http://dazzlingreads.blogspot.com/ This Dark Endeavor moved me to tears. I think I was living under a rock because this is the first book by Kenneth Oppel I ever read. Such an unforgivable sin! I will definitely read more of his book! But, once again, I am very short of words to express how much I love this book because this was absolute perfection! As a fan of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein myself, I have to say that Oppel blew my mind with this book. He created Victor Frankenstein's early years and illustrated the reasons and facts, that lead young Victor to become the famous Dr. Frankenstein. Oppel is a genius expressing characters' emotions. We can easily see the complex psychology of Victor and what makes him the way he is. His reasons for the search of the Elixir of Life are a complex collision of devoted brotherly love and jealousy. The Victor Frankenstein we meet at the beginning of the book is just a kid with complexes and insecurities that put him on the road of obsession for triumph. To find the cure, for Victor's severely sick identical twin, is the original seed that motivates him to create the Elixir of Life. To prove himself and others better than his perfect twin, jealousy and a love for a girl who does not reciprocate his feelings, are the fuel to Victor's veins that nourishes his obsession. But regardless all this mix of feelings, it is Victor's infinite love for his brothel is that moved me to tears. Science and Faith are both equally strong points of This Dark Endeavor. How people deal with what they want and how people deal with pain. I really love this aspect of the book because it doesn't separate both of them into 100% different categories, as we usually tempt to do. In this case, it is not always a matter of Science or Faith but Science and Faith working altogether. Devotion, love and sacrifice are only the tip of the iceberg. Kenneth Oppel teach us a life lesson through Victor's experience. Love combined with despair leads to recklessness. And recklessness combines with selfish motives leads to guilt. So much I would like to say, but I cannot do that without giving anything away. Oppel's writing style is beautiful and poetic. It warmed my heart read some of those verses and it gave me chills read others(yes, there are so scary creepy parts). The setting is beautifully shaped! A centuries old Castle near Geneve with an ancient dark library, near a river, with beautiful sunsets everyday. Kenneth Oppel gave me the place of my dreams! I would like to say so much more about what this book gave me but I think I already said too much. I want you to get This Dark Endeavor and read it because this is the kind of book you could recommend to everyone! doesn't matter the age or taste. And I know that This Dark Endeavor will absolutely be a bright spot in your life.

I'm always wary about YA novels centering around angels these days. Out of the ones that I've read, there have been both hits and misses... but I'm always willing to give the book the benefit of the doubt beforehand. However, I really shouldn't have had any worries regarding A Need So Beautiful because it has easily pulled itself apart from the rest to completely stand out on its own in a positively good way! Suzanne Young's absolutely beautiful writing blew me away. Her prose had what seemed to be a certain soft, melodic lilt that left me in awe and was so easy to read. Charlotte may be kind and selfless, but there are limits to how much she's willing to give up... and when you learn about her ultimate fate of being completely forgotten by her loved ones, your heart will break too. She only wants to lead a normal life, but there's nothing regular when it comes to being one of the Forgotten. As for the romance? Be prepared to completely swoon! Harlin. Harlin. Harlin. Oh my gosh, I really did fall for him. He's the epitome of the perfect bad boy image but has a golden, kind heart that will melt your own while leaving your spine tingling. Harlin's had a rough past but he would do anything in the world for Charlotte to make her happy and keep her safe. I have no idea what to make of the ending except that I absolutely need to know what will happen in the second novel, A Want So Wicked! A myriad of emotions must have crossed my face when I finished, that's for sure. Confusion, amazement, dismay, sadness, surprise and a great level of utter shock were definitely among them! I would have loved it if the novel were a bit longer though because I just couldn't accept the fact that I had already reach the final page. A Need So Beautiful will leave you just as breathless as its cover! Suzanne Young has offered a fresh, unique touch to the angel genre in what is easily her best novel to date so far! Just as Charlotte is constantly overcome with the Need to help others, you'll be finding it impossibly difficult to put this book down! You can also read this review at: http://midnightbloomreads.blogspot.com/2011/07/need-so-beautiful-by-suzanne-young.html