This Broken Wondrous World by Jon Skovron

This Broken Wondrous World Man Made Boy Book Two
Written by Jon Skovron
See my review for Man Made Boy
Fantasy, Science Fiction, Retelling
Published September 2015
376 Pages
Thank you to Allen & Unwin
Add to Goodreads
★★★★

"My fellow monsters," said Moreau. "No longer will we hide in the shadows, cringing, cowardly, hiding our true potential. You see, the humans do not view us as people. We must force them to expand their view of personhood to include us. By any means necessary."

A year ago, Boy, the son of Frankenstein's monster, had never even met a human. Now he's living with his human 'family', the descendants of Dr Frankenstein, in Switzerland. That is, until the maniacal genius Dr Moreau, long ago banished to a remote island for his crimes against humanity, asks for his aid.

Moreau wants Boy to join his army of animal/human hybrid creatures and help him overthrow human society. Boy must choose: side with the twisted doctor and save his fellow monsters, or try to defend the humans who run the planet?

Boy will do anything to save this broken, wondrous world from the war that threatens to split it in two. But how much will he have to give up? And is the world worth saving?

The son of Frankenstein's monster is off on his first adventure into the world, Boy having spent most of his life hidden within the shadows of the New York theater company which hides the worlds monsters. But now he finds himself in Switzerland, his host family none other than the descendants of his fathers maker and wants nothing more than to assimilate and study, leaving behind the only life he's ever known.

Boy wants nothing more than to merge the community of underground monsters with our world, but the diabolical Dr Moreau believes the only way two worlds will transition into one is to forge a war against the humans, creating a legion of monsters to fight against a world he sees as cruel and unjust. But Dr Moreau isn't working alone. An old enemy will resurface as Boy returns to find his beloved New York home in ruins. With a war being forged, how will the little patchwork monster fight for the humans who are unaware his community exists?

Ponderings of a booknerd

Man Made Boy was one the loveliest storylines I had the privilege of enjoying almost two years ago, hoping for a sequel that was rumoured but never came to fruition... Until now. I adore the little patchwork monster simply known as Boy. He's intelligent and although made of a series of body parts from the dead, his crude stitching and gentle nature completely enchant me. And This Broken Wondrous World is no different. At the end of Man Made Boy, Boy is contemplating seeing the world and traveling to Switzerland to stay with the Frankenstein family, descendants of the man who had created his father. Loving and accepting, is isn't long until Boy is treated as family and is befriended by his cousin Henri. The only rule is that he not tell the Frankenstein's about the New York community, the humans still unaware of the network of monsters who live among them. But when an old foe lures them into what seems to be a trap, Boy has no option to involve Henri and deal with the consequences later.

When Boy needs them most, old friends come to his aide. Claire Hyde and Sophie Jekyll, the granddaughters of the Jekyll and Hyde are back, Boy needing his girlfriends by his side as he faces the prospect of war. The Trowe will return as does a gruff shapeshifting wolf, as monsters will be forced to choose to support Boy in his plight or to fight for Dr Moreau and his band of newly formed monster army. Although superbly entertaining, This Broken Wondrous World lacked the emotion of Man Made Boy, with Boy having lost his naivety which I found incredibly endearing.

The verdict

Despite not feeling an emotional connection, I thoroughly enjoyed This Broken Wondrous World. Wonderfully written, it's ultimately the story of acceptance and making the most of the hand that life has dealt. I'm completely smitten with the little patchwork monster.