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etherealskies's review
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, and Sexual assault
inirac's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Death, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Colonisation
Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Trafficking
mlind20's review
- 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? No
3.0
Minor: Sexual assault
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Cancer and Infertility
wellreadandhalfdead's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Chronic illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Colonisation
carriewnettles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Sexual assault
spicycronereads's review
- 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
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.
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.
Graphic: Body horror and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Suicide, War, and Classism
trips's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
What could have a been an interesting retelling of HG Wells Classic that explored interesting power dynamics, to me was a very slow experience that wasn't by any means a bad time, but it also wasn't a very good time either. I appreciated the sci-fi story with the historical Mexican background, in fact that is my favorite aspect of this entire book.
What I didn't like is that Carlota and Montgomery get fleshed out in boring internal monologues that are too lengthy and do nothing for the overall story. Sadly this book could've been a novella and would've had the same impact I think...
But it wasn't BAD by any means, the author is clearly a talented writer. There just wasn't really a ton of tension until the last 25% of the book and by that point I was just...very bored. Sadly disappointing.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Racism and Sexual assault
Minor: Animal cruelty
rhi_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Gun violence, Violence, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
subtleassiduities's review
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Like Mexican Gothic, the middle of this book was a slog, but even more so, with nothing particularly weird happening. A good chunk of the middle is the characters nervously waiting around. And while when the waiting ends, the book gets exciting fast, the middle was almost enough for me to put it down. However, I suspected that the ending would be great, so I hung in there (again based on my experience with Mexican Gothic). And it was pretty good. So it didn't feel like a waste of my time.
Nonetheless, I cannot help but feel that the premise was wasted, knowing how well Moreno-Gaecia can write body horror. The horror of the story rests far more with the colonist white men than it does with Dr. Moreau's creations. And while entitled white men will always be horrifying, I just think that the story could also have made better use of the doctor's experiments.
I will say that the characters are very well written. Each invokes strong emotion, and that really makes the ending feel earned and satisfying.
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Sexual content and Religious bigotry
Minor: Sexual assault