4.75/5 stars
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Silvia Moreno Garcia's new book and I was not disappointed! Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a beautiful story teller especially when it comes to weaving together metaphors and imagery to build her worlds to comment on themes such as colonization, class, what's deemed civilized and proper and perfection and the impossible search for it. Themes of power and advancement bring the question of when it stops being for the greater good and becomes more about playing God. The characters were well developed and I loved the protagonist Carlota. I love a protagonist who becomes a strong mujer que no se deja and Carlota did not disappoint! I also now need a telenovela of this book or movie filmed like an old black and white movie because I kept picturing it as one while reading.

the daughter of doctor moreau is an exciting historical sci-fi that has the characteristic silvia moreno-garcia flair, but lacks the intrigue and stakes that i've grown to expect from her. overall, while i did enjoy this book, i didn't feel like it was one of her best.
starting with the positives, i loved how the science fiction and historical elements were blended immaculately. i don't think i've ever read a book that melds these two genres together, but this book has left me wanting more of this style. i also really liked the worldbuilding and felt as though i was living at yaxaktun with carlota and montgomery. carlota was my favorite character and i found her arc to be well fleshed out and intriguing, if i a bit slow. eduardo was also incredibly interesting to read about and i do wish we saw more of him.
that being said, i wasn't as invested in the story as i'd have liked and i felt that the twist came about a lot later than i was expected. my main issue was with the pacing: by the time i hit the 40% mark, i felt like nothing had happened except for laying the groundwork of the story. i also felt that montgomery should have had more time to shine on his own outside of his relationship with dr. moreau and carlota.
like i said before, this was a super interesting novel with an exciting climax, but fell short in terms of pacing and characterization.

I loved this book so much. Inspired by The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells, Silvia Moreno-Garcia weaves an incredible story of science gone awry, found family, belief, and colonialism. This is the best kind of vintage science fiction, shot through with history that only makes the themes of the story even deeper.

I am always on the hunt for great Latinx speculative fiction -- there's simply not enough! -- and I'm so glad that I was able to read this gem early.

I haven’t read the HG Wells novel which introduces us to the eccentric and morally challenged Dr. Moreau. This version was sumptuous, exotic and innocent, just like the hybrids he created.
Carlotta is the doctors daughter, a seemly pampered princess whose everyday existence is so gentle and sedate you almost believe there is little fire in this girls belly. The way Moreno-Garcia writes the first section, you feel like you are visiting a day spa and I could hear calming music and smell delicious anxiety reducing scents. That’s why the scene with the young ones in the laboratory packs such a punch.
The complexities of all the broken characters is delicately balanced with the moral and religious thoughts and how each individual finds there own way to make sense of what they see. You sense the doom that is to come as it seeps through the beautiful paradise Carlotta believes it to be.
A stunning version of a classic tale. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

The story of The Daughter of Dr. Moreau is told from his daughter’s point of view, Carlotta, and his majordomo, Montgomery. The pair alternate every other chapter. There are interesting themes around family, femininity, home and religion. I quite liked the lush descriptions of the house and it’s grounds. I wasn’t sure what Montgomery’s very specifically Eurocentric backstory or the time lapse added to the plot. I was impressed with Carlota’s character development. She liberated herself from successive paternalistic influences. I didn’t find that I connected or deeply identified with any of the characters.

Didn't love as much as Mexican Gothic but very fun retelling / expansion of The Island of Dr. Moreau. Will read anything Moreno-Garcia writes, tbh.

I absolutely love Silvia Moreno-Garcia! Her writing just blows me away with every new book I read. This woman deserves an award!
Mexican Gothic and Velvet Was the Night were both such phenomenal reads when I seen another new upcoming novel I prayed Del Rey would approve! 😘 thank you!

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is an reimagining of The Island of Doctor Moreau set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Mexico. And man if she didn't do the damn thing!
A historical and science fiction novel that completely took me by surprise and had me hanging onto every word. I was hooked.
It's fascinating, compelling, intricate, superbly-written that will have her fans wanting more.
An unputdownable novel from an author who can seemingly tackle any genre.

Is it selfish of me to already want/need another book when this one hasn't even been released yet? I just love her!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine|Del Rey,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.

I'd previously read Silvia Moreno-Garcia's "Mexican Gothic" so upon hearing about "The Daughter of Doctor Moreau", immediately added it to my TBR list. In a nutshell: it did not disappoint.

