I struggled with this book...it was slow and not quite what I was expecting. I think I still have a little too much riding on Mexican Gothic and now everything feels compared to that book. Thanks for a chance to read this!

There is something about Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s writing that just speaks to me. I haven’t read enough of her books to make definitive statements about her writing, but in the works I have read, it feels like she writes with one middle finger raised. It speaks to me. I don’t delude myself, as a white American whose ancestors definitely messed around in places they should not have been, I am part of the group she is raising that middle finger at, and I am fine with it. Her writing is lush and her characters are rich and delightfully not entirely likable. And that undercurrent of self assured defiance gives even the most idyllic page a sharp edge.

I have not read H.G. Wells’ The Island of Doctor Moreau, but the story is so woven into pop culture that I am not unfamiliar with the basic story. I suspect that Moreno-Garcia’s retelling surpasses the original. Wells called it “an exercise in youthful blasphemy.” The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is no youthful “what if…?” It’s thoughtful and deliberate. It sets the horrors of Doctor Moreau’s experiments into the political landscape of the Yucatán Peninsula in the 1870s – during the Caste War of Yucatán. (I went down so many history rabbit holes reading this).

The story is told in alternating point of view by Carlota Moreau, who we meet as a young teen, and Montgomery Laughton, an alcoholic Englishman, deeply in debt, seeking to hide from the world. Each of them, for their own reasons, accepts Doctor Moreau’s experiments and the hybrid creatures he creates with few questions. The house, Yaxaktun, is Carlota’s world and Montgomery’s refuge. As the peace at Yaxaktun unravels, Carlota and Montgomery begin to look more closely at everything they let slide past their notice. Carlota had been raised to be soft and quiet, a delicate flower to be protected and displayed. As she confronts the horror that is her father, she grows up fast.

She wished to be unafraid and for the world to be good. Neither thing seemed possible.

To Hernando Lizalde, Yaxaktun is a financial investment and he expects Doctor Moreau’s experiments to pay off. Moreau is playing god in the jungle and Lizalde is funding him because he wants cheap labor that won’t runaway, or rise up in rebellion. They are the monsters and the horror in this story, and we know it from page 1. The central story isn’t the revelation and downfall of these monsters, but Carlota’s growth from trying to be a good daughter to becoming her own person – from a butterfly decoratively pinned on a board to a person of agency.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau starts off languid and the plot moves slowly at times. But Moreno-Garcia is always layering in the details so that when the action becomes explosive, we see the full horror that Moreau and Lizalde have wrought. I could spend weeks talking about this book and it wouldn’t be enough.

CW: Discussion of medical experiments, control with drugs, alcoholism, death of animals, violence, beatings, cruelty

I received this as an advance reader copy from NetGalley. My opinions are my own and freely given.

When I saw this stunning cover and that the story was written by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, I knew I had to read this book. Moreno-Garcia is such an amazing storyteller, and I couldn’t wait to immerse myself in the story. A reimagining of HG Wells’s The Island of Doctor Moreau set amid growing conflicts in the 1870s Yucatan Peninsula, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a thought-provoking and compelling story with powerful themes of humanity, morality, and more.

Moreno-Garcia never fails to write engaging stories that immerse the reader into a unique and fantastical world. The author deftly pulls the reader into the story using sensory, figurative, and descriptive language. The story is dark, lush, haunting, atmospheric, and so incredibly vivid, and I love how it weaves history with science fiction.

The characters are also meticulously crafted and complex, especially Carlota, the only daughter of Dr. Moreau. Hers is a coming-of-age story as she struggles to find herself and her place in a complicated world where she is often torn between her duty, loyalty, and desire. She is lovely, curious, and naïve, and her growth throughout the story is fantastic.

The story switches perspectives between Carlota and Montgomery, and he is as intricately crafted and complex as Carlota. A broken man trying to forget the past, Montgomery forms a connection with Carlota. However, when a wealthy man named Eduardo arrives and shows interest in Carlota, secrets are exposed and lives are irrevocably changed. Eduardo, and other characters, including Carlota’s father, Eduardo, Lupe, Cachito, and even the hybrids, are also dynamically developed, interesting, and unique.

