Her Creation

Dark Manor Chronicles #2

by Jeneane O'Riley

From USA Today bestselling author Jeneane O'Riley comes the next in a series of deliciously dark and whimsical standalone romances.


She brought him back from death.

Now he is the one thing she cannot survive losing.


In 1795, in a shadowed city of the Holy Roman Empire, Victoria Frankenstein is brilliant enough to rival any scientist, yet condemned to silence in a world that forbids women their power.

When her miracle surgeon father falls gravely ill, grief drives her to a heretical act. Beneath candlelight and prayers long abandoned, Victoria stitches life from death and calls a man back into cold flesh and waiting lungs.

What rises from her table is not a monster.

Bound to her by blood, breath, and the terrible intimacy of creation, he belongs to her in ways no living man ever could—and he knows it. He watches her. Learns her. Wants her with a hunger that borders on worship, and a possessiveness that should frighten her.

As desire coils into obsession, Victoria must face the truth she has always being wanted by her creation is a power she cannot control. His devotion is absolute, consuming, and beautiful, and in an empire that burns women for reaching beyond their place, loving him may be the most dangerous act of all.

Because she did not simply give him life. She made herself his reason for living.

And love, once stitched into existence, does not let go.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Dark Romance, Romantasy, Paranormal, Gothic, Paranormal Romance

448 pages, Paperback

First published August 25, 2026

Reviews

[Marissa C · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second installment in Jeaneane O’Riley’s Dark Manor Chronicles, although this can absolutely be read as a standalone. Having just read her “A Secret in the Garden” and being surprised on my enjoyment of it, I was looking forward to this reading. We all know I’m a sucker for a retelling and that Halloween is my favorite, so this was a definite immediate want to read for me, as it is a twist on “Frankenstein”.
This novel follows Victoria Frankenstein, daughter of Frankenstein and the reimagined awakening of The Creature, which she delightfully names Inno.
This was definitely an interesting take on the story. Readers should note that this far more gory and creepy than O’Riley’s previous installment (though that didn’t bother me too much).
There were times when there was not much dialogue, which made this one drag for me. It was around 20%-50% that dragged so much for me. I almost put it down, but decided to keep going. There were times I did enjoy the descriptions of Victoria’s dressed and the scene at the ball. But there were many times I felt like a lot of ideas were repeated (i.e. her loneliness, her not being able to be a doctor as a female, etc.) and many times I was like, “OK. I get it. Let’s move on”.
The relationship between Victoria and Inno was just a little too out there for me to latch onto. However, I really appreciated Victoria’s friendship with Helena and Victoria’s love for her family. And, despite the weirdness of their relationship, I was pleased with the ending.
Overall, this was not my favorite, and I struggled to push through it, but I think fans of dark, Gothic romance will probably enjoy.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️

This was the Frankenstein retelling of my dreams. It was spooky. It was gruesome. It had a gothic old castle. It had a hot ‘monster.’ It just had the best spooky, gothic vibes and a dark love story forming in between the lines.

Thanks to Jeneane and Sourcebooks Audio for an ALC of her next novel in the Dark Manor Chronicles.

Pub Date: 25 Aug 2026.

[Britt ♡]

DNF @ 47%

She hasn’t even created the creature yet almost halfway through the book!!!! HE IS THE LOVE INTEREST. I’m sorry, I can’t. I’m too impatient.

[AnxiousCloud · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
Thank you Netgalley & publisher for this ARC.

When I heard about Her Creation with my love for Frankenstein & adaptations on this I knew I wanted to read this book.
Victoria is our FMC and creator of life from death - add in fem rage & obsession and you have yourself an engaging book I was hooked on from go.
Set in the 1700s it’s gothic, it’s brooding,
& Dark. You’ll love this if you love gothic romance, yearning, obsessive MMC and strong FMC.
The grief & loneliness in this resonated with me while I myself going through grief.
This is told via journal entries & logbooks which I did struggle with getting into especially at the beginning but once I was used to it the story flowed. This is slow paced esp the middle but Inno & his devotion was yearning done well.
I love re tellings that are done well and I think this one was especially with switching it up from a female POV.
Definitely add to cart when it releases in August 2026 🥀

[thebeespot72 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m the type of reader who can see the story as a movie in my head. It certainly helps when the story is written in a way that enables that. Her Creation is my first Jeneane O’Riley book. I must say, her writing style blows me away. It is described as dark fantasy—everything is highly descriptive, from the scenery to the characters and their emotions. I could see everything playing out so well. The Frankstein retelling—as it is gender swapped—made for an interesting story. The romance in itself between Victoria and Inno was everything I could have imagined and more. And the ending left me going on a deep dive.

Thank you to Bloom Books and Author Jeneane O’Riley for the gifted e-copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Queen Jeneane did it again, anything she writes is a must read for me and she hasn’t disappointed with this one !!! Revenge is a dish best served with maggots 😂!!! Loved this Frankenstein retelling with a twist, their story was quite the emotional one. I was definitely rooting for the monster. Everything just tied together perfectly in this story!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[itsmagicallysarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel so conflicted with this book!!! I loved the writing and the yearning so so much BUT the pacing kept taking me out of the story. Some things dragged on so much, while others, like the romance, felt like we were begging for crumbs

