Huge amount of thanks to NetGalley and del Rey publishing for an advanced copy of this book!
I have been anxiously waiting on this one and it did not disappoint! I feel like everyone has heard of H.G. Wells’ The Island of Dr. Moreau, or at least seen the movie. This is a fantastic retelling, told from two points of view.

Carlota is the daughter of the brilliant Doctor Moreau. She is smart and beautiful and aware of the work her father does within the walls of their isolated home. As a child she suffered from a blood illness and her father treats her regularly. His experiments, called hybrids, are the closest thing she has to a family.
Montgomery is an outsider, and the home’s new majordomo. As someone with a troubled and sad past, he does his job without passing judgment.
Eventually the son of the owner of the estate pays a visit and instantly falls for Carlota. While her father sees this as an advantage, it unfortunately has devastating consequences.
I love when a book lives up to my expectations. Silvia Moreno Garcia can do no wrong in my opinion and once again gives us a beautiful cover.
Publication day is July 19! Preorder, pick up in store, or grab a copy from the library, but don’t sleep on this one!

I will stan SMG forever without question. I may have enjoyed other stories of hers better than this one, but I think the actual writing in this novel might be my absolute favorite yet. There are vibes on vibes on vibes,

This is a really bizarre comparison that I will get out of the way quickly so that everyone can tell me how ridiculous I am and move on- but many times when I read about the hybrids in this novel I couldn't stop thinking of the characters in Cerulean Sea?? I know. I am ridiculous. There was just something about the community that the hybrids formed that made me think of the other book. That is absolutely where the similarities end.

MOVING ON!

I definitely recommend any readers of this novel to familiarize themselves with the source material. I am not suggesting you buy a copy of The Island of Doctor Moreau and read it cover to cover. An internet search will suffice, but I think having the context makes this book more enjoyable.

SMG tackles a lot- colonization, race, class, slavery, medical experimentation- and successfully writes this book in a way that will make the readers consider all of these heavy topics while being completely engaged in a book full of slick storytelling. I felt the heat- physical, emotional, etc. Writing this book could not have been an easy feat but I think SMG has repeatedly shown us that she has the chops.

There is a twist that I am not sure is really a twist- it's unclear to me if SMG wants us to know it's coming or not, but regardless- it's a good one.

SO TL/DR this is a great book and you should read it and I can't wait to see what color the pages of my Waterstone's preorder are. As usual, the cover design is incredible.

Thanks so much to Del Rey and NetGalley for the review copy!

A really well-done retelling if The Island of Dr. Moreau” by H.G. Wells, centered on the uprisings happening in the region at the time. Though it felt a little drawn out in places, I liked that events were repeated through different characters’ eyes. I loved Carlota and her final showdown with Eduardo.

Yet again, Silvia Moreno-Garcia knocks it out of the park. This was fantastic! I loved every page and I cannot wait to recommend this book to everyone.

The writing was well done, the sorry was unique and engaging. I never regret picking up anything by this author.

After enjoying Mexican Gothic, I sought out another read from Silvia Moreno-Garcia. This time I found myself wrapped up in a tale of unexpected friendships and alliances set in a culture which is rife with discontent and a need for change. Carlota Moreau never thought of herself as more than just "the doctor's daughter", but as it turns out she has a wild soul that just needed the right incentive to show itself to the world. When her home and family, including the hybrids her father created, come under attack; Carlota must decide what sacrifices she will make to save all that she loves.

Good premise with a well researched mix of Yucatan history and the classic Island of Dr. Moreau story, as well as interesting character development. Not quite in the same vein as Mexican Gothic, but I am glad I read it all the same.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this book.

This was soooo good! I’m absolutely blown away with this stunning story. It was entertaining, masterfully written, and probably one of my all time favorite reads of this year. Carlota-amazing, Montgomery-amazing, Lupe-amazing (can I just say, all of the characters were AMAZING!) I’ve been in a bit of a book slump lately, and The Daughter of Doctor Moreau just pulled me right out of it. Go buy this book when it comes out, you will not be disappointed! Excuse me while I run to add all of this author’s other books to my shopping cart.

This was not my usual genre but I really enjoyed this book. It piqued my interest as soon as I read the synopsis. The writing was excellent and really put me into the atmosphere of the story line. Looking forward to more from this author.

