This is my first book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I had been wanting to read a book of hers, since she has such a strong following. When I saw that Daughter of Doctor Moreau was her next novel, I knew this was going to be it.

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a review. This novel did not disappoint and now I’m see why so many people love SMG. The writing is superb. The way she describes settings is very rich in detail. The characters are well-developed and multilayered. In this story, she has a central story, which is the remote home of the Moreau family and their hybrids. However, she also includes the caste system as a kind of subplot, which was really well woven into the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and now count myself as one of her fans. When this novel is released, go and pick up a copy. If you’ve read her before, she won’t disappoint. If you haven’t, you now have a great writer on your radar.

“The Daughter of Doctor Moreau” is a science fiction/historical/gothic book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. This book is a reimagined version of HG Wells’s “The Island of Doctor Moreau,” but set in 19th century Mexico. I have admit that I’ve not read the original book, so I went into this one a bit blind. A lot happens in this book. In this book we follow Dr. Moreau, a scientist who opened a sanatorium to conduct scientific research. He has a daughter, Carlota, who with a housekeeper and “hybrids” care for the home. A mayordomo, Montgomery, is hired to assist Dr. Moreau. Dr. Moreau’s funder, Mr. Lizande, shows up and becomes obsessed with Carlota and things start changing. Ms. Moreno-Garcia’s writing, as always, is beautiful, but I found the pacing at times a bit too slow for my liking. While I could see the twist, it was interesting to see how it played out. If you don’t like slow burn with atmospheric writing, then you may not enjoy this book. I did liked reading the Afterward, where Ms. Moreno-Garcia explained how the history of the area provided content for the book. And props to the designer of the front cover - once again it’s a stunning one for another book by Ms. Moreno-Garcia.

🌺🌺🌺🌺/5
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau
By: Silvia-Moreno Garcia
Available: 7/19/2022

The best way for me to describe this book is...it’s Animal Farm meets Bridgerton in South America.
It really was quite the experience and I hope that you all take the dive and give this one a try.
I don’t know what it is...but Silvia-Moreno Garcia’s books have a way of ensnaring the reader. She does such an amazing job of creating a setting that becomes a character itself. And she has a knack for incorporating elements of science fiction without really realizing it’s there until it slaps you in the face. And even then, she has woven it so well into the story it’s not overpowering to the plot.
I really enjoyed all of the characters. Especially Carlota. Like, I want to meet her in real life. I was a little bit disappointed that a certain situation did not happen a particular way but...it ended with me smiling.

I am a huge fan of her novel, Mexican Gothic and I loved this one just as much but for very different reasons. There were several parts of this book that hit me in the feels. Hard.
I would read a part and just set it down for a second and think, “Dang that just breaks my heart for them.”
But that’s what I want from a book. I want a story that will make feel that deeply about the characters and whatever horrible ordeal they are facing.
So, she did her job well. Very well. I loved it 🥰

Blurb:
Carlota Moreau lives to serve her father, the great Dr. Moreau. Scientist and physician, her father has created a race of hybrids deep in the jungles of the Yucatán in the nineteenth century. These hybrids, unique creatures that are created in secret, were made for a single purpose, to serve.
Montgomery, a man from Britain, who is constantly at the bottom of a bottle, finds himself hired to do one thing, hunt jaguars for the doctor’s research. Over the course of six years, he develops relationships with the hybrids and Carlota as well.
Yet when the son of the wealth benefactor responsive for funding Dr. Moreau’s research, arrives unexpectedly, it sets off a chain of deadly reactions. As he turns his sites on Carlota, leaving room for jealousy and passion to catch fire and destroy, secrets are brought to light and revelations are made about the “good doctor” and his creations.

If you enjoy multicultural fiction, magical realism, or South American history, look no further. This story had a wonderful depth. One of my all-time favorite and respected skills of an author is the ability to weave together history, relationships and moral issues, and actual magic. I DEVOURED this book and highly recommend it. There were many true surprises, a healthy amount of suspense, and can say the conclusion was a true surprise.

Since Mexican Gothic was such a hit with patrons and book clubs, I was really excited for this title. It still has that gothic vibe that you would expect, but was not as creepy or suspenseful as the author's previous titles. It was still a good read, and I know that we will definitely be ordering and recommending this through Reader's Advisory, but for fans of Mexican Gothic, it may be a little bit of a let down. Still overall a good read, and well-written retelling.

I LOVED Mexican Gothic so I was super excited to read this ARC thanks to @netgalley

It's not a horror story by any means but I still got that eerie gothic vibe that I love with Moreno-Garcia's writing.

This is cool adaptation of The Island of Doctor Moreau and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey- definitely worth checking out.

I tried really hard to like this book. I've wanted to like every book Silvia Moreno-Garcia has published since Gods of Jade and Shadow, and yet every time I've tried to read her books since, I'm just...disappointed. Mexican Gothic was *okay*. Velvet Was the Night was forgettable.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau was boring. I don't know what I was expecting from this revamped tale--I didn't like the story it was based on to begin with, but I was hoping that Moreno-Garcia's writing and whatever planned twists she had on the tale would be enough to save that. It wasn't. Unlike some of her novels, this one was pretty historical, and while the scenery was as lush as expected of her, everything else was just...kind of there?

It's unfortunate. If I could have given this a rating based on cover alone, I would give it all 5 stars. Unfortunately, it's getting a 2 from me.

What a strange yet wonderful story. I at first was a little confused on what was actually going on. About a third of the way in I found my rhythm with the story. At that point I had a hard time putting it down. While weirdly fascinating, you could not help but grow attached to the strange characters . I saw the twist a mile away, but loved how the story developed. I was slightly disappointed in the ending but also kind of made this an even more attractive book. It did not have the typical HEA that I am used to, but it was a fully satisfying ending.

While the science could have been interesting, I found 90% of this book to be dry and hard to get through. I couldn't connect with any of the characters, and it seemed like there were scenes that dragged on forever and didn't need to be that long at all.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for my gifted e-arc! I felt so lucky to get one since it was on my most anticipated reads of '22. The first book I read my Silvia Moreno-Garcia was Mexican Gothic and I've been going through her backlist since.

I'm a huge fan of The Beautiful Ones and I feel that whoever loved that book will really love this one. I did not read the synopsis for this book so I went into it completely blind. I loved that its Historical Fiction with a bit of Sci-Fi in it. I loved how atmospheric this book was. I loved how we got to see Carlotta the main character grow so much. I really looked forward to her chapters. Montgomery is your brooding male with a tragic past. I loved their angsty friendship/relationship. I also loved the hybrids that Dr. Moreau created. For me it was one of those books that I didn't want to put down and then I didn't want it to end. Loved it!

This is a retelling of HG Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau. Silvia Moreno-Garcia paints such a vivid portrait of her characters and their world that you can almost feel the dust beneath your fingertips. This would be an amazing choice for a book club because after reading it there is much to think about and discuss, with ethical dilemmas abounding. This was the first book of Moreno-Garcia's that I have read and I'm interested to check out her others.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey and NetGalley for the opportunity to access this free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to NetGalley for an advance ebook copy of The Daughter of Doctor Moreau in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is the third Moreno-Garcia novel I have read. In all of them she excels at creating an atmosphere that permeates every aspect of the plot. Based on the H.G. Wells novel The Island of Dr. Moreau, Carlota Moreau lives a rather isolated life in Yucatan along with her megalomaniac father and a collection of hybrids. Long before DNA and chromosome mapping entered our lexicon, Dr. Moreau experimented with mixing human and animal traits to create a new type of creature. Here he views himself as godlike and the hybrids as the embodiment of his genius.

Carlota loves her life but she is unaware of much of what her father does. She views the hybrids as family and will sacrifice much to protect them. The doctor's patron and his family are a huge risk to Carlota and her way of life.

The growth of Carlota as a character is very well-done. She stumbles a few times as she matures which makes her a realistic young woman.

This book is lots of eerie enjoyment.

If you liked Mexican Gothic, then you have to read this. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a twist on the classic tale set against the historical backdrop of the Caste War of Yucatan. This rich sci-fi/fantasy with a romantic thread was engaging from beginning to end. Carlota struggles with whether to be a dutiful daughter or a fighter, while the majordomo of the house, Montgomery, struggles with whether to be a fighter or a romantic interest. With immersive world building and atmosphere, sci-fi themes (science will destroy the world or save it), and interesting half-human, half-animal side characters, there’s something for every reader to love.

Truly a genre-bending mastermind, SMG does it once again! The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is an evocative and lush story that immediately envelops you. Her writing instantly transports me back to a wilder Mexico, ensconced and lovingly embraced by the jungle, heat, and sun against foreign forces and conquistadors looking to cash in on its riches.

“Women were butterflies to be pinned against a board.”

