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: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual assault and Racism
Minor: Animal cruelty
moreau'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? Yes
3.0
I think this book was ruined for me because I'm too big a fan of the original book, I honestly think it's a safe bet to say I'm the biggest Island of Dr Moreau fan alive today. On it's own, this book is really good but I can't help being annoyed by the fact it's different to how I interpreted Wells's novel. First of all, why is Montgomery straight? Even Moreau being married at one point changes his character a lot but I can live with that, Montgomery seems so queercoded to me that it felt weird hearing him crush on Carlota and talk about Fanny. I also don't get his last name being Laughton? Charles Laughton plays Moreau in the 1932 film, so I assume it's in homage to that, and Montgomery's actor did have an atrocious name (Hohl) but Val Kilmer also played him and Kilmer is a cool ass name, I think I've always just imagined Montgomery's name to be.. Montgomery Montgomery. I really liked Montgomery and Moreau's characters in this, they're reminiscent of the original characters while having their own depths and charms. I also really loved the Mexican cultural aspect of this book, I found it very interesting and added to the story. I wonder if Carlota's name is a reference to Lota, the panther woman in the 1932 film, if so that's really cool. I found this book severely lacking in the actual hybrid aspect, the hybrids aren't as animalistic as I think they should be. There's no M'Ling too, he's my favourite hybrid. But yeah, the hybrids just felt like more people. They don't have their finger classing, they don't have the law, the House of Pain does appear but not very much.. it just felt so lacking. How do the hybrids act so civilized when they don't even have The Law? You could get rid of every aspect of this book relating it to Dr Moreau and it wouldn't be that different. I did like Carlota becoming most beastly as the book goes on, I'm a sucker for female rage portrayed by being a cat girl. This just felt more like Cat People than Dr Moreau honestly, if it'd focused more on the sci-fi and horror aspect I'd have been more into it. I also hope Eduardo isn't supposed to be Edward because Eduardo sucks. Also also Moreau dying at the end threw me off, I think it's really interesting in the original book how long it goes on after him and Montgomery die, you get to see Edward and the beast people deal with it and it's rather deep. But yeah, if you aren't as autistic about Moreau as me this is good.
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Gun violence, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, and Death
Minor: Body horror and Pregnancy
sshabein's review
- 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
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Body horror, Racism, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death
bubblegirl858's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Animal death, Death of parent, Death, Medical content, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Sexism, Xenophobia, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
annemaries_shelves'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
4.25
Absolutely read this book in the summer!
Silvia Moreno-Garcia's skills with atmosphere and setting descriptions meant I felt the heat and sounds of the jungle, experiences all the more enhanced by the heat wave we're currently experiencing.
I haven't read The Island of Doctor Moreau (only familiar with the premise) so can't comment on the re-telling aspects, but I thought SGM did a good job of creating a new story wholly her own. As mentioned, the atmosphere and setting were fantastic, and I appreciated the characters. None of the characters are even close to perfect - in fact, Carlota and Montegomery in particular are frustrating in their flaws, but damn did I enjoy reading the dialogue, inner monologues, and character interactions. I think some readers will be frustrated with Carlota but I thought her quite realistic considering her upbringing and she really grew over the course of the novel. I would have liked more exploration of her feelings during/after the reveal, since the novel wraps up pretty quickly afterwards.
SGM had a lot to say thematically about colonialism, disability (coded with the hybrids), family relationships, religion, and power dynamics (to list a few). Doctor Moreau is one of those people so blinded by his own intelligence and goals, that he sees the ends justifying the means, and views everyone under his care/responsibility as lesser. The slow breakdown of his relationships and interactions with his daughter and the hybrids as more information is revealed highlights the power of knowledge (and religion) is maintaining control.
I would have loved to see more on-page scenes with the Mayan rebels, but will have to content myself with what's given to us. The afterword on historical context was appreciated. I always learn something new from her novels.
As with her other novels, the pacing is uneven - though I can never decide if it's intentional (I'm leaning that way). The first half is almost always slower than the second half, where the action takes off (and this novel fits that model).
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. It's a fun and relatively fast read, with some good themes and a solid though somewhat open to the future possibilities ending.
Graphic: Alcohol, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Blood, Alcoholism, Colonisation, and Violence
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: Violence, Body horror, Gaslighting, and Gun violence
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Blood, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Colonisation, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Murder, Child abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Classism, Medical content, Medical trauma, Alcohol, and Misogyny
persephonefoxx'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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Slavery, Colonisation, and Sexual harassment
phantomgecko's review
- 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
Spoiler
Though, a small comment. I, being a romantic, did indeed want Montgomery and Carlota to come together in the end. But I respect the author's choice. Carlota was true to her character, and that's great.Moderate: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Animal cruelty, and Classism
alicelalicon's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Alcoholism, Grief, Violence, Body horror, Blood, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Animal death, Misogyny, Gun violence, Racism, Xenophobia, Alcohol, and Sexism
Moderate: Slavery, Death of parent, Child death, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Classism, Chronic illness, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment
readwithbells's review against another edition
3.5
Spoiler
I’m also really pleased that SMG didn’t have Carlota fall in love with Montgomery. That felt vaguely icky to me at first but it was handled so well and I’m so glad she got to be the one to kill Eduardo!! That was a great moment.I do want to add that the setup for this book feels like it takes forever but when it pays off it really pays off. I personally find most of SMG’s payoffs to be worth the wait, but if you are someone who wants to skip to the action, this might not be the one for you.
Graphic: Death of parent, Racism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Body horror
Minor: Animal death