Since Mexican Gothic was such a hit with patrons and book clubs, I was really excited for this title. It still has that gothic vibe that you would expect, but was not as creepy or suspenseful as the author's previous titles. It was still a good read, and I know that we will definitely be ordering and recommending this through Reader's Advisory, but for fans of Mexican Gothic, it may be a little bit of a let down. Still overall a good read, and well-written retelling.

I LOVED Mexican Gothic so I was super excited to read this ARC thanks to @netgalley

It's not a horror story by any means but I still got that eerie gothic vibe that I love with Moreno-Garcia's writing.

This is cool adaptation of The Island of Doctor Moreau and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey- definitely worth checking out.

I tried really hard to like this book. I've wanted to like every book Silvia Moreno-Garcia has published since Gods of Jade and Shadow, and yet every time I've tried to read her books since, I'm just...disappointed. Mexican Gothic was *okay*. Velvet Was the Night was forgettable.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau was boring. I don't know what I was expecting from this revamped tale--I didn't like the story it was based on to begin with, but I was hoping that Moreno-Garcia's writing and whatever planned twists she had on the tale would be enough to save that. It wasn't. Unlike some of her novels, this one was pretty historical, and while the scenery was as lush as expected of her, everything else was just...kind of there?

It's unfortunate. If I could have given this a rating based on cover alone, I would give it all 5 stars. Unfortunately, it's getting a 2 from me.

What a strange yet wonderful story. I at first was a little confused on what was actually going on. About a third of the way in I found my rhythm with the story. At that point I had a hard time putting it down. While weirdly fascinating, you could not help but grow attached to the strange characters . I saw the twist a mile away, but loved how the story developed. I was slightly disappointed in the ending but also kind of made this an even more attractive book. It did not have the typical HEA that I am used to, but it was a fully satisfying ending.

While the science could have been interesting, I found 90% of this book to be dry and hard to get through. I couldn't connect with any of the characters, and it seemed like there were scenes that dragged on forever and didn't need to be that long at all.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for my gifted e-arc! I felt so lucky to get one since it was on my most anticipated reads of '22. The first book I read my Silvia Moreno-Garcia was Mexican Gothic and I've been going through her backlist since.

I'm a huge fan of The Beautiful Ones and I feel that whoever loved that book will really love this one. I did not read the synopsis for this book so I went into it completely blind. I loved that its Historical Fiction with a bit of Sci-Fi in it. I loved how atmospheric this book was. I loved how we got to see Carlotta the main character grow so much. I really looked forward to her chapters. Montgomery is your brooding male with a tragic past. I loved their angsty friendship/relationship. I also loved the hybrids that Dr. Moreau created. For me it was one of those books that I didn't want to put down and then I didn't want it to end. Loved it!

This is a retelling of HG Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau. Silvia Moreno-Garcia paints such a vivid portrait of her characters and their world that you can almost feel the dust beneath your fingertips. This would be an amazing choice for a book club because after reading it there is much to think about and discuss, with ethical dilemmas abounding. This was the first book of Moreno-Garcia's that I have read and I'm interested to check out her others.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey and NetGalley for the opportunity to access this free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to NetGalley for an advance ebook copy of The Daughter of Doctor Moreau in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is the third Moreno-Garcia novel I have read. In all of them she excels at creating an atmosphere that permeates every aspect of the plot. Based on the H.G. Wells novel The Island of Dr. Moreau, Carlota Moreau lives a rather isolated life in Yucatan along with her megalomaniac father and a collection of hybrids. Long before DNA and chromosome mapping entered our lexicon, Dr. Moreau experimented with mixing human and animal traits to create a new type of creature. Here he views himself as godlike and the hybrids as the embodiment of his genius.

Carlota loves her life but she is unaware of much of what her father does. She views the hybrids as family and will sacrifice much to protect them. The doctor's patron and his family are a huge risk to Carlota and her way of life.

The growth of Carlota as a character is very well-done. She stumbles a few times as she matures which makes her a realistic young woman.

This book is lots of eerie enjoyment.