I received an advance copy via NetGalley.

I haven't read the original <i>The Island of Doctor Moreau</i>, and recall only bits of what the original story entailed; therefore, I approach this book on its own considerable merits rather than as a derivative work. This book is something of a character study of the young daughter, Carlota, and the hired mayordomo, Montgomery. The set-up: Doctor Moreau works at a remote estate in late 19th-century Mexico. He has created human-animal hybrids as medical marvels--though he has truly been hired to produce strong slave laborers for his patron. His daughter Carlota has been raised among the hybrids and considers them friends. The arrival of sullen Montgomery, a man haunted by lost love and alcoholism, only briefly disrupts the rhythm of the place. It is when the patron's arrogant son arrives and becomes smitten with Carlota that things take a decisive, dangerous shift....

The book is quite literary in tone, with a much greater focus on the interpersonal drama than on the science fictional side, which normally isn't my thing at all, but Moreno-Garcia's writing pulled me in. I found some of the major reveals to be a bit telegraphed, but the ending still delivered surprises and immense satisfaction. I knew very little about Mexico and the Yucatan during this period, and I feel like I learned some genuine history. The insights into state of colonialism there were both disturbing and enlightening--a more real horror than Moreau's creations, for sure.

A brilliant retelling of the Legend of Dr. Moreau. I really love this authors writing style. Look forward to more by this author.

When this story begins Carlota is preparing to meet with her father, Dr. Moreau, associates, Lizande and Montgomery. Dr. Moreau is a french scientist who moved to the Yaxaktun to open a sanatorium in which to do his scientific research into hybrids. He lost his wife and child and after trying again, has Carlota. But Carlota was born with a blood disease which he believes he has cured with his medication and research. Lizande is the long time funder of Dr.Moreau and is bringing Montgomery on the prospect of being the mayordomo for Yaxaktun. Montgomery is my favorite character. He is an Enligshman with a lot of debts, suffering from personal tragedies and a dark past that drowns out with alcohol.

Montgomery is hesitant at first about taking on being the mayordomo of Yaxaktun but is severely indebted to Lizande and after their first night on the property, finds himself accepting the position.

It then forwards to six years later, Montgomery finds his place on this new property, not just as mayordomo but as caretaker for the hybrids that Moreu creates. Even becoming close and considering some friends. Everyone within Yaxaktun has a rhythm, a pace, a routine that suddenly torn asunder when Eduardo Lizande, son of Dr. Moreau’s funder, shows up and becomes infatuated with Carlota. What follows is a chain reaction of events that there is no coming back from.

I don’t want to spoil anything that comes after because it is a journey that needs to be experienced. Silvia Moreno-Garcia captured perfectly in chapter one who lonely it is to be on Yaxaktun by introducing us to Carlota and her upbringing. Not knowing who her mother is, having just the hybrids, Ramona the caretaker and her father as company. Her intelligence is also something that isolates her. She knows languages, is taught about other places, and has read about the world, but instead of seeming like places she might go one day, they are fairytales to her. Ramona, who was running away from an abusive situation herself tells Carlota, "I came to Yaxaktun because nobody can find you here," Ramona said with a shrug.

Montgomery on the other hand has seen much of the world, has seen a lot of tragedy and just wants to be left alone and drink his days away. We slowly get to know more about Montgomery and his troubled past as we follow him along these events. I love complicated characters, so it's no surprise that I fell in love with Montgomery in the journey that he takes in this novel. He not only care for the hybrids but befriends them. He watches Carlota grew and even sees bits of himself in her and wishes for her to not end up like himself. Their relationship is a complicated one and how it changes and where it was left at was great to see.

Something that I loved as well was that Silvia Moreno-Garcia did not shy away from what was happening in this part of the world during this time. The war of the Maya people in the Yucatan is not just a backdrop or mention in this novel but plays a huge part for not just Carlota and Montgomery but the hybrids themselves. The one thing I wished we got more of was the hybrids. I wanted to know more about them and spend more time with them than we did but I still loved this read and recommend everyone to pick it up.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/ Ballantine/ Del Rey for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Moreno-Garcia solidifies her place among current horror writers with this spin on The Island of Doctor Moreau.