Something else I really liked about the story is the many messages about issues like the role of women in society, gender inequities, social responsibility, and what really makes a monster. I thought the social and political themes and commentary were powerful and thought-provoking, and though the story takes place in the 1870s, many of these issue are still relevant today.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is an atmospheric reimagining of a classic story, and includes mystery, suspense, secrets, an immersive plot, dynamic characters, and a unique and unexpected twist. I would definitely recommend it to readers of Moreno-Garcia’s previous works and people who enjoy atmospheric and thought-provoking stories. Thanks so much to DelRay Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau was a winding and intriguing story. Doctor Moreau blurred the lines of science, religion and morality for his own gain. This story was told from two distinct points of view that while inwardly focused had many poignant phrases I found myself highlighting. Overall, I liked this book. It twisted, turned and meandered a bit in its plot. Although I felt the last part of the book grew through a wave of emotions that was well done.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book just wasn’t for me. I had a hard time finishing it. It was boring and dragged a lot. I almost DNF it a few times.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book so much! I love how the author, again, made a very strong and feminist main character who questions everything and is not afraid to voice her opinions. I had no idea this was a retelling, and I can't wait to make comparisons between the original work.
And this cover? It gives me the most amazing authentic Mexican vibes.

I was excited to read this retelling, especially after being horrified by The Island of Doctor Moreau. I was hoping for some feminist and racial commentary, as those are things that Moreno-Garcia is renowned for doing in her writing. However, a third of the way through the novel, I wasn't feeling any of those things. It was very slow to get going, but I didn't feel like I had gotten to know any of the characters any better. At least, I didn't feel compelled to continue reading. I think the setting of the Yucatán Peninsula could have been highlighted more, too. I would have loved to hear more about the native wildlife or more Mayan spoken by characters, rather than just being mentioned. I think the idea was really cool and that Moreno-Garcia's prose was good, but I think the plot could have been executed differently.

I'm in between 3 and 4 stars for this. I enjoyed reading it and the story was more complex than I expected. However, the start was rough with the world building and then the middle we got stuck in a plot that would not move. Just pages of thinking about possible solutions. I did greatly enjoy Carlota, the daughter of Doctor Moreau and her journey of self discovery. All the characters in this story were molded in shades of grey and I appreciated that there was a lot of questioning and development in regards to how the story developed. Based on a novel by H.G. Wells (that I've never read) it was interesting to see how this would play out in the politics of Mexican haciendas. How that and all the creatures in the story came together was high stakes game that I did not see how it could end well. If you're a fan of science fiction, morally grey characters and mad scientists, this is for you.

This was the first book that I have read from this author. I have also never read The Island of Doctor Moreau. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a historical fiction which blends sci-if elements and mystery. I was initially attracted to this book because of the beautiful cover. I found this book to be an enjoyable read, although the pacing felt very slow. I really enjoyed the themes of humanity and morality. I had only heard good things from this author and can’t wait to read more.

This novel is a sideways version of H.G. Wells's novel The Island of Doctor Moreau. As in the original novel, Moreau is a doctor living in a secluded location engaged in scientific experimentation that results in animal/human hybrids. Unlike the original novel, this version is set in the Yucatan and introduces the titular character, Carlota Moreau.

I'll confess that I have not read the entire original. I got about halfway through and stopped. Wells has many strong ideas, but his writing isn't too my taste. This version, however, kept me engaged and entertained throughout.

Moreno-Garcia is a wonderful writer. She knows how to use language to create a sense of place and has an eye for detail. By alternating points of view between Carlota and Montgomery, the author creates an ebb and flow that gives the reader a fuller picture of events. The world these characters inhabit is lush and full of dream-like interludes and powerful ideas.

There were times when I was reminded of some of Anne Rice's work- that kind of lush, romantic phrasing and characters who think big thoughts and believe strongly in what they are thinking and saying.

