My thoughts
From the moment I saw the name “Mary Shelly” in the description, I knew I had to read Lost in Darkness.
When I first read Frankenstein back in high school, I knew that the poor monster had to be more than just an evil combination of some mad man desperate for solutions. Michelle Griep gave me the satisfaction of seeing what that might have looked like.
The poor Belfour family had endured more than enough, but then they are subject to the abuse of the true monster. I couldn’t help but wonder what Amilia and Colin’s father might have known that the mad doctor wasn’t as genius as he let on. Since it is fiction, I guess we will never know.
One character had a front row seat to the madness and was more than caught between a rock and a hard place. He was bound by commitment to his boss but the bond with the Belfour family just couldn’t seem to strengthen fast enough. I was more upset with him than Amilia was, in my opinion.
I was entranced in this story and couldn’t seem to put it down. It was chilling, heart breaking, and captivating —I couldn’t get enough. Of course, Michelle Griep is one of my favorite gothic writers.
***I was given a copy of this book from the publisher through CelebrateLit. Opinions are my own and a positive view was not required.
About the Book
Book: Lost in Darkness
Author: Michelle Griep
Genre: FICTION/ Christian/Romance
Release date: November 1, 2021
England, 1815
Amelia Balfour has one dream. . .to tour Egypt as a travel writer. But when her wish is finally within reach, her father dies, and her malformed brother Colin depends upon her to arrange for a revolutionary surgery. Amelia returns home, hoping he’ll recover before the ship sails for Cairo.
Former Navy surgeon Graham Lambert is sick—of travelling, loneliness, and especially the injustice of the world. Leaving behind the military, he partners with a renowned surgeon, the man who promises new life to Amelia’s brother.
But just as the operation begins, Graham suspects the surgeon is a fraud. After a botched procedure, Colin goes mad and escapes, terrorizing their neighbor, author Mary Godwin—planting the seed for her greatest creation, Frankenstein.
Can Amelia and Graham stop Colin before he destroys everyone in his path and find the tender soul still trapped inside…or will they be too late?
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the Christy Award-winning author of historical romances: A Tale of Two Hearts, The Captured Bride, The Innkeeper’s Daughter, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, The Captive Heart, Brentwood’s Ward, A Heart Deceived, and Gallimore, but also leaped the historical fence into the realm of contemporary with the zany romantic mystery Out of the Frying Pan.
More from Michelle
Are You a Monster Too?
“Look at that! The fattest girl in the class is the first one to get in line for a cupcake.”
Those words, spoken to me in junior high by a clueless boy, are forever seared into my memory. Just because I wasn’t a willowy stick-figure who didn’t match up to magazine covers, I was singled out. Made to feel ashamed. Made to feel like a monster.
Have you ever felt that way?
Chances are you have. We are all poked and prodded at some point in our lives…which brings up a few questions. How do you deal with the sometimes ugly perceptions with which others view you? How do you stop trying to prove your worth to others, when in their eyes you are somehow worthless? Why does God allow such hurtful things to happen anyway?
These are the questions I attempt to tackle in my new release, Lost in Darkness. And surprisingly enough, those are the very same issues contemplated in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Now hold on. Don’t go rolling your eyeballs quite yet—which is the usual response whenever Frankenstein is mentioned.
Most people’s conception of this great piece of literature has been forever ruined by Hollywood’s green creature. You know the one, the giant with bolts sticking out of his neck and a stiff-legged walk. So not true. The essence of Shelley’s “horror” story is instead about a creature who struggles with heartfelt needs that can only be met by his creator. In this story, Shelley respectfully handles the subject of what we owe our creator and what our creator’s responsibility is toward us as the created…the very same questions we all struggle with.
As does Colin Balfour, a man with a heart of gold and a face that causes children to scream. In Lost in Darkness, he hopes to undergo a life-changing surgery that will end his self-imposed isolation. But what really happens is a life change for his sister Amelia and the surgeon who tries to prevent it all from happening. For indeed, even if there be monsters, there is none so fierce as that which resides in man’s own heart.
Blog Stops
Life of Literature, November 29
Genesis 5020, November 29
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 29
The Write Escape, November 30
Betti Mace, November 30
Texas Book-aholic, November 30
Remembrancy, December 1
Inklings and notions, December 1
Blossoms and Blessings, December 1
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 2
Daysong Reflections, December 2
For Him and My Family, December 2
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 3
Bigreadersite, December 3
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, December 3
Locks, Hooks and Books, December 4
For the Love of Literature, December 4
SodbusterLiving, December 4
deb’s Book Review, December 5
Splashes of Joy, December 5
Back Porch Reads, December 5
Connie’s History Classroom, December 6
Simple Harvest Reads, December 6 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Mypreciousbitsandmusings, December 6
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 7
Through the fire blogs, December 7
Where Faith and Books Meet, December 8
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, December 8
Pause for Tales, December 8
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, December 9
Labor Not in Vain, December 9
To Everything There Is A Season, December 9
Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 10
Little Homeschool on the Prairie, December 10
The Meanderings of a Bookworm, December 10
Truth and Grace HomeschoolAcademy, December 11
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, December 11 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 11
Rachael’s Inkwell, December 12
Blogging With Carol, December 12
Connect in Fiction, December 12
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this book, it sounds like an awesome story, a must read for me
This one will be an emotion-wringer for me, I think.
Thank you so much for sharing. This sounds like a fabulous story. God bless you.