Interesting reimagining of the classic story with a twist. Enjoyable and well written set in a time period that is little understood by many American readers. Provided insight, education, and entertaining.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia has this way of spinning tales—whether fantasy, historical, or noire—into truly engrossing stories. I’ve read a number of her books—Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow, Velvet Was the Night, The Return of the Sorceress—and now I can check The Daughter of Doctor Moreau off my TBR list.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau was one of my most anticipated 2022 releases, and it was everything I was hoping it would be. I read it in almost one sitting.

This isn’t the first time I’ve read a retold version of The Island of Dr. Moreau, but this is one of the best. It was a loose reimagining, but the hallmarks of the classic tale were there. At times, it read like a family drama with plenty of secrets. And yet, there was always that underling intensity and apprehension from the hybrids, friction with Moreau’s benefactor, and the isolated and enigmatic atmosphere.

Carlota Moreau was a character who disliked change. But with her upbringing, change wasn’t something that came often. But as the story progressed, the earlier periods of contentment became harder to maintain. Carlota had an interesting character arc, and I enjoyed the moments when she stepped outside the role of a dutiful daughter.

Doctor Moreau was a somewhat malevolent figure in the household—a stern father, a devoted scientist. He had his secrets, and the mystery surrounding the nature of his experiments was one of the reasons I kept reading.

Montgomery Laughton was a tragic character who was prone to indulging in his habits, but his chapters were some of my favorites from the novel.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau was another good one.

Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by the publisher (Del Rey) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

This was definitely a Silvia Moreno-Garcia book! Which is in itself perhaps a strange thing to say, because all of her books are very unique. I can only describe this as a lush historical literary gothic tale with science-fiction overtones set in the Yucatan Peninsula. It is immersive, poignant, and thought-provoking.
Carlota Moreau has been raised in an isolated manner deep in the jungles of Mexico, and her only companions are 'hybrids"--the results of her father's experiments to combine humans and animals--and Mr. Laughton, the overseer of her father's ramshackle compound. When outside forces come crashing onto Dr. Moreau's enclave, including Mayan rebels and wealthy landowners, the precarious balance that has existed there for so many years is suddenly teetering on the edge of chaos and nothing can ever be the same again. But then, is that a bad thing...?
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is such a fascinating author and she has yet again crafted a thoroughly compelling tale that also sheds light on cultural and historical events and beliefs. While this book was, to me, not as overtly sinister or "gothic" as Mexican Gothic, it had a dreamy, turgid tone that fit in extremely well with the hot and humid jungle setting of the book.
If you have enjoyed any of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's books in the past, I would definitely pick this book up--because you know what you will be getting into! But if you enjoy literary fiction with a speculative sci-fi twist and well-drawn historical setting, you will also want to check this book out.

I read Mexican Gothic earlier this year and loved it so I was very excited to read this one. The first few chapters were mostly setting the scene and introducing the characters. It needed to be done but definitely a bit of a boring, slow start. However, things quickly picked up pace. This story is told from the perspective of Carlota, the sole daughter of Dr. Moreau and Montgomery, the overseer of the large estate and a morose alcoholic. Sometimes I don't love the split POV style but I think the chaaracters were different and developed enough that I didn't mind,

Carlota has grown up alongside the hybrids her father has created in his laboratory. Humans and animals spliced together, comissioned by a wealthy contributor who is essentially looking for slave labor. Carlota and Montogomery both care for the hybrids and view them like family. Their peaceful life is infringed upon when the son of their patron comes to the island. Really enjoyed this, liked the fact that the plot wasn't overtaken by a love story. The historical aspect was really interesting, definitely painted the enititlement of colonialism and how religion is often used to exploit and enslave. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book is based on the Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells, which I have not read. But I know the basic premise of that book and from what I can tell, Moreno-Garcia took the best parts of the story and made it her own. What I know of the original is that a man is rescued from the sea and ends up on the Island of Doctor Moreau who is a scientist who has created hybrids of humans and animals using vivisection. The themes of the original include the balance between scientific knowledge and ethics, humanity vs. "lesser" animals, religious authority (basically Moreau) and order, morality, and how it can change when your survival is at stake. While scientific knowledge is definitely a huge theme in Moreno-Garcia's version, she focuses much more on interpersonal relationships which by their very nature creates a more complex story. The story is told from two different points of view--Carlota, the Doctor's daughter, and Montgomery, the new Mayordomo. I don't know where or when the original story takes place, but she placed this story during the Mayan uprising on the Yucatan peninsula against the Mexican government (1871 and 1877), which is a time period I knew nothing about. It made the story more compelling as you see the obvious parallels between how the indigenous people are treated by the invading Europeans and how the hybrids are treated by Moreau and Lizalde.

