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A review by katiemack
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I received this as an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I haven't read The Island of Doctor Moreau, but I think a more creative, diverse, feminist adaptation of it is a positive (especially when considering how awful H.G. Wells was). I'd say it's more historical fiction that horror, though the author herself calls it "scientific romance," which is apt.
Aside from the romantic entanglements feeling creepy (thankfully Silvia Moreno-Garcia resolves those fairly well), this cast of characters is my favorite of any Moreno-Garcia book I've read. This probably has to do with the hybrids, who are incredibly loyal in a pure yet (at times) sardonic way. Even Montgomery and Carlotta grew on me, despite their faults, and I think the titular doctor's fate is what he deserves. I also appreciated the descriptions of the setting, particularly the historic contextualization of what was happening in Mexico at the time. (The author's note at the end of the book is informative in this regard.)
Grab this if you love Moreno-Garcia's other books (or, like me, if you've had mixed feelings about her other books and wanted to see how this one would be).
I haven't read The Island of Doctor Moreau, but I think a more creative, diverse, feminist adaptation of it is a positive (especially when considering how awful H.G. Wells was). I'd say it's more historical fiction that horror, though the author herself calls it "scientific romance," which is apt.
Aside from the romantic entanglements feeling creepy (thankfully Silvia Moreno-Garcia resolves those fairly well), this cast of characters is my favorite of any Moreno-Garcia book I've read. This probably has to do with the hybrids, who are incredibly loyal in a pure yet (at times) sardonic way. Even Montgomery and Carlotta grew on me, despite their faults, and I think the titular doctor's fate is what he deserves. I also appreciated the descriptions of the setting, particularly the historic contextualization of what was happening in Mexico at the time. (The author's note at the end of the book is informative in this regard.)
Grab this if you love Moreno-Garcia's other books (or, like me, if you've had mixed feelings about her other books and wanted to see how this one would be).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Gun violence