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Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein
Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein | Kiersten White
"Exquisitely disturbing," raves internationally bestselling author Stephanie Garber of this stunning and dark reimagining of Frankenstein.Elizabeth Lavenza hasn't had a proper meal in weeks. Her thin arms are covered with bruises from her "caregiver," and she is on the verge of being thrown into the streets . . . until she is brought to the home of Victor Frankenstein, an unsmiling, solitary boy who has everything--except a friend. Victor is her escape from misery. Elizabeth does everything she can to make herself indispensable--and it works. She is taken in by the Frankenstein family and rewarded with a warm bed, delicious food, and dresses of the finest silk. Soon she and Victor are inseparable. But her new life comes at a price. As the years pass, Elizabeth's survival depends on managing Victor's dangerous temper and entertaining his every whim, no matter how depraved. Behind her blue eyes and sweet smile lies the calculating heart of a girl determined to stay alive no matter the cost . . . as the world she knows is consumed by darkness. "Exquisitely disturbing. The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein is a beautiful tapestry of horror, sewn together with threads of madness, obsession, and murder. Kiersten White has written a masterful and monstrous retelling."--STEPHANIE GARBER, #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of Caraval and Legendary "Visceral, sinister, and inescapably compelling, The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein feels at once reverent of its inspiration, and entirely new. White's skill is scalpel-sharp." VICTORIA SCHWAB, #1 New York Times bestselling author of This Savage Song "Kiersten White has breathed fresh life into a much-loved classic. Even Mary Shelley herself would be riveted by the dark lengths Elizabeth Lavenza would go to in order to survive. A dark and lovely midnight read.--MEGAN SHEPHERD, New York Times bestselling author of The Madman's Daughter trilogy "In the hands of master storyteller Kiersten White, the bones of a familiar story are reconstructed to form an inventive, grotesque, and completely unexpected reimagining of Frankenstein. Mary Shelley would be proud."--MACKENZI LEE, New York Times bestselling author of The Gentlemen's Guide to Vice and Virtue
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AroundTheBookWorld
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CoffeeNBooks
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Eggs Perfect 👍🏼 3mo
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DinoMom
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Still curled up sick in bed with tissue and hot water bottle but progress has been made. I can actually stay awake long enough to read. So starting this one which is one of the November roles for #roll100.

@PuddleJumper I can‘t believe it‘s November and the year is almost over. I thank you for hosting this event as it had helped me clear a bunch from my TBR list & prevented me from buying more books ( I did by some , but not nearly as much🤣)

wanderinglynn Hope you feel better soon! 14mo
Ruthiella At least you can read now, but I hope you are back to 100% soon! ❤️ (edited) 14mo
dabbe Hope you're on the mend soon! 🧡🖤💜 14mo
32 likes3 comments
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BookmarkTavern
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Pickpick

Elizabeth stays in the background as the cousin then wife then victim in the story of Victor Frankenstein. This is her version of the story.

I wasn‘t expecting to be as engrossed in this as I was. White takes a background, flat character & gives her a depth & internal world that blew me away. And finally a retelling that treats Victor as the creepy incel he really is. I‘m a little torn on the ending, but overall I really loved this. 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

BookmarkTavern Chapters 13 and 22 off page child death and child murder, Chapter 23 forced institutionalization 14mo
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KristiAhlers
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Pickpick

OMG! This is one of my favorite retelling of Frankenstein! I honestly didn't plan on being sucked in as I was. If you're a fan of Frankenstein then I highly recommend this retelling. Thank you @KateReadsYA for the selection this month!

BookwormAHN I that about a year ago and loved it 🖤 1y
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DinoMom
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Where did the year go? I can‘t believe I just pulled NOVEMBER‘s #roll100 picks off the shelf.

@PuddleJumper

LibrarianRyan Hey just checking in if you got your NMS package yet. If you haven‘t it has been sent. But I know you said you only visit the po once a month. 1y
DinoMom @LibrarianRyan we will be there in the 30th… so will get it then. :) I sent my off today as well. I just got home after a long day but I will post the the picture I took tommorrow ! 1y
LibrarianRyan @DinoMom perfectly understand. I‘m in a similar boat. Just wanted to check in. 😀 1y
See All 12 Comments
Chrissyreadit by any chance did a package arrive for you at maine address? 1y
DinoMom @Chrissyreadit we go again next week , so I will check then ❤️ 1y
Chrissyreadit oh no! so not in time? 1y
DinoMom @Chrissyreadit what was it for. I am there in the 31st 1y
Chrissyreadit Nightmare swap 1y
Chrissyreadit i‘m so sorry! i should have just sent directly to you! 1y
DinoMom @Chrissyreadit don‘t be sorry at all. It‘s fine if I open a little later. It‘s all good 1y
Chrissyreadit Happy Litsyversary 🎉🎉🎉🖤😘🖤 1y
DinoMom @Chrissyreadit thanks . Can‘t believe it‘s been three years. People like you and all the other amazing souls in here are what makes this platform a great place to be! 1y
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KateReadsYA
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Pickpick