This was a very enjoyable read. Highly recommend.

I received The Daughter of Doctor Moreau from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It is well-written and as always I love Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing style. She captures the character of Dr. Moreau perfectly. I love Carlota, the doctor's daughter, even though at times she frustrated me with her decisions. Also, the character of Montgomery, essentially Dr. Moreau's assistant, is an awesome character as well.
From the atmosphere created to the experiments and conflict, I loved it all. The story kept my interest from beginning to end. I constantly stayed up too late reading because I wanted to know what was going to happen. I don't want to give anything away. I would highly recommend this book to my friends, family and anyone who is a fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

This reimagining of the Island of Dr Moreau was definitely interesting and nothing like I expected. I enjoyed Mexican Gothic more and that’s saying something but unless I hate a book I always give an author a second chance.

In this book, Carlota, daughter of a doctor in the middle of nowhere Mexico grows up with her father’s and his experiments. One day a handsome man comes along and sweeps her off her feet but not everything is as it seems and secrets start to spill.

This was not horror/gothic but sci-fi. The story dragged throughout then you’d get these quick sections and back to slugging along. The plot wasn’t thought out all the way through and I just didn’t connect with any of the characters.

I did appreciate the themes of playing god and humanity, though it wasn’t wrapped up well.

Those who like the style of Mexican Gothic will really enjoy the style of this book. I loved MG but didn’t find myself drawn into the plot for this one. I stopped at 10%, but I can see a lot of our patrons really enjoying it, especially since Mexican Gothic was a hot book on our shelves.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

Carlota Moreau is a beautiful young woman living with her father in a secluded hacienda on the Yucatán peninsula in 1870s Mexico. Her father is, of course, the legendary Doctor Moreau, creator of a secret collection of human-animal hybrids. Montgomery Laughton, an emotionally broken alcoholic who never recovered from being left by his wife, works for Doctor Moreau, procuring animals for his experiments and serving as the hacienda’s mayordomo. But their steady existence is broken when Eduardo Lizalde—the aggressive yet charming son of Doctor Moreau’s financial backer—comes to the hacienda one day and immediately sets his sights on marrying Carlota.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is, of course, based upon H.G. Wells’s The Island of Doctor Moreau. This novel could not exist without the original, and it retains the original’s fundamental idea of a mad scientist creating human-animal hybrids. On that score, the new novel does a better job of describing the ‘science’ behind the hybrids than the original (which was pretty unconvincing). And this novel cleverly weaves references and themes from the original—about Doctor Moreau as a god figure, about the usefulness of pain—into its story.

But The Island of Doctor Moreau is a dark novel about the dangers of science gone too far, and the hubris of scientists who believe they can and should wield the power of creation. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is more interested in the interpersonal dynamics. Carlota’s presence not only adds a coming of age story but her relationships with her father, with Montgomery, and with Eduardo, flesh out all of their characters. Her arc is a stand-in for the way women of that era were constrained, controlled, and not permitted to strive for their full potential. Additionally, placing the novel within the time and location of Mayan uprisings on the Yucatán peninsula against the Mexican government gave the story lots of atmosphere and makes the storyline about the hybrids feel more like a commentary on slavery, worker exploitation, and societal inequalities generally.

Isaac Newton famously said “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” And I thought of that as I realized that I liked The Daughter of Doctor Moreau more than The Island of Doctor Moreau. It feels wrong, because H.G. Wells is one of the titans of science fiction for a reason. But Ms. Moreno-Garcia took the best parts of the source material, stood on those shoulders, and used it to tell a richer, fuller, more human story. Recommended.

