I've heard such beautiful things about Silvia's writing, but unfortunately I just couldn't get into this one! I tried a couple times, but it just didn't captivate me and so I have decided to put it down for the time being. I may return to it at a later date though since I do really want to read it!

It won't let me submit without a star rating, so I have rated it a neutral three stars for the time being :)

I'm already familiar with the H G Wells story, so the slow build up to the existence of the hybrids (part human, part animal) at the beginning of this story wasn't really a surprising reveal for me, as it may have been for other readers who were going into this a little more blind.

The backdrop of the Yucatan, a peninsular that almost feels separate from the rest of Mexico, as well as the contained and nearly claustrophobia-inducing setting of the jungle around Carlota's home, add to that slightly gothic and unearthly feeling that Moreno-Garcia produces so well.

However, I felt that the first half of the book was very drawn out. In part that's to show the fine balance that everything is working in before Eduardo arrives against his father's wishes to upset everything. But the actual action didn't begin until nearly two thirds of the way through with Carlota's seduction, which made everything feel a lot longer than the novel actually is.

I also found myself anticipating a lot of what was coming, especially with regard to Carlota, although I had expected a slightly more dramatic (rather than positive) ending to the whole story.

I think Moreno Garcia loves writing a slightly broken older man who can only admire the younger (more naive) woman from a distance - and I love to read it.

An enjoyable story and a fresh take on the tale of Doctor Moreau, but this didn't quite grip me in the way that I wanted it to.

4 stars.

Lovers of the intense haunting of Rebecca will love this!

This book was wrapped in a chilling haunting feel and constantly left me questioning the origin. The plot is simple yet effective and the writing is where it really takes off!

I was sucked into this intense and vivid retelling without knowing anything about the original classic. Once I read into its inspiration, it only enhanced my reading experience. From what I can tell, it's a brilliant retelling. The beginning was slow but soon picked up and I couldn't put it down. The twists and turns were not expected (if I had read The Island of Doctor Moreau then I might've known) it constantly kept me on my feet.

Can't wait to read more by this author, she has such a way with words.

Set in Mexico in the later 19th century, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau picks up the central idea of HG Wells's novel of vivisection and species reshaping and relocates events to the Yucatán, a politically and culturally complicated region in the throes of a post-colonial uprising. (There's a slightly cheeky justification for this given in an ancient confusion about whether Yucatán was actually a peninsula or an island).

Bt there are also wide themes here. There's romance too, and at the centre, a determined and composed young woman who's growing into an understanding of herself and her place in the world - but hot altogether happy at what she finds.

Carlota Moreau lives with her father on a remote holding, Yaxaktun, along with a few servants and the population of "hybrids" that her father has created through his experiments. Fully realised, they have hopes and desires as well as fears and afflictions, and are portrayed in a manner that takes our understanding of them far beyond their counterparts in Wells's book. Carlota is devoted to her father, obedient, and alive to the suffering of the hybrids (she's picked up some medicine and helps care for them). She has been brought up pretty much in isolation, but will need, in this story, to grow up quickly and cope with a crisis in her little world (she proves resourceful and tough).

An early arrival in the story is Montgomery Laughton, an English adventurer much addicted to drink and gambling, who's drifted from one shady occupation to another. Laughton is mourning the loss of his beloved wife and taking rather too many risks as a result. Moreno-Garcia's portrayal of Laughton is sensitive and convincing, bringing out both his ruthlessness and "man of action" person and also his inner turmoil and despair.

Laughton becomes mayordomo of Yaxaktun, managing the house and the estate, thereby bringing him into contact with Carlota and conflict with Hernando Lizalde who finances the whole operation. Lizard is a wealthy landowner who wishes to use Moreau's hybrids as labour on his farms, replacing the local Maya people who are beginning to stand up for their rights.

Chapters are narrated from the perspectives of Carlota and of Laughton. Yes, of course there is SOMETHING between them, but Laughton is so damaged, and Carlota so inexperienced, that misunderstandings and distractions - not least the rapidly spiralling catastrophe spawned by Eduardo, Lizalde's headstrong son - keep tuning things round and b ringing the two into conflict.

