I've enjoyed Moreno-Garcia's other work, like Mexican Gothic. I really loved Certain Dark Things, which I'd describe as an excellent vampire novel for people who usually don't like vampires. So how is The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, which has been nominated for a Hugo award this year?
Much of the first two-thirds of the book is "atmospheric" (i.e., book review speak for "slow"). It's not unpleasant, though, as we get to know the characters, especially the two main POV characters: Carlota (the eponymous daughter) and Montgomery (an Englishman who works for Dr. Moreau). The chapters alternate between Carlota's and Montgomery's POVs, which could seem gimmicky with a less talented author, but Moreno-Garcia makes this serve the story.
Eventually we get a 19th century love triangle in rural Yucatán, labor disputes, conflict between the local Maya people and European and mixed landowners, and oh yeah: Dr. Moreau's scientific experiments as in the H. G. Wells novel that inspired this one (although I am a nerdy enough SF reader that I maybe would've liked a little more detail on that last point).
One cool thing is that we get to know the hybrids created by Dr. Moreau, not just as spooky sci-fi tropes, but as people: coworkers, friends, family members, etc. In the chapters from Carlota's POV, we never really even hear much about their "animal" aspects, because to her they're family. (I admit, however, that it's been about 20 years since I read the Wells novel, and I can't remember if he gives the hybrids much personality).
The plot really gets going when Dr. Moreau's landlord's son Eduardo shows up (one of the points in the aforementioned love triangle), and then there's a big reveal that I won't spoil, but which does make the book much more interesting and propels it to the end.
Aside from obvious Frankenstein-like ethical issues with regard to the creation of the hybrids, some other interesting questions the novel might be: What do we owe the people who do the work that keeps the economy going? How far does capitalism go to exploit workers and find new sources of labor to exploit? And how is science coopted in this process? How does violence get mixed into all this in various directions? How does Carlota's feminist journey move her beyond just being the titular daughter of Dr. Moreau, especially in her social position as a moderately wealthy woman in Mexico in the 19th century? What does it mean to be a person when many aspects of our identities are caused by genetics, environment, disposition, culture, or more Moreauean means? Is your identity found, created, both, neither? What is the meaning of "home"?
As with the other Hugo nominees I've read so far, I really enjoyed this one, but I'm not feeling a stand out for #1 yet. But we'll see. I've got a couple more to read. Or maybe I need some "atmospheric" thinking to come to a decision!
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