In a secluded estate far removed from the conflict on Yucatán’s peninsula, Carlota Moreau lives an isolated existence. The only daughter of the venerable scientist Doctor Moreau, she spends her days surrounded by the beauty of the Yaxaktun property and the hybrid creatures held captive by their domineering creator. Backed financially by the wealthy Lizaldes, Doctor Moreau is sent a new overseer, the pensive Montgomery Laughton, to assist in his experiments. Six years pass and the fragile atmosphere at Yaxaktun is altogether upended by the arrival of two unexpected gentlemen, one being Eduardo Lizalde, the son of Moreau’s benevolent benefactor. With the sudden arrival of their unforeseen guests, the problems outside the bounds of the jungle loom ever closer, and as Carlota becomes all the more inquisitive, her father’s secrets threaten to expose a truth far more harrowing.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia astounds with a gothic science fiction historical set against the background of late nineteenth-century Mexico. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a fascinating reimagining of H.G Wells’s novel “The Island of Doctor Moreau,” that completely extends upon the original with its themes of colonization, class, and subjugation. Stepping into this novel felt akin to wading into a crystalline pool, as main character Carlota slowly draws together a hazy picture of her world, one that is refined and sharpened as she begins to question her reality and gain agency. Similarly to Mexican Gothic, this novel seizes a quiet pace, bringing forth an enthralling expose into the obsessions of a mad doctor, and just who the real monsters are. Dual narrators Carlota Moreau and Montgomery Laughton are altogether delightful, providing the opposing perspectives necessary to relay the unsettling nature of the entire narrative. Where Carlota is the quiet lonesome voice in the darkness, Montgomery is the brooding moody tone in contrast. While it can be said that both characters captivate, Carlota is beyond a doubt the one who dazzles. Her escape from the clutches of her father’s influence, to uncovering the truth about his creations, and unleashing the monster within was absolutely earth-shattering. Moreno-Garcia interlays a gripping examination of possession, prejudice, and the relationship between creator and subject beneath it all. With an added afterword on the history of the Yucatán region and the caste war, the influence of historical events from the text is all the more apparent. It seems as if every time I find myself reaching for a new book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, I have to prepare for the fact that it will surpass all of my expectations and leave me completely dumbfounded. Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a powerhouse, and The Daughter of Doctor Moreau is a startling addition, wonderfully romantic and intense in its resistance.
Thank you to Edelweiss for providing the arc.
Trigger warnings: abuse, violence, blood, death, gun violence, suicide
Literaryrobin 