"The Daughter of Doctor Moreau" follows the events that unfold across the residents of the Yaxaktun region in Mexico, focusing on our protagonist, Carlota Moreau. She's the daughter of Doctor Moreau, the scientist and head of house, who spends much of his time in his lab, creating "hybrids" for their benefactor and sponsor, the powerful and wealthy Lizalde family. The Moreaus are assisted by their majordomo, Montgomery Laughton, an outcast from the UK who has his own personal demons to deal with. Things start unraveling when Eduardo Lizalde, the son of the wealthy Lizalde family, encounters Carlota and the two seem to fall in love... until the layers of truth are revealed and threatens to dissolve the very foundation that everyone has.

I definitely have a greater appreciation of Moreno-Garcia's writing after reading this; the characters felt much more complex vs. the ones in "Mexican Gothic" and I found that there were many more takeaways and major themes that she covered incredibly well here - the ostracization and unequal treatment of different groups of people in society, the expectations held of women, and the complexity and breadth of relationships that can exist today. This felt like such a rewarding read, and I loved the character development of Carlota and the other residents of the Yaxaktun.

Very excited to recommend this novel when it is published in July 2022!

The books The Island of Doctor Moreau written by H. G. Wells (1896), and The Daughter of Dr. Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (7/19/22) explore scientific, ethical, religious, and philosophical themes. In both of these, Dr. Moreau is a someone who views and treats people and animals as commodities: neither better than the other, and existing solely for his experimental procedures. He esteems himself as the moral and religious leader, never to be questioned or disobeyed: someone who has been chosen by God to perfect creation.

In Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s book, Dr. Moreau has a daughter named Carlota that he has raised on his own teaching her that she is to be meek, gentle, and obedient: just like his hybrids. She is the most precious of his possessions in that her beauty can be used in his quest for further funding for his experiments. The doctor has made a deal with his benefactor to produce workers—the hybrids—for his land. However, he has not given over any of his creations to him, and his funding as about to be cancelled.

This is a many layered novel that is filled with horror, romance, coming-of-age, prejudice, and misogyny. You find yourself wondering: who or what are the true monsters?

This is the third novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia that I’ve read. What I like is her ability to bring up deep and disturbing issues within a beautifully told story. This is an exceptional and fresh retelling that is respectful to the original by H. G. Wells.

I whole-heartedly recommend this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Del Rey Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Carlota Moreau is a young woman growing up on an isolated estate on the Yucatán peninsula. Her father, the brilliant Dr. Moreau, has the patronage of a rich man to build a hybrid species to replace menial labor in the area. But to Carlota, the hybrids are family and friends. As Dr. Moreau's funds run out and the rich man's son comes calling, Carlota's fragile world starts to crumble.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia does it again. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, like Certain Dark Things or Mexican Gothic, flips its parental genre (or story, in this case) on its head and examines the underlying themes of racism, miscegenation, and hubris.

Moreno-Garcia's versatility is astounding. Each of her books I've read has been in a different subgenre and an absolute treasure in its own right. If you're looking to calibrate expectations, I can't help you here other than to say this is certainly worth reading.

Highly recommended, like all of Moreno-Garcia's books.

Thank you to Random House - Ballantine, Del Rey, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

All I have to say is wow! The author has done it again! The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is an amazing blend of historical and science fiction that will appeal to fans of the author's previous works. The story revolves around Carlota Moreau, a young woman who lives with her doctor/scientist father on a remote peninsula. But they're not alone. When Montgomery arrives at their mansion in order to become Dr. Moreau's new assistant, he finds more than he's bargaining for.

Here is an enchanting excerpt from Chapter 1:

"As she stepped forward into the room she wondered if they could hear her heart beating, like the song of the clock.
Her father turned toward her and smiled. “Here is my housekeeper with my daughter. Carlota, come here,” he said. She hurried to her father’s side, and he placed a hand on her shoulder as he spoke. “Gentlemen, may I present my daughter, Carlota. This is Mr. Lizalde and this here is Mr. Laughton.”
“How do you do?” she said, automatically, like the well-trained parrot that slept in its cage in the corner. “I trust your trip has been pleasant.”"

Overall, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is an absolutely amazing retelling that will have you turning the pages for more. I started this book while on a flight, and I could not put it down until I finished. One highlight of this book is how original it is. It's not often that I read blends of historical fiction and science fiction, and the author did it perfectly. I predict that this book will become a classic in those genres. Another highlight of this book are the characters. I loved the action and the romance, but the characters made it all worth reading. I especially liked reading about Carlota's relationships with her friends. If you're intrigued by the excerpt, or if you're a fan of Silvia Garcia-Moreno, you won't regret checking out this book when it comes out in July!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook ARC of The Daughter of Doctor Moreau.