[Faith | bookswith_faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

i am so sad this book is over. 😭
oh my gosh, this was incredible.
if you've ever wondered what it would be like if Dr. Frankenstein were a woman, read this immediately. and if you had a crush on Jacob Elordi's Creature... definitely read this.
as a total Frankenstein snob who lives for retellings of my favorite novel, i absolutely adored this. after loving the first book in the series, i had high expectations and O'Riley somehow exceeded them. it follows the familiar outline of Shelley's story while weaving in O'Riley's own dark, hauntingly beautiful twist.
Innominatus's yearning, devotion, and complete obsession with Victoria was absolutely unmatched. my heart broke for him in his isolation and desperate love for her, while Victoria's denial of her feelings frustrated me to no end. they both made me want to scream but that made them feel even more real and lovable.
the slow burn was achingly painful in the best of ways and the payoff was beautiful. my only complaint is that i wanted even more of their love story. i wish this book was longer!
the audiobook was phenomenal. the narrator brought every character to life, and her voice reminded me of the unicorn from The Last Unicorn, which made the experience even more magical and special to me.
beyond the romance the book doesn't shy away from the heartbreaking realities of how women were treated during that time period, while also celebrating the strength, friendship, and camaraderie between women. this book explored a lot of hard themes which i loved.
there is so much grief woven throughout this story but beneath all the heartbreak is an incredibly beautiful love story.
i adored the brief nods to the Creature's portrayal in classic film adaptations towards the end, that was such a cute touch.
as someone who's spent years wishing for a kinder fate for my beloved Creature, this retelling gave me exactly the bittersweet and gorgeous story i have always wanted for him.
Mary Shelley would have loved this book!
i highly recommend it if you love Frankenstein or are looking for a dark paranormal romance that will make you feel all the feelings. i loved it so much!
thank you netgalley and sourcebooks audio for the early eARC and ALC

[Chloe Ortmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A retelling of Frankenstein that is a true ode to Mary Shelley! ⚡️🖤⚡️

This novel is like a love letter to gothic hearts and those deemed strange or unusual. This feminist retelling of Frankenstein is a fresh take on a classic tale that I genuinely feel Mary Shelley, (the author of Frankenstein and mother of the science fiction genre,) would be enchanted by.

The tale opens with the backstory of our FMC, Victoria, who leads a life rife with longing to do what men in scientific research are doing. Victoria does, however, maintain a balance of “feminine” hobbies, like cross-stitch, to keep her traditional mother happy. But after her mother’s untimely demise, she unburdens herself from trying to maintain a double life and commits more thoroughly to her scientific work, training under her surgeon father in secret.

This leads to more speculation about her odd and unusual ways in the village, all while Victoria is ravaged by insurmountable grief. This grief leads her to a growing obsession with reanimation and conquering death. With the help of her father, she begins experiments, and in time, Victoria becomes a master of medical science. It is all done in secret, though, as these acts are illegal during this time period, and she would be tried and executed for her dutiful deeds.

As this is a Frankenstein retelling, you can assume, and you would be correct, that Victoria is successful in her act of reanimating a man. A man who, in his previous life, was a very successful contract killer…But this unprecedented experiment comes at a price, and the ethical implications of what she has created haunt her relentlessly.

Honestly, Victoria’s inner dialogue and repeated denial of self were, at times, hard to endure. But I had to remind myself that her moral compass, family legacy, and the time period compelled her to be distraught over her longing for the man she created.

The MMC is the reanimated man, and his obsession with Victoria is absolutely DELICIOUS to read. The lengths to which he goes to prove his love are astounding, but so are the lengths to which he goes to become the monster Victoria claims him to be...

As the old saying goes, hurt people HURT people, and in Victoria’s case, she cuts deep! (Pun absolutely intended! 😂) Victoria has a heartbreaking life and, unfortunately, does not cope with it well. In her defense, she has practically no support and suffocating loneliness. However, the things she says to the MMC (after reanimation) while denying her attraction and feelings are menacing and extremely toxic. It teeters on—and falls beyond—the boundaries of a typical bully romance.

But rest assured, the climax of this story is worth the slow agonizing burn. It’s stunning in its delivery and a dark gothic dream on the page. And if you know Mary Shelley’s lore, it is a beautiful homage to her legacy. I noticed many Easter Egg moments throughout that I believe relate to Mary’s own life and writing.

I greatly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it, especially if you already love dark Victorian retellings. While I still need to read A Secret in the Garden by Jeneane O’Riley, I feel it will be another slam dunk for me. I can hardly wait to see what else she creates for her next installment in The Dark Manor Chronicles series.

Thank you to author Jeneane O’Riley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for the opportunity to review this spectacular book! 💖

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has several content warnings at the front, and every one of them is earned. If any of them concern you, this is not the book for you.

'Her Creation' is a feminine (not necessarily feminist) retelling of the Frankenstein story, in which young Victoria grows up with her eccentric doctor father in a run-down castle in a forest where he alternates between perfecting his surgical techniques on cadavers and stitching up the wealthy landowners' wastrel sons after their drunken reckless exploits. Victoria is dreaming of learning reincarnation to restore her much-missed mother, and assumes her father is working toward the same end. As with many modern retellings, there are female friendships to counter the traditional solitary-genius trope. Nods to same-sex relationships that wouldn't be discussed openly in that era, and other nods to modern sensibilities that were not, to me, particularly intrusive or distracting (ymmv).

The framing is of a female scholar signing on with a shipboard expedition to map the great northern wastes, when they find a very large, much-scarred man seemingly half-frozen on the ice. The scholar keeps a journal about her patronizing and patriarchal treatment by the crew that soon elides, after meeting the monster and his mystery-woman maker, into a recounting of how the unlikely pair ended up there. There are some philosophical musings from the aging doctor about the nature of life, politics, morality, and the responsibilities of healers. Much of the language and atmosphere is redolent of the original text, though filtered through a feminine narrator..

The erotic fascination with the monster is writ larger upon the page than in any previous retelling I've encountered. The monster's obsession with her is also deeply explored. Think Wuthering Heights meets, well, Frankenstein. If you're reading for the slow-burn, dark, sexual energy, you won't be disappointed.

If you're not, the scholar seen so briefly may feel like the more interesting character. While the fiction of her recording Victoria's story continues in dated headers, the story and voice is all Victoria's (or, occasionally, the monster's inner narrative) for 95% of the novel. It starts too early in Victoria's young life and goes too long on too little forward motion beyond the passage of time, with too much interior musing between lines of dialogue or brief action sequences. Victoria's actions and reactions don't always seem credible. Too many pages are taken up with circular anguished emoting that leads nowhere, while the narrative largely glosses over her reaction/response to a very realistic and repeatedly traumatizing situation that is certain to be quite triggering for unwary readers. The writing is occasionally clumsy and self-contradicting, throwing us out of the fictive historical-seeming world with words like 'okay' and phrases about 'outing' someone dropped into the midst of scenes that should be the most immersive of all. It needed a sensitive copy-edit to keep the author's enthusiastic prose from charging past peak emotional and sensual impacts in a gush of weakening words and phrases.

