kcmackoi's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
luceeefur's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This wasn't my favorite Silvia Moreno-Garcia novel. I felt like this took me longer than normal to grab me, and really get into the story. I'm a huge fa of Moreno-Garcia so I'm certain that this was just not for me. I liked that this was a spin of the HG Wells original story but with some different perspectives than the original. The novel was well written and captures what life in the Yucatan jungle would have been like in the 1870s. Moreno-Garcia did an excellent job (as always) of weaving Mexican culture and history in the plot.
Spoiler
I saw the "twist" coming early on in the story, but it didn't distract from the overall ending of the story.tashtash's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A slow start for me (with two false starts!) but I really enjoyed it by the end, which came as a bit of a surprise. The second half really picked up a lot of speed and I whizzed through it. I found the story very interesting as I didn't know the original before reading this, and liked Montgomery and Lupe the most of the characters, though I think they generally didn't have enough time to be developed too deeply - it didn't detract from my wanting to keep reading it though!
I've had Mexican Gothic on my TBR for a long time now, and I like her writing style after this book so I'll get to that one soonish.
I've had Mexican Gothic on my TBR for a long time now, and I like her writing style after this book so I'll get to that one soonish.
leahsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rounded to 3.5 stars.
CONTENT WARNING: mention of abuse, alcoholism, mention of suicide, violence, bigotry, blood, death, gun violence, body horror
I’ve read three other SMG books and loved them, but for some reason, this one just didn’t hit the same for me. She brings the same beautiful writing style and historical flair, but I struggled to connect with the story the same way as I did with Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow, and Velvet Was the Night. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that the story was based (loosely) off The Island of Doctor Moreau, a story I haven’t read and had little interest in, until I saw that SMG had provided a take on it?
I enjoyed the MCs and the side characters. We get to experience the story through the perspectives of both Carlota, the eponymous daughter of Doctor Moreau, and Montgomery Laughton, the majordomo of the estate, who from what I could gather kind of took care of everything that needed to be done.We get insight into what they’re thinking and experiencing, as well as seeing the relationships that they build with the people around them. And this includes the hybrids, who are treated as family in most cases.
The pacing felt off in this story. For the first half of the book, it moved exceptionally slowly. But after reaching the mid-point of the story, the pace sped up significantly and things started happening one after another. Even so, the story was well-crafted and kept me intrigued. I was invested in the characters, and wanted to know what was going to happen next.
The one area where the story fell short for me was Carlota’s romance. I understand that things worked differently in the 19th century, but I felt like it was rushed to have her fall in love after knowing someone for several days.That aspect of the story didn’t feel as realistic to me, and was difficult to get behind.
However, I do have to admit that SGM is the absolute master of body horror, and gothic stories. It’s a fabulous sci-fi/historical fiction crossover with racial, social, and political commentary, and I can honestly say that no one handles this as well as she does, making this one of her strengths, and this is what keeps drawing me back to her books. That, and the amazing characters and stories that she weaves together.
Rounded to 3.5 stars.
CONTENT WARNING: mention of abuse, alcoholism, mention of suicide, violence, bigotry, blood, death, gun violence, body horror
I’ve read three other SMG books and loved them, but for some reason, this one just didn’t hit the same for me. She brings the same beautiful writing style and historical flair, but I struggled to connect with the story the same way as I did with Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow, and Velvet Was the Night. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that the story was based (loosely) off The Island of Doctor Moreau, a story I haven’t read and had little interest in, until I saw that SMG had provided a take on it?
I enjoyed the MCs and the side characters. We get to experience the story through the perspectives of both Carlota, the eponymous daughter of Doctor Moreau, and Montgomery Laughton, the majordomo of the estate, who from what I could gather kind of took care of everything that needed to be done.We get insight into what they’re thinking and experiencing, as well as seeing the relationships that they build with the people around them. And this includes the hybrids, who are treated as family in most cases.
The pacing felt off in this story. For the first half of the book, it moved exceptionally slowly. But after reaching the mid-point of the story, the pace sped up significantly and things started happening one after another. Even so, the story was well-crafted and kept me intrigued. I was invested in the characters, and wanted to know what was going to happen next.
The one area where the story fell short for me was Carlota’s romance. I understand that things worked differently in the 19th century, but I felt like it was rushed to have her fall in love after knowing someone for several days.That aspect of the story didn’t feel as realistic to me, and was difficult to get behind.
However, I do have to admit that SGM is the absolute master of body horror, and gothic stories. It’s a fabulous sci-fi/historical fiction crossover with racial, social, and political commentary, and I can honestly say that no one handles this as well as she does, making this one of her strengths, and this is what keeps drawing me back to her books. That, and the amazing characters and stories that she weaves together.
jnikolova's review against another edition
3.0
Also available on the WondrousBooks blog.