𝐈 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝, 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, 𝐧𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝. 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞.-Adam
#whimsicalreads
🌟🌟🌟🌟

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BooksNBowls
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Great dedication 🥹 #whimsicalreads

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BooksNBowls
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Pickpick

I was not expecting this to turn out to be one of my favorite retellings ever! I loved that this author added such amazing, cunning female characters to a story that had originally had none. Her author‘s note at the end sums it up perfectly! Elizabeth is brilliant, somewhat morally ambiguous, but she‘s a SURVIVOR, and I was inspired by her resilience in the face of so much abuse and loss. Loved it! 5/5 #whimsicalreads #bookclub

KateReadsYA Ooooo love that you added that about the authors note. I'll make sure to read it. I'm halfway done and loving it. 1y
BooksNBowls @KateReadsYA can‘t wait to hear your thoughts on the ending! 1y
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KateReadsYA
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Starting our book club read early this month! #whimsicalreads

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KateReadsYA
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BookBr That is such an evocative cover! 1y
KateReadsYA @BookBr "exquisitely disturbing" on the cover had me sold. 1y
KristiAhlers I've started it! 1y
KateReadsYA @KristiAhlers I hope it's a good one!!! 1y
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AroundTheBookWorld
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Lightning clawed across the sky, tracing veins through the clouds and marking the pulse of the universe itself.
I sighed happily as rain slashed the carriage windows and thunder rumbled so loudly we could not even hear the wheels bump when the dirt lane met the cobblestones at the edge of Ingolstadt.
#TheDarkDescentOfElizabethFrankenstein #KierstenWhite #Horror #YoungAdult #HistoricalFiction #Retellings #Fantasy #Fiction #Historical #Gothic 🤎🤎🤎

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MrsBibliophile
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Pickpick

I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, so I was pleasantly surprised when I liked it. It's not as terrifying as they lead on, but it does have a horror factor to it.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a mild thriller, or to anyone who loves a classic-type horror.

📚📖Happy Reading!📖📚

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Victoriahoperose
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Mehso-so

Just okay for me. The style of writing was difficult, in my opinion. It went back and forth a lot and it was hard to follow in parts. Interesting retelling of a classic, though!

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Scochrane26
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Pickpick

I‘ve had this for about a year, & finally read it. I enjoyed the twist on Frankenstein, getting to know the female characters and highlighting who the monster actually is. The focus on the females did make one part much sadder though. Definitely creepier than I usually read but not scary enough for nightmares.

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VioletMoonBooks
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Pickpick

This was a stunning retelling of the classic novel, Frankenstein. Just when I thought the story was going one way it completely took me off guard. It had my heart racing during the climax and the end. This was the perfect Halloween read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🎃
#TheDarkDescentOfElizabethFrankenstein #KierstenWhite #book #books #bookyourself #bookunion #bookutopia #Horror #YoungAdult #ScienceFiction #Retellings #Fantasy #HistoricalFiction #Historical ❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️

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VioletMoonBooks
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Velvetfur I love this, it's so cute and funny! Thank you for sharing 😊 2y
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PagesByTheWater
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️
I think it was really well written and most of characters quite interesting. But towards the ending it went from horror to a little cliche and happy. But it was a nice read. Definitely recommend if you want something spooky but need SOME positivity somewhere in the book.
#ElizabethFrankenstein #OtcoberReads

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j.rye
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Pickpick

4.5/5. I loved so much about this book. It was a really creative retelling of Frankenstein. Women empowerment. Suspense. Survival. It has all the things.

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VioletMoonBooks
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VioletMoonBooks
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The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein (Delacorte Press 2018) by Kiersten White is a re-telling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1818) from the perspective of Elizabeth Lavenza, the orphan of a mother who died in childbirth. Elizabeth was rescued from abusive foster care by Victor Frankenstein's family and given to Victor as a child companion in Geneva.
#TheDarkDescentOfElizabethFrankenstein #KierstenWhite #Horror #YoungAdult #HistoricalFiction

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VioletMoonBooks
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VioletMoonBooks
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SmartSassery
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this retelling. It was a bit slow to get going and a lot of time was spent on back story but one it got going it kept my head spinning. I love a story that keeps me guessing and I love a retelling from a different perspective. So this was an epic October read for me. 8 usually reread Frankenstein this time of year. I decided to change it up and I'm glad I did.

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dapperreads
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Mehso-so

Honestly, this book had so much potential. So much was crammed into the last 20% that felt rushed. I don‘t know quite how to feel. It‘s a good story with a not so great execution.

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VioletMoonBooks
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VioletMoonBooks
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Littlewolf1
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Mehso-so

3.7⭐️ I didn‘t hate it, but I expected more. The idea of the story was really good. However, for the first part of the book seems so slow that I almost DNF it, the rest of the book felt rushed and unfinished. I had the potential to be downright disturbing and horrific, but it didn‘t quite meet the mark. Maybe if the book was drawn out a little bit longer and not squeezed into 300 pages.