And yet... there are moments, short speeches, a touch here or a gaze there, filled with love and depth and searing clarity that make it worth reading to the end.

#ThanksNetGalley #HerCreation #FrankensteinRetold #DarkFantasy #erotic #sensual #scary

[Karolina Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a 4.5⭐️

Give me a gloomy manor, forbidden medical experiments, grief that refuses to behave and a man who literally comes back from the dead completely devoted to his creator… and apparently I’m supposed to make reasonable reading choices? Yeah, no. This book is a dark, gothic Frankenstein retelling that leans hard into grief, obsession, loneliness, forbidden science and the very complicated question of what happens when love and desperation convince you that playing God is a fantastic idea.

Victoria was such a complicated character for me. I understood her grief and her obsession with bringing back the people she had lost and I loved watching her grow into her abilities despite living in a time when being a woman with scientific ambitions basically made everyone clutch their pearls. But GIRL. Some of the choices she made had me staring at my Kindle like are we seriously doing this right now?

And then there’s Inno.

Oh. Inno.

This man is devoted on a completely different level. His attachment to Victoria is intense, possessive and honestly a little terrifying at times, but there was something heartbreaking about watching someone who has been given a second chance at life desperately searching for love, acceptance and a place to belong. Their relationship is absolutely not healthy. Let me make that VERY clear. There were moments when I was fascinated by their dynamic and others where I wanted to sit both of them down and say “Please seek professional help. Preferably from someone who is not currently conducting illegal experiments in a creepy laboratory.”

The gothic atmosphere was probably one of my favorite parts. Everything felt cold, lonely, eerie and beautifully unsettling. The medical experimentation and reanimation elements gave the story that classic Frankenstein feeling while still making it very much Jeneane O’Riley’s own. I did have a few moments where the pacing felt slower than I wanted, especially before Inno became a major part of the story. Victoria’s internal struggles also became repetitive for me at times. I understood her conflict, her guilt and her grief, but occasionally I wanted to lovingly grab her by the shoulders and yell “WE GET IT, VICTORIA.”

That said, the emotional payoff made the slower moments worth pushing through. There were little moments between Victoria and Inno that completely got under my skin, especially when the story started blurring the line between creator and creation, love and possession, devotion and obsession and that is really what stayed with me afterward. Her Creation isn’t a sweet little gothic romance where everyone makes healthy decisions and communicates their feelings over tea. Absolutely not. These people are emotionally wrecked, morally questionable and making choices that would send a therapist running for the hills.

But somehow, that messiness worked for me.

This is dark, unsettling, romantic, tragic and wonderfully strange. If you like gothic romance with morally complicated characters, obsessive devotion, Frankenstein inspired science and an atmosphere that feels like it was designed specifically for reading during a thunderstorm with one candle burning nearby, definitely put this on your radar. Just check those content warnings first because this one does not play around.

Thank you so much to SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books and Jeneane O’Riley for allowing me to read this eARC before its release through NetGalley. Her Creation releases August 25, 2026.

[Katya & the Braincells Inc. · Rating 4 out of 5]

OVERALL RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Four-kenstein stars!

"I think frequently that I should have been a man, for my interests don't align with my sex. Would anyone say such things if I were a man?"

Spoiler-free review: Now *this* is a nice reimagining of Frankenstein where the prose is as captivating as its intriguing characters.

I am SO in love with the prose of this book that I could almost marry it. There was a particular feeling to the writing that reminded me of reading Mary Shelley for the first time. And genderbent Dr. Victor Frankenstein? A woman pursuing science in a century that keeps telling her she shouldn't? An atmosphere dripping with diary entries and crossed-out thoughts? I was sold!

Victoria is easily the strongest part of the novel for me. I really liked that her intelligence isn't presented in a vacuum; her ambitions and sheer brilliance are shaped by the people around her and by the limitations placed on women in her era. There's a fascinating tension between her being genuinely exceptional and still being a product of her circumstances, and I appreciated that nuance. Her relationships with other characters was the most interesting part for me too, although her relationship with her father Alphonse particularly stood out.

Dare I say it--the whole thing also gave me Wuthering Heights energy at times, especially in the way the characters can be deeply flawed, obsessive, and generally terrible at making healthy decisions. In fact, I think this book is easier to appreciate if you go into it thinking, "Everyone here is a little bit f**ked up, and that's the point." The novel doesn't seem particularly interested in making everyone universally likable or redeemable. Our main character herself can be frustrating, but that complexity is exactly what made her compelling to me.

Now, BE WARNED ABOUT THE PACING. This is a very slow burn, and I mean that literally because Innominatus (the monster) doesn't even come alive until roughly the halfway point. The novel only really grabbed me around 55%, which is ultimately the biggest reason this stayed at 4⭐.
But I think the prose is gorgeous enough to carry the earlier sections for readers who enjoy atmospheric gothic fiction. However, if the writing doesn't hook you within the first few chapters, this probably isn't going to become a better fit later.

Also: a brief spice warning for anyone who needs it, though I'd put it around Level 1 🌶️ rather than anything particularly intense.

So while I absolutely adored the writing, Victoria, and the wonderfully dysfunctional people, the pacing kept me from giving it that final star. Still, this is a really intriguing take on Frankenstein, and apparently it's part of a series of standalone novels, which means I now have another book to hunt down! 👀

Recommended for: fans of dark romance and classic horror retellings who love a pinch of gothic feel, morally gray heroines, and don't mind a slow build-up to the "romance."

I received an advanced reader's copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Lottie Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐ 4/5 stars ⭐⭐

Thank you to Netgalley and Jeneane O'Riley for providing this ARC of Her Creation in exchange for my review.