I love Silva Moreno-Garcia's books, primarily because she never writes the same story twice. In this novel, she reimagines the basic premise of The Island of Doctor Moreau, setting it in the lush wilds of the Yucatan peninsula and introducing the lovely daughter, Carlota, of the titular scientist.

Like Dr. Moreau's hybrids with whom she has been raised, Carlota has to take a weekly serum to keep up her strength; she suffered from a painful illness as a child, and only medicine derived from the blood of jaguar can keep her from relapsing. We first meet her as a teenager when Dr. Moreau's patron, Hector Lizalde, brings a new majordomo, Montgomery Laughton, to the hacienda to help care for the hybrids. While first stunned by the hybrids, Montgomery becomes a valued part of life in Moreau's hacienda. Six years later, Lizalde's son arrives unexpectedly and sets off a chain of events that upends the lives all of the inhabitants of the compound--humans and hybrids alike. Hidden secrets are revealed, alliances made and broken, and violence unleashed.

Chapter by chapter, the book alternates between Carlota's and Montgomery's points-of-view. This allows for a fuller and richer perspective: that of the insider (someone who has grown up in this strange world and is seduced by new experiences) and the outsider (someone who arrived at the hacienda jaded by experiences in the wider world who finds safety in the unlikely community of animal-human hybrids).

By keeping the source novel's same timeframe (late 1800s) while relocating the setting to the Yucatan peninsula, Moreno-Garcia is able to explore issues of colonialism and social and racial stratification. Here, the hybrids are being bred to substitutes as workers for the Indigenous population rebelling against atrocious labor conditions created by European-descended hacendados. I would have liked to see her more overly tease out these themes, but even as undercurrents, this adds a fascinating layer of depth to the story.

Once the book got going, I could not put it down. This is a perfect for anyone who enjoys action and adventure, sci-fi and fantasy, romance and intrigue. Basically, the perfect package, and just in time for those looking for a compelling summer read!

This book was excellently written -- I just love falling into whatever world Moreno-Garcia is creating. Her writing is so vivid. This was a good reminder that her sci-fi/fantasy is supreme. I loved the moral dilemma that this book centers around, along with the two main characters' perspectives. It was captivating, gorgeously written, and full of passion and adventure. I think CW would be good for readers, however, as there are descriptions of violence, attempted assault, and animal cruelty.

I would recommend this to patrons that like this author's work. I was in a reading slump and this is the first book that I have really enjoyed in weeks. I have liked everything that I have read by this author and it even interested me in re-reading The Island of Dr. Moreau.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC. This is not my usual read but I still thoroughly enjoyed this book.

3.5/5 This is a retelling of The Island of Doctor Moreau set in Mexico. While I loved the premise, the reveals, and the ending, I found it hard to really connect with the characters. Overall, the descriptions were beautiful, but I just couldn't fully get into it.

All my favorite book elements in one novel - historical fiction, strong representation, and a talented and courageous female lead character. I couldn't put The Daughter of Doctor Moreau down!

No one weaves an atmosphere quite like Silvia Moreno-Garcia. At once lavish and dark, her ability to paint the dark underbelly of romance is spellbinding. So it was with Mexican Gothic, a book it took me entirely too long to commit to but which I devoured in a single day, and so it is with her latest dive into sweltering lands ripe with secrets and passions, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau.

I have been following this book's path since the announcement of its title alone, so to have been given the opportunity to review it was a gift at a time when I most needed it. Tying together the darkest sides of the Gothic with its headiest romantic elements is a tried and true cocktail of success for me, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia has proven once again to be a master of just such a combination. More than a simple reinvention of HG Wells' original work of disturbing science fiction, Moreno-Garcia presents a world rich with culture and longing, though it be a culture those off the island can never fully understand. Daughter of Doctor Moreau is one part Gothic romance, one part sci-fi horror, and one part exploration of the war in the Yucatán between Mayan natives and the inhabitants of European descent who held economic control.

