Long-time readers may note, this is not the first time I have featured the author of this week’s #spellbooksaturday— what can I say? I am a fan of gothic literature, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia does not disapoint!
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
[Content warnings: racism, classism, violence, animal cruelty, body horror, alcoholism, etc.)
Carlota Moreau: A young woman growing up on a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatán peninsula. The only daughter of a researcher who is 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 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 live in a perfectly balanced and static world, which is jolted by the abrupt arrival of Eduardo Lizalde, the charming and careless son of Dr. 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. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is both a dazzling historical novel and a daring science fiction journey.
[source: bookshop.org]
Inspired by author H.G. Wells’s 1896 novel The Island of Doctor Moreau, Moreno-Garcia builds upon the classic science-fiction novel, upending Wells’s notoriously problematic elements by playing her story against the backdrop of Yucatán’s rich history. I found The Daughter of Doctor Moreau was more of a slow-burn than some of her other works, such as Silver Nitrate or The Bewitching, and this time and attention is rewarded in a thrilling final act.
Have you read The Daughter of Doctor Moreau? What were your thoughts? Share in the comments!
I have a Bookshop.org list of #spellbooksaturday features for folks to peruse, but in the spirit of transparency, as a Bookshop.org affiliate, I receive a small percentage of book sales purchased through my links. If you find that off-putting, feel free to shop directly through bookshop.org or your own local bookseller! My only goal here is to resist Amazon and the mega-rich.
DID YOU ENJOY THIS SPELLBOOK SATURDAY FEATURE? SHOP THE LIST ON BOOKSHOP.ORG, OR CHECK OUT SOME MORE READING RECOMMENDATIONS…
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