Phenomenal. I struggle with an encapsulating review for this story, as it’s equal parts Dr Moreau with a fresh retelling and a whole new adventure of it’s own. What Moreno-Garcia does incredibly well is translate pain to the page. Her ability to capture raw, complicated emotion is always breathtaking and does not disappoint in this story. Scenic narratives, complex, yet strikingly understandable characters, and a great storyline make this one to definitely read!

✨“An interesting family we are,” Lupe muttered. Dr. Moreau’s twisted mistakes.”


Thank you to Netgalley for this e-ARC of one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year!

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a complex and layered re-imagining of The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells and set in nineteenth century Mexico. Once again, Moreno-Garcia eats and leaves no crumbs.
This is a layered and complex tale highlighting issues of patriarchy, colonization, and racism. In the afterword, we are given some important context to better understand the world as it is in the moments that the novel takes place which I really appreciated!

Carlota was truly the star of this book and watching her growth and her coming to understand herself and her power was so satisfying.

I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for it to drop in July so I can get a physical copy!


I will be posting a full review on my Instagram at https://instagram.com/terra_reads?utm_medium=copy_link

Moreno-Garcia really made the world of this story come alive. The Yucatán and Dr. Moreau's laboratory are vibrantly described, giving this novel a real sense of place. The characters had depth and were full of surprises, as well. I couldn't put it down.

First things first, Silvia Moreno-Garcia could write a phone book and I would read it and thank her for it. I honestly think she gets better with each book she writes, but because each of her books are so different from one another it's hard to really compare them! That's one of my favorite things about her writing.

I always worry going into a highly anticipated book that my expectations are going to be too high. It's easy to get excited about a new story and then be disappointed in the final execution of it. That being said, I shouldn't have worried about that with this book. Moreno-Garcia straddles the line between reality, the supernatural, and horror beautifully. Her two main characters (who alternate chapters) are well constructed, and their different life experiences contrast and complement each other beautifully.

I have never read Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau, but you definitely don't need to in order to understand this book. The decision to set the story in Yucatán against the backdrop of a caste war (side note, I love the Author's Note at the end providing the historical context for this) definitely provided a rich opportunity for a nuanced inclusion of colonization into the narrative. The hybrids as natives/others while the Doctor (French), majordomo (British), and land owner (Spanish) profited from their subjugation (even unintentionally) made for a very compelling sub-plot.

I do think that the pacing of the book slowed down around the middle, it definitely took me longer to get through the second half than it did that first. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it was noticeable. I also felt like Eduardo and Isidro were almost caricatures of colonial bad-guys in some places. I was intrigued when it seemed like Isidro was on the same page as Montgomery when it came to keeping Carlota and Eduardo apart, but disappointed that his character never really seemed to go anywhere beyond that. It just felt like the two of them were set up for more than what they ended up being. It didn't diminish my overall enjoyment of the book, but I do wish there had just been more there.

I'm sure the more I sit with the story, the more I will have to say about it. But for now, I'm very content having read it, and I'm very excited for it to be published so I can share it with everyone else!

Silvia Moreno-Garcia's refusal to limit herself to a specific corner of genre fiction always makes for a delightfully surprising twist on the familiar. Here she reconfigures a classic sci-fi tale, reinvigorating it with a feminine perspective and an engaging historical and cultural perspective. Bouncing back and forth between Carlota Moreau and majordomo Montgomery, the novel bides its time immersing the reader in its textural, richly detailed world before exploding into a gripping page turner. Colonialism and oppression by way of a mad scientist and his hybrids makes for a genre-bending novel only Moreno-Garcia's prose could deliver.

While I tend to think of myself as a fantasy reader, I've come to really appreciate Ms. Moreno-Garcia's incredible flexibility in writing across so many genres. A re-telling (re-imagining may be a better word) for the sci-fi classic, The Island of Dr. Moreau, this novel follows his daughter in the wilds of Mexico. The writing is beautiful and lush and really teleports you to the setting. I also love her characters-- the female characters in particular are always so relatable to me. Carlota here is a young woman who comes out of her shell, going from a dutiful daughter to a strong woman who speaks up and questions what she has been told or raised upon.

I will continue to read all of Ms. Moreno-Garcia's books and support her pool of endless creativity.

An interesting take on the Doctor Moreau tale, as always Silvia Moreno-Garcia does a wonderful job with her descriptive and evocative language. She gives an interesting perspective on the story coming from the viewpoint of a PoC, placing Moreau through the lens of colonialism. Very cool!

This is the first book I've read by Silvia Moreno Garcia, but it won't be the last. There was a time in the middle where I couldn't see where it was going, but it came together nicely. Readers would benefit from some background on the history of race in the Yucatan region. I think all women will identify with Carlota in many ways.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a reimagined telling of The Island of Doctor Moreau but set in 1800s Mexico in the Yacatun peninsula. Carlota Moreau was raised in a seemingly idyllic jungle home, along with the animal-human hybrids created by her doctor father. Grumpy British majordomo Montgomery Laughton oversees the hacienda and is sometimes a friend and often a frustration to her. She loves her home, adores her father, and sees the hybrids as family. When the son of the Doctor’s patron comes for a visit, everything is turned upside down. Faced with the prospect of marrying and leaving her home, Carlota is torn and begins asking questions, finding that her father has been keeping more secrets than she could have ever imagined.