Written with great verve, I found this a rattling good story that features not only all the above but also the uprising by the indigenous Maya people, colonial politics (the British are just offstage, always looking for some advantage) and - at the centre of this thoughtful and thought-provoking novel - questions of identity, morality and destiny. It's a book where the villains, if one can use the word, are complex, the heroes, again if I can describe them so, have feet of clay, and those from whom one might not expect to hear, are articulate. Another book from an author who seems able to write b brilliantly in any genre she chooses, and one which highlights history and culture with which I was completely unfamiliar and delighted to learn about.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau had an interesting concept, but in the end it wasn't my cup of tea. Don't get me wrong, it was a good story but I didn't feel emotionally invested nor I grew fond of the characters. After reading and loving Gods of Jade and Shadow, I hoped to enjoy her other books as well. Alas, it seems that GoJaS is the only exception.

I enjoyed this a lot more than Mexican Gothic and especially the first half of this novel I found so atmospheric and creepy. I know that this was based off The Island of Doctor Moreau but I found that there was a big Frankenstein feel to it as well and I was really fascinated by this.

The novel is set in Mexico where Carlota, the daughter of Doctor Moreau, lives in a sanitarium along the doctor and his strange experiments. The first parts of the novel which explored the experiments and the relationships between those who lived in the sanitarium I thought was brilliant. The atmosphere was absolutely great and I would’ve like to see this atmosphere sustained through the whole novel.

As the plot progresses, new people find their way to the sanitarium and what is actually happening under the guise of the doctor is slowly unravelled. I found parts of this predictable but the setting and writing was good enough for this not to matter.

The last third of the book I didn’t like as much and I found that the creepy vibe gave way to a lot of action and I wasn’t really the biggest fan of this. I think that I prefer gothic novels to be subtle and claustrophobic and there was too much going on for me to really enjoy the ending.

Would really recommend this however as I’m wanting to pick up more from this author.

Not my first Moreno-,Garcia and definitely not the last as this book is fantastic!

A wonderful Dr. Moreau retelling, well written, well paced and totally gripping.

Totally worth reading and highly recommended by this reader!

I often tend to think fantasy and science fiction are the genres that explore power. In epic fantasy and science fiction this is often quite a simple act of overthrowing some Dark Lord ™ , Evil Empire or establishing a new hereditary monarch for the greater good. But power and more specifically control can be very subtle and that requires a different approach. In Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s we get an intelligent and subtle science fiction novel The Daughter of Doctor Moreau we meet a small cast of characters test the relationships that all bind them together and ultimately their hidden world will be tested and may not survive much longer.

Doctor Moreau and his daughter Carlota live in the remote Yucatan peninsular in the 19th century. They are well hidden from everyone as the Doctor’s work must be kept secret. He is working with a wealthy landowner to produce hybrids – animals mixed with human DNA that have sentience and human emotions but ultimately, he wants to make as strong as humans to work as cheap labour. A science that for many reasons moral and financial he wants few to know about just yet. In his household the drunken and guilt-ridden Englishman named Montgomery Laughton has found a place he can work, drink, and try to forget as well as settle down. But Carlota is now a beautiful young woman and a chance encounter with Eduardo the son of the man who pays for Moreau’s work leads to a change in all the dynamics of their little world and the secrets of the hybrids my not be kept for much longer.

It is worthwhile to note that this is more a psychological thriller despite the SF element of the hybrids. While they are ever present in the background and the story it’s the relationships between Carlota, Montgomery, Doctor Moreau, and Eduardo that take centre stage. You do feel the hybrid element grow throughout the tale but for good reason they are not a mass special effect they are the genteel and strange inhabitants of a world the others all have an interest in. Moreno-Garcia instead gives us a focus on characters who all owe the others something – Carlota is the obedient daughter of her strange father and sees him initially as infallible and doing great work. For Montgomery the Moreaus are his employers and give him a way to live and yet also allow him his self-destructive urges to drink and lose himself. But the story shows all is not quite as it seems. Moreau is not a God just massively dependent on his patron for money, a place to live and his patron just wants an advantage in having a genetically produced slave labour force. Carlota finds the young and dashing Eduardo offering her a chance of freedom, passion and also long-term control over the holding and a place her hybrids can live in peace. Montgomery though knows too well young men can promise the world and never deliver and feels often obligated to save Carlota from what he feels will be a terrible mistake.

