This is my second Silvia Moreno-Garcia book. She has a gift for both compelling storytelling and characters. Her timing is great--one wants to keep reading but the book doesn't speed through but provides marvelous little details that build the setting, character, and elements of horror and suspense. This isn't highly suspenseful but keeps a thread of it going through the story. Characters are well defined, even secondary characters, with excellently chosen bits of description and action. The plot moves well with the main story progressing and showing bits of side elements that add to the richness of the story. It's no wonder Garcia-Moreno is a bestselling author!

QUICK TAKE: I can definitely say for certain that I enjoy Silvia Moreno-Garcia's fantasy/scifi/horror stories more than her crime fiction, and there was a lot about DOCTOR MOREAU that I enjoyed. This is not as left-of-center or bonkers batshit crazy as Mexican Gothic was (and that I loved!), and I felt like the narrative was treading water at certain points, but if you're looking for a gothic take on Moreau thru the lens of Moreno-Garcia, you're going to get exactly what you might expect here!

Strong adult novel with a hint of fantasy and adventure and danger. Well-developed characters, but slow ending

Thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for the very welcome opportunity to read and review Silvia Moreno-Garcia's 'The Daughter of Doctor Moreau.'

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the absolute queen of taking the reader and planting them, figuratively, in the middle of the action. Right from the off you can see the vibrant colors of the people (helped enormously by that stunning book cover), the house, the jungle; feel the heat and discomfort; imagine the tranquil and cooling effect of the natural pool; and smell everything that's going on. If the meat of the "Mexican Gothic' story happened in a pale, gloomy setting then 'The Daughter of Doctor Moreau' is the polar opposite - heat, color, smells, exploding everywhere.

You probably don't need to have read or know the story of the original H.G. Wells novel 'The Island of Doctor Moreau' to read and enjoy Silvia Moreno-Garcia's reimagining of it but I would say it helps to have some knowledge of it. The character of 'Montgomery' from the original is retained but with a somewhat different though no less central role.

The story is broadly based on Well's tale of a vivisectionist using science and the advancement of the human species as an excuse for pain and torture. Without giving away too much, Moreau in this retelling achieves more than he hoped for in some respects.

As for the science fiction elements, the science of the original story and this retelling is obviously pure fantasy but the offspring of the experimentation, the hybrids, are presented as real and rounded characters with backstories, personalities, and characteristics of their own which combine their animal and human sides. Cross-species love, friendship, and loyalties abound and at the same time the hybrids are hidden away for fear of the reaction they'd provoke if the wider world experienced them, only finding acceptance within their own closeted world and then, later, with other outcasts.

Moreno-Garcia very cleverly and almost imperceptibly presents the reader with a brief history of the conflicting sides in 19th century Mexico - the indigenous Mayans, British, Mexican elite and poor, Spanish - and the caste system which emerged and then and became cast (no pun intended) in concrete and still remains in place to some extent today. Every faction of that period is featured strongly here and we get to understand a little of how it came to be and how it's fed into the ongoing development of the region. I found that fascinating. The social mores of the day and how that impacted on the lives of women is also well covered. Also on full display through the character of Doctor Moreau is the role that religion plays into the subjugation and control of people and nations - his constant quoting of bible verses is used as a means of controlling his daughter and his creations. Kudos to the author for highlighting that.

It felt to me that the pacing of the story was trying to mirror that of the setting and characters. The oppressive heat of the peninsula meaning that things have to move slowly or else exhaustion sets in but then you have explosive movement when wild animals are threatened - the book's the same, long languid passages interspersed with action. Although the ending could be described as being a little bit pat, for me there's enough ambiguity to mean that it works.

This is another wonderful reading experience courtesy of one of the finest writers of the moment.

I enjoyed the slow buildup of atmospheric tension, I knew/suspected from the title that there would be some odd goings on and I was not disappointed. I like the tone of Silvia Moreno- Garcia’s writing very much and will continue to read all I can by her.

I confess I did not know much of the original story. I mean I watched the old movie years ago, and had a general idea of what it's about, but what Silvia does is connect it to a real conflict in Mexico. You don't need to know a lot about the original story to read this as she does an incredible job of explaining all the details.

Silvia has this incredible way of creating characters with serious flaws. Probably the best part I love about her stories, the characters are so imperfect yet you can't help but feel compassion for them.

The story is told in 2 POVs Carlota, and Montgomery. Carlota is the Dr's daughter and she wants nothing more than to make her father proud of her. And she is an obedient and in my opinion a friggin' saint. The way she holds her tongue when her father is cruel to her and to the hybrids made me want to scream.

