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Our Hideous Progeny

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Our Hideous Progeny

By: C. E. McGill
Narrated by: Florence Howard
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

'It is not the monster you have to fear, but the monster it makes of men.'

Mary is the great-niece of Victor Frankenstein. She knows her uncle disappeared in mysterious circumstances in the Arctic but she doesn't know why or how. She and her husband are trying to make a name for themselves as paleontologists but, in 1850s' London, scientific success requires wealth and connections - neither of which they possess. But then Mary discovers some old family papers that allude to the truth behind her great-uncle's past, of his attempts to create a living being and the creature that ultimately killed him. Perhaps this idea will prove to be their salvation...

Our Hideous Progeny is a sumptuous tale of ambition and obsession, of forbidden love and sabotage; a novel that blends classic, immersive storytelling with contemporary themes.

©2023 C. E. McGill (P)2023 Penguin Audio

 Fantasy Gothic Historical Horror Romance Science Fiction Fiction Scary Natural History

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Critic reviews

In this gothic adventure, debut novelist McGill builds on Shelley's iconic story by adding sharp-minded female protagonist Mary, who sets out to discover the truth about her great-uncle Victor Frankenstein's disappearance in the Arctic.
McGill's prose is rich and atmospheric, perfectly capturing the eerie and foreboding tone of the Gothic tradition. The characters are complex and layered . . . Our Hideous Progeny is a masterful work of Gothic horror that will leave readers on the edge of their seat.
Evocatively and compassionately, Our Hideous Progeny seeks a way to tell the stories of those whose tales cannot fit in one book, those poor creatures who remain lost or forgotten
Our Hideous Progeny takes inspiration from Mary Shelley's masterpiece along with the Victorian fascination with scientific innovation and the prehistoric world. This wonderful debut evolves into a gripping Gothic tale of grief and ambition, passion and intrigue.
A wonderful book; dark, passionate, multi-layered and rich with enticing detail.
Compelling and utterly absorbing, Our Hideous Progeny is an artfully crafted debut that echoes the dark essence of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein while maintaining a fascinating originality all of its own.
Darkly brilliant and sumptuously gothic, this atmospheric debut left me reeling
A wonderfully rich, emotionally engaging tale with the flavour and appeal of a great 19th-century novel.
A fantastic read: I felt everything about Mary, her simmering anger and her intellectual delight, so very clearly.
Exquisitely written, brimming with imagery both beautiful and shocking, this daring debut makes the rivalries of the Victorian scientific establishment thrilling and urgent, bringing us a story worthy of Mary Shelley.
All stars
Most relevant
I loved this story so wholeheartedly I had to wait a bit of time before I reviewed it. What an absolute triumph!

I have never read Frankenstein so this all felt new for me. I absolutely adored the story from start to finish. The writing is exquisite, just utterly beautiful and brilliant. I think this is a debut novel too which makes this even more impressive.

The characters and relationships were well developed and believable for the time which is a must for me. I liked the pacing and it covered many themes from misogyny, ethics, sexual assault and racism which I think were handled well.

The narrator was wonderful which I so rarely find on here, just amazing.

Wonderful, Brilliant, Original and Beautifully Narrated

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Wonderfully engaging story that had me hooked from the start. Do yourself a favour, read this.

Spectacularly engaging

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An absorbing, bizarre and fascinating story. A strange ending but a real story of survival in the 19th century.

The subject matter

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This is a debut novelist with a narrator I didn’t know. I was utterly engaged and convinced by both. Victorian gothic through a queer feminist lens. Glorious - I couldn’t stop listening. Can’t wait for C E McGill’s next novel.

Mary Shelley would be proud.

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Clever play on the Frankenstein theme, and the novel goes at a good pace. Well narrated too.’

Loved it

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