LibrarianRyan Really. I had most the same feelings, but thought overall the book was too long for what it was. It had some great places to go, and just never got there. 3y
Littlewolf1 @LibrarianRyan I hear you, I‘m just trying to Understand exactly where this book went wrong. Let‘s compromise, let‘s shorten the first 150 pages to maybe one chapter and use the rest of the book to actually give a story a chance. I‘m just saying I really wanted to love this, I just didn‘t. 3y
LibrarianRyan @Littlewolf1 I cold totally see that working. I felt the same way. Such high expectations thrown over the cliffs of Mordor. 3y
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VioletMoonBooks
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Reynosa8701
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Mehso-so

@Hestapleton @cozypunk @Littlewolf1 @suvata #lmpbc11 #group I sent my book out Monday I still haven‘t received my 4th book?

Hestapleton I have not received books 3 or 4. @cozypunk sends books to me and hasn‘t posted in a few months. 4y
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VioletMoonBooks
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VioletMoonBooks
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magyklyXdelish
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this retelling. I love the life that was brought into the character of Elizabeth. I loved that even knowing the story of Frankenstein I could still be surprised. The only knock I have is that it felt a little slow at times. This book did make me glad I was born when I was and not back then 😬

#BookSpinBingo

Michael_Gee A podcast I love read this and loved it: Teen Creeps. It may have been for their Patreon because this is outside of their usual realm (90s teen fiction) 4y
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magyklyXdelish
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#DoubleSpin up next. After this one I‘ll have a bingo which hasn‘t happened in months 🤗

Klou Love this cover! 4y
25 likes1 comment
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VioletMoonBooks
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MartinaLove
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Taking a break from contempary/ romance to read these two books. 📚

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VioletMoonBooks
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cozypunk
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Heads up Team B in #LMPBC ! My book is hitting the mail today. If I remember right I'm sending to @Hestapleton riiiiight? @Reynosa8701 @Littlewolf1

Litsy Markup Postal Book Club @suvata #LMPBC #round11 #groupB

Hestapleton Yes! 4y
cozypunk 🥳 4y
Reynosa8701 😍😍😍 4y
Littlewolf1 Hi there @Hestapleton @Reynosa8701 and @cozypunk , i‘m ready to send out my book, however, I did not get the email on who I‘m supposed to send it to with the address. If I‘m supposed to send my book to you would you please email me at LittleWolf717@gmail.com so I can get this mailed out to you. Thank you 4y
Reynosa8701 @Littlewolf1 I sent you a email with addresses 4y
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cozypunk
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Pickpick

I read this back-to-back with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein AND I'M SO GLAD I DID!! A delightful retelling with so 👏 many 👏 mind 👏 games! 😅🤨 Thrilling to see where White added to the original and where she deviated. I'm ecstatic and creeped out at the same time. #dw2021

Can't wait to share with #LMPBC #groupB @Reynosa8701 @Hestapleton @Littlewolf1

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VioletMoonBooks
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VioletMoonBooks
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magyklyXdelish
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Left with this #bookhaul from a shopping trip yesterday to a bookstore ♥️

reading_rainbow I LOVED the Dark Decent of Elizabeth Frankenstein! Great book haul! 4y
magyklyXdelish @reading_rainbow it‘s been in my TBR a while and for 7 bux I couldn‘t pass it up! 4y
JaneyWaneyB Wow that is a great book haul 4y
27 likes3 comments
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VioletMoonBooks
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ReadingSusan
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My plans for this Covid Halloween. I bought this book when it came out to read on Halloween. 🤣🤣 Finally getting to it. 🎃

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ElisabethRose
Pickpick

I absolutely adore Frankenstein, it is by far my favorite classic horror novel. It was my favorite book that I read in high school, and then during my junior year of college and the 200th anniversary of the book, I had the chance to write my own story inspired by the book. It has a very soft place in my heart. The Dark Decent of Elizabeth Frankenstein is a wonderful retelling of the story with a twist I honestly didn't see coming. I loved it!

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Follow.my.read
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Another one to add to my October pile!

DAB This looks cool. Is she related to the original?
4y
Follow.my.read Not sure what you are asking? The author? The character? 4y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick This one is on my long list! 4y
Follow.my.read @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I‘ve had it for years! Thought it might be fun to read this month! 4y
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VioletMoonBooks
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Godpants
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Mehso-so

I think it‘s going to be hard for me to like any book as much as Frankenstein, which is one of my all time favourite‘s. But man is the start of this a SLOG. I got into it after the first half but it doesn‘t hold a light to the original.

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cleoh
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Pickpick

I loved this. I adore the original Frankenstein and I love everything Kiersten White writes. I enjoyed her reclamation of Elizabethan character and her version of how the story ends. ⚡️

reading_rainbow loved this one! 5y
cleoh @reading_rainbow I enjoyed it more than I thought I would! That ending was so well done! 5y
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InkedBookworm13
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#ManicMonday
📚 (The) Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein
✍️ Douglas Adams
🎥 Donnie Darko
🎤 Dethklok
🎶 Dance Macabre (Ghost)
@JoScho

JoScho Thanks for playing 🤗💚 5y
34 likes1 comment