Within this story there are many layers that echo the similar theme of subjugation. There’s the colonizer layer that is ever present, we’re reminded that Dr. Moreau is French, he is funded by rich Spaniards trying to break Mexico into lining its pockets, and the undercurrent of tensions between them and the rebels and native indigenous people is rampant. It demonstrates a country in flux, on a precipice in history as forces collide. We also have Montgomery, a British man for hire running from his past and choices while at the same time enslaved to debt and addictions. The tensions between classes, between countries, and stemming from slavery and colonization is palpable which lends this a lot of grit and nuance.

But then there’s also Carlota’s layers, her quiet but growing chafing against her confines, no matter how gilded they are. We see her naïveté transform slowly as she begins to question her world, her father’s true motivations, and how to use the social constructs of the times to her advantage. We see how she comes into her own power and strength to upend the world of men, which was fascinating and satisfying. Both a character you can root for, and one which inspires you to be better and appreciate the life and world around you, her growth journey was, when looking back it, remarkable. It’s a testament to SMG’s talent that she’s able to walk us through such a transformation in a painstakingly detailed yet intriguing way that to the reader doesn’t feel preachy and heavy. It’s natural.

I will say, having known the source material for this, I was prepared for more difficult passages on animal experiments. While there is one scene relatively early on that was a bit unsettling, by and large the hybrids are simply characters unto themselves with unique personalities, which I appreciated. While the health and pain of the hybrids is by no means brushed away, it’s not overtly or salaciously described so for fellow animal lovers like me - fear not, you can get through this!

While the main ‘twist’ or reveal felt like a long time coming by the time its revealed, it certainly landed with an impact and was very well executed.

Though the second half did have pockets of pacing issues, in hindsight I think it did need those slower moments to provide space for the story. This isn’t about action back to back, but about small and some big moments that define the characters and their paths ahead. Giving this a few days in my head after finishing definitely makes me appreciate this much more. Still, Carlota’s stupid naïveté at the end was at odds with how quickly she was scheming and learning while courting Eduardo, but maybe that’s more a reflection of my own personality than anything else because I would spare NO ONE from my wrath.

This is a favorite of mine from the author. Perfectly atmospheric, engaging, complex, and full of elegant storytelling.

Review of Advance Reader’s Copy eBook

Deep in the jungle, in virtual isolation, Doctor Moreau lives at Yaxaktun with his daughter, Carlota, his housekeeper, Ramona, and the hybrids he has created in his laboratory. Carlota suffers from a rare blood disorder, but her father has found a medication that keeps her alive.

Hernando Lizalde, Moreau’s patron, owns the estate; he brings Montgomery Laughton to be the new majordomo at Yaxaktun. Despite his personal issues, Montgomery has remained at Yaxaktun for six years in order to repay the debt he owes Lizalde.

And then Eduardo Lizalde arrives at the estate.

Eduardo, taken with Carlota, makes no secret of his attraction to her. But when he asks her to marry him, the resulting cataclysm will touch everyone at Yaxaktun . . . and beyond.

=========

This narrative, loosely based on the H.G. Wells classic, “The Island of Doctor Moreau,” is set in Mexico in the 1870s during the protracted Caste War of Yucatán. There is a strong sense of place throughout the telling of the tale and an ever-growing tension underlying the unfolding narrative.

The political climate of the time, the unrest with the Maya uprising, and the science fiction elements in the creation of the hybrids combine to create a multi-layered tale of money, power, subjugation, ethics, and relationships. Carlota chafes against her isolation, the hybrids desire freedom, Moreau believes his work benefits both science and man.

As Carlota’s coming-of-age story evolves, readers will find much to appreciate in the telling of this tale.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey and NetGalley
#TheDaughterofDoctorMoreau #NetGalley

This book is about Carlota, Dr Moreau’s daughter, who lives with his father and hybrids he has created. Dr Moreau rules over everything, but Carlota is becoming a woman and finding herself in this world. I thought this was a really unique story and I think Silvia Moreno-Garcia did a great job again!

