The Daughter of Doctor Moreau
July 2022. 320p. Del Rey, $28 (9780593355336); e-book, $13.99 (9780593355343). First published April 1, 2022 (Booklist).
Carlotta, the beautiful, and brilliant daughter of Doctor Moreau, lives on an isolated estate, on the Yucatán Peninsula in the 1870s, where her life revolves around her father’s work, and his hybrid human-animal creatures, raised to obey him. Montgomery, a troubled man, running away from his past, was brought to be Moreau’s new overseer by his patron, the wealthy Lizalde, when Carlotta was 14. Now six years later, he has become a vital part of their grotesque utopian “family.” But, outside the walls of the estate, instability and violence rule as colonial powers, the Mexicans of Spanish descent, and the Mayans are vying for control of the country, and an unexpected visit by the the handsome son of Lizalde lets the turmoil of the outside world in, forcing all to reckon with their pasts. Told from Caroltta and Montgomery’s point of view, and clearly inspired by H.G. Wells, this novel is wholly new, painting a vivid picture that is as alluring as it is unsettling, filled with action, romance, and of course, monsters. However, it is Moreno-Garcia’s ability to mesh the unease of the scientifically created beats with the real life terrors of a life on the margins and the horror of colonialism that elevates this story. Readers will fall into this tale immediately, enchanted, even when the story sinks its claws into them, threatening to never let go. A new entry in the growing canon of titles that take on genre classics from a marginalized perspective crafting original, thought provoking, and highly entertaining tales such as Boy, Snow, Bird by Oyoyemi or The Ballad of Black Tom by LaValle.
Further Appeal: I am very hard on authors I enjoy and this book delivered on all fronts. This book works as BOTH a retelling of a classic AND as a story about the real Horrors of colonialism and marginalization. But I also want to make sure you know it was fun and entertaining to read with sex scenes, action sequences, immersive descriptions, fascinating and well developed characters.
You don't need to know anything about the Wells story to enjoy this one for what it is, but there is also an excellent authors note that frames it all both re Wells and in regards to the location [Yucatan] and historical context.
Three words that describe this book: strong sense of place, dual narrative, constant unease Readalikes: Besides the 2 in the review above, other Island of Dr Moreau retellings like The Madman's Daughter by Shepherd are a great choice. Also the upcoming The Hacienda by Cañas [which I reviewed in the April issue of LJ], which is also a Horror novel about the horrors of colonialism, but the Cañas is a debut and while it is very good, Moreno-Garcia elegantly weaves it all together as only a seasoned, award-winner storyteller can. I also think this is a great read for those who were intrigued and repulsed, but then intrigued again, by the playing god theme in Inspection by Malerman. I also LOVED that novel.
All of these different angles at how you can approach providing readalikes for this novel is a further testament to how good it really was. I know Moreno-Garcia is a library worker and reader favorite and you won't need help attracting readers to this title, but I think it is important to note that it is just as stellar as her other beloved novels.
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