Moreno-Garcia’s skill in plotting here comes evident and through rotating chapters focused on Carlota’s and Montgomery’s own parts of the story we get to see the world through each other’s eyes. The young innocent woman starting to realise she is no longer a child and the cynical and yet puzzled Montgomery who feels increasingly the need to get involved in the Moreau’s story even if no good can come of it. This duo’s relationship is not quite a romance but more two very different characters who strangely complement each other and bring out their respective human/impulsive sides. They cycle through arguing, distrust and almost affection for each other that pushes and pulls them tina strange orbit throughout the story.

His leads to that exploration of power that for me was at the heart of the book. The father daughter dynamic that gets to be more where Moreau expects obedience of Carlota just as much as he wants his Hybrids to obey him not just through work but also his strict Christian faith (and idea of punishment for disobedience) and yet this man who seems so large at the start of the tale is soon revealed hollow and hypocritical. More wealthy and crueller men are instead in control and Moreno-Garcia notes that this period of what will become modern Mexico is torn with revolution as the native Mayan population start to revolt against their landowners. In contrast we find Hybrids who we gently get to know despite their strange animal appearances just seem fully human in their emotions and way of life. Only Carlota and Montgomery tend to see them as family and friends. Just like Carlota they are expected to do what others want with no say and as the story progresses the outer world offers both a way of escape and also entrapment for both Carlota and the hybrids. There is a sense of escalating tension that these power relationships are pulling too heavily on one another and soon in a fairly action packed and bloody finale it all erupts to a satisfying conclusion.

I really enjoyed reading The Daughter of Doctor Moreau. It questions is anyone ever in control bar the forces of capitalism and can ever find our own way out? Delicate character work combines with the rising tension all create a brisk focused and intimate tale hurtling towards its conclusion. Another fine tale from one of the genre’s best writers at the moment.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is the third Silvia Moreno-Garcia book and it had everything I thought it would, from the gothic atmosphere to the weird and wonderful characters.

One of the things I think the author excels at is blending genres. This is a sci-fi with historical elements and I found it thoroughly interesting that this was a loose reimagining of H. G. Wells' 'The Island of Doctor Moreau.' I really appreciated the twist Moreno-Garcia added to an already established story.

In this book we follow two contrasting perspectives: Carlota, the daughter of Doctor Moreau, and Montgomery, an English man with a dark and tragic past who finds himself employed by the eccentric doctor. Montgomery's perspective was sad and brooding, with a self-destructive attitude and a cloud of blame hanging over himself for past events. Carlota's perspective, though, was the stand out. We watch this dutiful daughter discover herself and the secrets hidden of Yaxaktun Sanctuary. We watch her grow into this fierce and independent character. They were both engaging characters but there was a connection to both of them that I just didn't get and it kept me from truly caring about what was happening to them.

While there is nothing objectively bad with this book per se, there was just something about this book that I thought was missing. It's a perfectly solid read but I felt like I was waiting for something that never occurred, which left me feeling disappointed the more I approached the ending of the book. I know we shouldn't compare books but it lacked that spark I felt when reading Mexican Gothic.

Overall, I'm happy I read this but it's not one I can see myself rushing to re-read. That being said, I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who enjoys unique reimaginings and historical settings with a twist.

