This book is pure, glorious madness in the best way. It left me breathless. I’m still thinking about it, still wishing I could read it again for the first time. It’s bold. It’s brilliant. It’s everything I ever wanted from a queer, feral, reimagined classic.

I adored every page. This was messy and beautiful and unreal in the most glorious way. A queer, gothic gem that breathes fiery new life into both Austen and Shelley while still being something entirely its own.

Melinda Taub, you come here and answer for your crimes IMMEDIATELY! How DARE you write an actual masterpiece and allow MY eyes to behold it??

I need at least 7-10 business days to process this book. It just slammed me into the worst book hangover of my life and I am quite unwell, actually. I need more. Do you hear me, Miss Taub? MORE. Expeditiously.

If I could give this book 100 stars, I would. And I will. Take my 100 stars while I recover.

A sapphic Frankenstein retelling including the Bennet sisters?? Sign me up. This book sucked me in immediately. I was laughing, gasping, giggling, kicking my feet. Miss Mary might be my favorite protagonist of all time. The Sir Gregory/Sir Holzmann friendship was everything I wanted and more. And the way the story is written: letters and journal entries. Spectacular, give me 14 more of them.

This was an ARC I was kindly gifted but best believe as soon as it is released to the general public, I will be buying my very own copy. Meanwhile, I will take myself onward to the next book about Miss Lydia Bennet, and I expect to not be bothered until my reading is complete.

Good day.

**I received this digital ARC FROM NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity!**

Are you a fan of retellings? Do you like Frankenstein? Do you enjoy sci fi or fantasy books? Do you like books with really cool covers? If you answered yes to any of the questions you need to get this book ASAP!

I love Frankenstein so my standards were a bit impossibly high for this book and I was also in a reading slump and this book pulled me out of a slump.

I had chills. I giggled. I rooted for the protagonist’s rights and wrongs. I loved every page of this story.

This book would be so cool as a limited edition copy too ugh.

-Frankenstein vibes
-Strong FMC
-Spooky science experiments
-Mystery!
-Very tense vibes
-Amazing execution and ending


I’ll be dreaming about this book. I’m going to try to find more books like this because this one was so good. Brain chemistry altered.

Also I would also pick the globe if it were me, just saying. You’ll know what I mean once you read this.

Thank you so much for this ARC! I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily.