The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
BOOK SUMMARY
From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic and Velvet Was the Night comes a dreamy reimagining of The Island of Doctor Moreau set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Mexico.
Carlota Moreau: a young woman, growing up in a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatán peninsula. The only daughter of either a genius, or a madman.
Montgomery Laughton: a melancholic overseer with a tragic past and a propensity for alcohol. An outcast who assists Dr. Moreau with his scientific experiments, which are financed by the Lizaldes, owners of magnificent haciendas and plentiful coffers.
The hybrids: the fruits of the Doctor’s labor, destined to blindly obey their creator and remain in the shadows. A motley group of part human, part animal monstrosities.
All of them living in a perfectly balanced and static world, which is jolted by the abrupt arrival of Eduardo Lizalde, the charming and careless son of Doctor Moreau’s patron, who will unwittingly begin a dangerous chain reaction.
For Moreau keeps secrets, Carlota has questions, and in the sweltering heat of the jungle, passions may ignite.
THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU is both a dazzling historical novel and a daring science fiction journey.
BOOK DETAILS
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Published July 19, 2022 by Del Rey
Hardcover, 306 pages,
Genres: Historical Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Retellings
My Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Book Review of The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Moreno-Garcia sweeps readers into a world of dazzling and horrific scientific experiments in her retelling of H.G. Well’s The Island of Doctor Moreau.
Set against historical Yucatán during a time of conflict and upheaval in 19th century Mexico, the author takes the bones of the original and layers and cuts bits and pieces of Gothic tones, strange sciences and mixes themes of colonialism, exploitation and morality.
Although, I admired what the author was trying to do, sometimes I felt there was too much for the characters to unpack in the story during the time given, and I ended up feeling somewhat disconnected.
Part of the allure and horror of the original story falls into the discovery of Doctor Moreau’s experiments, the strange animals.
Told through the eyes of Doctor Moreau’s daughter, Carlota, readers become aware of just how far reaching her father’s experiments have gone.
The conflict between the hybrids humanism and their innate animal selves is ever present.
This was by far my favorite part of the story. The pain, beauty, and conflict was deftly-woven.
There is a touch of romance, but I believe what Moreno-Garcia would like readers to focus on is Carlota’s lack of autonomy, much like her father’s hybrids and the upheaval and revolt each threatens.
Packed with relevant themes and infused with science fiction horror, I would recommend this to fans of Moreno-Garcia and the genre.
