
Member Reviews

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a reimagined telling of The Island of Doctor Moreau. I have not read the original so I cannot compare the two stories. Doctor Moreau is creating "hybrids" and hiding them on an estate in Mexico. Their livelihood is threatened when the son of Moreau's patron comes to visit. This is definitely one that I cannot give away too much for fear of spoiling the story. If you like speculative fiction, I would give this one a try!

This was FREAKY. Well, it wasn't an horror novel but boy oh boy did the men in this book worried me and made me actually terrified. It was so interesting and easy to get into. Would HIGHLY recommend!

The Daughter of Dr. Moreau takes a science fiction classic and gives it new life. We follow Carlota's journey from a girl who loves her home in the Yucatán and fears any change that could challenge her idyllic existence to a woman who knows herself and those around her and must reorganize her priorities. She has a father whom she always seeks to please, she has an extended family in the hybrids that her father has concocted in his experiments, and she has the beautiful wilderness that makes her feel alive all around. The hybrids are Dr. Moreau's crowning achievement, yet they are still a work in progress. Under a wealthy hacendado's patronage, the doctor has melded human and animal genetics to create stronger, better workers in a world where revolt and upheaval threaten traditional workforces *slavery and debt bondage cough cough.* Unfortunately, the results of his work are less than ideal, bar one. The hybrids suffer pain and maladies specific to their animal components, and they can't go out in the world with their visible differences. Yet Carlota loves them all and studies under her father to help care for their health. Beyond being an obedient daughter, Carlota is also a curious, fast learner, a romantic, and possessing of untested strong opinions typical of youth.
Our other POV comes from Englishman Montgomery Laughton, who works for the doctor. He's trapped in this job by hefty debts and a desire to vanish from the world and its problems. Alcohol also plays a role in helping him forget his pesky emotions about the wife who left him for greener pastures (more money), the sister who killed herself, and the father who beat him. On the other hand, Laughton has come to care for the hybrids and especially for Carlota as she has grown into a young woman (I don't know how to make that sound not creepy because I am creeped out by it).
Everything goes awry when the son of the ranch's patron shows up and is dazzled by Carlota. Dr. Moreau sees an opportunity to marry off his daughter and secure future funding for his research, funds that have been steadily dwindling. Carlota aims to please, Laughton gets jealous and testy, and the future of the ranch hangs in the balance.
So I have loved much of Moreno-Garcia's body of work, and this is the first book that just didn't work for me. The central tension between Laughton and Carlota and their non-quite-romance gave me the ick. I dislike the young ingenue meets weary gentleman routine... especially when he's known her and lived in her home since she was fourteen. I was satisfied with where things ended up, but the emotions of the journey just didn't land with me. The other relationships are yet more complex, but they get less page time. As Carlota's bond with her father begins to deteriorate, and her love for the hybrid who was raised as a sister is tested, these interactions hover in the background of Carlota's not-really love triangle. I especially would have preferred more on her story with Lupe as her willful naivete keeps pushing away the sister who harbors anger and seeks freedom. This ends up being the most meaningful relationship in the story, in my opinion, but it doesn't take a central role.
In terms of plot, it all felt a bit worn and obvious, even though I haven't read the original work. I'm familiar with the general idea, but I think the predictability comes more from the tropes in play. I do think Carlota has a compelling journey, but its motion is confined to the end of the book. For most of it, she stubbornly refuses to deviate from her path despite any misgivings. I think this fits with a story of how a girl can be molded and controlled by a father who styles himself as a god. But it's frustrating and stagnant to read when the signposts for the reader make the path forward so clear and Carlota refuses to take it.
This historical fiction window into 19th-century racial dynamics and economics in Mexico is one of the strongest points of the book for me. I think stronger relationship arcs (not necessarily romantic) and steadier growth in Carlota would have suited me better. Each step of the story felt obvious and occasionally preventable, which weighed down an already slow-moving plot. I still think this is a thoughtful book that many will enjoy. I chalk this up to personal preference rather than story quality.