The author is never pigeon holed to a genre and all her diverse writings are a delight to read. There is a common thread with most stories based in Mexico and South America and these places have a strong identity and presence.
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a captivating reimagination of The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G.Wells set in the late 19th Century in Yaxaktun on the remote Yucatán peninsula, Dr. Moreau is an experimental scientist funded by a wealthy landowner Hernando Lizdale to create viable human animal hybrids to form a compliant workforce in the plantations.
Carlota Moreau has lived all her life in isolation with few visitors to her home, her companions are Cachito and Lupe and she can think of nowhere she would rather be. Carlota had been a sickly child but her father created a remedy for her affliction which require regular injections. She never knew her mother and we find later that she is the natural daughter of Dr. Moreau.
At the beginning of the story we are introduced to Montgomery Laughton, who is brought in as mayordomo (estate manager) to facilitate the Doctors work and look after the hybrids. Laughton is a man haunted by his past and who vacillates between sobriety and alcoholic indulgence as he settles into the pace of life at Yaxaktun.
Moving years forward the hybrid project is not going well, Carlota has become a stunning young woman, rebellion is brewing in the jungles of Yucatán and it looks like the Doctors funding will be cut off by his benefactor Mr. Lizdale. Enter his son Eduardo Lizdale, charming and worldly and who could be the passport to continued funding if Carlota can bring him up to scratch...
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it for its historical setting blending with science fiction / fantasy. My thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for access to the ARC, all views are my own.

3.5 stars

Let me start of by saying I did not know that this book was based on the classic ' The Island of Doctor Moreau'. I only found out after DNF'ing the book on about 20% because I couldn't get into it. After finding out, I gave it another shot and was able to get into the story a bit better. I liked the concept and SMG has a beautiful way of writing, integrating complex issues like colonialism and post-slavery society into the storyline. I also liked the side characters and their varying personalities. However, due to the complexities of the side characters and the setting it was in, the main character felt a bit flat to me. I did really enjoy that it was dual POV.

Overall, the storyline is great and well written. I don't know anything about 19th century Mexico, yet I still feel like I was there due to the writing, I just simply couldn't get into it but I can see why many other readers love this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange of an honest review.

3.5 stars

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is an enchanting mash up of classic sci-fi and historical fiction and will leave you thrilled and intrigued. Silvia Morena-Garcia is an author that has a truly impressive range of titles and while this is not one of my favourites of hers it is still a very strong entrant to her collection full of imaginative sci-fi creatures, a lush jungle atmosphere and fascinating historical backdrop.

We follow Carlota Moreau, who is growing up in a luxurious estate buried deep in the heart of the jungle, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatán peninsula, and is the only daughter of a genius - or a madman. They are joined by a group of half-animal, half-human hybrids who Carlota has grown up with but must keep secret from the world. They are joined by Montgomery, a melancholic overseer with a tragic past and a propensity for alcohol, who assists Dr Moreau with his scientific experiments, which are financed by the Lizaldes, owners of magnificent haciendas with plentiful coffers. All of them are living in a perfectly balanced and static world which is jolted by the abrupt arrival of Eduardo Lizalde, the charming and careless son of Doctor Moreau's patron who causes a chain reaction of secrets revealed and ignition of passions in the sweltering heat of the jungle.

As always Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing is an absolute delight to read, she masterfully balances the telling of the narrative with a lush, descriptive atmosphere. The only thing that didn't grab me massively in this story was the characters, they are well written but I think they are not the type of characters I personally tend to love. I did really love Lupe and the other hybrid child (whose name I can't remember T_T) but of the others Carlota was kind of annoying and naïve, Montgomery was way too angsty and Eduardo was an absolute sleazebag.

I did really enjoy exploring the roots in classic sci-fi, it felt very nostalgic with nods to the classics but still felt fresh and exciting. I also think it was a very interesting historical setting/time period, especially exploring how isolated Carlota and her family are but how the conflict still massively influences their lives and they can't escape from war.

I really enjoyed seeing Carlota fight for her hybrid family and discovering her fathers secrets, this was probably my favourite part of the book way over the "romance" which I kind of hated. I also enjoyed exploring the dynamic between the Lizdales and Dr Moreau and how this highlighted a) problematic white people having undue influence in native cultures b) the challenges and biases of having someone with ulterior motives funding research that someone else is conducting and the power dynamics at play. These were really interesting themes and I thought explored very well.