Right, confession time: I went into this one riding the absolute high of A Secret in the Garden (still one of my favourite reads, go and get it if you haven't already), and Her Creation had big shoes to fill. It didn't quite manage it for me, but let's talk about why, because there's a lot going on here.

I'll be honest, Frankenstein lore is not my area. My entire knowledge base was "green monster, bolts in neck, film adaptations." So I went in blind, and actually I think that worked in the book's favour, because Jeneane builds Victoria's world from the ground up through journal entries, and you genuinely watch her mind develop alongside her medical knowledge. She's grieving her mother, watching her father decline in real time, and somewhere in the middle of all that grief she starts circling the idea of reanimation. It's a slow, careful build.

And I mean slow. There was a stretch where I properly wondered if Inno was ever going to be brought to life at all (the "It's Alive" moment, when it finally arrives, does land). But once he's here... genuinely, how is a reanimated corpse showing more decency than half the men in this book? Make it make sense. (I know exactly why it makes sense. That's rather the point.)

This is darker than the first book, no question, and the pacing is a bit of a mixed bag, dragging in places and then suddenly sprinting through things I wanted more time with. Victoria being shut out of medicine because she's a woman is a real and constant injustice, but the book does lean on repeating that point more than it needed to, we got it the first few times. Her friendship with Helena, though, that was genuinely lovely (I will not be forgiving how that ended), and watching Victoria finally start standing on her own two feet had me quietly proud of her. Her handling of her father after her mother's death, though... I could not get behind that. She loved that man so much and then left him exactly as he was. Stressful. Deeply stressful.

Now, the romance. Calling it "spicy" feels almost insulting, this is dark gothic romance with obsession stitched into its very bones, fully open door, and absolutely an acquired taste. I'll admit I struggled to visualise Inno myself, though apparently plenty of other reviewers had Jacob Elordi's creature in mind while reading, and honestly? That might have changed my whole experience.

Overall, this doesn't hit the heights of book one for me, but I suspect that's going to come down to personal taste more than anything objectively wrong with it. Jeneane has yet to write something I haven't devoured, and I am sat, impatiently, waiting for book three.

[🌷𝓜𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓭𝓲𝓽𝓱✨🎀📖 WildestDreamingReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! I am voluntarily leaving an honest review!

Did you get an instant crush on Jacob Elordi’s take on the Creature? Did you think “I want more of this man.” Yea, me too. This book may help or it could….not. Buckle up, my English degree is begging to be utilized and I have so much to say!

The Good: the author clearly knows the source material and/or the new film version very well and adds some new takes. The pacing lines up with the film (which, depending on your perspective could be awesome or maybe not for you). Instead of a male narrator we have a female one, and Victoria is semi our female version of Victor - flaws and all. Get ready to look your own internalized misogyny in the mirror because she is as flawed and un nurturing as Victor. We truly have to sit with Victoria with the mistreatment of women in the day and her revenge is great. The first 10% of this book took off so wonderfully fast, I was so invested and so excited. There are lines sprinkled in here of some absolutely gorgeous writing that I highlighted and took notes on. The potential was SO strong, and again I was SO excited, so it hurts to say the rest…

The maybe not as good but of course up to personal interpretation: while the pacing mirrored the movie, I think some things could have been handled differently.. Scenes that felt necessary for growth and deeper relationship development were merely an afterthought or described but not shown on page, while side characters/storylines took over, to the point I felt the back cover was almost misleading. Certain phrases, conversations etc were VERY repetitive or contradictory unfortunately dragged the story instead of propelling it forward, and led to a lot of telling and not showing. While examining obsession is the key theme, leading to the doubt and back and forth, the repetition made me struggle to feel as invested as I was early on.

Last, the semi vague trigger warnings. I do not think they were spelled out as plainly as they should have been and needed to be more specific. Please mind them and take care of yourself!

Conclusion: an incredibly strong beginning and some absolutely beautiful writing in parts, sadly led to a dragging and repetitive middle of the book, landing at a 3⭐️ Thank you again for the opportunity to read this!

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Bloom Books, NetGalley, and Jeneane O'Riley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

NOTE: Goodreads does not offer half-stars. In the interest of fairness, I am rounding this up to a four-star rating. I enjoyed the writing style, but I struggled to connect with the characters emotionally.

What if the Frankenstein creature, instead of being a product of man, was instead created by a woman shackled to the demands of Victorian society? What if, instead of pure scientific discovery, the reanimation was achieved out of the pure fear of losing someone you love, and wanting to keep them with you forever? That is the premise posed by Jeneane O'Riley in her gothic dark romance, Her Creation. The novel, which tackles the rampant sexism of the era with a hefty dose of feminine rage, follows Victoria Frankenstein, a gifted physician forced to practice her skill in secret under the demanding tutelage of her father. Still profoundly grieving the loss of her mother, Victoria struggles with the societal restraints placed upon women of the era: she does not want to simply be a housewife managing a social calendar. Viewed by her peers as odd and reclusive, Victoria finds herself alienated and adrift even as she refines her medical skills under her father's watch. When her father falls ill and death once again looms over her shoulder, Victoria instead chooses to focus on the seemingly impossible: bringing someone back from the dead. Despite her father's stern warnings and the moral and ethical dilemmas reanimation poses, Victoria pursues it with a single-minded determination. When she finally succeeds, her creation threatens to destroy the very life she very carefully kept secret, all while fighting a forbidden desire that threatens to destroy them both.

As a Frankenstein retelling, succeeds on many levels: Inno, the creature, suffers the same alienation and loneliness that plagues Victoria, but on a larger scale. He's confined to the Frankenstein basement laboratory, often neglected to the point of starvation, but he continues to yearn for affection and attention from Victoria. In a previous life, Inno was a vicious killer known as the Wraith of Serbia (although, we come to learn, under duress), and part of Alphonse Frankenstein's misgivings on bringing him back to life is the possibility that those thought patterns and personality traits may persist even after reanimation. It's an interesting perspective, as is the idea that those memories could be accessed but ignored (in other words, you can choose to be good even when instinct/"nature" says otherwise).