I really enjoyed this story, purposely reading The Island of Doctor Moreau before it. It is inspired by the original and not really a prequel or retelling so much as a re-imagining. This story is a combination of science-fiction and romance with a setting based on history. I could see this book being turned into an interesting film.

While I highly recommend this book in general, the issues that I don't mind so much, but I know some people might not enjoy include: a slow start, some slow pacing in the middle, and a drawn-out conclusion.

The newest book by Garcia releases in July. This is a sci-fi/historical fiction novel that takes place in Mexico. Carlota is the daughter of Dr Moreau-a Dr/Scientist who has created hybrids between humans and animals. This is a beautiful coming of age story about Carlotta.

What a delightful read. With a lush setting deep in the Yucatan, and mostly set the vibrant Hacienda Yaxaktun, we are giving a bird’s eye view into Doctor Moreau world. If I say too much it gives the story away about his experiments, and life with his daughter Carlota, and the other strange inhabitants.
The book is very well written, and you can almost feel the oppressive heat beading off the pages. Even though the book is loosely inspired by the novel The Island of Doctor by H.G. Wells, this book takes on a historical journey as well, into the political climate of Mexico, the real fight (The Caste War) that began in 1847 and how it played out for the native Maya people against the Mexicans, that were European-descended, and mixed.
In the end, this book is worth your time.

Great retelling from the daughter’s POV. But, a little slow for my own preference. Loved the details, I actually felt like I was there at times when I got immersed reading. Definitely the reason why I rush to purchase any special editions by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

Doctor Moreau had to be my favorite “horror” stories growing up, and SMG did a fantastic job telling a fresh story from a different POV, and telling yet a different story and different lessons, as it’s told by the doctor’s daughter, who lives alongside her father’s creations. SMG is one of my auto-buy authors, and this book was not a let down. I actually wished that there were more pages for me to consume. The world building, while slow, is strong and detailed, which pulls the reader into the books universe easily.

You have most likely deduced from the title of this book that it is a reimagining of H. G. Wells' 1896 novel The Island of Doctor Moreau, but it is not a retelling. This story is set in the jungles of the Yucatan instead of the South Pacific, and Edward Prendick never appears. Instead, we learn about the titular mad scientist's daughter as she comes of age in a world in which oppressive hierarchies are violently upheld.

There's a lot here that's done well. The setting is beautifully described and forms a lush and vivid backdrop to what is a very interesting speculative fiction story. The framing of a real place and time in history through Doctor Moreau's unethical experiments offer a clear prism through which to view issues of racial conflict and exploitation. However, I think these issues could've been given a more detailed treatment and fleshed out more as a part of the story. The afterword provides some excellent context about the Caste War of Yucatan during which this story is set, but it would've served the story better if we saw more of that context built into the narrative.

I also really wanted more consistency in pacing. The second act drags a bit at times, and the dialogue between characters sometimes read a little stilted and melodramatic, which unfortunately was distracting and tended to pull me out of the story. The denouement is a little too chaotic, and then everything ends a little too quickly. I don't often say this, but I think this book could've been a good 50-100 pages longer.

In an overall sense though, I really enjoyed reading this book and was thrilled to have an early opportunity to do so, and I will continue to eagerly await more genre-bending stories of Mexico from Silvia Moreno-Garcia!

Silvia has quickly become an auto-read for me and The Daughter of Doctor Moreau did not disappoint. I'll be purchasing a copy for my own shelves and recommending it highly to our collection team. There's so much to unpack here - a lush retelling, a coming-of-age story, social criticism, and a fascinating historical backdrop. I truly loved this one.

*To be published on our blog on March 21, 2022*

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau Book Review

Written By: Diamond Braxton

Release Date: July 19, 2022


The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silva Moreno-Garcia takes place in the Yucatan, Mexico, in the backdrop of the of The Caste War of Yucatan, beginning in 1847. In a time when the native Mayans were being subjugated to forced labor from Mexicans, the British, and others, the story centers on Doctor Moreau, a researcher who has been experimenting with creating hybrids: people mixed with animals in order to create the “perfect person.”
Carlota Moreau, his daughter, has enjoyed the luxury of the Yucatan peninsula, sheltered from the world as she enjoys lush trees, gorgeous views, and admirable isolation. She has grown up with the other hybrids who to her are like family. To help aid Doctor Moreau in his conquests, he hires Montgomery Laughton, a heavy drinker, outcast, and lost soul.
They all live happily in solitude and Doctor Moreau’s research is funded by the Lizaldes, a powerful rich family who is hoping to use the hybrids to conduct their labor on their haciendas since the Indians have been fighting against their employers.
However, their world is thrown into chaos as Mr. Lizalde’s son, Eduardo and his men decide to visit the estate of his father to meet the man who his father is paying. When Carlota and the hybrids get exposed to outsiders for the first time, secrets unravel, passions unfurl, and an ominous threat looms over their very existence.