Montgomery is a drunk with a heart break of a backstory. I mean my heart truly broke for him, but I will admit because it hit a little too close to home for me.

If you're looking for story with a little but science fiction and a little bit historical fiction, this is the book for you!

An amazing take on The Island of Doctor Moreau told from the point of view of his daughter, who is more than what she appears to be. Like Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau examines colonialism in the crosshairs of fantasy at its best.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is an extremely talented writer, and that talent is fully displayed in her newest novel “The Daughter of Doctor Moreau.” Her language is lush and highly evocative of the novel’s setting, Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula in the 1870s, where Doctor Moreau experiments in creating part-animal, part-human “hybrids.” Her characters are well-drawn, especially her two protagonists, the beautiful Carlotta and the melancholy Montgomery, from whose points of view the story is told. More literary than most tales of adventure and/or science fiction, its pace is somewhat slow. Nevertheless, the isolation of Moreau’s estate, the presence of the experimental hybrids, and revolutionary activity in the surrounding areas give the novel an eeriness and an edge that may keep many readers turning the pages. Unfortunately, this is not my kind of story and I chose not to finish. But I think readers interested in H.G. Wells’s “The Island of Doctor Moreau,” Latin America and/or the Yucatan in the late 19th century, and science fiction involving attempts to create or modify our human species may well find something to enjoy here. My thanks to the NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing to me an electronic ARC. The foregoing is my independent opinion.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia writes completely engrossing, incredible fiction. This book, not unlike Mexican Gothic, takes a horror story and sets it in the world, against backgrounds that are consequential, specific, and rooted in history and populates it with characters that are multidimensional, connected to the environment, and experiencing the consequences of historical events where so often horror stories take only "foreign' elements from people and places and use them as a foil for the protagonists, or to juxtapose what is "normal". This book was a pleasure to read, I did not want to put it down.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a sensual and atmospheric novel loosely based on the classic pulp sci-fi The Island of Doctor Moreau. Moren-Garcia reimagines the drama of Doctor Moreau’s secret scientific experiments set in the secluded jungles of Mexico during the time of the real Yucatán Caste Wars of the 1870’s. The author effortlessly weaves the themes of grief, colonialism, bioethics, racism, classism, sexism and found family in this imaginative tale. In the Daughter of Doctor Moreau, Moren-Garcia manages to give us a slower paced Frankenstein of generes - historical fiction, Sci-Fi, and gothic romance, in a manner only she can pull off convincingly. When reading one of her novels, I can always expect to be transported to another time and place in the most entertaining of ways, this was no exception. I am always good for the ride.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

Wonderful read!! A story that comes to life in only the way Silvia Moreno-Garcia can do! She doesn't disappoint with her latest novel! Highly recommend!!

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is an atmospheric story about Carlota, the daughter of Doctor Moreau, and her relatively secluded life in Yaxaktun in the 1870s. We are first drawn into the story by hearing about their isolated lives on Doctor Moreau’s estate and the “hybrids” he is working on. I liked this story and found it somewhat creepy/discomforting but not to the same extent as Mexican Gothic. I also didn’t love this as much as The Beautiful Ones or Certain Dark Things. However, this story was intriguing and obviously written extremely well, so I would recommend it to others.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Charlotte lives a quiet life on a gorgeous estate near the Yucatan. Eduardo arrives on the island and everyone is unsure if they can trust him. The small island holds many secrets. This book was well written.

Nobody’s more versatile than Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I don’t know another writer who’s able to cross genres with such reliable results, from the sweaty and slow neo-noir in Velvet, to her vampire novel Certain Dark Things, her period romance The Beautiful Ones, and now Moreau and this excellent pulp sci-fi twist. Bravo.

When Moreno-Garcia sets off the write a story the reader will know two very important things: 1) he/she is in very good storytelling hands and characters will get up and walk off the page; and 2) it will likely be gothic in feel (or time), creepy or creepy at the edges, and original.

The stories may be historic. They could be horror or noir. They can even be science fiction. Yes…you read that right! An author who frees herself up to write. WRITE. Stories! She doesn’t limit herself to genre-specific tales. Her fans of Mexican Gothic may be taken aback. Don’t. Go in for the storytelling prowess and come out entertained!

This is a retelling of the gothic science fiction from which it takes a name: The Island If Doctor Moreau. Part mad scientist part cruel capitalist, Moreau sees science in the grotesque—hybrid creatures of beast and man.

Here we get to meet his daughter, Carlotta, and an array of hybrid sub characters, as well as a sympathetic ne’er to well named Montgomery.

When Carlotta falls for the son of the man who employs Moreau, things go very awry.

