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!

I will always pick up Silvia Moreno-Garcia's books, no matter what they're about. Moreno-Garcia is a well-rounded author who always has something new and different up her sleeve and I'm willing to give anything she writes a try. Originally, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau didn't catch my attention. Its historical fiction premise with the sci-fi element of human/animal hybrids didn't sound like my cup of tea, but like all of Moreno-Garcia's works, I enjoyed my time with this story.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is Carlota, an isolated girl who loves living in the jungle of the Yucatan peninsula with her father and his man-made hybrids. The story also follows Montgomery Laughton, an Englishman who becomes the mayordomo to pay off a debt. Laughton has a tragic past of his own which still haunts him. The story introduces the life Doctor Moreau has built for his daughter and the hybrids and then follows Carlota and the hybrids as they reclaim their agency and start to break away from Doctor Moreau's control.

The story is slow at times, but it really focuses on the characters, their struggles, and how they reach for what they want. Moreno-Garcia builds the setting in a way that brings it to life, making an isolated setting quite grand. With themes of family, science, and romance, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau takes on big topics with Moreno-Garcia's masterful storytelling. Without spoilers, I appreciate how romance is handled throughout this book. First love and unrequited love are reflected in appropriate and tasteful ways, which I really appreciated.

I'd recommend The Daughter of Doctor Moreau to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a slight sci-fi bend.

I love everything Silvia writes, and this was no exception. Enthralling, creepy, and a stunning exploration of colonization and class conflict, Moreno-Garcia’s work is sure to appeal to fans of horror and retellings. Carlotta was a fantastic protagonist..

I Dnf'd this book. I couldn't get into it. The pacing was just way to slow for me. I'm sure this book will be great for someone else, it just wasn't for me.

Gods of Jade and Sorrow ranks as one of my favorite fantasy books, and I keep going into Moreno-Garcia books thinking that's what I'm going to get and it never is. I respect her writing and storytelling abilities, but think I need to admit that shes not what I really want to read.