While this book ended up being closer to 3 stars for me, I added an extra star as I went outside my comfort zone a little with this one.
I am a huge sci-fi and fantasy fan, and absolutely adore The Island Of Dr. Moreau. I went into this book knowing that Silvia Moreno-Garcia writes more historical fiction so I should have been more prepared for that. Still, it was quite a slow burn and it took me a couple of attempts to get into the storyline. I did appreciate the depth of the characters involved, and enjoyed the character interactions immensely.
There is no doubt that Moreno-Garcia can write strong characters (especially female leads,) but the plot itself left a little to be desired for me.
I recommend this book for fans of strong female leads, historical fiction, and light scifi.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. I am late to the party with this one but wanted to leave my review anyway!**

I remember watching the old B movie, The Island of Doctor Moreau when I was a child and it scared the pants off me. This book is about what happened behind the scenes, the life of the Doctor and his daughter that we did not see in the movie. A retelling of the classic I suppose. There were still mysteries and strange creatures placed in a lush and gorgeous setting.
I found it hard to get fully engrossed though. The novel was very slow-moving for me and I drifted in and out of interest.
Moreno-Garcia is a brilliant writer, and I already have her next in my TBR pile, but for me, this was not her best.
Thanks to @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a master storyteller, and The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is no exception. This novel deftly blends elements of historical fiction and science fiction to create an absorbing journey. Moreno-Garcia’s vivid descriptions of the Yucatán jungle, coupled with her well-developed characters, make The Daughter of Doctor Moreau an unforgettable experience. The story of Carlota, her father’s creations, and the arrival of Eduardo are richly detailed and gripping. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a captivating narrative full of science, love, intrigue, and suspense.

The first half of this book was very slow, but I stuck with it because I’m a huge fan of the author. I am SO glad I did because wow. Moreno-Garcia draws her reader in slowly, weaving a rich tapestry of lush colors, whispered secrets, and strange creatures around a core group of flawed yet sympathetic characters. This was a stunning retelling that I enjoyed much more than the original.

I am a fan of retellings and The Island of Doctor Moreau; I have read many retellings of this classic and loved the twist this book took on the plot.

This was a book with an intriguing premise (and a gorgeous cover!) I felt like it was lacking something, but I can't exactly pinpoint what it was. Not as smooth of a story as I was expecting.

Science fiction meets historical melodrama. Is it a reimagining set in an atmosphere of lush gardens and weird experiments. A daughter living in a place funded by a powerful and ruthless family. A family who’s son has decided to spend time with the doctor his family funds. What begins as idle curiosity could end in tragedy.

I'm a huge SMG fan, all of her books have been 5 stars for me except for Daughter of Doctor Moreau. I really like the original sci-fi horror by H G Wells. It's an intense, concise exploration of pain, humanity, and transformation. It's skin crawling and heart wrenching. Daughter of DM however is neither sci-fi nor horror but rather some sort of fantasy, historical fiction version that didn't work for me. It wasn't emotional or creepy like the classic. Rather than being a retelling or 'inspired by' story, it simply took the basic plot and names rewrote something very different. I did however enjoy the twist and the complex characters.
Thank you Del Rey and NetGalley for a copy to read and review

We’re gonna start with THE CHARACTERS because I am a character-gal and in this book you either gotta love them or hate them.
Carlota is an interesting star of the show. She is a naïve child, ignorant of the darker schemes around her with dad issues on another level, an intelligent and curious soul by her own right and a little spoiled as well. I cannot say that I loved her, but she has her moments and we vibed! I think her relationship with her dad was just one of the most interesting parts of the book. You can really feel how torn she is in both having affection for him, but also knowing that he is just an utter dick.
Montgomery was also interesting. Despite being a 2nd POV, I felt he had an observational quality to him. He was in the background, he had the “I just work here” energy, until he gets too emotionally involved and things get complicated. We love to see complicated 👏
Basically, there is an abundance of character to see in this book. The god-complex stricken Doctor had me rolling my eyes, he was insufferable, but in a good way that meant I loved to hate him. A gang of hybrids stole my heart, especially the snarky hybrid girl inching for freedom. Now that bratty aristocrat with his posse of even brattier misogynistic brutes… blegh, just blegh. Like I said, there is lots.
However, my favourite, favourite part of this book was not the cast of characters, but THE JUNGLE! 🌿 I don’t think I have ever said this before, but Jungle settings are where it’s at! Come and immerse yourself in this isolated hacienda where mysteries and rebellions and talking human-animals stir! I could really be reading into the book too much, but setting is itself is like a character. Carlota’s whole world starts and ends in this secluded piece of land with its wonders and secrets. I wouldn’t say it’s living, but the life that it holds makes it such an important place in the novel…until it doesn’t hold that life anymore.
And finally, THE CONS AND CONS of thinking you can play with science and religion, life and death without thinking of consequence are at the heart of this novel. No, that is not a typo. Much like the original novel touched on the topic of “playing God,” SMG also does a dive into this messy and chaotic world of humans both scientific and non-scientific thinking they can own and control another being’s existence.
I also want to point out that the history of 1880s Mexico is such a pivotal branch of this novel. Even though Carlota and her family lived far from the mainland cities, they were not exempt from any of the policies that strained life at the time. The novel explores how people had to contest against the cruelties and disparities of a racist, misogynistic caste system, even far from the city. As a reader you see the invasion of the corrupt city into this little hacienda, but also makes you realize that this invasion is only amplifying what already existed within the confines of the Doctor’s domain. Of course, the novel doesn’t keep us limited to the doom and gloom because resistance thrived then, like it does now.

