, and Jung. Hitler even makes an appearance. While this novel may not approve to some, I enjoyed it. 4.5 stars.

Artists and models, gods and monsters, malamutes and polar bears, doctors and scientists, coffee and croissants, musicians and fashionistas, even a cameo by the failed wannabe artist who would go on to be the biggest real life monster of all.

Yes it must be Christopher Moore with his latest send up of, whatever. He's done Shakespeare, vampires, Film Noir, all sorts of mythological figures, even Jesus and his best friend Biff. He's done real life artists before in Sacre Bleu.

In Anima Rising, early 20th century Viennese superstar artist Gustav Klimt pulls a drowned woman from a canal. Similarly, many years earlier, the captain of an icebound ship in the Arctic finds a dead woman in a crate. She surprises both by coming back to life.

I don't believe she's ever named as such but it's clear early on that she's the Bride of Frankenstein, or more precisely the wife created by Dr. Frankenstein for his famous monster. And she's one of the most remarkable, endearing, and funny characters you will ever meet, in the hands of the incomparable Moore.

Most of Anima Rising is the slow recollection of her story, first through letters written by the ship's captain, then through her regression sessions with Freud and Jung, who discover that she's inhabited by Inuit gods she encountered in the underworld.

The real life figures from the Viennese art world, including Egon Schiele and his model and lover Wally, in addition to Klimt, provide additional subplots, painting a interesting picture of Vienna's pre-WWI genius cluster, as Moore calls it.

A great read for Moore fans for sure, probably a good read for readers new to him. I bet this will be a real hoot in audio if they get a good narrator and director. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is honestly awesome!

Like the intricate patterns in a Gustav Klimt painting......

And speaking of Klimt, he's here walking through the first pages of Anima Rising. It's 1911 in Vienna and Klimt is finding his way home after a night of imbibing into the wee hours. His eyes happen to find their way along the Danube canal where he spots a young woman in the water. She appears to be dead. A news boy notices this as well and he helps Klimt bring the woman to his studio.

Wally, Klimt's model and muse, rushes to bring the woman in. With Wally's help, "Judith" begins to recover. And it is the tale of Judith that sets this novel spinning. We'll soon be in the presence of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Christopher Moore guarantees a novel chock full of recognizable names for the good and for the bad.

Anima Rising will certainly not be for everyone and certainly Christopher Moore will not be for everyone. Moore's humor is light at times and heavy heavy at other times. Please note that Moore follows the era in its disregard of women and their despicable treatment by men and society. That can be very offputting in itself. Moore is known for his convoluted storylines that twist and knot and then twist and knot again. There are shocking situations which may not float for everyone. Be aware.

My favorite of Moore's is Sacre Bleu which is a masterpiece. Start there and then ease your way into his writings. Christopher Moore doesn't follow the breadcrumbs......he bakes his own version of them.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to William Morrow and to the very original Christopher Moore for the opportunity.

Christopher Moore has written another highly entertaining book in the way only he can. Sublime humor. Tricky subject matter at times, but always approached with care even if borderline offensive.
He has perfected the ability to weave the stories of real historical figures like Klimt and Schiele, with equally as famous fictional characters and make it totally believable.
Take a trip to Vienna you won’t be disappointed!

Many thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

I finished this book in due time. Christopher Moore never ceases to amaze me. Right off the bat it was a pretty funny story to begin with. Sucked me in until the end. I will always read his books.

What a weird, hilarious, and fantastic book. Calling it Poor Things + Bride of Frankenstein is spot-on.

A feral girl, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Gustav Klimt are a wild combination, and I loved every minute of it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.

This book definitely works better if you have some background on the real historical figures in it. That said, it's a very enjoyable story with a lot of whimsy and excellent pacing. I usually read Chris Moore's books via audiobook, but I was lucky to be able to read this as an ebook via #NetGalley #ARC.

Very inventive, but frequently boring. At times the events are rather humanly brutal to add shock value. If anything, Klimt is the monster more than Adam.