With the backdrop of war mixed with gorgeous descriptions of the land and her people, this story gives in turn love and heartbreak, promises given and promises broken, loyalty and betrayal, and at its heart a young woman who is desperate to find herself and keep her loved ones safe.

I loved Mexican Gothic by this author, and I loved this book even more. Five stars, I would absolutely recommend it to anyone.

I received a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing- Ballantine for the opportunity to read and review.

4.75/5 stars
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Silvia Moreno Garcia's new book and I was not disappointed! Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a beautiful story teller especially when it comes to weaving together metaphors and imagery to build her worlds to comment on themes such as colonization, class, what's deemed civilized and proper and perfection and the impossible search for it. Themes of power and advancement bring the question of when it stops being for the greater good and becomes more about playing God. The characters were well developed and I loved the protagonist Carlota. I love a protagonist who becomes a strong mujer que no se deja and Carlota did not disappoint! I also now need a telenovela of this book or movie filmed like an old black and white movie because I kept picturing it as one while reading.

the daughter of doctor moreau is an exciting historical sci-fi that has the characteristic silvia moreno-garcia flair, but lacks the intrigue and stakes that i've grown to expect from her. overall, while i did enjoy this book, i didn't feel like it was one of her best.
starting with the positives, i loved how the science fiction and historical elements were blended immaculately. i don't think i've ever read a book that melds these two genres together, but this book has left me wanting more of this style. i also really liked the worldbuilding and felt as though i was living at yaxaktun with carlota and montgomery. carlota was my favorite character and i found her arc to be well fleshed out and intriguing, if i a bit slow. eduardo was also incredibly interesting to read about and i do wish we saw more of him.
that being said, i wasn't as invested in the story as i'd have liked and i felt that the twist came about a lot later than i was expected. my main issue was with the pacing: by the time i hit the 40% mark, i felt like nothing had happened except for laying the groundwork of the story. i also felt that montgomery should have had more time to shine on his own outside of his relationship with dr. moreau and carlota.
like i said before, this was a super interesting novel with an exciting climax, but fell short in terms of pacing and characterization.

I loved this book so much. Inspired by The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells, Silvia Moreno-Garcia weaves an incredible story of science gone awry, found family, belief, and colonialism. This is the best kind of vintage science fiction, shot through with history that only makes the themes of the story even deeper.

I am always on the hunt for great Latinx speculative fiction -- there's simply not enough! -- and I'm so glad that I was able to read this gem early.

I haven’t read the HG Wells novel which introduces us to the eccentric and morally challenged Dr. Moreau. This version was sumptuous, exotic and innocent, just like the hybrids he created.
Carlotta is the doctors daughter, a seemly pampered princess whose everyday existence is so gentle and sedate you almost believe there is little fire in this girls belly. The way Moreno-Garcia writes the first section, you feel like you are visiting a day spa and I could hear calming music and smell delicious anxiety reducing scents. That’s why the scene with the young ones in the laboratory packs such a punch.
The complexities of all the broken characters is delicately balanced with the moral and religious thoughts and how each individual finds there own way to make sense of what they see. You sense the doom that is to come as it seeps through the beautiful paradise Carlotta believes it to be.
A stunning version of a classic tale. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

The story of The Daughter of Dr. Moreau is told from his daughter’s point of view, Carlotta, and his majordomo, Montgomery. The pair alternate every other chapter. There are interesting themes around family, femininity, home and religion. I quite liked the lush descriptions of the house and it’s grounds. I wasn’t sure what Montgomery’s very specifically Eurocentric backstory or the time lapse added to the plot. I was impressed with Carlota’s character development. She liberated herself from successive paternalistic influences. I didn’t find that I connected or deeply identified with any of the characters.

Didn't love as much as Mexican Gothic but very fun retelling / expansion of The Island of Dr. Moreau. Will read anything Moreno-Garcia writes, tbh.

I absolutely love Silvia Moreno-Garcia! Her writing just blows me away with every new book I read. This woman deserves an award!
Mexican Gothic and Velvet Was the Night were both such phenomenal reads when I seen another new upcoming novel I prayed Del Rey would approve! 😘 thank you!

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is an reimagining of The Island of Doctor Moreau set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Mexico. And man if she didn't do the damn thing!
A historical and science fiction novel that completely took me by surprise and had me hanging onto every word. I was hooked.
It's fascinating, compelling, intricate, superbly-written that will have her fans wanting more.
An unputdownable novel from an author who can seemingly tackle any genre.

Is it selfish of me to already want/need another book when this one hasn't even been released yet? I just love her!

