Included as a top pick in bimonthly July New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

A fresh take on The Isle of Doctor Moreau set against the backdrop of Mexico, this was a fun read that was hard to put down.

tThis book is a perfect exploration of modern sci-fi.
Silvia Moreno Garcia deliveries a story exploring the horrors of eugenics through Doctor Moreau's experimentation on animal hybrids. He has made himself a god figure on the Yucatan island. His daughter Carlota is a well written character who experiences the first hand pains of being used as a token item. She is young, beautiful, and so incredibly kind in a world that would repulse at her very existence (the TWIST of this book while obvious is expertly crafted and it was phenomenal to experience). Through Carlota, there is a feminine twist to for a sci-fi heroine that is drenched in social revolution and heart.

There is a careful balance of characters who are all flawed and authentic from Lupe and Cachito, two hybrids who are intelligent and are friends with Carlota to the British drunk Montgomery who drowns his debts at the bottom of a bottle. The backdrop of 19th century Mexico with the historical blend of the Maya, Mexican, and British Honduras provides an eye-opening look at the colonialism that has instilled racism, xenophobia, worker exploration, and eugenics not just in the form of animal hybrids but in what is expect of women, how society functions, and who is allowed to become wealthy and powerful.

There is a blend of the gothic in this novel. I commend Moreno-Garcia for being a master of genre and having a modern voice that is necessary and a gift to experience.

I've read several variations on the Island of Dr. Moreau, and I found this one to be every entertaining. The animals and the women were destined to be the victims, but they took charge, turning the tables on old Moreau.

This story has its roots in The Island of Doctor Moreau, but it also has the author's fingerprints all over it!
Carlotta Moreau only knows what her father tells her. Her world, though isolated is supplemented by books, the occasional visitor, assisting her father, and her hybrid companions. Set on the Yucatan peninsula, there is always the fear of the Mayans, fighting against the Mexican tyranny. They are left in peace mostly, and this suits Doctor Moreau as he works diligently to create better hybrids that will take the place of temperamental workers for his patron, Mr. Lizalde. From a historical perspective, the conflicts in Mexico reflect not only an awful time but one that lasted for many years. From a science fiction perspective, I never thought that these experiments could end well.
Chapters alternate between Carlotta and her father's new overseer, Montgomery Laughton. He is a man with demons, and this isolated locale suits him. Carlotta's aging father wants to find a suitable husband for her and his decisions lead to the potential loss of her beloved hybrids. Proof that they are not far enough removed from the world for those that want what they have.
This was a slow burn but once again, a story where the author's words made me feel like I was right there in this isolated and dangerous place.

Carlota has spent her whole life living on an isolated ranch on the Yucatan peninsula with her father, Doctor Moreau, their mayordomo Montgomery, and the doctor's hybrid creations who are her friends and playmates. Doctor Moreau conducts experiments that blend human and animals together in an attempt to solve the infirmities of humans with the strengths of the animals, while also working for his employer to create a new class of workers more tractable than the Indians of the Yucatan. But when the son of his employer shows up unexpectedly, Carlota begins to feel things she hasn't before, and soon their lives are upended.

Not having read the original work that inspired Moreno-Garcia (sorry, I've only seen The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror take on the story!), I didn't have much more than the general sketch of the premise to get in the way of enjoying her version, and honestly, I think that is best. I felt that the hybrids were treated with more compassion by this version than the original and appreciated the focus on Carlota and Montgomery instead of the doctor. Moreno-Garcia does an excellent job of setting the stage for the conflict that becomes the focus of the second half of the story with her treatment of the main characters in the first half. What happens feels natural to the characters and inevitable for the premise of the story and the conclusion is satisfying without wrapping up everything neatly. The only thing I would have liked added would have been more detail on the doctor's backstory in order to understand his motives better, though it is certainly not necessary to the story. I like Moreno-Garcia best when she writes speculative fiction like this and hope to see more in the future.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine and NetGalley for the chance to read The Daughter of Doctor Moreau early in exchange for an honest review.

This is a translated version of my review, orginally posted in spanish, from Goodreads:

Score: 3.4/5 Stars.

Let's start with the positive section of the review: I liked the characters, my favorites were undoubtedly Lupe and Cachito, who are as eccentric as they are interesting. Carlota, the main character of the story, was not entirely to my liking. I didn't share her decisions and, to be honest, I wasn't very interested in her as a character.

I also liked how Silvia Moreno reimagined the classic story of Doctor Moreau and moved it to the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, placing it in a real historical period. The conflict between the Mayan population and the Mexican descendants of the Spanish is the context that gives real meaning to the plot. In my personal case, I did not know about this conflict, and I was delighted to have had the opportunity to learn about it with this novel. I always appreciate when books teach me something new, and I must emphasize that this happened with this novel.

However, not everything was charming. The reasons that made my "Mexican Gothic" reading experience not as good as I expected also appeared in this book. It lacked excitement, it lacked surprises, It lacked plot twists. Yes, the last 50 pages of the novel are action-packed (and yes, I really enjoyed them), but it was all overly predictable!