At the core of the story is the dynamic relationship between Inno and Victoria, which begins as "goddess and disciple" and evolves to lovers and ultimately codependents. Victoria, who wanted nothing more than the return of her family after their deaths, soon finds herself mired in self-loathing after she creates Inno. Her expectations for what he should be conflict with who he actually is, and she struggles with seeing him as a "person" versus seeing him as an emotionless "creature." Inno, who initially is content just being in the same room as Victoria, soon finds himself demanding and longing for more freedom. When that desire is denied, he chooses to mete out a brutal punishment that forces Victoria's hand. Though there is a twisted sort of romance present in this novel, it is steeped in darkness, and I highly advise reading the trigger warnings before diving in.

I think you'll enjoy this novel if you enjoy atmospheric, dark stories with gothic flare, a taste of the forbidden in your romance, and of course, if you enjoyed the original Frankenstein novel. This is the second in a series of interconnected standalones, but I had no problem whatsoever starting without any references to the first novel.

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Creation • Jeneane O’Riley
Dark Manor Chronicles #2

One phrase: Frankenstein, but make it feminine rage and obsession 🖤⚡

A female Frankenstein creating a man who becomes completely obsessed with her?

Say less. I was seated immediately.

Her Creation is gothic, darkly romantic, eerie, and beautifully consuming. Set in the late 1700s, this story follows Victoria Frankenstein, a brilliant woman trapped in a world that refuses to let women hold power, ambition, or scientific greatness without punishment.

So naturally, she does the most dangerous thing possible.

She creates life from death.

And what rises from her table is not a monster.

He is Inno. Her creation. Her miracle. Her consequence. And the way he watches her, studies her, worships her, and slowly becomes devoted to her is haunting in the best possible way.

The atmosphere in this book is everything. Candlelight. Forbidden science. Grief. Obsession. A world waiting to punish a woman for reaching too far. It feels gothic and intimate, with that constant edge of danger humming beneath every interaction.

What I loved most was the tension between creation and control. Victoria gave him life, but she cannot control what he becomes. She made him, but his devotion belongs to him. And the question of whether his possessiveness should terrify her or tempt her made the romance feel sharp, sensual, and deliciously unsettling.

This is not a soft love story. It is devotion stitched together with blood, breath, longing, and consequence.

And honestly? I ate it up.

✨ Tropes and vibes:
⚡ female Frankenstein
🖤 gothic romance
🧪 forbidden science
🕯 candlelit atmosphere
😮‍💨 obsessive MMC
💀 creation brought to life
🔥 slow burn tension
🌙 dark whimsical romance
👀 possessive devotion
💔 grief and longing
🩸 monster romance vibes
👑 powerful FMC

📚 Read this if you like:
Frankenstein retellings, gothic romance, obsessive devotion, morally complicated love stories, brilliant women defying society, and romance that feels haunting, dangerous, and beautifully unhinged.

This was eerie, sensual, atmospheric, and perfect for a dark little weekend read.

#HerCreation #JeneaneORiley #GothicRomance #RomantasyBooks #BookReview @bloom

[moonlitbookwitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeneane O'Riley
Her Creation by Jeneane O'Riley is a beautifully dark blend of historical fantasy, romance, and Gothic atmosphere that completely drew me in from the very first page.

One of my favorite aspects of the novel was its 1795 setting. I don't think I've ever read a fantasy romance set during that time period, and it gave the story a fresh and unique feel. The historical backdrop enriched the world-building and heightened the stakes, especially as Victoria Frankenstein navigates a society that refuses to recognize a woman's intellect or ambition.

After her renowned surgeon father falls gravely ill, Victoria commits the ultimate act of defiance against both science and religion—bringing a man back from the dead. What she creates is not the monster others might expect, but a man whose existence is inextricably tied to hers. Inno's devotion quickly becomes all-consuming as admiration turns into obsession, forcing Victoria to confront the complicated emotions growing between creator and creation.

Jeneane O'Riley masterfully balances romance, tension, and emotion throughout the novel. The relationship between Victoria and Inno is a slow burn filled with longing, obsession, and emotional intensity. Inno's unwavering fixation on Victoria creates a fascinating dynamic, while Victoria struggles to determine whether what she feels is fear, responsibility, curiosity, or something far deeper. Their relationship is dark, complex, and utterly captivating.

Overall, Her Creation is a consuming and emotionally charged read with a haunting Gothic atmosphere and a romance that lingers long after the final page. I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy dark fantasy, Gothic romance, morally complex characters, and slow-burn relationships filled with obsession and emotional depth.

Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Alexis Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw that Jeneane was releasing a Frankenstein retelling, I immediately went to NetGalley & requested it. As the weeks went by, I didn’t think I was going to get it, but then 7 days before release, NetGalley granted my wish, and this beauty hit my Kindle. 😅

Her Creation is a gothic, dark Frankenstein retelling that follows Victoria (FMC), who is determined to prove the world wrong that women can actually do anything a man can do. She’s willing to learn anything & everything about life & death from her father, who is both a physician & scientist.

Set in the 1700s, the story takes place in a dreary laboratory. Victoria’s father is the main physician in town, treating patients during the day while conducting a mysterious experiment at night, one that must remain secret.

Victoria has lived a sheltered, lonely life. She’s grieving the loss of her mother, desperately trying to find a way to cope with the possibility of losing her father, & somehow manages to feel lonely even when surrounded by friends. Then she becomes obsessed with their experiment, and that obsession begins to fuel an attachment & a level of care toward it that, as the reader, you know probably isn’t exactly…acceptable. 😅 And honestly? I think that’s exactly the narrative Jeneane wanted. She wants you a little uncomfortable, while reminding you that if you know the original story, you should already expect things to get a little unhinged, lol.

