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The Other Frankenstein
In 1816, Elizabeth's life had been carefully planned for her. A home, a family, a life that she was trained to fill... and had never questioned if she wanted, until the future she expected was stolen from her.
In the present day, Heck's hopes and dreams have been destroyed, the life she was fighting for gone in an instant. Amid the devastation of her plans, she's determined to fight for her dreams.
Drawn together across time, Elizabeth Frankenstein and Heck Saville's parallel, intersecting stories encompass murder, loss, trauma and ultimately empowerment, in this stunning feminist reimagining of Frankenstein.
“It’s rare to find a wholly new and enthralling take on a classic. Olson’s reconstruction brings an intriguing and valuable perspective to the tale.” – Adrian Tchaikovsky
“Heartfelt, raw and atmospheric, this is Frankenstein made afresh, made real for right now. Enormously recommended.” – Paul Cornell
"Melissa F. Olson writes with razorblades made of moonlight" - Charles de Lint
Melissa F. Olson is the author of more than a dozen books in the Old World universe, the PI mystery The Big Keep, and numerous short stories and novellas, including the Nightshades trilogy.
In the present day, Heck's hopes and dreams have been destroyed, the life she was fighting for gone in an instant. Amid the devastation of her plans, she's determined to fight for her dreams.
Drawn together across time, Elizabeth Frankenstein and Heck Saville's parallel, intersecting stories encompass murder, loss, trauma and ultimately empowerment, in this stunning feminist reimagining of Frankenstein.
“It’s rare to find a wholly new and enthralling take on a classic. Olson’s reconstruction brings an intriguing and valuable perspective to the tale.” – Adrian Tchaikovsky
“Heartfelt, raw and atmospheric, this is Frankenstein made afresh, made real for right now. Enormously recommended.” – Paul Cornell
"Melissa F. Olson writes with razorblades made of moonlight" - Charles de Lint
Melissa F. Olson is the author of more than a dozen books in the Old World universe, the PI mystery The Big Keep, and numerous short stories and novellas, including the Nightshades trilogy.
- GenresRetellings
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 29, 2025
About the author
Melissa F. Olson
42 books1,745 followersMelissa F. Olson is a writer and film professor. Her work includes the comic ARCHAIC, the feminist horror novel The Other Frankenstein, and more than 20 urban fantasy novels and novellas, including the Scarlett Bernard series and the Boundary Magic novels. Her journalism and academic work has been published in The International Journal of Comic Art, the compilation Images of the Modern Vampire, Tor.com, and the Everyone's Gone to the Movies series.
Melissa has been a writing teacher, English professor, and TEDx presenter, but she now divides her time between writing and conventions, where she speaks about issues related to genre, feminism, writing, and parenting. Read more about her life and work at MFOlson.com.
Melissa has been a writing teacher, English professor, and TEDx presenter, but she now divides her time between writing and conventions, where she speaks about issues related to genre, feminism, writing, and parenting. Read more about her life and work at MFOlson.com.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 1, 2025
Excellent story
This story , spoke to me; not about the mechanics of Frankenstein, but about the hurt bad people impose on others they feel are weak.
The emotional, physical and mental journey of these characters spoke to me about life journey and it lifted my emotions up.
I think, like many of us, we feel different these days, than we expected in our life journey.
As always Melissa wrote an outstanding story !
This story , spoke to me; not about the mechanics of Frankenstein, but about the hurt bad people impose on others they feel are weak.
The emotional, physical and mental journey of these characters spoke to me about life journey and it lifted my emotions up.
I think, like many of us, we feel different these days, than we expected in our life journey.
As always Melissa wrote an outstanding story !
July 2, 2026
Frankenstein finally told from the right perspective
I've read retellings that update the setting, retellings that gender-swap the monster, retellings that add vampires — but Olson does something more interesting than any of that. She takes Elizabeth Frankenstein, the woman who barely exists in the original, and builds an entire world around her grief, her rage, and her survival. The dual timeline structure works beautifully — Elizabeth in 1816 and Heck in the present day mirror each other in ways that feel earned, not gimmicky. Olson doesn't soften the horror or the feminist critique, but she also never lets it become a lecture. It's atmospheric, emotionally raw, and surprisingly moving. One of the best classic reimaginings I've read in years.
I've read retellings that update the setting, retellings that gender-swap the monster, retellings that add vampires — but Olson does something more interesting than any of that. She takes Elizabeth Frankenstein, the woman who barely exists in the original, and builds an entire world around her grief, her rage, and her survival. The dual timeline structure works beautifully — Elizabeth in 1816 and Heck in the present day mirror each other in ways that feel earned, not gimmicky. Olson doesn't soften the horror or the feminist critique, but she also never lets it become a lecture. It's atmospheric, emotionally raw, and surprisingly moving. One of the best classic reimaginings I've read in years.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews