This is quite a special review. It's almost a year to the day since I created this blog, and it was, coincidentally also a Silvia Moreno-Garcia book that was the subject of my first review - Mexican Gothic. Considering Mexican Gothic was the first of her books I've read, she's quickly become a go-to and automatic buy author for me. I loved Mexican Gothic, and I really enjoyed Certain Dark Things, making it the only vampire book I've ever given a favourable review. I even pre-ordered this all the way back in like May, which I never do - though to be fair it is a special edition. So, did it live up to the expectation?
Deep in the Yucatán peninsula is the laboratory of Dr Moreau, where grotesque experiments result in part human, part animal monstrosities. Dr Moreau's daughter Carlota lives her life in luxurious isolation, sheltered from the outside world by her mysterious and overprotective father and melancholic Montgomery Laughton the drunken majordomo. The hacienda exists in peace, until the arrival of the handsome son of Moreau's patron, who's careless actions threaten to destroy everything, and bring all of Moreau's secrets to light.
This is a beguiling retelling of H.G. Wells' The Island of Doctor Moreau. Not having read The Island (though maybe I should, I'm always chiding myself for not reading more classics) I can't tell you whether or not it's similar in terms of quality, but from a quick peruse of the Wikipedia page (quality research), it does look like the story is fairly similar in terms of overall plot, but obviously with some significant differences. While Moreau, of course, and Moreau's assistant Montgomery still feature heavily, Wells' main protagonist is replaced with Carlota, who serves instead as one of our two points of view. The two main differences are the transplanting of the story to the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico, and the addition of Carlota, which allows the book to explore feminism, colonialism and class as themes on top of the themes of the original book, which are (according to wikipedia) moral responsibility, human identity and interference with nature.
A do enjoy a good retelling - it's fascinating seeing someone else's take on something. However, this one didn't thrill me as much as Moreno Garcia's other books. I was absolutely enthralled by Mexican Gothic, and thoroughly enjoyed Certain Dark Things, but although I did enjoy this, I felt like I read it on autopilot a little bit, I wasn't moved by it. Perhaps that's my own fault - I was expecting a sci-fi horror, and while this is certainly a science fiction with some horrific undertones - namely the vivisection - this doesn't really as much as I'd hoped. Instead, there's a heavy romance element to it as well, more so than I would usually choose to pick up, and I felt like this was the main driver, rather than the scientific horror elements I was anticipating. I just wish I'd been sucked into the story a bit more.
There are two main POVs here, Carlota, and Montgomery, and the majority of the story is set within the walls of the Yaxaktun hacienda these often overlap, and it was fascinating to see the different characters' interpretations of the same events. There's some really great character development, with Carlota shifting from meek, spoiled child to strong, determined woman ready to fight for herself and her family, while Montgomery is able to tackle many of his past demons that have left him a self-sabotaging alcoholic. I won't lie, the age gap made me cringe a bit, even if he isn't the love interest. I do wish we'd seen more of the hybrids - I was struggling to keep track of which was which, with their brief appearances and even briefer descriptions, but it's clear that the idea of what had been done to them was a more important point than getting to know more about the hybrids themselves, so maybe that's just me being a bit morbid. The rebels too would have benefitted from more page time, especially considering these were real-life people in the very real, 54 year long Caste War of Yucatan, it would have been interesting to see them woven into the story more.
This is a Silvia Moreno-Garcia book, so of course she's done what she does best and laid out some truly incredible imagery and setting. Her descriptions of Mexico are so vivid and rich in cultural references you have no trouble seeing it, even if you may have to look up a few things. That's fine though, I love immersing myself in it and learning more about it. The jungle setting is lush and heady, and the gothic element is taut and intense, and in this aspect she certainly did not disappoint.
If you're a Moreno-Garcia fan, I'm still going to recommend this. If you're a fan of historical fiction, I'm going to recommend it, it may well have a spark for you that just didn't burn brightly enough for me. Go into it expecting more of a historic fiction focus with sci-fi elements and I don't think you'll be disappointed.
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