If you liked Mexican Gothic, then you have to read this. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a twist on the classic tale set against the historical backdrop of the Caste War of Yucatan. This rich sci-fi/fantasy with a romantic thread was engaging from beginning to end. Carlota struggles with whether to be a dutiful daughter or a fighter, while the majordomo of the house, Montgomery, struggles with whether to be a fighter or a romantic interest. With immersive world building and atmosphere, sci-fi themes (science will destroy the world or save it), and interesting half-human, half-animal side characters, there’s something for every reader to love.

Truly a genre-bending mastermind, SMG does it once again! The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is an evocative and lush story that immediately envelops you. Her writing instantly transports me back to a wilder Mexico, ensconced and lovingly embraced by the jungle, heat, and sun against foreign forces and conquistadors looking to cash in on its riches.

“Women were butterflies to be pinned against a board.”

Within this story there are many layers that echo the similar theme of subjugation. There’s the colonizer layer that is ever present, we’re reminded that Dr. Moreau is French, he is funded by rich Spaniards trying to break Mexico into lining its pockets, and the undercurrent of tensions between them and the rebels and native indigenous people is rampant. It demonstrates a country in flux, on a precipice in history as forces collide. We also have Montgomery, a British man for hire running from his past and choices while at the same time enslaved to debt and addictions. The tensions between classes, between countries, and stemming from slavery and colonization is palpable which lends this a lot of grit and nuance.

But then there’s also Carlota’s layers, her quiet but growing chafing against her confines, no matter how gilded they are. We see her naïveté transform slowly as she begins to question her world, her father’s true motivations, and how to use the social constructs of the times to her advantage. We see how she comes into her own power and strength to upend the world of men, which was fascinating and satisfying. Both a character you can root for, and one which inspires you to be better and appreciate the life and world around you, her growth journey was, when looking back it, remarkable. It’s a testament to SMG’s talent that she’s able to walk us through such a transformation in a painstakingly detailed yet intriguing way that to the reader doesn’t feel preachy and heavy. It’s natural.

I will say, having known the source material for this, I was prepared for more difficult passages on animal experiments. While there is one scene relatively early on that was a bit unsettling, by and large the hybrids are simply characters unto themselves with unique personalities, which I appreciated. While the health and pain of the hybrids is by no means brushed away, it’s not overtly or salaciously described so for fellow animal lovers like me - fear not, you can get through this!

While the main ‘twist’ or reveal felt like a long time coming by the time its revealed, it certainly landed with an impact and was very well executed.

Though the second half did have pockets of pacing issues, in hindsight I think it did need those slower moments to provide space for the story. This isn’t about action back to back, but about small and some big moments that define the characters and their paths ahead. Giving this a few days in my head after finishing definitely makes me appreciate this much more. Still, Carlota’s stupid naïveté at the end was at odds with how quickly she was scheming and learning while courting Eduardo, but maybe that’s more a reflection of my own personality than anything else because I would spare NO ONE from my wrath.

This is a favorite of mine from the author. Perfectly atmospheric, engaging, complex, and full of elegant storytelling.

Review of Advance Reader’s Copy eBook

Deep in the jungle, in virtual isolation, Doctor Moreau lives at Yaxaktun with his daughter, Carlota, his housekeeper, Ramona, and the hybrids he has created in his laboratory. Carlota suffers from a rare blood disorder, but her father has found a medication that keeps her alive.

Hernando Lizalde, Moreau’s patron, owns the estate; he brings Montgomery Laughton to be the new majordomo at Yaxaktun. Despite his personal issues, Montgomery has remained at Yaxaktun for six years in order to repay the debt he owes Lizalde.

And then Eduardo Lizalde arrives at the estate.

Eduardo, taken with Carlota, makes no secret of his attraction to her. But when he asks her to marry him, the resulting cataclysm will touch everyone at Yaxaktun . . . and beyond.

=========

This narrative, loosely based on the H.G. Wells classic, “The Island of Doctor Moreau,” is set in Mexico in the 1870s during the protracted Caste War of Yucatán. There is a strong sense of place throughout the telling of the tale and an ever-growing tension underlying the unfolding narrative.

The political climate of the time, the unrest with the Maya uprising, and the science fiction elements in the creation of the hybrids combine to create a multi-layered tale of money, power, subjugation, ethics, and relationships. Carlota chafes against her isolation, the hybrids desire freedom, Moreau believes his work benefits both science and man.

