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Carlota Moreau: A young woman, growing up in a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatan peninsula, the only daughter of 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 with plentiful coffers. The hybrids: The fruits of the Doctor's labour, destined to blindly obey their creator while they remain in the shadows, are a motley group of part-human, part-animal monstrosities. All of them are 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 jungle passions may ignite.… (more)
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Carlota knows no life other than her father's compound, surrounded by his animal-human
I haven't read the original The Island of Doctor Moreau, and recall only bits of what the original story entailed; therefore, I approach this book on its own considerable merits rather than as a derivative work. This book is something of a character study of
The book is quite literary in tone, with a much greater focus on the interpersonal drama than on the science fictional side, which normally isn't my thing at all, but Moreno-Garcia's writing pulled me in. I found some of the major reveals to be a bit telegraphed, but the ending still delivered surprises and immense satisfaction. I knew very little about Mexico and the Yucatan during this period, and I feel like I learned some genuine history. The insights into state of colonialism there were both disturbing and enlightening--a more real horror than Moreau's creations, for sure.
The majority of the hybrids are sickly and misshapen, in constant pain. A handful have fewer problems and are companions to Moreau's daughter Carlota. Through new majordomo, Montgomery Laughton's eyes, the reader sees the estate, the lab, and the beautiful raven-haired Carlota.
Much of the novel is told through Carlota's viewpoint, also, and thus the reader is given a picture of her isolated existence, resulting in a naive young woman. As she becomes more aware of her reality, the reader sees the suffering of the hybrids and witnesses her father's cold attitude while observing his “experiments.”And these beings simply want to be free.
A dominant romantic element, which I found unnecessary, evolves into a romance novel trope of two men – Montgomery and Lizalde's arrogant son – vying for the lovely woman. While Carlota has grown more self-assured, she remains the victim, in more ways than first meets the eye.
Moreau is French, Laughton is English – colonizers whose exploitation of other populations has shored up their crumbling empires. And although Moreau is supposedly only motivated by his belief in science, his patron wants labor-slaves. And Moreau wants the money Lizalde provides.
The strongest elements of this novel are the lush descriptions of the Yucatan surroundings, its sounds, scents, and the heady, hypnotic atmosphere that it creates. The twist at the end is not really surprising, especially to anyone who has read Hawthorne's “Dr. Heidegger's Experiment” or other more recent stories in the same vein.
I received this free ebook from PenguinRandomhouse via Netgalley. This is an honest review.
The sad thing with reading an ARC PDF on the netgalley app on my phone is that I don't get to enjoy the beautiful cover, but the story made up for it :)
I enjoyed the setting and lush,
I think I failed to fully connect with a few main characters, I wished Ramona was more fleshed out for example, but I felt like Carlota was vividly portrayed, enjoyed reading Montgomery's backstory and both were interesting to follow.
I want to thank NetGalley and Quercus Books for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Carlota Moreau is a teenager who lives on the Yucatan peninsula in 1871 with her father, ostensibly a doctor, and a collection of hybrid animals that he has scientifically created. The large and beautiful estate
The premise is based loosely on the H.G. Wells novel published in 1896 but the setting has been altered which also affects the action and theme of this book. I loved the details the author presented about the home they've named Yaxaktun. The characters were an interesting lot, but I was hoping for more of the science fiction aspect about the hybrids. The narrative shifts in point of view between Carlota as she grows into womanhood and the overseer of the property, Montgomery Laughton. At times that made the story seem repetitive. There were times when local conflicts and other historically relevant events could have been included to flesh out the tale, but it all seemed a bit superficial. It seemed that the deep plunge into the whys and hows was just not made so we are left with only a vague understanding of Carlota. I just wanted more depth in characterization and more about the vivisection. In any event, it was a quick and interesting read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for this e-book ARC to read and review.
Carlotta is Dr. Moreau's daughter. She has been isolated from most people her whole life and has grown up around her father's experimental animal/human hybrids. One day a young man named Eduardo arrives and becomes infatuated by her. Montgomery is the Dr.'s assistant. Although is a misfit who has drunk away any future, he would do anything to protect the hybrids and Carlotta. Unfortunately, Dr. Moreau is consumed by perfecting his hybrids and has lost focus.
