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_made_line_'s review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
taylor_broek's review against another edition
4.0
What an interesting science fiction-historical fiction inspired by The Island of Doctor Moreau by HG Wells (of which I haven’t read) Carlota is the MC & the book is set “at the end of the world” in southern Yucatan a peninsula of Mexico in the 1870’s. Doctor Moreau is a vivisectionist & has created hybrids out of humans and animals, using the essence of blood. These hybrids have had varying success and are very financially draining since he needs many jaguars and other animals to make them. He has proof that the investment is worth it though with his daughter carlota. Montgomery come to work for dr. Moreau since he is seeking the end of the world and is not afraid of wild animals. To the world the remote hacienda is a sanitarium but inside it becomes filled with many different hybrids that carlota grows up with and sees as family. Lupe, Cachito, Aj Kaab, Pinta, Aayin, K'an, all some mixture of human and animal plus Ramona the house keeper.
When two wealthy men come to town to determine his funding Dr Moreau decides to marry Carlota off to one of them, carlota is happy with this as she falls in love with Eduardo. How ever the other man has issues with the whole situation and presses Montgomery to send a letter to Eduardo’s father summoning him to come to the hacienda and stop what is happening, Montgomery happily agrees to deliver the letter because he secretly loves carlota and wants to protect her from the sleaze ball that is Eduardo. Shit hits the fan once the investor shows up and announces that carlota is also a hybrid & he will not let a marriage go through plus he is cutting off the funding and wants all of the hybrids to becomes his slaves. Carlota must not let this happen, she is heartbroken but will fight to save her family even if that means defying her father. a story with a wide focus on topics like ethics, misogyny, racism, romance, religion/ religious authority, power, dominance, family/found family, self identity, injustice, “humanity”, science.
The ending did feel a little clumsy but I was happy to see carlotas independence and self growth!
When two wealthy men come to town to determine his funding Dr Moreau decides to marry Carlota off to one of them, carlota is happy with this as she falls in love with Eduardo. How ever the other man has issues with the whole situation and presses Montgomery to send a letter to Eduardo’s father summoning him to come to the hacienda and stop what is happening, Montgomery happily agrees to deliver the letter because he secretly loves carlota and wants to protect her from the sleaze ball that is Eduardo. Shit hits the fan once the investor shows up and announces that carlota is also a hybrid & he will not let a marriage go through plus he is cutting off the funding and wants all of the hybrids to becomes his slaves. Carlota must not let this happen, she is heartbroken but will fight to save her family even if that means defying her father. a story with a wide focus on topics like ethics, misogyny, racism, romance, religion/ religious authority, power, dominance, family/found family, self identity, injustice, “humanity”, science.
The ending did feel a little clumsy but I was happy to see carlotas independence and self growth!
kaitievoice's review against another edition
3.0
Review on tiktok!
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8dnUfsW/
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8dnUfsW/
myquirkycompass's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
3.75
I love how this wrapped up and the father-daugther relationship was so realistic.
alisarae's review against another edition
DNF @ 28%
I just couldn't care less about what happens. The writing is fine and good but the voice is generic, like it has been thru the YA wash cycle a couple times. Meh.
I just couldn't care less about what happens. The writing is fine and good but the voice is generic, like it has been thru the YA wash cycle a couple times. Meh.
elemomi's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
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
3.5
crunchy108's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.75
Interesting plot idea but man I did not gaf about the main romance and drama
shanimal_d's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
mollywallen's review against another edition
2.0
I almost quit this one about halfway through. It just felt like a lesser Jane Austen novel with some Michael Crichton vibes. I wish it had been more about the hybrids in general. I did appreciate the historical setting and the use of the various cultures involved, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.