Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Fiica doctorului Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

81 reviews

lynxpardinus's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Slavery, Racism, Animal death, Alcohol, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Body horror, Colonisation, Death of parent, Violence, Gore, Gun violence, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Grief, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, War, Mental illness, Misogyny, Ableism, Sexual violence, Sexism, Chronic illness, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Cancer and Infertility

c100's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Racism, and Colonisation

Minor: Sexual content

meat_muffin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.75

Wow, not gonna lie, this book was PAINFULLY slow and boring. Sure, the prose was pretty, but nothing??? happened??? for the first HALF of the book! I was just waiting for plot! Overrated, not gonna lie

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Colonisation, Gun violence, Slavery, Ableism, Classism, Murder, Death of parent, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Blood, and Child abuse

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, War, Animal death, and Violence

Minor: Confinement and Pregnancy

vixenreader's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

3.75

Half of the book is more about atmosphere than plot. Be patient, because you will get a thrilling climax once you get over the hump and see how the author subverts Wells’ sci-fi classic in the best possible way. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Alcoholism, Blood, Confinement, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Death, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Slavery, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual violence, Body horror, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Gore

Minor: Drug use, Religious bigotry, War, Genocide, Dysphoria, Murder, and Chronic illness

Please remember to be aware of animal-human hybrids, death of a spouse, grief over a lost relationship, financial struggles, dehumanizations of slaves, attempted rape, animal violence, first sex experiences, narcissism, surrogacy, and experimentation on animals.

someryarns's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Alcoholism, Medical content, Confinement, Slavery, Violence, Chronic illness, Gore, Colonisation, Physical abuse, Murder, and Xenophobia

spicycronereads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious slow-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

This novel is loosely based on HG Wells’ The Island of Doctor Moreau. Like much of Moreno-Garcia’s work, the novel takes it’s time establishing characters, world building, and bringing the reader into the political context of the setting. And much like other work of hers that I have read, once the conflict of the plot is established, I didn’t want to put it down. There are romance, action, and science fiction elements that blend seamlessly into the backdrop of conflict between indigenous Maya people and European-descended landowners in Yucatán, Mexico. 

The novel is a split POV between Carlota, the daughter of Doctor Moreau, and Montgomery, the mayordomo of Moreau’s scientific hacienda. Though we also hear Montgomery’s perspective, the novel is indisputably Carlota’s tale. Her narrative arc, including the challenges in her relationship with Lupe, drive home the horror of Moreau’s experiments. The references to eugenics add nuance to the novel’s backdrop against the Caste War of Yucatán.

I was waiting and waiting and silently cheered at the moment that she owns her power and uses it to save those she loves and to avoid the life in which Eduardo would trap her. Then when she manipulates the class-anxiety of her uncle to get her hopeful ending… *chef’s kiss*

Montgomery’s perspective serves most usefully to ratchet up the dramatic irony as his (sometimes drunken) observations of Carlota clue the reader in that there may be more to her story than anyone realizes.

Montgomery’s backstory gives the reader a sense of the possible tragic alternatives that Carlota faces. His trauma and unhealthy coping mechanisms drive home that  colonialism and patriarchy are toxic for everyone. 

The secondary characters of Lupe, Cachito, and Ramona add dimension to the novel, suggesting a model of chosen or found family that can be more caring and supportive than biological family. 

If you are looking for a traditional romance plot and a neatly tied up HEA, this isn’t it. But if you want an atmospheric novel with action and romance, a FMC you can root for, and an ending in which the marginalized can thrive against imperialist forces, then I highly recommend this one. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Misogyny

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Suicide, War, and Classism

simonlorden's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit I didn't read the original novel, but you certainly don't need it for this reimagining. And this book certainly didn't disappoint. Moreno-Garcia's writing is lush and imaginative, and I loved the descriptions and the characters. I have a soft spot for cat-hybrids, and Cachito and Lupe and their sibling relationship with Carlota were amazing.

Carlota's character arc was a bit predictable, but that didn't take away from the enjoyment of reading it. The ending and the question of romance didn't end like I expected, but I felt that the ending suited the book and was better for it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Sexual content

didireadthat's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

I’m definitely partial to the author but this was another amazing book. Her character development is always really strong and it’s impressive the stories she can tell with a limited number of characters. I liked that this book was a retelling and explained the historical background of the piece. I’ve hear the original story of Dr. Moreau before but I wasn’t incredibly familiar with it and I think the vague familiarity of the story helped keep me engaged. I read through the second half of the book in one sitting. Moreno-Garcia really knows how to set the tone and describe the setting of her books to really draw me in, they are always so immersive. 

Carlota was sheltered and immature but I never felt that she was annoying. I loved Montgomery because he kept true to his character but still worked through his problems and I liked the ending he got in the book. I liked seeing Carlota and Lupe’s sisterly development as well and all the other “found family” relationships in the book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Violence

cloud_of_eden's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious sad 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Blood, and Racism

Moderate: Sexual content, Xenophobia, and Violence

Minor: Suicide

sshabein's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.5

I really enjoyed this retelling of The Island of Doctor Moreau. This is the second Silvia Moreno-Garcia book I've read, and I'm looking forward to reading more.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Death

Moderate: Body horror, Racism, and Death of parent

Minor: Animal death