Unlike some of the other people who read this book I have no actual point of reference for The Island of Doctor Moreau. I’ve heard the name but wasn’t actually familiar with the story... though I looked it up in preparation for this book out of pure curiosity.
It’s always fascinating to read the work of the author which always blends real history with the more science fiction elements. Carlota Moreau the doctor of the doctor had an interesting life though it all seemed rather sad with her distant workaholic father and being stuck in such a remote area never able to leave. It was really kind of a tale of a collection of sad misfits trapped in the little world the doctor created. Montgomery is a sad lost man... the hybrids have their own challenges themselves. The story is a bit slow going but it was obvious that once their wealthy benefactor wasn’t getting what he wanted and his nosey son can to call that things were going to end up in a disaster. By the time you find out the truth it feels like it was obvious. And then the end was a whole lot of crazy.
I read this book awhile ago I just didn’t think I ever knew what to say in a review for it. One minute it’s like bare,y anything is happening them bam everything is happening. I still liked it and will pretty much read anything by the author. As always the cover is gorgeous and that alone is a reason to read the book.

This story follows Carlota Moreau (the daughter of Doctor Moreau) as she grows up in the middle of Yucatán peninsula. Her father raises a team of hybrids, that seem both friendly and monstrous at times. The book alternates between Carlota's perspective and that of Montgomery, an overseer and assistant to Moreau.
Unfortunately, for me, it didn't live up to the hype. It's not a bad book by any means, but it didn't really stand out either. The writing is good, and the world-building is exceptional. But I was a bit let down, character-wise. I

I've read several of the author's books and, while this one was entertaining, I found it had less life to it than her others.

Since I was young i always loved this types of stories. I really enjoyed this version and thought it was very well done.

I really liked this book! It was a great blend of the original Dr. Moreau story but beautifully weaved in the culture and landscapes of the Yucatan. The first 50% was a slow burn and I did get bored getting through it. However, the second half was action packed and I thought the characters went through more development. I really liked how the hybrids were featured. They had personalities and were not background characters. I do wish Carlota had a bit more agency and wasn't at the whim of every man, but her character went through so much character development at the end.

The Daughter of Dr. Moreau is a reimagining of The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells. Carlota Moreau lives with her scientist father in a remote Mexican village. Dr. Moreau has built his career on creating hybrids. The Moreau’s are poor and are struggling to fund the doctor’s work with the stipends they are receiving. When the son of the financial sponsor arrives at the estate, things get complicated.
I really liked the premise of mixing historical fiction with sci-fi. Overall I enjoy a real story with twists here and there. I enjoyed the initial introduction to the characters and the description of the scenery. Unfortunately, this is where it ends for me. Full disclosure, I have not read The Island of Doctor Moreau, and maybe this would have provided some context to the story.
The first big issue for me was that there was almost no character development. I really struggled to get through the book because I had no investment in the characters. Emotions were there but with no deeper understanding of the character, the emotion felt misplaced and dramatic. Additionally, I was really put off by one character's switch in personality half-way through.
The other big issue for me was that the plot felt random. Events didn’t seem to lead to one another, they felt random and forced. The point of the book was lost on me and I was underwhelmed by the ending. I gave this book 2 out of 5 stars. I finished it but can’t say that I would recommend it to anyone else.

This was not for me but I’m in the minority. It was a little slow and the dialogue lacked a smoothness that made it read in a jarring way. I wanted to love it but I just did not.

A real long time ago, I've read "The island of doctor Moreau" and after reading "The daughter of doctor Moreau", it might be that I will reread this classic novel. This is the second book I've read from Moreno-Garcia and more and more I git the feeling that Moreno-Garcia will become one of my favorite authors. What I love about her books in general is the mash-up of genres. No, her books are not designed for a mainstream audience, but the author sets the trends. Just like a Tarantino in the literature world. "The daughter of doctor Moreau" is a mixture of a gothic romance, sci-fi, mystery and of course a modern adoption of the classic story of H.G. Wells. Like in her other books, the story is set in Mexico. Carlota, the daughter of the crazy doctor, is a beautiful, innocent young lady who lives among hybrids. For others, the hybrids seem like monsters. For me, the real monsters are the Rizaldes, the owner of the hacienda and their views about colonialism. I was fascinated by the story, and read the book in every free minute. For me, it is one of my book highlights of 2022 - a real page turner. Can't wait to read the latest book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia!