Daughter of Doctor Moreau

eBook, 320 pages

English language

Published July 19, 2022 by Del Rey.

ISBN:
978-0-593-35534-3
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2 stars (2 reviews)

Carlota Moreau: a young woman, growing up in a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatán peninsula. The only daughter of either a genius, or a madman.

Montgomery Laughton: a melancholic overseer with a tragic past and a propensity for alcohol. An outcast who assists Dr. Moreau with his scientific experiments, which are financed by the Lizaldes, owners of magnificent haciendas and plentiful coffers.

The hybrids: the fruits of the Doctor’s labor, destined to blindly obey their creator and remain in the shadows. A motley group of part human, part animal monstrosities.

All of them living in a perfectly balanced and static world, which is jolted by the abrupt arrival of Eduardo Lizalde, the charming and careless son of Doctor Moreau’s patron, who will unwittingly begin a dangerous chain reaction.

For Moreau keeps secrets, Carlota has questions, and in the sweltering heat of the …

3 editions

Daughter of Doctor Moreau

3 stars

This book is self-described as a "dreamy reimagining" of the Island of Doctor Moreau. Rather than on a remote island, it's set in the remote Yucatan during the Caste War, and follows the perspectives of the titular daughter and a new alcoholic majordomo to the estate.

I have seen others describe this as a gothic novel, but some elements work against that framing for me. There is not a lot of ongoing mystery nor tension to the book. There is a reveal of some secrets, but I felt like the most major of these was not a surprise to the reader (or at least this reader) and so lost a lot of its bite. There are some bits of patriarchal tension and marriage pressure, but largely Carlota defends her father and wants to get married; rather than feeling trapped in her estate, she would prefer to stay there and doesn't …

Not for me

2 stars

I was not intending to read this, but did since it was nominated for the Hugo Best Novel. I read Mexican Gothic, Silvia Moreno-Garcia's earlier novel and thought it was just ok, but had been told by a co-worker this was a stronger book. Unfortunately, I didn't come away with that same opinion. There was no suspense, no big twist or revelation, and the final quarter of the book seemed to drone on forever. I know there is a lot of love out there for this book, but none from me.

Subjects

  • Animal experimentation--Fiction.
  • Fathers and daughters--Fiction.
  • Family secrets--Fiction.
  • Scientists--Fiction.
  • Mexico--Fiction.

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