As Carlota’s coming-of-age story evolves, readers will find much to appreciate in the telling of this tale.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey and NetGalley
#TheDaughterofDoctorMoreau #NetGalley

This book is about Carlota, Dr Moreau’s daughter, who lives with his father and hybrids he has created. Dr Moreau rules over everything, but Carlota is becoming a woman and finding herself in this world. I thought this was a really unique story and I think Silvia Moreno-Garcia did a great job again!

I absolutely loved Mexican Gothic and was super excited to receive this ARC of the newest novel by Moreno-Garcia. (And it did not disappoint!) This “reimagining” of the novel The Island of Doctor Moreau is a dark, nightmarish tale, while at the same time a heart-wrenchingly beautiful story. There are so many wonderful characters in this novel, from the eccentric Doctor himself and his mysterious daughter Carlota, to the broken overseer Montgomery Laughton, to the various versions of experimental hybrids. I loved everything about this novel and gave it a perfect 5 stars.






https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54829360

I always really appreciate the books Silvia Moreno-Garcia writes because she gets me into different genres I would never approach on my own. A gothic tale? Gotcha. A noir? Yep! Whatever Gods of Jade and Shadow was? You betcha. Historical Fiction is never really my jam, but to mix it in with a retelling of HG Wells and by SMG? You knew I was going to be all over this.

And friends, it's just as I would've thought. I love the way she crafts her stories always around Mexico, and this story is no exception. Only knowing a tiny bit about the source material was a delight because I was genuinely shocked with every new twist and turn. I really loved the characters, their interactions, the world they were in... really lovely.

The last bit felt the tiniest of rushed for me, not so much that it was not appreciated, but more so that I think a lot happened so it felt like things were truly just going, going going. Again, not bad! But definitely noticible.

But yeah! Loved this. I kind of knew I would, and to have that confirmed was lovely. 4.5.

Thank you Del Rey and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.
What a wonderful surprise this book was. I had never read the original H G Wells book and have never been
much interested in SciFi. I was asked to read and review and said yes without knowing what the subject matter was.
The book is a re-writing of the H G Wells book The Island of Dr. Moreau. Instead of an island, the story takes place in the Yucatan with rebels and Mayans and rich, entitled Mexicans, and political uprisings in the background. I absolutely loved the story. If all SciFi was so lovely and so believable, I would read more of it. This could not be classified as a horror story. I have to assume that most of the characters are based loosely on original characters. A reviewer pointed out that the naming of Montgomery Laughton might be in honour of Charles Laughton who played Dr. Moreau in a movie based on the original book.
The story surrounds Carlotta Moreau whose father, the scientist, is hiding in the Yucatan working on his projects. He is creating hybrid people for workers. He is dependent on funding by the Lizande family, very wealthy Mexican royalty, who have remained in the background until Eduardo Lizande arrives at the home of the Moreaus and falls for Carlotta. And Carlotta falls for him. And mayhem ensues. Not in the Marx Brothers sense but int the sense that all the structure and control that Dr. Moreau has created around his little "family" begins to fall apart.
Carlotta is a very engaging young woman. Montgomery is your typical alcoholic drinking away his sorrow and his 'poor me' life. They hybrids are lovely creatures and the Lizandes are as despicable as rich entitled people who trample over everyone in the pursuit of selfish interests can possibly be.
I recommend this book. You only need to want to read a really good story to enjoy it.

Carlota Moreau is the daughter of a researcher, a researcher who is part genius part madman... who has been experimenting on creating hybrids between animal and human genes. In the beautiful estate in the Yucatan peninsula lives Carlota, her father, and his experiments... and then comes along Montgomery, an english researcher with a tragic past of his own. But everything changes when the son of her father’s sponsor and his cousin arrive at the estate.. and soon Carlota finds herself falling for the beautiful eyes of Eduardo Lizalde, an impulsive, careless, and charming man. Moreau does not discover his daughter in her infatuation, instead he encourages it because it would then give him more funding for his research..., yet Montgomery and Eduardo’s cousin Isidor are against it because they both know that Carlota and Eduardo will only ruin each other. Things only spiral further as Carlota begins to discover her father’s secrets, secrets that pertain to her... and when things reach a peak and Eduardo’s father comes to stop the engagement and seize all his property, i.e. the hybrids, it is now up to Carlota and Montgomery to save them before it is too late. This is a story based off of The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.gG. Wells. The story really builds on how childish, naive, and young Carlota is. The vast majority of it occurs when she is 20 years old, as a sheltered obedient daughter who gets her first taste of rebellion and romance things definitely begin to spiral for her. Overall a happy ending, yet something felt like it was missing for me. I generally really enjoy this author’s work but this one fell a little flat for me and I guess I was just a bit annoyed by Carlota as a character, but I can understand why she acted the way she did and why she made certain decisions. This is a coming of age story, with magic. This is a story about a young woman who takes her first step into being an adult, who realizes there are consequences, who has responsibilities, and who learns to speak up for herself and to have the strength to stand up for those she cares about. It’s a story about a girl falling in love for the first time, experiencing heart break for the first time, and finally growing out of her younger self. Though it wasn’t perfect for me, definitely give it a go. I will definitely be reading the author’s future works and can’t wait to see what she writes next.

