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truebookaddict's reviews
778 reviews
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
I've always been fascinated with H.G. Wells' The Island of Doctor Moreau so when I saw that one of my favorite contemporary authors had written a reimagining, I knew I had to read it. I was not disappointed. Moreno-Garcia tells the tale from the viewpoint of Doctor Moreau's daughter, Carlota, and Montgomery (a character who is in the original story and other incarnations of it). However, Montgomery is far different from the man in the original story. He is a broken man, but he is also compassionate, and treats the hybrids with respect. I really liked his character. Carlota is also compassionate, and though not a doctor herself, she holds firm to the idea of the Hippocratic Oath...Do No Harm. She is conflicted. She loves her father, but she also feels his attitude toward the hybrids is unfair. Of course, a lot more happens in the book, but I'm not giving anything away. It's a rich and compelling retelling and I commend the author for giving the hybrids dignity and humanity, something I have not seen in other versions.