Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

90 reviews

sarasreading's review against another edition

adventurous dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I had high expectations after really enjoying Mexican Gothic. That book had such atmosphere, mystery, and suspense. It pulled me in, and while it was definitely on the weirder side, I was totally along for the ride. 

This one? The story didn't even begin picking up for me until over halfway through. That is too long. Where was the atmosphere? The mystery? I thought it would be a sci-fi horror mix with tons of atmosphere and thrills, and probably just as weird as MG. It was none of those things. I don't even know if I'd classify it as sci-fi or horror, or romance, or thriller? What is this book? ....uninteresting is all I can come up with, which is a bummer after such high hopes. There was some good character development, and some details and plot points I liked, which is why the rating isn't lower. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism and Colonisation

dori39's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Slavery and Medical content

ehmannky's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

3.75

I think I went into this expecting more horror than this book is. Overall, I'd say it's a lot more of a look at the damage abusive parents can do to their children, even if they love them, and the violence of colonialism mixed in with a coming-of-age story. I truly think Part One could have been done away with entirely and had that background information scattered throughout the rest of the book (it was so slow), but other than that the pacing was good. Something about this book kind of didn't land for me, and I can't figure out what it is. I figured out the twist in like the first chapter, which maybe took some of the joy of reading this away from me (though usually knowing where a story is going doesn't affect my enjoyment of the story so I have no idea why I didn't love this book). I think this book is interesting, but it's nowhere near the same level as Mexican Gothic or Gods of Jade and Shadow.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Death of parent

kierstyn's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The beginning of this book is a little slow with all of the action and interesting stuff being in the last 100 pages. 

This book made me laugh but not for the right reasons. I felt a lot of it was really far fetched. I get that it's kind of sci-fi, but I guess there wasn't enough science to back up that these hybrids as what happens to Carlota could perhaps actually happen. I think a lot of research could have went into this to make it that much more believable and real, but I think a lot was just swept under the rug. It's a cool concept though. 

With some books I am unable to be drawn into the story, I think it may have to do with how the book is written. It happened to me with this book, I was very aware of every page I was turning, and this phenomenon happens with Madeline Miller's books as well. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol

daniellekat's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I love Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s writing and this book was no exception. Her writing is descriptive without being tedious and she can capture your attention in a book so easily.
That being said, I didn’t love this book. It was ok. The writing was excellent but the plot was a bit predictable and I didn’t like the love triangle angle of the story. Also the pacing of the plot was weird to me. The first 3/4 of the book moved SO slowly and then the last few chapters were very fast paced and exciting. I haven’t read the original Dr. Moreau so I’m not sure I’m how this compares but if Frankenstein meets Mexican Gothic is your vibe I would definitely recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Body horror, Chronic illness, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Minor: Suicide and Colonisation

mandkips's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

• 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Gun violence, and Sexual content

Minor: Sexual violence and Suicidal thoughts

bronteberry's review against another edition

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

sarah984's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• 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

I was really excited for this book, but I struggled to finish it. Of the two POV characters, one was so passive that she barely did anything and the other was the most boring man in the world. When something finally happened it was summarized in three pages. Every romance was deeply stupid and the familial relationship with the hybrids didn't feel earned at all. The writing was nice on a basic technical level but I couldn't recommend this.

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Content Warnings

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

elliehoney's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism and Animal cruelty

hannahlee's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

As always with Moreno-Garcia, this was a very compelling read and a fascinating setting and plot. The themes of womanhood/personhood vs. monstrosity, civilization vs. barbarism, and chosen family are well explored in literature, but she puts her own spin on them. The story was gripping and the plot tripped along nicely, though there were moments where I wished for a little less overt symbolism, a little more leaving the subtext up to the reader to figure out. Still, Moreno-Garcia is unputdownable, a chameleon across genres, and always provides a fresh new take on familiar tropes, and a well-drawn, well-researched setting for her stories.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Blood, and Death of parent