What I Loved

Silva Moreno-Garcia dazzles us again with her immersive, cultural writing. I found myself in love with the backdrop of the Yucatan and Carlota herself, a gorgeous brown-skinned woman who is quick to emotion, naive, and cares about her unique family and the island.
The characterization in this story is spectacular. While there are very clear “bad” people, it’s easy to find the goodness in everyone. The ethics of Doctor Moreau’s research is an immoral choice; however, his reasoning for creating hybrids makes sense for his character. I had a hard time disliking anyone in the story, even in their worst moments. There is only one person I couldn’t stand, but I will leave that to you to discover when reading.
I found the novel to be historically rich, despite being a literary novel. Learning about the history of how the Mayan people were treated by those needing cheap labor for their sugar cane farms or other farming methods was extremely interesting and plays a primary part in the plot of the novel. It was wonderful seeing the history interact with the text and not just be an unused detail.
Another intriguing part of the story is the hybrids. These human-like creatures are all different in their own way, Lupe and Cachito being the only ones to come out mostly strong and unscathed by major deformities. However, they are all a family, a community, and it sets the tone for how creating hybrids to be used for labor is just as wrong as subjugating Mayans who were on the land first.
What makes the story as strong as it is, however, is Carlota. She has been on the island all her life and has never once left or wanted to leave. She loves the Yucatan, her family, and the lush vibrant scenery. So, as the Lizalde’s come to visit, the plot thickens as Carlota has to navigate an unknown: other people, and more specifically, a very handsome green-eyed, wealthy man. We, as readers, get to watch Carlota grow from innocence to experiencing the world and having to make tough decisions where there are no easy ways out. Her decision-making in the story and her growth and evolution were my absolute favorite points in the novel.

The Rating

For fear of giving too much away, I am keeping this review short. It is a must-read for anyone who is a fan of Moreno-Garcia’s work or who is looking to immerse themselves in a culturally rich, speculative novel. While I feel like there are many texts that discuss hybrid creation, Moreno-Garcia is able to paint this archetype in a new, refreshing light with a protagonist you’ll want to root for.

Because I would recommend this book to everyone I know, I am gladly giving this book a 5/5.

You can pre-order it here, and I HIGHLY recommend you do it.

I began reading Silvia Moreno-Garcia in 2021 when I stumbled upon Mexican Gothic. What a story!! It seemed loosely based on the short story The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman - deeply psychological, with something a little more sinister than you might anticipate. She is very versatile, not sticking to one genre. Like all of Moreno-Garcia's books that I've read thus far, they are beautifully written and lushly imagined. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau turns a classic on its head, coming from the mostly female perspective, with Carlota Moreau stealing the stage. 

In this, Moreno-Garcia is the master of the slow burn building out Carlota's heaven and the one place Montgomery has ever felt home. The Hybrids jump off the page - their humanity, their surrealness, their existence, is felt keenly from every perspective. You'll find yourself having many emotions throughout - from happiness to sadness, anger to disgust.

What I liked:
- Beautifully written as always - the language, the prose
- Location - you feel like you're in the lush jungles of the Yucatán feeling the heat
- Emotions run very high, you feel them all
- Well-rounded characters and strong female leads; you'll end up loving many of the characters and really hating a few
- Overlapping points of view; get the same scene from both points of view with an individual extension of the story

Ultimately, this story is about love, desire, understanding that your biological family may not always be your real family, and making hard choices - doing whatever it takes to protect the ones you love. The first third of the book is a slow burn with plenty of build-up, but once we hit the second two-thirds, we are firing on all cylinders, and you'll be racing toward the finish line. 

This was 4.5 stars for me. Moreno-Garcia is an automatic buy and I wasn't able to put this one down once I started. Her brilliance in this reimagining is beautiful, dark, and haunting and will linger with you for days on end. A delightful mix of science and historical fiction, add this one to your Goodreads list or pre-order for debut on July 19th, 2022.

Trigger Warnings: attempted sexual assault, sex, and violence. 

Thank you to Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the publisher, and Netgalley for the advanced reading copy and the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.