Reviews with content warning for Animal cruelty - The Daughter of Doctor Moreau

Silvia Moreno-Garcia has done it again. I love that she’s able to tackle any genre and just knock it out of the park.

Here she takes on what I’d label “gothic sci-fi” in this reimagining of HG Wells’ The Island of Doctor Moreau. Here, Dr. Moreau works on the Yucatan peninsula and has a daughter named Carlota. Montgomery is still around as the trusty but troubled majordomo, and the hybrids - Moreau’s half-human, half-animal creations, evoke more pity than horror.

I loved how SMG twisted this tale into one of the perils of colonialism and playing god, something the original tale barely scratches the surface of. Setting this partly in Carlota’s POV also turns this into a tale of a woman discovering her own power, which I always love to see!!

My only quibble is that the writing is slightly detached, I think to mimic Wells and other gothic tales of yore. It took me a minute to get into the minds of these characters, but it did happen. Just stick with it, I promise. Part 3 in particular is nonstop…I’m still reeling from how the events played out.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warnings

ta2dlibrarian's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Another imaginative, historical fiction* from Moreno-Garcia that challenges our preconceived ideas about life, love, and the world we live in. A coming-of-age story in which a young woman learns the powers of seduction while simultaneously learning to shoulder the burdens and consequences of our loved ones' choices.

The transformation shall be brutal, because it's always worse in that way for a woman, but if she survives it, oh how horrible and magnificent she will be.

*This reviewer has not read The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells.

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taratearex's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? No

4.0

Silvia Moreno-Garcia does it again. Set in 19th century Mexico and loosely based on H.G. Wells' book The Island of Doctor Moreau, she takes this sci-fi slow burn mystery/thriller in her own direction by adding the background of historical fiction that she does so well and brings so much depth to the story.

I love the atmosphere in this and the complicated characters that feel so fully realized you just become so immersed in the world she's created. She does slow burn masterfully, I can't put her books down, this one was no exception. She's truly a master of her craft and she reinvents every genre she explores in each book she writes to make it her own.

If you liked Mexican Gothic and Velvet is the Night, you'll like this one too.

Thank you to the publisher and Net gallery for the e-book advanced copy to review.

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