This book took a classic and put a new twist on it, which I absolutely loved. The story moves The Island of Dr. Moreau, an H.G. Wells classic, to the Yucatan in Mexico. The story was so well thought out, and the characters were wonderfully written. I have become a huge fan of Moreno-Garcia's work in the past few years and this book surpasses all the previous books I have read. The tale follows Carlota, the daughter of Dr. Moreau. As is well known, Dr. Moreau is an older man who creates human-animal hybrids, as was the fad to discuss at the point in time when the original book was written (vivisection was a big scientific study point in that era). Notably, this books takes all of the best parts of the original story and infuses them with a beautiful feel that evokes the warmth, heat, and beautiful locale where this story is supposed to take place. Meticulously researched and wonderfully written, I suggest that anyone who enjoys a tale of adventure, fiction, or science fiction even, pick this book up ASAP!

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Less a retelling and more a reimagining of Wells's <I>The Island of Doctor Moreau</I>, Moreno-Garcia brings her lush, lyrical writing to the Yucatan Peninsula in the 1870s. Carlota Moreau is a sheltered young woman who has grown up alongside her scientist father's hybrid experiments. Her narrative alternates with that of Montgomery Laughton, the estate's troubled majordomo. Their life is insulated and somewhat dreamy, and for the most part the household is ignorant of the ongoing fight of the Mayan people for rights and independence. When the handsome, heedless son of Dr. Moreau's patron visits the estate, a series of violent and awful events are set in motion. This book was a little slow at the start, but I quickly became immersed in the story and setting, and the last third had me especially glued to the page. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for a digital review copy.

i'm not familiar with wells' work, but dr. moreau has seeped into popular media in enough ways that i at least had a general understanding of it once we are introduced to the house at yaxaktun. while montgomery was easy to sympathize with immediately, lest you forget the book's title: this is carlota's story. and what a story. once again we are given fantastically complicated characters, who, true to smg's style, are not protagonists we hear from often. the story is put on its tracks and the ride to an inevitable -- but intense -- conclusion is nuanced and enthralling. the pacing is steady and sure, the world fully-realized, and the writing perfectly atmospheric.

between characters i love to hate and the bittersweet ending, i think this will turn more than a few people off, but i'm looking forward to the growing nature of it. in the three days it took for me to read it already sunk its claws into my mind, and i'm sure it won't let go for a while yet.

I really loved The Daughter of Doctor Moreau. This is a subtly scary and weird story inspired by the story of Doctor Moreau from a new perspective. I thought it was super interesting to follow Carlota and Montgomery's perspectives and to see their views on the doctor and the hybrids change over the course of the story.

The title of this book is a riff on H.G. Wells’s book, The Island of Doctor Moreau, published in 1896. The author chose to tie in the Caste War of Yucatán which began in 1847. This Doctor Moreau is passionate about his hybrids but his research requires monetary support which he has procured through the self-interested Lizaldes family. The caste war has cost them the lives of rebellious Mayan field workers and they sees the solution in hybrids. They have financed the research and now want hybrid workers cutting sugar cane. Moreau knew what that meant for his beloved hybrids - “they would work like a dog, live like a dog, and die like one, too.”

Dr Moreau’s daughter Carlotta is exceptionally beautiful but lives a sheltered lonely, life, so her father gives her two hybrids as companions, Lupe and Cachito, whom she adores. The trick is keeping them secreted away from prying eyes who might be disgusted at their part animal appearance. The Lizaldes are not pleased.

A new majordomo, Montgomery Laughton, is hired to manage the property. The son, Eduardo Lizardes, falls in love with Carlotta, but Montgomery sees right through his ambitions and tries to protect her. She had retired early one evening and he was told to wait until the next day. Eduardo asked if everything was well, Montgomery flinched. “There were leeches and vampire bats Montgomery would have liked better.”


Needless to say, the Lizaldes are not the good guys, and this is where I can tell you no more. Enjoy!

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a master of historical fiction, no matter the sub-genre. She takes on the science fiction genre with this reimagined version of the Island of Doctor Moreau, and she again brings to life not only an incredible cast of characters but also the gorgeous yet conflicted Yucatan peninsula in the 1870s. This reimagining of HG Well's novel - critical of both modern and historical classism, sexism, and imperialism - poses the question, "Who are the real monsters?" If you love science fiction, horror, and/or historical fiction, you will love this one.