Synopsis:

A lavish historical drama reimagining of The Island of Doctor Moreau set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Mexico.

Carlota Moreau: a young woman, growing up in a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatán peninsula. The only daughter of either a genius, or a madman.

Montgomery Laughton: a melancholic overseer with a tragic past and a propensity for alcohol. An outcast who assists Dr. Moreau with his scientific experiments, which are financed by the Lizaldes, owners of magnificent haciendas and plentiful coffers.

The hybrids: the fruits of the Doctor’s labor, destined to blindly obey their creator and remain in the shadows. A motley group of part human, part animal monstrosities.

All of them 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 will unwittingly begin a dangerous chain reaction.

For Moreau keeps secrets, Carlota has questions, and in the sweltering heat of the jungle, passions may ignite.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is both a dazzling historical novel and a daring science fiction journey.

Review:

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a re-imagining of The Island of Doctor Moreau. We follow Carlota, the aforementioned daughter of the scientist Moreau, and Montgomery, an Englishman and the doctor’s assistant in a dual POV.

I really enjoy Moreno-Garcia’s writing. It’s got such a beautiful quality to it, and it lends so much atmosphere to the narrative, perfect for the contemporary gothic tales she spins. The setting was so lush and vividly described, which is one of my favourite things about her books!

The characters were interesting too. I liked Carlota, and enjoyed seeing her go from an incredibly naïve, sheltered girl to someone much bolder who questions the things she isn’t sure about.
Montgomery’s development was also good to follow. We watch him go from a hope-less drunk who is punishing himself, to someone who does believe that he actually can do good.

I haven’t read the original classic tale, so I was unaware of the inspirations for the overall story. However it was interesting, and it took some dark and unsettling twists that were explosive turning points in the tale.

Where it didn’t quite work for me was the pacing – I felt it was too slow and then suddenly way too fast – and I also wanted more tension and suspense.

I do want to make a quick note to the cover artist – I adore this cover! It’s vivid and lush and so beautiful!

While I preferred Mexican Gothic to this story, I did like this overall, and I will for sure be reading more of Moreno-Garcia’s work in the future. I definitely think that people who love historical fiction threaded with science fantasy will really like this one.