Overall this is an enjoyable book exploring unconventional families, what it means to be a monster and the dangers of passions unchecked.

As with every SMG book ever, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau involves many, many interesting and important issues all neatly and masterfully folded into one narrative. The queen of multiple genres does it again.

This reimagining of HG Wells's The Island of Doctor Moreau is set against the backdrop of 19th century Mexico. I've read the original, and not only is SMG's version an incredibly fitting tribute - in my opinion, it also transcends HG Wells's novel. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau doesn't just examine man's moral responsibility in relation to our position in nature, as well as interference with said nature. It also takes a look at women's autonomy, the nebulous and complex nature of father-daughter relationships, and colonialism (would it really be an SMG book if it didn't take a look at colonialism in some way, shape, or form?).

SMG is also a master of evoking an atmosphere and we clearly see her incredible talent in this book. It was sooooo easy for me to imagine Yaxaktun, where Dr. Moreau carries out his experiments on his hybrids and where his daughter, Carlota, has lived all her life. I could vividly see the Moreau house, the cenote where Carlota retreats to when the world becomes too much, and so much more. As a fan of Nick Joaquin and the tropical gothic genre in general, I always find the vibe SMG evokes to be an utter delight and The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is no exception.

this will certainly appeal to established fans of moreno-garcia but i found the tone juvenile and the protagonist far too vanilla which younger readers probably won't mind but i prefer more complex characters...

It's interesting to see that so many people labelled this book as Horror on Goodreads. It is not. Silvia Moreno-Garcia writes a lot of different genres and she's really good at that.

THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU is a retelling. I would class this as historical fiction or science fiction, because it takes place in the 1800s in Mexico and it reads like a Victorian novel but it contains scientific experiments.

I think many people are aware of Dr. Moreau's (fictional) work. H.G. WELLS is the one that invented him. He lives on an island far away from civilization and he does tests on animals and humans to see if he can combine animal DNA with humans to make them stronger.

In this retelling we follow Carlota, Moreau's daughter and Montgomery, a Englishman who joins the family as mayordomo. He's hunter and caretaker of the hybrids that Moreau has created. It's very character-driven. We follow the emotional state of these two main characters and through their eyes we find out how others feel about there lives in the estate.

Moreau is indebted to the Lizaldes who finance the estate they live on. One day, Lizalde's son and cousin come to visit their house and the son falls in love with Carlota. Things spiral from there.

The only thing I didn't enjoy were the fight scenes. It was easy to lose track of what was happening, but other than that the human (and hybrid) aspect was very well-fleshed out and I was rooting for the main protagonists throughout. I can really recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Victorian novels with a character driven story and a bit of suspense.

Silvia Moreno Garcia has done it once again!

It is basically guaranteed at this point that if Silvia Moreno Garcia has a book coming out, I am going to read it regardless what the genre it is. I haven't read the classic "The Island of Doctor Moreau", but I know enough about to it to realize that the idea of her taking it would be projected through her own voice. Especially since she decided to set the story in Yucatán Peninsula in 1870s during a time of colonial conflict between the colonial power, the Mexican government and the British colony in Belize known as the British Honduras, and the Mayas rebels.
In this story, we meet Doctor Moreau and his daughter Carlota who he lives with in the Yaxaktun,"the island". They are assisted by Montgomery, the majordomo, a man who is determined to drown his past sorrows in alcohol. The Lizaldes family has been financing Moreau's experiments, eager for workers he has promised them. Unfortunately, not all of the doctor's experiments "hybrids" are turning out well as he had planned. Our main character, Carlota brings a unique perspective to the story, as a young woman coming into her own in a very isolated and strange environment.

Even though, I am not super familiar with the original source material nor a fan of Sci-fi, I absolutely loved the Daughter of Doctor Moreau. Moreno Garcia's works are usually excellent at taking typical plots and taking them to different directions, especially with her incorporation of Mexican settings. Particularly, this author has an uncanny ability of weaving together a variety of completely different concepts and themes that make magic happen. Moreno Garcia's has never been shy when it comes to addressing social aspects of Mexican culture and history. In the Daughter of Doctor Moreau, she uses the platform offered up by the story as an approach to explore identity and the otherness, Spanish colonialism, imperial oppression and religion.

