Review of The Daughter of Moreau
Coming July, 2022.
I am honored to review one of Silvia Morena-Garcia’s books. She is one of my favorite authors. I appreciate seeing our shared Mexican heritage on paper. I admire her skill in weaving haunting tales. She mixes culture, history, and fantasy seamlessly. But enough about the author. Let’s get into this book!
Carlota is Dr. Moreau’s daughter. They live on the lush peninsula of Yucatán, Mexico, where her father conducts experiments splicing human and animal “Gemmules” to create hybrids. Carlota is polished in both her manners and her education, making her the perfect daughter. She loves her home and never wants to leave. What will happen when she’s asked to fill the role of wife?
Montgomery is a tragic Englishman, who comes from a past where he only once played the hero. Lovelorn, he brings his sadness with him to the hacendado. Alcohol and Carlotta’s beauty become the only salve for his pain.
Montgomery, with his heart sickness, soon becomes my favorite character. He is a hopeless romantic who works hard and loves hard. His tragic history and his constant yearning rounds this character out, making you miss him when he is not there.
I did not have the same love for Carlota, which is fine. She is the opposite. Carlota is young and spoiled, even with her sense of decency guiding her choices. I dislike characters that make brash decisions, even if youth is to blame. Her kindness does not make up for her childishness.
My favorite part of the book is the way these two characters took turns speaking to us with first-person narratives. Silvia volleys us back and forth. Showing us how different this breathtaking scenery can look depending on the eyes we see it through. One minute you are seeing the jungle as a mature man, the next a teenage girl.
This book lingered in my mind throughout my day. The characters popping up to visit me when least excepted it. The ending hurt. Hopefully, come April, you will find out why.
I think this book is perfect for those who love the gothic and historical fiction genre. I can even see people that like westerns enjoying The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, as well as those who are enchanted with Mexico.
This is a book worth reading. I look forward to hearing what you think about this tale.