The book is intriguing but was not anything fantastic. I received a complimentary e-book from Netgalley.com
At such times, Carlota, despite loving her father beyond all words, felt her heart twist with bitterness because the way he gazed at the portrait and that other way his eyes seemed to skim over her told her clearly in his heart his dead wife and child reigned supreme. She was a poor
I was excited to pick this up because as a youngin' in 1996 I saw the movie The Island of Dr. Moreau (I saw another review mention this movie and called it a “cringe fest”, lol) and the impression it made on me! I haven't seen that movie in decades and I can still remember scenes from it. So, good or bad, I had a foot in this world already and was ready to see the story told from the Dr.'s daughter. I did feel a twinge of disappointment when I saw the daughter Carlota was going to be sharing top billing with Montgomery, this is told in dueling pov chapters.
Not going to lie, the first 20% of this was rough for me, very tough to get into as we're just dropped into the world that is already in motion and with all the characters thrown at you, it's tough to gain a foothold. The good part, I was already familiar with the world, so I had an idea of what was happening. Montgomery is an alcoholic Englishman who drinks because he feels like he failed his sister when she married an abuser and is separated from his wife (he composes letters to her in his mind). He double dips in the vices and is also in debt from gambling to a Lizadle. Lizadle sets him up to work with Dr. Moreau. This is set in Yaxaktun (Yucatan) and when Montgomery arrives he's introduced to what Dr. Moreau is doing, experimenting with human and animal DNA to create, what he calls, hybrids.
Montgomery is drunk and desperate enough to stay and he's also a little drawn to Dr. Moreau's daughter, Carlota. There was a slight underlining ick factor as Carlota is only 14 at this time and Montgomery is 29. But then Part 2 jumps us six years. Set in this location and time period, late 1800s, the author adds in the secondary storyline of the Maya trying to fight for independence from the Mexican people. Lizadle is funding Dr. Moreau so that the hybrids he creates can be used for forced labor. Readers know that Dr. Moreau is trying to create the “perfect” human because of his grief over losing his wife and baby daughter to illness.
When Lizadle's son makes a surprise visit to the their little “sanctuary” and falls for Carlota, things start to unravel. Montgomery seems to have some jealousy he is trying to cloak as protecting Carlota, Carlota seems to genuinely like the son but also is trying to be a dutiful daughter and listen to her father over how important it is to marry the son so that she can secure the sanctuary's funding for the foreseeable future.
While I had a firm footing in the world because of previous knowledge and I think that helped with this story's more chaotic beginning, it also hurt how I'm not sure anything new was done here. The change of location and adding in Juan Cumux and the Maya's fight for freedom inspiring and nudging two of Dr. Moreau's most prominent hybrids, Lupe and Cachito, was too much to the side. The theme of colonization was strong here but I think the wildness of what Dr. Moreau was doing took the spotlight and so I felt left with secondary characters that felt like they didn't reach their full potential.
At 70% and Part 3 is when a secret about Carlota is revealed and again, since I knew the story, I already knew the secret. I think already knowing the story tampered some horror feelings, shock, and awe that this story can deliver. The end moves at a clip that after the slower middle felt a little uneven but delivers a satisfactory ending.
I would call this science fiction with romance notes but don't read this for those romance notes because it has a, very slight, Lolita twinge. I came for the daughter's story and I'm not sure I got as much Carlota as I wanted, she was still, mostly, Dr. Moreau's creation, and half the story was told from Montgomery's perspective. I didn't get anything new in this inspiration but newcomers to the story would have a different reaction.
This is the second book by Silvia Moreno=Garcia for me and in this story she gives us a retelling of the Island Of Doctor Moreau. The story is set in Mexico with the doctor and his daughter and the hybrids. The message behind the story is one of colonialism and
Deep in the jungle, in virtual isolation, Doctor Moreau lives at Yaxaktun with his daughter, Carlota, his housekeeper, Ramona, and the hybrids he has created in his laboratory. Carlota suffers from a rare blood disorder, but her father has found a medication
Hernando Lizalde, Moreau’s patron, owns the estate; he brings Montgomery Laughton to be the new majordomo at Yaxaktun. Despite his personal issues, Montgomery has remained at Yaxaktun for six years in order to repay the debt he owes Lizalde.
And then Eduardo Lizalde arrives at the estate.
Eduardo, taken with Carlota, makes no secret of his attraction to her. But when he asks her to marry him, the resulting cataclysm will touch everyone at Yaxaktun . . . and beyond.
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This narrative, loosely based on the H.G. Wells classic, “The Island of Doctor Moreau,” is set in Mexico in the 1870s during the protracted Caste War of Yucatán. There is a strong sense of place throughout the telling of the tale and an ever-growing tension underlying the unfolding narrative.
