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scrubsandbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Racism, and Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Medical content, and Colonisation
Minor: Emotional abuse, Slavery, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
pvbobrien's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and War
writingcaia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I am not familiar with the original tale, although I am aware that there’re many differences in the science of the hybrids, in the location, and in the plot. This one is also a horror sci-fi but with a touching plot that mixes Mexico’s (where the story takes place) real history in the 19th century - where inequality reigned with the many castes present, and there was war with the Mayans of the Yucatan peninsula, and also the rivalry with the British nearby -, with a fair maiden lost in her own paradise in a small rancho in the Yucatan, raised by an attentive father and her books and among friends, play friends and some she cares for with their atrocious animal-like features and consequently painful deformations, doting on her father, the amazing Doctor Moreau who will save humanity with his studies of the hybrids, and surveyed by the mordoyomo, an alcoholic Englishman with a broken heart. All is perfect in her eyes, her dream world with her fantastical kin people around, that is until the day she meets the green eyed son of her father’s benefactor and discovers love… and so much more.
The writing, the choice of plot and setting, the small romance with its two POV, it is as always perfect, and even though I saw the plot twist a mile away and the ending could be more bow tied for my taste, it still ranks very high among Garcia’s books. Although, the truth is I can never choose just one fave of hers.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Gore, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexism, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
Minor: Vomit
northernzephyr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Violence
Minor: Slavery
mandysreadinglist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Doctor Moreau is a man of science and a purported man of God. Ironically, and hypocritically, though, he uses scientific experiments to play god over his creations, animal-human hybrids who he and his patron hope to use for slave labor. When the doctors daughter Carlotta starts asking questions about the world she has always known, she discovers a tangled web of secrets and lies—and must decide which side she wants to be on.
In SMG style, this story is oozing with gothic language, vintage fashion, complex characters, fast-paced action, and sizzling romance.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is one of my auto-buy authors because everything she writes is golden. She uses beautiful images and paints stunning magical settings just with a few words. I love her style, and The Daughter of Dr. Moreau is as good as Moreno-Garcia’s previous works. This is yet another great and amazing tale from one of the greatest storytellers of our Generation.
Thank you to Netgalley for gifting me an eARC of this title. All opinions are my own.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, and Religious bigotry
dori39's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Slavery and Medical content
sarah984's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, and War
erynlasbelin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I really enjoyed this overall, though perhaps a bit less than Mexican Gothic. It's hard to elaborate on why - the characters and their conflicts were all very believable, but I think there were simply too many of them, and some of the story seemed to drag out a bit too long.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Physical abuse, Slavery, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Infertility and Pregnancy
bookish_apothecary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The world-building was exceptional, the author’s descriptions bringing the hacienda to life in my mind. I could see myself wandering the halls and tending to the hybrids beyond the wall. But I couldn’t see the hybrids themselves. We spend very little time with the hybrids and more time talking about them. I did really enjoy learning about the Mayan culture and the history of the Yucatán peninsula.
Montgomery’s character was the most fleshed out, his past giving him layers beyond being a heartbroken drunk. Carlotta’s, on the other hand, felt like a missed opportunity. She was the doctor’s obedient daughter, unconditionally faithful and loyal. Until she’s not. There was potential here for a spectacular character arc that just fell flat. I wish we’d seen her start to have her own dreams and goals outside of what was expected. The pacing also seemed off. The first 2/3 felt slow and aimless, but the last third was fast-paced and unputdownable.
The story focuses on the ethics of creating sentient part animal, part human creatures for labor who can feel pain and emotions. It wants you to ponder who the real monsters are, the grotesque hybrids created for the sole purpose of being exploited? Or the clever human who created them to further his scientific research? Is it the haggard drunk who’s loyal till the end? Or the charming man who sees what he wants and will cross any line to obtain it? It also calls into question the role of religion, showcasing another example of how detrimental it can be when it’s wielded as a tool to control others and bend their will.
[eARC provided by NetGalley]
Moderate: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Racism, and Slavery
kari_f's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
“Hers was the water and the black soil and the trees and those birds in flight not because she owned them but because they had each other."
This was an interesting reimagining of The Island of Doctor Moreau that incorporates historical events and cultural ideologies from late 1800s Mexico.
💕Aspects I enjoyed: 💕
🐆 Much of the original premise is the same, where the doctor works on creating hybrid human + animal creatures. I love that we see some of them as primary characters! This allows us to examine what humanity really means, comparing the humanity of the hybrids against that of the humans.
🐕 There is a unique take on found family, and this is built upon throughout the novel.
🐐 There are multiple themes explored, including colonialism, gender stereotypes, racial inequality, and ethics in scientific experimentation.
🐆 The book steered away from some of the tropes I expected it to embrace, which was extremely refreshing!
🐕 The character depth and growth for the protagonist was wonderful to see as she grew in her own sense of justice and self-worth.
✨Some things I wished: ✨
🐐 I thought the book needed a bit more sci-fi material. For a story marketed as historical science fiction, I felt that it didn’t include much of the science. We come into the novel with the hybrids already in existence, and we don’t really learn much about the doctor’s theories or procedures.
🐆 While we get some depth and growth from a few of the side characters, I wish we’d gotten more of their perspectives and growth. I especially wish we’d had more from the housekeeper who watched over the household and a few of the hybrids.
Overall I enjoyed the book! I’m glad I read it, but there was a bit of spark missing for me, so I don’t know that I’d read it again. I’ll definitely be checking out other books by the author, though, as I thought her ideas were unique and her writing was engaging!
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts