Quick Synopsis – Vienna, 1911. Gustav Klimt, the most famous painter in the Austrian Empire, spots a woman’s nude body in the Danube canal. He knows he should summon a policeman, but he can’t resist stopping to make a sketch first. And as he draws, the woman coughs. She’s alive!

Back at his studio, Klimt and his model-turned-muse Wally tend to the formerly-drowned girl. She’s nearly feral and doesn’t remember who she is, or how she came to be floating in the canal. Klimt names her Judith, after one of his most famous paintings, and resolves to help her find her memory.

With a little help from Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, Judith recalls being stranded in the arctic one hundred years ago, locked in a crate by a man named Victor Frankenstein, and visiting the Underworld.

So how did she get here? And why are so many people chasing her, including Geoff, the giant croissant-eating devil dog of the North?

Song This Reminds Me Of – Gustav Mahler Symphony Number 9

Publication Date – May 13, 2025

Bookshop Link – Anima Rising a book by Christopher Moore – Bookshop.org US (I receive a small commission if you purchase the book using the link I provided.)

Content Notes – This is a historical fiction book with a little bit of science fiction/fantasy thrown in. There is a lot of sexism and misogyny, some of it is just a reflection of the times and some of it more disgusting. There is rape and sexual assault though not in too graphic of terms. There is off page and repeated mention of sexual abuse of minors. There is also blood, gore, violence, kidnapping, and vomitting.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5

Review – I love Christopher Moore and I can’t believe this is the first time I’ve reviewed one of his books. Honestly there were only two reasons this wasn’t a 5-star read for me. The first isn’t really on the author, but the publisher. Throughout the book there are copies of artwork by the various artists mentioned throughout the story. However, in the e-book version the images weren’t showing properly. I did send a note to the publisher to let them know, so hopefully this gets fixed.

The other reason is that the third act fell a little flat for me. It felt too much like Moore didn’t know where to end the story. I liked the characters and that the story did have a full circle arc, but I would have appreciated if there could have been more agency on Judith’s behalf. Too much it felt like plot was just happening to her and she didn’t really have any way to guide the story.

I did love the historical aspect of the story and all the research that went into the book. Wally was easily the best character. She fully understood the roles that were available to her as an unmarried lower-class woman in the early 20th century. Wally was such a practical character compared to Judith’s more impulsive nature. I thought they made such a good pair, and I loved the depiction of their friendship. I also love that Moore used photos, letters, and therapy sessions to tell the story. It felt more real to me.

This is a fun novel and a great interpretation of the Frankenstein story. Moore also didn’t shy away from how disappointing history can be. Sure, Gustav Klimt was a genius painter. But he also took advantage of his models.

If you enjoy a good historical fiction with humor and a little bit of science fiction, you’ll love this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.