The "secret" about Carlota: I saw it coming since we were introduced to the characters in the first chapters of the book.

The conflict with the Lizaldes: Yeap, you can also see that coming.

The resolution of the epilogue: Aha! it was also very evident from several pages ago.

This greatly affected my reading, since the surprise factor was non-existent throughout this adventure. For this reason, I limit my recommendation of this novel to people who are looking for a chill science fiction reading, without much movement but that is entertaining and that can be perfect to set the mood for a vacation or a weekend.

I have not read the book "The Island of Doctor Moreau" by HG Wells. Little by little I am discovering the science fiction genre and without a doubt this book is part of my TBR.

4.5 stars. A gothic, historical, sci-fi tale with a tiny bit of romance thrown in! Being based on The Island of Doctor Moreau (and having read author’s Mexican Gothic), I was expecting a macabre horror story, which this is not. It is much more emotionally moving and character driven with just a touch of creepiness.The main character, Carlota, is a complex, strong woman, the other characters are well written and fleshed out, and Dr. Moreau’s hybrid creatures are fascinating. The excellent writing deeply immerses the reader into the Yucatán jungle. I enjoyed it and recommend!

I love the original work by HG Wells. I was hoping this reimagining would update it but keep with the original feel of that. Instead I had a really hard time making myself finish this book. The characters were rather boring and I never got the thrill of reading. It was all so matter-of-fact and the feminism sometimes felt forced in. You don’t need to force women into stories. Women are part of life and should be a natural part of stories. I don’t know if I am expressing that well. I love representation in all forms of art. It shouldn’t feel like it’s there just to be representative, though. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel like anything was added here. More that something was missing.

A beautiful story inspired by The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells. Carlota is the daughter of the eccentric doctor who has been raised along with his hybrids, animal-like creatures that have many human qualities. His "experiments" are funded by Hernando Lizalde, a man who wants cheap labor for his many properties, including the property Dr. Moreau and his daughter live on. When Lizalde's son comes to visit, all hell breaks loose and the delicate balance of living and working together comes to a head.

*Thanks to NetGalley and DelRey for a copy of this e-arc.*

A fever dream of a genre crossing novel. Set in 19th century Mexico it's a remaining of the Island of Dr Moreau, which I've not read or seen so I came to it cold, This is gothic, sci-fi feminist plotting with fantastic (and horrifying) beasts. I got lost in the middle and had to put it down for a bit but came back to it a day later and found myself turning the pages. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, Interesting.

I would like to thank Random House for providing a complementary digital copy of this novel via NetGalley. This novel is loosely based on The Island of Doctor Moreau by HG Wells. This story is set in Mexico during the 1800s, specifically the period of the Caste War of Yucatan. There are two POVs that alternate with each chapter. I found the story to be engrossing and possessing great depth. The author did an excellent job of telling a cohesive story while exploring themes of colonialism and racism. We also find our protagonist Carlotta navigating being a female in the 1800s while trying to do what's best for her loved ones. We see her make difficult choices for their benefit. The idea of what constitutes family is also explored in the story. I truly enjoyed this novel and it worked not just as a reimagining of an old classic but also social commentary that is as poignant today as in any other time period.

Thank you to Del Ray publisher and imprint of Random House a division of Penguin Random House publishing. This book This book was an updated versiion of H. G. wells the island. This author is talented with storytelling. This was my first book by this author but, it will not get my last., her details made me feel like I was at all the various places the story was taking place.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia does it again with this riveting and amazing gothic horror! The characters were amazing, and I was enveloped in the story. I normally don’t enjoy historical classic stories but this one was amazing the gothic horror is what drew me in! Really fantastic retelling that I did not expect to enjoy!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Del Rey in exchange for an honest review.

Moreno-Garcia gives readers a new take on THE ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU with another lesson in Mexican history. Told from the points of view of Doctor Moreau's daughter, Carlota, and Montgomery Laughton (an alcoholic British man who is sent to work for Doctor Moreau by Moreau's wealthy benefactor). While it's good that this story comes from both of their viewpoints, some chapters were a bit annoying that they literally replayed the same scenes from the previous chapter, just from the other POV.

The hybrids are still there as are the scientific studies of someone that puts scientific advancement over ethics, but we're also given space to explore a woman's role within society at the time along with the expectations of what a "good" daughter means.

Not my favorite of Moreno-Garcia's novels, but I did enjoy it. I felt like the plot dragged at times but the last 20% of the novel kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what would happen.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau reads as a bit of a fantasy type novel to me. Taking place in a small area of Mexico, Doctor Moreau and his daughter have a villa where the doctor performs experiments away from the public eye. Doctor Moreau’s subjects are hybrids, mixed from humans and animals to create a much needed workforce for a wealthy Mexican landowner.

The story is told from two points of view. Carlota is the daughter of Doctor Moreau and tells her story of growing up at Yaxaktun and her relationships with the hybrids. Montgomery is the villa’s mayordomo who gives an outsiders perspective on the lives of those at Yaxaktun.

