The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is the latest by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, author of Mexican Gothic and Velvet Was the Night, solidly earning it a spot on my most anticipated books for July.
Inspired by The Island of Doctor Moreau by HG Wells, this book focuses on Carlota Moreau, the daughter of Doctor Moreau. Set in a remote Mexican location, the eccentric doctor has created a hybrid, a new creation. However, the doctor is struggling financially. When two young men come to town, one of them the wealthy son of his patron, will all of his fears be eased if he can marry Carlota off to one of them?
Well….let’s start off by making a confession. My expectations for this were sky high. Velvet Was the Night has one of the most skillfully crafted endings that I have read. However, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau didn’t compete with Velvet Was the Night.
First, the storytelling needs refining. The first 10% of the book is so boring that I had to put it down and pick it back up again. The next portion of the book is better; however, it seems that most of the conflicts boiled down to a version of “Did not!” “Did too!” “Did not!” “Did too!”
Second, the identity of this book is lost on me. What exactly is it trying to accomplish? The sci-fi portion of this book is really underwhelming. Is this book about Carlota’s relationship with her father? Is this book about a love triangle? A romance? Is this book about crafting ones own family and own identity? It seems to try to be the answer to everything but succeeds in nothing.
Part of that is that there are too many characters: Montgomery, Doctor Moreau, Ramona, Lupe, Hernando Lizalde, Eduardo, Cachito, Aj Kaab, Pinta, Aayin, K’an, and many others.
Third, the ending is entirely forgettable and lackluster.
Overall, I didn’t connect with The Daughter of Doctor Moreau.
*Thanks, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.
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