Silvia Moreno-Garica’s books continue to enrapture me. I borrowed the audiobook version of The Daughter of Doctor Moreau from the library and it was exactly what I needed.

In 1860s Yucatán, there is a sanatorium just far enough in the jungle that it’s difficult to visit. Yaxaktun is its own static world, headed by French biomedical expert Dr. Moreau. At his command are his daughter Carlota, his overseer Montgomery Laughton, and his many, rather animalistic servants. This is a totally normal place. There is no need to worry. 

Hahaha, okay, okay, jokes aside, Silvia Moreno-Garcia has breathed life and color into HG Wells’ original The Island of Doctor Moreau. The beautiful, evocative prose is rich and lush with historical details. The Mayan rebellion was not covered in world history, lemme tell ya. I loved learning about nineteenth century Yucatán, with its heady, toxic mix of patriarchy, colonialism, classism, racism, and colorism. The book’s pacing is hot weather seduction dashed by sudden rain. In other words, Yazaktun’s stasis slowly unravels, unspooling faster and faster as Carlota, Lupe, and Montgomery tackle long simmering conflicts. The audiobook narrator was fantastic and I heartily recommend her performance. The romance between Montomgery and Carlota kept me guessing until the very end–I was fully prepared for a terrible parting like in Certain Dark Things, or the hope of Velvet was the Night. 

My one quibble was the final twist, which could have used more clarity and forethought.

I thought we already knew that Carlota was a jaquar-human hybrid. Maybe we were supposed to be shocked at the extent of her cat features? Another review also mentions a detail oversight regarding Carlota’s bedroom door. It locks from both the inside and the outside, yet Carlota is trapped there. She should be able to walk out.

By the pace that Silvia Moreno-Garcia is publishing her works, I’m guessing these small confusions were missed in a rushed editing process. It happens. I docked a star from my rating, but I cannot overstate how much I enjoyed the book overall.

I have already recommended The Daughter of Doctor Moreau to other readers. If you like the HG Wells original, if you like history, if you like gorgeous nature details, pick Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s work up!