While I really did enjoy this story, it took patience to work through the uneven pacing. The story is very character-driven, and the POV switches between Carlota and Montgomery. You are briefly introduced to the Yaxaktun estate as well as to the hybrids (5 chapters) and then the rest of the story takes place in 1877, 6 years later. Each of the characters (main or otherwise) is flawed but in Carlota's case, you sense that her flaws are a result of being sheltered, controlled, and protected (by her father), and therefore naive about the reality of life outside the walls of Yaxaktun. Montgomery's flaws are more obvious as he is an alcoholic who just wants to live separate from the world, but you learn throughout the book about the many sources of his pain.

This book was what one might call atmospheric historical fiction, which this author is known for. But while some of the scenes in the book are pretty horrific, I would not consider this story to be horror. The science of the hybrids, while never explicitly stated, seemed to be related to gene splicing and I found it all pretty interesting.

I found this book to be worth reading and really enjoyed the twists Moreno-Garcia put in her tale. While there were certain elements I found predictable, they did not take away from my enjoyment at all. Even if you can predict certain things, when the details are put together so well, it doesn't matter. If you're a fan of historical fiction and science fiction, you should definitely give this one a try.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a retelling of the story of Doctor Moreau told through the eyes of his daughter Carlotta. For those unfamiliar with the original story Dr. Moreau is a scientist who creates human and animal hybrids through gross experimentation. For Carlotta the hybrids are all she has ever known. They are her friends if not her family. When her father suggests that Carlotta consider marriage to the son of the man financing his experiments she initially is agreeable. Unfortunately when these outside men only see the hybrids as beasts Carlotta’s world and understanding of what makes a man and what makes a beast crumbles around her.

This is a beautifully told story of Carlotta and her growth. The character descriptions and development is fantastic. I did have to utilize the Kindle dictionary for the beginning of the story as I was not familiar with some of the words and language. This did mean the beginning of the book was slow for me but built into an amazing storyline. This was my first book by Silvia Moreno Garcia but will not be my last!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Silvia Moreno-Garcia continues her streak of genre hopping by taking on a horror/science-fiction/historical fiction retelling of THE ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU, this time having it take place in the Yucatán and bringing in themes of colonialism, Othering, and identity. I haven't read the source material, but I felt like I had a good feel for what the original story was within the context of this reimagining. I really liked how it centered on Carlota, and how her perspectives of the hybrids from her father's lab bring humanity and empathy for his creations as opposed to relegating them to monstrous freaks. I also liked the themes of Imperialism and how she set it in the shadow of racist and violent policy from the Spanish influenced Government directed towards the indigenous Mayan rebels, and how themes of Othering and violent oppression go hand in hand. It's a bit of a slow burn to get to the meat of the story, but the set up is well done and when things get going, they REALLY get going.

Another great genre jump from Moreno-Garcia!

I've never fully read the original book by H. G. Wells that this book is inspired by, but the synopsis gave me enough context to build off of. As a huge fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's works, I was happy to find similar threads in this book that I've seen in her other writing: taking a snapshot of Mexican history and putting a speculative spin on the era, building multifaceted and complex characters, and overall storylines that are unique and creative. I flew through The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, and my attention was kept the entire time. I appreciated the different points of view and over all arcs and growing dynamics between the two main characters, Carlota and Montgomery, and I thought that the ending fit well for each of them.

A huge thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for a review; I will be cross-posting a review on my Instagram page closer to publication date.

I struggled with this book...it was slow and not quite what I was expecting. I think I still have a little too much riding on Mexican Gothic and now everything feels compared to that book. Thanks for a chance to read this!

There is something about Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s writing that just speaks to me. I haven’t read enough of her books to make definitive statements about her writing, but in the works I have read, it feels like she writes with one middle finger raised. It speaks to me. I don’t delude myself, as a white American whose ancestors definitely messed around in places they should not have been, I am part of the group she is raising that middle finger at, and I am fine with it. Her writing is lush and her characters are rich and delightfully not entirely likable. And that undercurrent of self assured defiance gives even the most idyllic page a sharp edge.