This is a fantastic re imagining of a classic tale and is handled with the skill and craft fans of Moreno-Garcia have come to expect.

Recommended to lovers of GREAT stories!

🌟🌟🌟🌟

As a fan of Mexican Gothic, I was excited to see Moreno-Garcia's take on such an iconic sci-fi novel. While aware of her specification that this would not be a horror novel, I don't think the genres that are at play here (historical romance with a science fiction twist) clicked into place for me. I had hoped for more insight into the hybrids and the historical setting, and while some of this does come through in the third act, it might help to read the overall book as a character study.

This is my first book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I had been wanting to read a book of hers, since she has such a strong following. When I saw that Daughter of Doctor Moreau was her next novel, I knew this was going to be it.

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a review. This novel did not disappoint and now I’m see why so many people love SMG. The writing is superb. The way she describes settings is very rich in detail. The characters are well-developed and multilayered. In this story, she has a central story, which is the remote home of the Moreau family and their hybrids. However, she also includes the caste system as a kind of subplot, which was really well woven into the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and now count myself as one of her fans. When this novel is released, go and pick up a copy. If you’ve read her before, she won’t disappoint. If you haven’t, you now have a great writer on your radar.

“The Daughter of Doctor Moreau” is a science fiction/historical/gothic book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. This book is a reimagined version of HG Wells’s “The Island of Doctor Moreau,” but set in 19th century Mexico. I have admit that I’ve not read the original book, so I went into this one a bit blind. A lot happens in this book. In this book we follow Dr. Moreau, a scientist who opened a sanatorium to conduct scientific research. He has a daughter, Carlota, who with a housekeeper and “hybrids” care for the home. A mayordomo, Montgomery, is hired to assist Dr. Moreau. Dr. Moreau’s funder, Mr. Lizande, shows up and becomes obsessed with Carlota and things start changing. Ms. Moreno-Garcia’s writing, as always, is beautiful, but I found the pacing at times a bit too slow for my liking. While I could see the twist, it was interesting to see how it played out. If you don’t like slow burn with atmospheric writing, then you may not enjoy this book. I did liked reading the Afterward, where Ms. Moreno-Garcia explained how the history of the area provided content for the book. And props to the designer of the front cover - once again it’s a stunning one for another book by Ms. Moreno-Garcia.

🌺🌺🌺🌺/5
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau
By: Silvia-Moreno Garcia
Available: 7/19/2022

The best way for me to describe this book is...it’s Animal Farm meets Bridgerton in South America.
It really was quite the experience and I hope that you all take the dive and give this one a try.
I don’t know what it is...but Silvia-Moreno Garcia’s books have a way of ensnaring the reader. She does such an amazing job of creating a setting that becomes a character itself. And she has a knack for incorporating elements of science fiction without really realizing it’s there until it slaps you in the face. And even then, she has woven it so well into the story it’s not overpowering to the plot.
I really enjoyed all of the characters. Especially Carlota. Like, I want to meet her in real life. I was a little bit disappointed that a certain situation did not happen a particular way but...it ended with me smiling.

I am a huge fan of her novel, Mexican Gothic and I loved this one just as much but for very different reasons. There were several parts of this book that hit me in the feels. Hard.
I would read a part and just set it down for a second and think, “Dang that just breaks my heart for them.”
But that’s what I want from a book. I want a story that will make feel that deeply about the characters and whatever horrible ordeal they are facing.
So, she did her job well. Very well. I loved it 🥰

Blurb:
Carlota Moreau lives to serve her father, the great Dr. Moreau. Scientist and physician, her father has created a race of hybrids deep in the jungles of the Yucatán in the nineteenth century. These hybrids, unique creatures that are created in secret, were made for a single purpose, to serve.
Montgomery, a man from Britain, who is constantly at the bottom of a bottle, finds himself hired to do one thing, hunt jaguars for the doctor’s research. Over the course of six years, he develops relationships with the hybrids and Carlota as well.
Yet when the son of the wealth benefactor responsive for funding Dr. Moreau’s research, arrives unexpectedly, it sets off a chain of deadly reactions. As he turns his sites on Carlota, leaving room for jealousy and passion to catch fire and destroy, secrets are brought to light and revelations are made about the “good doctor” and his creations.

If you enjoy multicultural fiction, magical realism, or South American history, look no further. This story had a wonderful depth. One of my all-time favorite and respected skills of an author is the ability to weave together history, relationships and moral issues, and actual magic. I DEVOURED this book and highly recommend it. There were many true surprises, a healthy amount of suspense, and can say the conclusion was a true surprise.