I can’t say this was my favorite book of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and I am a big fan of many of her books. I love the fresh perspectives and storylines in her novels and this book was once again a totally different book than any I’ve read. With alternating between Carlota and Montgomery some of the story was repeated in both perspectives which slowed down the flow of the book for me. I wished there was a little more action throughout like there was at the very end. Solid read, but Mexican Gothic is still my favorite SMG read!

Thank you to Random House Publishing- Ballantine Books and NetGalley for granting me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

As a big fan of Mexican Gothic, I was excited to receive this advanced reader copy of The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, the latest by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. In the interim, I have also read the reprint of her vampire novel, Certain Dark Things, which I thought was awesome. One note that the author made in her introduction to that novel was that CDT was very different from MG - she is, essentially, not a one-trick-pony and I love that about her. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau was another departure from both (though leaning more towards Mexican Gothic in themes, setting, etc. than the neon alternative version of Mexico City from Certain Dark Things). I enjoyed the gothic elements of this novel and the strong female lead. It was both intense and slow and I found myself on middle ground with it. Overall, a vividly written, haunting gothic novel based in real history. Excellent!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

“Hers was the water and the black soil and the trees and those birds in flight not because she owned them but because they had each other."

This was an interesting reimagining of The Island of Doctor Moreau that incorporates historical events and cultural ideologies from late 1800s Mexico.


💕Aspects I enjoyed: 💕

🐆 Much of the original premise is the same, where the doctor works on creating hybrid human + animal creatures. I love that we see some of them as primary characters! This allows us to examine what humanity really means, comparing the humanity of the hybrids against that of the humans.

🐕 There is a unique take on found family, and this is built upon throughout the novel.

🐐 There are multiple themes explored, including colonialism, gender stereotypes, racial inequality, and ethics in scientific experimentation.

🐆 The book steered away from some of the tropes I expected it to embrace, which was extremely refreshing!

🐕 The character depth and growth for the protagonist was wonderful to see as she grew in her own sense of justice and self-worth.


✨Some things I wished: ✨

🐐 I thought the book needed a bit more sci-fi material. For a story marketed as historical science fiction, I felt that it didn’t include much of the science. We come into the novel with the hybrids already in existence, and we don’t really learn much about the doctor’s theories or procedures.

🐆 While we get some depth and growth from a few of the side characters, I wish we’d gotten more of their perspectives and growth. I especially wish we’d had more from the housekeeper who watched over the household and a few of the hybrids.


Overall I enjoyed the book! I’m glad I read it, but there was a bit of spark missing for me, so I don’t know that I’d read it again. I’ll definitely be checking out other books by the author, though, as I thought her ideas were unique and her writing was engaging!

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a adaptation of the classic short story. I have never read the original book, but I'm very much a fan of the author. She has a way to make you feel part of the story. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is the newest novel from Author Silvia Moreno-Garcia.this novel takes place in 1877 Yucatan, Mexico. We learn that Dr Moreau is seen as a "mad scientist" or "madman". Dr. Moreau has a Daughter named Carlota who is also the mayordoma of the estate. Dr Moreau is making human hybrids so they can have cheap, useful laborers. When the patrons son and nephew arrive they become obsessed with Carlota. Carlota also learns that her father has kept a lot from her. After reading this book consider me a Gothic novel fan. Sylvia Moreno-Garcias writing was mesmerizing. I truly recommend this book.

[3.5 stars]
I was drawn to this book due to the vibrant cover and horror tag. However, this one leans more toward historical sci-fi with minimal horror elements. It didn’t inspire any feelings of fear in me. Regardless, the story was intriguing.

The world-building was exceptional, the author’s descriptions bringing the hacienda to life in my mind. I could see myself wandering the halls and tending to the hybrids beyond the wall. But I couldn’t see the hybrids themselves. We spend little time with the hybrids and more time talking about them. I did really enjoy learning about the Mayan culture and the history of the Yucatán peninsula.

Montgomery’s character was the most fleshed out, his past giving him layers beyond being a heartbroken drunk. Carlotta’s, on the other hand, felt like a missed opportunity. She was the doctor’s obedient daughter, unconditionally faithful and loyal. Until she’s not. There was potential here for a spectacular character arc that just fell flat. I wish we’d seen her start to have her own dreams and goals outside of what was expected. The pacing also seemed off. The first 2/3 felt slow and aimless, but the last third was fast-paced and unputdownable.

The story focuses on the ethics of creating sentient part animal, part human creatures for labor who can feel pain and emotions. It wants you to ponder who the real monsters are, the grotesque hybrids created for the sole purpose of being exploited? Or the clever human who created them to further his scientific research? Is it the haggard drunk who’s loyal till the end? Or the charming man who sees what he wants and will cross any line to obtain it? It also calls into question the role of religion, showcasing another example of how detrimental it can be when it’s wielded as a tool to control others and bend their will.