I have not read H.G. Wells’ The Island of Doctor Moreau, but the story is so woven into pop culture that I am not unfamiliar with the basic story. I suspect that Moreno-Garcia’s retelling surpasses the original. Wells called it “an exercise in youthful blasphemy.” The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is no youthful “what if…?” It’s thoughtful and deliberate. It sets the horrors of Doctor Moreau’s experiments into the political landscape of the Yucatán Peninsula in the 1870s – during the Caste War of Yucatán. (I went down so many history rabbit holes reading this).

The story is told in alternating point of view by Carlota Moreau, who we meet as a young teen, and Montgomery Laughton, an alcoholic Englishman, deeply in debt, seeking to hide from the world. Each of them, for their own reasons, accepts Doctor Moreau’s experiments and the hybrid creatures he creates with few questions. The house, Yaxaktun, is Carlota’s world and Montgomery’s refuge. As the peace at Yaxaktun unravels, Carlota and Montgomery begin to look more closely at everything they let slide past their notice. Carlota had been raised to be soft and quiet, a delicate flower to be protected and displayed. As she confronts the horror that is her father, she grows up fast.

She wished to be unafraid and for the world to be good. Neither thing seemed possible.

To Hernando Lizalde, Yaxaktun is a financial investment and he expects Doctor Moreau’s experiments to pay off. Moreau is playing god in the jungle and Lizalde is funding him because he wants cheap labor that won’t runaway, or rise up in rebellion. They are the monsters and the horror in this story, and we know it from page 1. The central story isn’t the revelation and downfall of these monsters, but Carlota’s growth from trying to be a good daughter to becoming her own person – from a butterfly decoratively pinned on a board to a person of agency.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau starts off languid and the plot moves slowly at times. But Moreno-Garcia is always layering in the details so that when the action becomes explosive, we see the full horror that Moreau and Lizalde have wrought. I could spend weeks talking about this book and it wouldn’t be enough.

CW: Discussion of medical experiments, control with drugs, alcoholism, death of animals, violence, beatings, cruelty

I received this as an advance reader copy from NetGalley. My opinions are my own and freely given.

When I saw this stunning cover and that the story was written by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, I knew I had to read this book. Moreno-Garcia is such an amazing storyteller, and I couldn’t wait to immerse myself in the story. A reimagining of HG Wells’s The Island of Doctor Moreau set amid growing conflicts in the 1870s Yucatan Peninsula, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a thought-provoking and compelling story with powerful themes of humanity, morality, and more.

Moreno-Garcia never fails to write engaging stories that immerse the reader into a unique and fantastical world. The author deftly pulls the reader into the story using sensory, figurative, and descriptive language. The story is dark, lush, haunting, atmospheric, and so incredibly vivid, and I love how it weaves history with science fiction.

The characters are also meticulously crafted and complex, especially Carlota, the only daughter of Dr. Moreau. Hers is a coming-of-age story as she struggles to find herself and her place in a complicated world where she is often torn between her duty, loyalty, and desire. She is lovely, curious, and naïve, and her growth throughout the story is fantastic.

The story switches perspectives between Carlota and Montgomery, and he is as intricately crafted and complex as Carlota. A broken man trying to forget the past, Montgomery forms a connection with Carlota. However, when a wealthy man named Eduardo arrives and shows interest in Carlota, secrets are exposed and lives are irrevocably changed. Eduardo, and other characters, including Carlota’s father, Eduardo, Lupe, Cachito, and even the hybrids, are also dynamically developed, interesting, and unique.

Something else I really liked about the story is the many messages about issues like the role of women in society, gender inequities, social responsibility, and what really makes a monster. I thought the social and political themes and commentary were powerful and thought-provoking, and though the story takes place in the 1870s, many of these issue are still relevant today.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is an atmospheric reimagining of a classic story, and includes mystery, suspense, secrets, an immersive plot, dynamic characters, and a unique and unexpected twist. I would definitely recommend it to readers of Moreno-Garcia’s previous works and people who enjoy atmospheric and thought-provoking stories. Thanks so much to DelRay Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau was a winding and intriguing story. Doctor Moreau blurred the lines of science, religion and morality for his own gain. This story was told from two distinct points of view that while inwardly focused had many poignant phrases I found myself highlighting. Overall, I liked this book. It twisted, turned and meandered a bit in its plot. Although I felt the last part of the book grew through a wave of emotions that was well done.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book just wasn’t for me. I had a hard time finishing it. It was boring and dragged a lot. I almost DNF it a few times.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book so much! I love how the author, again, made a very strong and feminist main character who questions everything and is not afraid to voice her opinions. I had no idea this was a retelling, and I can't wait to make comparisons between the original work.
And this cover? It gives me the most amazing authentic Mexican vibes.