Silvia Moreno Garcia is gifted in being able to turn her hand to any genre and produce beautiful, captivating prose, and compelling stories. I have read almost every single book she's written. No two are alike. All of them are stellar.
If you enjoy a story that blends sci-fi, historical fiction and horror elements, this book is for you! <3

Thanks to Del Rey, NetGalley and Silvia Moreno Garcia for the advanced copy.

The writing style was amazing as always, you can really feel the lushness of the setting. The vibes I'd describe as Spy Kids 2 and Barbie as an Island Princess but make it horror and adult. That is to say, the vibes were really fun and engaging. I didn't love being stuck in a mind of a grown man lusting after a girl he's known since she was 14 and he was 29 but oh well.

I did enjoy Carlota's journey and thought the story served well to explore her growing up and coming to her own. I didn't love this as much as the author's other books but I still think this is a good book that explores some interesting themes.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a retelling of the classic Sci-Fi novel titled "The Island of Dr Moreau" by H. G. Wells. Set in a nineteenth-century Mexico, Doctor Moreau is a vivisector who lives in a remote place with her daughter Carlota Moreau and the hybrids he has created. Montgomery Laughton is an Englishman and an alcoholic with a tragic past who ends up entangled in the Doctor's work. You don't need to read Well's novel in order to understand what is going on, but I thoroughly recommend it because it is (imo) a great book!

This is a very character-driven novel and the plot is slow at first, because the author has to introduce them and the world. I liked Carlota very much in spite of her flaws, and her friendship with the hybrids was very sweet. Dr. Moreau is a very complex character; he is very intelligent but not a very nice person, but you get to know him through Carlota's eyes who is not the most objective person. I liked Montgomery a lot, too, and even though he was older than Carlota I kinda rooted for them? which is weird, because I am usually not in favour of age gaps (and he was, what, 15 years older? anyways).

As for the plot of the story, it is reminiscent of Well's own story in some aspects, but adding Carlota's perspective (a person close to the Doctor and very much innocent, especially at the beginning of the novel) gives the story a very singular perspective that I enjoyed reading.

Overall, I liked the book but I found it a bit long. Sometimes we got to see the same scenario in both Carlota and Mr. Laughton's perspective and I don't think that was necessary because it dragged the story a bit.

As the name suggests, this books is a retelling of the H.G. Welles classic sci-fi novell The Island of Doctor Moreau. Here the setting has been moved to 19th century Mexico, and the new historical setting adds a unique and lush backdrop for this clever and entertaining retelling of the story.

The books characters are the heart of the story. The main characters are the doctors daughter Carlota and Montgomery, the new caretaker of Yaxaktun, makes a nice dual perspectives that helps add depth to them and the story. At first the story got a bit repeated between their POVs, but that didn’t last very long thankfully. I loved reading about their relationship, and their common love for the ranch and the hybrids.

Speaking of the hybrids, I just wanted to them all so badly! They seemed so sweet, except the firecracker Lupe - but she’s just a straight up badass I wouldn’t mind having as a friend.

A good book will make you feel things, and this book took me in an emotional journey. A good one. The writing is simply gorgeous, and if you enjoyed Mexican Gothic or just historical fiction - then I highly recommend you to read The Daughter of Doctor Moreau!

(3.25)
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. This has not affected my rating and review in any way.

Unfortunately in a lot of places this book is marketed as Horror. Silvia Moreno-Garcia herself points out in the top goodreads comment that it is not horror, but historical fiction with sci-fi elements. Sadly I hadn't seen that and I went into this expecting a Gothic Horror

Overall I did like this, Silvia Moreno-Garcia is great at writing a solid setting and characters, but I don't think it's going to be very memorable to me in the long term. I did like this more then Mexican Gothic and the friendships between the characters were sweet.