Carlotta Moreau, daughter of the possibly-mad but well-financed scientist who spends his time developing the perfect man-animal hybrid, lives on the secluded island with her father, siblings, and a smattering of servants, wholly uninterested in the world outside the island, though consumed with the need to be her father's perfect daughter. When Montgomery Laughton joins the staff, he watches in horrified fascination as he takes on roles to help care for Moreau's experiments, eventually resigned to his work and fate thanks to a troubled past that plagues him and a fondness for alcohol he cannot seem to shake. Laughton develops a closeness with Carlotta as she grows up, and the two similar personalities with differing backgrounds often balance each other out even as they butt heads.

Laughton soon becomes fiercely protective of Carlotta and her home as the overbearing and entitled son of Moreau's benefactor shows up to interrogate them on potential Mayan passage and sneak a peek at Moreau's secrets. What unfolds from the clash, and from Carlotta's increasing curiosity over her father's work, is a rich tapestry of romance and scathing critique of what happens when social mores are challenged from all angles. From illness and monstrosity to questions of humanity and worthiness tied to race and social class, this is no ordinary monster story, and no ordinary retelling of a classic.

Moreno-Garcia's island inhabitants are, even at their worst, still complex and sympathetic characters. Most of them long for a life outside which they believe they can never have thanks to their dependence on the Doctor's medicine to keep them alive, though they are willing to fight for the chance to see a world outside their luxurious confines. Even the Doctor himself, stricken with tragedy of family lost and hungry to pursue the secrets of life with the Frankensteinian passion that can only ever be doomed to fail even as he succeeds, is by turns painted as both egomaniac (as in the church scenes) and doting, ever-scarred and scared father to unusual children. Such twists in character development leave Daughter of Doctor Moreau an enticing read from first page to last.

Perhaps predictably, on a personal level, the thread which struck me most in this Moreau was Carlotta's. Plagued with vague memories of a mysterious illness from which her father's medicine recovered her, she does not question him or his work until faced with the reality of its risks, and even then battles constantly with herself over the tension between doting, obedient daughter and rebellious young woman in search of identity. What, for most of the novel, is thought to be debilitating weakness becomes, perhaps unsurprisingly, the strength which frees her family from the oppressive forces who wish not only to bend the Moreaus and their work to their will, but to remove Carlotta from the only place she has ever wanted to be. Her struggle with this tension between appearances and reality, health and illness, release and restraint, echoes in its own way my ever complex feelings about my own life. More than that, though, it is but another brilliant thread of the newly enriched trend of horror's femme main characters going absolutely feral.

While the Gothic may find ways to suppress it, wrapped in barbed words rather than pointed actions, there is no denying the ferocity beating at the heart of many of horror's newest titles, particularly those written by non-cis, non-white, and/or non-heteronormative authors, and for good reason. Much as with film, literature tends to be a wonderful arena for exploring tensions we may not so easily or safely be otherwise able to express. All the while Moreno-Garcia is able to balance such exploration with a swoon-worthy though tragic-tinged-and-forged romance in a way that seems wholly unique to her.

The mark of the best classic-reimaginings are those that can build upon and enrich the world from which they spring without cheapening or lessening them, and though it is a loose one, Daughter of Doctor Moreau does just that and so much more.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to receive an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau hits shelves July 19, 2022.

I have some strong mixed feelings about this. I did recently read the original and it was weird as hell. This one felt more grounded in reality even with its strong scifi elements, and it definitely captured some of the same weirdness. However some of the dialog felt unnatural and forced at times and I feel like the writing itself can be tightend up a bit. Overall I still enjoyed it very much.

A spin on the novel The Island of Dr. Moreau. Carlota is the daughter of the mysterious Doctor Moreau. She lives on a remote estate with her father, his overseer, Montgomery Laughton, and the doctor's hybrids. There, they are safe from all the conflict that is happening in the Yucatan peninsula.

However, Carlota and Montgomery both have their own struggles - Carlota with trying to become her own woman while trying to cope with a mysterious illness of her own and Montgomery with his alcoholism. Things become more complicated when the son of Moreau's benefactor comes to their estate and is intent on wooing and marrying Carlota.

I wanted to like this book so much. I love Mexican Gothic so, so much, but I just struggled so much with this book. I did finish it but I never got that same passion for it as I have with other of her books. I just found the writing a bit tedious and the plot to be very slow. It never gave me that hook that really drew me in. I think part of it was that it was trying to bridge a few different genres - horror, thriller, romance, etc. - but I don't feel it succeeded.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.