I was excited to read this retelling, especially after being horrified by The Island of Doctor Moreau. I was hoping for some feminist and racial commentary, as those are things that Moreno-Garcia is renowned for doing in her writing. However, a third of the way through the novel, I wasn't feeling any of those things. It was very slow to get going, but I didn't feel like I had gotten to know any of the characters any better. At least, I didn't feel compelled to continue reading. I think the setting of the Yucatán Peninsula could have been highlighted more, too. I would have loved to hear more about the native wildlife or more Mayan spoken by characters, rather than just being mentioned. I think the idea was really cool and that Moreno-Garcia's prose was good, but I think the plot could have been executed differently.

I'm in between 3 and 4 stars for this. I enjoyed reading it and the story was more complex than I expected. However, the start was rough with the world building and then the middle we got stuck in a plot that would not move. Just pages of thinking about possible solutions. I did greatly enjoy Carlota, the daughter of Doctor Moreau and her journey of self discovery. All the characters in this story were molded in shades of grey and I appreciated that there was a lot of questioning and development in regards to how the story developed. Based on a novel by H.G. Wells (that I've never read) it was interesting to see how this would play out in the politics of Mexican haciendas. How that and all the creatures in the story came together was high stakes game that I did not see how it could end well. If you're a fan of science fiction, morally grey characters and mad scientists, this is for you.

This was the first book that I have read from this author. I have also never read The Island of Doctor Moreau. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a historical fiction which blends sci-if elements and mystery. I was initially attracted to this book because of the beautiful cover. I found this book to be an enjoyable read, although the pacing felt very slow. I really enjoyed the themes of humanity and morality. I had only heard good things from this author and can’t wait to read more.

This novel is a sideways version of H.G. Wells's novel The Island of Doctor Moreau. As in the original novel, Moreau is a doctor living in a secluded location engaged in scientific experimentation that results in animal/human hybrids. Unlike the original novel, this version is set in the Yucatan and introduces the titular character, Carlota Moreau.

I'll confess that I have not read the entire original. I got about halfway through and stopped. Wells has many strong ideas, but his writing isn't too my taste. This version, however, kept me engaged and entertained throughout.

Moreno-Garcia is a wonderful writer. She knows how to use language to create a sense of place and has an eye for detail. By alternating points of view between Carlota and Montgomery, the author creates an ebb and flow that gives the reader a fuller picture of events. The world these characters inhabit is lush and full of dream-like interludes and powerful ideas.

There were times when I was reminded of some of Anne Rice's work- that kind of lush, romantic phrasing and characters who think big thoughts and believe strongly in what they are thinking and saying.

This was a very enjoyable read. Highly recommend.

I received The Daughter of Doctor Moreau from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It is well-written and as always I love Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing style. She captures the character of Dr. Moreau perfectly. I love Carlota, the doctor's daughter, even though at times she frustrated me with her decisions. Also, the character of Montgomery, essentially Dr. Moreau's assistant, is an awesome character as well.
From the atmosphere created to the experiments and conflict, I loved it all. The story kept my interest from beginning to end. I constantly stayed up too late reading because I wanted to know what was going to happen. I don't want to give anything away. I would highly recommend this book to my friends, family and anyone who is a fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

This reimagining of the Island of Dr Moreau was definitely interesting and nothing like I expected. I enjoyed Mexican Gothic more and that’s saying something but unless I hate a book I always give an author a second chance.

In this book, Carlota, daughter of a doctor in the middle of nowhere Mexico grows up with her father’s and his experiments. One day a handsome man comes along and sweeps her off her feet but not everything is as it seems and secrets start to spill.

This was not horror/gothic but sci-fi. The story dragged throughout then you’d get these quick sections and back to slugging along. The plot wasn’t thought out all the way through and I just didn’t connect with any of the characters.

I did appreciate the themes of playing god and humanity, though it wasn’t wrapped up well.