Inno (MMC) is the experiment & Victoria’s protector, no questions asked. I truly admire how accepting he is of himself, and how he always lays his feelings out completely honestly, even when what he’s saying is a little unhinged. 🤣

Please read TW’s before diving in, because your mental health always matters. 💚

"You aren't here for me to love. You can't be. You are an experiment. A dead man. You are nothing but a beautiful monster and a memory of destruction and loneliness."

“He was a moth to her flame, and all he wanted to do was be set on fire by her” I love the moth quote, reminded me of Calypso from her Infatuated Fae Series. 🥰

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️/5

[Kris (I.prefer.the.villain) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I'd like to start this by saying that I love Jeneane O'Riley and her books. I've read almost her entire back catalogue, with the exception of one title, but this one just did not hit for me.

Her Creation is a Frankenstein reimagining, but this time the creator of Frankenstein's monster is a lonely, abused young woman who is set on being able to resurrect someone after the loss of her mother (and later her father). She spends months with this body in a cool room in the basement of the manor inhabited by her and her father. Victoria replaces almost all of her monster's body, including his brain and all of his vital organs. The rebuilding of the monster and his subsequent resurrection weren't even the least believable parts of this book. Nope, that honor is reserved for how the monster (Inno) manages to save Victoria once she's arrested for being a woman who is practicing medicine. How would no one realize that he switched Victoria with the man who raped her several times at the beginning and middle of this book? Victoria was malnourished and small, while the man she was swapped with was a rich baron, who had every luxury available and would have been noticeably different in body type and clothing.

Then there's the matter of Inno going off on a murder spree when Victoria lies and tells him she could never love and be with him because he's not really a man, but rather a monster she created. He even goes so far as to kill her innocent best friend, the only non-familial person in the book to treat Victoria with any respect, for no damn reason. And how does Victoria respond to this horrific event??? She basically jumps into sex in a grave with Inno. (That's not an exaggeration.)

I just wish this book would have had better flow and had the more ridiculously unbelievable events explained and fleshed out better, instead of being flown through, leaving us as the readers to be asking how in the hell did that even happen?


2.5⭐️ rounded up to 3
1.5🌶️

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Bloom and NetGalley for the gifted arc! This book is for the girlies who were rooting for a romance in the Frankenstein movie. This definitely felt like a true gothic book—it was unsettling and uncomfortable while having the atmosphere we know and love in gothic novels. As a Frankenstein retelling, there is a lot of science and medical knowledge being used for resurrection. It takes place in the late 1700’s in the Holy Roman Empire, with a supernatural twist. This book heavily explores themes of grief, mortality, decay, obsession, and feminine rage at societal constraints.
Victoria Frankenstein, our FMC, has studied under the tutelage of her father, learning medical procedures that are illegal for women to do in the time period. She’s the odd one out, not fitting in anywhere. She’s obsessed with resurrection as a way to cope with her own grief. She is quite literally the definition of “hurt people hurt people.” I did struggle with her character a bit when she was lashing out at Inno, but I can also recognize that people handle grief differently. Inno is a man obsessed, no DEVOTED, to his woman (aka his creator). I felt so bad for him with the way he was being treated by Victoria, and he eventually turns into the monster she made him out to be. They had a lot of chemistry but boy was this a toxic relationship.
There’s a lot of backstory before the successful resurrection, and Inno doesn’t become a main character until about 50% in. The format definitely shortened the amount of interactions they had, but the beginning was essential to setting up the book. I do think things got a little repetitive with “women aren’t allowed to do anything and it sucks” so I think the author should’ve trusted her readers more to pick up on those subtle nuances—it didn’t need to be spelled out every time the thought occurred.
This is a standalone, and the ending was bittersweet. This was definitely a darker read, so please check your triggers. Overall, I did really enjoy this, and I think it’s a great option for a gothic romance standalone

[Tashie_LeeReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book may have ruined every fictional man that came before him!

I went into this book expecting a Frankenstein retelling, but what I got was a beautifully haunting romance that completely consumed me. The atmosphere, the yearning, the obsession... it was everything I wanted and then some.

Victoria tested my patience so many times. I swear I spent half this book yelling at her in my head to PLEASE wake up, look at the incredibly devoted man standing right in front of you, and just kiss him already. Girl... what are we doing? 😂

And Inno? I am absolutely obsessed with him. This man was created for one purpose, and that purpose is Victoria. Every thought, every action, every breath comes back to her. His devotion isn't just love, it is pure unadulterated worship. It's possessive, obsessive, unwavering, and completely all-consuming.
Should I have been concerned? Probably.
Was I eating up every single page? Absolutely.

I think what I loved most was that this never felt like it was trying to shock the reader. The tension was exquisite, and every tiny interaction had me wanting more.

Jeneanes writing is honestly stunning. It has this effortless way of making every scene feel rich and atmospheric without slowing the story down. I could practically smell the candle wax and feel the chill of the laboratory. It was immersive in the best way, and I never wanted to leave. But honestly I expect nothing less from Jeneane.

This book is romantic, tragic, unsettling, and surprisingly beautiful. It's one of those stories that makes you question whether you should be rooting for what's happening... while you're very enthusiastically rooting for it anyway. 😆


Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to spend the foreseeable future thinking about a fictional man who literally came back from the dead and somehow still has better emotional commitment than most if not all men these days 🤣

[Megan Witsche · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tropes: Dark Gothic Romantasy, Obsessed MMC, Slow 🔥, Mutual Pining, Touch Her & ☠️, Frankenstein Retelling, Women in STEM, Enemies to Lovers, Healing from Grief

Quotes: "Whatever I am I love you, I know that you love me too.”

Review: This haunting standalone gothic reimagining of Frankenstein breathes new life into Mary Shelley’s classic while crafting a darkly romantic story that feels both timeless and uniquely unsettling. Rich with eerie atmosphere and emotional intensity, it delivers a tale where grief, loneliness, and obsession intertwine in unforgettable ways.

The story follows a woman whose overwhelming sorrow drives her to create the one thing she believes can fill the emptiness in her life a man built to love her. But when her creation awakens, his devotion quickly transforms into an all consuming obsession. As the lines between creator and creation blur, she is forced to confront the terrifying consequences of defying nature and the monster she has unleashed.