I very much enjoyed Wally and was surprised to find she was actually a real historical figure. To me, Wally is the true hero of this inventive romp through Vienna in the early 20th century. And Judith is quite a hoot. Together they echo Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy, the 2 DC comics heroines.

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

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Anima Rising follows several characters from history – both real and fiction – during the early years of the twentieth century. At its core, the story asks the question: what would happen if Frankenstein’s bride had survived her disastrous, forced, unwanted marriage, and turned up over a century later in the care of famous painter Gustav Klimt?

A seemingly gratuitous and ridiculous question, that someone comes to involve the First World War, Sigmund Freud, Norse mythology, and a murder mystery, but made for one of the best pieces of absurdist fiction I have ever read.

The story revolves around Judith, Frankenstein’s immortal bride, as she recovers her life’s memories after her first resurrection, forges new friendships amongst the talented by very poorly behaved artist community in Vienna, and attempts to forge a new life for herself that doesn’t include the mysterious Dutch policeman on her tail.

Moore’s work is a lesson in art history that doesn’t feel dry in the slightest. The novel addresses incredibly dark themes with candor and humor, that manage to alleviate the seriousness into something palatable and extremely entertaining. A very creative and innovative approach to this collision of two stories that has the characters leaping off the page.

If you are interested in this work, please carefully research trigger warnings. The novel includes sexual harassment and assault towards women, death and murder of both humans and dogs, teenage pregnancy, significant discussion of mental health, among other things.

This is the first of Moore’s work that I’ve read, but I am already planning to check out his catalogue. Awesome stuff.

Classic Christopher Moore! Absurd? You bet. Crass? Of course. Entertaining? Guaranteed.

Admittedly, sometimes the author took some questionable paths (did we need a Hitler cameo?), but I loved his detailed explanations in the afterword.

It's been a while since I've read a Christopher Moore book. I had forgotten how bizarre his stuff can be. This book was...okay. It seemed a little forced at times, and I felt like he could easily have sheared off pages and not lost any major part of the story, but it had its moments. Overall, not my favorite Moore book, but it wasn't a bad way to spend a week.

I normally love the satirical metaphoric, work of Moore. However, this one is much darker, and not as amusing as his norm. Perhaps it was the subject matter that is darker( sexual abuse, or just how everything is presented...As always, his characters are very strong and interesting, but the storyline just wavers back and forth. Forth and while you get the Frankenstein ark, there's a lot that seems out of place (AKA the dog deaths) that makes one wonder if the author was bored and added something in to make it sound more exciting but really just threw off the story. Not my favorite of his books by a long shot and giving it three stars is really just based on the characters. Otherwise it would be more like a 2 to if you're a fan of the authors, you'll want to read it, but for those new to his works, I would skip and move to one of his earlier books.

I used to be a massive Christopher Moore fan. His sardonic style, his wit, his ability to combine satire with heart was something I often looked forward to. A Dirty Job is one my favorite re-reads.

While Anima Rising is well-written, I didn't connect with the story or the characters as much as I'd hoped. Personal preference here, but I was also immediately turned off by the incestuous scenes toward the beginning. Credit to the author and publisher for the warning at the front of the text, but I wish it had been more specific.

That said, I recommend taking a look for yourself and forming your own opinion.

I did not like this. I think I have out grown this author. Far too many jokes made at the expense of women and minorities. The sexualization of Judith from the jump was off putting and the trigger warning at the beginning of this book is not comprehensive enough. If the main character is raped daily over a 2-4 week period, rape should be listed as a trigger warning not just sexual assault. Additionally there is a lot of animal abuse and death that was not covered in the trigger warning. The use of a racial slur to describe Inuit people was also not covered in the trigger warning. Very disappointed in this book.

Christopher Moore at it again. I cannot express how much I enjoy everything he does but this one is likely to become of my favorites. Hilarity at its best. Laugh out loud fun for sure.

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.