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

Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine|Del Rey,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.

I'd previously read Silvia Moreno-Garcia's "Mexican Gothic" so upon hearing about "The Daughter of Doctor Moreau", immediately added it to my TBR list. In a nutshell: it did not disappoint.

"The Daughter of Doctor Moreau" follows the events that unfold across the residents of the Yaxaktun region in Mexico, focusing on our protagonist, Carlota Moreau. She's the daughter of Doctor Moreau, the scientist and head of house, who spends much of his time in his lab, creating "hybrids" for their benefactor and sponsor, the powerful and wealthy Lizalde family. The Moreaus are assisted by their majordomo, Montgomery Laughton, an outcast from the UK who has his own personal demons to deal with. Things start unraveling when Eduardo Lizalde, the son of the wealthy Lizalde family, encounters Carlota and the two seem to fall in love... until the layers of truth are revealed and threatens to dissolve the very foundation that everyone has.

I definitely have a greater appreciation of Moreno-Garcia's writing after reading this; the characters felt much more complex vs. the ones in "Mexican Gothic" and I found that there were many more takeaways and major themes that she covered incredibly well here - the ostracization and unequal treatment of different groups of people in society, the expectations held of women, and the complexity and breadth of relationships that can exist today. This felt like such a rewarding read, and I loved the character development of Carlota and the other residents of the Yaxaktun.

Very excited to recommend this novel when it is published in July 2022!

The books The Island of Doctor Moreau written by H. G. Wells (1896), and The Daughter of Dr. Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (7/19/22) explore scientific, ethical, religious, and philosophical themes. In both of these, Dr. Moreau is a someone who views and treats people and animals as commodities: neither better than the other, and existing solely for his experimental procedures. He esteems himself as the moral and religious leader, never to be questioned or disobeyed: someone who has been chosen by God to perfect creation.

In Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s book, Dr. Moreau has a daughter named Carlota that he has raised on his own teaching her that she is to be meek, gentle, and obedient: just like his hybrids. She is the most precious of his possessions in that her beauty can be used in his quest for further funding for his experiments. The doctor has made a deal with his benefactor to produce workers—the hybrids—for his land. However, he has not given over any of his creations to him, and his funding as about to be cancelled.

This is a many layered novel that is filled with horror, romance, coming-of-age, prejudice, and misogyny. You find yourself wondering: who or what are the true monsters?

This is the third novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia that I’ve read. What I like is her ability to bring up deep and disturbing issues within a beautifully told story. This is an exceptional and fresh retelling that is respectful to the original by H. G. Wells.

I whole-heartedly recommend this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Del Rey Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Carlota Moreau is a young woman growing up on an isolated estate on the Yucatán peninsula. Her father, the brilliant Dr. Moreau, has the patronage of a rich man to build a hybrid species to replace menial labor in the area. But to Carlota, the hybrids are family and friends. As Dr. Moreau's funds run out and the rich man's son comes calling, Carlota's fragile world starts to crumble.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia does it again. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, like Certain Dark Things or Mexican Gothic, flips its parental genre (or story, in this case) on its head and examines the underlying themes of racism, miscegenation, and hubris.

Moreno-Garcia's versatility is astounding. Each of her books I've read has been in a different subgenre and an absolute treasure in its own right. If you're looking to calibrate expectations, I can't help you here other than to say this is certainly worth reading.

Highly recommended, like all of Moreno-Garcia's books.

Thank you to Random House - Ballantine, Del Rey, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

All I have to say is wow! The author has done it again! The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is an amazing blend of historical and science fiction that will appeal to fans of the author's previous works. The story revolves around Carlota Moreau, a young woman who lives with her doctor/scientist father on a remote peninsula. But they're not alone. When Montgomery arrives at their mansion in order to become Dr. Moreau's new assistant, he finds more than he's bargaining for.

Here is an enchanting excerpt from Chapter 1:

"As she stepped forward into the room she wondered if they could hear her heart beating, like the song of the clock.
Her father turned toward her and smiled. “Here is my housekeeper with my daughter. Carlota, come here,” he said. She hurried to her father’s side, and he placed a hand on her shoulder as he spoke. “Gentlemen, may I present my daughter, Carlota. This is Mr. Lizalde and this here is Mr. Laughton.”
“How do you do?” she said, automatically, like the well-trained parrot that slept in its cage in the corner. “I trust your trip has been pleasant.”"

Overall, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is an absolutely amazing retelling that will have you turning the pages for more. I started this book while on a flight, and I could not put it down until I finished. One highlight of this book is how original it is. It's not often that I read blends of historical fiction and science fiction, and the author did it perfectly. I predict that this book will become a classic in those genres. Another highlight of this book are the characters. I loved the action and the romance, but the characters made it all worth reading. I especially liked reading about Carlota's relationships with her friends. If you're intrigued by the excerpt, or if you're a fan of Silvia Garcia-Moreno, you won't regret checking out this book when it comes out in July!