I absolutely loved Mexican Gothic and was super excited to receive this ARC of the newest novel by Moreno-Garcia. (And it did not disappoint!) This “reimagining” of the novel The Island of Doctor Moreau is a dark, nightmarish tale, while at the same time a heart-wrenchingly beautiful story. There are so many wonderful characters in this novel, from the eccentric Doctor himself and his mysterious daughter Carlota, to the broken overseer Montgomery Laughton, to the various versions of experimental hybrids. I loved everything about this novel and gave it a perfect 5 stars.






https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54829360

I always really appreciate the books Silvia Moreno-Garcia writes because she gets me into different genres I would never approach on my own. A gothic tale? Gotcha. A noir? Yep! Whatever Gods of Jade and Shadow was? You betcha. Historical Fiction is never really my jam, but to mix it in with a retelling of HG Wells and by SMG? You knew I was going to be all over this.

And friends, it's just as I would've thought. I love the way she crafts her stories always around Mexico, and this story is no exception. Only knowing a tiny bit about the source material was a delight because I was genuinely shocked with every new twist and turn. I really loved the characters, their interactions, the world they were in... really lovely.

The last bit felt the tiniest of rushed for me, not so much that it was not appreciated, but more so that I think a lot happened so it felt like things were truly just going, going going. Again, not bad! But definitely noticible.

But yeah! Loved this. I kind of knew I would, and to have that confirmed was lovely. 4.5.

Thank you Del Rey and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.
What a wonderful surprise this book was. I had never read the original H G Wells book and have never been
much interested in SciFi. I was asked to read and review and said yes without knowing what the subject matter was.
The book is a re-writing of the H G Wells book The Island of Dr. Moreau. Instead of an island, the story takes place in the Yucatan with rebels and Mayans and rich, entitled Mexicans, and political uprisings in the background. I absolutely loved the story. If all SciFi was so lovely and so believable, I would read more of it. This could not be classified as a horror story. I have to assume that most of the characters are based loosely on original characters. A reviewer pointed out that the naming of Montgomery Laughton might be in honour of Charles Laughton who played Dr. Moreau in a movie based on the original book.
The story surrounds Carlotta Moreau whose father, the scientist, is hiding in the Yucatan working on his projects. He is creating hybrid people for workers. He is dependent on funding by the Lizande family, very wealthy Mexican royalty, who have remained in the background until Eduardo Lizande arrives at the home of the Moreaus and falls for Carlotta. And Carlotta falls for him. And mayhem ensues. Not in the Marx Brothers sense but int the sense that all the structure and control that Dr. Moreau has created around his little "family" begins to fall apart.
Carlotta is a very engaging young woman. Montgomery is your typical alcoholic drinking away his sorrow and his 'poor me' life. They hybrids are lovely creatures and the Lizandes are as despicable as rich entitled people who trample over everyone in the pursuit of selfish interests can possibly be.
I recommend this book. You only need to want to read a really good story to enjoy it.

Carlota Moreau is the daughter of a researcher, a researcher who is part genius part madman... who has been experimenting on creating hybrids between animal and human genes. In the beautiful estate in the Yucatan peninsula lives Carlota, her father, and his experiments... and then comes along Montgomery, an english researcher with a tragic past of his own. But everything changes when the son of her father’s sponsor and his cousin arrive at the estate.. and soon Carlota finds herself falling for the beautiful eyes of Eduardo Lizalde, an impulsive, careless, and charming man. Moreau does not discover his daughter in her infatuation, instead he encourages it because it would then give him more funding for his research..., yet Montgomery and Eduardo’s cousin Isidor are against it because they both know that Carlota and Eduardo will only ruin each other. Things only spiral further as Carlota begins to discover her father’s secrets, secrets that pertain to her... and when things reach a peak and Eduardo’s father comes to stop the engagement and seize all his property, i.e. the hybrids, it is now up to Carlota and Montgomery to save them before it is too late. This is a story based off of The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.gG. Wells. The story really builds on how childish, naive, and young Carlota is. The vast majority of it occurs when she is 20 years old, as a sheltered obedient daughter who gets her first taste of rebellion and romance things definitely begin to spiral for her. Overall a happy ending, yet something felt like it was missing for me. I generally really enjoy this author’s work but this one fell a little flat for me and I guess I was just a bit annoyed by Carlota as a character, but I can understand why she acted the way she did and why she made certain decisions. This is a coming of age story, with magic. This is a story about a young woman who takes her first step into being an adult, who realizes there are consequences, who has responsibilities, and who learns to speak up for herself and to have the strength to stand up for those she cares about. It’s a story about a girl falling in love for the first time, experiencing heart break for the first time, and finally growing out of her younger self. Though it wasn’t perfect for me, definitely give it a go. I will definitely be reading the author’s future works and can’t wait to see what she writes next.

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*