The gothic atmosphere is one of the novel’s greatest strengths. Every page is steeped in melancholy, mystery, and creeping dread, creating a beautifully unsettling backdrop that perfectly complements the emotional weight of the story. The romance is anything but conventional, leaning into an intense “boy falls first” dynamic that becomes equal parts passionate, tragic, and terrifying.

Beyond the romance, the novel explores profound themes of grief, humanity, loneliness, and the cost of playing God. Its poetic prose and emotional depth elevate the story beyond a simple retelling, transforming it into a haunting meditation on love found in the most horrifying of circumstances.

Perfect for readers who enjoy gothic horror with a strong romantic thread, morally complex characters, and beautifully dark storytelling, this reimagining offers a chilling yet deeply emotional reading experience that lingers long after the final page.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

[M Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you ever read Frankenstein and thought, you know what would make this book better, if Dr, Frankenstein was a woman with unresolved grief, feminine rage issues and a bit of a necrophilia kink. Mix all that with a bit of gore and dark romance and you have Her Creation.
I have never read Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, so I don't really know where this book differs from the original, but I do know this one is an interesting read and commentary on misogyny.
Victoria Frankenstein has a whole host of issues including unresolved grief from her mother's passing, an uncertain future since she is too smart to just be a wife, but still a woman so not good enough to be a doctor, a man that won't leave her alone, one that is dead that she has unnatural feelings for, and a father that is dying. At times you will feel sorry for her as she is trapped in a life she doesn't want and has no control over. Other times, you are trying to remind yourself this is a traumatized woman trying to grieve and to give her grace because you are ready to throttle her for being such a horrible person to her creature.
This book had my emotions all over the place, I was empathizing with Victoria, I was mad at Victoria, I was empathizing way too much with her creature as she treated him like dirt when he didn't ask to exist (insert unresolved mother issues here).
The author does retain the gothic story setting and mood through this retelling but does add spice that I am pretty sure is not in the original story. This is a slow burn and if you are looking just for the spice, this is not the book you are looking for. In addition to the spice not really showing up until probably the last 80% of the book, think more feeling and mood than detailed descriptions of what is going on.
The bottom line is, if you are a fan of classic literature retellings that retain the gothic writing style, feminine rage, forbidden romances, and prefer plot over spice, I would recommend the book.

[Shanni-Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
First impressions 💭
I went into this book knowing very little of what it was about but have been wanting to read something from Jeneane O’Riley for a while! And Zara Hampton Brown has been a favourite narrator of mine in recent reads so in was very much looking forward to her solo performance in this!

What I Loved ❤️
- this was absolutely a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ narration from Zara Hampton brown. I don’t know how she managed to carry this entire audiobook on her back with so many female and male characters and for every single one to be unique! Her performance was incredible 🙌🏼
- I thought the FMC was such a strong and resilient character and definitely deserved so much more than the hand she was dealt. She was intelligent and curious and driven and just wanted to be taken seriously and for someone to appreciate who she really was and to be seen for who she really was. I think she was very relatable ❤️
- I also really enjoyed the historical element and the time period in which this was set but yet it was dark and gothic and gritty with a fantastical spin!

What wasn’t for me 🤔
- Frankenstein or Frankenstein retellings have not necessarily been something I’ve been super interested in, in the past. And while I was really keen to try one out, I know that someone who is intrigued by Frankenstein would really enjoy this even more and appreciate and pick up all the complexities probably better than I did!
- I did feel like it was a bit longer than it needed to be and dragged in certain parts / felt repetitive. But the narration still made this feel really easy to get through.

Final verdict ⭐️
Even though this wasn’t one of my favourite books ever, I still really enjoyed listening to this audiobook and would definitely recommend it to anyone who intrigued by a gothic Frankenstein love story!

[Nicola Reynoldson (nics_timetoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all I would looked to thank the author and NetGalley for this ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5

What a fantastic twist on the Frankenstein story. Her Creation takes a familiar tale and transforms it into something hauntingly romantic, emotional, and utterly compelling.

We follow Victoria, an incredibly intelligent woman living in a time when women with ambition and brilliance were dismissed and overlooked. Working alongside her gifted surgeon father, she pushes the boundaries of science in the hope of reanimating the dead. What follows is a story of grief, devotion, obsession, and the kind of unconventional love that can bloom in the darkest of places.

This was such a lovely surprise of a read. I went in expecting a gothic retelling, but found so much more. The romance is intense and beautifully written, balancing tenderness with possessiveness in a way that feels both unsettling and deeply emotional. The atmosphere is rich and immersive, and Victoria was such an easy character to root for as she fought against the limitations placed upon her.

One of my favourite lines perfectly captures the heart of the story:

“He was a monster, created from grief and given life by taking others.”

And this declaration absolutely cemented why I loved the romance:

“Call this worship or damnation, but please understand this; I was not brought back to serve the world. I was not remade for forgiveness or absolution. I was brought back to serve you.”

Dark, gothic, romantic, and surprisingly heartfelt, Her Creation is a beautifully written retelling that breathes fresh life into a classic while exploring love, loss, and devotion in all their messy, consuming forms. Definitely one I would recommend to readers who enjoy gothic romance with morally complex characters and a touch of obsession.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Creation is a perfect weekend read if you’re in a mood for a gothic romance that is a retelling of Frankenstein set in late 1700s, but instead of a male Frankenstein, you got a female scientist named Victoria Frankenstein that creates a man back to life that is obsessed with her. I was so intrigued by this story and the fact we got a female Frankenstein!? I was all here for it!

“He would dance with her one day. Even if the world burned down around them, he would dance in its flames with her.”

The creation and love in here between our main characters felt powerful and dangerous. The slow burn tension was absolutely everything as it felt sharp but the gothic atmosphere brings this story to life. You can really feel the eerie and devotion out of the pages with the romance in this story and I think it fits so perfectly.

“He was beautiful and wonderful and everything she could have ever wanted. If only loving him wouldn’t ruin her—wouldn’t go against her father’s wishes.”