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I was intrigued by this book as I was already familiar with the story of Doctor Moreau. This version of the story is set in Mexico on the Yucatan peninsula amidst a backdrop of conflict between Mexicans and Mayans. The ability to remain isolated and hidden among the jungle of the landscape allows for Doctor Moreau to continue his scientific work of experimenting with combining animal and human traits to create hybrids. The main character is his daughter, Carlota, and her subjugation and obedience to her father becomes unpredictable as she grows from a child into a woman. Carlota begins to question her father and as she rebels, she is forced to ask questions and make decisions on how to best take care of the hybrids and herself as her father ages. With the doctor's finances dwindling from his benefactor Carlota is pushed into an engagement that will benefit her father and his future endeavors. Throughout Carlota's journey towards independence the blurriness of just who are the true monsters in this story remains unclear. You will find yourself rooting for Carlota as she tries to keep the only family she has ever known together and safe.

Having read the author's Mexican Gothic, I was interested to dive into The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, and see where she went with the characters from a classic novel.

It might not have been the trip I was expecting, but it was definitely a trip. The descriptions of the doctor's household, the Mexican countryside, and Carlota's thoughts are all unnervingly dreamlike - and then we get to the hybrids.

Real and theoretical conflict abound, as threats from within and without begin to dismantle the doctor's careful world, and his daughter begins to understand the true nature of her father's work.

You definitely do not need to read the island of Doctor Moreau to thoroughly enjoy this book.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Carlotta is the daughter of Dr. Moreau. She lives with him in secluded Yaxaktun, where her father does controversial work- creating “hybrids,” which are part human and part animal. They hybrids are generally intelligent creatures and Carlotta grows up with them as friends.

Montgomery works for Dr. Moreau and it remains mostly unclear how he feels about Moreau’s work. It seems as though he disagrees with it from the beginning, but his troubled past & current alcoholism seem to keep him there.

Dr. Moreau is getting fairly desperate for more funding, and he believes the solution to this is to marry Carlotta into a rich family. When Edwardo Lizalde and his cousin Isidro visit Yaxaktun, Dr. Moreau advises (basically demands) Carlotta to become his wife.

Montgomery doesn’t like Eduardo and urges Carlotta not to marry him. Isidro also doesn’t condone the union, and together the two of them alert Eduardo’s father (who owns Yaxaktun and is therefore Dr. Moreau’s benefactor), who then storms the house and demands Dr. Moreau’s exist and the release of the hybrids. The remainder of the book is the heroic attempts of Carlotta and Montgomery to protect the hybrids and save Yaxaktun.

There is a surprising twist regarding Carlotta that I did not expect, although in retrospect it all makes sense. The conclusion of the book is satisfying and it wraps up really nicely.

All in all, it is a nicely written story and one that drove me to contemplate some big topics: religion, the ethics of science & human intervention, relationships, and more. Carlotta is a likeable character, as is Montgomery, although slightly less so. It is fascinating to see how Carlotta changes throughout the book, allowing circumstances and situations to change her perspective of others.

Thank you to NetGallery for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

While I did enjoy The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, I'm a bigger fan of other works by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I liked her twist on the classic and if you're interested in reading this book, you don't have to read the original to understand it easily. I love how in each of Moreno-Garcia's books she incorporates and exposes the audience to Mexican history and culture. I'm always a big fan of her books!