Eynhallow

I was excited when I requested and received an advance reader copy of Eynhallow from NetGalley. I received a free digital copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

I studied Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in university and I love other gothic fiction authors like Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe, and H.P. Lovecraft. When I read the synopsis for Eynhallow and saw that it was a revisitation of Frankenstein I wanted in!

The narrator, Agnes Tulloch, lives on the island of Eynhallow, which is a real place in Orkney, Scotland. The tiny village of Eynhallow is bleak, foggy, and windswept. The atmosphere is described so vividly that you can feel the dampness in your bones. The bright spots in Agnes’ life are her precious children and her one best friend, but aside from that, her life has been rough until now, and she hopes for an opportunity to change her circumstances. When the mysterious Victor Frankenstein arrives on the island, we wonder whether he will be a blessing or a curse for Agnes.

The main characters in Eynhallow are fully fleshed out. It is easy to get caught up in Agnes’ joys and fears for herself and the ones she loves. In the typical gothic novel style, the monstrous and grotesque elements of the story are described in just enough detail to allow one’s imagination to roam. The themes of ambition, isolation, and arrogance, that Frankenstein was famous for, are some of the main themes in this novel, too.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to gothic horror fans. I hope that you make yourself a strong hot toddy and read it on a dark and rainy night.

This was a solid novel. I was sucked in from page one and I did not leave disappointed. I'm weary with retellings, but this stood on its own while also respecting the source material. It's incredibly well written, without being too simplistic or pretentious. I definitely wouldn't mind picking up a physical copy of this and will be looking out for this author in the future.

To start, I absolutely loved this novel. Devoured it. I didn’t realize it was a Frankenstein retelling because I had just seen the author and had to have it. I loved The Wasps in the Ice Cream. This author is now an auto buy for me,

The writing style is captivating. The storytelling keeps you wanting more. I would’ve read this in one night if I didn’t need sleep.

Loved!

I went into this blind, enchanted by the cover and trusting the author. I loved the writing, the plot, the characters, the setting, and, of course - the iconic creature and its creator. The mere name of "Frankenstein" gives me chills. And it was a nice surprise to find out afterwards that Eynhollow is a real place off the north coast of Scotland, with its own folklore. The writing is to be admired: it combines gritty realism with a claustrophobic atmosphere, to create a well-paced narrative with a very strong ending. Admittedly, not much happens: the story takes place in between Victor Frankenstein's exploits and does not really change much in the original novel. But McGregor shows a side of the story well worth exploring: heavy on emotion, grief and regret, it allows a glimpse into both Frankenstein and his "monster" otherwise unavailable. The real treat, however, is the female lead herself: her story is very simple, her life very familiar, but McGregor's stellar storytelling skills turns it into an absolutely immersive tale that pits science and motherhood against love and violence. Highly recommended!