To say that I was excited to get "The Daughter of Doctor Moreau" would be a understatement. I've never read the original "The Island of Doctor Moreau", but I was somewhat familiar with the idea (thanks to a once favourite show of mine, Orphan Black), so I thought this would be fresh, maybe spooky spin on the old story. Additionally, while I haven't read "Mexican Gothic" yet, I have seen enough praise for it that I was looking forward to reading that one, too, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia's work in general.
From the start, the book went in an unexpected, for me, direction: the story focuses on Carlota Moreau, the daughter of the quirky Doctor Moreau, who's fled France and is living in the jungles in Yucatan with his daughter and his "hybrids", the creatures he creates as a mix between human and animal. Carlota lives a secluded life away from people, her only friends being the house maid and two young hybrids of age similar to hers. Because of her isolation, Carlota instead leads a life of books and dreams, and also develops her skills and knowledge of science while helping her father take care of the hybrids. Later on, a sulky majordomo is brought - an Englishman called Montgomery Laughton - who, despite his love for the bottle, also takes good care of the hacienda where Carlota and her father live. As Carlota grows older and more beautiful, their quiet way of life in the jungle might be at an end.
In theory, the book sounds fabulous. A dash of science fiction, the potential of a forbidden romance, maybe a little bit of horror, with the introduction of the hybrids...
The problem is... nothing all that much happens really. Due to the lack of major events, smaller ones are blown out of proportion, the book contains not a small amount of petty arguments between people who essentially love and care for each other, but each time there's this atmosphere of an almost-disaster and drama, that doesn't truly deliver, when the reader is sure that the characters won't really hurt each other in any way. There was the feeling, as well, for me, that since the daughter of Doctor Moreau is the main character, there should have been maybe more focus on her empowerment, but aside from the very end, I would not say that Carlota had much to do or say that was of any consequence for where the story went, for the most part. In fact, the truly world-changing events happened despite her best wishes and efforts, at least as she expressed and thought them at the time of the events.
The other thing that bothered me a bit was the fact that the hybrids were not well fleshed out, aside from Lupe only, not even Cachito, I didn't feel like any of them had much personality. I wanted to root for them and their humanity, but I didn't feel like I was actually shown enough to see the said humanity.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
To say that I was excited to get "The Daughter of Doctor Moreau" would be a understatement. I've never read the original "The Island of Doctor Moreau", but I was somewhat familiar with the idea (thanks to a once favourite show of mine, Orphan Black), so I thought this would be fresh, maybe spooky spin on the old story. Additionally, while I haven't read "Mexican Gothic" yet, I have seen enough praise for it that I was looking forward to reading that one, too, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia's work in general.
From the start, the book went in an unexpected, for me, direction: the story focuses on Carlota Moreau, the daughter of the quirky Doctor Moreau, who's fled France and is living in the jungles in Yucatan with his daughter and his "hybrids", the creatures he creates as a mix between human and animal. Carlota lives a secluded life away from people, her only friends being the house maid and two young hybrids of age similar to hers. Because of her isolation, Carlota instead leads a life of books and dreams, and also develops her skills and knowledge of science while helping her father take care of the hybrids. Later on, a sulky majordomo is brought - an Englishman called Montgomery Laughton - who, despite his love for the bottle, also takes good care of the hacienda where Carlota and her father live. As Carlota grows older and more beautiful, their quiet way of life in the jungle might be at an end.
In theory, the book sounds fabulous. A dash of science fiction, the potential of a forbidden romance, maybe a little bit of horror, with the introduction of the hybrids...
The problem is... nothing all that much happens really. Due to the lack of major events, smaller ones are blown out of proportion, the book contains not a small amount of petty arguments between people who essentially love and care for each other, but each time there's this atmosphere of an almost-disaster and drama, that doesn't truly deliver, when the reader is sure that the characters won't really hurt each other in any way. There was the feeling, as well, for me, that since the daughter of Doctor Moreau is the main character, there should have been maybe more focus on her empowerment, but aside from the very end, I would not say that Carlota had much to do or say that was of any consequence for where the story went, for the most part. In fact, the truly world-changing events happened despite her best wishes and efforts, at least as she expressed and thought them at the time of the events.
The other thing that bothered me a bit was the fact that the hybrids were not well fleshed out, aside from Lupe only, not even Cachito, I didn't feel like any of them had much personality. I wanted to root for them and their humanity, but I didn't feel like I was actually shown enough to see the said humanity.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
cafeconlecheylibros's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
rdaumen's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25
ekmook's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
filippa_pap's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5