The way Inno studies her, watches her, and how utterly obsessed he becomes with Victoria is a beautiful hauntingly feeling that I truly enjoyed because it feels a bit suspenseful. Because you’re waiting for the moment how Victoria is going to handle this possessiveness. Is she going to be feared or begin to fall in love with something she created?

“You continue to call me a monster,” he said quietly, “but I was born only of the materials you chose. If I am grotesque, it is because you built me from pieces you deemed unworthy.”

Thank you so much Bloom Books for the chance to read this galley now over the weekend! It was truly a great read that fit perfectly for me and I cannot wait to read more from Jeneane 🖤

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

[Ecm · Rating 4 out of 5]

*****Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Jeneane O'Riley for providing me with an ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Frankenstein has always been one of the books that affected me the most. It is, in my opinion, one of the most powerful stories about loneliness ever written. Her Creation is a retelling of that story, and in many ways, it answers the question: what if Victor Frankenstein had been a woman?

I have to be honest, during the first half of the book, I seriously considered DNFing it several times. It was dark, grotesque, and deeply uncomfortable. Not only in the scenes where Victoria works with her father, but also in the atmosphere of her life, her emotions, and the oppressive world she is trapped in. The setting felt incredibly stifling and bleak. But I also think that was exactly what the author wanted the reader to feel. This book is meant to disturb you.

After the halfway point, the story became much more compelling for me. The emotions between Inno and Victoria, the sense of entrapment, the loneliness, and the suffocating pressure that comes from being unseen and misunderstood were all written in an incredibly intense way. There were many moments when I wanted to put the book down, but I also needed to know how it would end, so I kept reading.

There were times when I was very angry with Victoria, but at the same time, I understood her. That contradiction made her feel more human and more tragic.

I would not recommend going into this book expecting a traditional romance. Yes, it is a love story, but it is an uncomfortable romance. It is dark, unsettling, and emotionally heavy. If you decide to read it, I think it is important to know that beforehand.

[Rachel | RamblesThroughBrambles · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I saw an ARC available for Her Creation by Jeneane O’Riley, I knew I wanted to give it a try. I’ve read another series by this author, and while there were moments in those books that gave me pause, I ultimately enjoyed the characters and their stories. Going into this one, I had an open mind and fairly high expectations.

I was immediately drawn in by the writing style and opening scenes. A woman aboard a ship, exploring a new land, creates an intriguing start. However, as the story shifts and reveals the true narrative underneath, it took me a little while to become fully invested again.

This is both a love story and a fantasy, and both aspects lean into darker themes. As someone who wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from a Frankenstein retelling, I found the premise compelling. The atmosphere is ominous, twisted, romantic, and easy to follow. At times, however, the pacing felt uneven, and there were moments where the story seemed to settle rather than build, causing some of the momentum to fade.

My favorite part of the book was the relationships. Victoria’s bond with her father adds emotional depth from the beginning, and the connections that develop throughout the story kept me engaged. The MMC’s devotion to Victoria will definitely appeal to readers who enjoy an obsessive, all-consuming romance, and it provided some of my favorite moments in the book.

Overall, I think Her Creation will be a strong hit for the right readers, particularly those looking for a dark romantic fantasy with gothic elements and a fresh take on a classic tale.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Nya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recieved an e-arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Her Creation is a love letter to Mary Shelley and I loved it so much. So much detail and research was put into this book, and you can just see how much respect O'Riley has for not just Frankenstein, but for the gothic horror genre as a whole.

Victoria Frankenstein spends so much time in her own head, this girl is just frankly (get it) mentally unwell. She's a modern woman stuck in the 18th century, who is secretly helping her father manage his medical practice because, as a woman, she could be imprisoned if anyone found out. But she's premptively grieving her father as she watches his illness take over, and she grieves her mother so much, and she's just so incredibly lonely as a woman surrounded by men who view her as lesser than, hence why she moves towards "helping" herself in a unique way: by raising the dead.

The first half of this book is very slow, and it gives us a lot of time spent with Victoria and just seeing her slip more and more into loneliness and insanity. The second half is where this shines, but the first is so integral to the story and also to see our monster be created that it couldn't have been skipped.

I just felt bad for her!! Girl needed a break. I did get a little annoyed with her treatment of the creature, but that's also something that happens in the original as well. This book is so incredibly dark and gory, but also lovely in the way it addresses the creature's devotion to it's maker. I was so invested in his character.

This book is not for the faint-hearted. It's bloody, scary, triggering, and touches on so many dark subjects, and I cannot emphasie looking up trigger warnings enough.

[Ashley Wyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @netgalley @read_bloom for the opportunity to read and review this book as an arc. This is my honest opinion.

✨️My Thoughts✨️
A gothic eerie retelling of Frankenstein with some twists, yes please! So happy I signed up for this ARC.
I love the twists and turns the author put in the storyline. My favorite twist is we have a female scientist thats learning from her father in the late 1700s. Very forbidden during this time period. I love how determined Victoria was to learn despite society demands of what is proper and right. Another favorite thing is, I love the chemistry behind the 2 main characters. Its consuming, forbidden, powerful, and full of devotion. Such a slow burn too! Our main characters learn quite a bit from each other and discover themselves too in the process. I also love how this is a story within a story. 😍 If you give Her Creation a chance, you'll see what I mean. I thought it was a nice touch with log entries. The very last thing I want to point out is, the amount of raw emotions that were exposed.. there were many tender moments you dont want to miss.

✨️Some favorite quotes✨️

"I realized how rare it was to find love at all, and how important it was to take a chance on that love."

“I did not ask to be resurrected. You pulled me from death. You gave me breath , thought, and feeling.”

“I have never been an advocate of allegiance.."

“Mad and broken I may be, but that does not discount my love for you. I know you better than anyone— your life force flows through my veins.”


I highly recommend giving this book a try. 🫶

#NetGalley #hercreation #jeneaneoriley #bloombooks #darkmanorchronicles