The political climate of the time, the unrest with the Maya uprising, and the science fiction elements in the creation of the hybrids combine to create a multi-layered tale of money, power, subjugation, ethics, and relationships. Carlota chafes against her isolation, the hybrids desire freedom, Moreau believes his work benefits both science and man.
As Carlota’s coming-of-age story evolves, readers will find much to appreciate in the telling of this tale.
Recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey and NetGalley
#TheDaughterofDoctorMoreau #NetGalley
The elder
The other main character is Montgomery Laughton, a British expat, and a man who is too broken to live and too indifferent to die, hoping that the dangerous jobs he accepts and the potent liquor he drinks will bring him the fate he longs for. Though he does not know precisely what Moreau’s mission is when he accepts a job as the majordomo of the isolated hacienda, he quickly figures it out, but accepts is with the same apathy that permeates all other aspects of his life.
Long on detail and short on action, the first three-quarters of the book drifts along as Carlota grows into womanhood and Laughton finds himself drawn to her, even though he knows the difference in their social status – if nothing else – makes a true relationship between them impossible.
Things begin to heat up as Moreau’s patron, who thinks the scientist is breeding a hardy species for fieldwork, threatens to cut off funding, and is further incensed that his ne’er-do-well son is so enamored of Carlota that he actually proposes marriage to the illegitimate, mixed-blood girl. Just how mixed her blood is, he doesn’t quite comprehend until the situation explodes into bloody violence. This is actually the only section of the book that lifts itself above the romantic torpor of the tropical setting, and then things drop back to a simmer as the survivors deal with the aftermath.
This one gets three stars. It’s not a bad read, but it’s not particularly exciting, either.
RATING 3.5/5
REVIEW: The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a modern retelling of The Island of Doctor Moreau. Although I have not read the earlier book, this book works perfectly fine as a standalone story.
The book follows Carlota, the daughter of the Doctor,
Honestly, I was a little disappointed by this book. Not a lot happened, and the big reveal that was supposed to be a surprise was something I figured out just a couple of chapters in. The writing is good,and it’s not a bad book. It has a lot of great atmosphere and the characters are interesting and well written. The plot simply seemed pretty slow to me and there wasn’t really a big climax or anything surprising that happened during the story.
I’m not sure I’d actually recommend this book, but other people might enjoy reading it.
I found the characters shallow and unappealing. The Wells book is not his best but I prefer it to this version.
Library book read 1/5/2023
Fans coming in from that book will not be disappointed, this is a similar style of Gothic Historical though very different in particulars. My mistake was thinking this was a prequel, with some liberties, to
Speaking of Island, this was a much more satisfying tale than Wells'. I always liked the *idea* of Island of Dr Moreau better than the actual book and Garcia has scratched that itch at last. Less horror but a much more fleshed out and vivid story.
The first half is a slow burn. I liked it a lot and it really puts your head in the setting. Whew, we go wild around 2/3 in-- that's where I went from enjoying the read to feverishly glued! Much like Mexican Gothic, the story has this way of slooowly drawing you in and then BAM! You cannot rest until all is told.
In this version, Doctor Moreau is conducting his experiments at a hacienda in Mexico, given shelter by a local man of wealth; he gives Moreau resources so that Moreau can create him a workforce. Montgomery is an Englishman who ends up managing Moreau's estate when he runs out of other options. As the title indicates, Moreau has a daughter, one who has been raised in a sheltered existence alongside Moreau's creations. Montgomery is sexually attracted to her, but knows it cannot be. In the meantime, a Maya uprising is getting ever closer, and Moreau's patron is growing impatient with his progress.
There are the ingredients to do something incredibly interesting... unfortunately, the novel is considerably less interesting than the one it comments on. The original novel delved into concepts of humanity and animality, what our capacity to feel pain means, what religion means for our morality. It's sensational in the Victorian sense of the word.
Daughter takes this cocktail of ingredients, adds gender and imperialism, but they dilute the mix rather than enhance it. The book is languidly paced, the uprising and race play surprisingly little role in the story. There's a twist, but I saw it coming miles away, and the novel doesn't really do anything interesting with that twist. I expected more to be made of Moreau's constructs and their rationalization, of the way that science is used to extend and justify the vision of empire and colonization, of the way the male gaze resonates with the scientific one, but none of that happens.
I guess that's not Moreno-Garcia's fault, in that maybe none of that was what she intended to do. But what she did do wasn't very interesting instead.
(Also why does a book with two strictly alternating third-person perspectives feel the need to put the name of the viewpoint character at the top of each chapter? I felt condescended to.)